dalnewt wrote:
Deadtown by Nancy Holzner came out last December featuring Victory Vaughn, a shapeshifting demon slayer, who lives with zombies, vamps and werewolves in a cordonned off area of Boston. It's really has a unique take on zombies and the particular properties of Victory's shapeshifting. Here's my reader review of the book:
This debut fantasy entertains with a combination of vivid characters, witty dialogue, amusing situations, a realistic paranormal world and lots of supernatural action. The narrative is told in the first-person perspective of a feisty, magic-wielding shapeshifter named Victory Vaughn. Vicky makes a living exterminating demons, (primarily with guns and sanctified blades), which range from pesky dream torturing 'drudes' to deadly 'hellions'. The supporting characters include a sorta-boyfriend werewolf attorney who's dedicated to securing full legal rights for all paranormals; a centuries-old vampiric roommate, (named Juliet), who loves to discuss the real story behind 'Romeo and Juliet' and lives to look good while securing nightly 'blood-bag' dates; a 'norm' police detective who loves to flirt; a surly, gangster-talking client who's constantly trying to fire Victory; a sister who wants to erase her shapeshifting heritage while embracing her stay-at-home motherhood; and, an amusing, tag-along teenage zombie who mucks-up just about everything she touches. Most of the action occurs in a present-day, alternative Boston which experienced a downtown plague resulting in thousands of zombified Bostonians, The zombies are both humanized and humorous as they try to lead ordinary lives despite board-like stiffness, superhuman strength, deteriorating flesh, red eyes, voracious appetites and occasional blood lust. The zombies, along with the other parnormals, (e.g., werewolves, vamps and Victory, as Boston's sole 'active' shapeshifter), are required to reside within that plague touched downtown area, which has been cordoned off and become known as "Deadtown." PAs must have a permit to leave Deadtown and some (especially the vamps) regularly visit the 'Combat Zone,' a sleazy, rundown border area where the 'norms' mingle with the monsters. The story-line involves Victory's efforts to confront and kill the 'hellion' demon (called the Destroyer) who murdered her father and threatens to destroy Boston. (The hellion appears to be have been conjured by a sorcerer who breached the witch charmed shield protecting the city.) The plot is fast-paced, twisting, and fun. The only conceivable flaws are the predictability of the sorcerer's identity and the lack of a 'shot-em-up' showdown between Victory and the Destroyer. Nonetheless, the climax is inventive, supernatural and surprising. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a humorous, fun-filled supernatural fantasy.
Hellforged, the second book in the series, will be released December 29.
Hmm I'll check that out, thanks.
OMG, I forgot to mention Jaye Wells' Sabina Kane (vampire) series as follows:
The Mage in Black (Sabina Kane Series #2)
Red-Headed Stepchild (Sabina Kane Series #1). I love it. There's plenty of action, riveting plots which intertwine a tale personal growth with a story of filial/political conflict, a really dynamic (kick a$$) heroine, memorable supporting characters (particularly the demon), good world building and really unique mythology.
Update
Vampire Series you have to read!
Anne Rice - Vampire Chronicles
Laurel K. Hamilton - Anita Blake
P.N. Elrod - Vampire Files
Jennifer Arimintrout - Blood Ties
Tanya Huff - Blood books
Charlane Harris - Sookie Stackhouse
Elanie Bergstrom
Susan Sizemore - Laws of the BloodChelea Quinn Yarbo - St. Germain
Mario Acevedo - Felix Gomez
Karen Chance - Midnight's Daughter
Barb & J. C. Hendee - Noble Dead
Vampire Romance series you have to read!
Jeaniene Frost - Night Huntress
and the spin off series
Lynsay Sands - Argeneau
J.R. Ward - Black Dagger Brotherhood
Marta Acosta - Casa Dracula
Ghost Series you have to read!
Karen Chance - Cassie Palmer
Laura Anne Gilman - RetrieversTamara Siler Jones
Carole Nelson Douglas - Delilah Street
Kat Richardson - Grey Walker
Fae Series you have to read!
