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Best Urban Fantasy Books

Dive into the gritty, magical streets with these top urban fantasy books, beloved and recommended across reputable blogs and articles, ranked by their prominence and acclaim in the literary community.

Recommendations from 40 articles, Stephen King, Neil Gaiman, Ezra Klein and 19 others.
67 books on the list
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Storm Front book cover
Storm Front
Jim Butcher - 2000-04-01
Goodreads Rating
Looking for a book that's a little different? Meet Harry Dresden - paranormal investigator, lost item finder, and all-round wizard extraordinaire. When the Chicago P.D. need answers to strange, magical crimes, they turn to Harry. But when he's brought in to consult on a double murder committed with the darkest of magic, things take a dangerous turn. With a black mage on the loose and Harry's life at risk, this book will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Magic Bites book cover
Magic Bites
A Special Edition of the First Kate Daniels Novel
Ilona Andrews - 2007-03-27
Goodreads Rating
Mercenary Kate Daniels lives in a world where magic ebbs and flows, giving rise to unpredictable paranormal problems. When her guardian is murdered, Kate becomes embroiled in a power struggle between rival factions in Atlanta's magical circles. With necromancers who can control vampires and a clan of shapechangers both vying for control, Kate must find the killer before she becomes a target herself. This special edition includes a wealth of background information on the world of Kate Daniels, including quizzes and character descriptions.
Moon Called book cover
Moon Called
Patricia Briggs - 2006-01-31
Goodreads Rating
Follow Mercedes Thompson, a walker with the ability to shift into a coyote at will, as she navigates life in a world populated by werewolves, gremlins, and vampires. As a skilled Volkswagen mechanic, Mercy finds herself fixing a bus for a vampire, and her connections to the supernatural lead her into dangerous territory. Dive into a world that looks a lot like ours but is filled with creatures that go bump in the night in this thrilling read.
Dead Until Dark book cover
Dead Until Dark
Charlaine Harris - 2001-05-01
Goodreads Rating
Small-town Louisiana cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse meets her dream man - a vampire. But as one of her coworkers is found dead, she begins to wonder if this is a mistake. Can a relationship with a vampire end happily ever after?
Midnight Riot book cover
Midnight Riot
Ben Aaronovitch - 2011-01-10
Goodreads Rating
When Probationary Constable Peter Grant gains exclusive information from a ghost eyewitness regarding a puzzling murder, his prospects change dramatically. He catches the attention of Detective Chief Inspector Thomas Nightingale, who investigates the uncanny cases. As they delve deeper into the investigation, they are thrust into a world where mortals mingle with gods and goddesses and an ancient evil is returning on a tide of magic. Experience the thrilling wave of brutal and bizarre murders in Midnight Riot.
American Gods book cover
American Gods
A Novel
Neil Gaiman - 2011-06-21 (first published in 2001)
Goodreads Rating
Discover a thrilling tale of a man's journey to start a new life with his loved one after being locked away for three years. But tragedy strikes, forcing him to accept a job from an enigmatic man named Mr. Wednesday. Soon, he finds himself in the middle of an epic war for the soul of America. Don't miss out on this suspenseful and captivating read.
Recommended by
Tim FerrissSaeed Jones
Dead Witch Walking book cover
Dead Witch Walking
Kim Harrison - 2004-07-01
Goodreads Rating
Step into the predator-eat-predator world of Cincinnati's Hollows, where vampires reign supreme and danger lurks around every corner. Enter Rachel Morgan, a tough-as-nails witch and bounty hunter tasked with keeping the darkness in check. With her lethal blend of sex appeal and attitude, she'll take on any job - whether it's bringing creatures back alive, dead, or even undead.
Guilty Pleasures Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter book cover
Guilty Pleasures Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter
Book 1)
Laurell K. Hamilton - 2004-08-03 (first published in 1993)
Goodreads Rating
"Enter the gritty and thrilling world of a St. Louis vampire hunter. Meet Anita Blake, a powerful re-animator and undead killer who must confront her darkest desires while investigating a string of brutal murders at the request of the city's top vampire. Danger, attraction, and mind-bending twists abound in this gripping urban fantasy."
City of Bones book cover
City of Bones
Cassandra Clare - 2007-03-27
Goodreads Rating
"City of Bones" follows a 15-year-old girl, Clary Fray, who witnesses a murder committed by three teenagers with strange tattoos and weapons that disappear into thin air. Clary is soon drawn into the world of Shadowhunters, warriors whose mission is to rid the earth of demons. Alongside the charismatic but prickly Jace, Clary must unravel the mystery of her sudden Sight and her mother's disappearance. This gripping urban fantasy novel is filled with action, romance, and supernatural secrets.
Jade City book cover
Jade City
Fonda Lee - 2018-06-26 (first published in 2017)
Goodreads Rating
Experience the thrilling world of intergenerational blood feuds, magic, and kungfu in this Godfather-inspired tale. The Kaul family is one of two crime syndicates that rule Kekon, the only place in the world to produce rare magical jade, granting superhuman abilities to those with the right heritage and training. Follow the honorable Green Bone clans of jade-wearing warriors as they navigate the violence and politics of post-war Kekon, where the outcome of a clan war will determine the fate of all Green Bones and the future of the island itself.
Angels' Blood by Nalini Singh
War for the Oaks by Emma Bull
Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire
Neverwhere Illustrated Edition by Neil Gaiman
Hounded by Kevin Hearne
Sandman Slim by Richard Kadrey
The Magicians by Lev Grossman
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
A Blade So Black by L. L. McKinney
Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning
Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas
Taming Demons for Beginners by Annette Marie
Discount Armageddon by Seanan McGuire
Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr
Skin Game by Jim Butcher
Battle Ground by Jim Butcher
Magic Bleeds by Ilona Andrews
Written in Red by Anne Bishop
Peace Talks by Jim Butcher
Grave Peril by Jim Butcher
Shades of Magic Boxed Set by V. E. Schwab
Demons Do It Better by Louisa Masters
Keystone by Dannika Dark
Moonheart by Charles de Lint
Infernal Magic by C. N. Crawford
Some Girls Bite by Chloe Neill
The Atrocity Archives by Charles Stross
Fated by Benedict Jacka
Spider's Bite by Jennifer Estep
Borderline by Mishell Baker
Mark of the Demon by Diana Rowland
Libriomancer by Jim C. Hines
London Falling by Paul Cornell
Broken Elements by Mia Marshall
Night Shift by Lilith Saintcrow
Dead Ever After by Charlaine Harris
Borrowed Souls by Chelsea Mueller
Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor
Harry Potter And The Sorcerer's Stone by J. K. Rowling
Sunshine by Robin McKinley
Child of Fire by Harry Connolly
A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon by Sarah Hawley
Black Hat, White Witch by Hailey Edwards
The Last Sun by K. D. Edwards
Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost
A Darker Shade of Magic by V. E. Schwab
A Demon Bound by Debra Dunbar
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
The City & The City by China Miéville
Half-Resurrection Blues by Daniel José Older
Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse
The City We Became by N. K. Jemisin
The Daughter of Smoke & Bone Trilogy Paperback Gift Set by Laini Taylor
Skinwalker by Faith Hunter
Strays by A.J. Thomas
Winter Lost by Patricia Briggs