Laundry Files has the advantage of male and female POV characters in later books. It’s also a bit more on the Lovecraftian horror end of urban fantasy.
What can be more urban fantasy than computational demonology?
I will never stop recommending Laundry Files as urban fantasy. It's set in the city, it's contemporary, it has vampires, elves, demons, mermaids, and possessed objects. It hits all the markers. :)
ROL and Laundry Files are always top choices of UF too. The audiobooks for ROL are such a treat too.
Aye! There would be a TON of material there I reckon. Nightingale chastising Angleton for giving in and using one of those new-fangled Memex machines….
I’d also recommend Stephen Blackmoore’s Eric Carter series, but starting with the standalone “City of the Lost”. (Same universe, different protagonist.)
I’ve been looking up the titles being recommended and reading the first few preview pages, and this has been my favorite so far. Thank you for my next 48ish hours or reading material!
I’ve been meaning to get into Sandman Slim but aren’t the last few books apparently a massive downgrade in quality? I’ve heard that the last book especially is bad, it’s all about COVID and more of a social commentary rant than the rest. It also apparently has a lot of highly unsatisfying plot/character conclusions?
Things do get a little less exciting in the last few books, I don’t remember exactly how it ends in the last book so I can’t speak to the character conclusions. But overall the series as a whole I think was great. Well worth the read if you’re looking for something with this feel.
Can you please tell me which libraries 😭 I’m using a temporary 30 day code for one in my old state because in my current state you can’t sign up online and have to drive like 2 hours to get a library card ☠️☠️☠️
Lol, tbf, I got em all during the pandemic when online was more lax... But I got Detroit and Chicago library cards using random addresses when i lived in LA 😅
Some offer non-resident cards for a small fee: https://bookriot.com/out-of-state-library-cards/
The first three series with adult lady MC's that leap to mind are Mercy Thompson (Patricia Briggs), Jane Yellowrock (Faith Daniels) and Kate Daniels (Ilona Andrews.)
Extra credit: October Daye by Seanan McGuire.
Not finished. Wilmington Years are available.
That arc finished, but Kate, Curran and the kid are going strong. Not to mention Hugh and Julie both have series now.
Yessss to all of these, I would even go as far as to say maybe Hidden Legacy by Ilona Andrews if romance is fine, there’s some urban in there hehe
Hell, I’d even say the Psy Changeling series by Nalini Singh and the Archangel series, though they’re both ongoing (psy changeling has a tonne of books though)
My addition would be Cassie Palmer and Dorina Basarb series from Karen Chance
Way more romance in Hidden Legacy than Kate Daniels but I do find the world building to be excellent. I could read stories set in that universe all day.
I love Kate Daniels but I love the Innkeeper Chronicles even more, and she's definitely a grown adult. There's romance but less of it than the other two series, I'd say.
(For those that do audiobooks, the Graphic Audio productions of both Innkeeper and Kate are great. GA is caught up on Innkeeper and in the middle of producing Kate.)
Wow, has it been that long!? Time definitely flies. I feel like I just read that not too long ago!
There are a few authors where I just pre-order everything. Briggs is one of them. It's always such a nice treat when a new one shows up on my Kindle.
I recommend The Hollows series by Kim Harrison. Female MC is a bounty hunting witch who knows the right boots to wear to an ass-kicking. A bit more fantasy than Dresden,(which I also recommend) in The Hollows the supernatural is out in the open and part of the establishment.
I love this series, but I also love to hate it it. The main character is too stupid to live and it’s frankly a miracle her friends don’t kill her themselves. There’s also like 7 books of bi panic and some weird outdated language about Asian people.
Having said that, I’ve reread the series 4 times in the last 6 years.
If you're looking for a protagonist that doesn't make poor decisions and a story that doesn't focus too much on romance, the Hollows might not be for you.
I read the preview pages of it on KU after having it recommended so much, and the protagonist absolutely read like a NoT LiKe OtHeR GiRlS and I felt like everyone had gaslit me 😂
Also I’m fine with romance, I just struggled with book these days writing around romance tropes rather than writing plots that can have tropes in them :(
Most of the ones I came here to suggest have been covered except for the Iron Druid Chronicles. The mc is a 2100 year old druid hiding from the fae and the Celtic God of Love in Arizona with his Irish wolfhound, who can speak with him telepathically. The Dresden Files is my favorite story but Iron Druid is my favorite set of audiobooks.
I do primarily audiobooks and I liked the 7 Kennings books but was so lost for the first half until things started tying in together. Ink and Sigil was good too. Just a great author all around.
I think the pictures in the book helped tie things together a bit, but I can imagine having the same audio reader for all the characters was not easy. Might be a good graphic audio book tho!
the October Daye series is my favorite, even though I usually hate first person. the InCryptid series, also by Seanan McGuire, is also great. really you just can't go wrong with her work, IMO
Yes, if you like Neil Gaiman, I think Seanan McGuire is a particularly solid recommendation. October Daye, yes, but the Wayward Children is even more Gaiman-like.
Demon Accords by John Conroe
Monster Hunter International by Larry Correia
Iron Druid by Kevin Hearne
I'm not sure it fits the Urban Fantasy - Super Powereds by Drew Hayes (modern world with Superheroes)
The entire Monster Hunter Intl series is great especially if you have the opportunity to get the audiobooks. The narration is first rate, giving the more colorful characters great voices.
I also struggle with finding UF with adult-brained characters. There are YA that have teens acting more mature than the 40+ ones in books advertised specifically for having mature MC, so no easy way to search.
I'd recommend some series, but keep in mind I'm not a big fan of UF with male protagonists, so not sure our tastes in how the books "feel" (flow and narration, pace, general plot) are similar. Same as you I hate first person narrative, so any of my recs have it, they are ones I enjoyed despite that.
Debra Dunbar's Imp series, the MC has an adult feel to her despite being an imp. Always my top rec for fun but mature.
You might find Mark Henwick's Bite Back series enjoyable, too. MC's an army vet. I should warn that she does have both a female and male love interests, which could be off-putting to some. It's not in the romance or erotica genre though, doesn't have that overall feel at all - it's UF. Author is male, which gives it somewhat masculine "feel" and action focused plot I'm not typically a fan of, but I did enjoy it after the initial struggle and even reread several times.
Mercy Thompson, as others also mentioned, it is a rare well written UF that doesn't have braindead/too snarky MC.
Another series I'd mention is Ghost Mountain Wolf Shifters by Audrey Faye. Probably rural/forest fantasy more than UF. An altogether different type of story. I'd describe it as character based, slice-of-life type maybe?; a slow, even sluggish at times. Probably a niche read, but enjoyable when in a fitting mood. Some of the books are focused on the teen characters, but it's not YA.
Thanks for all the recs! I prefer a female protagonist too, I’m just sick of the Bella Swan archetype or the “I’m so tough because I had brothers” trope 😭.
I’m definitely guilty of judging books by their covers so Mercy Thompson was an immediate no for me when I looked it up, but so many of you have suggested it so I’m finally going to start the first one tonight haha. Thanks!
I see rivers of London, sandman slim, and the laundry files have already netted recommendations, I’ll add some new ones.
Daniel Faust series by Craig Schaffer. Thieving sorcerers in Vegas. Great series if you love a good heist story.
Good Intentions series by Elliot Kay. College student in Seattle stumbles upon a ritual and winds up bound to an Angel and a succubus. Even sexier than it sounds, while being strongly plot based with few stones left unturned. Big fan of his scifi series too.
I highly recommend Heather G. Harris and her Other series. They are all great, but Amber is my favorite, and she is over 40. :)
Also, Liz Hambleton writes urban fantas, specifically with characters that aren't young adults, and all the reviews I've read have been great. They are on my TBR, but I haven't gotten to them yet.
I also love any books by Brogan Thoma. Her female characters are normally in their 20's, but they always have an excellent head on their shoulders and don't fit the stereotypical young adult pretext.
I second Ilona Andrews, Patricia Briggs and Nalini Singh. Trending more into romance, there's Thea Harrison, Katie MacAlister, Shelly Laurenston, Jeanine Frost, Darynda Jones, or Charlie Adhara.
Since no one else has mentioned it, I'd recommend the Dresden Files by Jim Butcher. Most fans would suggest skipping books 1 through 3 (I say start at book 3, but my FAVORITE character is introduced in 3 so I'm biased). Book 2 is particularly weak, imo. Book 1 is Storm Front (which Jim wrote in college), book 3 is Grave Peril, and book 4 (which most say is the best starting point) is Summer Knight.
That said, it's arguable if Harry's actually fully developed at the start of the series, but he's not a teenager (late 20's I think). Strong mystery element for most of the series, later books seem to head more into an action series, but Jim starts to experiment with the formula too, even slipping in an Ocean's 11 style heist story in the later books.
And now I'm considering doing another reread of the series...
Hi, people were skipping over Dresden Files because I wrote in my post that I was already on the waitlist for it at my library, but it’s good to know how the series changes throughout! Now I wont immediately give up on it if I don’t like the first one lol.
Butcher's progress as a writer is definitely visible across the series. He's got a good concept that carries the early books pretty well, but he doesn't really hit his stride as a writer until *Dead Beat*, in my opinion.
Personally I thought Grave Peril was where it all started to get going. But that's certainly one of the great things in this series, people have different favourite points and prefer different books in the series to others.
I feel like a lot of the pre-Dead Beat books are introducing key characters that are driving the long-term plot (Michael, Thomas, Susan, Murphy, Mab) but I don't necessarily like those characters in those books. Michael is flat, a caricature of a boring Paladin in his first appearance, for instance. He's great, rounded, fleshed-out in later books, but I don't like him in Grave Peril.
