Friday Favorites: Urban Fantasy

 

Urban Fantasy is a genre that became more popular starting in the 1980s. In Urban Fantasy, the magical shares our world, but is often hidden in some way. It differs from Magical Realism in that in Magical Realism, the magic is accepted as a normal part of the world. Not everyone has magic, but those that do or those around them more or less accept it as part of the status quo. When you think of Urban Fantasy, think about perhaps some of the magical people/creatures living underground in old subway tunnels. Or perhaps inhabiting an arts studio where their eccentricities might be discounted rather than really noticed.

My introduction to Urban Fantasy came with the book Dreams Underfoot by Charles de Lint. It is a collection of short stories that take place in the fictional city of Newford. Since the birth of Newford, the author has gone on to write many more stories that take place there as well as in other locations. Newford is a favorite of fans as are some of the characters that inhabit there such as Jilly Coppercorn and The Crow Girls.

Terri Windling is also of note as she has been editor, writer, artist and more in the genre and beyond starting when it became more popular.

Some other favorites of mine include, but are not limited to:

C.E. Murphy - The Walker Papers

Faith Hunter - The Jane Yellowrock series and the Soulwood series

Seanan McGuire - The InCryptid series and October Daye series

SM Reine - Preternatural Affairs and more

Kim Harrison - The Hollows series

Patricia Briggs - The Mercy Thompson Series

Jennifer Estep - The Elemental Assassin Series

Jim Butcher - The Dresden Files 

Kevin Hearne - The Iron Druid Chronicles

If you enjoy contemporary fantasy, you will most likely enjoy urban fantasy. I remember being surprised at how many people chose to use a blend of Celtic and Native American beings. For example, in book one of the Walker Papers, Urban Shaman, Joanne Walker discovers that she is a shaman and must save people from the Wild Hunt. Some other authors design a magic system virtually from scratch - the Elemental Assassin series for example.

Question: Is it possible to have urban fantasy in a historical city setting such as Boston? An example here would possibly be The Whimbrel House series by Charlie N. Holmberg.

Please understand this is not a definitive list, but rather some Urban Fantasy authors I have enjoyed over the years. If you have a favorite you don't see here or have something you'd like to add, please feel free to do so in the comments. Happy Reading!

Waiting on Wednesday #163: The Turn by Kim Harrison

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where we spotlight upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. 

This week my pick is The Turn by Kim Harrison. It's a prequel to the Hollows books. She lists it as # 0.1 in the series.

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Kim Harrison returns to her beloved Hollows series with The Turn, the official prequel to the series that will introduce fans and readers to a whole new side of Rachel Morgan's world as they've never seen it before!

Can science save us when all else fails?

Trisk and her hated rival, Kalamack, have the same goal: save their species from extinction.

Death comes in the guise of hope when a genetically modified tomato created to feed the world combines with the government's new tactical virus, giving it an unexpected host and a mode of transport. Plague takes the world, giving the paranormal species an uncomfortable choice to stay hidden and allow humanity to die, or to show themselves in a bid to save them.

Under accusations of scientific misconduct, Trisk and Kal flee across a plague torn United States to convince leaders of the major paranormal species to save their supposedly weaker kin, but not everyone thinks humanity should be saved.

Kal surreptitiously works against her as Trisk fights the prejudices of two societies to prove that not only does humanity have something to offer, but that long-accepted beliefs against women, dark magic, and humanity itself can turn to understanding; that when people are at their worst that the best show their true strength, and that love can hold the world together as a new balance is found. 

Why am I waiting on this one? It's another chance to read about Kim Harrison's world, The Hollows. And an opportunity to find out exactly what happened when the dreaded tomato hit the fan. The Turn is due out February 7, 2017 from Gallery Books.

What book are you waiting on this week? Share it or a link in the comments so we can check it out and maybe add it to our TBR lists. Thanks for coming by and Happy Reading!

Waiting on Wednesday #35 - The Witch with No Name by Kim Harrison

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where we spotlight upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. 

This week I am both anticipating and sort of dreading the release of Kim Harrison's 13th book in the Hollow series, The Witch with No Name. It's due out September 9, 2014. It will be the final Hollows book. I am anticipating the book because, "Hey! New Hallows book!" I am dreading the book because, "Last Hallows book. Can she pull it off without pissing off the fans?" The Hallows series stars Rachel Morgan and is an urban fantasy similar to last week's pick in that the paranormal beings live side by side with the non-magical, mundane human beings. Being a witch isn't so much a religion as a genetic predisposition, and Rachel is that and more. There are also vampires, elves, fairies, pixies, werewolves, and more depending on which book you are reading. The cover hasn't been revealed yet, hence the plain blue cover below.

Hardcover, 512 pages

Expected publication: September 9th 2014

From Goodreads:

At long last... The final book in the New York Timesbestselling Hollows series by Kim Harrison!

Rachel Morgan's come a long way from the klutzy runner of Dead Witch Walking. She's faced vampires and werewolves, banshees, witches, and soul-eating demons. She's crossed worlds, channeled gods, and accepted her place as a day-walking demon. She's lost friends and lovers and family, and an old enemy has become something much more.

But power demands responsibility, and world-changers must always pay a price. That time is now.

To save Ivy's soul and the rest of the living vampires, to keep the demonic ever after and our own world from destruction, Rachel Morgan will risk everything.

, And there is a cool thing going on,  There is a challenge at Goodreads, that if 3000 people put The Witch With No Name on their TBR shelf before the 28th, Harper will release chapter one with the final cover reveal. If we can get 5000 shelvings, there will be two chapters released. You won’t have to be a member of Goodreads to see the chapters, but it’s up to them to get the push on.  Here’s the link that explains it all, but remember, you have to put it on your TBR shelf to make it count.  Here’s the link that explains it all, but remember, you have to put it on your TBR shelf to make it count. Goodreads chapter release event

 If you enjoy Kim Harrison's books and are looking for autographed copies, they can be found at Nicola's Books.

So, what book are you waiting on this week?