Urban Fantasy discussion
BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS
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Hi All Looking for a new UF to read
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Midnight Riot, a detective that discovers there's a supernatural side of things. Very, very good. Three books in the series at the moment. My review of the first: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...If you'd consider female heroines, the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews (a husband wife team) is action oriented, interesting worldbuilding and a snarky female that kicks some butt (and does not talk about her clothes every five pages).
If you prefer a male lead, WebMage is the start of an interesting dual-world series. Computer geek/ Greek gods. I think there's 5 books and its done at the moment.
Thanks! Forgot to list Midnight Riot/ Rivers Of London, which is a great series.Ill try Kate Daniels, since everyone seems to rave about it, can't allow myself to be limited in my reading! Just have some residual me from the Anita Blake books :)
I just started Sweet Silver Blues. Fantasy-PI mish-mash. A lot of people love Glen Cook's style. It's been moderately amusing.
I don't see you have mentioned The Jane Yellowrock series by Faith Hunter,The first book is Skinwalker), or The Mercedes Thompson series,(the first book is Moon Called they are my personal favourites as far as series go, but for something really different, try Charles De Lint's Newford series. It is not a true series like the others you mentioned, rather stand-alone novels taking place in the same universe. De Lint combines Myths and Folklore and Twilight Zone type scenarios in an urban setting. I suggest not following the order they are written in, rather starting right away with one of his adult novels like Trader, Someplace to Be Flying or The Onion Girl.
Rich wrote: "Hi Everyone-Posted this on Amazon with little success so I was excited to find an active UF discussion forum so I decided to repost here.
So I love the genre but tend to gobble up the books far ..."
Rich wrote: "Hi Everyone-
Posted this on Amazon with little success so I was excited to find an active UF discussion forum so I decided to repost here.
So I love the genre but tend to gobble up the books far ..."
I didn't see the Hollows posted
This would be the first in the series if you haven't read any of them yet. I can't recommend it enough.A longer list of some other "first in the series" recommendations are;
Most of these are female protagonists except for Eli Monpress, and Jhereg which are also more on the fantasy end of the spectrum not really UF at all. You already had most of the good male hero series covered as being already read.
Hope some of that helps. Good luck and good reading.
I have to definitely second the recommendation of the Kate Daniels series. Kate is not a typical female heroine at all. She is snarky, edgy, dark, and would much rather be killing things than worrying about what clothes to wear.
My husband liked the Fever series by Karen Marie Moning (one of my fave series). I did have to warn him about the main character (Mac), and will pass this warning along to you in case you want to give the series a try. I didn't like Mac at the beginning of the series and didn't warm up to her for awhile. She is spoiled, and obsessed with clothes, makeup, and always looking perfect. But she changes a lot during the series and becomes a lot more likeable. It was the main story line that kept me reading and sucked in my husband as well. KMM did a good job of giving away little pieces of info at a time and before you know it you find yourself obsessed with finding out what is going on.
John Hartness' Black Knight Chronicles is a pretty fun read, but good.
Another good one that is a under rated is Dead Harvest.
A third series, well, one book is Imperium by Nicholas Olivo.
Rob Thurmans Leandros series is good too, but can sometimes be a little repetitive.
I'm reading the Joe Ledger series by Jonathan Maberry at the moment - the first book is :Patient Zero which has really impressed me so far. It has a well written lead male character which may interest you.I also enjoyed Rivers of London, Felix Castor, Hellequin and the Demon Accords series (which you already have on your list).
You might also like A Madness of Angels - but its one of those books you either love or hate I think but once I got past the first rather somewhat confusing section I really loved it.
Monster Hunter International might also be something you enjoy.
There's tonnes of interesting books in the urban fantasy genre these days though not all writers can do a whole series of equal quality with good character development.
Thanks for the suggestions so far everyone, keep them coming, already picked up a few of them to start. Its nice to actually have found an active UF board, as most others I had come across hadn't been updated in months.
Rich,Are you mostly looking for mysteries? Or is that just what you've been reading? Because Charles de Lint is very, very good and not steamy. He has a series set in Newford, some of the ones with male protagonists are Trader, Someplace to Be Flying. He also writes short story collections Dreams Underfoot. Then he decided to leave Newford and now has his characters living in the desert southwest. For instance, The Painted Boy.