Laurel K Hamilton - Merry Gentry
Charles De Lint
Melissa MarrJennifer Arimintrout - Lightworld/Darkworld
Seanan McGuire - October Daye
Weres and Shifter Series you have to read!
Patrica Briggs - Mercy Thompson
Rachel Vincent
Carrie VaughnCaitlin Kittredge - Nocturne City
Something Witchy this way this way comes Series you have to read!
Jim Butcher - Dresden Files
Simon R Green - NightsideDrood Family
Anne Rice - Mafair Witches
Kim Harrison - Hollows
Yasmine GalenornRachel Caine - Weather Warden
Lilith Saintcrow - Watchers
Dante Valentine
Jill Kismet
Caitlin Kittredge - Black London
A bit of Brimstone series you have to read!
Majorie M. Liu - Maxine Kiss
Zombies and the reanimated Dead series you have to read!
Kelly Meding - Evy Stone
Keep it comming!
TiggerBear wrote:
Update
Vampire Series you have to read!
Anne Rice - Vampire Chronicles
Laurel K. Hamilton - Anita Blake
P.N. Elrod - Vampire Files
Jennifer Arimintrout - Blood Ties
Tanya Huff - Blood books
Charlane Harris - Sookie Stackhouse
Elanie Bergstrom
Susan Sizemore - Laws of the BloodChelea Quinn Yarbo - St. Germain
Mario Acevedo - Felix Gomez
Karen Chance - Midnight's Daughter
Barb & J. C. Hendee - Noble Dead
Vampire Romance series you have to read!
Jeaniene Frost - Night Huntress
and the spin off series
Lynsay Sands - Argeneau
J.R. Ward - Black Dagger Brotherhood
Marta Acosta - Casa Dracula
Ghost Series you have to read!
Karen Chance - Cassie Palmer
Laura Anne Gilman - RetrieversTamara Siler Jones
Carole Nelson Douglas - Delilah Street
Kat Richardson - Grey Walker
Fae Series you have to read!
Laurel K Hamilton - Merry Gentry
Charles De Lint
Melissa MarrJennifer Arimintrout - Lightworld/Darkworld
Seanan McGuire - October Daye
Weres and Shifter Series you have to read!
Patrica Briggs - Mercy Thompson
Rachel Vincent
Carrie VaughnCaitlin Kittredge - Nocturne City
Something Witchy this way this way comes Series you have to read!
Jim Butcher - Dresden Files
Simon R Green - NightsideDrood Family
Anne Rice - Mafair Witches
Kim Harrison - Hollows
Yasmine GalenornRachel Caine - Weather Warden
Lilith Saintcrow - Watchers
Dante Valentine
Jill Kismet
Caitlin Kittredge - Black London
A bit of Brimstone series you have to read!
Majorie M. Liu - Maxine Kiss
Zombies and the reanimated Dead series you have to read!
Kelly Meding - Evy Stone
Keep it comming!
You must have really liked the fae mystery Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire.
Have you read A Local Habitation yet? I enjoyed it. Not quite as much as the first book, but it was good. I'm really looking forward to the third book "An Artificial Light" which is supposedly scheduled for February 2011.
dalnewt wrote:
TiggerBear wrote:
Update
Vampire Series you have to read!
Anne Rice - Vampire Chronicles
Laurel K. Hamilton - Anita Blake
P.N. Elrod - Vampire Files
Jennifer Arimintrout - Blood Ties
Tanya Huff - Blood books
Charlane Harris - Sookie Stackhouse
Elanie Bergstrom
Susan Sizemore - Laws of the BloodChelea Quinn Yarbo - St. Germain
Mario Acevedo - Felix Gomez
Karen Chance - Midnight's Daughter
Barb & J. C. Hendee - Noble Dead
Vampire Romance series you have to read!
Jeaniene Frost - Night Huntress
and the spin off series
Lynsay Sands - Argeneau
J.R. Ward - Black Dagger Brotherhood
Marta Acosta - Casa Dracula
Ghost Series you have to read!
