My Favorite Urban Fantasy Series…

…And Why They’re Worth Your Time

Urban fantasy has been my literary home for a long time now. It’s the sandbox where I’ve built most of my career, and it’s the genre I return to when I want to read something that feels like magic is lurking just beneath the skin of the modern world.

Over the years, I’ve devoured a lot of UF. Some series stick. Some don’t. The ones below? They’ve earned permanent shelf space.

Here are a few of my absolute favorites—and why they might earn a place on yours.

The Demon Accords by John Conroe

Let’s get this out of the way.

The protagonists are often wildly overpowered.

The dialogue can be a little corny.

The plot armor is thicker than dragon scale.

Do I care?

Not even a little.

These books are outrageously good fun. Conroe leans into the power fantasy in a way that feels unapologetic and kinetic. When you pick up one of these novels, you’re not looking for grim existential introspection—you’re looking for monsters getting wrecked, magic flying, and heroes who can actually handle the apocalypse.

And on that front? The Demon Accords delivers.

If you want urban fantasy that trades angst for momentum, this series is your jam.

Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs

At first glance, you might think this series is going to lean hard into romantasy tropes.

Yes, there’s romantic tension.

Yes, there are a couple of very compelling McSteamy contenders (RIP Eric Dane).

Yes, the early books play with that dynamic.

But here’s the thing: this is some of the most solid urban fantasy storytelling out there.

Briggs digs deep into obscure folklore and mythology to flesh out her world. The fae feel dangerous. The werewolves feel political. The magic feels old and layered.

And Mercy herself? She’s one of my favorite protagonists in the genre.

She’s underpowered. Outmatched. Frequently in over her head.

And yet—through sheer grit, intelligence, and stubbornness—she finds a way to survive.

That’s compelling storytelling.

Monster Hunter International by Larry Correia

In brief, here’s why I love this series:

• Tons of action
• A strong cast of believable oddball characters
• The gun stuff is accurate (which matters more than you think)
• Laugh-out-loud funny

Correia understands pacing. These books move. But what keeps me coming back isn’t just the monster-slaying spectacle—it’s the characters. They feel like real people with real motivations, even when they’re unloading high-caliber justice into unspeakable horrors.

It’s blue-collar urban fantasy with teeth.

And explosions.

Deacon Chalk Occult Bounty Hunter by James R. Tuck

It’s a shame this series didn’t blow up the way it deserved to.

It has everything I want in urban fantasy:

• A hard-hitting, no-nonsense protagonist
• Truly dangerous enemies
• A solid supporting cast
• Action. Lots of it.

If you like your urban fantasy with a strong shot of testosterone and a protagonist who kicks down the door instead of politely knocking, Deacon Chalk is worth your time.

It’s unapologetic. It’s intense. And it’s a hell of a ride.

Twenty Palaces by Harry Connolly

Yes, I talk about this series a lot.

No, I’m not going to stop.

Connolly did something few urban fantasy authors manage to do: he built a setting that feels genuinely unique. The lore has depth. The magic system feels dangerous and expensive. The world has history baked into its bones.

Ray Lilly is also one of the most sympathetic protagonists I’ve encountered. He’s out of his depth, morally conflicted, and stuck in a brutal world that doesn’t care about his comfort.

It’s grimdark urban fantasy—and that’s precisely why I love it.

Start with Child of Fire and give it a little time to build. The payoff is worth it.

Nightside series by Simon R. Green

People sometimes criticize Green for being pulpy.

That’s the point.

Sometimes you want a novel that feels like Raymond Chandler collided headfirst with Supernatural. That’s exactly what The Nightside delivers.

Fast-paced. Weird. Stylish. Over-the-top in all the right ways.

If you’re in the mood for something quick, fun, and unapologetically genre-savvy, this series will scratch that itch.

Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch

Rich. Atmospheric. Witty.

This series nails British urban fantasy.

I’ve always had a soft spot for fantasy set in London. The city’s history is practically begging for supernatural interpretation. Aaronovitch leans into that history beautifully, weaving folklore and police procedural elements into something that feels grounded and magical at the same time.

And the dialogue? Sharp without feeling like you wandered into a Joss Whedon script.

If you enjoy British police procedurals with a supernatural twist, you’ll love this series.

Matthew Swift series by Kate Griffin

I genuinely wish there were more of these books.

The setting is strange and electric. The magic feels like it’s embedded in the bones of the city itself. The characters are peculiar in a way that makes you want to spend more time with them.

Griffin (Catherine Webb) writes prose that looks simple on the surface but operates at a sophisticated level beneath it. The dialogue is sharp. The descriptions are layered. The world feels both ancient and modern all at once.

When I first picked these up, I was lost in the story almost immediately.

That’s rare.

Joe Pitt Casebooks by Charlie Huston

If you like your urban fantasy gritty and hardboiled, this is your series.

Huston blends pulp noir and supernatural fiction better than almost anyone I’ve read. His prose is spare. The dialogue is brutal and efficient. The vibe is pure early pulp detective fiction—with vampires.

Joe Pitt walks that razor’s edge between cynicism and reluctant responsibility. He might project that he gives zero f*cks, but every book gives him something to care about—and that motivation drives him to extreme lengths.

It’s noir with fangs.

And it works.

Final Thoughts

Urban fantasy is a broad church.

Some readers want brooding angst.

Some want romance.

Some want mythological depth.

Some want monsters getting obliterated in creative ways.

The series listed above cover the spectrum—and they’ve all influenced me in one way or another as both a reader and a writer.

If you’re looking to branch out from your usual fare, try one on for size. You might find your next favorite series.

And if you’ve got a recommendation I need to check out?

Drop it in the comments.