Rich, I like a lot of the books you mentioned, so maybe you will like some of my suggestions- we do need to feed our UF addiction: (by the way, my likes tend to be male leads, but not always)(sorry if some are duplicates of other suggestions)
Already Dead
The Nymphos of Rocky Flats
Dead on My Feet
Raising Stony Mayhall zombie- FABULOUS
Snake Agent
Bitter Seeds sort of UF- WWII wizards
American Gods
Child of Fire
Go-Go Girls of the ApocalypseBlood Engines
Sunglasses After Dark early Nancy Collins
Anno Dracula
Once Bitten, Twice ShyBitten
Finally, best book I read in a long time was Daniel O'Malley's The Rook (which was suggested by someone else).
Hope you find some new authors you like- if you like my list le tme know I have more authors to recommend.
Child of Fire
I see this in the list in the last post. I can also say I loved this. It's a series. Child of Fire is the 1st book.
Have you tried Stephen Blackmore? I have
and
on my shelf to read.
Kindle-aholic wrote: "Have you tried Stephen Blackmore? I have and on my shelf to read."I also have
Dead things on my shelf. Its the next thing I want to read. I haven't read City Lost though..
Julia wrote: "Rich,Are you mostly looking for mysteries? Or is that just what you've been reading? Because Charles de Lint is very, very good and not steamy. He has a series set in Newford, some of the ones wi..."
I didnt even realize I was specializing in mysteries till you mentioned it and then I looked at my read list! I am open to anything and from the looks of this thread Im going to have ALOT of reading to do!
People have recommended De Lint but it seems his stories aren't linear, only set in the same universe. I dont exclude stand alone books but I just hate when you discover a character you love and they are never to be heard from again.
Rich wrote: "Julia wrote: "Rich,Are you mostly looking for mysteries? Or is that just what you've been reading? Because Charles de Lint is very, very good and not steamy. He has a series set in Newford, some ..."
No, with Charles De Lint's Newford series it is the opposite, many of the characters reappear. It is true that each book is a stand-alone, but the characters in one novel often have cameo appearances in other novels, so that if someone has read the other novels it is like getting an extra treat. I however, don't recommend following the order suggested on Goodreads. That is just the order the books are written in. His stand-alone adult novels like Trader, The Onion Girl or Someplace to Be Flying are way stronger than his Ya novels(although I also liked most of them).His short stories are mixed, some better than others.
And I'd suggest that new readers to de Lint hold off on The Onion Girl and Widdershins. You could begin there, but you'll be missing so much! These two books are about one of these characters we see often...
Carol wrote: "I just started Sweet Silver Blues. Fantasy-PI mish-mash. A lot of people love Glen Cook's style. It's been moderately amusing."I think you described these books perfectly, "moderately amusing". :) I purchased the collected editions so Im thru the first 8 books and they are just that, moderately amusing. They are ok to good, never terrible but never great.
Tasula wrote: "Rich, I like a lot of the books you mentioned, so maybe you will like some of my suggestions- we do need to feed our UF addiction: (by the way, my likes tend to be male leads, but not always)(sorr..."
Thanks! :) I ordered Already Dead, The Rook and the first book of Dead On My Feet, who for some reason is not on Kindle (not a huge deal Im a 50/50 split, like real books more but know the value of the Kindle in certain settings)
Rich wrote: "Carol wrote: "I just started Sweet Silver Blues. Fantasy-PI mish-mash. A lot of people love Glen Cook's style. It's been moderately amusing."I think you described these books perfectly, "moderate..."
Glad I'm not alone with my assessment of these books. I thought they were ok, but not good enough in the end to keep. I've got to the point where I only keep books I'd read twice, due to space constraints, and these books never made the cut.
Julia wrote: "And I'd suggest that new readers to de Lint hold off on The Onion Girl and Widdershins. You could begin there, but you'll be missing so much! These two books are about one of these characters we se..."Personally I think it would be okay to start with Onion Girl, but I agree 100% about not starting with Widdershins without first reading Onion Girl and Spirits in the Wires! Before the Onion Girl, there are short stories about Jilly Coppercorn, one of which that is important to the story but it is retold in Onion Girl. Otherwise Jilly is only in the sidelines in the novels before that.
My main point is that because many people think they have to read in the order, they never make it past the first few books. The First, Dreams Underfoot is a short story collection and the second, Dreaming place is YA. They are good IMO but not as fantastic as the later novels.
Kathy wrote: "Rich wrote: "Carol wrote: "I just started Sweet Silver Blues. Fantasy-PI mish-mash. A lot of people love Glen Cook's style. It's been moderately amusing."I think you described these books perfect..."
Yes, I have the same situation--a book needs to be re-read worthy, or significant in some way to stay on my shelves.
