Last updated on September 8th, 2025 at 03:20 pm
Sitting in a cozy little corner of the library, we dive into Urban fantasy books—where magic crashes into the modern world.
But first—what is urban fantasy? Simply put, it’s a subgenre of fantasy, usually set in a modern or modern-ish cityscape. The “urban” part is right there in the name.
Sometimes it’s our world with just a few tweaks—like werewolves running night clubs in Chicago—or sometimes it’s a alt version of a city we think we know.
Best Urban Fantasy Books
1. A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
Books in Series: 3 (All Souls Trilogy)
Book 1: A Discovery of Witches
When historian Diana Bishop uncovers a bewitched manuscript in Oxford, she catches the attention of magical creatures everywhere—including Matthew, a mysterious vampire.
Part romance, part historical fantasy, and part mystery, this is UF with a bookish twist.
2. The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
Books in Series:5 (Percy Jackson and the Olympians)
Book 1: The Lightning Thief
Technically middle grade start but the series is ❤️, but don’t skip it. Percy Jackson finds out he’s the son of Poseidon and lands smack in the middle of Greek mythology brought to modern life.
Sweet ( Action ), fast-paced, and a classic gateway to UF.
3. American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Books in Series: 2 + related works
Book 1: American Gods
When gods walk America, things get messy. Old gods are losing power to the new—media, technology, highways—and one man, Shadow, finds himself caught in the middle.
It’s part fantasy & mythology, part road trip, and entirely brilliant.
Also Read: 10 Cool Gifts for Readers That Aren’t Books
4. Bitten by Kelley Armstrong
Books in Series: 13 (Women of the Otherworld)
Book 1: Bitten
Elena Michaels is the world’s only female werewolf. She wants a normal life, but her pack—and the violent supernatural world—keep dragging her back.
Emotional, suspenseful, and full of werewolf politics.
5. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
Books in Series: 6 (The Mortal Instruments)
Book 1: City of Bones
Shadowhunters. Demons. Found family. Clary Fray discovers she belongs to a world she never knew existed.
If you somehow missed this YA juggernaut, now’s your chance to see what all the hype was about.
6. Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K. Hamilton
Books in Series: 25+
Book 1: Guilty Pleasures
Anita Blake raises the dead for a living, hunts vampires on the side, and navigates way too much supernatural drama. This series practically invented the modern paranormal/UF crossover.
It starts as horror-noir and slowly becomes…well, very steamy.
7. The Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne
Books in Series: 9
Book 1: Hounded
Atticus O’Sullivan is the last of the Druids, hiding in plain sight in Arizona. He looks 20-something but is actually over 2k years old.
Atticus runs a bookshop, has a talking Irish wolfhound named Oberon (the true star of the series), and spends his downtime fighting gods, witches, demons, and other assorted nasties. Plenty of snark, mythology, and pop-culture references, fun ride.
8. Mercy Thompson by Patricia Briggs
Books in Series: 12
Book 1: Moon Called
Mercedes “Mercy” Thompson fixes Volkswagens by day, but she’s also a walker—a shapeshifter who can turn into a coyote. Her neighbors? Werewolves.
Her customers? Vampires. Her problems? Growing by the day. Mercy’s world looks a lot like ours, but if you go deeper inside, you’ll find a supernatural thing ready to pull her into danger.
9. The Hollows by Kim Harrison
Books in Series: 14
Book 1: Dead Witch Walking
Rachel Morgan is a witch who quits her day job to become a supernatural bounty hunter. Of course, her first case lands her smack in the crosshairs of vampires, demons, and fae crime lords.
Set in Cincinnati’s supernatural underbelly, this is equal parts dangerous, sexy, and addictive.
10. Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning
Books in Series: 11+
Book 1: Darkfever
When her sister is murdered, MacKayla Lane heads to Dublin for answers and stumbles into a war between humans and fae.
Dark, sensual, and completely addictive, this series is perfect if you like your UF with a side of mystery and romance.
Similar Read: Top 10 Books for Women’s Book Club
11. The Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch
Books in Series: 9+
Book 1: Rivers of London
Peter Grant is a probationary constable who accidentally stumbles into the supernatural side of London. Instead of traffic duty, he ends up apprenticed to the last wizard in England.
Expect dry British wit, murder investigations, and river gods with tempers. This series is atmospheric, clever, and layered with folklore.
12. Night Huntress Series by Jeaniene Frost
Books in Series: 7 (+ spin-offs)
Book 1: Halfway to the Grave
Catherine “Cat” Crawfield is half-vampire and hunting down bloodsuckers to atone for her father’s sins. But when she teams up with Bones, a charming and lethal British vampire, her black-and-white view of the supernatural world starts to blur.
This series is equal parts action, romance, and banter — often shelved as paranormal romance, but the urban fantasy grit is there in spades.
13. Storm Front (The Dresden Files #1) by Jim Butcher
Books in Series: 17+ (still!)
Book 1: Storm Front
Harry Dresden is Chicago’s only professional wizard. He has an office and a business card. (because let’s be real, magical work doesn’t pay the bills).
But when the Chicago PD needs help with crimes that scream supernatural, Harry’s their guy.
In Storm Front, a grisly double murder drags Harry into a mess of black magic, mobsters, and secrets.
14. Sookie Stackhouse Series by Charlaine Harris
Books in Series: 13
Book 1: Dead Until Dark
Before HBO’s True Blood made vampires sexy and violent on TV, Charlaine Harris gave us Sookie Stackhouse, a telepathic waitress in small-town Louisiana who just wants a normal life.
Murder, romance, Southern Gothic atmosphere, and plenty of quirky side characters make this series a cult favorite. It’s messy, dramatic, and addictively readable — think soap opera, but with fangs.
15. Skinwalker by Faith Hunter
Books in Series: 15+
Book 1: Skinwalker
Jane Yellowrock is a skinwalker who can shift into any creature she chooses—though her inner mountain lion, Beast, is her constant companion.
She hunts rogue vampires in New Orleans with a mix of grit, guns, and dark magic. If you like your UF fast-paced, sort of old school.. this one’s for you.
Common tropes? You’ll see the hard-boiled, wisecracking hero, gritty action, murder mysteries with a supernatural twist, vampires.
Now, a lot of folks confuse urban fantasy with paranormal romance. And yes, UF can have romance (sometimes swoony, sometimes messy), but romance usually plays second to the action, politics, and monster-hunting. Personally, I lean UF over paranormal romance.
