In a nutshell, urban fantasy is a genre that adds fantasy elements in an urban, present day society. It often takes place in the “real world,” or an equivalent of it, where the fantastic exists in secret or in the open.
When reading this kind of genre, you’ll often run into mundane characters interacting with supernatural elements. For example, a cop could be assigned to a murder case where the culprit turns out to be a vampire, or magic might be an openly-accepted element in everyone’s daily lives.
Popular Urban Fantasy Books
If you’re a fan of this genre (or looking to sink your teeth in), then you’ve come to the right place. Here is a list of some of the best urban fantasy books currently available. Check them out below!
1. American Gods by Neil Gaiman
For fans of Norse mythology.
Shadow Moon, recently released from prison, reluctantly accepts work as a bodyguard for a mysterious conman, Mr. Wednesday, whom Shadow quickly learns is actually Odin, the Norse god. They travel across the United States in search of fellow “Old Gods” in preparation for a battle against the “New Gods” of the modern age.
2. Storm Front by Jim Butcher
For fans of hard-boiled detective fiction.
Harry Dresden is a professional wizard who frequently collaborates with Chicago police in solving crimes. When two civilians are found with their hearts brutally ripped out, Harry suspects black magic. With Chicago PD slowly turning their suspicions on him, he must find the culprit before things get out of control.
3. Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch
For fans of Greek literature.
Peter Grant is a rookie constable who can see ghosts. This particular gift gets him recruited into the shadowy magic division of the Metropolitan Police.
While undergoing magic training, not only must he solve a string of violent, supernatural attacks, but also settle an ages-long dispute between the rivers of London.
4. Sandman Slim by Richard Kadrey
For fans of resurrection stories.
James Stark was considered one of the best magicians out there, a reputation that got him sent to Hell by a rival. There, he provided entertainment as a gladiator for Hell’s demons.
Eleven years later, he escapes back into Earth for the sole purpose of revenge. Someone’s killed his girlfriend, and he suspects its the same person who sent him to Hell in the first place.
5. King Rat by China Miéville
For fans of New Weird.
Saul Garamond is arrested for his father’s murder, and subsequently rescued by his Uncle, the King Rat. Learning that he’s half-rat himself, he begins to explore the hidden side of London and his abilities, which include being able to eat anything and squeeze into impossible holes and shadows.
When the Ratcatcher returns to London to hunt pests, Saul finds himself in the middle of an ages-long conflict that started all the way back in the town of Hamelin.
6. Half-Resurrection Blues by Daniel Jose Older
For fans of Latin mythology.
Carlos Delacruz is an inbetweener, “alive and dead at the same time,” who works for New York’s Council of the Dead. He and other members of the COD work to keep the peace between the mortal world and the underworld.
The simple task of removing imps becomes complicated when he learns that they herald the arrival of a powerful spirit bent on destruction. With his colleagues dropping dead one by one, Carlos is desperate to stop the incoming disaster before things are too late.
7. Blackbirds by Chuck Wendig
For fans of the horror genre.
Miriam Black is a chain-smoking, hard-drinking, foul-mouthed woman with a unique curse: she has the ability to see precisely when and how a person will die when she touches them.
She touches Louis, a truck driver she asks for a ride, and discovers he will die screaming out her name. Soon, killers are on her trail and she must find out whether fate can be beaten or not.
8. The Magicians by Lev Grossman
For fans of fairy tales.
Quentin Coldwater is a miserable math genius who’s secretly obsessed with a series of children’s books set in the magical land of Fillory. When he’s unexpectedly enrolled to a secret college of magic, he is surprised to find that his childhood fantasies are true.
His newfound powers lead him to a path of excess and danger as he discovers that the magical land of Fillory is far darker than he imagined.
9. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
For fans of The Hunger Games.
Celaena Sardothien is an 18-year-old assassin serving hard labor for her crimes. Unexpectedly, the crown prince offers to pardon her if she acts as his champion for a competition to find the new royal assassin.
Things get more twisted when her fellow contestants end up dying one-by-one before the contest has even begun. It’s up to her to find out who’s the culprit, before she becomes the next victim.
10. Hounded by Kevin Hearne
For fans of Celtic mythology.
To his neighbors, Atticus O’Sullivan is the super sexy dude running an occult bookshop in Tempe, Arizona. In reality, he’s 21 centuries old, last of the Druid, draws power from the earth, and wields a magical blade called Fragarach, the Answerer.
When a very angry Celtic god who wants the sword finally tracks him down, Atticus gathers his powers and allies, with a bit of Irish luck on the side, to prepare for some Celtic ass-kicking.
11. Fire & Heist by Sarah Beth Durst
For fans of heist stories.
Sky Hawkins’ family has an odd tradition: pulling off a heist. It’s more important than learning to talk, walk, or do math. Leading your first heist is a chance to gain status and power within the family and society.
Of course, being a wyvern—a human capable of turning into a dragon—further complicates things. When Sky discovers a dark secret about were-dragon society, things become more dangerous, not only for her, but also her crew.
12. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
For fans of Western mythology.
Clary Fray goes to a club and witnesses three teenagers with bizarre tattoos committing murder. Stranger, though, is how the victim’s body vanishes into thin air. Soon she discovers that she’s a Shadowhunter—someone with the power to see and kill demons.
When her mother is kidnapped, Clary must team up with her new friends to figure out who took her mother and why. She learns shocking truths about herself, her mother, and the previously hidden world she now finds herself in.
Reading Urban Fantasy Books
Urban fantasy often juxtaposes supernatural elements with modern technology, offering you some insight to the possible differences and similarities they would have if these elements did exist together.
This genre is a more believable kind of fantasy, seeking to portray magic in a more realistic and familiar setting. This makes it an easier and more accessible read for people who might have trouble connecting with other fantasy genres.
Whether you’re a veteran fantasy enthusiast, or still sinking your teeth into the genre, the books listed above are great ways to spend your free time reading. The best thing is that most of these are part of a series, so you’ll have a lot of pages to devour in your spare time. Enjoy!
Do you have a favorite urban fantasy book? Share it in the comment section below!
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Cole is a blog writer and aspiring novelist. He has a degree in Communications and is an advocate of media and information literacy and responsible media practices. Aside from his interest in technology, crafts, and food, he’s also your typical science fiction and fantasy junkie, spending most of his free time reading through an ever-growing to-be-read list. It’s either that or procrastinating over actually writing his book. Wish him luck!
