Dresden Files without the fairy dust

[Dennis]

I enjoy the Dresden Files but I think I like the edgier nature of Sandman Slim a little better. What would be a good series to join these two?

[Leiah]

I am a huge, huge Simon R. Green fan.Simon R Green Honestly, (but don't tell anyone) I am actually a bigger fan of his than I am of Dresden. Dresden has a bit of a martyr complex, IMO. Not that they are bad, just not as, well, is 'edgy' the word I am going for? Anyway, highly recommended. Start with the Nightside,Something from the Nightside of course, but he has others also that are quite good, though I am not a fan of Ghost. Ghost of a Chance They just don't seem to live up to the excellence I normally expect from Green.

There is a series out that really rides the edge of flat out *plagerism* from my understanding, but since it has a quote from Butcher, I suppose you could call it more of a paean to Butcher rather than copying. I don't remember the name of the series right off but if you are looking for somethign different, I would say that isn't it.

Also, have you ever read Mark Del Franco? Mark Del FrancoHe has been around a while, but I just finally got around to reading the first in his Connor Grey series, Unshapely Things. Review here: http://soireadthisbooktoday.com/2014/...

Hope this helps!
Leiah

[Dennis]

Good stuff! Thanks.I'll start with Simon and see where it goes from there.

Dennis

[Leiah]

Welcome!

[Joseph]

I second the suggestion of Mark Del Franco. In addition, you might want to take a look at these also:
C.J. Henderson's Piers Anthony series, I mean Piers Knight series, oops. :-)
Kevin Hearne's Iron Druid series
Justin Gustainis's Quincy Morris series
Kevin J. Anderson's Dan Shamble series
Benedict Jacka's Alex Versus series

[Leiah]

Ah! Yes, the Benedict Jacka is the one I was describing - the one I couldn't remember the author of. I have heard a lot about Kevin Hearne but haven't reached him in my TBR stack.

Oh, and I am sticking my tongue out at you right now - - - I now have to read C.J. Henderson. Though, it is Piers Knight not Piers Anthony (smiling). I used to read Piers Anthony's Xanth until it became all about pedophilia (his penchant for pedo is really disturbing once I started looking into his other stuff. Sigh.)

You mention Quincy Morris - how is the Occult Crimes Unit story line? Have you read those?

Mr. Anderson is, of course, a classic . . .

GREAT suggestions!

[thalassic]

Ben Aaronovitch's Peter Grant series
Charlie Huston's Joe Pitt series
Kat Richardson's Greywalker series
Rob Thurman's Cal Leandros series (and Korsak Brothers series)
Mike Carey's Felix Castor series

Mark Del Franco and Kevin Hearne are on the lighter end of the spectrum imo, more like Harry Dresden than Sandman Slim. Hearne is one of my favorites though, and I'm looking forward to reading more Del Franco and Green.

I'm really liking Harry Connolly's Twenty Palaces series but it sadly didn't get to finish. Really hope he'll get to write more of them at some point.

[Geneva]

Kim Harrison is similar to Butcher in a lot of ways, though I like Butcher better.

I absolutely love the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews. They fall somewhere between the two you listed, I think.

I second Mike Carey. That was actually the first that came to mind.

Seanan McGuire writes a very good series featuring some very traditional (and kind of dark) Celtic and Welsh Fae mythology. She is one of my very favorites.

[Joseph]

Syl wrote: "Kim Harrison is similar to Butcher in a lot of ways, though I like Butcher better.

I absolutely love the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews. They fall somewhere bet..."

I second the suggestion of Seanan McGuire and Kim Harrison, also. Because of the mention of Harry Dresden and Sandman Slim, I was only thinking about male main characters, but there are certainly plenty of great, magical female P.I.s, October Daye and Rachel Morgan being two of them. I'd add to those two ladies Jane Yellowrock by Faith Hunter. That series starts with Skinwalker.

[Deborah]

The Fae and the Fallen series, by Stina Leicht

[Leiah]

Just started a book called "Called: Southern Watch #1" Called which is starting off really well. "A drifter, a broken-down hitchhiker blown through Midian (TN) on the prevailing winds. . . and Hendricks is carrying a sword."

I got it because some reviewers compared it to Jim Butcher, so we shall see. Hey, it is only 99 cents at Amazon! Not exactly a huge investment for a series that may work out to be really good. We shall see. I will post a review when I am done.

Update: The book is also available in Sinners & Sorcerers: Four Urban Fantasy Thrillers for 99 cents!!! AND you also get stories by the amazing S.M. Reine, Daniel Arenson, Scott Nicholson, and J.R. Rain. What could be better?

Humpfh. I was reading Called, put it away for the night, and when I picked it up for reading to continue today, I wound up in the middle of the next book of the anthology somehow - - . No wonder I thought I had lost my mind. Can't say that Flaming Dove is worth reading...absolutely NOT to my tastes!

Review of Called posted, 4:40pm 030214

[Megan]

Paul Cornell's London Falling series is pretty new. Only the first is out yet, though the second is being released in a couple months. But if you don't mind the wait, I would highly recommend it.



Lauren Beukes writes standalones, not series. This is the only of hers I've read to date (but believe me, her newest is high on my TBR pile), but they look to have that same edge to them.



Finally, in the fantasy field (as opposed to urban fantasy), I was recommended this in a similar thread and can't have enough good things to say about it. If you don't mind your story taking place in a made-up world as opposed to a fictionalized version of the real world, I would suggest checking Alex Bledsoe's Eddie Lacrosse series out as well. (Though, full warning, I can only vouch for the quality of the first so far.)

[Mary X]

I 3rd Mike Carey's Felix Castor books.

[Practical Mike]

I've enjoyed all of the Eddie LaCross novels from Alex Bledsoe. One was a little slower than the others, but it was still a good read. Got the latest in hardcover just last week.

These along with Michael Sullivan's Ryria Tales are the only straight Fantasy books I pick up on sight, no review needed.

And Joe Abercrombie too... that guy writes some of the grittiest fantasy I've come across. He hasn't let me down yet. Found a lot of these in the library, but I'm going to pick them up for my private library in the future too.



Alex Bledsoe

[Dennis]

So, I Read This Book Today wrote: "Just started a book called "Called: Southern Watch #1"Called which is starting off really well. "A drifter, a broken-down hitchhiker blown through Midian ..."

I ordered Called after your comments here and on your blog. Fun to explore something new. Thanks.

[Practical Mike]

I picked up Called too... the price was right, and the author's blog had a piece on Indie publishing that was pretty interesting.

[Leiah]

You are very welcome! Let me know what you think about it. Like I said, you may enjoy it more from the male perspective than from my female perspective. Not that I don't like "male centric" works, but my tastes run to the Simon R. Green, Jim Butcher, Clive Cussler, James Rollins style of writing.