15 Urban Fantasy Authors I Love
I prefer Urban Fantasy to Paranormal Romance, although Urban Fantasy typically also contains a generous helping of romance. In fact, the line between the two genres is so smudgy, writers, aka me, get confused about where to place themselves. Since my focus is on the ‘fantasy’ plot rather than the ‘boy-meets-girl’ plot, I declared myself an Urban Fantasy Author years ago, and I’ve stuck with it since. This is the definition on which I based this article.
Last month, I published a short list of my five favorite urban fantasy authors. Of course I realized my mistake quickly. How can you possibly distil a whole world of exciting plots and delicious characters to five lousy entries? It just won’t do. So in full awareness that this collection is not complete either, here a more exhaustive attempt at introducing some of my favorite writers, in no particular order, together with my favorite series. Among them you will find some of the most popular Urban Fantasy writers, and hopefully a few names you haven’t yet read, but are eager to check out.
Patricia Briggs Her Mercy Thompson series is an exercise in smart, interesting urban fantasy. She has also published other series, but Mercy Thompson was the first of hers that got me hooked. You can’t beat werewolves, can you?
Kim Harrison Kim’s series The Hollows got me started in Urban Fantasy. Her quirky characters, intricate relationships and heart-pounding plots make her books a real joy. Witches, vampires, demons, werewolves — there’s no need to choose just one. To date, The Hollows is still one of my favorites.
Darynda Jones When Darynda came on the scene, I was stunned. Here was finally someone who wrote like me. An immodest thought, but one borne out of deep admiration. In all fairness I should say I want to write like her. Her main character, Charley Davidson, can see ghosts and helps them cross over. It’s fun, original, and with plots that keep you interested.
Jim Butcher Jim Butcher’s wizard Harry Dresden is a flawed and therefore all too likeable character. The plots are highly imaginative, and the characters as quirky as can be. What’s not to love?
Jennifer Rardin’s Jaz Parks series is a winner. Yeah, I know, some people like their Urban Fantasy sexy and serious, but if you’re after sexy and snarky, you’re at the right address. Sadly, Jennifer Rardin passed away in 2010, but her books are as readable as ever.
Laurell K. Hamilton Laurell K. Hamilton’s Anita Blake series, at least the earlier books, are must-buy reads. Anita Blake raises the dead and is a licensed vampire executioner. She’s tough, funny, and very sexy. Halfway through the series, Laurell changed the genre from Urban Fantasy to, I guess, Erotic Paranormal. I don’t mind sex in books, but plots always come first, and hers were getting a little thin in that department. That said, anyone who likes Urban Fantasy should give her books a go.
Amanda Bonilla Amanda’s Shaede Assassin series is a breath of fresh air. I was hooked from book one. Here we have fantasy that didn’t involve werewolves or vampires or any other creatures from lore. Nope, Amanda made up a whole new world for us, with the main character being an assassin. Hey, a girl’s gotta eat, right?
Jennifer Estep Jennifer’s Elemental Assassin series features Gin Blanco, the feared ‘Spider,’ an assassin not to be trifled with. As a rule I never trifle with assassins, but Gin Blanco knows her stuff, that is to say her elements, which makes her all the more dangerous. Really fun read.
Rachel Caine Another writer who steps away from the more traditional mythologies. Joanne Baldwin is a Weather Warden who always seems to be running from or toward things. There’s never a dull moment when she’s around.
Jaye Wells Jaye Wells gave the old witches and vampires genre a fresh twist with her Sabina Kane series, and although I adore the main character, her mischief demon Gigul steals the show every time.
Mary Buckham Mary’s Invisible Recruits series took me unawares. I’m an avid reader and my favorite authors simply couldn’t keep up with my demand. I was always looking for new stuff. Mary’s a great teacher, so out of curiosity, I gave her books a try. Well, I love, love, love her character, Alex Noziak. Talk about kick-butt. With twisted plots that keep you guessing, Mary’s books make her another author to add to my must-read list.
Kate Griffin Kate Griffin’s book A Madness of Angels stole my breath from the very first paragraph. Matt Griffin is a 21st century sorcerer of urban magic. I don’t want to give too much away, but it is one of the most stunningly beautiful Urban Fantasy books I’ve ever read. And as I mentioned, I read a lot.
Keri Arthur Keri Arthur’s Guardian series with Riley Jenson is fresh and littered with three-dimensional characters. Riley is no prude, thanks to her werewolf genes. The same genes that make her such a powerful investigator. With each book, Riley’s personal circumstances get more complicated, and the plots more twisty and turny. Isn’t Urban Fantasy great?
Faith Hunter Faith Hunter’s Jane Yellowrock is a skinwalker of Cherokee descent who makes her living hunting vampires. Something about Jane, and her alter ego Beast makes her an incredibly compelling character. Perhaps it’s her wit, or her no-nonsensitude. Definitely worth reading.
S.J. Day Sylvia Day’s Marked novels immediately sucked me in. Eve Hollis is Marked, which means she can identify infernals (demons) and, if need be, eliminate them. She’s constantly torn between Abel and his brother (your guessed it) Cain, and there’s enough intrigue and mystery to keep me interested. Sadly the series is quite short.
I’ve also read some fantastic new authors recently, but the above is a compilation of the crème de la crème IMHO. Clearly I’ve missed out authors whose books I devour, some because they’re outside what I call the Urban Fantasy genre, some because their names escape me for the moment (I apologize). All of them have helped shape my writing, in terms of plot, style and humor. More than that, through their delicate relationships, vivid characters and solid plots, they still make me read as a reader and not as a writer. I hope I’ll never lose that ability.
