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Quick answer: If you like Jim Butcher, read Ilona Andrews, Ben Aaronovitch, Kevin Hearne and Patricia Briggs. All write fast, funny urban fantasy with wizards, monsters and mysteries.
Jim Butcher is best known for The Dresden Files, which follows wizard private eye Harry Dresden in modern Chicago, and for the epic Codex Alera series beginning with Furies of Calderon. His books mix noir, humour and magic. The books below offer similar urban fantasy and fantasy mysteries.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Storm Front | Jim Butcher | Adult | wizard detectives |
| Furies of Calderon | Jim Butcher | Adult | elemental magic |
| Rivers of London | Ben Aaronovitch | Adult | police and magic |
| Magic Bites | Ilona Andrews | Adult | gritty urban fantasy |
| Hounded | Kevin Hearne | Adult | witty Druid fantasy |
| Moon Called | Patricia Briggs | Adult | shapeshifter fantasy |
| Dead Witch Walking | Kim Harrison | Adult | witty witch noir |
| Skinwalker | Faith Hunter | Adult | Southern monster hunter |
| The Rook | Daniel O'Malley | Adult | secret agencies |
| The Alloy of Law | Brandon Sanderson | Adult | gunslinger fantasy |
| Hard Magic | Larry Correia | Adult | alternate-history superheroes |
| Dead Until Dark | Charlaine Harris | Adult | readers who like fun paranormal romance |
| The Lies of Locke Lamora | Scott Lynch | Adult | clever heists |
| Gideon the Ninth | Tamsyn Muir | Adult | necromancers in space |
| A Deadly Education | Naomi Novik | Adult | readers who like darker humor |
1. Storm Front by Jim Butcher
Harry Dresden is a wizard detective in Chicago. Fast and funny.
Best for: wizard detectives.
2. Furies of Calderon by Jim Butcher
A young man with no magic faces a land of elemental furies. Fast and fun.
Best for: elemental magic.
3. Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch
A young constable becomes an apprentice wizard in modern London. Funny and well-grounded.
Best for: police and magic.
4. Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews
Kate Daniels investigates a murder in a magic-saturated Atlanta. Sharp and romantic.
Best for: gritty urban fantasy.
5. Hounded by Kevin Hearne
Atticus O'Sullivan, an ancient Druid, runs a bookshop in Arizona. Funny and quick, with a great sidekick in his Irish wolfhound.
Best for: witty Druid fantasy.
6. Moon Called by Patricia Briggs
Mercy Thompson, a mechanic and coyote shapeshifter, gets caught up in werewolf politics. Warm and fast.
Best for: shapeshifter fantasy.
7. Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison
Rachel Morgan, a witch bounty hunter in Cincinnati, battles demons and vampires. Fast and funny.
Best for: witty witch noir.
8. Skinwalker by Faith Hunter
Jane Yellowrock, a shapeshifter, hunts rogue vampires in New Orleans. Atmospheric and tough.
Best for: Southern monster hunter.
9. The Rook by Daniel O'Malley
A woman wakes up with no memory and discovers she works for a secret supernatural agency. Witty and smart.
Best for: secret agencies.
10. The Alloy of Law by Brandon Sanderson
A lawman returns to a city of gangsters and magic. Fast, funny and clever.
Best for: gunslinger fantasy.
11. Hard Magic by Larry Correia
In a 1930s world with magic, a hard-boiled detective pursues a villain. Fast, pulpy and inventive.
Best for: alternate-history superheroes.
12. Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris
Sookie Stackhouse, a Louisiana waitress, meets a vampire. The first Southern Vampire novel, light and flirty.
Best for: readers who like fun paranormal romance.
13. The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
A group of thieves in a fantasy city run elaborate cons. Witty and fast.
Best for: clever heists.
14. Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
A swordswoman and a necromancer solve a mystery in a decaying palace. Witty and gothic.
Best for: necromancers in space.
15. A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik
El Lazarus Lake attends a school where monsters hunt students. Sharp and funny.
Best for: readers who like darker humor.
How to Choose
For more Butcher read Storm Front and the Dresden Files in order, or Furies of Calderon for his epic fantasy. For urban fantasy choose Rivers of London, Magic Bites or Hounded. For witty mysteries pick The Rook or Dead Witch Walking. For gunslinger fantasy read The Alloy of Law. Butcher's books are long-running series, so these picks suit readers who love to binge. The Dresden Files has more than 15 novels and a long run of audiobooks narrated by James Marsters, which many fans consider the best way to enjoy the series.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Jim Butcher?
An American author of urban fantasy and epic fantasy.
Where should I start?
With Storm Front.
Is Dresden a good series for beginners?
Yes, with an easy-to-follow mystery formula.
Who narrates the audiobooks?
James Marsters.
Are there other Butcher series?
Yes, Codex Alera and The Aeronaut's Windlass.
Is it violent?
It includes violence and dark themes.
Do I need to read in order?
It helps for the later books.
What should I read next?
Try Rivers of London or Furies of Calderon.
Which book here is best for gritty urban fantasy?
Try Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews, which suits readers looking for gritty urban fantasy.
Which book here is best for witty witch noir?
Try Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison, which suits readers looking for witty witch noir.
Which book here is best for gunslinger fantasy?
Try The Alloy of Law by Brandon Sanderson, which suits readers looking for gunslinger fantasy.
Which book here is best for clever heists?
Try The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch, which suits readers looking for clever heists.
Which book here is best for elemental magic?
Try Furies of Calderon by Jim Butcher, which suits readers looking for elemental magic.