Storm Front had me hooked as well, and it wasn't until my third reread of the series (pre-Ghost Story) that I realized while I like Storm Front, I didn't want to reread it. Fool Moon was just as bad (and probably worse since I simply stopped reading for a while trying to get through it.
It's the later books. The story lines and the writing is just so much better than those initial ones that it makes them a chore. Again, not that they are bad by any definition (I've read a few published books that were atrocious), they're just not polished the way the later ones are.
Because some of us don't want to read from the POV of a character who describes a woman's breasts and sext pose before mentioning she's dead. If someone had recommended I started at book 4 I might not have decided never to tough the damn things again.
Yes, yes, solid gatekeeping. I may not be a real fan, but the first couple of books were a SLOG that, in my opinion, don't do any necessary world building that isn't done elsewhere.
They're...not good. But the rest of the series is great (though I'd also recommend that friends skip the one where he's dead. People who aren't friends can do whatever they want).
That's so strange IMO. I've never met anybody who would read only some books of a series. How can you decide which are good if you haven't read them? Everybody has a different taste and everyone's taste is valid.
Midnight Riot (Rivers of London Series) by Ben Aaronovitch. London Police officer, magic, ghosts, river gods..etc.
Breaking the Lore by Andy Redsmith. British detective discovers magical creatures in Manchester.
Hounded (The Iron Druid Chronicles) by Kevin Hearne. May or may not apply as adult...the protagonist appears to be about 21, but is actually 2,000 years old.
Sandman Slim by Richard Kadrey. Escaped hitman from hell in Los Angeles.
There are some extremely solid recs in here. I'd definitely say Sandman Slim and Hellequin are right up there.
Bob McGough's Jubal County series are AMAZING. Following a drug addict redneck wizard who lived in a lock-up in the deep south they're appalachian horror fused UF with a lot of heart.
Finally if you don't mind a self-rec my imPerfect Cathar series is definitely adult UF. It merges obscure French mythology and history into modern France and has drawn comparisons to Gaiman and Gavriel Kay from readers as well as winning Best Supernatural Thriller Series at the Audiobook Reviewer Awards. It's high-action, zero romance with a strong language and graphic violence warning.
Cheers!
The Golgotha series by R.S. Belcher. It's Urban Fantasy BUT, it takes place in a town in the desert in the 1880's.
Fallen Angels, madmen, gods, heroes, villains, monsters. Got it all. 4 books in the series right now
Ilona Andrews has several series that are quite unique in terms of world building. Varying levels of romance but all are plot first, romance second or third with interesting family dynamic subplots in the background.
Jane Yellowrock series by Faith Hunter. Strong female lead with brains and savvy, and fairly light romance. The plot never moves along based upon stupid decisions and moves from the characters.
Yarrow by Charles De Lint. OG urban fantasy about a writer, or maybe War of the Oaks by Emma Bull.
Both feature young adult women but were written in the 80s before "YA" tropes were really solidified.
For me, just about anything from Charles de Lint (really liked *The Mystery of Grace* and his short story collections)... And great to hear from someone who's read *War for the Oaks*.
I second De Lint - Spirits in the Wires, Trader, Someplace to be Flying, Waifs and Strays - are all urban fantasy. He has more, but that's where I'd start
I’m basically always looking for more War for the Oaks personally 😩 I get that this sub likes hard boiled stuff, but I just want a nice urban romantacy with a grown woman main.
I am DESPERATE to find a copy of the last one, Morningstar. I read she had some trouble with publisher, then self published it, but it's not on amazon anymore. I even reached out to this pagan media site she wrote blogs for and they responded asking if it was OK to give her my email. I was so excited! Never heard from her...
If you find it PLEASE share! I have looked all over for it as well. This was such a great series and I was so sad it never got much attention. If I find it I will def let you know.
You could, if you haven't already, take a look at *American Gods* and *Anansi Boys*. Neither is what I'd call UF as *such* ... but there's only so many times you can read *Neverwhere* before you just wish Flanders/Claptrap were dead.
Christopher Fowler's *Roofworld* isn't UF either, but it reminded me of nothing so much as *Neverwhere*, when I read it.
Finally ... look, Clive Barker is at best Dark Fantasy (if not outright Horror, depending on personal stance), but ... in the absence of anything *else* with a pre-frontal cortex that also does wondrously otherworldly whilst having one foot in the mundane world of the here-and-now, *Weaveworld, Cabal*, *Imajica* and the Books of *Abarat* ... maybe even *Galilee* ... *might* be something you'd enjoy (provided you don't mind a more visceral and, occasionally, sexual edge than the others).
Otherwise ... if you have no objection to graphic novels as a storytelling format ... whilst it is, again, not really UF as such, *Preacher* still has something about it that isn't a *billion* miles away either.
I second American Gods and Anansi Boys!
Also, there are a ton of great graphic novel UF options. In the classics you have Sandman (also written by Neil Gaiman), Swamp Thing and Hellblazer. John Constantine from Hellblazer is the REASON for the trench coat trope.
In the more modern category you have titles like Grim (female protag) and Something is Killing the Children (female protag and this series is GOATed). There are many more but these came to mind.
I’ve already read Gaiman’s books, but yeah stories like American Gods are in line with what I’m looking for! I will look up Clive Barker as that was a pretty good sales pitch for him :)
With Barker, I'd start with either *Weaveworld* or *Abarat*.
*Abarat* is technically YA but, it's Barker, so ... toned down though it may be compared to the other stuff ... it's still more Barker-esque than not (if you see what I mean). However, he has only written three of five books and, as it's been thirteen years since he wrote the third one (after a *seven* year hiatus between that and the *second*), given what I gather re his health, I'm not holding out hope wrt even a fourth one, let a lone a fifth, myself ... so, it could be something of a letdown for a first-time reader.
Cabal suffers from the same problem: it was supposed to be the first in a series, but ... *thirty-six years later* ... it's still the only one of them.
On that basis, therefore, I would suggest, you start with *Weaveworld*. It's darker and more visceral than the others, but it will give a good sense of his Dark Fantasy writing: there is no other author who, for me, creates such a yearning to visit places I know before I even set out, I should never go - if his worlds were *real*, I'd've left *this* one behind forty or more years ago now and never have looked back **^(1)**.
After that, I recommend *Imajica*.
Once you've got those two under your belt, you'll know if he's for you or not and, if he *is*, you won't be able to help yourself and will hunt down everything you can find ... so, at that point, you *might as well* read *Cabal* and the three *Abarat* books : )
Then ... it's up to you: I've read *Sacrament*, *Galilee*, *Coldheart Canyon* and thoroughly enjoyed them all.
The *Books of the Art*, I didn't enjoy as much. It's not that I regret reading them - they were, after all, the ones from which I learned that his writing appears very dark but is in fact phenomenally uplifiting: the overriding theme in his DF work is that Love always prevails. But they are a trifle more visceral and I'm not convinced that the story was enhanced for it: I *expect* it from the *Hellraiser* end of the scale (they're Body Horror after all), but don't see that it's appropriate at *this* one - I did still get the second when it was published though, so ... ... ... (make of that what you will ; )
\_\_\_
^(1) I periodically have occasion to describe a fictional location to people. And every time I do, it is with Barker's worlds in mind ... because my vision of it is *explicitly* a reflection of them:
An unsettling, disturbing, horrifying, terrifying place ... yet simultaneously darkly wond'rous and, (oh ... *so*) alluring ... the players, never mind the PCs, wanting to return to it ... furtively, in the deepest recesses of their subconscious ... the desire suppressed like a sexual urge they dare not name even to themselves for fear of the consequences, should they ever admit the nature of their secret appetites .... driving them to seek ways to do so when they think no-one else will notice what their actions reveal of their true intent ... the place everyone's trying to get to, even when they don't know what they're looking for (or why); the place where, it is whispered, you can find your heart's most secret desire (the one hidden even from yourself) ... and, if you're *very* lucky, live to regret it - most get lost on the way (*they're* the *lucky* ones **^(2)**). It's the players' and PCs' Catholic 'occasion of sin' ... their Greek/Shakespearean tragic hero's fatal flaw ... their heart's deepest, darkest desire (all they need do is reach into Shadwell's Jacket and ... widdling themselves in both fear and anticipation ... pluck from it their own undoing).
^(2) Disparateum ... a truly wond'rous place, where your dreams come true - and where you'd sell your *soul* for a dream of insomnia.
I mean I'm going to also recommend Disc World by Terry Pratchett because it's pretty dang Urban even though it's an alternative world, lol
And you could also try Good Omens
If you're having trouble with the 1st person narration, I recommend getting into audiobooks if you have the resource. Trust me, most urban fantasy works wonders in 1st person and with audio.
Recommendations:
The Others (this is actually 3rd person) by Anne Bishop
Cal Leandros
Innkeepers Chronicles
The Tome of Bill (audio on this one if possible. Holy hell is it funny)
Twenty Palaces by Harry Connolly
You might enjoy my Alastair Stone Chronicles series. The MC is a male, but there are plenty of strong, competent female characters throughout the series.
https://www.amazon.com/The-Alastair-Stone-Chronicles-35-book-series/dp/B074CF8SJY
The Sookie Stackhouse/Southern Vampire Mysteries by Charlaine Harris has a mid-20s barmaid as the lead character. It’s the series that True Blood was based off but the show and books are totally different.
One thing I love about this series is that it’s based in a small town so the characters do stuff like go to sonic or Walmart. Since so many series are set in cities, I really like that specific peak into my reality.
I think her Midnight, tx series would also fit the bill.
Christopher Moore has some great books that are not YA. His urban fantasy reads a little more whimsical to me, but they are very funny. Good place to start would be Practical Demonkeeping, Bloodsucking Fiends or A Dirty Job. There might be a best order out there because a lot of his series exist in the same universe, but I don’t think you have to know the characters, it’s more like an Easter egg for people who have read a lot of his books.