Karen Chance - Cassie Palmer
Laura Anne Gilman - RetrieversTamara Siler Jones
Carole Nelson Douglas - Delilah Street
Kat Richardson - Grey Walker
Fae Series you have to read!
Laurel K Hamilton - Merry Gentry
Charles De Lint
Melissa MarrJennifer Arimintrout - Lightworld/Darkworld
Seanan McGuire - October Daye
Weres and Shifter Series you have to read!
Patrica Briggs - Mercy Thompson
Rachel Vincent
Carrie VaughnCaitlin Kittredge - Nocturne City
Something Witchy this way this way comes Series you have to read!
Jim Butcher - Dresden Files
Simon R Green - NightsideDrood Family
Anne Rice - Mafair Witches
Kim Harrison - Hollows
Yasmine GalenornRachel Caine - Weather Warden
Lilith Saintcrow - Watchers
Dante Valentine
Jill Kismet
Caitlin Kittredge - Black London
A bit of Brimstone series you have to read!
Majorie M. Liu - Maxine Kiss
Zombies and the reanimated Dead series you have to read!
Kelly Meding - Evy Stone
Keep it comming!
You must have really liked the fae mystery Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire.
Indeed both were good. Nice to see a great use Welsh celtic myths, done very well. I'm looking forward to 3 too.
dalnewt wrote:OMG, I forgot to mention Jaye Wells' Sabina Kane (vampire) series as follows:
The Mage in Black (Sabina Kane Series #2)
Red-Headed Stepchild (Sabina Kane Series #1). I love it. There's plenty of action, riveting plots which intertwine a tale personal growth with a story of filial/political conflict, a really dynamic (kick a$$) heroine, memorable supporting characters (particularly the demon), good world building and really unique mythology.
TiggerBear wrote:
dalnewt wrote:
TiggerBear wrote:
Update
Vampire Series you have to read!
Anne Rice - Vampire Chronicles
Laurel K. Hamilton - Anita Blake
P.N. Elrod - Vampire Files
Jennifer Arimintrout - Blood Ties
Tanya Huff - Blood books
Charlane Harris - Sookie Stackhouse
Elanie Bergstrom
Susan Sizemore - Laws of the BloodChelea Quinn Yarbo - St. Germain
Mario Acevedo - Felix Gomez
Karen Chance - Midnight's Daughter
Barb & J. C. Hendee - Noble Dead
Vampire Romance series you have to read!
Jeaniene Frost - Night Huntress
and the spin off series
Lynsay Sands - Argeneau
J.R. Ward - Black Dagger Brotherhood
Marta Acosta - Casa Dracula
Ghost Series you have to read!
Karen Chance - Cassie Palmer
Laura Anne Gilman - RetrieversTamara Siler Jones
Carole Nelson Douglas - Delilah Street
Kat Richardson - Grey Walker
Fae Series you have to read!
Laurel K Hamilton - Merry Gentry
Charles De Lint
Melissa MarrJennifer Arimintrout - Lightworld/Darkworld
Seanan McGuire - October Daye
Weres and Shifter Series you have to read!
Patrica Briggs - Mercy Thompson
Rachel Vincent
Carrie VaughnCaitlin Kittredge - Nocturne City
Something Witchy this way this way comes Series you have to read!
Jim Butcher - Dresden Files
Simon R Green - NightsideDrood Family
Anne Rice - Mafair Witches
Kim Harrison - Hollows
Yasmine GalenornRachel Caine - Weather Warden
Lilith Saintcrow - Watchers
Dante Valentine
Jill Kismet
Caitlin Kittredge - Black London
A bit of Brimstone series you have to read!
Majorie M. Liu - Maxine Kiss
Zombies and the reanimated Dead series you have to read!
Kelly Meding - Evy Stone
Keep it comming!
You must have really liked the fae mystery Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire.
Indeed both were good. Nice to see a great use Welsh celtic myths, done very well. I'm looking forward to 3 too.
