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Quick answer: If you liked Monster Hunter International, read Larry Correia's Monster Hunter Vendetta and Hard Magic, then Storm Front, Magic Bites, Hounded and Patient Zero. All mix action, humour and monsters with guns, swords or sorcery.
Larry Correia's 2009 debut follows accountant Owen Zastava Pitt, who ends up fighting a werewolf and joins a company of professional monster hunters. It is fast, funny and heavy on weapons. The books below offer similar urban fantasy and supernatural action, many with wry humour.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monster Hunter Vendetta | Larry Correia | Adult | the sequel |
| Monster Hunter Alpha | Larry Correia | Adult | werewolf story |
| Hard Magic | Larry Correia | Adult | alternate-history superheroes |
| Storm Front | Jim Butcher | Adult | wizard detective |
| Magic Bites | Ilona Andrews | Adult | gritty urban fantasy |
| Hounded | Kevin Hearne | Adult | witty Druid fantasy |
| Patient Zero | Jonathan Maberry | Adult | zombie thriller |
| 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 agency |
| The Atrocity Archives | Charles Stross | Adult | tech and the occult |
| World War Z | Max Brooks | Adult | oral-history apocalypse |
| Bitten | Kelley Armstrong | Adult | werewolf thriller |
| Dead Until Dark | Charlaine Harris | Adult | Southern vampire mystery |
1. Monster Hunter Vendetta by Larry Correia
Owen and his team face a vengeful enemy. More guns, more monsters.
Best for: the sequel.
2. Monster Hunter Alpha by Larry Correia
Earl Harbinger and his werewolf past take centre stage. A strong side story in the series.
Best for: werewolf story.
3. 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.
4. Storm Front by Jim Butcher
Harry Dresden is a wizard private investigator in Chicago. A classic start to a long series.
Best for: wizard detective.
5. Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews
Kate Daniels investigates murders in a magic-saturated Atlanta. Sharp and romantic.
Best for: gritty urban fantasy.
6. Hounded by Kevin Hearne
Atticus O'Sullivan, an ancient Druid, runs a bookshop in Arizona. Funny and quick.
Best for: witty Druid fantasy.
7. Patient Zero by Jonathan Maberry
Joe Ledger joins a secret unit to fight a bioweapon. Fast and gory.
Best for: zombie thriller.
8. Moon Called by Patricia Briggs
Mercy Thompson, a mechanic and coyote shapeshifter, gets involved with werewolves. Warm and fast.
Best for: shapeshifter fantasy.
9. Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison
Rachel Morgan, a witch bounty hunter, battles demons and vampires. Fast and funny.
Best for: witty witch noir.
10. Skinwalker by Faith Hunter
Jane Yellowrock hunts rogue vampires in New Orleans. Tough and atmospheric.
Best for: Southern monster hunter.
11. The Rook by Daniel O'Malley
A woman wakes with no memory and finds she works for a secret supernatural agency. Funny and clever.
Best for: secret agency.
12. The Atrocity Archives by Charles Stross
A software engineer works for a secret British agency. Dry, geeky and clever.
Best for: tech and the occult.
13. World War Z by Max Brooks
A journalist gathers accounts from survivors of a zombie war. Fresh and realistic.
Best for: oral-history apocalypse.
14. Bitten by Kelley Armstrong
Elena is the only female werewolf and tries to escape her pack. Moody and romantic.
Best for: werewolf thriller.
15. Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris
A telepathic waitress falls for a vampire in Louisiana. Funny and sexy.
Best for: Southern vampire mystery.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick is a real, widely available book that shares something specific with Monster Hunter International: its tone, its themes, its pace or the kind of characters it puts at the center. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious titles, and we noted who each book suits best so you can match it to the reader. Where a book belongs to a series, we list the first volume so you can start at the beginning.
How to Choose
For more Correia read Monster Hunter Vendetta or Hard Magic. For wizard-detective action pick Storm Front. For romance in the mix choose Magic Bites or Moon Called. For humour try Hounded or The Rook. For military-style monster hunting read Patient Zero. Many of these start long series, so check reading order and content notes. Monster Hunter International is also known for its lively community and its heavy attention to weapons, which gun enthusiasts enjoy. If you want more guns and monsters, Patient Zero and Monster Hunter Alpha are the closest. If you want humour and a smaller scale, The Rook and Hounded are gentler. If you want mystery and a detective hook, Storm Front and Magic Bites fit. The audiobooks are narrated by Bronson Pinchot, which many fans love. Readers who enjoy action-heavy fantasy may also like Correia's Grimnoir Chronicles, set in an alternate 1930s.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Monster Hunter International about?
An accountant joins a private company that hunts monsters for bounties.
Who wrote it?
Larry Correia.
When was it published?
2009.
Is it funny?
Yes, with action and dark humour.
How many books are in the series?
Many. Check current listings for the latest count.
Is it violent?
Yes, with plenty of gunfights and monster combat.
Was it self-published first?
Yes, Correia self-published it before it was picked up by Baen.
What should I read next?
Try Storm Front or Magic Bites.
Is it a series I can binge?
Yes. There are many Monster Hunter books and spin-offs, plus Correia's other series like the Grimnoir Chronicles.
Is it for teens?
It contains violence and language, so it suits older teens and adults.
Is Owen Pitt the main character in every book?
Not always. Later books follow other hunters and spin-off characters.