Common Urban Fantasy Tropes

My fellow authors and readers, let us once again discuss urban fantasy tropes. Much maligned and often dismissed as hackneyed and tired, their appearance persists in even the most recent popular novels that are topping the charts today.

Some might think that using familiar tropes in fantasy fiction is derivative and passé, but in my opinion, tropes define this genre, as well as all popular fiction genres. Before we discuss that further, let’s address what defines urban fantasy.

According to Wikipedia, “Urban fantasy is a subgenre of fantasy, placing supernatural elements in a contemporary urban-affected setting.” Or as I like to describe it, mythology and fantasy fiction in the modern world.

Because the genre is relatively new, and because most top authors who write UF observe certain genre conventions, diehard UF readers expect to encounter tropes in UF novels. You see, readers like what they like, and diehard UF readers like reading stories about magical creatures and paranormal events in a modern setting.

Therefore, if you’re a budding contemporary fantasy author, it’s a good idea to be at least familiar with the most common of these themes and story elements so that you can avoid disappointing your readers.

Note that I’m not saying you have to stuff all of these into your work; I’m also not saying that I didn’t do precisely that when I wrote Junkyard Druid.😆

However, I will say that you should read some of the top urban fantasy authors like Butcher, Briggs, Andrews, Hamilton, and Hunter, as well as some of the classics, like the original Borderland anthology (be advised, used copies are not cheap) and War for the Oaks (still widely available).

Through reading early works and contrasting them with more recent and popular novels in the genre, you’ll have a better idea of which conventions are most prominent, and perhaps come up with some ways you might spin them into something new.

For posterity’s sake, here’s a list of common urban fantasy tropes you’ll frequently encounter in books, TV shows, and films in the genre:

World & Setting

1. Magic in the Modern World – Supernatural creatures, spells, and magical politics exist beneath or alongside everyday life.
2. Hidden Supernatural Society – A secret world of vampires, werewolves, witches, fae, etc., unknown to most humans.
3. The Masquerade – Supernaturals go to great lengths to hide their existence from the public.
4. Supernatural Underworld – There’s often a criminal, political, or social hierarchy among supernatural beings.
5. Urban Decay as Gothic Backdrop – Cities are gritty, rain-soaked, and filled with shadowy alleys and crumbling buildings.

Characters

1. The Reluctant Hero – A protagonist drawn into the supernatural world, often against their will.
2. The Chosen One – The main character has a hidden heritage or rare power that makes them important.
3. The Snarky Private Investigator – A magical or mundane PI solving supernatural crimes with sarcasm and attitude.
4. Half-Blood or Hybrid Protagonist – Characters who straddle the line between human and otherworldly.
5. Supernatural Sidekick or Mentor – A more experienced magical being guiding (or annoying) the hero.

Supernatural Beings & Factions

1. Vampire Clans or Courts – Vampires with political hierarchies, often brooding and ancient.
2. Werewolf Packs – Pack dynamics, territorial disputes, and a struggle with primal instincts.
3. Fae Politics – Tricksy, ancient, and often cruel fae with strict rules and deadly games.
4. Warring Factions – Different supernatural groups compete or fight for control of territory or magical power.
5. Demons and Summoners – Dark entities summoned for power or vengeance, often with a price.

Plot & Conflict

1. The Magical Detective Case – Solving crimes with a supernatural twist (murders, curses, disappearances).
2. Monster of the Week – A new creature or problem appears in each installment.
3. The Supernatural Apocalypse – A looming threat (e.g., demonic invasion, magical disease) must be stopped.
4. Forbidden Love – Romance across magical boundaries (vampire/human, witch/werewolf, etc.).
5. Magic Comes with a Price – Using magic has consequences: physical, moral, or psychological.

Magic Systems

1. Ritual and Blood Magic – Spells requiring rare ingredients, ancient languages, or sacrifices.
2. Magical Artifacts – Ancient relics with immense power that must be found, protected, or destroyed.
3. Urban Witchcraft – Spells, wards, sigils, and tarot in apartment closets or grimy basements.
4. Psychic Powers – Telepathy, clairvoyance, or mind control in a modern setting.
5. Technomagic or Magical Hacking – Combining the arcane and the digital.

In closing, urban fantasy is a genre that self-identifies as a blend of modern culture, mythology, and fantasy.

While common tropes found in the genre may seem cliché at times, they form the backbone of what readers love about UF. As a reader, when I pick up a UF novel I want wry and snarky wizard detectives, capable and sexy shifter heroines, mythological creatures struggling to adapt to modern culture and society, and warring supernatural factions that operate just beneath the notice of the muggles in the background.

That’s the stuff that takes me away from the problems and challenges of my everyday life. It’s part of the literary magic that transports me elsewhere, to a place where I don’t have to think about work, or bills, or health issues, or the myriad other nuisances we all deal with on a daily basis.

This lies at the heart of why readers enjoy certain genres, and why they tolerate common tropes in the books they purchase. Readers want to be entertained, and they want an escape. Part of taking them through the portal of the imagination involves serving them both the familiar and the new, and we do this by incorporating recognizable elements into stories that have not been told before.

If you’re a budding author, embracing tropes could be your first step toward writing contemporary fantasy stories readers actually want to read. By understanding and incorporating at least some common conventions into your work—while adding your own spin—you can create stories that feel worn-in and welcoming, yet also surprisingly fresh to the reader.