List: urban-fantasy

Wow. Easily my favourite book of the series so far.

The Hanging Tree

by Ben Aaronovitch · published 2016 · read 2017-12-19

Still more Peter Grant, with character development and BOSS FIGHT and new practitioners and cool characters and snark and ♥

Das Jahrhundertkind

by Ralf Isau · published 1999 · read 2005-06-01

Generally, I dislike the way Isau does magic, the way he does characters, the arcs of his stories. They feel … sticky, for lack of a better world, as if he's always trying to do something to the reader, convert us? This is still true for this series, but its scale and awesomeness outweigh the drawbacks. The protagonist lives for exactly 100 years and has to fight forces of darkness, mysterious ones. His life takes him all over the planet, and he gets to see many historic people and situations first-hand while figuring out his life. It's amazing.

The Atrocity Archives

by Charles Stross · published 2004 · read 2015-07-02

Soo, the beginning of my favourite Stross series. You know: magic is advanced maths, powerful geeks and really powerful burocracy.

A Wizard of Mars

by Diane Duane · published 2010 · read 2016-05-17

I loved this one. Even if you're not a space nut, or not a real sci-fi fan, I suspect this book will really work for you. The combination of space, and magic, and physics, and human and alien conflict, sprinkled with a bit of time line technicalities? Yeah, more, please.

A Wizard Alone

by Diane Duane · published 2002 · read 2016-05-12

This one was again much better, and illustrates a lot of the reasons I enjoy this series. I love how Duane deals with autism here, in many ways. I love how she takes care to take it seriously, and doesn't paint it as a defect. Kit has difficulty connecting with it because of his preconceived ideas about how autism works. I also like that we see how we see Nita's grieving in a really realistic way, without pity or anything.

So You Want to Be a Wizard

by Diane Duane · published 1983 · read 2016-05-05

I really loved this book - it reminded me of Harry Potter, naturally, but better written and better thought-out. Magic actually has a system, people have motivations and actions have actual consequences.

The Home Crowd Advantage

by Ben Aaronovitch · published 2014 · read 2018-01-29

Aw man, just diving back into Peter Grant stories is nice.

Moon Over Soho

by Ben Aaronovitch · published 2011 · read 2017-12-11

More of our favourite supernatural London policeman.

Rivers of London

by Ben Aaronovitch · published 2015 · read 2014-01-01

I thought I was done with Urban Fantasy after the slot of Jim Butcher's forced-funny, forced-dark supernatural detective, but Ben Aaronovitch won me over. This series is more measured, more funny, and – admittedly – I want to read about London much more than about Chicago.

Foxglove Summer

by Ben Aaronovitch · published 2014 · read 2017-12-18

Peter leaves London. We get more Beverley, more country, more unicorns, and a bit of Lesley. Still a fan. Sooo lovely. And still with the non-hetero-white-male characters everywhere.

Inkheart

by Cornelia Funke · published 2003 · read 2006-08-01

Inkheart understood me. It understood my dorky love for books, and how I wanted to jump into a story. It got feeling alone, and it got nerding out with others. And it made other books come to life – and I loved it for it. Some of it follows YA rules and annoyances: it's slow to develop and the protagonist is sometimes grating. But that's perfectly fine when balancing it against the imaginative story.

Inkdeath

by Cornelia Funke · published 2007 · read 2007-03-01

Concluding the Inkworld series, and concluding it well. Like all the books, it's a bit too long with characters who are just a bit too bland. But this book at least has a good share of action and plotting (possibly too much, looking at its length), and a satisfying ending, and that's more than many authors can manage.

The Labyrinth Index

by Charles Stross · published 2018 · read 2018-10-16

The Labyrinth Index, the latest entry in Charlie Stross' Laundry Files series … escalates. When the last volume of the Laundry Files featured an apocalyptic ending, I was under the impression that Charlie was fed up with reality overtaking his books pre-publication, and escalated to a level reality isn't yet willing to follow.