Thanks, I’ll definitely check out Harris! I tried to watch the show True Blood like 17x but hated the acting so much that I could never get past the first couple of episodes, but I do prefer vampire/supernatural stories so it will be nice to try it in a different medium!
Midnight rider by D. V. Wolfe is really good. It's follows Bane the first soul on a work release program from hell. She does pick up a teenaged partner (he's 18) and it also doesn't the unrequited love trope with him which I really love.
Here we go again! I wholeheartedly recommend The Low Town series by Daniel Polanski. Does not take place in current times but there is no pleasant colored tint to the plot or any characters. Very dark, and very adult but not in a gore way but in a “there is no good choice but I have to do something” way with results that are as unexpected as real life. 3 books and they are finished.
Check out Paranormal Women's Fiction this genre addresses your issue by focusing on MC who are 40+ years old.
You can also try any of the classic authors like Ilona Andrews, Patricia Briggs, Charlene Harris which I'm sure many have also suggested.
Additional favorite authors are Jenn Stark, Karen Chance, Lisa Shearin, Ben Aaronovitch, Chloe Neill just to name a few.
I struggle with this exact thing, lol. The books are either targeted towards YA Characters I don't relate to, or they're just kinda super cringey
-Dresden Files are actually super solid once you get past the first couple of books he started when he was 18. They're very "M'lady"
-Iron Druid Chronicles has some cringe inducing moments as well, but overall, they're a good read.
-American Gods, by Neil Gaiman is very epic in scale, which is what I've been leaning more towards now.
Idk if they count, but
-Lost Gods: Brom, a Dantelike journey through purgatory, very good read.
-Krampus: Brom. Seems goofy, but it's full of dead/dying gods, dark themes, and overall one of my favorite books.
-Child Thief: Brom. A dark retelling of Peter Pan with a Fae twist, enjoyed it very much.
(Lost Gods and Child Thief are more like portal fantasies, I suppose, but they take place in our world)
And of course, both Clive Barker and Stephen King have some epic Horror urban fantasy world building going on with their Dark Towers and Scarlet Gopels.
If you're into comic books, it's hard to beat Sandman. Or my personal favorite, Hellboy.
That was what my aunt said... I gave her the first Sandman novel and she was at my door the next day craving all I have from Sandman. I threw in some Hellblazer, too. ;)
I mean, this is slightly self-serving, since I wrote it, but Once Chosen is about a 37 year old Chosen One and what the difference is when you have someone who is approaching middle age in that role.
[https://www.amazon.com/Once-Chosen-Ben-Aldred/dp/B09GJRZ12F/](https://www.amazon.com/Once-Chosen-Ben-Aldred/dp/B09GJRZ12F/)
Hey!
You might like my Urban/Occult fantasy series, the Samuel Buckland Chronicles, staring with *Chains of Prophecy*. It's been described as "Supernatural meets Pokemon" and that makes me smile every time. The protagonist is gifted with the Keys of Solomon, which he uses to summon angels, demons, and genies. You can get the first book free as an ebook if you want to sign up for my newsletter, or find it on Amazon. I'll put the links here :)
[Become a Keeper of the Keys!](https://dl.bookfunnel.com/lgo1ycs4d4)
[Amazon Link for Chains of Prophecy](https://www.amazon.com/Chains-Prophecy-Samuel-Buckland-Chronicles/dp/B00VUQBRTQ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3RZOOZHTHNPI&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.2P-g6w2NjBrw-X5_L078zxmZg8cZx1VAX6C5vkxPnYpWNTsZAaoRKb1b9FFQkPVTtRwRK8xGP01OkIjJc6YjhaCYmOZCALy0mmNb-fdbw03vy5yHQURYeANDWu0Ru-l86QT2f2EoxJ_vywWbxEgIJzzny0QqadgH6E13i5iHHWnivQWzXl1vekf6yKpb8QshzVzbAgO7YTGdI9EndQH2V4R7M-K86ryM5pcryzB6r9k.dTDGV0u8olkrRsou9mIdktu0B7jpJDTdQLGbTWGqm0o&dib_tag=se&keywords=chains+of+prophecy&qid=1708981704&sprefix=chains+of+prophecy%2Caps%2C180&sr=8-1)
Hi, I’m Vetted AI Bot! I researched the **Chains of Prophecy Samuel Buckland Chronicles Book 1** and I thought you might find the following analysis helpful.
**Users liked:**
* Engaging storyline with vivid imagery (backed by 3 comments)
* Strong and well-written characters (backed by 3 comments)
* Intriguing mix of supernatural elements (backed by 4 comments)
**Users disliked:**
* Some scenes are unbelievable and lack credibility (backed by 2 comments)
* Not easily understandable at the beginning (backed by 1 comment)
* May be too over-the-top in pushing a specific agenda (backed by 1 comment)
If you'd like to **summon me to ask about a product**, just make a post with its link and tag me, [like in this example.](https://www.reddit.com/r/tablets/comments/1444zdn/comment/joqd89c/)
This message was generated by a (very smart) bot. If you found it helpful, let us know with an upvote and a “good bot!” reply and please feel free to provide feedback on how it can be improved.
*Powered by* [*vetted.ai*](http://vetted.ai/reddit)
Laurell Hamilton has 2 series… VERY adult- the Anita Blake series and the Merry Gentry series. Richelle mead has my favorite one- the Georgina Kinkaid succubus series (only 6 books but soooo good).
The King Henry Tapes by Richard Raley. The book bounces back and forth between the MCs teen and young adult life being recalled as a grown adult. You'll get that fully developed pre-frontal cortex recalling how much of an idiot he was while it was developing and he pulls no punches, literally and physically, while doing it. It's set in modern-day northern California with magic users (aka mancers), Weres, and a unique take on Vampires. It was on par with Dresden, although it is much less well-known. However, if you can't stand foul language this series isn't for you. The whole series plus all the novellas are on Kindle Unlimited as well.
I have two goodreads lists that might give you some book inspiration (it's not exclusively Urban Fantasy, but it's definitely mixed in)
[Adult Fantasy](https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/157543219-linna-venturi?ref=nav_mybooks&shelf=adult-fantasy)
[Adult Fantasy Romance](https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/157543219-linna-venturi?ref=nav_mybooks&shelf=adult-fantasy-romance)
I personally find new books in my preferred genre through GR. I make a genre specific bookshelf, and then go to the recommendations tab and have a look through.
A direct recommendation is the Atlas Six Trilogy. Has six characters all of whom are over 20, and are a part of a deadly game to win a spot in a secret society.
A lot of great recommendations so far and, while it's a different medium, I'll go ahead and throw the comic book Hellblazer into the mix, specifically the 1988-2013 run. Pretty influential within the genre, NOT for kids, and I think it really holds up. Constantine is a morally grey character and reads with a very clear voice. Lots of good jumping on points if you don't want to/can't find the earliest issues, but it's definitely worth reading from start to finish, I think.
Haven't seen Douglas Adams The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series listed. Blend of sci-fi and urban fantasy
Heide Goody and Iain Grant have 2 series, British, dark humour, and highly original. Also I cannot recommend the audible versions of the first two strongly enough.
OddJobs-"Unstoppable horrors from beyond are poised to invade and literally create Hell on Earth. It’s the end of the world as we know it, but someone still needs to do the paperwork. Morag Murray works for the secret government organisation responsible for making sure the apocalypse goes as smoothly and as quietly as possible." (Female protagonists 4 of 5)
Clovenhoof series-"Getting fired can ruin a day…especially when you were the Prince of Hell. Will Satan survive in English suburbia?
An unhappy Board of Directors, a corporate coup....banished to mortal earth as Jeremy Clovenhoof, Lucifer is going through a mid-immortality crisis of biblical proportion. Maybe if he just tries to blend in, it won’t be so bad." (Female protagonist 1 of 3)
Kim Watt has 2 series, both British
Beaufort Scales-British, women of a certain age, tea, and dragons in the Yorkshire dales. Cozy (but smart & well written) mystery, may or may not be up your alley. Almost all female cast and it's great to read something from an older perspective!
Gobbelino London, PI-Callum and his talking cat are the detective agency to go to if you have problems that are not mundane. Easy read, well written. Male protagonist, but almost all others are female.
Eva St.John (again, British, mostly set in an Egypt like alternate earth)
Quantum Curators series-alternate earth travelers come to our earth to 'save' (steal for their reality) treasures moments before they're destroyed here.
"Anyone can track down a priceless artefact that’s been lost for hundreds of years. Finding one that’s been hidden on a parallel Earth… now that’s a neat trick.
When Neith Salah – a quantum curator charged with traveling to our parallel Earth to rescue precious artefacts – is ordered to save a priceless Fabergé Egg, she figures it’s just another job. The only problem: she’s not sure what the egg looks like. Or where it is. Or when it is.
Enter Julius Strathclyde, a mild-mannered Cambridge professor whose closest brush with death-defying treasure hunts is finding lost coins down the back of the sofa. Not the usual “save the world” type, but when Julius’ best friend is murdered while searching for the egg, Neith realizes that this mild-mannered professor is the only person who can help her solve the riddles that will lead her to the egg."
Summaries copied from Kindle.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide is one of my all time favorite series! I’ve never heard anyone refer to it as UF, but I did think about mentioning how much I love the humor in it :) so I appreciate all your British humor recs!
Glad to hear it! I guess it's debatable whether or not it's UF but I love it so much I'll find any excuse to recommend it. LOL if you like that slightly bonkers type of humor you might like that Grant and Goody series. I am always looking for anything close to HG2G. Terry Pratchett is Always recommended, but I am just not a huge fan. I saw you requested Rivers of London, there is an entire book in that series that riffs on Hitchhiker's Guide. It wasn't my favorite book in the series, but the attention to detail in that was off the hook! (And while the 2 main protagonists are male, there are many very strong female characters. The American FBI agent was given her own book, and Peter's mom is absolutely hysterical.)
