Urban Fantasy Recommendations?

[Gravy]

Firstly, I am going to explain my definition of "urban fantasy".

Urban Fantasy:
Fantasy set in modern times, typically cities.
Magic or magic and technology (but not just technology).
Any "magic" or "magical creature" is welcome.

This is a genuine sub-genre that I love.

Cross genre is very popular.
A lot of urban fantasy contain elements of...
Romance
Steampunk
Technopunk
Sci Fi
High Fantasy
Horror
Ect.

Some of my beloved series include...
The Iron Druid by Kevin Hearne
The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher
Cal Leandros by Rob Thurman
Toby Daye by Seanan McGuire
Incrypted by Seanan McGuire
The Hollows by Kim Harrison
Mercy Thompson by Patricia Briggs
The Nightside by Simon R Green
And it goes on and on...

Lets have a discussion about, and recommendations of, urban fantasy!

[gali]

I do.

I have read the first Mercy Thompson and liked it. I plan to read the other books.

I have also read the first book of Cal Leandros and I enjoyed most of it. Some parts dragged on slightly more than necessary, so I didn't continue to the next book.

The Dresden Files are on my reading list.

[CrazieChameleon]

I’m with you on Urban Fantasy, though I’ve got my own little quirk that I really want a story to have a strong female lead. You’ve given me a list of new authors to look at – the only one that looks familiar to me is the Mercy Thompson series.

Other series that I’ve really enjoyed are:

Immortals After Dark Series – Kresley Cole. Mostly aimed at women (I think), they’re set in today’s world, but filled with people who’ve been around eons, creating a mix of current and historic scenarios.

Bo Blackman Series – Helen Harper. Bo’s a PI, who gets pulled into a different lifestyle through thins going horribly wrong. While this isn’t a unique way to start an Urban Fantasy series, I enjoy the grit in the relationships – they’re complicated and the characters don’t fit neatly into pigeon holes. I’m also enjoying the storylines that are being played out over the series, rather than being tied up neatly at the end of each book.

Twenty Sided Sorceress Series – Annie Bellet. Jade, the lead character, is a PC gamer, a nerd and happens to be a sorceress in hiding from an ultra-powerful ex. I was hooked within the first page of the first book when she came out with a couple of gaming references.
Rylee Adamson Series – Shannon Mayer. If you enjoy the Mercy Thompson series, you’ll enjoy Rylee’s story. She’s slightly rougher around the edges than Mercy, which makes the relationships interesting as she collects an eclectic “family” around her as they strive to save the world from ultimate disaster.

[ALynnPowers]

I should have known you would have started this forum!

And yes, I have only one that I know of... and I know it qualifies because it fits your description.
It's a series called Feyland, which doesn't very urbanish, but it totally is.
Why?
Because Feyland is the name of a virtual reality video game that was somehow corrupted by the Dark Queen to use as a portal between the fairy and human worlds.
It's so awesome! I loved it!!!

[storywriter84]

A lot of what I read lately falls in this category. I've been reading the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews and Maggie MacKay: Magical Tracker by Kate Danley.

[frastlin]

I can't say that this is my favorite type of book, but I have read a lot of Urban fiction.
Mercedes Lackey has her Diana Tregarde books (I do love these) they are basically a woman who deals with fighting evil that effects children in some way (being anywhere from 10-20). Lackey also has her million other books, some of which could be possibly considered urban fiction, but I wouldn't.
Rachel Caine has her Weather Warden books (a girl who does all kinds of random stuff with weather magic, including dieing several times...)
Richelle Mead is a wild author, she has this really good set of books called the Georgina Kincaid series which is about a modern-day Succubus... She also has another set of books called the Dark Swan series which is about a kick-ass princess who starts out as a typical urban fantasy heroin, slaying bad creatures, but then she finds out she is one of the evil creatures... OOPS! She also has some other very famous books.
Of coarse you have the quintessential urban fantasy by C.E. Murphy, The Walker Papers. They are Butcher woman style! She also has The Negotiator Trilogy, it is kind of an adult twilight, but with a gargoyle!
These are the ones that pop right into my head, but I'll let you know if I think of more.

