Favorite Urban Fantasies?

My favorites right this very moment are Moon Called and the Aisling Grey novels by Kelley Armstrong. I hear that Blood Bound is already being sold at Borders and plan to go pick up a copy over the weekend :-) Amazon still has it as a pre-order.

Bought and finished reading Blood Bound. I really, really enjoyed it but now I'm sure I'll have to wait a really long time for the next one in the series *sigh*.

I also read and enjoyed Blood Bound. It was a very satisfying read.

>Demonlover,
According to the author's website, we can expect cameo in an anthology from her this August. :)

I'm pretty curious now. It doesn't sound like it will be about Mercy, but maybe about one of the werewolves. Thanks for the link! I'm going to go surf her site a bit more.

Edited because I failed to read the description the first time I checked it out LOL I don't remember Charles, what did he do?

I'm just over halfway through Ill Wind by Rachel Caine which I thought was a YA novel, but clearly isn't. What it is, is fantastic!! I'm SO loving this story. I know I have to wait and finish the book before I recommend it, but I really wanted to say something about it. I was thinking that what I haven't had in a while, that I really wanted to read, was a book that would take my breath away and this one is certainly accomplishing this so far.

>5 Jenson_AKA_DL:, demonlover
I'm working my way through Rachel Caine's Firestorm and I can tell you that the series stays good all the way through book five! About halfway through book four, it got a little bogged-down but the second half of the book really picked up and I wound up tearing through it and reaching for the next one.

I'm reading Unshapely Things right now, and it is flat out terrific. It might be the best urban fantasy I've read next to Jim Butcher.

War For the Oaks, no doubt.

Emma Bull is a given, and already mentioned:-)
A lot of Charles de Lint: Moonheart, Someplace to be Flying, Forests of the Heart, The Little Country, Memory and Dream, and all his short story collections.
Terri Windling : The Wood Wife.
Jane Lindskold: Child of a Rainless Year.
Nina Kiriki Hoffman s A Fistful of Sky is a recurring reread.
Robert Holdstock Mythago Wood cycle is hard to categorize - no 'pointed ears in malls', lots of celtic mythology in the forest - but I'll put it in the urban fantasy category until someone has a better suggestion.
Tanya Huffs Summoning series and Gate of Darkness, Circle of light.
Of vampire stories I prefer Robin McKinleys Sunshine and Charlaine Harris Sokie Stackhouse Dead until dark series over Laurell Hamiltons Anita Blake series.
Talking PI's I'd say Simon Greens Nightside series is some of the best.

Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere and Robin McKinley's Sunshine are favorites. I am still hoping for follow-up novels. Of Charles de Lint, I've only read Someplace to be Flying which I liked and Blue Girl which is so-so.

I didn't update this after I finished the Weather Warden Series, but I absolutely loved the books. Outside of Twilight, I would say Ill Wind is now my favorite book.

>10 amberwitch:, amberwitch

Good call on Mythago Wood. It's an obscure book, but well worth reading if you can get your hands on it. It starts in (reletively) modern times but then it explores myths and legends and Jungian character types in an extraordinary way.

I think I marked it 'fantasy' in my own catalogue, but 'urban fantasy' seems relevant, too.

I don't know who recommended Kitty and the Midnight Hour. I think might have been you DemonLover but I just wanted to say I really enjoyed this book. I thought the name was pretty goofy. The fact that the heroine was a werewolf with the name of kitty-- well double goofy. I ordered the second book since I liked it that much. 4 stars. :~)

You might try John M. Ford's The last hot time. I don't quite know how to describe this book; I suggest reading the LT reviewers. ;)

#14
cjlib,
I just got that book Kitty and the Midnight Hour yesterday at a library sale for 50 cents.hehe. Off topic, but we share 41 books (my library is pretty small). I think the % is based on my total library since it says 97% shared.=) This % thingie is great, so I can snoop in other's libraries to get more books to read!woohoo.

My fave urban fantasy author is Laurell K. Hamilton. I still love her books. My next fave is Charlaine Harris and her Southern Vampire books.

Hey BL79 ~ It says 97% on mine for you too, so I'm not sure how it works. It looks like we have very similar taste :). That's a great price, hope you like Kitty! I like Laurell Hamilton as well. Have you read the new Charlaine Harris book? I haven't bought it yet. I've decided to not buy any books because I'm moving and don't want them to get lost in the mail.

Cjlib,
Yes, great minds think alike.lol.=) I have not read the latest Charlaine Harris book. I haven't read the series for a few years so I'd probably have to start from book one again. Right now, I'm trying to get through the AB series and I cannot put them down!

Two oftern overlooked but great urban fantasies are Nancy Springer's Fair Peril and James P. Blaylock's All the Bells on Earth.

Look for de Lint's stories about Newford. IMO they're the best.

Mark Helprin's Winter's Tale is a kind of urban fantasy, laid in late 19th century New York City. One of my favorite reads.

I've ordered Mythago Wood from the library (not in my branch). Really sounds worth the effort.