The Rhesus Chart

by Charles Stross · published 2014 · read 2015-08-04

We meet Mhari again! Bob is amazingly grown-up about it. Everybody realizes they get played early on … and still: people die. A lot of them. Including Angleton. Because their opponent is a century-old PHANG.

The Delirium Brief

by Charles Stross · published 2017 · read 2018-10-16

The Delirium Brief is yet another entry in the Laundry series by Charlie Stross, and with our first and favourite POV character Bob to boot! It features a culmination of a lot of characters, concepts and plot points introduced in previous parts of the series, which is nice in general – except that the first quarter of the book is exposition/reminder of the who's who and what's what of the Laundryverse, which felt very tedious.

The Apocalypse Codex

by Charles Stross · published 2012 · read 2015-08-04

Bob has come far, and is now sent to the USA with Penelope and Johnny (to him: external contractors), where they have to deal with a super-charismatic Christian Cult trying to wake the Sleeper in the Pyramid.

The Jennifer Morgue

by Charles Stross · published 2006 · read 2015-07-07

(This review is only to make me remember what happened in a book and why I liked it.)

Overtime

by Charles Stross · published 2009 · read 2015-07-18

Light reading. Bob has to deal with Christmas terrors from beyond. Very Charly, Much Stross, Q'thulhu.

The Annihilation Score

by Charles Stross · published 2015 · read 2015-08-04

A book from Mo's perspective, right after the semi-break-up that concluded the Rhesus Chart! Insight into the Bone Violin, and a lot of Super Heroes.

The Fuller Memorandum

by Charles Stross · published 2010 · read 2015-07-22

The Fuller Memorandum details the break-up of a cultist organization and a Laundry leak, we also get to know TEAPOT and Angleton's story. We see Mo and Bob as a married couple, and Bob on his way up. Good work, to my mind a generic Laundry book if there ever was one, what with the exorcism of WW2 airplanes that escalates into horrors. Nice read nonetheless.

Down on the Farm

by Charles Stross · published 2008 · read 2015-07-07

Bob goes visit the Funny Farm and deals with a Mainframe. I mostly loved the use of a chessboard as 2,5(?)-Turing machine.

Equoid

by Charles Stross · published 2013 · read 2015-08-04

Of course Unicorns are terrifying when CStross himself writes about them. Short, but enjoyable, if a bit gory.

The Concrete Jungle

by Charles Stross · published 2004 · read 2015-07-03

I love Detective Inspector Josephine Sullivan. And Basilisks. And everything cstross thinks about firmware, public sector management and Angleton.

Vita Nostra

by Marina Dyachenko · published 2007 · read 2021-08-15

by Ilona Andrews · published 2007 · read 2020-06-21

Vita Nostra is often described as "If Kafka had written Harry Potter", and neither part is a good fit. Closer to the truth would be to call it a Russian version of The Magicians, where everybody is depressed for good reasons instead of just being whiny idiots, and also the meta part is actually meta instead of being just Narnia.

Magic Bites

Magic Bites was honestly decent Urban Fantasy. Strong characters with more than one dimension (admittedly sometimes only barely), a mythology that doesn't suck, real life that's not just "grizzled detective showing off his depression" – yeah, I can get behind this.

The City Born Great

by N.K. Jemisin · published 2016 · read 2018-12-01

Short story on sentient cities. I liked it.

Sharp Teeth

by Toby Barlow · published 2007 · read 2021-03-16

Werewolf packs in LA might seem like an urban fantasy staple (and it is), but not like this: Toby Barlow tells the brutal (but not edgy! never that) story of the werewolves and their surroundings in form of an epic, 300 page modern poem.

The Rook

by Daniel O'Malley · published 2012 · read 2017-05-24

Wow! This book has bits of Charles Stross in it (as in: secret modern British agency dealing with the supernatural), but at the same time it's totally different. More action oriented, fast-paced, witty, and it never felt like a Laundry knockoff. I'm really interested in where the sequel is going.