[Gravy]

Devon Monk's Magic series is fantastic!
It's seven(?) books long and (to me) feels like one long story.
It's slightly technopunk...
Anyway...I highly recommend it.

Of coarse you have the quintessential urban fantasy by C.E. Murphy, The Walker Papers. They are Butcher woman style! She also has The Negotiator Trilogy, it is kind of an adult twilight, but with a gargoyle!
These are the ones that pop right into my head, but I'll let you know if I think of more.

I LOVE Alban...
The Negotiator trilogy was almost my first foray into urban fantasy.
I also love Jinx.
Amazing series!
This series also introduced me to Baba Yaga.
Anyone who enjoys urban fantasy should try this series!

Another fantastic uf series (which I'm currently in the middle of) is Chloe Neill's Chicagoland Vampires.
Merit is a very interesting character.

I should have known you would have started this forum!

And yes, I have only one that I know of... and I know it qualifies because it fits your description.
It's a series called Feyland, which doesn't very urbanish, but it totally is.
Why?
Because Feyland is the name of a virtual reality video game that was somehow corrupted by the Dark Queen to use as a portal between the fairy and human worlds.
It's so awesome! I loved it!!!

I looked this up and it sounds interesting...I'll have to keep a look out for it. It somewhat reminds me of Elusion by Claudia Gabel and Cheryl Klam...you should look into it.
The character building really needed some work but the premise kept me reading.
==========================================

Also...how do you all out there in bookland catagorize urban fantasy?
I listed The Iron Druid as uf and someone said that they wouldn't consider it uf...
So with everyone having their own ideas about what goes in which genre I'd love to hear others opinions.

[frastlin]

I categorize urban fiction as:
1. there is a human (or half human) hero or heroin who's job it is to fight evil creatures that cross the Vail into our world. They live in the 20th or 21st century and that's about it.
Mean Streets is an anthology of some of the best urban fantasy authors with stories from their most famous worlds. the authors are:
Simon R. Green
Jim Butcher
Kat Richardson
Thomas E. Sniegoski

I must say that I have only read books from Butcher, but Sniegoski's book looked really odd. *Hint* It had a guy who chose to have sex with a transformational robot.

[Indhira_Me]

Just as soon as read your post, I wanted to suggest the current series which I am reading.
A shade of Vampire Series by Bella Frost.
It has Vampire and is set in the modern day world/time. It also has a strong romantic story line which has a strong heroine.
I hope you like it.

[ALynnPowers]

I know of a site where you could find lots of recommendations... but you are the one who told me about it first, so I am sure you have already checked there

[stormy1]

I agree with many of the above and included them in my list plus a few more:

Hollows Books by Kim Harrison
Mercy Thompson by Patricia Briggs
Walker Papers by CE Murphy
Kate Daniels by Ilona Andrews
Twenty Sided Sorceress by Annie Bellet
Biker Witch Series by Angie Fox
Rylee Adamson Series by Shannon Mayer
Jane Yellowrock by Faith Hunter
Deadtown Novels by Nancy Holzner

There are so many but this was a few I could think off of the top of my head.

[Ashy]

I don't read a wide array of Urban Fantasy, but I am a big fan of Butcher's Dresden Files series. I read and re-read those books quite a lot. I even met and interviewed Jim and his wife several years ago for a now-defunct website. Good folks, those two.

[scquarantillo]

I love UF! It is my favorite genre. I also enjoy the Mercy Thompson series and if you are looking for a great new UF check out Amanda Arista's series Diaries of an Urban Panther. It is such a rare find and not a lot of people have heard of it. Trust me when I say it is truly spectacular!
I am a huge Rachel Vincent, her Shifters series I amazing!

[Gravy]

Shifters series is awesome!
I read sooo much UF!
I've either read, tried, or heard of, almost every series listed in this thread
Plus so many more

I'm so glad to see others liking it as well

[Lisalovecraft]

I have read some Anita Blake and Harry Dresden, but not much else in the urban fantasy genre. I am interested in checking out the Iron Druid series, though. I'll have to check out some of the other series listed here, too!