Since you like her use of Celtic myth, you might also like her Newsflesh trilogy beginning with
Feed. Writing under the pseudonym Mira Grant, McGuire creates a completely plausible future world infected with a zombie virus and beset by spontaneous zombie outbreaks. I think you'd really enjoy the technical internet/computer elements of the blogging protagonists and appreciate the realistic epidemiological aspects, main characters and suspenseful 'conspiracy' narrative.
dalnewt wrote:
TiggerBear wrote:
dalnewt wrote:
TiggerBear wrote:
Update
Vampire Series you have to read!
Anne Rice - Vampire Chronicles
Laurel K. Hamilton - Anita Blake
P.N. Elrod - Vampire Files
Jennifer Arimintrout - Blood Ties
Tanya Huff - Blood books
Charlane Harris - Sookie Stackhouse
Elanie Bergstrom
Susan Sizemore - Laws of the BloodChelea Quinn Yarbo - St. Germain
Mario Acevedo - Felix Gomez
Karen Chance - Midnight's Daughter
Barb & J. C. Hendee - Noble Dead
Vampire Romance series you have to read!
Jeaniene Frost - Night Huntress
and the spin off series
Lynsay Sands - Argeneau
J.R. Ward - Black Dagger Brotherhood
Marta Acosta - Casa Dracula
Ghost Series you have to read!
Karen Chance - Cassie Palmer
Laura Anne Gilman - RetrieversTamara Siler Jones
Carole Nelson Douglas - Delilah Street
Kat Richardson - Grey Walker
Fae Series you have to read!
Laurel K Hamilton - Merry Gentry
Charles De Lint
Melissa MarrJennifer Arimintrout - Lightworld/Darkworld
Seanan McGuire - October Daye
Weres and Shifter Series you have to read!
Patrica Briggs - Mercy Thompson
Rachel Vincent
Carrie VaughnCaitlin Kittredge - Nocturne City
Something Witchy this way this way comes Series you have to read!
Jim Butcher - Dresden Files
Simon R Green - NightsideDrood Family
Anne Rice - Mafair Witches
Kim Harrison - Hollows
Yasmine GalenornRachel Caine - Weather Warden
Lilith Saintcrow - Watchers
Dante Valentine
Jill Kismet
Caitlin Kittredge - Black London
A bit of Brimstone series you have to read!
Majorie M. Liu - Maxine Kiss
Zombies and the reanimated Dead series you have to read!
Kelly Meding - Evy Stone
Keep it comming!
You must have really liked the fae mystery Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire.
Indeed both were good. Nice to see a great use Welsh celtic myths, done very well. I'm looking forward to 3 too.
Since you like her use of Celtic myth, you might also like her Newsflesh trilogy beginning with
Feed. Writing under the pseudonym Mira Grant, McGuire creates a completely plausible future world infected with a zombie virus and beset by spontaneous zombie outbreaks. I think you'd really enjoy the technical internet/computer elements of the blogging protagonists and appreciate the realistic epidemiological aspects, main characters and suspenseful 'conspiracy' narrative.
I am spending way too much time here,but having a good time.Kind of narrowed it down for now..Susan
Vermontcozy wrote:
dalnewt wrote:
TiggerBear wrote:
dalnewt wrote:
TiggerBear wrote:
Update
Vampire Series you have to read!
Anne Rice - Vampire Chronicles
Laurel K. Hamilton - Anita Blake
P.N. Elrod - Vampire Files
Jennifer Arimintrout - Blood Ties
Tanya Huff - Blood books
Charlane Harris - Sookie Stackhouse
Elanie Bergstrom
Susan Sizemore - Laws of the BloodChelea Quinn Yarbo - St. Germain
Mario Acevedo - Felix Gomez
Karen Chance - Midnight's Daughter
Barb & J. C. Hendee - Noble Dead
Vampire Romance series you have to read!
Jeaniene Frost - Night Huntress
and the spin off series
Lynsay Sands - Argeneau
J.R. Ward - Black Dagger Brotherhood
Marta Acosta - Casa Dracula
Ghost Series you have to read!
Karen Chance - Cassie Palmer
Laura Anne Gilman - RetrieversTamara Siler Jones
Carole Nelson Douglas - Delilah Street
Kat Richardson - Grey Walker
Fae Series you have to read!