Bob Campbell

Actually Katie MacAlister writes the Aisling Grey...Kelley Armstrong writes the Women of the Otherworld novels....and she is by far my favorite writer in the genre. Followed closely by Patricia Briggs too...I like the Keri Arthur werewolf series as well....but it might qualify as paranormal romance.

The first part of Daywatch by Sergei Lukyanenko was one of the most stunning fantasy works I've read. Parts 2 and 3 were still highly readable, but unable to maintain the tension.

>23 mep319: Thanks for correcting me! Really, I knew that. I don't know what I was thinking when I posted that LOL

Can a manga be an urban fantasy? If so, my newest fave is Her Majesty's Dog. I've read and re-read all 6 volumes that are out to date.

#5 - Jenson

I agree with the Rachel Caine recommendation. I would commend Glass Houses to you (also by Rachel, and also in the urban fantasy subgenre).

If you ever have a chance, go meet her in real life -- I did a book signing with her in Texas, and she has some great stories to tell in person, too!

#15 Linkmeister:

I'd call it urban fantasy (after all, it's set in Chicago).

>26 buchleser: Sorry for responding so many months later!! Yes, I love Rachel Caine's Weather Warden and Morganville Vampire series. I also have a couple of the series romances she wrote. I've never met her in person, although I did have a couple myspace conversations with her when she first got on there.

You might want to try some of Elizabeth Hand's books like Waking the Moon, Last Summer At Mars Hill and The Glimmering.

For a while, I'd have said Laurell K. Hamilton, but the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs is definately my favorite urban fantasy series.

I'll echo that. I really liked Moon Called and Blood Bound. Iron Kissed was okay......... very not happy with events in that book. But overall Patricia Briggs is an amazing author.

All this talk about Moon Called. I thought I had my hand on a copy yesterday but much to my disappointment, it was Moon Called by Andre Norton instead.

>24 CBrachyrhynchos: I thought Twilight Watch was the best of the three. Well, to each his/her own. Do you intend to read Last Watch? I think it will be released in English in July.

I loved the Dante Valentine series by Lilith Saintcrow staring with Working for the Devil. Other favs are the Cassandra Palmer series by Karen Chance, starting with Touch the Dark, Rob Thurman's Cal Leandros series starting with Nightlife, then I adore Wen Spencer's series about Tinker and Wolf Who Rules as well as her Ukiah Oregon series starting with Alien Taste. Those are just a few :)

Has anyone read Angels On Fire by Nancy A. Collins?

No, but didn't she write a book with a title like Sonja Blue or something?

Yes, Midnight Blue, A Dozen Black Roses and others feature her vampire protagonist, Sonja.

Angels On Fire is not related. It's a stand alone.

i would say the riley series by Keri Arthur

I just read Orson Scott Card's, Magic Street, set in Los Angeles, and featuring an alternate fairy world (based somewhat on Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream.

How to choose a favourite?!?!

As soon as I put a book down I usually recommend it and think it's the best EVER! Then I read something else and that then shifts to the top.

These books are like my friends, you don't pick favourites :)

My favourite(s) are
Simon R. Green (Nightside series)
Carrie Vaughan
Viki Petterson
Kim Harrison
Kelley Armstrong
Jim Butcher
Lilith Saintcrow

OMG really hard to just stop there, but I must, or I will be here AGES!

I'm very much in the same boat, viciouslittlething - I can't choose one. So, I have what I call my "Top Shelf" Authors. Here they are, no particular order.

Kelley Armstrong
Kim Harrison
Charlaine Harris
Jim Butcher
Carrie Vaughn
Rachel Vincent
Jeanne C. Stein
Patricia Briggs
Yasmine Galenorn
Laurell K. Hamilton*
J. K. Rowling
Stephenie Meyer

*Although I once thought the Anita Blake books were the best things out there, since Obsidian Butterfly I haven't enjoyed them as much (although the image of Richard in leather from Narcissus in Chains is still very nice). I still buy the paperbacks and usually borrow the hardbacks from the library. But LKH was essentially the author that started it all for me, because after reading about Anita Blake I had to find more.

I would have to say that my abdolute favorite is Jeaniene Frost Night Huntress series. Definitely a must read for anyone that likes the urban fantasy books.

I've had trouble getting excited about Jim Butcher and others like him. My favorite book that might be considered an urban fantasy is Winter's Tale, which might also be more magical realism. Not sure if it really qualifies for this discussion, but I recommend it highly.

Mine is: The Mortal Instruments Trilogy by Cassandra Clare. Beautifully-written, awesome characters, awesome plot!

#44: They are on my shelf ready to read, I am quite looking forward to reading them!

^ Won't regret it! They are truly the best books I have read in my 14 years! And that's topping ALOT of other books! :D

Just finished City of Bones and it was just as you described - AMAZING! Very good story, I have the next on my tbr shelf but not #3, will have to wait a couple of months for that one :( thanks for the recommendation!

I also highly recommend The Mortal Instruments Trilogy. I received book one as a gift, and it has opened my mind to a whole genre of books I would never have considered reading (crime fiction fan from way back :P). I must say, I never knew what I was missing!