Rich, have you read any of Steven Brust's Vlad Taltos series? They are very interesting, interesting world-building. If I remember right, Taltos is first, even if it says #4--he did a star wars thing and went back in the timeline.
Carol wrote: "Rich, have you read any of Steven Brust's Vlad Taltos series? They are very interesting, interesting world-building. If I remember right, Taltos is first, even if it says #4--he did a star wars thi..."I definitely agree with your recommendation (see my previous post) but I do not agree that you should start out with the 4th book in the series. Yes, he does jump around in the timeline and some people do like reading things in chronological order, but I think it lends something to the story reading it in the order the author actually released the books.
Just my $0.02
Al wrote: "I definitely agree with your recommendation (see my previous post) but I do not agree that you should start out with the 4th book in the series. Yes, he does jump around in the timeline and some people do like reading things in chronological order, but I think it lends something to the story reading it in the order the author actually released the books."I won't disagree. I had a headache last night and couldn't be troubled to look it up. Order of release is best, even if not storyline chronological.
Thanks everyone! I ve started a lot of your recommendations and have a buch more on the way!
Carol wrote: "Midnight Riot, a detective that discovers there's a supernatural side of things. Very, very good. Three books in the series at the moment. My review of the first: http://www.goodreads.com/review/sh..."Just finished reading Magic Bites and it was a great read! Thanks for the recommendation!
I definitely agree with the recommendation of Kelley Armstrong Otherworld series books. Bitten is the first book in the series.Although I do also recommend reading the short story books: Tales of the Otherworld and Men of the Otherworld after reading the first book Bitten as it fills in so much background on all the main characters in the series.
Short quick reads but give you so much info!
Bummer is the series is over and she's moving on to other things.
I did like her detective series the Nadia Stafford books, Exit Strategy Made to Be Broken Wild Justice even though they didn't have any supernaturals in them.
I even liked her teen supernatural series books and passed them onto my granddaughter who loved them too! The Gathering The Calling The Reckoning
Other series I love is Kim Harrison and her Rachel Morgan series The Good, the Bad, and the Undead being my favourite! as well as the first one Dead Witch Walking
Funny, intense, sexy, loads of mystery and all genre of supernaturals included!
I'm just finishing the last book in the series Ever After Ever After I wish the series would go on but alas the author had decided to move on to new things.
Of course there is always Charlaine Harris Charlaine Harris and the Sookie Stackhouse series Dead Until Dark that the HBO series True Blood is based on. I found the first season followed the books pretty close but after that True Blood went off on it's own. Tons of books, short stories, free downloads, stories in anthology books with other authors, but again Charlaine has ended the series with the last book Deadlocked, I have yet to read that and the one before which I do have on hand Dead Reckoning and will be reading soon.
She does have several other series of books but not in this genre, just check out her page for more info.
But read all 3 of those series and you'll be busy for quite awhile! :D
Based on your list, I'd be surprised if you'd like Kate Daniels. Just sayin'!How about The Man Who Crossed Worlds Was quite good and matches your preference for snarky guys pretty well I think.
I liked John Levitt and definitely Benedict Jacka...but you already mentioned those. Well, I had best go check my list. Oh, Mark Van Name is one you might look into. More a sci/fi...but has some UF qualities about it too.
I'm glad to hear you enjoyed the Ilona Andrews book, Magic Bites, that is one of my favorite series.I will also highly recommend Kim Harrison as this is my absolute favorite series. The Hollows series has everything you want from and Urban Fantasy book. Kim Harrison posted on Facebook today that the first book in the series, Dead Witch Walking, will be free on Amazon on Sunday. The first book is a little slow in the beginning, like most first books in a series, but I will say that they keep getting better. The series is planned for 13 books so there are two more left to be published, Ever After, the most recent book came out in January.
I haven't seen anyone mention Jocelyn Drake yet. I read her Dark Days Series was very good and she has a new series, the Asylum Tales which is from the male point of view. I've not read the new series yet but it's in my TBR pile.
You might also want to check out Devon Monk, Chloe Neill and Jaye Wells. I don't think any of them have been mentioned but are all excellent series that I have enjoyed very much. All from the female point of view (which is mostly what I read).
Other authors that have been mentioned that I have also enjoyed are Particia Briggs, Carrie Vaughn, Charlaine Harris (whose Sookie Stachouse series just had the last book published) and Karen Chance.
I hope you find some good books to add to you list, I know I have. Happy Reading.