Laurel K Hamilton - Merry Gentry
Charles De Lint
Melissa MarrJennifer Arimintrout - Lightworld/Darkworld
Seanan McGuire - October Daye
Weres and Shifter Series you have to read!
Patrica Briggs - Mercy Thompson
Rachel Vincent
Carrie VaughnCaitlin Kittredge - Nocturne City
Something Witchy this way this way comes Series you have to read!
Jim Butcher - Dresden Files
Simon R Green - NightsideDrood Family
Anne Rice - Mafair Witches
Kim Harrison - Hollows
Yasmine GalenornRachel Caine - Weather Warden
Lilith Saintcrow - Watchers
Dante Valentine
Jill Kismet
Caitlin Kittredge - Black London
A bit of Brimstone series you have to read!
Majorie M. Liu - Maxine Kiss
Zombies and the reanimated Dead series you have to read!
Kelly Meding - Evy Stone
Keep it comming!
You must have really liked the fae mystery Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire.
Indeed both were good. Nice to see a great use Welsh celtic myths, done very well. I'm looking forward to 3 too.
Since you like her use of Celtic myth, you might also like her Newsflesh trilogy beginning with
Feed. Writing under the pseudonym Mira Grant, McGuire creates a completely plausible future world infected with a zombie virus and beset by spontaneous zombie outbreaks. I think you'd really enjoy the technical internet/computer elements of the blogging protagonists and appreciate the realistic epidemiological aspects, main characters and suspenseful 'conspiracy' narrative.
I am spending way too much time here,but having a good time.Kind of narrowed it down for now..Susan
I picked up a copy of Feed, it is in my pile. Not at the top, but will be reading it. Her other books looked very good, but haven't gotten to them yet.
TiggerBear and Vermontcozy
I just wanted to clarify that McGuire's third October Daye novel is currently scheduled for release Sept. 7. I remember reading the sneak peak at the end of A Local Habitation and reading something about a release in 2011. My memory of the title was also flawed. Here's that third book:
TiggerBear wrote:
Vermontcozy wrote:I am spending way too much time here,but having a good time.Kind of narrowed it down for now..Susan
Can I say I am not a bit sorry for leading you down this garden path.
Very Good Company in The Garden,the statues keep changing,it it me or does someone move them every few days .I have decided on "A Local Habitation."Seanan McGuire.I like the Welsh Celtic Myths,it should be a good fit.." Rosemary and Rue"allthinsurbanfantasy@gmail.com it was featured yesterday;;Artificial Light in Sept..That should keep me busy...and it all Started with The Tempest Series(,pen )and all your help TBear,dainewt...I just needed that nudge..Susan
dalnewt wrote:TiggerBear and Vermontcozy
I just wanted to clarify that McGuire's third October Daye novel is currently scheduled for release Sept. 7. I remember reading the sneak peak at the end of A Local Habitation and reading something about a release in 2011. My memory of the title was also flawed. Here's that third book:
Thanks dainewt.I put the others in my cart....The Garden is Filling up Susan.
pen21 wrote:
Vermontcozy wrote:
dalnewt wrote:
TiggerBear wrote:
dalnewt wrote:
TiggerBear wrote:
Update
Vampire Series you have to read!
Anne Rice - Vampire Chronicles
Laurel K. Hamilton - Anita Blake
P.N. Elrod - Vampire Files
Jennifer Arimintrout - Blood Ties
Tanya Huff - Blood books
Charlane Harris - Sookie Stackhouse
Elanie Bergstrom
Susan Sizemore - Laws of the BloodChelea Quinn Yarbo - St. Germain
Mario Acevedo - Felix Gomez
Karen Chance - Midnight's Daughter
Barb & J. C. Hendee - Noble Dead
Vampire Romance series you have to read!
Jeaniene Frost - Night Huntress
and the spin off series
Lynsay Sands - Argeneau
J.R. Ward - Black Dagger Brotherhood
Marta Acosta - Casa Dracula
Ghost Series you have to read!
