Books where the magic/whatever is not in the open

[Willoughby Swarthington]

Just looking for recommendations where the reality/history/society is basically what we live in, and the paranormal or fantasy parts are hidden from/not a part of the society at large. When all of reality/society is structured differently, I feel like the author can just make up rules to solve problems and it's harder to suspend belief.

Have a gander at my read books/ratings (I think they're public? Please let me know if not!) and I think you'll understand what I mean. Romance in the series is good, but I don't prefer a series where that's the main focal point (though I've read and enjoyed more than one, just because the related story was fun enough as I skimmed past 50% of the book as it droned on about amazing abs and guys with names like Xander). There should preferably be a lot happening outside of the mental fawning over rock hard/curvy bits'n'bobbles.

Also really important is that the protagonist never makes choices or does things that are *blatantly* the wrongest damn thing to do just to move the story along. If I recall correctly this was why I enjoyed the entire Sandman Slim series until I got to Getaway God and I couldn't even finish that book.

Oh and also important: The characters must be adults; at *least* 20, just because I have no interest in child/teenage characters.

Male or Female protagonist makes no difference. Even writing quality is somewhat tangential for me at times. OK, if it takes 3 pages of alliteration to describe a scene (Madness of Angels - can the thesaurus dude), I can't stand that kind of writing foible, but editing errors don't bother me a bit. If the writing says "The hose is on fire" after they "Just arrived at the hues", I know what the author meant so I don't care that he forgot how to spell the word house, maybe he had an off-day; who am I to judge?

Other things I quite like; I like a powerful protagonist. I *hate* a weak one, clearly not cut out for the task at hand where you need some last minute luck just to even survive (or inexplicably surviving things, I'm looking at you The Descent series). Overly powerful protagonists aren't even something that bother me, so long as there's consistency and they don't randomly make them super-mega-strong and then super-fizzle (What the hell Demon Accords?). Super-powered isn't necessary though, The Immortal Man series is my favorite of all of them I've read, and his super power is basically a long memory and a healthy liver.

Also not a fan of obscenely stressful / endless build up to the end. I want minor victories throughout the book; minor failures too sure, but it has to be tempered. Can't stick it through with a book where all attempts the protagonist makes are met with failure. Endless failure failure failure, pleh. Until the end- Victory! What? Pleh. I like the story to have successes and failures, urgent/suspenseful periods tempered with respites.

[Leiah]

The Newford Series is amazing:
https://www.goodreads.com/series/4038...















This is the first book in the series. Amber is one kick-ass heroine!

Moon Called Book one of the series. The world finds out about Mercy's world - how that knowledge is handled is well done.


First in the series - one of my favorite series ever, set underneath London


I just started reading this and am already fascinated. It is set in London and if you get a chance to listen to the Audible edition, do so. The narrator is PERFECT for the character!

[Willoughby Swarthington]

I read moon called and had toyed with going further into the series, it was very well written and the supernatural portrayals were pretty interesting.

The thing that held me back was; at least in the first book, the protagonist comes off as rather weaker than most in her world. She really has to rely on others a lot was the sense I got, does she get stronger as it progresses? More capable of surviving her situations, or is it luck (the vampire scene struck me like this in the first book- pure luck caused her survival) that she keeps falling back on?

I'll definitely peak at the rest there, I believe I tried the Nightside's sample on kindle and something about it didn't sit right, but I'll have another go at it to see.

Also I actually just grabbed the Midnight Riot sample from kindle to give it a try earlier today!

Reading Dead Spot right now and quite enjoying it, will probably try Midnight Riot next.

Keep the suggestions coming folks! I tend to read a book every day or two...

[Leiah]

I forgot to add Dead Spot.

Yes, she gets stronger - she kicks backside.... and gets hers kicked as well, but she gets up and kicks back.

Nightside is one of my favorites, but it is very 'British' I suppose you could say. The Audio version of Midnight Riot is narrated by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith. His narration is very crisply dry (if that makes sense) and rather world weary as fits the character. I really love it. You can go to audible.com and listen to a sample. The right narrator can lift a book from simply good to marvelous....
Enjoy

[Leiah]

There is Cal Leandros as well - it is a series you will apparently either love or hate. I like it quite well but others seem to hate it with a passion. No accounting for tastes.

I just ran across Rob Cornell. His first in the series is free on Amazon right now. I picked up a copy to check out.

[Willoughby Swarthington]

Amy wrote: "Graveyard Queen series. Protag is a cemetery restorer and sees ghosts. Writing is very atmospheric but doesn't drag or take 3 pages to set up the scene :P The heroine is pretty levelheaded and does..."

