Looking for some urban fantasy

ink wench · Mar 26, 2008

Yes, another poster in need of book suggestions!

I've read very little urban fantasy. It's not my usual taste, but as I'm winding down on the first draft of my WIP, the next ideas floating through my head are both urban fantasies for some reason (one involving vampires and the other elf-like creatures). So I think I need to do some reading, particularly anything involving vampires, faeries, or elves. Thanks!

Kasey Mackenzie · Mar 26, 2008

Oh, now you've got me started! *grin* Urban fantasy is my genre of choice these days. I love several others, but it's definitely my favorite atm.

My favorites are: Kim Harrison's Rachel Morgan series (has witches, vamps, weres, pixies, elves, demons, etc. I just love her world-building and especially her characters!), Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden series (wizards, vamps, weres, demons, etc. as well. Just LOVE Harry's voice.), Patricia Briggs' Mercy Thompson series (Mercy's a skinwalker, which is pretty unique, and it also has assorted vamps, weres, demons, etc.), Ilona Andrews' Magic Bites and Magic Burns (which has an extremely unique alternate reality Atlanta where magic and technology run in alternating waves), and Jeaniene Frost's Night Huntress series (which is fairly new but I absolutely love her two main characters). Oh! I also love C.E. Murphy's Walker Papers urban fantasies (starts with Urban Shaman) and her new urban fantasy series for Luna looks great, though I haven't picked it up yet. I do still enjoy Laurell K. Hamilton's Merry Gentry (faerie/sidhe) series, but I gave up on her Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series after about book 9 or so. The first 8, however, ROCK!

I know I'm forgetting others, but that should be a decent list to get you started.

waylander · Mar 26, 2008

Charles de Lint

Calla Lily · Mar 26, 2008

Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse series. First one is Dead Until Dark (I think). Premise: Scientists perfect artificial blood and vampires come out of the closet. MC is a reluctant telepath. The first 4-5 were IMO terrific, different, gripping. In the last few she's thrown in every creature she can think of: werewolves (and were-anything and everything else), fairies, shapeshifters, etc. etc. They've struck me as a kitchen-sink approach, diluting the power of the first books. I understand her reasoning: if vamps are real, then everything else is too. But I'm reading each new one out of a hope that she'll regain focus.

Also, the Dante Valentine series by Lilith Saintcrow. First one called Working for the Devil. Futuristic and very urban, with side-trips to Hell. Written in first person, which is NOT my cup of tea, but I ripped through all 5 of these in about 3 weeks. You want her to win--her and her... nah. I won't spoil it. One of the few times (like 3?) in my life I've skipped to the end of a book (it was book 2) because I COULD NOT be ignorant of the Major Plot Twist. Simply couldn't. 8 stars out of 10 (Dante gets whiny toward the middle.)They were 4-for-3 at Amazon just after Christmas.

Shadow_Ferret · Mar 26, 2008

There's an issue here of crossover.

There is urban fantasy, which Jim Butcher does, then there's paranormal romance which Charlaine Harris does (and our own Cathy Clamp).

Sometimes the line between the two is rather blurred however.

Some of the above authors, I've never even heard of. I'll have to write them down.

There's also Tanya Huff's Vickie Nelson series, which started with Blood Price. About a former female police detective now private investigator and her vampire helper, who is the illegitimate son of Henry VIII.

Calla Lily · Mar 26, 2008

Harris' series is classified as paranormal romance? Serious question: why? Is is simply because there's lots of sex?

Sassee · Mar 26, 2008

Darkfever by Karen Moning. It's shelved under romance, though I have no idea why... personally I think it needs to be under fantasy, because it has UF written all over it.

re: urban fantasy vs paranormal romance - there is not a lot of difference. This is because one of the staples of urban fantasy is some sort of romantic interest involving the main character. Really the only concrete difference is that urban fantasy is focused more on the MC's setting and whatever disaster may visit it, whereas romance will focus more on the relationship between protagonists. This is based off of personal observation as I like to read both genres on a regular basis.

ink wench · Mar 26, 2008

Thanks for all the suggestions so far! Some of the enthusiasm here is contagious. I want to go check these all out. Luckily, I have a $150 indy book store gift certificate, otherwise I'd be hurting.

