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Quick answer: If you like Patricia Briggs, read Ilona Andrews's Magic Bites, Kim Harrison's Dead Witch Walking, Anne Bishop's Written in Red and Charlaine Harris's Dead Until Dark. All offer brave heroines, supernatural communities and a mix of danger, humour and romance.
Patricia Briggs writes urban fantasy and traditional fantasy with practical, tough heroines and a strong sense of loyalty between characters. Fans of Mercy Thompson or Alpha and Omega often want similar series with solid world-building and found-family relationships. The picks below include other urban fantasy leaders plus two standalone fantasy books by Briggs herself.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Masques | Patricia Briggs | Adult | Briggs's fantasy |
| Dragon Bones | Patricia Briggs | Adult | standalone fantasy |
| Hunting Ground | Patricia Briggs | Adult | werewolf politics |
| Magic Bites | Ilona Andrews | Adult | fast urban fantasy |
| Dead Witch Walking | Kim Harrison | Adult | witch heroines |
| Written in Red | Anne Bishop | Adult | cozy but dangerous |
| Dead Until Dark | Charlaine Harris | Adult | Southern charm |
| Ill Wind | Rachel Caine | Adult | elemental magic |
| Touch the Dark | Karen Chance | Adult | chaotic action |
| Some Girls Bite | Chloe Neill | Adult | vampire politics |
| Bitten | Kelley Armstrong | Adult | pack stories |
| Storm Front | Jim Butcher | Adult | wizard detectives |
| Rosemary and Rue | Seanan McGuire | Adult | fae politics |
| Hounded | Kevin Hearne | Adult | funny druid tales |
| Skinwalker | Faith Hunter | Adult | monster hunters |
1. Masques by Patricia Briggs
Briggs's first fantasy series follows Aralorn, a spy and shapeshifter who works against a powerful sorcerer. It shows her talent for strong heroines long before Mercy.
Best for: Briggs's fantasy.
2. Dragon Bones by Patricia Briggs
A young lord inherits a crumbling estate and a mystery tied to a dragon's skeleton. A quiet, character-driven fantasy that shows another side of the author.
Best for: standalone fantasy.
3. Hunting Ground by Patricia Briggs
Anna and Charles from the Alpha and Omega series face a threat in a story set in the same universe as Mercy. A good fit if you want more werewolf politics.
Best for: werewolf politics.
4. Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews
Kate Daniels is a mercenary in a magic-ravaged Atlanta. Fast, funny and packed with creatures.
Best for: fast urban fantasy.
5. Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison
Rachel Morgan is a witch bounty hunter in a Cincinnati where supernatural beings are known. Sassy and action-packed.
Best for: witch heroines.
6. Written in Red by Anne Bishop
Meg Corbyn finds shelter with the shape-shifters who run a trading post in a world ruled by predators. Atmospheric, cozy and tense.
Best for: cozy but dangerous.
7. Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris
Sookie Stackhouse meets a vampire in a small Louisiana town. The first Southern Vampire Mystery.
Best for: Southern charm.
8. Ill Wind by Rachel Caine
Joanne Baldwin is a weather warden in a world where magic rides the winds. Fast and imaginative.
Best for: elemental magic.
9. Touch the Dark by Karen Chance
Cassie Palmer is a clairvoyant caught between vampires and Senates. Chaotic and clever.
Best for: chaotic action.
10. Some Girls Bite by Chloe Neill
Merit becomes a vampire in Chicago and is drawn into the politics of her House. Sharp and entertaining.
Best for: vampire politics.
11. Bitten by Kelley Armstrong
Elena, the only female werewolf, is pulled back to her pack. Strong, fast and moody.
Best for: pack stories.
12. Storm Front by Jim Butcher
Harry Dresden is a wizard detective in Chicago. Noir, humour and magic.
Best for: wizard detectives.
13. Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire
October Daye is a half-fae investigator in San Francisco. Moody and filled with fae politics.
Best for: fae politics.
14. Hounded by Kevin Hearne
Atticus is a druid who hides in Arizona and faces old gods. Funny and quick.
Best for: funny druid tales.
15. Skinwalker by Faith Hunter
Jane Yellowrock is a skinwalker who hunts rogue vampires in New Orleans. Dark and tough.
Best for: monster hunters.
How to Choose
If you want more Briggs, start with Masques, Dragon Bones or Hunting Ground. For quick, sassy heroines, pick Magic Bites, Dead Witch Walking or Dead Until Dark. For cozy but dangerous settings, choose Written in Red. For humour and action, try Hounded or Storm Front. For vampire stories, read Some Girls Bite. Many of these are long series, so check the reading order before you start. Series fans can mix and match: try one standalone fantasy such as Dragon Bones, then pick a new urban fantasy series to follow for months. Most of these have audiobook editions with strong narrators, which can make a commute fly by. Check each series' content level, as some are lighter and others get darker as they continue.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Patricia Briggs best known for?
The Mercy Thompson and Alpha and Omega urban fantasy series.
Does she write other fantasy?
Yes, Masques, Dragon Bones and Dragon Blood are set in different worlds.
Are the Alpha and Omega books connected to Mercy?
Yes, they share a universe and some characters.
Is there a Patricia Briggs series I can start with?
Moon Called is the usual first step.
Are her books spicy?
The romance is gentle compared with many in the genre.
What other authors are similar?
Ilona Andrews, Kim Harrison and Anne Bishop are common recommendations.
Where should new readers of Briggs start?
Moon Called begins Mercy Thompson, while Cry Wolf begins Alpha and Omega.
Are her fantasy books connected to Mercy?
No, her fantasy novels are in different worlds.
Is there a show based on her books?
Not currently, though fans often ask for one.
How many Mercy Thompson books are there?
More than a dozen novels, plus short stories and graphic novels.