Thanks for the descriptions! Sounds like you understand what I'm looking for very well :) At the rate I eat through books I'm going to be referring back to this thread for all these suggestions every couple days I suspect

Just finished the first Dead Spots; awesome! now I had to go back to the last book in The Crysalis series since amazon finally got it for kindle, then I'll start chewing on this list after nom nomming the rest of the Dead Spots series.

[Tasula]

London Falling

Sixty-One Nails

Already Dead very gritty and bloody

Tanya Huff's Blood series

The Hum and the Shiver

Child of Fire

Unclean Spirits

The Nymphos of Rocky Flats

[Willoughby Swarthington]

Tasula wrote: "London Falling

Sixty-One Nails

Already Dead very gritty and bloody

Tanya Huff's Blood series

The Hum and the Shiver

[book:Child of ..."

oh goodness I grew up just a few miles from Rocky Flats with all the fun stories of the area that's just awesome! I'll definitely have to peak at that, the whole idea of making it a supernatural zone is hilarious

[Vroom]

Many of Dianna Wynne Jones' books incorporate what you're asking for but it's a bit hard to find titles with over-20's. Fire and Hemlock (even though the protagonist starts out young, she doesn't stay young) for something a little dark or Deep Secret, which is much lighter (I can't remember the ages in there -- late teens / early 20s). I liked the Alex Verus series a lot, and while I haven't really read much Dresden, those would probably fit.

The Hum and the Shiver and the People series by Zenna Henderson both share more rural private magic groups, who keep their magic to themselves. Again, I don't remember specifics about the Henderson ages, but the rest fits so I'm including that here.

I'm quite fond of the extremely fluffy Grimm Agency series but I"m not sure if the "hidden world of magic" is quite hidden enough there. Light fantasy / romance fluff.

Now *technically* magic is hidden in the superb City of Stairs but that's clearly not our world, although it's a brilliant read which is why I'm namedropping it here. (The Troupe fits more of your qualifications but I think it would be too much of a downer for your tastes.)

Finally, let me add one of my absolute favorites: Last Call. There is no endless failure but there is recovery from a bad decision involved.

[Jalilah]

Willoughby Swarthington wrote: "Just looking for recommendations where the reality/history/society is basically what we live in, and the paranormal or fantasy parts are hidden from/not a part of the society at large. When all of ..."

For some reason my entire post got cut off, so I am starting new.
I second Charles de Lint for novels that take place in our world and the hidden magic slowly unfolds. The Newford series is a series of books taking place in the same universe and with the exception of the last three books, do not have to be read in a particular order.
I suggest , and as good places to start.
Another author who would fit the description of what you are looking for is Elizabeth Hand. is great in that it starts totally realistic and magic slowly surfaces. Her is also good.
Both of these writers usually make the real life stories and conflicts just as important as the supernatural ones.
When you mention you don't want weak characters , the heroines in both De Lint's and Hands books are realistic, likeable and sometimes flawed. They are not your typical snarky, "kick ass" types you find in many urban fantasy series.

[Willoughby Swarthington]

Just made it about halfway into the second dead spots/Scarlett Barnard series after finishing Fire and Rain; the last Chrysalis story that's out.

Pleh! First one was fun even though the protagonist is technically relatively weak, but got more irritated about the playing two guys thing which is downright b****y, but figured that would work itself out. Then got to the part where an obvious trap was presented and the protagonist decides to go right for it; pleh. Too much dumb in the protagonist, couldn't continue.

20% in on midnight riot now from the suggestions here, and it's great fun so far! Thanks!

[Leiah]

Just posted my review of "Crimes Against Magic" - http://tinyurl.com/kpfrhnf

Of course, there are over 400 other reviews on Amazon US, and mine is just one of those. Lots of people liked it, a very few didn't for some sometimes extremely odd reasons... ah, well, no accounting.

There are a few editorial issues, but as a professional Editor, I wasn't actually offended by them as I am with a great many self published books. There simply weren't enough issues to tick me off.

I didn't go into depth with my review - there are, after all, many reviews out there that made the same points I would have. I highly enjoyed the dry humour and very British writing style. The idea of magic actually taking over the sorcerer if he uses it too much was spectacular. Nate is very conscious of the power of magic, as well as the dangers - but a man can only take so much when the lives of innocent women and children are on the line, threatened by monsters with no compunction when it comes to savage murder of innocents. I found the whole "magic making monsters" concept to be wonderfully thought out and designed.

I finished "Midnight Riot" as well. I really liked it, though Kobna Holdbrook-Smith's narration took what could have been simply good to something special.