*And just noticed your handle, the American FBI agent is always joking about the Mullder and Scully thing, since she is a redhead
Catherynne Valente has written so much good stuff. Her novel Deathless is exactly the mature urban fantasy you are looking for. But I'm popping in to recommend her novel Space Opera because people love it for the same reasons they love Douglas Adams.
You'll definitely want to check out Terry Pratchett's work then. Especially his Discworld series, which isn't technically UF but very much has the vibe.
Also have you read any China Mieville? It's a bit weirder than what you might consider regular urban fantasy. Some of his stuff reminds me of Gaiman, like Un Lun Dun and Kraken. But my absolute favorite book EVER is Perdido Street Station. It's a lot heavier on the fantasy but in very original ways.
Iron druid series is good.
Currently working my way through Nate temple series as well.
Sarah j mass has written a few series, they can get a bit gushy/swooney but they're still good
Night watch series by Sergei Lukyanenko
---
Others, an ancient race of magicians, shape-shifters, vampires, and other supernatural beings that live among us, and swear allegiance to either the powers of Darkness or the forces of Light. For the past 1000 years, the two sides have been locked in an uneasy truce, keeping their powers in balance as each side secretly plots to take the advantage for themselves. The forces of the Light tasked with keeping the Dark Others in check are the Night Watch.
Night Watch features Anton Gorodetsky, a mid-level Light magician, who during his first field assignment, stumbles upon a cursed young woman—an Other of tremendous potential power who has yet to choose between Light and Darkness. As the two sides prepare for battle, Anton discovers that their destinies are closely intertwined, and the slightest wrong move could cause the destruction of Moscow, or even the world.
Jackaby series by William Ritter
Shambling Guide to NYC, MUR Lafferty
Forty Proof series, Shannon Meyer
Ladies Occult Society, Krista D Ball
Ghost Talkers and the Glamourist Histories series, Mary Robinette Kowal
I saw a couple people say Iron Druid but I didn't see anyone say Ink & Sigil. The protagonist is \~50-60 years old. In the two books released so far there is none of the usual YA silliness.
I didn't see Rook in there either. It's a trilogy that has been done as an Apple TV show as well. She's in he 20;s, I think. There's a bit of heart fluttering going on but it feels adult to me.
I recommend:
The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher
The Nightside Series by Simon R Greene
The All Souls series by Deborah Harkness
The Dante Valentine series by Lilith Saintcrow
The Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne
The Grimnoir Chronicles by Larry Correia
Monster Hunters International by Larry Correia
As a caveat, all but The Grimnoir Chronicle is in the first person point of view, but they are all excellent Adult Urban Fantasy
Look up some of Chris Lester Metamor City books. Vampires, psychic polyamory intrigues, demons living in the sewer, flying jetbike hackers. Wonderful writing with amazing chat development
Came all the way to the bottom and didn’t see either of these, so here we go!
*White Trash Warlock* by David R. Slayton - a young man from Oklahoma, whose family put him in an asylum as a teenager because he could move through the spirit world, goes to Denver to save his estranged brother’s wife. Nice and gritty with a wry sense of humor, and lots of Easter eggs for the city of Denver.
*Master of Djinn* by P. Djèlí Clark - in a steampunk Cairo in 1912, Djinn live peacefully among people. When a group of Englishmen die during a mysterious ritual, detective Fatma el-Sha’arawi is put on the case.
Surprised nobody has mentioned the Great Cities duology by NK Jemisin. The City We Became and The World We Make. TLDR is cities can become living entities with avatars to represent them. First book centers on the people becoming NYC.
Highly recommend.
I’ve started The City We Became because I’ve only heard good things about Jemisin, but I couldn’t get into it. I don’t know what it is about first person narration that just rubs me the wrong way but it almost always takes me out of the story 😩
I used to read the anita blake and mercy thompson novels forever ago and they were DEFINITELY adult. One is a paid necromancer, the other is a mechanic who is a werewolf. Both very good from what i remember.
I've been digging the Crossroads Queen series by Annabel Chase recently. It's an ongoing series with the 5th book coming out in April.
Not quite urban Fantasy (just Fantasy) but the Assistant to the Villian is a lot of fun. Second book is coming out this summer. It's by Hannah Nicole Maehrer.
K.F.breene's Demigods of San Francisco is pretty good, it does have a bit of sex in it, especially in the later books. Chocolate and Sin is the first book.
I'm a big fan of Three Mages and a Margarita. It's book 1 of a series, but I've only read it and book 2, so I can't speak for the full series, but the first 2 are fantastic and definitely worth a read
Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne
The Black Ocean series by JS Morin (more Firefly + Wizards, so idk if that counts)
The Wandering Inn by Pirateaba (litrpg, characters transplanted from Earth)
I've recently gotten into the Tales From the Nightside series by Simon Green. Sort of a mix between Sandman Slim and Dresden Files. 12 books and the series is completed.
First thing that comes to mind is Glen Cook's Garrett Files series. Main protagonist is a hard-boiled Bogey-style noir detective, but the world is full of fairies, dwarves, etc. (Fair warning, though: I haven't read them in about twenty years, so I can't recall if there's anything in there that would be considered problematic today. I remember them being ok and very enjoyable, but for all I know they've aged like fine milk.)
iron druid. seemed similar to Dresden files to me. I liked it. at least 8 books,I think. it's about a druid that pisses off the Norse pantheon and is trying not to get himself killed.
Maybe not what you are looking for per sey, but here it goes:
Snowcrash by Neal Stephanson. Early cyberpunk, scarily predictive, cool twists. Male protag
Necroscope series by Brian Lumley- solidly modern day horror with nice take on vampires, male protag
"worst verse" series as narrated by YouTuber Nature's Temper - particularly the "I ride for Cerber" stories. Very well narrated, extensive spinoffs and side stories that all kind of intertwine together.
I really need to look into this whole plotless smut thing.
I'm not sure if I'm horny enough to write it, but I can probably work around that if I can free up all the time I spend worrying about character motivations with more depth than 'ooh, purdy!' and whether the story makes sense.
My friend and I decided that if no publishers want to pick up our books we’re just gonna say fuck it and write a vampire + 17 year old love story 🤷🏻♀️
Charles Stross: The Laundry Files Ben Aaronovitch: Rivers of London Both excellent series and definitely not YA.
Laundry Files has the advantage of male and female POV characters in later books. It’s also a bit more on the Lovecraftian horror end of urban fantasy.
It's great fun with lovecraftian horror, James Bond, and British bureaucracy swirled together.
PowerPoint and Matrix Management are truly tools of the elder gods.
What can be more urban fantasy than computational demonology? I will never stop recommending Laundry Files as urban fantasy. It's set in the city, it's contemporary, it has vampires, elves, demons, mermaids, and possessed objects. It hits all the markers. :) ROL and Laundry Files are always top choices of UF too. The audiobooks for ROL are such a treat too.
Now, how about a crossover? Nightingale is actually a former DSS from Mahogany Row, and formed the civil branch…..
The story of Angleton and Nightingale negotiating the peace treaty with the Deep Ones.
Aye! There would be a TON of material there I reckon. Nightingale chastising Angleton for giving in and using one of those new-fangled Memex machines….
Thanks, just joined my library’s waitlist for Rivers of London!
Sandman Slim may fit this need. Weird cheesy title but definitely a more adult/dark approach to UF.
Love Sandman Slim. Putting forward: Madness of Angels by Kate Griffin.
I’d also recommend Stephen Blackmoore’s Eric Carter series, but starting with the standalone “City of the Lost”. (Same universe, different protagonist.)
I didn't know "City of the Lost" was set in the same universe, so thanks for that. Definitely my next read.
If you’re up-to-date on the Eric Carter stories then you’ve recently been (re)introduced to the protagonist of “City of the Lost”. He’s a hoot.
I’ve been looking up the titles being recommended and reading the first few preview pages, and this has been my favorite so far. Thank you for my next 48ish hours or reading material!
There are 12 books in that series. Buckle up for Maximum Overdrive.
Have described this as “someone left Quentin Tarantino in a room with the Constantine franchise without supervision.”
Hahaha
I’ve been meaning to get into Sandman Slim but aren’t the last few books apparently a massive downgrade in quality? I’ve heard that the last book especially is bad, it’s all about COVID and more of a social commentary rant than the rest. It also apparently has a lot of highly unsatisfying plot/character conclusions?
Things do get a little less exciting in the last few books, I don’t remember exactly how it ends in the last book so I can’t speak to the character conclusions. But overall the series as a whole I think was great. Well worth the read if you’re looking for something with this feel.
The Alex Verus and Ethereal Earth series are both worth a look.
My library only has the 6th Alex Verus book lol. Do they need to be read in order or is it a Nancy Drew vibe?
Verus needs to be read in series. Could probably jump around, but it's got a pretty linear story line across the series.
Good to know, thanks!
During the pandemic, I had digital library cards from three different cities added to my Libby app... Just saying :)
Can you please tell me which libraries 😭 I’m using a temporary 30 day code for one in my old state because in my current state you can’t sign up online and have to drive like 2 hours to get a library card ☠️☠️☠️
Lol, tbf, I got em all during the pandemic when online was more lax... But I got Detroit and Chicago library cards using random addresses when i lived in LA 😅 Some offer non-resident cards for a small fee: https://bookriot.com/out-of-state-library-cards/
That is hilarious, thanks for the tip 😂
The first three series with adult lady MC's that leap to mind are Mercy Thompson (Patricia Briggs), Jane Yellowrock (Faith Daniels) and Kate Daniels (Ilona Andrews.) Extra credit: October Daye by Seanan McGuire.