Sandman Slim

by Richard Kadrey · published 2009 · read 2018-02-19

Thoroughly enjoyable urban fantasy, Dresden style. Dialogue felt stilted/lacking rhythm at times, but the Hell vs Heaven vs third party vs potty-mouthed gunslinger protagonist worked well.

Escape from Baghdad!

by Saad Hossain · published 2012 · read 2020-06-14

tl;dr: Fun, violence, fun.

How to Move Spheres and Influence People

by Marko Kloos · published 2019 · read 2019-04-04

Unfair rating, because: I'm sick of generic superhero origin stories. How to Move Spheres and Influence People by Marko Kloos is a superhero origin story. It's about a teenager who discovers that she can move any spherical object with her mind. Very slice-of-life, not really going anywhere.

Wizards at War

by Diane Duane · published 2005 · read 2016-05-15

While there was a lot of action, the book still dragged on and on for me. I liked the recurring characters, and even the resolution, but I didn't care for the pacing, and while the dangers and risks sounded dire, they didn't feel like it. Nice parts, but a bit meh overall.

A Wizard Abroad

by Diane Duane · published 1993 · read 2016-05-09

Nita goes to Ireland - it felt less important, somehow, and just like following a pattern. But since the pattern is good, I still enjoyed reading it.

The Wizard’s Dilemma

by Diane Duane · published 2001 · read 2016-05-09

Nita faces temptation … a lot. Felt like a Hiob story in many ways. She has to deal with her mother dying and learns how to change whole universes to try and deal with it. Reminded me a lot of Buffy in the same situation, only a lot younger (but including the outcome and the younger sister, btw).

Deep Wizardry

by Diane Duane · published 1985 · read 2016-05-07

I liked the first book in the series a bit more, although Duane does a lot of nice world-building here, both regarding the deep ocean and the whales, and Nita's family (Dairine, mom, and dad).

Broken Homes

by Ben Aaronovitch · published 2013 · read 2017-12-14

Inner-city architecture meets black mages meets WW2 mages. I liked it, and it was entertaining, but also felt very episodic. Yet another London estate market mystery that turns out – shocker! – to have a supernatural component.

Whispers Under Ground

by Ben Aaronovitch · published 2012 · read 2014-01-01

Magic develops further, and we get an entire new race below London. Still very witty, and I just cannot resist a "magic underground in London" story. At the same time, it's a whodunnit, and the banter continues the strong suit of the series, while the plot (especially the overarching series plot) does well to stay in the background.

The Furthest Station

by Ben Aaronovitch · published 2017 · read 2018-02-15

Decent Peter Grant novella.

Inkspell

by Cornelia Funke · published 2005 · read 2006-01-01

More Inkworld shenanigans: Meggie now reads herself and others into the story, and also has to deal with the original author, who turns out to be very annoying. The story builds extremely slowly and I enjoyed it mostly for the worldbuilding. The characters are – with one exception – unimpressive and not exactly enjoyable.

Der Herr der Unruhe

by Ralf Isau · published 2004 · read 2016-11-13

Magical realism in Mussolini's Italy: Our protagonist can talk to machines. A bit cheap with the Romeo and Juliet arc, but the descriptions and research are, as always with Isau, top notch.

Missile Gap

by Charles Stross · published 2006 · read 2016-09-20

Locus award winning novella, where the Earth finds itself suddenly remapped onto a flat surface. An agent called Gregor Samsa plays a role.

The Nightmare Stacks

by Charles Stross · published 2016 · read 2016-10-02

This Laundry novel features Alex as the protagonist, going up against elvish aliens and his family's expectations... He's not the most lovable character we've seen so far, but he works out as a generic protagonist.

Magic Burns

by Ilona Andrews · published 2008 · read 2020-07-11

Magic Burns continues where Magic Bites left off. It continues to be pulpy urban fantasy, and if that's what you're looking for, this is a decent series to go for. This time we have power-hungry Celtic gods and goddesses, plus more preparation for a reluctant snarky romance in following books – at least it's explicit, I'd be very annoyed otherwise. The worldbuilding holds up, but has slowed down a lot, which left me a bit disappointed.

