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Quick answer: If you love Anita Blake, try Dead Until Dark, Storm Front, Magic Bites, Moon Called, Dead Witch Walking and Bitten. They give you tough heroines, monsters and city mysteries.
Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter series begins with Guilty Pleasures (1993), in which a necromancer and vampire executioner in St. Louis takes on dangerous cases. It mixes police work, monsters and (increasingly) steamy romance. Readers who finish it want more urban fantasy with strong heroines. These 15 books suit adult readers and include violence and some sex.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guilty Pleasures | Laurell K. Hamilton | Adult | the series opener |
| A Kiss of Shadows | Laurell K. Hamilton | Adult | readers who want more Hamilton |
| Dead Until Dark | Charlaine Harris | Adult | readers who like fun paranormal mystery |
| Storm Front | Jim Butcher | Adult | readers who like fantasy detectives |
| Magic Bites | Ilona Andrews | Adult | readers who like action |
| Moon Called | Patricia Briggs | Adult | readers who like shapeshifters |
| Dead Witch Walking | Kim Harrison | Adult | readers who like witches |
| Bitten | Kelley Armstrong | Adult | readers who like werewolves |
| Halfway to the Grave | Jeaniene Frost | Adult | readers who like romantic action |
| Kitty and the Midnight Hour | Carrie Vaughn | Adult | readers who like humor |
| Discount Armageddon | Seanan McGuire | Adult | readers who like light fantasy |
| First Grave on the Right | Darynda Jones | Adult | readers who like paranormal comedy |
| Hounded | Kevin Hearne | Adult | readers who like myth |
| Kushiel's Dart | Jacqueline Carey | Adult | adults ready for an epic |
| Rivers of London | Ben Aaronovitch | Adult | readers who like police and magic |
1. Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K. Hamilton
The first Anita Blake novel. A necromancer and vampire executioner hunts a vampire killer. Start here if new.
Best for: the series opener.
2. A Kiss of Shadows by Laurell K. Hamilton
The first book in Hamilton's Merry Gentry series, about a faerie princess turned detective. More romantic and erotic.
Best for: readers who want more Hamilton.
3. Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris
Sookie Stackhouse, a Louisiana waitress, meets a vampire. Light and flirty.
Best for: readers who like fun paranormal mystery.
4. Storm Front by Jim Butcher
Harry Dresden, a wizard and private eye in Chicago, takes a double murder case. Witty and fast.
Best for: readers who like fantasy detectives.
5. Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews
Kate Daniels, a mercenary, investigates a murder in a magical Atlanta. Fast and spirited.
Best for: readers who like action.
6. Moon Called by Patricia Briggs
Mercy Thompson, a mechanic who can shift into a coyote, gets mixed up with werewolves. Warm and clever.
Best for: readers who like shapeshifters.
7. Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison
Rachel Morgan, a witch bounty hunter in Cincinnati, takes a dangerous job. Fun and fast.
Best for: readers who like witches.
8. Bitten by Kelley Armstrong
Elena, the world's only female werewolf, is pulled back into her pack. Sharp and sensual.
Best for: readers who like werewolves.
9. Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost
Cat, a half-vampire, hunts vampires and meets a vampire hunter. Steamy and funny.
Best for: readers who like romantic action.
10. Kitty and the Midnight Hour by Carrie Vaughn
Kitty Norville, a werewolf radio host, takes on callers and trouble. Fun and clever.
Best for: readers who like humor.
11. Discount Armageddon by Seanan McGuire
Verity Price, a cryptozoologist and ballroom dancer, protects monsters in New York. Funny and fast.
Best for: readers who like light fantasy.
12. First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones
Charley Davidson, a private investigator and grim reaper, speaks to the dead. Funny and sexy.
Best for: readers who like paranormal comedy.
13. Hounded by Kevin Hearne
Atticus, a 2,000-year-old druid in Arizona, faces gods and trouble. Fast and witty.
Best for: readers who like myth.
14. Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey
Phèdre, a courtesan with a rare gift, becomes a spy. Mature content and a long, lavish read.
Best for: adults ready for an epic.
15. Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch
Constable Peter Grant joins the London police unit that handles magic. Funny and quick.
Best for: readers who like police and magic.
How to Choose
For the closest match, start with Dead Until Dark, Magic Bites or Dead Witch Walking. For humor, read Kitty and the Midnight Hour or Discount Armageddon. For romance, try Halfway to the Grave or A Kiss of Shadows. A simple plan is to read the first three books in a series before deciding. Many of these books contain violence and explicit content, so they are for adult readers. If you prefer shorter commitments, read just the first book of a series and decide whether to continue. Audiobooks suit these long series, and many fans follow their favorite narrators from book to book. Check content notes: later books in several series become more explicit.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which Anita Blake book should I start with?
Guilty Pleasures is the first and the best place to begin.
Does the series change over time?
Yes. Early books are more mystery and horror, while later ones include more romance and erotic content.
How many Anita Blake books are there?
More than 30.
Is there a series like it without much sex?
Storm Front, Magic Bites and Moon Called are more action than erotica.
Are these series suitable for teens?
Most are for adults, with sex and violence, so teens should start with YA urban fantasy.
Which series is best for new urban fantasy readers?
Storm Front and Magic Bites are popular entry points.