Genre

Urban Fantasy Books

Urban fantasy hides the supernatural in modern cities: wizards for hire, werewolf packs in the suburbs, vampire politics after dark. It tends to be fast, first-person and plot-driven, often with a mystery or thriller spine.

If you want the romance front and centre instead, try paranormal romance.

This list collects 470 books tagged Urban Fantasy by 282 authors, published between 1980 and 2026. 3 are free to read. Books are ranked by how many readers have shelved, rated or downloaded them.

Browse by decade

2020s 1332010s 2872000s 371980s 6

Common tropes in Urban Fantasy

From Wikipedia

Urban fantasy is a subgenre of fantasy, placing supernatural elements in a contemporary urban setting. The combination provides the writer with a platform for classic fantasy tropes, quixotic plot-elements, and unusual characters without demanding the creation of an entire imaginary world.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

470 Urban Fantasy books · page 1 of 10

Top Urban Fantasy authors

Related genres

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between urban fantasy and paranormal romance?

In urban fantasy the plot (a case, a war, a threat) drives the story and romance is optional. In paranormal romance the relationship is the main plot and ends happily.

What are the most popular Urban Fantasy books?

By reader shelving on Open Library and downloads, the most popular include American Gods (2001), Storm Front (2000), House of Earth and Blood (2019), The Magicians (2009) and Fool Moon (2001).

Are there free Urban Fantasy books?

Yes — 3 urban fantasy titles are in the public domain and free to read, including Polite People of Pudibundia (2020), Forsyte's Retreat (2020) and Star Performer (2020).