Hello! I am a strong advocate for reading books. I love books, especially fantasy and urban fantasy, and I am always looking for new recommendations. Reading is a luxury at the moment, as I find it difficult to have enough time to focus on any words or stories more in-depth than Three Little Pigs. Please encourage your kids to read. Read books yourself, whatever genre. Reading activates the beta waves in your brain, which is tied to your ability to think critically.
While I vastly prefer to have a real book in hand, it is not always practical (especially with how often I move). I like to keep hardbacks of the books that I absolutely love, and also the digital version to take around with me. If you are looking for an e-reader, I would recommend a Kindle. I was given the Kindle e-reader for Christmas and I have to say I am quite pleased. My only downside is that it is backlit, unlike my last beloved e-reader (which I unfortunately left on a plane), but that does allow me to read in low light without a lamp. It is small enough to keep in my purse and tote around with me everywhere. I can also read pdfs on it, so if you have friends sending you stories they have written, you can read it on there.
Here is my list of some of my favorite authors and books in the Fantasy and Urban Fantasy genres. These authors have multiple series and individual novels, so you won’t run out of something to read anytime soon. Please, check them out!
I do affiliate marketing and I do earn from qualifying purchases. Everything that I recommend here is based off my own experience.
Authors of My Recommends
Brandon Sanderson
One of my favorite authors. I read his first book, Elantris, back in college (He actually taught at my college) and I was hooked. Elantris is about a fantasy world of magic and runes, where the prince is placed into a gated community because he is now a “leper”. It’s told from his perspective and that of his new bride. They need to figure out how to cure whatever is causing this “sickness”.
Sanderson’s books range from massive epic sagas to short stories. The Stormlight Archive is an epic fantasy with in-depth and flawed characters. The Way of Kings is the first book and it sets the stage fantastically through the perspective of a king, a branded slave, and a scholar. Houses are at war for land and armor. I love his battle scenes, humor, and character interactions and development. The fourth installment is coming out soon for the Stormlight series.
If Stormlight is a little…thick (I mean, each book is about 1000 pages), you can get started with Mistborn series, Alcatraz versus the Evil Librarians series, or even his standalone novels. I love Tress and the Emerald Sea (less than 500 pages). All of his books have the most creative world building that he masterfully brings to life. I would say his books are family friendly in the sense of sexual themes or excessive violence and language.
Tamara Pierce
Tamara Pierce is a YA writer, but her books are far from unsophisticated or childish. Her themes are very real and her characters are well developed. Some of her books are for younger children, like the Alanna series (a coming of age story for a female knight), but her Beka Cooper series are spot on. I have probably read this series a dozen times and still love to read it. Terrier is the first book. This series is in a fantasy world, built around a character that is new to the city guards, or Dogs. This is her journal of her experiences. It is well written with fleshed out characters, and the series only gets better. I also enjoy her Trickster two-book series. Basically about a young spy that was enslaved in the same world as Alanna, and Beka Cooper. There is some sexual themes, some language, but nothing excessive.
Ilona Andrews
This has to be my favorite urban fantasy authors. I would recommend The Kate Daniel’s series, as it is freaking awesome. Don’t, uh, judge a book by the cover which look like they should be in the romance section. Definite violence, some graphic sex scenes but not excessively so until a little later in the series(I just skip ahead when she gets started. Maybe two scenes per book starting book 4), and definitely some f-bombs and c words in this bad boy, but it is a fun read. Magic Bites is the first book of the Kate Daniel’s series. It’s an alternate universe where magic is fighting for control over technology. Kate is the main character who has to navigate as a mercenary in a world of vampires and shapeshifters.
The author couple has written some other series, which are just as enjoyable. My close second favorite that I would recommend is Burn for Me, the first book of the Hidden Legacy series. It is another alternate universe where those with powerful talents (like creating fire, detecting lies, telekinesis) are in Houses, like nobles. The main character, Nevada Baylor, takes on a gig to locate a pyromaniac before the police do.
Patricia Briggs
This author is how I got introduced to urban fantasy. I recommend The Mercy Thompson series is about a mechanic that is navigating the world of werewolves, vampires, and fae. She herself is a shapeshifter. I love the characters, pacing, and interactions between them. It is a quick, fun read. There isn’t a lot of bad language and the sexual elements are low key, and not even really existent until later in the series. Moon Called is the first book in the series. Briggs recently came out with the 14th book – Winter Lost – but I have not read it yet. I will, though. She has other series like Alpha and Omega but I have not read it in full. She also has some fantasy novels. I really liked Dragon Bones.
Anthony Ryan
And lastly, I’d like to include Anthony Ryan. I loved his Raven Shadow series. I would recommend Blood Song, which is the first book. Basically, the first book is Vaelin, the main character, coming of age in an assassins guild. The characters are clever and the story is gritty. The world grows as he ages. There is violence and some language. Ryan has many other series as well, I just finished reading Pariah. So if you enjoy his books, there are plenty to choose from.