Me again!Above I posted that Dead Witch Walking will be free at Amazon on Sunday. That was incorrect, it will be $1.99 for one day only (May 19th). Sorry for any confusion.
Also, there was an article a few months back by Paul Goat Allen, a blogger at Barnes and Nobel. He listed The 20 Best Paranormal Novels of the Past Decade (as according to him). Here is a link to the article:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/th...
There were also 2 other posts by him that I enjoyed. The Paranormal Fantasy IQ Test: How Many First Lines From Classic Sagas Can You Identify?:
http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t...
The Best Paranormal Fantasy Releases of 2012:
http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t...
And I had my calendar marked too! :>) I've read it already, but in paperback. It's already reasonable in ebook at under 5 dollars. At least it was when I checked this morning!
Rich, you have good tastes. I like all of the same series. Some recommendations:
Nick Pollotta's Bureau 13 series.
Robert Asprin's Dragon's Luck series
(also the 1ast two books of his Phule series, though they are more Sci-fi, The Cold Cash Wars and The Bug Wars)
Cherie Priest's Cheshire Red books
Charles Stross' Laundry series
Thanks Ed, I havent heard of those series before Ill definitly give them a shot.
My tastes are becoming really ecclectic. Here are a few of my picks: Susannah Sandlin
Susannah Sandlin
(Same author, different pen names for her different series. Both are GREAT!)
The Ghost and the Graveyard
The Daemon Whisperer
I have a ton more and if you want to go a bit more sci-fi-ish/destopian (which I'm currently devouring like a starving person), let me know. I've got a lot more of those, too.
Maria wrote: "Based on your list, I'd be surprised if you'd like Kate Daniels. Just sayin'!How about The Man Who Crossed Worlds Was quite good and matches your preference for snarky guys pretty well I think. ..."
That one sounds awesome. I love the description at the top of the blur. "The Man Who Crossed Worlds is urban fantasy with a twist of pulp and served in a dirty glass." Yeah. That was added!
The Hallows series by Kim Harrison is my favorite, give them a try. I like a lot of the other suggestions here too but a couple I like that no one has mentioned are: The Walker Papers series by C E Murphy. Allie Beckstrom series by Devon Monk and The Elemental Assassin by Jennifer Estep.
Based on your list, I think you will really like Sleight of Hand and Hidden Trump, and the prequel, Raw Deal Excellent, excellent new UF series. Cannot wait for the next book in it! He just released the prequel to it, which I haven't read yet, but some of the reviewers have said if you are just starting the series and haven't read the first two books, go ahead and read the prequel first to have a bit of back story already understood instead of having to get it from the other two. I just looked it up today and it is actually free on Amazon right now, no idea how long will be-- Raw Deal
I am very picky about which books I absolutely love. I do LOVE Ilona Andrews' Kate Daniels series and this "Bite Back" series I have ranked right up there just a HAIR under that one, but better in some ways. Slightly less romantic angst like the Andrews were able to lightly tease us with in the first couple of books, is the only reason I rank it slightly lower. ...But some people prefer that, of course. :)
Urban Fantasy
Books mentioned in this topic
Sleight of Hand (other topics)Raw Deal (other topics)
Hidden Trump (other topics)
The Daemon Whisperer (other topics)
The Ghost and the Graveyard (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Susannah Sandlin (other topics)Kelley Armstrong (other topics)
Kim Harrison (other topics)
Charlaine Harris (other topics)
Charles de Lint (other topics)
Posted this on Amazon with little success so I was excited to find an active UF discussion forum so I decided to repost here.
So I love the genre but tend to gobble up the books far too quickly and am currently out, so any help would be much appreciated!
What I ve read and really loved
- Harry Dresden, Any series by Simon R. Green :), Iron Druid, Connor Grey, Felix Castor, Dog Days, Simon Canderous, Midnight Riot series, Alex Verus and the Hellequin.
Series that were ok/ pretty good but had some flaws - Stalking The Vampire, Sandman Slim and John Conroe's books, Blood Price/ Blood Ties, The Buntline Special and the Burton and Swinepole series ( both more steampunkish)
I tried the first 5 or 6 Anita Blake books but then they took a turn for the worse. I didn't enjoy the Markhat books at all really. Remy Chandler and Leandros Brothers started out strong but faded for me as the books progressed.
I know, I know it looks like the stereotypical collection of snarky male characters but its what I ve got :)
Thanks for everyones help, Im just out of ideas and every search on google for recommendations always leads to the ones Ive listed .
Thanks again!