151 replies to this topic

[Theano]

Don't know if these are what you're looking for, but there is urban fantasy, and there is (somewhat paranormal) romance, though the romance isn't the main story.

I like Tanya Huff's Blood Ties series (and the spin-off Smoke and Shadows series).  Human private detective in a love triangle with a vampire and her former police partner.  Mostly light-hearted stuff.

Then there's Jim Butcher's Dresden Files series.  You only think it's lighthearted, till it sticks the stake in and twists.  More urban fantasy with a heaping helping of comedy (and horror) than romance, though there is some romance in it.

[kurokaze]

Mandy, on 20 March 2011 - 01:16 PM, said:

I'm still dragging through patricia briggs' river marked. I don't know why, but this book, as well as kim harrison's new one, have left me with a very flat feeling. I think the characters/plotline are kind of boring me at this point.

I was disappointed with River Marked, but sort of for the opposite reason. The vast majority of recurring series characters have a cameo or mention at most, while we are treated to Mercy's Adventures With A Bunch Of Random People I Don't Care About. That kind of digression is fine ... as long as I do end up caring about the new characters, and I really didn't.

[Mandy]

I agree completely. I miss Stefan, Zee, the pack... it sucks. I liked her alpha and omega series so much better anyway, so hopefully that book will be satisfying when it comes out. Ultimately I'm just waiting to pounce on the new kate daniels book when it's released.

[Mandy]

I read the hell out of Jim Butcher's Codex-Alera books. I hated the female characters in the Dresden books. Really turned me off. I don't know what it was, but it bothered me a lot.

Eta: I can't believe I completely forgot about the Codex Alera books. I did read them a long time ago (a few years) but they were pretty good.

Edited by Mandy, 23 March 2011 - 01:05 PM.

[Ser Lany Cassandra]

murphy, on 09 March 2011 - 01:32 PM, said:

Some more urban fantasies that I enjoyed:


Justin Gustainis starting with Black Magic Woman

I started this one today.  Like it so far. (I had it on a wish list and got it for Christmas)

[Astra]

Gigei, on 10 March 2011 - 06:38 AM, said:

The Michelle Rowen series I mentioned is finished at 5 books. It's set in Canada btw.

Thanks

Gabriele, on 10 March 2011 - 11:35 AM, said:

Lynn Viehl's Darkyn series is finished at 7 (? I think) books.

Ta

kurokaze, on 13 March 2011 - 01:32 AM, said:

Finished series:
The only finished series that comes to mind is Keri Arthur's Riley Jenson series, which is sort of UF/PR dialed to 11 - heavy action, heavier sex, and the main character is a werewolf who is a vampire. Who fights in six inch heels. Not a complete waste of time but not recommended.
There's also a bunch of standalones and a few minor trilogies, and a scattering of series that don't seem to be being continued but didn't really come to a story-arc conclusion either. I've recommended a very few of them below.
EDIT: IIRC Joe Pitt series by Charlie Huston is finished. A lot of people here and elsewhere seem to like it; I got bored a few pages in.

Robin McKinley's Sunshine (standalone)

[murphy]

Lany Cassandra, on 23 March 2011 - 01:23 PM, said:

I started this one today.  Like it so far. (I had it on a wish list and got it for Christmas)

He has a new one coming out in the next month or two.

[Ser Lany Cassandra]

murphy, on 30 March 2011 - 10:05 AM, said:

He has a new one coming out in the next month or two.

Excellent, because I really did like it.

[theusualuser]

Urban fantasy that I've liked lately includes

MLN Hanover's Black Sun's Daughter series (the third book really took a turn at the end that I liked a lot)

Jim Butcher's Dresden Files (always great stuff, and it just keeps getting better)

Larry Correia's Monster Hunter series (not really sure what the hell you would classify these as, but they're modern with monsters and some magic)

Seanan Mcguire's Toby Daye series, which seems to improve with each volume

and I'm about three quarters of the way through K.A Stewart's Devil in the Details, a book about an american man who follows the bushido and is a modern day demon-fighting champion for good. Interesting book.

Also, if you're a fan of Jim Butcher's Dresden files, you might like Simon Green's Nightside series, though they closely mirror one another and it drives some people nuts.

I've heard good things about Ben Aaronovitch, though I've yet to read the two books out. You might check out Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman. I love anything the man writes, though, so I'm not exactly impartial. I've heard good things about Kate Griffin's urban magic series, about Mathew Swift, a magician who gets resurrected and isn't very happy about it. People have also recommended Mike Carey's Felix Castor books, as well as Anton Strout's Simon Canderous series.

Edited by theusualuser, 31 March 2011 - 01:48 AM.

[murphy]

Gabriele, on 10 March 2011 - 11:35 AM, said:

Lynn Viehl's Darkyn series is finished at 7 (? I think) books. I read the first two but that whole urban fantasy romance thingie is just not my piece of cake and I don't like reading sex scenes that much. But her concept of vampirism as some sort of viral disease is interesting and some of her characters were fun to read about.