So far, I've read and loved -

Cassandra Clare
Twilight series
JR Ward
Rachel Caine
Patricia Briggs
P.C. and Kristin Cast
Rachel Vincent

Although I must add that JR Ward is a bit raunchy for my tastes. I prefer any sex to be hinted at rather than written about in explicit detail. Boy, did I blush!!! lol

And I found that the House Of Night series by P.C. and Kristin Cast are a bit childish in the way they are written.

I'm looking forward to reading more from other urban fantasy fans.

47: No problem! :)

I personally haven't read any other vampire fiction. Just loving Twilight has put me off reading any others b/c I know I'd be overly critical of it and comparing it to Twilight. :S

That's an interesting perspective. Who knows, if you change your mind, you may find you like some of them better.

If you're open to and liking City of Bones you could also try Wicked Lovely and/or Tithe.

50: Maybe one day but right now, I'm fine. :)

51: I tried reading Tithe and got bored, admittedly, but Wicked Lovely sounds interesting..off to google it!

My favorite -- very definitely Rob Thurman's Cal Leandros series.

My favorites have got to be The Mercy Thompson Series by, Patricia Briggs the newest one Silver Borne comes out March 30th I can't wait!

For me:
1.Storm Front by Jim Butcher (Dresden Files)
2. Kitty and the Midnight Hour by Carrie Vaughn (Kitty)
3. Guilty Pleasures by Laurell Hamilton (Anita Blake)
4. Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison (Hollows)

My fav Urban Fantasy book at the moment is Fade Out by Rachel Caine

My favorite UF series is the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews. A close second is the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs, and the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris.

I try out a lot of new series. I like about half of them, don't like about half, and love a very small portion. One that I tried and loved recently was the first in the Horngate Witches series by Diana Pharaoh Francis called Bitter Night.

Here's my list:

Karen Chance
Jeaniene Frost
Patricia Briggs
Charlaine Harris - all Sookie novels but the last one
Rachel Vincent
Richelle Mead's Georgina Kincaid series
Kim Harrison

Just finished T.A. Pratt's first four books featuring Marla Mason.

Blood Engines, Poison Sleep, Dead Reign & Spell Games

There is a prequel and a fifth book that I haven't yet read. But these are good Urban Fantasy with a Kick Ass Chick in the lead. Well written and fun. I just don't know why I'd left them on my tbr pile so long.

I've been reading a ton of Urban Fantasy lately. I've recently gotten into Seannan McGuire's Toby Daye books, starting with Rosemary and Rue.

By FAR my favorite urban fantasy series yet, and it gets better with every book!

Similar to the Dresden Files with a supernatural PI angle, but we're talking faeries rather than wizards. The world is gorgeous and her characters are really, really fantastic.

My favorite, by far, is Mike Carey's Felix Castor Series (starts with The Devil you Know). A wonderfully dark series about a exorcist in London. Unlike what I see from many Urban Fantasies, this one is definitely written for Adults.

The humor is dark, the language can be colorful, and there is a palpable air about the novel that sends shivers up my spine from time to time.

There are 6 books planned, and 5 are released (only 4 can be found in the States, I believe). You can use the uk version of the book depository if you want to read them all now... they ship internationally for free.

I have yet to find anything else like it... but I have tried. :)

> MrDouglas
Try Kate Griffins two books about Matthew Swift. To me they have the same gritty feel, and very interesting worldbuilding.

Unless I missed a post, my favorite Gael Baudino's Gossamer Ax hasn't been mentioned. My (close) second favorite War for the Oaks was.

Oops, that would be Gossamer Axe.

Mine are: The Maker's Song by Adrian Phoenix, October Daye by Seanan McGuire, Dresden by Jim Butcher, Kitty series by Carrie Vaughn, and the Otherworld by Kelley Armstrong.

Anything in particular that's striking about Unshapely Things?

I love the oft-mentioned "War for the Oaks". My second favorite is probably Jack the Giant-Killer by Charles de Lint.

My recent favorites have been The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher and The Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne.

The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher
The Nightside series by Simon R.Green
The Sandman Slim series by Richard Kadrey
The Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne
The Sookie Stackhouse novels by Charlaine Harris

Grave Witch series by Kalayna Price
Unholy Ghost series by Stacia Kane
White Trash Zombie series by Diana Rowland
Grave series by Darynda Jones
Touch of the Demon series by Diana Rowland
The Hollows series by Kim Harrison

I LOVE these series:)

I love Michael Carey 's books also. Have you read Charlie Huston's Already Dead series? Mario Acevedo's Nymphos of Rocky Flats? Victor Gischler's Go Go Girls of the Apocalypse? Glen Duncan's The Last Werewolf ? Kim Newman's Anno Dracula? David Devereux's Hunter's Moon? Richard Kadrey's Sandman Slim? Harry Connolly's Child of Fire? You might like some of them- all are dark and definitely for adults, some have a touch or more of humor.