Sweep in Peace

by Ilona Andrews · published 2015 · read 2021-04-28

More magical tavern innkeeper stories! This one wasn't that different from the first part. It has found its footing, and instead of going for more of the usual urban fantasy romance stuff, it is about an intergalactic peace conference. Our protagonist has to handle three warring species under her roof, and it's fun and comfy and an all-around good time. Still not the height of … anything, but good fun.

A Master of Djinn

by P. Djèlí Clark · published 2021 · read 2021-09-06

Steampunk, non-Victorian edition: In 1912, Egypt is a rising world power due to its access to magic. Holding its own against the British and other world powers in a multicultural metropolis, Cairo is far from free and perfect, though: Our protagonist, Fatma, is one of the few women in the Ministry of supernatural stuff, where she works as an investigator, and gets to unravel the bloodless-but-supernatural murder of some British guys.

Cemetery Boys

by Aiden Thomas · published 2020 · read 2021-06-12

Coming-of-age novel set in an urban fantasy: Yadriel is a Latinx trans boy in the US. His whole family are brujx and don't accept him as a brujo. Naturally, he spends the novel proving himself – but with a fair bit of reflection and friendships and non-transition related plot thrown in. Intersectional YA is pretty cool and all (most non-Latinx people here are queer by default, delightfully), and my only issue with this was how predictable the plot is and how YA possibly just isn't for me anymore.

A Kiss With Teeth

by Max Gladstone · published 2014 · read 2021-11-22

Max Gladstone short story: Sweet in its way (which is not a thing Gladstone does, usually), but nothing special.

Aloha from Hell

by Richard Kadrey · published 2011 · read 2018-04-30

This whole series continues its spree of positive surprises. This time we get a new Lucifer, and we get various conversations with God. Well well well.

Devil in the Dollhouse

by Richard Kadrey · published 2012 · read 2018-06-07

Nice story, giving us a hint of what being Lucifer will do to Stark. Short and … well, not sweet at all, as Stark discovers, then forgets, that he's not the second but the third Lucifer.

Kill the Dead

by Richard Kadrey · published 2010 · read 2018-04-05

I have absolutely no idea how to rate this book. For a while it felt like a two-star urban fantasy pulp novel with lots of shoot-em-up situations and, well, urban fantasy pulp banter. And then it turns around and has some really good plot twists, and even some seriously good settings and dialogues. I'll give it three stars, but in reality it's more like chunks of two-star stuff and four-star stuff mashed together.

Blood Rites

by Jim Butcher · published 2004 · read 2014-01-01

It's impressive for how long Jim Butcher can just do "more of the same, please". Come to think of it, Codex Alera was also a long series of "more of the same", only with a different set of tropes, and arguably more imagination.

Changes

by Jim Butcher · published 2010 · read 2014-04-01

Nothing ever changes in Harry Dresden land. Power levels slowly escalate, everything else stays the same.

Peace Talks

by Jim Butcher · published 2020 · read 2014-05-01

More dresden files. Part 16, man, how did we get here?

Summer Knight

by Jim Butcher · published 2002 · read 2014-05-01

Generick kick-ass, but kick-ass.

Ghost Story

by Jim Butcher · published 2011 · read 2014-12-01

Different angle on the ever-same story (Harry is mostly intangible for this book). We get some sudden – but well-prepared! – development, mostly in Molly. I'm very ambivalent about Molly, which is good. The Harry Dresden books aren't usually ones to foster ambivalence, to say the least.

Small Favor

by Jim Butcher · published 2008 · read 2014-08-01

I can't tell this book apart from the other ones. You gotta give it to Butcher, though: His writing is nothing if not consistent.

Death Masks

by Jim Butcher · published 2003 · read 2014-11-01

I continue to go think "predictable, stock, lazy, booooring" and "ohhhh this is fun fun fun": If I was willing to feel guilty about any books, these would be guilty pleasure books.

Fool Moon

by Jim Butcher · published 2001 · read 2014-04-01

More of the first book. Jim Butcher has found a niche, and by god he's going to keep it.

