If you like Ilona Andrews, you might like...

[Sara]

You might want to consider Devon Monk's - Allie Beckstrom books. I've enjoyed the series. Became aware of her through Ilona's website. :-)

[Karin Elisabeth]

Sara wrote: "You might want to consider Devon Monk's - Allie Beckstrom books. I've enjoyed the series. Became aware of her through Ilona's website. :-)"

Thanks for the suggestion - I will consider it as of the time being I'm waiting for my favourite series to continue!

[carol.]

If you like Kate Daniels, you will probably enjoy Mercy in Patricia Brigg's Mercy Thompson series. I don't find her Alpha and Omega series to be as challenging or as deeply written, and the main female suffers from many insecurities including the abusive ex syndrome. Jane, in Faith Hunter's Jane Yellowrock series also comes to mind of a tough, sarcastic heroine that is working through some issues, while freelancing for the vampire council. Rachel Morgan in Kim Harrison's novels is interesting at first, but takes a long time to grow as a person, and many of storylines have to deal with her owning up to some emotional issue. It gets tiring, along about the fifth or sixth book. Lilith St. Crow's Kismet reminds me a bit of Kate, but her stories are violent, and lack much of the depth of Andrew's writing. Chole Neill's Chicagoland series is more like reading chicklit with vampires. You know, very modern language and lots of descriptions of clothes and hot men. Just a few thoughts. Mostly depends on what you like about Andrews...the action? Humor? Worldview? Slow romantic interests? Kick-butt heroine? There's so much to like!

[Karin Elisabeth]

Carol wrote: "If you like Kate Daniels, you will probably enjoy Mercy in Patricia Brigg's Mercy Thompson series. I don't find her Alpha and Omega series to be as challenging or as deeply written, and the main f..."

It's funny - I tried to get into Mercy Thompson but have not yet achieved it - I like her Alpha and Omega series a lot better. But I definitely agree with you Carol - people might like them if they like Kate Daniels.

[Mariya]

it took me the longest time to get into Mercy Thompson. I didn't really start to like it til book 4.

[Karin Elisabeth]

Mariya wrote: "it took me the longest time to get into Mercy Thompson. I didn't really start to like it til book 4."

Thanks for "encouraging" me - I'm still trying to like Mercy Thompson better than I did before.

[Mariya]

book 5 is the best though. glad I continued with it.

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

Oh, I heart Mercy Thompson. But different strokes, as they say.

[Vic]

I'll second recommendations for following series: Dresden Files, Mercy Thompson, Alpha & Omega, Cassie Palmer, October Day, & Cat and Bones.

Add recommendation for:
Women of the Otherworld series by Kelley Armstrong
World of the Lupi series by Eileen Wilks
Kitty Norville series by Carrie Vaughn

[Samina The Story Devourer]

I have read the above series apart from shifters but can't decide if I will like it not. I know it is very popular too. I like my Urban fantasy with good romance angle.

[Samina The Story Devourer]

Lady Vale wrote: "Shifters is amazing! You have to read it Samina! I know the first 2 books are not as good as the rest but the las 3 books are 3 of the best I have ever read. I adore hat series."

Well, I will take your word on that.We have similar tastes in books.
As soon as I am done with my current book I will start Shifters..its been so long since I have come across a good series.

[Mariya]

I just have to add these two series. They became favorites after I read them.



OMG! Death is an actual character!

[Mariya]

haha. that may be a while. but I know what you mean. I wish I was able to find a really good UF series that has 3-4 books out already. Hasn't happened yet though

[Mariya]

Let me know if you stumble upon any UF that have quite a few books out and are 5 star worthy XD

[Samina The Story Devourer]

I have added the books in my to read shelf.
I completely understand with not starting a series with less than 4 books.Waiting for new books in the series can be so painful *Fever Series*. Plus reading these books back to back makes you appreciate them more.
I am going to start the Kresley Cole books. I don't usually read paranormal romance but I have read such good things about it.

[carol.]

I would completely agree with the Mercy series by Briggs, less so with the Alpha and Omega.

Chicagoland Vampires by Neill, not so much. Much more like chick-lit than urban fantasy (possibly paranormal romance). Rob Thurman's Cal Leandros books are interesting. Very dark, and continue to improve--I like Roadkill the best. Mark del Franco's Conner Grey series is also dark, and thematically more like The Dresden Files. Very full world-building. Marjorie Liu's Hunter Kiss novels are probably most like Kate Daniels in heroine type. Strong heroine with some very unusual tattoos and a tendency towards being solitary. Not as much wisecracking, but the author takes her world building seriously.