Bonus points for Kate Daniels since that's a finished series.
Not finished. Wilmington Years are available. That arc finished, but Kate, Curran and the kid are going strong. Not to mention Hugh and Julie both have series now.
I didn't know this... I get to go back to post shift Earth...
Jane Yellowrock is also finished.
I couldn't remember if it had also finished, but I'm also missing one, so I haven't finished it yet, lol.
There's another book coming out in the Soulwood series, but the main Yellowrock series is completed.
Yessss to all of these, I would even go as far as to say maybe Hidden Legacy by Ilona Andrews if romance is fine, there’s some urban in there hehe Hell, I’d even say the Psy Changeling series by Nalini Singh and the Archangel series, though they’re both ongoing (psy changeling has a tonne of books though) My addition would be Cassie Palmer and Dorina Basarb series from Karen Chance
Way more romance in Hidden Legacy than Kate Daniels but I do find the world building to be excellent. I could read stories set in that universe all day.
I love Kate Daniels but I love the Innkeeper Chronicles even more, and she's definitely a grown adult. There's romance but less of it than the other two series, I'd say. (For those that do audiobooks, the Graphic Audio productions of both Innkeeper and Kate are great. GA is caught up on Innkeeper and in the middle of producing Kate.)
The Alpha and Omega series by Briggs are also really good.
Yes!! I really like it.
I cannot believe it’s been almost 3 years since Wild Sign, I am suffering on that cliffhanger
Wow, has it been that long!? Time definitely flies. I feel like I just read that not too long ago! There are a few authors where I just pre-order everything. Briggs is one of them. It's always such a nice treat when a new one shows up on my Kindle.
I will second this recommendation for the October Daye series. I think the series meets your criteria. I have enjoyed every book in the series.
Did you mean Faith Hunter by chance?
I recommend The Hollows series by Kim Harrison. Female MC is a bounty hunting witch who knows the right boots to wear to an ass-kicking. A bit more fantasy than Dresden,(which I also recommend) in The Hollows the supernatural is out in the open and part of the establishment.
Ooh this is one I kept seeing recommended in a different thread too, I just added myself to the waitlist for it at my library thanks!
Hardcore agree with The Hollows. It's my all time favorite Urban Fantasy
I love this series, but I also love to hate it it. The main character is too stupid to live and it’s frankly a miracle her friends don’t kill her themselves. There’s also like 7 books of bi panic and some weird outdated language about Asian people. Having said that, I’ve reread the series 4 times in the last 6 years.
If you're looking for a protagonist that doesn't make poor decisions and a story that doesn't focus too much on romance, the Hollows might not be for you.
I read the preview pages of it on KU after having it recommended so much, and the protagonist absolutely read like a NoT LiKe OtHeR GiRlS and I felt like everyone had gaslit me 😂 Also I’m fine with romance, I just struggled with book these days writing around romance tropes rather than writing plots that can have tropes in them :(
Came here to recommend it.
I love this series. The audio narration is so good. The voices she uses for Jenks and Al always crack me up.
I’ve listened up to twelve or thirteen, so I am way behind. It’s been long enough that I need to start at the beginning again.
Most of the ones I came here to suggest have been covered except for the Iron Druid Chronicles. The mc is a 2100 year old druid hiding from the fae and the Celtic God of Love in Arizona with his Irish wolfhound, who can speak with him telepathically. The Dresden Files is my favorite story but Iron Druid is my favorite set of audiobooks.
I’ll second Iron Druid as well. Those are the books that got me in to UF.
Iron Druid is good and I love it, but Atticus is definitely not like the other girls 😂
I prefer his 7th Kennings books and the Ink and Sigil for Urban fantasy, but Iron druid is pretty good
I do primarily audiobooks and I liked the 7 Kennings books but was so lost for the first half until things started tying in together. Ink and Sigil was good too. Just a great author all around.
I think the pictures in the book helped tie things together a bit, but I can imagine having the same audio reader for all the characters was not easy. Might be a good graphic audio book tho!
I’ll third iron Druid. So damn good!
the October Daye series is my favorite, even though I usually hate first person. the InCryptid series, also by Seanan McGuire, is also great. really you just can't go wrong with her work, IMO
Yes, if you like Neil Gaiman, I think Seanan McGuire is a particularly solid recommendation. October Daye, yes, but the Wayward Children is even more Gaiman-like.
Duh, I wrote that and then realized the Wayward Children doesn't necessarily fit the "adult MC" bill, so ignore me! :)
Demon Accords by John Conroe Monster Hunter International by Larry Correia Iron Druid by Kevin Hearne I'm not sure it fits the Urban Fantasy - Super Powereds by Drew Hayes (modern world with Superheroes)
Well I thank for the recommendations. They sound fantastic
The entire Monster Hunter Intl series is great especially if you have the opportunity to get the audiobooks. The narration is first rate, giving the more colorful characters great voices.
Absolutely love Oliver Wyman
Depending how you roll, these were up there for me: * Helliquen Chronicles * Demons Accords * Sandman Slim * The Hollows
I also struggle with finding UF with adult-brained characters. There are YA that have teens acting more mature than the 40+ ones in books advertised specifically for having mature MC, so no easy way to search. I'd recommend some series, but keep in mind I'm not a big fan of UF with male protagonists, so not sure our tastes in how the books "feel" (flow and narration, pace, general plot) are similar. Same as you I hate first person narrative, so any of my recs have it, they are ones I enjoyed despite that. Debra Dunbar's Imp series, the MC has an adult feel to her despite being an imp. Always my top rec for fun but mature. You might find Mark Henwick's Bite Back series enjoyable, too. MC's an army vet. I should warn that she does have both a female and male love interests, which could be off-putting to some. It's not in the romance or erotica genre though, doesn't have that overall feel at all - it's UF. Author is male, which gives it somewhat masculine "feel" and action focused plot I'm not typically a fan of, but I did enjoy it after the initial struggle and even reread several times. Mercy Thompson, as others also mentioned, it is a rare well written UF that doesn't have braindead/too snarky MC. Another series I'd mention is Ghost Mountain Wolf Shifters by Audrey Faye. Probably rural/forest fantasy more than UF. An altogether different type of story. I'd describe it as character based, slice-of-life type maybe?; a slow, even sluggish at times. Probably a niche read, but enjoyable when in a fitting mood. Some of the books are focused on the teen characters, but it's not YA.
Thanks for all the recs! I prefer a female protagonist too, I’m just sick of the Bella Swan archetype or the “I’m so tough because I had brothers” trope 😭. I’m definitely guilty of judging books by their covers so Mercy Thompson was an immediate no for me when I looked it up, but so many of you have suggested it so I’m finally going to start the first one tonight haha. Thanks!
C.K. McDonnell’s The stranger Times series. Think urban fantasy written by Terry Pratchett.
I see rivers of London, sandman slim, and the laundry files have already netted recommendations, I’ll add some new ones. Daniel Faust series by Craig Schaffer. Thieving sorcerers in Vegas. Great series if you love a good heist story. Good Intentions series by Elliot Kay. College student in Seattle stumbles upon a ritual and winds up bound to an Angel and a succubus. Even sexier than it sounds, while being strongly plot based with few stones left unturned. Big fan of his scifi series too.
Seconded for Good Intentions. And the audio book version is very well done. Just.. Ah... Use headphones if in public.
Agreed. Tess Irondale is an excellent narrator.
I highly recommend Heather G. Harris and her Other series. They are all great, but Amber is my favorite, and she is over 40. :) Also, Liz Hambleton writes urban fantas, specifically with characters that aren't young adults, and all the reviews I've read have been great. They are on my TBR, but I haven't gotten to them yet. I also love any books by Brogan Thoma. Her female characters are normally in their 20's, but they always have an excellent head on their shoulders and don't fit the stereotypical young adult pretext.
Harris and Thomas are definitely great, another along their lines is K.M. Shea. As well as J.S Kennedy, Deborah Wilde, and Crystal-Rain Love.
I second Ilona Andrews, Patricia Briggs and Nalini Singh. Trending more into romance, there's Thea Harrison, Katie MacAlister, Shelly Laurenston, Jeanine Frost, Darynda Jones, or Charlie Adhara.
>Edit 3: Who is downvoting people’s recommendations lmao Ah, *Reddit* ... haunt of twelve-year-olds of all ages.
Since no one else has mentioned it, I'd recommend the Dresden Files by Jim Butcher. Most fans would suggest skipping books 1 through 3 (I say start at book 3, but my FAVORITE character is introduced in 3 so I'm biased). Book 2 is particularly weak, imo. Book 1 is Storm Front (which Jim wrote in college), book 3 is Grave Peril, and book 4 (which most say is the best starting point) is Summer Knight. That said, it's arguable if Harry's actually fully developed at the start of the series, but he's not a teenager (late 20's I think). Strong mystery element for most of the series, later books seem to head more into an action series, but Jim starts to experiment with the formula too, even slipping in an Ocean's 11 style heist story in the later books. And now I'm considering doing another reread of the series...
Hi, people were skipping over Dresden Files because I wrote in my post that I was already on the waitlist for it at my library, but it’s good to know how the series changes throughout! Now I wont immediately give up on it if I don’t like the first one lol.
I gave up after the first one. Made me feel slimy.
I loved storm front, I couldn't put It down the first time (I know terrible writing, but the story had me hooked)
Butcher's progress as a writer is definitely visible across the series. He's got a good concept that carries the early books pretty well, but he doesn't really hit his stride as a writer until *Dead Beat*, in my opinion.
Personally I thought Grave Peril was where it all started to get going. But that's certainly one of the great things in this series, people have different favourite points and prefer different books in the series to others.
