16 throwback urban fantasy and paranormal reads

In the last two weeks I’ve fallen head over heels with an old-school, urban fantasy series and I’m devouring them at a very rapid rate.

The ‘Kate Daniels’ series by husband and wife duo Ilona Andrews is taking over my life and I’m perfectly fine with it.

Kate Daniels is about to enter a new world of gritty magic and dangerous mystery!

Future Atlanta is an interesting place to live: one moment magic dominates, and cars stall and guns fail. The next, technology takes over and the defensive spells no longer protect your house from monsters.
Here skyscrapers topple under the onslaught of magic; the Pack, a paramilitary clan of shapechangers, prowl through the ruined streets; and the Masters of the Dead, necromancers driven by their thirst for knowledge and wealth, pilot blood-crazed vampires with their minds.

Kate Daniels likes her sword a little too much, and she has a hard time controlling her mouth. The magic in her blood makes her a target, and she's spent most of her life hiding in plain sight. But when Kate's guardian is murdered, she must choose to do nothing, and remain safe, or to risk her life by pursuing his preternatural killer. Hiding is easy, but the right choice is rarely easy ...

Falling in love with this series has got me thinking about all of the long, beloved urban fantasy and paranormal romance that I missed at their height of popularity. When these genres were booking I was a teenager and it wasn’t a part of Waterstone’s that I really ventured into, Kindles weren’t yet widespread and I don’t remember seeing them in the library - they were the books of the big adult book bloggers of the time.

Now in the middle of Kate Daniels’ adventures, I’m beginning to see that I really missed something. Fun, addictive, romantic escapism, and if now isn’t the time for escapism when is??

I started compiling a list for myself of series that I’d love to go back to, and decided to make it into a list for you guys too so on here are some series I’ve read and started as well.

Here are the series’:

‘Kate Daniels’, Ilona Andrews

Obsessed. Hooked. Involved.

‘Weather Warden’, Rachel Caine

I adore Rachel Caine’s ‘Morganville Vampires’ series and all of the other novels I’ve read of hers, but I’ve never taken the plunge with her first series. Now that Rachel has passed I think it’s time to complete the set.

‘Chicagoland Vampires’, Chloe Neill

When a graduate student gets attacked by a rogue vampire, she’s rescued and turned and finds herself with some new powers. I’ve not heard of these for years, but they have amazing ratings!

‘Georgina Kincaid’, Richelle Mead

I adore Richelle Mead’s YA novels, but like with Rachel Caine’s novels, I never made it to her adult novels. She hasn’t published anything in a while and I’m jonesing for some Richelle Mead stories.

‘Mercy Thompson’, Patricia Briggs

The Mercy Thompson series, beginning with ‘Moon Called’, stars a shapeshifter mechanic who lives next door to a werewolf pack. This is another super popular series and I have book one ready to go!

‘Southern Vampire Mysteries’, Charlaine Harris

I devoured the Sookie Stackhouse books across the end of 2019 and into the first few months on 2020 and they were a big comfort in a difficult few months. Also, so different to ‘True Blood’!

‘Jane Jameson’/’Half-Moon Hollow’, Molly Harper

I thoroughly enjoyed the first book which sees Jane turned into a vampire after being shot and left for dead, she has a brand new battle ahead as she gets used to being undead and figure out why she’s being framed for murder.

‘Midnight Breed’, Lara Adrian

I have to admit that I don’t completely know what this is about other than vampires, but it’s another massively highly rated and regarded series.

‘Argeneau Vampires’, Lyndsay Sands

I remember my little sister reading the first couple of books in this racy vampire series and she was a big fan so I’ve always meant ot give it a go. BUT there’s currently 33 books in this series and it’s still going…

‘Black Dagger Brotherhood’, JR Ward

Epically long vampire series is one that I still see peppering my Goodreads every time a new book is released by people who have been loyally reading about this world for 15 years. I need to get on that train, but a 19 book series is a tad intimidating!

‘The Succubi Diaries’, Jill Myles

I read the first book in this super steamy succubus paranormal romance a few years ago and devoured. It’s also a super short series at only 4 books so I have no idea why I didn’t carry on with it!

‘Fever’, Karen Marie Moning
The ‘Fever’ series is the first fae series on this list and it sounds deliciously dark and mysterious. This one isn’t as widely talked about as the others, but those that love it, love it hard.

‘Dark Swan’, Richelle Mead

Another of Richelle Mead’s adult series that I’ve yet to read, and another big favourite favourite. I’m honestly not sure what it’s about, but it’s Richelle Mead so I don’t need to!

‘Demonica’, Larissa Ione

A demon and a demon slayer falling in love? I’m so down for this dark and steamy paranormal romance series.

‘Anita Blake’, Laurell K Hamilton

This is a hugeeee vampire series that I remember taking up several shelves of a Waterstone’s bay with the bright red covers and I’m honestly not sure I’ll ever get to this one, but it’s definitely on my radar.

‘Immortals After Dark’, Kresley Cole

I actually read one of Kresley Cole’s YA novels back in the day and I wasn’t blown away by it, but I’ve always had a feeling about the ‘Immortals After Dark’ series.

Are you an urban fantasy and paranormal romance reader? I’d love to hear all about your favourite books in these genres and if any of these series have provided you comfort in these times.

Written by Sophie