These themes typically involve supernatural creatures such as vampires, werewolves, witches, or fae, who coexist with or hide from ordinary humans. However, the urban environment is not just a backdrop but an integral part of the narrative. There is a seamless integration of fantastical elements into the real world. Blending fae mythology with urban settings you can read plots of enchanted or magical forests and urban settings intertwined with faery elements. Check out The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black or The Wood Queen by Karen Mahoney (The Iron Witch series). And a few newer novels you might check out would be The City We Became by N.K. Jemisin or The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab 🡸is such a great read.

Urban Fantasy often incorporates elements from other genres such as mystery, thriller, romance, and sometimes even horror. This blending of genres allows for a diverse range of storytelling possibilities. Examples include The Devil You Know by Mike Carey which blends Urban Fantasy with Crime Noir.  Middlegame by Seanan McGuire blends Urban Fantasy and Science Fiction. My favorite mixology is those that blend Urban Fantasy and Post Apocalyptic Fiction, such as Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse.  Many more blending of post-apocalyptic would be books such as The Girl With All the Gifts by M.R. Carey or you could watch Resident Evil series or The Maze Runner series. Woah, so good.

This difficult technique of Urban Fantasy uses vivid world-building, relatable characters, and a seamless blend of the fantastical with the mundane. They create settings of cityscapes, landmarks, and hidden magical places with vivid details. They develop unique and consistent magic systems to help readers understand how the fantastic elements function within the urban environment. The backstory or history of the magical world and its integration with the urban setting adds depth and realism. Moon Called by Patricia Briggs is the first book in the Mercy Thompson series, following Mercedes “Mercy” Thompson, a mechanic and shapeshifter, as she navigates a world where werewolves, vampires, and other supernatural beings coexist with humans. Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo follows the character Alex Stern, a young woman with a troubled past, who is given a second chance to attend Yale University on the condition that she monitors the university’s secret societies, which practice dark magic.