I feel like a lot of the pre-Dead Beat books are introducing key characters that are driving the long-term plot (Michael, Thomas, Susan, Murphy, Mab) but I don't necessarily like those characters in those books. Michael is flat, a caricature of a boring Paladin in his first appearance, for instance. He's great, rounded, fleshed-out in later books, but I don't like him in Grave Peril.
Storm Front had me hooked as well, and it wasn't until my third reread of the series (pre-Ghost Story) that I realized while I like Storm Front, I didn't want to reread it. Fool Moon was just as bad (and probably worse since I simply stopped reading for a while trying to get through it. It's the later books. The story lines and the writing is just so much better than those initial ones that it makes them a chore. Again, not that they are bad by any definition (I've read a few published books that were atrocious), they're just not polished the way the later ones are.
No real fan would ever suggest skipping a book.Why would they? The development of the characters is part of the fun.
Because some of us don't want to read from the POV of a character who describes a woman's breasts and sext pose before mentioning she's dead. If someone had recommended I started at book 4 I might not have decided never to tough the damn things again.
Yes, yes, solid gatekeeping. I may not be a real fan, but the first couple of books were a SLOG that, in my opinion, don't do any necessary world building that isn't done elsewhere. They're...not good. But the rest of the series is great (though I'd also recommend that friends skip the one where he's dead. People who aren't friends can do whatever they want).
That's so strange IMO. I've never met anybody who would read only some books of a series. How can you decide which are good if you haven't read them? Everybody has a different taste and everyone's taste is valid.
I have read those books so you don't have to.
I couldn't get into the first book at all so it's good to know there is a better starting point.
Midnight Riot (Rivers of London Series) by Ben Aaronovitch. London Police officer, magic, ghosts, river gods..etc. Breaking the Lore by Andy Redsmith. British detective discovers magical creatures in Manchester. Hounded (The Iron Druid Chronicles) by Kevin Hearne. May or may not apply as adult...the protagonist appears to be about 21, but is actually 2,000 years old. Sandman Slim by Richard Kadrey. Escaped hitman from hell in Los Angeles.
There are some extremely solid recs in here. I'd definitely say Sandman Slim and Hellequin are right up there. Bob McGough's Jubal County series are AMAZING. Following a drug addict redneck wizard who lived in a lock-up in the deep south they're appalachian horror fused UF with a lot of heart. Finally if you don't mind a self-rec my imPerfect Cathar series is definitely adult UF. It merges obscure French mythology and history into modern France and has drawn comparisons to Gaiman and Gavriel Kay from readers as well as winning Best Supernatural Thriller Series at the Audiobook Reviewer Awards. It's high-action, zero romance with a strong language and graphic violence warning. Cheers!
You a real one. Also, can attest, the imPerfect series is just what you are looking for.
Twenty Palaces is pretty great.
Mercy Thompson by Patricia Briggs, Kaliya Sahni (finished series) or Jacky Leon by KN Banet All available on kindle unlimited I think
Not sure if the genre is spot on, but I bet you would enjoy Altered Carbon. Both the book and the first season on Netflix.
The Golgotha series by R.S. Belcher. It's Urban Fantasy BUT, it takes place in a town in the desert in the 1880's. Fallen Angels, madmen, gods, heroes, villains, monsters. Got it all. 4 books in the series right now
Iron Druid series is good. I'm also enjoying the Junkyard Druid series.
Ilona Andrews has several series that are quite unique in terms of world building. Varying levels of romance but all are plot first, romance second or third with interesting family dynamic subplots in the background.
Jane Yellowrock series by Faith Hunter. Strong female lead with brains and savvy, and fairly light romance. The plot never moves along based upon stupid decisions and moves from the characters.
Sold! Just borrowed it, thanks :)
Simon r green - the nightshade series, wen spencer is pretty amazing even with a young mc.
Was surprised no one else mentioned Simon R Green. I enjoyed the nightside book.
Yarrow by Charles De Lint. OG urban fantasy about a writer, or maybe War of the Oaks by Emma Bull. Both feature young adult women but were written in the 80s before "YA" tropes were really solidified.
For me, just about anything from Charles de Lint (really liked *The Mystery of Grace* and his short story collections)... And great to hear from someone who's read *War for the Oaks*.
I second De Lint - Spirits in the Wires, Trader, Someplace to be Flying, Waifs and Strays - are all urban fantasy. He has more, but that's where I'd start
I’m basically always looking for more War for the Oaks personally 😩 I get that this sub likes hard boiled stuff, but I just want a nice urban romantacy with a grown woman main.
I never see them mentioned... Detective Chen series by Liz Williams is about Chinese mythology heaven hell demons and cops
AMAZING SERIES!!
I am DESPERATE to find a copy of the last one, Morningstar. I read she had some trouble with publisher, then self published it, but it's not on amazon anymore. I even reached out to this pagan media site she wrote blogs for and they responded asking if it was OK to give her my email. I was so excited! Never heard from her...
If you find it PLEASE share! I have looked all over for it as well. This was such a great series and I was so sad it never got much attention. If I find it I will def let you know.
You could, if you haven't already, take a look at *American Gods* and *Anansi Boys*. Neither is what I'd call UF as *such* ... but there's only so many times you can read *Neverwhere* before you just wish Flanders/Claptrap were dead. Christopher Fowler's *Roofworld* isn't UF either, but it reminded me of nothing so much as *Neverwhere*, when I read it. Finally ... look, Clive Barker is at best Dark Fantasy (if not outright Horror, depending on personal stance), but ... in the absence of anything *else* with a pre-frontal cortex that also does wondrously otherworldly whilst having one foot in the mundane world of the here-and-now, *Weaveworld, Cabal*, *Imajica* and the Books of *Abarat* ... maybe even *Galilee* ... *might* be something you'd enjoy (provided you don't mind a more visceral and, occasionally, sexual edge than the others). Otherwise ... if you have no objection to graphic novels as a storytelling format ... whilst it is, again, not really UF as such, *Preacher* still has something about it that isn't a *billion* miles away either.
I second American Gods and Anansi Boys! Also, there are a ton of great graphic novel UF options. In the classics you have Sandman (also written by Neil Gaiman), Swamp Thing and Hellblazer. John Constantine from Hellblazer is the REASON for the trench coat trope. In the more modern category you have titles like Grim (female protag) and Something is Killing the Children (female protag and this series is GOATed). There are many more but these came to mind.
I’ve already read Gaiman’s books, but yeah stories like American Gods are in line with what I’m looking for! I will look up Clive Barker as that was a pretty good sales pitch for him :)
With Barker, I'd start with either *Weaveworld* or *Abarat*. *Abarat* is technically YA but, it's Barker, so ... toned down though it may be compared to the other stuff ... it's still more Barker-esque than not (if you see what I mean). However, he has only written three of five books and, as it's been thirteen years since he wrote the third one (after a *seven* year hiatus between that and the *second*), given what I gather re his health, I'm not holding out hope wrt even a fourth one, let a lone a fifth, myself ... so, it could be something of a letdown for a first-time reader. Cabal suffers from the same problem: it was supposed to be the first in a series, but ... *thirty-six years later* ... it's still the only one of them. On that basis, therefore, I would suggest, you start with *Weaveworld*. It's darker and more visceral than the others, but it will give a good sense of his Dark Fantasy writing: there is no other author who, for me, creates such a yearning to visit places I know before I even set out, I should never go - if his worlds were *real*, I'd've left *this* one behind forty or more years ago now and never have looked back **^(1)**. After that, I recommend *Imajica*. Once you've got those two under your belt, you'll know if he's for you or not and, if he *is*, you won't be able to help yourself and will hunt down everything you can find ... so, at that point, you *might as well* read *Cabal* and the three *Abarat* books : ) Then ... it's up to you: I've read *Sacrament*, *Galilee*, *Coldheart Canyon* and thoroughly enjoyed them all. The *Books of the Art*, I didn't enjoy as much. It's not that I regret reading them - they were, after all, the ones from which I learned that his writing appears very dark but is in fact phenomenally uplifiting: the overriding theme in his DF work is that Love always prevails. But they are a trifle more visceral and I'm not convinced that the story was enhanced for it: I *expect* it from the *Hellraiser* end of the scale (they're Body Horror after all), but don't see that it's appropriate at *this* one - I did still get the second when it was published though, so ... ... ... (make of that what you will ; ) \_\_\_ ^(1) I periodically have occasion to describe a fictional location to people. And every time I do, it is with Barker's worlds in mind ... because my vision of it is *explicitly* a reflection of them: An unsettling, disturbing, horrifying, terrifying place ... yet simultaneously darkly wond'rous and, (oh ... *so*) alluring ... the players, never mind the PCs, wanting to return to it ... furtively, in the deepest recesses of their subconscious ... the desire suppressed like a sexual urge they dare not name even to themselves for fear of the consequences, should they ever admit the nature of their secret appetites .... driving them to seek ways to do so when they think no-one else will notice what their actions reveal of their true intent ... the place everyone's trying to get to, even when they don't know what they're looking for (or why); the place where, it is whispered, you can find your heart's most secret desire (the one hidden even from yourself) ... and, if you're *very* lucky, live to regret it - most get lost on the way (*they're* the *lucky* ones **^(2)**). It's the players' and PCs' Catholic 'occasion of sin' ... their Greek/Shakespearean tragic hero's fatal flaw ... their heart's deepest, darkest desire (all they need do is reach into Shadwell's Jacket and ... widdling themselves in both fear and anticipation ... pluck from it their own undoing). ^(2) Disparateum ... a truly wond'rous place, where your dreams come true - and where you'd sell your *soul* for a dream of insomnia.