Karen Chance - Cassie Palmer
Laura Anne Gilman - RetrieversTamara Siler Jones
Carole Nelson Douglas - Delilah Street
Kat Richardson - Grey Walker
Fae Series you have to read!
Laurel K Hamilton - Merry Gentry
Charles De Lint
Melissa MarrJennifer Arimintrout - Lightworld/Darkworld
Seanan McGuire - October Daye
Weres and Shifter Series you have to read!
Patrica Briggs - Mercy Thompson
Rachel Vincent
Carrie VaughnCaitlin Kittredge - Nocturne City
Something Witchy this way this way comes Series you have to read!
Jim Butcher - Dresden Files
Simon R Green - NightsideDrood Family
Anne Rice - Mafair Witches
Kim Harrison - Hollows
Yasmine GalenornRachel Caine - Weather Warden
Lilith Saintcrow - Watchers
Dante Valentine
Jill Kismet
Caitlin Kittredge - Black London
A bit of Brimstone series you have to read!
Majorie M. Liu - Maxine Kiss
Zombies and the reanimated Dead series you have to read!
Kelly Meding - Evy Stone
Keep it comming!
You must have really liked the fae mystery Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire.
Indeed both were good. Nice to see a great use Welsh celtic myths, done very well. I'm looking forward to 3 too.
Since you like her use of Celtic myth, you might also like her Newsflesh trilogy beginning with
Feed. Writing under the pseudonym Mira Grant, McGuire creates a completely plausible future world infected with a zombie virus and beset by spontaneous zombie outbreaks. I think you'd really enjoy the technical internet/computer elements of the blogging protagonists and appreciate the realistic epidemiological aspects, main characters and suspenseful 'conspiracy' narrative.
I am spending way too much time here,but having a good time.Kind of narrowed it down for now..Susan
I picked up a copy of Feed, it is in my pile. Not at the top, but will be reading it. Her other books looked very good, but haven't gotten to them yet.
pen ,I put "Feed" on my TBR By the time I finish The October Daye series" I should be ready
Under the Fae Series you should read, I would recommend Richelle Meads Dark Swan Series. Great series and I believe book 3, Iron Crowned, is scheduled to come out some time in early 2011.
Storm Born (Dark Swan Series #1)
This is such a great thread! 
The only problem is that now I am completely overwhelmed and want to go spend thousands to buy all of these books! I loved Anne Rice's Vampire books, especially The Vampire Lestat and am a big fan of Sookie (my fave is Dead to the World). The Twilight Series...ehh, I can take it or leave it. I'd really like to find another fun, fast moving series but have no idea where to start! I don't want Harlequin style soft core porn (i.e.. "her quivering breast heaved as he lowered himself to her, his manly staff erect with love for her" you know what I mean), but I'm not going to turn my nose up at some good old fashioned sex (obviously) and I don't like it when the authors take themselves too seriously..If that makes sense. Can someone point me in the right direction. I love this genre, but I like my paranormal fast moving and fun (Sookie) or lovely, well-written page-turners(Anne Rice).
Thanks!
Sarah3973 wrote:This is such a great thread!
Thanks!
A few cherry picks then...
Vampire Series you have to read!
Mario Acevedo - Felix Gomez
Karen Chance - Midnight's Daughter
Vampire Romance series you have to read!
Jeaniene Frost - Night Huntress
and the spin off series
Lynsay Sands - Argeneau
Marta Acosta - Casa Dracula
Ghost Series you have to read!
Karen Chance - Cassie Palmer
Laura Anne Gilman - Retrievers
Tamara Siler Jones
Carole Nelson Douglas - Delilah Street
Kat Richardson - Grey Walker
Fae Series you have to read!
Charles De Lint
Seanan McGuire - October Daye
Weres and Shifter Series you have to read!
Patrica Briggs - Mercy Thompson
Caitlin Kittredge - Nocturne City
Something Witchy this way this way comes Series you have to read!
Jim Butcher - Dresden Files
Simon R Green - Nightside
Drood Family
Anne Rice - Mafair Witches
Lilith Saintcrow -
Dante Valentine
Jill Kismet
Caitlin Kittredge - Black London
A bit of Brimstone series you have to read!