Before I start the second Scarlett Barnard I will go back and reread the first. My original review was written in July of 2013. It will be interesting to see if I agree with it, or if I agree more with your present comments. Sometimes a person's mood (especially mine) can twist your feelings about a particular book. I have picked books up and hated them, only to go back later and really get into it. And of course, vice versa.

I loved Waking the Moonbut haven't been able to shove myself into her other works. Again, maybe I just need to be in the right mood...

Wow. Lots of "New To Me" books on here! Time to go add them to my list!

[Willoughby Swarthington]

So, I Read This Book Today wrote: "Before I start the second Scarlett Barnard I will go back and reread the first. My original review was written in July of 2013. It will be interesting to see if I agree with it"

The first book I rather enjoyed, it was the second that seemed to have too much protagonist-does-dumb-thing-to-move-the-plot-forward, or as I call it "Dumber than the audience".

[Leiah]

Ouch. Wow, I have bought all of them... will check out the second to see what's going on. Thank goodness Amazon has the ability to return bad books!

[Willoughby Swarthington]

Just finished Midnight Riot, that was a lot of fun, though it felt like it fell off the rails a little around the last 20%. The characters are what really held it up, though I think the author should have tied the plot up at the end of the riot somehow, made a better climax I thought.

Also, some of the endless geography and little history lessons got somewhat tiresome, but that may be due to having zero concept of London geography.

Regardless of those tiny nitpicks, it was really great, thanks! I'm onto the second one and figure I'll work through the series unless it takes a wrong turn.

[Leiah]

I absolutely fell in LOVE with London when I was there. I walked for hours, just soaking in the history. You can feel it there, all the generations, the buildings, built one on top of the other from ancient times to today. Hence, my not finding it tiresome ;-)

My tastes run to the character driven so it held up for me a bit better than it did for you, but again, that is all a matter of taste. I agree, I would have liked a better 'end of the riot', as you said. But I am hoping that things carry on in the next volume. Overall I am sure my love of London and its history went a long way towards my enjoyment of the book.

[BR]

Check out The Telepathic Clans Saga. First book is . Also set in the same world but with a different main character (stand alone) .

No magic or vampires or shifters. The Sidhe, or Fae, are actually a race of telepaths living unknown amongst normal humans.

[Willoughby Swarthington]

57% into the second of the midnight riot peter grant wizard apprentice books and it grows a little troubling... Peter's ignoring something that has been glaringly obvious in the book since like the 15% mark or so. Whether or not the authors trying to draw your attention to it by Peter's inattention to it I don't know, but it's grown to the point that Peter looks a complete buffoon for not inspecting closer. Not to mention the hand full of blatant clues to what he's investigating that he hasn't even picked up on... I may just skip to a different series if he doesn't start picking up on the same clues that are obvious to the audience, and quick.

(view spoiler)[I can't tell if Simone is bad or not, but regardless she is *terribly* suspicious, and the fact that he hasn't looked closer at her yet is just stupid. There are so many obvious clues that he seems to constantly utterly miss: Every dead man had a mistress, it took him half the feckin' book to realize "Body and Soul" was clearly tied up in all this, and the fact that Simone keeps showing up interrupting him mid investigation. The fact that none killed were repeats of the same instrument. When he admitted he didn't even realize what the consequences if Ash died...what the hell were you thinking when you put him up to that? That was the first thing I thought about, ya idiot. (hide spoiler)]

[Leiah]

Willoughby Swarthington wrote: "57% into the second of the midnight riot peter grant wizard apprentice books and it grows a little troubling... Peter's ignoring something that has been glaringly obvious in the book since like the..."

Ouch... I soooo hate it when first books let you down so deeply in the second! Rats... another to take off my 'TBR' series list. Sigh. Yes, Peter is a bit dense, I understood that about him, but I expected him to grow, not to regress! Pft. Ah well, so many books, so little time... If I run up on something new and interesting I will pass it along. I have been reading from the list on my site that I have for different publisher requests. I finished the newest Walt Longmire for Penguin Publishing, and The Water Knife. Good on Walt but for all its hype, TWK let me down. I am slowly getting through Path of the Horseman - it is a good book so far, but for some reason I am not clicking with it enough to go blasting through like I do with some books. No Idea why, except that I haven't really connected with any of the Horsemen but Avery (Plague). I am still plugging away on it though. Murder Over Kodiak (set on Kodiak Island, Alaska) was good - the author lives there, is a biologist like her heroine, and knows the lands plants and creatures like the back of her hand, so the science is solid and the characters and landscape well written, so that was a Huge plus. Nothing irritates me more than people who write about things they don't know anything about and don't even bother to do their research - to have her be so knowledgeable was such a pleasure. Besides, I am enamoured off the Alaska mystique.
Well, back to it!