Proven Guilty

by Jim Butcher · published 2006 · read 2014-03-01

This week's stock trope is "past mistakes catch up to our broken-but-sympathetic hero".

White Night

by Jim Butcher · published 2007 · read 2014-08-01

Stakes rise. Supernatural battles continue. The snark is tired.

Turn Coat

by Jim Butcher · published 2009 · read 2014-05-01

Completely predictable, but you don't read these books for the plot. Or the characters. You read them because you are into stock badass-but-broken characters, so you'll like this one just as well. Even if you can only tell it from the others because the title is even more descriptive of the story than on average.

Cold Days

by Jim Butcher · published 2012 · read 2014-02-01

Combines on-the-run stock plot with power escalation stock route and doesn't give the protagonist even the little bit of introspection time he sometimes managed to snag, because blah blah the US is about to blow up, let's defuse Lake Michigan or something.

Dead Beat

by Jim Butcher · published 2005 · read 2014-07-01

We get character development, which may just turn into a thing we get thrown every three books or so, so that we don't feel like we're reading the book equivalent of Fast & Furious VIII.

Skin Game

by Jim Butcher · published 2014 · read 2014-09-01

Dresden Files go ever on and on.

Storm Front

by Jim Butcher · published 2000 · read 2014-07-01

It's the height of generic Urban Fantasy, complete with edgy protagonist who can't be allowed to have his shit together (very House, MD style). Stock elements taped together.

Love Hurts

by Jim Butcher · published 2011 · read 2014-02-01

Dresden novellas have become as interchangeable as the books.

Grave Peril

by Jim Butcher · published 2001 · read 2014-12-01

This book was actually better than the first and second ones. It's as if now that he's staked his claim on all the tropes, Jim Butcher is feeling free to explore what to do with magic in this world.

Trail of Lightning

by Rebecca Roanhorse · published 2018 · read 2021-06-17

Urban fantasy needn't take place in a city, and this is a prime example: it may be a supernatural mystery story taking place in post-collapse North America on a reservation after the collapse of the USA, but it's still very much urban fantasy.

Wizard’s Holiday

by Diane Duane · published 2003 · read 2016-05-13

This was a very generic book in the series. Didn't dislike it, but... yeah

Every Day

by David Levithan · published 2012 · read 2018-06-06

It's a nice premise, but the execution was somewhat lacking. Too dramatic, too predictable, and not going far enough. Interesting take on a groundhog-style premise though.

Clean Sweep

by Ilona Andrews · published 2013 · read 2021-03-13

Ilona Andrews, who I only knew from her Kate Daniels series, with the magical tavern/innkeeper trope. This is significantly worse than Kate Daniels – writing quality, plot quality, worldbuilding, characters: Everything. Apparently this series grew out of an online serial, which accounts for some of it.

One Fell Sweep

by Ilona Andrews · published 2016 · read 2021-04-29

Ensemble casts are very hit and miss for me, and this one was a miss. The Innkeeper Chronicles have an ensemble cast by design, but this book added more family (the protagonist's sister and niece) to the mix, and that one plus a siege story just didn't do it for me. Still a nice comfort read, but not generally it.

Blood Bound

by Patricia Briggs · published 2007 · read 2016-12-16

All Mercy Thompson books are the same – you get what you want, and exactly only that.

Moon Called

by Patricia Briggs · published 2006 · read 2016-12-14

Do you know those days (or weeks) when you just want some hot chocolate and reassuring books and a safe cuddly sofa? I enjoy trashy fantasy on those days, and Mercy Thompson definitely qualifies. It doesn't get one star because I really like reading trashy urban fantasy once in a while, and it is still better than Twilight or Shades of Grey, so what the hell. Two stars it is, but don't expect quality.

Iron Kissed

by Patricia Briggs · published 2008 · read 2016-12-17

All Mercy Thompson books are the same.

The Utterly Uninteresting and Unadventurous Tales of Fred, the Vampire Accountant

by Drew Hayes · published 2014 · read 2022-01-24