Majorie M. Liu - Maxine Kiss
Ok I know it seams like most of the list but they really do all fit your parameters.
Sarah3973 wrote:This is such a great thread!
Thanks!
"her quivering breast heaved as he lowered himself to her, his manly staff erect with love for her"
LMAO!! Aren't those Harlequin books ridiculous? You read one, you read them all IMO. :-)
Sarah3973 wrote:This is such a great thread!
Thanks!
Under the fast moving and fun category, I suggest the irresistibly funny and relatively new Jane True series which starts with Tempest Rising (Jane True Series #1).
Also, you can't beat the Rachel Morgan series. It does have intense moments, but its all leavened by really engaging, often humorous characters, action and non-stop plots. The first book in the series is Dead Witch Walking (Rachel Morgan Series #1).
Also, the Patricia Brigg's Mercy Thompson series is excellent in terms of humor, action and mystery. It features a coyote shifter protagonist, werwolves, fae creatures and errant ghosts. The first book is Moon Called (Mercy Thompson Series #1).
A fun book set in the roaring 20s that features a crusading young woman who wants to improve the plight of vampires but actually comes from a vampire hunter family starts with Moonshine. There's action, romance with an irresistible djinn and lots of laughs.
Another new urban fantasy book that provides laughs, engaging characters and a good action/mystery plot begins with Adrian Phoenix's Black Dust Mambo.
And, there's always the Cassandra Palmer series featuring a humorous, time-traveling sybil, magic, war mages and vampires. The series begins with Touch the Dark (Cassandra Palmer Series #1).
Then, there's the funny and furious demon hunting series which features a shape-shifting female protagonist who hunts demons for a living, a sometimes boyfriend werewolf lawyer, a flirtatious police detective, a teenage zombie sidekick who can't do anything right and other extremely humorous characters. The series is set in Boston and starts with Deadtown.
Another extremely funny and pulpy book with lots of action is
Sandman Slim. The humor is really witty, and the plot was non-stop.
Further, there's
Master of None featuring a luckless but talented thief, his personal/very grumpy djinn, his x-girlfriend who wants to strangle him and a crime lord with unlimited magical and mundane resources who wants to torture then kill him. This book is good stuff.
I'm sure there's other books which fit the 'funny and fast' category, but the above come to mind immediately.
As far the 'beautifully written' category goes, that's a harder nut to crack in the Urban Fantasy genre.
I really loved
Rosemary and Rue (October Daye Series #1). It has beautiful descriptions of magic and fae courts and creatures. Plus, it features a sympathetic half-fae protagonist and a really intriguing mystery plot.
I also love the 'Greywalker' mystery series written by Kat Richardson. It's more hard-core noir mystery, but the descriptions, writing and plots are excellent. The series starts with
Greywalker (Greywalker Series #1). Also, I love the writing in the demon hunter series by Marjorie M. Liu that starts with
The Iron Hunt (Hunter Kiss Series #1). If you love screen-worthy dialogue, vivid descriptions, intriguing conflicts and masterful writing, then read this series.
Although it's not an urban fantasy, if you love beautiful writing and magic then read
The Name of the Wind (Kingkiller Chronicles Series #1).
I also really enjoyed the writing in
Angelology. Note, the book is divided into three distinct parts and concerns angel/human hybrids, a sheltered young woman who's become a nun and a generational mystery which traces back to pre-WWII Paris.
I also really enjoyed the writing in the first Urban Fantasy written entitled
War for the Oaks . It's a bit dated in terms of references, but really well written.
There's also the unique horror/fantasy writing displayed by John Meaney in
Bone Song and
Black Blood. His description and world-building are simply unbelievable. Note, it is dark, but it's beautifully dark.
Like I said this 'beautifully written' category, (with Anne Rice as an example), isn't exactly an easy slot to fill. I'll think on it awhile.
P.S. I just thought of the phenomenal book entitled
The Passage. The writing and story is excellent. If you like 'vampire apocalypse' type fantasy and a wonderfully written story, then read this book.
