What should I read next? Urban Fantasy...

[CAMueller]

Originally Posted by Shana2488

I was going through my previously owned books and I was wondering if Colleen Gleason's Gardella Vampire Chronicles or the Vampire Huntress series by L.A. Banks was considered Urban Fantasy? I don't have the first books, but if someone recommended them, I might try to find them. Does anyone know if those authors fit into the UF category?

L.A. Banks' books are urban fantasy. Colleen Gleason's novels are more paranormal romance.

Though, it sounds like you're reading quite a bit of of young adult urban fantasy. If you're looking to stay with YA UF, then you need to read Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy series.

[Silver-Midnight]

Originally Posted by CAMueller

Though, it sounds like you're reading quite a bit of of young adult urban fantasy. If you're looking to stay with YA UF, then you need to read Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy series.

I think P.C. Cast also writes YA Urban Fantasy, right? Or would that fall more in the YA PNR umbrella?

[CAMueller]

Originally Posted by Silver-Midnight

I think P.C. Cast also writes YA Urban Fantasy, right? Or would that fall more in the YA PNR umbrella?

Her House of Night series is YA urban fantasy, yes. It has romantic subplots, but the core of the story isn't about coupledom.

[Silver-Midnight]

Originally Posted by CAMueller

Her House of Night series is YA urban fantasy, yes. It has romantic subplots, but the core of the story isn't about coupledom.

I wasn't sure. I don't really read YA, but I have heard of her before.

[shadowmuse]

YA UF: Vampire Academy series, Chronicles of Vladimir Tod, Soul Screamers series. Those are a good start. Vampire Academy is excellent, IMO.

[Silver-Midnight]

Does anyone have any suggestions for books similar to the Mercy Thompson series other than the Alpha and Omega series?

[ULTRAGOTHA]

Fire and Hemlock by Diana Wynne Jones.

[Yāoguài]

Originally Posted by Silver-Midnight

Does anyone have any suggestions for books similar to the Mercy Thompson series other than the Alpha and Omega series?

Similar in what way?

[Silver-Midnight]

Originally Posted by Yāoguài

Similar in what way?

Something that kind of, I don't know, "reads" like it.(If that makes sense I guess) Any similarity is fine though.

[CAMueller]

Silver, you might try the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews.

[Yāoguài]

Originally Posted by CAMueller

Silver, you might try the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews.

That's one of my absolute favorites, but I don't think it reads like Mercy Thompson?

Silver, maybe Carrie Vaughn's Kitty Norville?

[Silver-Midnight]

Originally Posted by ULTRAGOTHA

Fire and Hemlock by Diana Wynne Jones.

Thanks.

Originally Posted by CAMueller

Silver, you might try the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews.

Thanks for the suggestion.

Originally Posted by Yāoguài

That's one of my absolute favorites, but I don't think it reads like Mercy Thompson?

Silver, maybe Carrie Vaughn's Kitty Norville?

Thanks.



Thank you all for the suggestions. I'll make sure to look at these.

[CAMueller]

Originally Posted by Yāoguài

That's one of my absolute favorites, but I don't think it reads like Mercy Thompson?

Silver, maybe Carrie Vaughn's Kitty Norville?

I don't know that it reads in the same tone, but I think lots of the things that people connect with in Mercy they'd connect with in Kate.

[Yāoguài]

I'm looking for recommendations! I like it fast and full of action. I never mind scary monsters, I seldom mind cute monsters, my favorites are Kate Daniels and Harry Dresden, and recently Deacon Chalk fed my adrenaline cravings.

Not so interested in the 90s style of urban fantasy, Gaiman, de Lint, Bull, etc.

Give me a protagonist in the know. Give me strong characters, preferably female but not necessarily, preferably first person but not necessarily, preferably a series already five books deep but not necessarily. Good with vampires, werewolves, fae, dragons, angels, demons, goblins, unicorns -- even Hoosiers. But not vampire Hoosiers. That's going too far.

I don't mind romance when it's well-done and focused on human connection (see Stacia Kane's books for what I mean), rather than the jaw-droppingly-hot-people-dropping-jaws-and-underwear.

Come on, people. Knock me out.

[CAMueller]

Originally Posted by Yāoguài

I'm looking for recommendations! I like it fast and full of action. I never mind scary monsters, I seldom mind cute monsters, my favorites are Kate Daniels and Harry Dresden, and recently Deacon Chalk fed my adrenaline cravings.

Not so interested in the 90s style of urban fantasy, Gaiman, de Lint, Bull, etc.

Give me a protagonist in the know. Give me strong characters, preferably female but not necessarily, preferably first person but not necessarily, preferably a series already five books deep but not necessarily. Good with vampires, werewolves, fae, dragons, angels, demons, goblins, unicorns -- even Hoosiers. But not vampire Hoosiers. That's going too far.