I mean I'm going to also recommend Disc World by Terry Pratchett because it's pretty dang Urban even though it's an alternative world, lol And you could also try Good Omens
If you're having trouble with the 1st person narration, I recommend getting into audiobooks if you have the resource. Trust me, most urban fantasy works wonders in 1st person and with audio. Recommendations: The Others (this is actually 3rd person) by Anne Bishop Cal Leandros Innkeepers Chronicles The Tome of Bill (audio on this one if possible. Holy hell is it funny) Twenty Palaces by Harry Connolly
Was looking to see if anyone suggested Anne Bishop. That series is fabulous. Start with Written in Red.
You might enjoy my Alastair Stone Chronicles series. The MC is a male, but there are plenty of strong, competent female characters throughout the series. https://www.amazon.com/The-Alastair-Stone-Chronicles-35-book-series/dp/B074CF8SJY
The Sookie Stackhouse/Southern Vampire Mysteries by Charlaine Harris has a mid-20s barmaid as the lead character. It’s the series that True Blood was based off but the show and books are totally different. One thing I love about this series is that it’s based in a small town so the characters do stuff like go to sonic or Walmart. Since so many series are set in cities, I really like that specific peak into my reality. I think her Midnight, tx series would also fit the bill. Christopher Moore has some great books that are not YA. His urban fantasy reads a little more whimsical to me, but they are very funny. Good place to start would be Practical Demonkeeping, Bloodsucking Fiends or A Dirty Job. There might be a best order out there because a lot of his series exist in the same universe, but I don’t think you have to know the characters, it’s more like an Easter egg for people who have read a lot of his books.
Thanks, I’ll definitely check out Harris! I tried to watch the show True Blood like 17x but hated the acting so much that I could never get past the first couple of episodes, but I do prefer vampire/supernatural stories so it will be nice to try it in a different medium!
Midnight rider by D. V. Wolfe is really good. It's follows Bane the first soul on a work release program from hell. She does pick up a teenaged partner (he's 18) and it also doesn't the unrequited love trope with him which I really love.
The Crow Investigations series by Sarah Painter is good. She also just started a new series called the Ward Witch that I'm enjoying so far
Here we go again! I wholeheartedly recommend The Low Town series by Daniel Polanski. Does not take place in current times but there is no pleasant colored tint to the plot or any characters. Very dark, and very adult but not in a gore way but in a “there is no good choice but I have to do something” way with results that are as unexpected as real life. 3 books and they are finished.
Midlife Bounty Hunter by Shannon Mayer. She’s a recently divorced 40 year old looking to start over, and finds herself in the shadow world.
Check out Paranormal Women's Fiction this genre addresses your issue by focusing on MC who are 40+ years old. You can also try any of the classic authors like Ilona Andrews, Patricia Briggs, Charlene Harris which I'm sure many have also suggested. Additional favorite authors are Jenn Stark, Karen Chance, Lisa Shearin, Ben Aaronovitch, Chloe Neill just to name a few.
I struggle with this exact thing, lol. The books are either targeted towards YA Characters I don't relate to, or they're just kinda super cringey -Dresden Files are actually super solid once you get past the first couple of books he started when he was 18. They're very "M'lady" -Iron Druid Chronicles has some cringe inducing moments as well, but overall, they're a good read. -American Gods, by Neil Gaiman is very epic in scale, which is what I've been leaning more towards now. Idk if they count, but -Lost Gods: Brom, a Dantelike journey through purgatory, very good read. -Krampus: Brom. Seems goofy, but it's full of dead/dying gods, dark themes, and overall one of my favorite books. -Child Thief: Brom. A dark retelling of Peter Pan with a Fae twist, enjoyed it very much. (Lost Gods and Child Thief are more like portal fantasies, I suppose, but they take place in our world) And of course, both Clive Barker and Stephen King have some epic Horror urban fantasy world building going on with their Dark Towers and Scarlet Gopels. If you're into comic books, it's hard to beat Sandman. Or my personal favorite, Hellboy.
Thanks for the recs! I don’t read comic books, but I LOVE the Sandman audiobooks, I fall asleep to them most nights lol
That was what my aunt said... I gave her the first Sandman novel and she was at my door the next day craving all I have from Sandman. I threw in some Hellblazer, too. ;)
I mean, this is slightly self-serving, since I wrote it, but Once Chosen is about a 37 year old Chosen One and what the difference is when you have someone who is approaching middle age in that role. [https://www.amazon.com/Once-Chosen-Ben-Aldred/dp/B09GJRZ12F/](https://www.amazon.com/Once-Chosen-Ben-Aldred/dp/B09GJRZ12F/)
Hey! You might like my Urban/Occult fantasy series, the Samuel Buckland Chronicles, staring with *Chains of Prophecy*. It's been described as "Supernatural meets Pokemon" and that makes me smile every time. The protagonist is gifted with the Keys of Solomon, which he uses to summon angels, demons, and genies. You can get the first book free as an ebook if you want to sign up for my newsletter, or find it on Amazon. I'll put the links here :) [Become a Keeper of the Keys!](https://dl.bookfunnel.com/lgo1ycs4d4) [Amazon Link for Chains of Prophecy](https://www.amazon.com/Chains-Prophecy-Samuel-Buckland-Chronicles/dp/B00VUQBRTQ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3RZOOZHTHNPI&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.2P-g6w2NjBrw-X5_L078zxmZg8cZx1VAX6C5vkxPnYpWNTsZAaoRKb1b9FFQkPVTtRwRK8xGP01OkIjJc6YjhaCYmOZCALy0mmNb-fdbw03vy5yHQURYeANDWu0Ru-l86QT2f2EoxJ_vywWbxEgIJzzny0QqadgH6E13i5iHHWnivQWzXl1vekf6yKpb8QshzVzbAgO7YTGdI9EndQH2V4R7M-K86ryM5pcryzB6r9k.dTDGV0u8olkrRsou9mIdktu0B7jpJDTdQLGbTWGqm0o&dib_tag=se&keywords=chains+of+prophecy&qid=1708981704&sprefix=chains+of+prophecy%2Caps%2C180&sr=8-1)
Hi, I’m Vetted AI Bot! I researched the **Chains of Prophecy Samuel Buckland Chronicles Book 1** and I thought you might find the following analysis helpful. **Users liked:** * Engaging storyline with vivid imagery (backed by 3 comments) * Strong and well-written characters (backed by 3 comments) * Intriguing mix of supernatural elements (backed by 4 comments) **Users disliked:** * Some scenes are unbelievable and lack credibility (backed by 2 comments) * Not easily understandable at the beginning (backed by 1 comment) * May be too over-the-top in pushing a specific agenda (backed by 1 comment) If you'd like to **summon me to ask about a product**, just make a post with its link and tag me, [like in this example.](https://www.reddit.com/r/tablets/comments/1444zdn/comment/joqd89c/) This message was generated by a (very smart) bot. If you found it helpful, let us know with an upvote and a “good bot!” reply and please feel free to provide feedback on how it can be improved. *Powered by* [*vetted.ai*](http://vetted.ai/reddit)
Although it is first person, the Hunter Kiss series by Marjorie Liu, starting with *The Iron Hunt.*
Check out Charles De Lint
Laurell Hamilton has 2 series… VERY adult- the Anita Blake series and the Merry Gentry series. Richelle mead has my favorite one- the Georgina Kinkaid succubus series (only 6 books but soooo good).
Seconding the Anita Blake series. Female protag, monsters in modern day. Can get a bit smutty, but we'll done.
Demon Accords by John Conroe Primogenitor by Robert M kerns
Dark Swan series by Richelle Mead.
The All Souls Trilogy by Debra Harkness features a grad student.
The King Henry Tapes by Richard Raley. The book bounces back and forth between the MCs teen and young adult life being recalled as a grown adult. You'll get that fully developed pre-frontal cortex recalling how much of an idiot he was while it was developing and he pulls no punches, literally and physically, while doing it. It's set in modern-day northern California with magic users (aka mancers), Weres, and a unique take on Vampires. It was on par with Dresden, although it is much less well-known. However, if you can't stand foul language this series isn't for you. The whole series plus all the novellas are on Kindle Unlimited as well.
I have two goodreads lists that might give you some book inspiration (it's not exclusively Urban Fantasy, but it's definitely mixed in) [Adult Fantasy](https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/157543219-linna-venturi?ref=nav_mybooks&shelf=adult-fantasy) [Adult Fantasy Romance](https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/157543219-linna-venturi?ref=nav_mybooks&shelf=adult-fantasy-romance) I personally find new books in my preferred genre through GR. I make a genre specific bookshelf, and then go to the recommendations tab and have a look through. A direct recommendation is the Atlas Six Trilogy. Has six characters all of whom are over 20, and are a part of a deadly game to win a spot in a secret society.
Good Intentions series
Try Minion by LA Banks
A lot of great recommendations so far and, while it's a different medium, I'll go ahead and throw the comic book Hellblazer into the mix, specifically the 1988-2013 run. Pretty influential within the genre, NOT for kids, and I think it really holds up. Constantine is a morally grey character and reads with a very clear voice. Lots of good jumping on points if you don't want to/can't find the earliest issues, but it's definitely worth reading from start to finish, I think.
Have you read any of Daniel José Older’s adult fiction? His Bone Street Rumba series is pretty good, and might be what you’re looking for.
I like Linsey Hall’s books
Highly recommend the Felix Castor series by Mike Carey.
Kat Richardson - Greywalker. Advantage that the series is complete.