[Joe]

So I need a new series. What would you guys recommend. Have a lot of time now that school is over. Thinking Conner Grey, Sirantha Jax, or Alex Craft, but I'd t ake other recommendations.

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

Connor Grey will keep you busy, Joe. You might also like Midnight Riot.

[Joe]

LOL. Ended up starting the first Alex Craft book today. I'll have to start Connor Grey next. Hopefully by that time, Magic Slays will be out.

[Nicole]

I've read and enjoyed bothe Sirantha Jax & Alex Craft (have high expectactions for the 2nd book) but who/what is Connor Grey? Author?

[carol.]

Mark Del Franco Unshapely Things is the first one. They are interesting; kind of dark view of the world, and fae are as screwed up as humans. I wouldn't compare his writing to Jim Butcher's Dresden as well, as thematically it's quite dark, although fae politics do play a role. I think his writing improves as the books progress. If you like detective urban fiction, Mark Carey's Felix Castor is interesting. The Devil You Know A lot of people say Felix reminds them of Dresden.

[Devon]

I absolutely recommend Patricia Briggs. Her Mercy Thompson is my top favorite, Alpha and Omega are 'meh' but after Mercy I absolutely adore her earlier series (Masque's, The Raven Series, Hurog) they all rock in my opinion.

Also, Kelley Armstrong. I love her otherworld series. Her spin-off of it are YA but they are still good, too. Though, they're done as a story arc done over a trilogy not individual each book. She also have a type of cop turned mob hitman. I'm not a huge fan of those two books since the resolution in them seems to be too easy.

Finally, moira j. moore. with her hero series. If there's going to be a series I like the build-up of the romance. This has it here, the characters were good and so were the plots. Lately though, her books aren't as good as her earlier ones. For example book #4 was just a setup for book #5.

[Kate]

I love Patricia Briggs' Mercy Thompson and Alpha and Omega series, Karen Marie Moning's Fever series, all of Richelle Mead's books, Kim Harrison's The Hollows, and Jim Butcher's Dresden Files. (Jim Butcher's Codex Alera series is also really good, just more epic fantasy than urban fantasy.)

I also recommend Kelley Armstrong, Kalayna Price, Jennifer Estep, Jeaniene Frost, Carrie Vaughn, and the first seven or so books of Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake series.

[[deleted user]]

Try the Kim Harrison, Rachel Morgan series. Or, the relatively new series by D.D. Barant.Dying BitesDeath BlowsKilling RocksDead Witch WalkingThe Good, the Bad, and the UndeadEvery Which Way But DeadA Fistful of CharmsFor a Few Demons MoreThe Outlaw Demon WailsWhite Witch, Black CurseBlack Magic SanctionPale Demon

[Nicole]

Kate wrote: "I love Patricia Briggs' Mercy Thompson and Alpha and Omega series, Karen Marie Moning's Fever series, all of Richelle Mead's books, Kim Harrison's The Hollows, and Jim Butcher's Dresden Files. (Jim..."

I used to read the hollows series but I no longer like the lead female she's a bit to naive & clueless for me; also unbelievably not self aware, so I abandoned that series. However I really enjoyed the YA novels she wrote as Dawn cook

[Synobal]

Sometimes I wonder if I'm the only guy who doesn't really think of these novels as paranormal romance. It's not like she hooks up with Curran in the first novel nor do the romance take center stage to the plot. It's no more Romance than the Dresden Files or The Hollows series as far as I'm concerned.

[Marsha]

Synobal wrote: "Sometimes I wonder if I'm the only guy who doesn't really think of these novels as paranormal romance. It's not like she hooks up with Curran in the first novel nor do the romance take center stage..."

I agree with you - I don't really classify the Kate Daniels series as paranormal romance either. If I wanted to read an actual romance novel (I typically don't like "Romance Novels"), it wouldn't be one of these. I think that the romance that does take place is one of those elements to her character and life that makes her more real and 'well rounded'. Paranormal/Urban Fantasy for sure, but paranormal romance? Not so sure about that classification.

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

I don't consider Kate Daniels a romance series. I'm glad it's uf. I like that she has a relationship with Curran, but I don't think it should be the focus of the books.

[Beanbag]

Lady Danielle "The Book Huntress" wrote: "I don't consider Kate Daniels a romance series. I'm glad it's uf. I like that she has a relationship with Curran, but I don't think it should be the focus of the books."

I agree, Danielle. Their relationship is romantic, but the plot doesn't surround it. The Edge series is PN romance, but it still has the UF detailing that makes it a little edgier than PNR, I think.