[Willoughby Swarthington]

I'm on book 4 of the Bite Back series now, and it's making me nuts; it's very good and entertaining but the 2nd one was the only one with character growth. Every other one has just shown mounting tension and problems and for every one problem resolved, 4 are made. All the while the character seems to be growing *weaker* not stronger - having greater personal difficulties, rather than greater personal abilities.

....but I can't put it down. Very nearly put down the 3rd one because the bad guy was utterly obvious through almost all the book. The 4th one I *will* put down if the apparently corrupt authority figure starts committing any of the type of violence I truly cannot tolerate...

So far the 2nd one was far and away the best. Hopefully she grows stronger and the story see's any sort of light at the end of the tunnel as the books continue, rather than endless worsening... If not, I'll abandon the series.

[Debbie's Spurts (D.A.)]

Kitty and the Midnight Hour by Carrie Vaughn initially fits the bill. During the plot progression, the supernaturals do get out in the open. It's not standard UF fare and turned-involuntarily werewolf Kitty doesn't immediately seem to have a backbone...then, wow!

[Leiah]

So it gets better? I tried Kitty, but she irritated the absolute crap out of me so I pulled it off my reader and didn't go any further. I wanted to slap her rather than root for her!

Full disclosure, Willoughby - Mark is a friend, I have worked with him on his writing, and I am prejudiced! ;-)

[Willoughby Swarthington]

So, I Read This Book Today wrote: "So it gets better? I tried Kitty, but she irritated the absolute crap out of me so I pulled it off my reader and didn't go any further. I wanted to slap her rather than root for her!

Full disclosu..."

The fact that I am on the 4th book speaks quite well of it, I'm just picky and I don't prefer overly-tense stuff generally, though many do so that's really a preference thing. Yet I'm still reading it, because it is still so engaging and well put together.

[Leiah]

I am glad you are enjoying it. I like tension in my reading, so I probably gravitate to that more than most. ;-)

[Debbie's Spurts (D.A.)]

So, I Read This Book Today wrote: "...I wanted to slap her rather than root for her!..."

At the start, so did I. (I haven't finished entire series yet; but, I do like her now ...)

[Leiah]

Sigh, guess I will have to give her a second chance - but she better step up! LOL

[Willoughby Swarthington]

Just finished the Bite Back series, and giving the Cal Leandros book someone here suggested a look now... Here's hoping :)

[Leiah]

Like I said previously, Cal is one you either love or hate. The relationship between Cal and his brother is difficult, what with Cal being ... well, you will see.

[Willoughby Swarthington]

Read the Cal Leandros sample, but it sounds like the protagonist is more victim than hero; Does he become stronger? Become a proper strong hero? I'm hesitating to buy the book thinking he's so weak and will be running/hiding more than anything.

Reading a very paranormal holiday instead, great fun short stories including the one from the Bite Back world, and the imp series short was great; forgot how hilarious the imp is.

[Leiah]

I am reading "In The Air Tonight" by Lori Handeland. Pub date June 2. I got it through publisher, really enjoying it. Serial killers hunting modern day witches. The heroine is the child of a witch couple, one of triplets born in 1614, the three tossed into the future by a spell as her parents burned at the stake. Really getting into the story, full of ghosts and killers. All paranormal is hidden from normals, and even Raye has no idea who she is or why she sees ghosts. It is great world building.

[Willoughby Swarthington]

Tasula wrote: "London Falling

Sixty-One Nails

Already Dead very gritty and bloody

Tanya Huff's Blood series

The Hum and the Shiver

[book:Child of ..."


Reading Unclean Spirits from this list now, 23% in and quite enjoying it! I love when the books open with a someone totally unawares, being completely surprised.

Best two books for that are The Forged Bloodlines series by Lisa Olsen which opens with a girl waking up in the morgue, and the Chicago Vampire series opening with the new vampire vaguely coming out of a stupor while being dropped off at home by people she doesn't know with no idea why or what happened.

Anyway thanks for the recommendation! It's a lot of fun so far!

[Leiah]

I had forgotten about Black Sun's Daughter!

[Tasula]

WS, I haven't heard of Lisa Olsen, will check her out, thanks for the rec.

[Teresa]

Sounds like a good series. I will try.

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*]

Willoughby Swarthington wrote: "Read the Cal Leandros sample, but it sounds like the protagonist is more victim than hero; Does he become stronger? Become a proper strong hero? I'm hesitating to buy the book thinking he's so weak..."