I don't mind romance when it's well-done and focused on human connection (see Stacia Kane's books for what I mean), rather than the jaw-droppingly-hot-people-dropping-jaws-and-underwear.

Come on, people. Knock me out.

I'll give it a go. I'm gathering from your references that you've read the biggies, so how about...

Try the Rhiannon's Law series by J.A. Saare. The first book is good, but the second one THE RENFIELD SYNDROME was OMG awesome (dark, violent, clever, gut-wrenching).

How about the Disillusionists Trilogy from Carolyn Crane? First book is MIND GAMES and this one is good from page 1.

And maybe try Seanan McGuire's alterego Mira Grant? Her Newsflesh series is brilliant. First book is FEED. It's not UF in the strictest sense, but based on your request I think you'll like it. Zombies, politics, conspiracy, awesome. (You can always try her October Daye series, too, under the McGuire name.)

[Yāoguài]

Originally Posted by CAMueller

Try the Rhiannon's Law series by J.A. Saare. ... the Disillusionists Trilogy from Carolyn Crane?

Wow -- two series I'm not familiar with! Thanks for the recommendations. I appreciate it a lot.

[ULTRAGOTHA]

Originally Posted by Yāoguài

I'm looking for recommendations! I like it fast and full of action.

Can't tell if you're interested in urban fantasy that's not Gaiman, et al. But if you're willing to look at non-urban fantasy, I recommend Garth Nix's Old Kingdom books--Sabrael, Lirael and Abhorson. Also a novella called Across the Wall in the anthology Across the Wall.

Girl who becomes in the know with lots of action fighting the dead in a magical kingdom. Well worth the read.

I've found Nix's other series not nearly as satisfying as his Old Kingdom books.

[Yāoguài]

Originally Posted by ULTRAGOTHA

Can't tell if you're interested in urban fantasy that's not Gaiman, et al. But if you're willing to look at non-urban fantasy, I recommend Garth Nix's Old Kingdom books--Sabrael, Lirael and Abhorson. Also a novella called Across the Wall in the anthology Across the Wall.

Girl who becomes in the know with lots of action fighting the dead in a magical kingdom. Well worth the read.

Thanks! I've read them already, but that's actually a perfect fit for the description of what I was looking for. You are a man or woman of extraordinary good taste, Ultragotha!

[LOG]

Kevine Hearne's Iron Druid Chronicles.
Kelly Keaton's Gods and Monsters. A pretty dark series, although I still kind of feel like it could go in a good or bad way (story direction) come next book.
Kelly McCullough's Webmage . . . maybe. It depends on how you define Urban Fantasy.
Caitlin Kittredge's Iron Codex. Again, kind of depends. It's got Urban, but it's also pretty heavily adventure and steampunk/horror.
D.D. Barant's Bloodhound Files. I really liked the first few, but the latest disappointed me--I was hoping for a big change and evolution in story and character, but the author went and disappointed me by hitting the "Reset to status quo" button, and adding a completely unnecessary romance out of flippin nowhere.

Jonathan Stroud's Bartimaeus, at least for the first three books I think.
Charlaine's Harris' Sookie Stackhouse, if you can stand the slow pace. I got to the seventh book and was just wondering when it was going to end.
Jenna Black's Faeriewalker. Again, started good, but the latest was disappointing. Way too many pages for too little plot development.

[LadyV]

Originally Posted by LOG

Kevine Hearne's Iron Druid Chronicles.
Kelly Keaton's Gods and Monsters. A pretty dark series, although I still kind of feel like it could go in a good or bad way (story direction) come next book.
Kelly McCullough's Webmage . . . maybe. It depends on how you define Urban Fantasy.
Caitlin Kittredge's Iron Codex. Again, kind of depends. It's got Urban, but it's also pretty heavily adventure and steampunk/horror.
D.D. Barant's Bloodhound Files. I really liked the first few, but the latest disappointed me--I was hoping for a big change and evolution in story and character, but the author went and disappointed me by hitting the "Reset to status quo" button, and adding a completely unnecessary romance out of flippin nowhere.

Jonathan Stroud's Bartimaeus, at least for the first three books I think.
Charlaine's Harris' Sookie Stackhouse, if you can stand the slow pace. I got to the seventh book and was just wondering when it was going to end.
Jenna Black's Faeriewalker. Again, started good, but the latest was disappointing. Way too many pages for too little plot development.

I second this suggestion. Fantastic series. Well, the fouth one not so much IMO because the setting wasn't in a modern-day, slightly dystopian London. At least Bartimaeus was still his smart-ass self.

[TribalCat]

My favorite UF author is Yasmine Galenorn, author of the Sisters of the Otherworld and the Indigo Court series' among others. Her books are fast-paced, full of action and hot relationships (it's not porn, but it's not YA either), and most importantly, they have great plots and characters. Give her a try!