Urban Fantasy discussion

I'm looking for books that are action packed from beginning to end. Lately the books with blurbs that claim to be "fast paced! action packed! etc" have been really meh, and the action scenes are few and far between.

I know a lot of people liked Fated, Generation V and Nyx Fortuna, but I felt like the main characters were complete pushovers and I didn't enjoy their stories (although I enjoyed Fated much more than the other two, it wasn't a bad book... just not what I wanted to read).

I also didn't enjoy the Hollows that much. Basically, I want books where the main characters are good fighters (really important!) and clash with baddies often. I get fed up with clumsy or TSTL characters who can't look after themselves or let themselves get repeatedly captured or kicked around (like Kit from the Colbana Files). I don't like "weak" characters either. Basically, anyone who can't be considered a fighter is out.

My favourite series atm are the Dresden Files, the Iron Druid Chronicles, Jessie Shimmer and Kate Daniels. Likeable people who aren't stupid and always, always have lots of juicy fights (okay, Kate Daniels isn't that likeable but she makes up for it by actually knowing how to kill things with her magic sword).

Sorry if this is a really specific request! I'm just getting fed up of slow books and books with pushover main characters. I can't stand them.

I find that Karen Chance's book are really fast-paced. In terms of characters, Dorina Basarab is a lot tougher than Cassandra Palmer, but I love the action in the Cassandra Palmer books, especially the latter half of the series.

I forgot about Dorina Basarab! I've got Death's Mistress downstairs... I actually quit reading it because I realized it was the second book in the series. I'll get the first, and I'll also get the Cassandra Palmer series (I read the opening on Amazon but she didn't seem like someone who'd get into a lot of trouble, but now that I think about it she probably will since it's the same author) xD

Thanks Tracy!

Off the top of my head:
The Better Part of Darkness by Kelly Gay
Already Dead by Charlie Huston
The Ten Thousand by Paul Kearney (more on the fantasy end though)
Skinwalker by Faith Hunter

I am not familiar with UF and so I joined to find out more. I have no idea whether Cassandra Palmer series means Cassandra the author or Cassandra the name of the series.
You need not specify.
I just look for links and images to help me and bypass those that are unclear to me and it would take some time to hunt and peck around Goodreads. Just wondering is all...

MadameZelda wrote: "I am not familiar with UF and so I joined to find out more. I have no idea whether Cassandra Palmer series means Cassandra the author or Cassandra the name of the series.
You need not specify. ..."

I can help you a bit Cassandra Palmer is a series written by Karen Chance. The first book of the series is called Touch the Dark The series also has a spin off series called Dorina Basarab and the first book in that series is Midnight's Daughter

I'm down with Harry and Atticus, so I'll recommend my other favorite series that's on par with these two that you said you liked...

by Larry Correia

It starts off with..

"I got to live the American dream the other day... I threw my boss out the window of a 14th floor office building."

I know I quoted it, but that is a rough paraphrase. Lots of action and butt kicking all the way around. And the hero not only kicks butt, but also gets his butt kicked too, but not because he doesn't try. I don't want to give anything away...

The guys in all three below are definite hard-asses and they all kill lots and lots of things.

Blood and Bullets by James R. Tuck.

Dead Things by Stephen Blackmoore.

Sandman Slim by Richard Kadrey.

The Cal Leandros series by Rob Thurman is pretty action-packed at times, but leavened with humor. It starts with Nightlife.

And I have to say that I tried Touch the Dark and while it starts with an action scene, it seemed to me to be mostly about sex.

You might like The Man With the Golden Torc, sort of like a supernatural spy book with some good action.

Dawn wrote: "MadameZelda wrote: "I am not familiar with UF and so I joined to find out more. I have no idea whether Cassandra Palmer series means Cassandra the author or Cassandra the name of the series.
You..."

Thanks a lot, Dawn! I do like female lead characters.