Sassee said:
re: urban fantasy vs paranormal romance - there is not a lot of difference. This is because one of the staples of urban fantasy is some sort of romantic interest involving the main character. Really the only concrete difference is that urban fantasy is focused more on the MC's setting and whatever disaster may visit it, whereas romance will focus more on the relationship between protagonists. This is based off of personal observation as I like to read both genres on a regular basis.

This so helpful. As my new and tentative stories are fermenting in my brain, I've been wondering if UF or PR would best describe them. Right now I think it's UF but the romance elements have been throwing me for a loop.

Calla Lily · Mar 26, 2008

Sassee said:
Really the only concrete difference is that urban fantasy is focused more on the MC's setting and whatever disaster may visit it, whereas romance will focus more on the relationship between protagonists. This is based off of personal observation as I like to read both genres on a regular basis.

Thanks, Sassee.

Good heavens. This means I'm writing a paranormal romance.

Me? Writing romance?

Someone call Hell and see if the demons are ice-skating on the lake of fire yet. :tongue

Shadow_Ferret · Mar 26, 2008

Sassee said:
re: urban fantasy vs paranormal romance - there is not a lot of difference. This is because one of the staples of urban fantasy is some sort of romantic interest involving the main character.

I know and really, I think the whole paranormal romance thing is silly. So they have relationships? So does everyone. Because Mike Hammer has a relationship does that make it a detective romance? I mean, what a silly classification. Unless it's a true romance with just paranormal elements, then I can see why they'd classify it as such. But the distinctions and who is placed in which category seems almost arbitrary and unfathomable.

Sassee · Mar 26, 2008

ink wench said:
Thanks for all the suggestions so far! Some of the enthusiasm here is contagious. I want to go check these all out. Luckily, I have a $150 indy book store gift certificate, otherwise I'd be hurting.

This so helpful. As my new and tentative stories are fermenting in my brain, I've been wondering if UF or PR would best describe them. Right now I think it's UF but the romance elements have been throwing me for a loop.

Shadow_Ferret said:
I know and really, I think the whole paranormal romance thing is silly. So they have relationships? So does everyone. Because Mike Hammer has a relationship does that make it a detective romance? I mean, what a silly classification. Unless it's a true romance with just paranormal elements, then I can see why they'd classify it as such. But the distinctions and who is placed in which category seems almost arbitrary and unfathomable.

It's especially confusing because everyone seems to have a different opinion on what constitutes urban fantasy or paranormal romance, even the authors themselves. It's also affected by which store has the book - I've had to search for series books in both spots (and found them in both spots!) depending on what store I decided to visit that day.

rugcat · Mar 26, 2008

callalily61 said:
Harris' series is classified as paranormal romance? Serious question: why? Is is simply because there's lots of sex?

Because one of the major themes in Harris concerns her heroine's relationships and problems with her various supernatural love interests, while in Butcher (and some other uf writers even less) the relationship aspect is minor, if present at all.

Stacia Kane · Mar 26, 2008

I love UF but am not as into uf with vamps these days so don't really have any recommendations that haven't already been mentioned, sorry.

waylander · Mar 26, 2008

Rugcat was too coy to mention his own book 'Dog Days' which is UF.
(OK it is in his sig line, but who reads those?)
It is really rather good

Pike · Mar 26, 2008

Hey Ink. Here's links to a couple of great sites that cover both UF and PR. You'll get broad definitions of each and tons of news and examples on the books.

http://urbanfantasyreader.braveblog.com/

http://urbanfantasyland.wordpress.com/

Check them out!

Pike

Calla Lily · Mar 26, 2008

rugcat said:
Because one of the major themes in Harris concerns her heroine's relationships and problems with her various supernatural love interests, while in Butcher (and some other uf writers even less) the relationship aspect is minor, if present at all.

Hmm... I take it back. I'm not writing paranormal romance.

*That giant SPLASH (ice melting) and WHOOMP (sulfur and brimstone reigniting) we just heard was the lake of fire returning to its normal state.*

The relationship is there, but it's pretty much sharing equal space with the murder mystery and the vamp's... issues.