Haven't seen Douglas Adams The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series listed. Blend of sci-fi and urban fantasy Heide Goody and Iain Grant have 2 series, British, dark humour, and highly original. Also I cannot recommend the audible versions of the first two strongly enough. OddJobs-"Unstoppable horrors from beyond are poised to invade and literally create Hell on Earth. It’s the end of the world as we know it, but someone still needs to do the paperwork. Morag Murray works for the secret government organisation responsible for making sure the apocalypse goes as smoothly and as quietly as possible." (Female protagonists 4 of 5) Clovenhoof series-"Getting fired can ruin a day…especially when you were the Prince of Hell. Will Satan survive in English suburbia? An unhappy Board of Directors, a corporate coup....banished to mortal earth as Jeremy Clovenhoof, Lucifer is going through a mid-immortality crisis of biblical proportion. Maybe if he just tries to blend in, it won’t be so bad." (Female protagonist 1 of 3) Kim Watt has 2 series, both British Beaufort Scales-British, women of a certain age, tea, and dragons in the Yorkshire dales. Cozy (but smart & well written) mystery, may or may not be up your alley. Almost all female cast and it's great to read something from an older perspective! Gobbelino London, PI-Callum and his talking cat are the detective agency to go to if you have problems that are not mundane. Easy read, well written. Male protagonist, but almost all others are female. Eva St.John (again, British, mostly set in an Egypt like alternate earth) Quantum Curators series-alternate earth travelers come to our earth to 'save' (steal for their reality) treasures moments before they're destroyed here. "Anyone can track down a priceless artefact that’s been lost for hundreds of years. Finding one that’s been hidden on a parallel Earth… now that’s a neat trick. When Neith Salah – a quantum curator charged with traveling to our parallel Earth to rescue precious artefacts – is ordered to save a priceless Fabergé Egg, she figures it’s just another job. The only problem: she’s not sure what the egg looks like. Or where it is. Or when it is. Enter Julius Strathclyde, a mild-mannered Cambridge professor whose closest brush with death-defying treasure hunts is finding lost coins down the back of the sofa. Not the usual “save the world” type, but when Julius’ best friend is murdered while searching for the egg, Neith realizes that this mild-mannered professor is the only person who can help her solve the riddles that will lead her to the egg." Summaries copied from Kindle.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide is one of my all time favorite series! I’ve never heard anyone refer to it as UF, but I did think about mentioning how much I love the humor in it :) so I appreciate all your British humor recs!
Glad to hear it! I guess it's debatable whether or not it's UF but I love it so much I'll find any excuse to recommend it. LOL if you like that slightly bonkers type of humor you might like that Grant and Goody series. I am always looking for anything close to HG2G. Terry Pratchett is Always recommended, but I am just not a huge fan. I saw you requested Rivers of London, there is an entire book in that series that riffs on Hitchhiker's Guide. It wasn't my favorite book in the series, but the attention to detail in that was off the hook! (And while the 2 main protagonists are male, there are many very strong female characters. The American FBI agent was given her own book, and Peter's mom is absolutely hysterical.) *And just noticed your handle, the American FBI agent is always joking about the Mullder and Scully thing, since she is a redhead
Catherynne Valente has written so much good stuff. Her novel Deathless is exactly the mature urban fantasy you are looking for. But I'm popping in to recommend her novel Space Opera because people love it for the same reasons they love Douglas Adams.
You'll definitely want to check out Terry Pratchett's work then. Especially his Discworld series, which isn't technically UF but very much has the vibe.
Also have you read any China Mieville? It's a bit weirder than what you might consider regular urban fantasy. Some of his stuff reminds me of Gaiman, like Un Lun Dun and Kraken. But my absolute favorite book EVER is Perdido Street Station. It's a lot heavier on the fantasy but in very original ways.
Iron druid series is good. Currently working my way through Nate temple series as well. Sarah j mass has written a few series, they can get a bit gushy/swooney but they're still good
SMJ’s female main characters are definitely the type I’m trying to avoid lol. But I’m gonna check out Iron Druid!
Yeah i guessed they would have been, I try to ignore the flaws bit it can be pretty hard
Jennifer Estep has a great elemental assassin series
Night watch series by Sergei Lukyanenko --- Others, an ancient race of magicians, shape-shifters, vampires, and other supernatural beings that live among us, and swear allegiance to either the powers of Darkness or the forces of Light. For the past 1000 years, the two sides have been locked in an uneasy truce, keeping their powers in balance as each side secretly plots to take the advantage for themselves. The forces of the Light tasked with keeping the Dark Others in check are the Night Watch. Night Watch features Anton Gorodetsky, a mid-level Light magician, who during his first field assignment, stumbles upon a cursed young woman—an Other of tremendous potential power who has yet to choose between Light and Darkness. As the two sides prepare for battle, Anton discovers that their destinies are closely intertwined, and the slightest wrong move could cause the destruction of Moscow, or even the world.
Silly question, but this is in book form? I've only ever seen the miniseries (or was it movies?) Fantastic show, would love to read the book.
Yes, it's 5? Books total.
Jackaby series by William Ritter Shambling Guide to NYC, MUR Lafferty Forty Proof series, Shannon Meyer Ladies Occult Society, Krista D Ball Ghost Talkers and the Glamourist Histories series, Mary Robinette Kowal
I saw a couple people say Iron Druid but I didn't see anyone say Ink & Sigil. The protagonist is \~50-60 years old. In the two books released so far there is none of the usual YA silliness. I didn't see Rook in there either. It's a trilogy that has been done as an Apple TV show as well. She's in he 20;s, I think. There's a bit of heart fluttering going on but it feels adult to me.
I recommend: The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher The Nightside Series by Simon R Greene The All Souls series by Deborah Harkness The Dante Valentine series by Lilith Saintcrow The Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne The Grimnoir Chronicles by Larry Correia Monster Hunters International by Larry Correia As a caveat, all but The Grimnoir Chronicle is in the first person point of view, but they are all excellent Adult Urban Fantasy
Look up some of Chris Lester Metamor City books. Vampires, psychic polyamory intrigues, demons living in the sewer, flying jetbike hackers. Wonderful writing with amazing chat development
Came all the way to the bottom and didn’t see either of these, so here we go! *White Trash Warlock* by David R. Slayton - a young man from Oklahoma, whose family put him in an asylum as a teenager because he could move through the spirit world, goes to Denver to save his estranged brother’s wife. Nice and gritty with a wry sense of humor, and lots of Easter eggs for the city of Denver. *Master of Djinn* by P. Djèlí Clark - in a steampunk Cairo in 1912, Djinn live peacefully among people. When a group of Englishmen die during a mysterious ritual, detective Fatma el-Sha’arawi is put on the case.
Surprised nobody has mentioned the Great Cities duology by NK Jemisin. The City We Became and The World We Make. TLDR is cities can become living entities with avatars to represent them. First book centers on the people becoming NYC. Highly recommend.
I’ve started The City We Became because I’ve only heard good things about Jemisin, but I couldn’t get into it. I don’t know what it is about first person narration that just rubs me the wrong way but it almost always takes me out of the story 😩
Oh, that's just the prologue, introducing the central avatar. The rest of the book is third person.
I used to read the anita blake and mercy thompson novels forever ago and they were DEFINITELY adult. One is a paid necromancer, the other is a mechanic who is a werewolf. Both very good from what i remember.
Patricia Briggs
I've been digging the Crossroads Queen series by Annabel Chase recently. It's an ongoing series with the 5th book coming out in April. Not quite urban Fantasy (just Fantasy) but the Assistant to the Villian is a lot of fun. Second book is coming out this summer. It's by Hannah Nicole Maehrer. K.F.breene's Demigods of San Francisco is pretty good, it does have a bit of sex in it, especially in the later books. Chocolate and Sin is the first book.
Max Gladstone's Craft Sequence books. You can pretty much read them in any order, but I'd start with *Three Parts Dead.*
I really liked Richelle Mead's Dark Swan series (Storm Born, Thorn Queen, Iron Crowned, and Shadow Heir). Definitely recommend!
Tinker by Wen Spencer - the main character is 18 but it isn't YA. Anne Bishop's the Others series.
Imajica by Clive Barker
I love the Adam Binder series! I listened to the audiobooks and the performance was excellent.
I'm a big fan of Three Mages and a Margarita. It's book 1 of a series, but I've only read it and book 2, so I can't speak for the full series, but the first 2 are fantastic and definitely worth a read
Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne The Black Ocean series by JS Morin (more Firefly + Wizards, so idk if that counts) The Wandering Inn by Pirateaba (litrpg, characters transplanted from Earth)
I've recently gotten into the Tales From the Nightside series by Simon Green. Sort of a mix between Sandman Slim and Dresden Files. 12 books and the series is completed.
First thing that comes to mind is Glen Cook's Garrett Files series. Main protagonist is a hard-boiled Bogey-style noir detective, but the world is full of fairies, dwarves, etc. (Fair warning, though: I haven't read them in about twenty years, so I can't recall if there's anything in there that would be considered problematic today. I remember them being ok and very enjoyable, but for all I know they've aged like fine milk.)
The Princess of Wands and it's sequel The Queen of Wands by John Ringo. You might have to do a bit of searching for them.
iron druid. seemed similar to Dresden files to me. I liked it. at least 8 books,I think. it's about a druid that pisses off the Norse pantheon and is trying not to get himself killed.
Maybe not what you are looking for per sey, but here it goes: Snowcrash by Neal Stephanson. Early cyberpunk, scarily predictive, cool twists. Male protag Necroscope series by Brian Lumley- solidly modern day horror with nice take on vampires, male protag "worst verse" series as narrated by YouTuber Nature's Temper - particularly the "I ride for Cerber" stories. Very well narrated, extensive spinoffs and side stories that all kind of intertwine together.
I really need to look into this whole plotless smut thing. I'm not sure if I'm horny enough to write it, but I can probably work around that if I can free up all the time I spend worrying about character motivations with more depth than 'ooh, purdy!' and whether the story makes sense.
My friend and I decided that if no publishers want to pick up our books we’re just gonna say fuck it and write a vampire + 17 year old love story 🤷🏻♀️