Thanks for these, guys! I just finished Dead Things, which was fairly interesting. I'd put it at somewhere between good and decent, though close to good... I liked the opening but the momentum kind of petered out a bit -- the ending didn't get as exciting as most climaxes, but fortunately it never got boring :)

I like the cover of Blood and Bullets (crappy reason, I know xD) so I'll get that next :D

I second the nomination of Richard Kadrey's SANDMAN SLIM -- in fact the entire series (five books so far, I think) is action packed. Among female protagonists, one of the most seriously bad-assed was Jill Kismet, in a series of novels by Lilith Saintcrow (now lamentably discontinued).

Kim Harrison's Dead Witch Walking series is one huge event after another - a little exhausting really.

I second the suggestions for Kadrey , Correia and Huston. You might also check out
Child of Fire
The Nymphos of Rocky Flats
The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove

and if you want to go a bit outside UF, try
Go-Go Girls of the Apocalypse

The Dresden Files. It's written with a mystery thriller-meets-fantasy kitchen sink style. Fast pace, lots of battle scenes.

Tracy wrote: "I find that Karen Chance's book are really fast-paced. In terms of characters, Dorina Basarab is a lot tougher than Cassandra Palmer, but I love the action in the Cassandra Palmer books, especially..."

I agree with you -there's always tons of stuff going on in those books. Actually a little too much action for me honestly, although I really like the Cassandra Palmer series.

Other action packed UF:

The Nathaniel Hawthorne series is pretty action packed. Think "24" if Jack Bauer were a vampire.

, , .

Lilith Saintcrow's Jill Kismet books are definitely great choices, and Dead Things was really action-packed as well. I love action-y books, so this thread is exciting.

I've got to look into Jim Butcher. Thanks.

I've found a number of terrific series since finding UF. Among my favorites:
Ilona Andrews - Kate Daniels series
Nalini Singh - Guild Hunter series
Patricia Briggs - Mercy Thompson and Alpha & Omega series' (series' run concurrently and share characters b/w different leads)
Shannon Mayer - Rylee Adamson series
Jeaniene Frost - Night Huntress series

All are different from each other, different worlds, different supernaturals - all great reads.

MadameZelda wrote: "Dawn wrote: "MadameZelda wrote: "I am not familiar with UF and so I joined to find out more. I have no idea whether Cassandra Palmer series means Cassandra the author or Cassandra the name of the ..."

MadameZelda - Check out my post from a couple of minutes ago. All feature axx-kicking female leads along with some tough males too.

Courtney wrote: "MadameZelda wrote: "Dawn wrote: "MadameZelda wrote: "I am not familiar with UF and so I joined to find out more. I have no idea whether Cassandra Palmer series means Cassandra the author or Cassan..."

@Courtney. Thank you. I am late getting started. I love strong female characters and in the middle of some of those series you have mentioned or plan to start on those.

I am currently reading by Chloe Neill.

You say the *most* action packed series, I have seen none more endless-action-sequence than The Descent series; though the protagonist based on all the fights is clearly tough as nails, the one thing that grated on me after reading I think 4 in the series is suspending belief became difficult with *that damn much fighting*.

Super creative not well known at all but very fun series worth trying if you like action-packed:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

She's not *weak*, but she's not supremely much more than human, which made it difficult to tolerate. Otherwise look at my book list - I'm with you on hating weak protagonists so that's unlikely something you'll find if I rated it well. Not everything I read is absolutely action packed though.

I can also strongly suggest the Kitsune Series and Demon Lord series by Morgan Blayde - very few readers of his books it seems but extremely fun action packed - a perfect book that's a solo to read that's full of action from him would be: Osiris Rising
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

And the Hidden series has a solid 4+ action scenes per book and is very fun and not well read: https://www.goodreads.com/series/1224...

The Divine series is another not well known but pretty action packed series (the action scenes get a little ridiculous sometimes I found, like anime-crazy, but still very worth the read).

https://www.goodreads.com/series/1102...

I would suggest the hunter kiss series but frankly I didn't enjoy it much, very action packed though...

Sarah A. Hoyt's Shifters: Draw One in the Dark, Gentleman Takes a Chance, Noah's Boy

I can also second Monster Hunter and Dresden Files.