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Comedy fantasy or urban fantasy recommendations?

33 replies

RubaiyatOfAnyone · 30/03/2023 09:00

I have got out of the habit of reading recently and i’m trying to get back into it.

the above two genres are my favourite, and i need that sort of gentle optimism at the moment when everything in the real world seems fairly horrible.

ones i’ve read and enjoyed -

comic fantasy:
Terry Pratchett
Tom Holt
Robert Asprin
Steven Brust

urban fantasy:
Rivers of London series
Midnight Mayor series
Felix Castor series

any suggestions for new things i might enjoy?

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CoachBeard · 06/04/2023 13:26

I’ve not seen Seanan McGuire mentioned yet. Some of her stuff is very good.

BlueChampagne · 06/04/2023 13:22

Second Jasper Fforde and Neil Gaiman (Good Omens?)

Urban fantasy - how about Ursula K Le Guin's sci fi short stories and novels?

AuntieDolly · 06/04/2023 13:21

Clovenhoof series - very funny.
Not sure if the Bryant & May series counts as fantasy, but whimsical

Neverknowinglysensible · 06/04/2023 13:09

Miss Percy’s Pocket Guide to … dragons (2 books, on Kindle Unlimited), reading them atm, fairly funny.
The Ogre Downstairs Diana Wynne Jones always cheers me up.
Simon Green?

MeFernBradyMeFernBrady · 06/04/2023 12:45

The Magicians trilogy by Lev Grossman is a lot of fun (ignore the references to 'grown up Harry Potter', it bears more similarities to Rivers of London in style and tone).

The Rotherweird series by Andrew Caldecott. I loved this series so much.

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susannah Clarke

The Golem and the Djinni by Helene Wecker

I also liked the Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by VE Schwab.

SoupDragon · 06/04/2023 10:36

I love and hate these threads in equal measure 😂😂 my Amazon wish list always grows.

deeplybaffled · 06/04/2023 08:36

@CMOTDibbler I’d forgotten Vivian Shaw - I love the Greta Helsing books and wish there were more than 3

CastlesinSpain · 06/04/2023 01:14

merryhouse · 30/03/2023 22:49

Comedy: Esther Friesner - Here Be Demons and sequels; I think I also read Yesterday we saw Mermaids. She's written loads of other stuff but I haven't read that.

Urban: the Stoneheart trilogy by Charlie Fletcher is written for children but I really enjoyed it as an adult.

Three Twins at the Crater School by Chaz Brenchley isn't strictly speaking comedy. If the title speaks to you then you will appreciate it.

I didn't realise Chaz Brenchley had written anything new!

I read his Northern Lights series years ago (that series is urban fantasy - but gritty, not comedy) and loved it very much... Then I bumped into him at an Eastercon (this was 2008) and fangirled all over him. I don't think he'd ever run into a stranger who'd heard of him and read his books, LOL.

Damia · 05/04/2023 16:39

Honor Raconteur has some great books. The case files of Henri Davenport are a series where a female detective from our realm is kidnapped by magic, and her adapting to the new world once released. Nice mix of magic and tech with mystery solving if you like that kinda thing.

Ecci · 05/04/2023 16:25

The Iron Druid books by Kevin Hearne, great story and an adorable dog character.

iamrageohtheresakitty · 04/04/2023 20:16

The City and the City, also by China Miéville

newtb · 04/04/2023 20:11

Tom Sharpe

weebarra · 04/04/2023 20:00

Most of the ones mentioned:
Jodi Taylor
Garth Nix
Ilona Andrews
Jim Butcher
Naomi Novik
Gail Carriger
Genevieve Cogman
TL Huchu

Can you tell I like a bit of UF?

CMOTDibbler · 04/04/2023 19:47

The Lefthanded Booksellers of London by Garth Nix

Strange Practice by Vivian Shaw

The Night Raven by Sarah Painter

Stranger Times as mentioned upthread

SoupDragon · 04/04/2023 19:38

I completely agree with these

The Kings Watch series by Mark Hayden
Alex Verus series by Benedict Jacka

I also enjoyed Quantum Curators by Eva St John

happyumwelt · 04/04/2023 19:27

Neverwhere!

OakElmAsh · 04/04/2023 19:08

I second Ilona Andrews

Anotherer in a similar vein is the Mercy Thompson series

Naomi Novik's series about the Scholomance is good too

FlemishHorse · 04/04/2023 19:03

Jonathan Stroud, the Bartimaeus series - it starts with The Amulet of Samarkand.

deeplybaffled · 30/03/2023 22:59

The Parasol Protectorate series by Gail Carriger is probably urban fantasy?

seconding, thirding or whatevering Jodi Taylor.

The Kings Watch series by Mark Hayden

Maria Grace and the Jane Austen / Dragon books

I’ve read and re read all of them too often 😂

merryhouse · 30/03/2023 22:49

Comedy: Esther Friesner - Here Be Demons and sequels; I think I also read Yesterday we saw Mermaids. She's written loads of other stuff but I haven't read that.

Urban: the Stoneheart trilogy by Charlie Fletcher is written for children but I really enjoyed it as an adult.

Three Twins at the Crater School by Chaz Brenchley isn't strictly speaking comedy. If the title speaks to you then you will appreciate it.

Artus · 30/03/2023 22:01

Miéville

Artus · 30/03/2023 22:00

Kraken China Morville?

DoverWight · 30/03/2023 21:28

Scott Lynch
The Lies of Locke Lamora, this series is great fun.

Clusterfunk · 30/03/2023 20:52

MouseTheDog · 30/03/2023 20:50

Dreseden Files Jim Butcher

Yes I second this! Love this series.

MouseTheDog · 30/03/2023 20:50

Dreseden Files Jim Butcher