I never saw him as victimish, liked the realism of him being afraid. But no, he's pretty tough and a fighter.

[Jana]

Erin (Paperback stash) *is juggle-reading* wrote: "Willoughby Swarthington wrote: "Read the Cal Leandros sample, but it sounds like the protagonist is more victim than hero; Does he become stronger? Become a proper strong hero? I'm hesitating to bu..."

He gets tougher, but I always say him as a whiner and the whole series tanked for me after about book 3 unfortunately. There was some potential there, but I just never wanted to root for Cal and I gave up.

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*]

I've read the first two but not the third yet. Crossing my fingers

[Mary]

Except the Queen by Jane Yolen and Midori Snyder features not only adults but women of a certain age as the main characters.

OTOH, though the magic is hidden, we always see from the POV of those who are thoroughly in the know.

[Arch]

No mention yet of Alex Verus series. next book release august forth (waiting impatiently)

not sure this will tick all your criteria?

I like how his ability seams weak but really is not
a more thinking mans magic, aka chess game???

[Debbie's Spurts (D.A.)]

Are you interested in worldbuilding where there openly is magic or fae but the book's particular magic/power/race is unheard of?

[Kathy]

Willoughby Swarthington wrote: "Just looking for recommendations where the reality/history/society is basically what we live in, and the paranormal or fantasy parts are hidden from/not a part of the society at large. When all of ..."

We have similar criteria I think for UF series.

You might enjoy the following:

Demonspawn - first in a series of mixed main characters called "damned and cursed"

The Demon's Apprentice - the main character here is 17 years old - but more grown up than his actual years due to a horrible childhood. I'm not a fan of the 14 year old who saves the world stories but this has got 2 surprisingly good books in the series so far.

Dead Things - the main character in this series is a necromancer (no teens here) - 2 books so far and I enjoyed both

Dead Harvest - the main character here is a reaper. 3 books so far and I'm hoping there will be more.

Generation V - I'm currently reading this series and enjoying it. The main character is an adult in human senses but only just on the verge of moving into vampire adulthood (these are not normal vampires and are born and are not immortal. An interesting take on the genre and the books are not full of sexy stud muffin vampires thankfully)

The Atrocity Archives - UK series about Bob Howard who works for the Laundry the UK defense against the supernatural. The books are a bit uneven (book two is not a favourite for many) but if you push through it they really do have their moments.

[Willoughby Swarthington]

Kathy wrote: "Willoughby Swarthington wrote: "Just looking for recommendations where the reality/history/society is basically what we live in, and the paranormal or fantasy parts are hidden from/not a part of th..."

I've been avoiding demon's apprentice due to his age even though it looks interesting, I'll give it a shot on your recommendation then. I've already read Demonspawn and the Eric Carter books which were both rather enjoyable (not a fan of mixed protagonist series so when I realized the second Damned and Cursed book was such I didn't bother). THese are definitely going on the short list, sounds like you have very similar tastes to me.

[Kathy]

I'm not thrilled by the change of protagonist either and prefer a single viewpoint main character through a story (especially with urban fantasy) but I've coped with it in the Demonspawn books and be warned in some of the atrocity archives later books you do get different people narrating. It was a bit disconcerting but I'll probably stick with it because I want to see what happens to the main character Bob.

Its hard to find a decent urban fantasy series that doesn't go off the rails a few books in or has a powerful but really dumb lead (in order to simply give the character angst).

[Willoughby Swarthington]

Kathy wrote: "Its hard to find a decent urban fantasy series that doesn't go off the rails a few books in or has a powerful but really dumb lead (in order to simply give the character angst)."

Very! This is why I tend to enjoy it when instead of crippling the character's power, or intelligence, the author simply increases the challenges beset them. The immortal man series is one of the few examples of a not-very-powerful protagonist that is terribly engaging regardless because of the sheer creativeness of his superpower and solutions (knowing more about historical living than anyone else- somehow an actual superpower).

The hellequin chronicles, red moon demon, balance series, and iron druid chronicles are great examples of the protagonists getting stronger, but the challenges becoming more difficult instead of the characters being arbitrarily crippled.

[Kathy]

The immortal series was fun - always a plus - as Adam had to use his wits to survive and still stay in engaged with the world. A lot of other book characters could learn a lot from him:) (a la night at the museum with urban fantasy characters:)

I agree, the Hellequin chronicles are continuing good so far though for some reason that I'm not quite sure of I haven't kept up with the Iron Druid series though the character was both intelligent and funny.

[Marsha]

This is a pretty good series: