Looking for a bunch of different stuff. Details inside.

[KidReper]

Hi everyone, I'm looking for a few different things. Everything should have a good dose of action included.

1. Stuff( everything you got :D ) with a female magic user as the protagonist. Romance is a must but doesn't have to be in the first book and preferably no hardcore alpha males. I don't want to read about my main having to not only deal with the bad guys, but also having to deal with a over bearing love interest.

2. Stuff with a male protagonist. Still want romance but I want the love interest to be a power of her own. I'm cool with white knight types, but I would rather have my hero and his love interest fighting together rather than him having to protect her all the time. Still prefer magic users here but it isn't a requirement.

3. Stuff where the protagonist isn't outclassed by everything he/she fights. I don't want a protag that is unbeatable, but holds their own in fights. Think Harry Dresden. He regularly loses fights, but dishes out just as much punishment as he gets on a regular basis.

Series that I have read and enjoyed:
Kate Daniels - Magic Bites
Nighthuntress - Halfway to the Grave
Dragon Kin - Dragon Actually
The Hollows - Dead Witch Walking
Iron Druid Chronicles - Hounded
All souls Trilogy - A Discovery of Witches
Elemental Mysteries - A Hidden Fire
The Dresden Files - Fool Moon

There is a lot more out there that I have read but don't feel like listing.

Last thing, not a fan of Jane Yellowrock or Mercy Thompson.

All recommendations are welcome. Thanks in advance!

[Apollo]

You might like the Rivers of London series of novels from Ben Aaronovitch. I think it might fall in line with option 3 on your list.

[KidReper]

Apollo wrote: "You might like the Rivers of London series of novels from Ben Aaronovitch. I think it might fall in line with option 3 on your list."

Thank you. It's on my TBR list.

[Susan]

The first few (up through Blue Moon?) Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake books -- after that it mostly descends into porn

if you don't mind YA, just read the Six of Crows duology and it was AWESOME!!!

also, if you don't mind GNs (graphic novels) The Books of Magic -- the original 4-issue mini series was was written by Neil Gaiman and he guested in the 75 (+ 4 annuals) -issue regular series
Guilty Pleasures
Six of Crows
The Books of Magic (these were also adapted into childrens' novels by Carla Jablonski, but aren't as good)
The Books of Magic, Volume 1: Bindings

[Jana]

I just beta read a book which fits nicely here, but it won't be out until January! :)

You might like Rosemary and Rue (The October Daye series) by Seannan McGuire. Or the Jaz Parks books by Jennifer Rardin. These deal with fairies and vampires, but fit a lot of the rest of the criteria.

[Moria]

I second Ben Aaronovitch's rivers of London and Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo.

I also like
Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor
Rachel Caine's Weather Warden series
Kim Harrison's Drafter series
Laura Anne Gilman's Retriever series
Seanan McGuire Incryptid & October Daye series
Michelle Sagara
Wen Spenser
Carrie Vaughn
Kalayna Price
Lillith Saintcrow
C. E. Murphy

[Emma Carlin]

I would recommend the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs (https://www.goodreads.com/series/4093...).

Fits #1. As far as #3 she's pretty bad-ass but part of the draw is how she can hold her own against others that are physically a lot more powerful than her. So I think #3 applies, she holds her own through cunning, but don't expect her to go all Kate Daniels.

[Nerdy Werewolf]

I'm going to second the series. Strong female protagonist, a little romance and no alpha male. She also fits into the "not outclassed" portion. Lots of humor, lots of action-fun to read!

-I always recommend this series to those who enjoy the Hollows world of Kim Harrison. It's got a great cast of characters and a unique sort of magic.

-Do you read graphic novels? This is the pinnacle of awesome. The main characters are a couple and they will blow you away.

-READ THEM. The heroine is different that what is the 'norm' as far as UF goes, but she's got a different kind of strength, I think. A bit of an alpha male, but not the overbearing kind. If anything, give it a shot.

[Nerdy Werewolf]

I really need to read more books with a male protagonist...

[Jolinda]

Simon R. Green's Nightside series. I cannot recommend this series highly enough! It's like the UF series that everyone forgets about (or never knew about), but once you read it, you're hooked! It's got a main male character, John Taylor, and he "finds things," that's literally like his whole power, so you don't have to worry about him being unstoppable, he's basically outclassed in every fight ever! And the main female romance can definitely hold her own! This is a direct quote: "Suzie is one of the most hardcore bounty hunters in the Nightside, and goes by many names. Shotgun Suzie, Suzie Shooter, and 'Oh Christ, it's her, Run!'"

[Jordan]

Hmmm, Demon Accords has a Male protagonist that shares the stage in later books with a female protagonist that is a definite badass (and love interest).

[Nerdy Werewolf]

LOL...Jolinda, this must have slipped by me but consider it on my TBR! Also, thanks, Jordan!

[kittykat AKA Ms. Tortitude]

Hey Jon

I think that the Allie Beckstrom series by Devon Monk meets all your criteria.

The first book is . She is a magic user and knows vaguely her love interest early on, but it's slow burn over the series and he is a strong hero without being an ass about it. The world is magical, but in an almost scientific way and there's no supernatural creatures really so it's different to lots of other UF in that respect. Also, there is a consequence to using magic, so Allie certainly doesn't have it easy on her journey!

Just out of interest, why don't you like Mercy or Jane? It's unusual to find a UF fan that doesn't like either let alone both! I like Mercy but prefer the main characters I think in Alpha and Omega. I haven't read any Jane yet but think that I will like it when I get there.