Any good urban-fantasy novels?

RossPaws

I'm a big fan of urban fantasy in fiction, but I can never find any really good ones. I'm a bit fussy, which doesn't work in my favour either!

My favourites right now are the Kitty Norville series, Discord's Apple, and Voices of Dragons, which are all by the same author. The problem is that she's so good at creating these worlds and characters, that I compare everything I read in the genre to her work and end up spoiling it for myself. I really like Cursed and Ravaged by David Wellington, as well.

I prefer no romance novels, and only strong female protagonists. I've read the Southern Vampire Mysteries, but I found them a bit meh. The world she created was brilliant, but the love stories were a bit gag-worthy and I felt Sookie was a bit of a self-insert, in a way.

I'd really appreciate any good recommendations!

Shryke

Neil Gaiman, although I don't know the stuff you mention too well. China Meiville too.

mcgovern

Haven't heard of any of those either but China Meivelle also came to mind. King Rat is set in London if I remember right.

nicowa

Neil Gaimen's Neverwhere is brilliant. And while you mention mostly female protagonists - The Dresden Files is a brilliant detective-noir-supernatural series about a wizard in nowadays Chicago.

I'll be looking up those you've mentioned as I too find it difficult to trust most urban fantasy. They all seem too fluffy being honest.

this was good, quite enjoyed it

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Madness-Angels-Matthew-Swift-Novels/dp/1841497339

fenris

Rivers of London series - Ben Aronovich
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rivers-London-1/dp/0575097582/ref=pd_sim_b_3

Most of Charles Stross's stuff
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Atrocity-Archives-Laundry-Files-ebook/dp/B00486U23M/ref=dp_return_1?ie=UTF8&n=266239&s=books

Simon R Greene's Nightside series & secret histories
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Into-Nightside-Series-Simon-Green/dp/1844166422/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1340122649&sr=1-1

Not all female protagonists I'm afraid! these are urban fantasy instead of the mills and boon with vampires twilight tripe that seems to have crept into the SF & fantasy section these days.

Morag

The Hollows series (also called the Rachel Morgan series) by Kim Harrison.
The Walker Papers by C. E. Murphy
Mercy Thompson series by Patrica Biggs

The covers are awful the books are good ,all have female protagonists.

The Dresden files by Jim Butcher, doesn't have a female protagonist but has lots of strong female chars.

fenris

Dont forget the Skulduggery Pleasent series - set in Dublin and written by an Irish author. Some very good strong female characters

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Skulduggery-Pleasant-book/dp/0007241623/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1340146375&sr=8-1

Manach

bluewolf wrote: »

this was good, quite enjoyed it

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Madness-Angels-Matthew-Swift-Novels/dp/1841497339

The first time I've ever agreed with Bluewolf. :rolleyes:

Also, Simon Green's Nightside series and Rob Thurman's Leandros series.

Tym

@Fenris

I love you, I thought I was the only adult who read those:D

Anyway, I've heard great things about Kelly Armstrong, and there's one of her books for two euro in the oxfam shop. And you can't go wrong with Kim Harrison, and throw in a little bit of Stacia Kane as well.

I would read the Dresden Files if I were you, although the main character is a farily sexual guy (more than some, about the same as most)

Chad_Fantastics

Running a fairly heavy addiction to this stuff, the Harry Dresden series was my gateway drug (+1 on the strong female characters).

I will call out Mike Carey's Felix Castor series
http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Devil-You-Know-Castor/dp/1841494135/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1340211552&sr=1-2

and Charlie Huston's Joe Pitt series
(http://www.amazon.co.uk/Already-Dead-Pitt-Novel-book/dp/1841495263/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1340211643&sr=1-1)
as must reads for the genre.

For the female leads, the Hollows is outstanding and going strong 11 books in. Two new finds for me is the Jane Yellowrock series by Faith Hunter
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Skinwalker-Yellowrock-Novels-Faith-Hunter/dp/0451462807/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1340212060&sr=1-4

and Lilith Saintcrow's Jill Kismet series
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Night-Shift-Jill-Kismet-Books/dp/1841497061/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1340212230&sr=1-7
is super (but stick past the first few pages, Jill is a very raw characater).

Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake starts off well but goes weird and stay away from the Princess Gentry stuff, it's the 50 shades of Grey of the UF world...

OwaynOTT

Ben Aaronovitch's Rivers of London, Whispers Underground and Moon Over Soho are all worth a look.

Chad_Fantastics

This

this was good, quite enjoyed it

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Madness-Ange.../dp/1841497339

is a crackin' recommendation, really enjoying it!!!

Thanks Bluewolf (and you've got to read the Felix Castor series, very similar vibe!)

ferretone

The Mistborn series by Brandon Sanderson:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mistborn-Trilogy-Boxed-Set-Ascension/dp/0575118563/ref=sr_1_12?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1341412231&sr=1-12

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Alloy-Law-Mistborn-Novel/dp/0575105828/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1341412231&sr=1-1

mrwhimwham

You ever try reading Tanya Huff's Blood Books series? It's nearly the same as the Dresden Files, except with a female protagonist.