Thanks for all this clarification, guys. Charting new territory is a wild ride.

ink wench · Mar 26, 2008

callalily61 said:
Me? Writing romance?

Someone call Hell and see if the demons are ice-skating on the lake of fire yet.

Heh, yeah that was my first thought, as well. I can't be writing something classified as romance! My handbasket was starting to get chilly!

Sassee said:
It's especially confusing because everyone seems to have a different opinion on what constitutes urban fantasy or paranormal romance, even the authors themselves. It's also affected by which store has the book - I've had to search for series books in both spots (and found them in both spots!) depending on what store I decided to visit that day.

On the bright side, if it's a fuzzy line, it opens up extra arenas for querying, I suppose.

Thanks for all the suggestions, everyone! I've got a lot of reading to do. Pike, I will definitely spend some time on those websites.

Calla Lily · Mar 26, 2008

ink wench, when I mentioned (with fear and trembling) to my agent that I was writing a vampire novel, she said she loved vamp books *whew* We discussed how a vamp book has to have something different to grab an editor because, let's face it, it's been done.

Then she sent me the last 45 adult and YA vampire book deals from PW. The synopses were all over the map, plot-wise: urban para, para romance, horror, detective, teen angst, comedy--so it appears there are no fenceposts yet planted in the paranormal field.

Yay for us, yes? :hooray:

TheIT · Mar 26, 2008

Simon R. Green's "Something from the Nightside" series is urban fantasy set in an alternate London.

Pike · Mar 26, 2008

He's on "my list". Wish I could read as fast as they write 'em.

Pike

LisaHy · Mar 26, 2008

Will passionately second Jim Butcher till the freakin' cows come or go anywhere.

Must also mention Mike Carey's Felix Castor series (deals with ghosts and demons), Mark Del Franco's Convergent World series (faeries, elves etc, no vampires) and Rob Thurman's Cal Leandros series (demons and vamps etc and fast, amusing reads).

A fine example of paranormal romance as opposed to urban fantasy is something along the lines of "How to Marry a Millionaire Vampire" or "Dead End Dating". There, the plot is most certainly romance with a touch of fantasy.

Cheers, Lisa.

waylander · Mar 26, 2008

I'll second the Mike Carey recommendation - the man rocks!

Kasey Mackenzie · Mar 26, 2008

Oh, I almost forgot to mention another of my absolute faves, the Weather Warden series by Rachel Caine (features a nifty take on elemental magic and djinn (aka genies). I just love this series!

Ravenlocks · Apr 14, 2008

Like the OP, I'm venturing into urban fantasy for the first time, and I feel very ignorant. First of all, I'm not completely sure if my new idea would be considered urban fantasy or not. It's set in a sort of 21st-century dystopia based on our world, but it isn't our world. Magic exists but isn't too widespread, and there are no magical creatures.

And second, can anyone recommend some similar books for me to read to see what's been done? I've been a traditional fantasy gal for so long that I feel completely at sea.

Momento Mori · Apr 15, 2008

I'll third the Mike Carey recommendations made above and second the reccomendations for Simon R. Green's Nightside series, which has a strong urban element (a city within the city of London) and Ilona Andrews Magic Bites (and the sequel, which I think is called Magic Burns but don't quote me).

In terms of faeries in urban fantasy, the only examples I know (beyond Laurell K Hamilton's Merry Gentry series which I think someone has recced above but which I have to say weren't to my taste; and Jim Butcher's ) are in YA fiction. Specifically, Holly Black's Modern Tales of Faeries (Tithe, Valiant and Ironside) and Melissa Marr's Wicked Lovely and more recently Ink Exchange.

MM

Looking for some urban fantasy

ray of motherf#%&ing sunshine

One Hit Wonder?

Who's going for a beer?

On hiatus

Court Jester

On hiatus

Momma Wolf

ray of motherf#%&ing sunshine

On hiatus

Court Jester

Momma Wolf

Lost in the Fog

Girl Detective

Who's going for a beer?

Chivalry ain't dead

On hiatus

ray of motherf#%&ing sunshine

On hiatus

Infuriatingly Theoretical

Chivalry ain't dead

It's probably a tumour

Who's going for a beer?

One Hit Wonder?

How novel.

Tired and Disillusioned