I agree with you on the sex angle in these books, but the whole concept of vampirism as a disease you mentioned kept me going through the series.   I just skimmed the sex parts.   I would read more on this.   The Kyndred series is a continuation of this series.

[Mjolnir]

I've been doing some more uf reading lately, following up on some series I'd read from previously:

I still don't get along with Kate Griffin's A Madness of Angels. I encourage anyone remotely interested to try it, because Griffin's conception of magic and how it relates to the city is amazing. Essentially she transforms mundane activities into the stuff of magic -- there's a memorable scene in which a tube station burier holds back evil. Great, amazing stuff. Unfortunately the plot and characters attached to this wonderful setting work quite a bit less well for me. I find the plot mechanical and not as exciting as it should be, and the characters feel dull to me. I'll certainly finish it, but it's definitely a book of uneven parts.

Read both Rivers of London and Moon Over Soho by Ben Aaronovitch, and yeah I'm pretty sure I have a new addiction. A couple times since finishing I've flipped them open just to listen to the characters talk about stuff. The plot does some pretty fast talking sometimes, but it's fun fast talking. The magic's a pale shadow of Griffin's, but everything else works better for me: the characters are more lively and I genuinely like them; the pace keeps me reading; even Aaronovitch's London feels more engrossing, despite Griffin's loving detail, because Aaronovitch's has these more absorbing characters walking around in it. Only thing is I've just seen the blurb for the third Aaronovitch book, and if this Peter-gets-a-new-female-sidekick-with-sexual-tension becomes a trend every book it'll get old mighty fast.

And the other day I read the fourth Toby Daye novel by Seanan McGuire, Late Eclipses. These really do just get better and better. Notably in the last two there's been much less of a who-dun-it element, which is all to the good I feel as who-dun-it doesn't seem to be a particular strongpoint of McGuire's. Instead it's been all stuff that hits on a very personal level for the main characters.

Edited by Mjolnir, 17 April 2011 - 07:55 PM.

[Arlingzen Bill]

Pardon the shameless plug, but Carrie Vaughn and Catherynne Valente will be GOHs at Capclave this October 14-16.  Our chair says that Carrie hasn't been on the East coast for a while, so now is your chance...

The only thing I have read by Carrie is Discords Apple which was pretty good.

[kurokaze]

As much as I liked the October Daye series, I never much felt the need to read Feed because I never had much interest in horror, zombies, or post-apocalyptic settings. Or journalism. But I read it today and it is absolutely fucking fantastic. It combines the intensely personal - as Mjolnir commented above, this is one of the author's strengths that she is focusing on more recently - with glorious over-the-top action that was reminiscent of the best parts of Snow Crash while remaining utterly grounded in plausibility. And the world-building...

Basically, I'm saying - DO NOT do what I did and avoid this because it's a different subgenre and pseudonym than the author's other books you may have enjoyed. Read it. The last time I was this impressed with a book I'd just read, on both a quality and personal enjoyment level, was A Game of Thrones 11 years ago.

[murphy]

kurokaze, on 21 April 2011 - 04:17 PM, said:

As much as I liked the October Daye series, I never much felt the need to read Feed because I never had much interest in horror, zombies, or post-apocalyptic settings. Or journalism. But I read it today and it is absolutely fucking fantastic. It combines the intensely personal - as Mjolnir commented above, this is one of the author's strengths that she is focusing on more recently - with glorious over-the-top action that was reminiscent of the best parts of Snow Crash while remaining utterly grounded in plausibility. And the world-building...

Basically, I'm saying - DO NOT do what I did and avoid this because it's a different subgenre and pseudonym than the author's other books you may have enjoyed. Read it. The last time I was this impressed with a book I'd just read, on both a quality and personal enjoyment level, was A Game of Thrones 11 years ago.

I felt the same way that you did, but I did like the Toby Daye series, so I gave Feed a try and I'm really glad I did.    Great story and I'm looking forward to the next installment, which will be out in a month or two.

[SkynJay]

Thanks for the rec.  I almost picked this up the other day at the library, then talked my self out of it.  Next time ill grab Feed.

[JetboyGirl]

kurokaze, on 21 April 2011 - 04:17 PM, said:

Read it. The last time I was this impressed with a book I'd just read, on both a quality and personal enjoyment level, was A Game of Thrones 11 years ago.

Damn, dude. That's quite a recommendation. Will have to check it out.

[navymom]

BLACK DAGGER BROTHERHOOD BY J R WARD

[Mandy]

Okay, I got a $50 giftcard to Book People and I'm making a list right now.  Bumping this thread because I'm taking rec's straight from here.  Thanks SO MUCH to all who have given their input.

[Chaldanya]

I just ripped through Kim Harrison's The Hollows series. So so good. Can't wait for next book

Steer clear of Jeaniene Frost. The British character's speech is so badly written and I got 40 pages in and there had already been two info dumps.

Just trying MLN Hanover now. Hope he's as good as KH

N

[SkynJay]

I would really like to try MLN Hanover myself.  Wish my library would get a copy or two in, I rarely buy a book before reading it once.  But, since i know I like everything Abraham I've read so far, I know one of these days I will.

And Mandy, let us know what you got!