Best Urban Fantasy Books
S.R. Beaston
Crafty with words, wit, and wisdom, just add caffeine to make it more interesting.
The urban fantasy subgenre was my introduction into the very stories I wanted to write. I had no idea a subgenre like this existed as a young teen, but when I read my first urban fantasy, I was hooked.
I have gathered a list of books to recommend to veteran and new readers alike. We hope this list invites you into the familiar yet fantastical world of urban fantasy.
What is urban fantasy?
Urban fantasy is a subgenre of fantasy that focuses on our modern urban setting. The location does not have to be a city, though it often is. As long as the fantastical is tied into our already-established world, it's an urban fantasy.
The subgenre bridges the gap between high fantasy concepts and our normal, everyday life. The use of fae is more common, but supernatural creatures like werewolves and vampires, or the paranormal, are also considered fantastical in this subgenre.
Best Urban Fantasy Books
Here are your future favorite urban fantasy reads.
The Modern Faerie Tales: Tithe, Valiant, Ironside
When I was twelve, I was explaining to my cousin how I loved fae and folklore and really wanted to read them in a modern day setting. She introduced me to Tithe: A Modern Faerie Tale. Then Valiant and Ironside are the follow-up books in the series, and a wonderful way to tell two stories and tie them in at the end.
My copy of Tithe went missing two moves ago, so as I looked up the series for both a replacement and as a recommendation, I noticed that they have packaged it into a box set called The Modern Faerie Tales and I will take my own recommendation and buy it again.
As for the story, Tithe follows Kaye, a sixteen-year-old whose imaginary friends are really fae, and her simple rebellious life in industrial New Jersey turns upside down when she finds herself in the middle of a war between the two Faery Courts.
Valiant follows a completely different story, yet both come together in Ironside for the ultimate conclusion to both books.
Though I loved this when I was twelve, its reader base should probably be more in line with the age of the characters. My recommendation is based on my memory and enjoyment, as I have not revisited this series in years, as my copy of Tithe is missing.
Wicked Lovely
Another fae-heavy urban fantasy, Wicked Lovely, carries a similar structure to Tithe. Our main character, Aislinn, has always had ‘the sight’, an ability to see the fae despite the veil or other magic interventions. She’s called to by the king of the summer court, and she has a decision to make that could change her life forever.
Though I remember loving this book, reviews seem to be split. You either love this or hate this. This may stem from the fact that this is also a trilogy and, much like our former recommendation, the middle book has nothing to do with the plot of the first.
The Percy Jackson series
If somehow you are unaware of this series, Percy Jackson is a great start for younger readers to get into urban fantasy.
Percy discovers he’s a demigod and must navigate this new path set out for him. With friends and fantastical creatures alike, we follow Percy’s personal and heroic life. This series blends Greek mythology and our own world beautifully.
Though his destiny changes as the series progresses, his journey as a young hero is a main focus, letting interpersonal relationships grow as we see him become his own person. This series is great for middle grade and up.
The Dresden Files
The Dresden Files is the perfect long-form storytelling of fairies, vampires, ghosts, and so many other creatures haunting the streets of Chicago. It’s up to the protagonist, private investigator and full-time wizard, Harry Dresden, to keep the peace with both human and nonhuman victims.
Jim Butcher has published seventeen novels in the series at the time I'm writing this, as well as a handful of short stories in this universe. Though you could grab any book and enjoy it, it’s recommended to read them in publication order. I wish I had known this when starting my Dresden Files journey. Backtracking is not as enjoyable. Safe to say this series will give you your fill of urban fantasy.
Dead Witch Walking
Dead Witch Walking follows Rachel Morgan, a new bounty hunting witch, after leaving her unethical job in security. She teams up with her supernatural friends to establish order within their community.
I love the idea of watching a character's personal growth, a desire to branch out, and seeing relationships form and grow apart. Though these aspects take a long time to cultivate, if done right, it will be so rewarding to read.
Like The Dresden Files, this series is hefty with fourteen books.
Neverwhere
Neil Gaiman is a household name in fantasy. From Coraline to Good Omens, your typical fantasy reader has picked up at least one of his books before. Yet I cannot ignore recommending Neverwhere.
Firstly, it’s a standalone novel, which is increasingly rare to find in the fantasy genre. Second, it’s such a good story. I could not put it down.
Neverwhere takes place in our familiar London, as well as a secret, dangerous underground London. Door, a woman saved by the protagonist Richard Mayhew, introduces this "London below" to him.
As a consequence of helping her, Richard is stripped of his "London above" identity, and is left to find his way in the fantastical world below.
This is a quick read and holds well many years after its publication. I highly recommend this book.
Welcome to Fae Cafe
I’m a simple person. I see "cafe" and "fae" in the title, and I’m interested. This wasn’t on my radar until digging around for more recent urban fantasy books, but I’m glad I found it.
This recommendation is solely based on fun, hope, and decent reviews. Also, the cover is simplistic yet lovely. Yes, I judge books by their cover. That’s what the cover is for.
In an unassuming cafe in Toronto, Kate Kole goes from enjoying a book and a mug of coffee to accidentally killing a rude customer who was secretly a fairy assassin. This act will have dire consequences, not only for Kate, but for the other fairy assassins who must go to the human realm, only to get played into running the cafe.
Honorable mentions
Here is a rapid-fire list of well-loved urban fantasy books:
- The Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs
- The Dream Team: A Magic City Wonders Novel by Taylor Thomas Smythe
- The Keeper of Stars by Buck Turner
- The Wonderland Trials by Sara Ella
- Drinking Midnight Wine by Simon R. Green
- Oops I Ate A Vengeance Demon by Lauretta Hignett
- Dead Country by Max Gladstone
- October Daye series by Seanan McGuire
- Rivers of London series by Ben Aaronovitch
- The Black Wolves of Boston by Wen Spencer
- Sunshine by Robin McKinley
- King Rat by China Miéville
- War of the Oaks by Emma Bull
With the clever use of settings and our modern, human ways of operating as a society juxtaposed by the fantastical creatures living within it, the stories you can read in the urban fantasy genre are never-ending.
Literally, it feels like some of these series will never end. Looking at you, Jim Butcher.
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