It's funny, I find a lot of UF fans complaining about any romance in a series. You see a lot of "if I wanted to read a romance novel I'd read romance!" in reviews. It's like it repels them or something. Personally, I think it's inevitable if you're going to have mixed gender cast that romance will at least be speculated.

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

I just don't like to see the whole UF series about who the heroine is currently sleeping with or wants to sleep with. I find that annoying, but I like a little romance in the uf world, just in perspective.

I see a lot of readers who read UF and complain that there isn't enough romance. I kind of smile it off. I think that you can PNR if you are just focused on romance.

I love UF almost as much as romance, so I can read an UF book with no romance and still be happy.

[Beanbag]

I agree. Sometimes I'm not happy with the romance because it feels inorganic and I'd rather it not be there at all.

But I do watch fans of UF series start shipping right away regardless of whether romance is the central goal or not. And then the anti-romance people get going and slam any love interest that comes up.

Personally, I like a nice, organic romance in my UF, but, like you Danielle, I can live without it if the plot holds up.

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

Like you said, organic is the key!

[Marsha]

I think the romantic aspect of the Kate Daniels series is done well. They didn't discover each other and fall helplessly into each other's arms and feel as though they would die without each other - yuck. They came to their relationship in a natural way (organically - perfect description!). It adds depth to the story and makes it feel more real - even if we know it isn't real to begin with.

[Kate]

Kate and Curran's relationship is one of my favorites. Their interactions always have me laughing out loud (which results in some interesting looks), but I agree that it's not the focus of the series, which in my opinion is a good thing. It can be hard to find UF books where the plot isn't just an excuse for the romance, but the Kate Daniels series isn't the only one!

[Joe]

I need a new series to read, someone recommend something. I've read:

Fever
Kate Daniels
Dresden Files
Mercy Thompson
Night Huntress
Rachel Morgan

[Bungluna]

Try some of these:

Kitty Norvil by Carrie Vaughn
Anita Blake by Laurell K. Hamilton
Dark Hunters by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Anything by Shelly Laurenston (she's bawdy and funny)
Lilly Yu by Eileen Wilks

[Joe]

Thanks. I'll look into those.

[Kelli]

What is the Edge Series I keep reading about?

[[deleted user]]

How about:
Elemental Assassin series - Jennifer Estep
Chicagoland Vampire series - Chloe Neill
October Daye series - Seanan McGuire
The Bloodhound Files - D.D. Barant
Jaz Parks series - Jennifer Rardin
Dreg City series - Kelly Meding
Cheshire Red Reports - Cherie Priest
Walker Papers - C.E. Murphy

[Bungluna]

@Kelli - the Edge series is a paranormal romance series by author Ilona Andrews. Book three is about to come out. The first two books are "On The Edge" and "Bayou Moon".

[Joe]

I liked teh first Edge book. Didn't get into the second because it was different characters.

[Tabitha Cothern]

Joe wrote: "I liked teh first Edge book. Didn't get into the second because it was different characters."

You might give it another shot. I actually liked the second one better. In fact, I liked the 3rd even better than that, so I guess, for me, the series gets better as it goes. This series is more paranormal romance than urban fantasy, so like most romance series each book will highlight a different couple in the same world.

[Karin Elisabeth]

I actually liked the second one better. In fact, I liked ..."

I totally agree. The first book was nice but kind of average - but the series got better and the third book I enjoyed most.

[Lady Jaye]

I didn't like the second one at all :(. But the third was a lot of fun,.

[Elaine]

Hi Lady Jaye - I loved the second one, thought it just expanded my horizon the what "the edge" was and what lay beyond it. But there were parts that were very imaginative, so I can understand your point of view. Really glad to hear you liked the third one!

[Deepthy]

Hmm ... I didn't see anyone recommend the Walker series by CE Murphy .... The first book starts off slow but man, then it picks up so well! Oh and Jennifer Estep - The Spider series (I even like her Frost series but that's YA and pretty light reading for now) ..... I also like Rob Thurman's Trickster series (But I can't find out when the next book will be out!)
I also like Sabina kane as well as the Kara Gillian (Mark of the demon etc) books ..... though if you read the last book along with Lillith St Crow's books you'll feel like you're in the same world with different characters .....

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

Good list, Deepthy!

[Deepthy]

:) Thanks! I've kind of made it my life's mission to find good UF series right now :D

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

That's a worthy endeavor!

[Theresa]

So far this series to me, is a cross between Mercy Thompson and Cassandra Palmer. Although, I am not as crazy about Cassandra Palmer as I am about Mercy Thompson and Kate Daniels. Has anyone read the Allie Beckstrom books? Is that any good?