This is a list for the urban fantasy fan who likes to read books where the lead character is a male.
**Do not add books that are not urban fantasy and do not have a male lead please! Co-lead books don't count.
**Do not add books that are not urban fantasy and do not have a male lead please! Co-lead books don't count.
1,023 books ·
1,414 voters ·
list created April 30th, 2010
by Danielle The Book Huntress (votes) .
Danielle The Book Huntress
21668 books
4977 friends
4977 friends
Christy
7507 books
2608 friends
2608 friends
Brian
703 books
31 friends
31 friends
Mike (the Paladin)
4304 books
1636 friends
1636 friends
Bryan457
3860 books
27 friends
27 friends
Jess
111 books
289 friends
289 friends
vicki_girl
4882 books
19 friends
19 friends
Mick
1016 books
19 friends
19 friends
More voters…
Comments Showing 1-50 of 54 (54 new)
Yep, no problem. I'm always looking for an urban fantasy with a male lead so this list is awesome. If I can help other people with the same thing by adding titles, I'll gladly do so.
Great list! I added Mick Farren, Naomi Novik, Christopher Moore, George R R Martin, Wm Mark Simmons, Jaida Jones, Mario Acevedo, Kim Newman
The Jhereg / Vlad Taltos novels by Steven Brust are fantasy in an urban setting, but that setting is on an imaginary world. Whether you consider them "urban fantasy" or not is a judgment/semantic call. The same can be said for the Garrett books by Glen Cook. I'm going to add them, but if anyone objects, let's open it up to discussion to nail down what people mean.Edit: or what about the Alchemist trilogy by Dave Duncan? The setting is sixteenth-century (?) Venice.
In other words, what is most important: that it be fantasy in an urban setting or fantasy in a modern American setting?
Xenophon wrote: "The Jhereg / Vlad Taltos novels by Steven Brust are fantasy in an urban setting, but that setting is on an imaginary world. Whether you consider them "urban fantasy" or not is a judgment/semantic ..."Doesn't have to american, does have to be this world, even if it is an alternate history version.
Added "The Marked Son" by Shea Berkley and Hard Spell (Occult Crimes Unit Investigation #1) by Justin Gustainis
Mick wrote: "There's got to be more than this! I am desperate for some Urban Fantasy that's not mired in romance. (I'm not downing PNR, but lately it's getting pretty hard to find anything without the R!) I..."
Try the Matthew Swift series by Kate Griffin. One of the reasons I like it is because it's not based on romance.
Sorry, but what on earth does "Snowcrash" do there? It's cyberpunk, a kind of SF, not UF :-sGood book, but still...
P.S. Added Lukyanenko's "Night Watch" books.
Mick wrote: "There's got to be more than this! I am desperate for some Urban Fantasy that's not mired in romance. (I'm not downing PNR, but lately it's getting pretty hard to find anything without the R!) Totally agreed! I found some more interesting stuff on this list, hopefully the list will continue to grow.
Mick wrote: "There's got to be more than this! I am desperate for some Urban Fantasy that's not mired in romance.I am working on a book now in this genre--Urban fantasy with a male protagonist.
http://jabrambarneck.com/writing/trin...
I spoke with B. Justin Shier (author of Zero Sight) and got his opinion on self publishing and unless a major publisher comes knocking, I'm likely self publishing through Amazon.
Hopefully you'll see it before Christmas, if not, a month or two later.
The number of books with female leads on this list is kind of sad. I thought this site was for people who can read?
JK wrote: "The number of books with female leads on this list is kind of sad. I thought this site was for people who can read?"Goodreads librarians can delete any books that don't fit the criteria of the list.
If you folks want a librarian to edit the list, it helps a lot if you name titles. List numbers help, too.
I'm not sure how much the "male" part matters here, so I shan't add these books, but Seanan Mcguire's October Daye series is great,too. Any romance is extremely slow-moving, and doesn't play much of a role at all until the sixth book. The protagonist is female, but I read these just after Tom Clancy and Larry Bond, and didn't feel the least bit emasculated.
I'm looking for some good urban fantasy too..It seems t be harder and harder to find these days, especially with male leads that don't ave some kind of minor ability. I mean i like a good story, but i also like a capable and strong magic user, Like Dresden,Jake Sullivan,the Iron Druid..etc.
I feel the same way. I really dig good urban fantasy i.e. Jim Butcher's "Dresden Files" series, Larry Correia's "Hard Magic", "Spellbound" and the M.H.I's series, or Richard Kadrey's "Sand Man Slim" books.I really, really got into Laurell K. Hamilton's "Anita Blake Vampire Hunter" books until after book #9, then it was all "chick Flick/porn/soap opera/crap"!!
Having some sexual tension/attraction and even the occasional sex scene is fine, but I really wish the Fantasy/Sci-Fi/Thriller authors would take a hint from the above listed authors.
If there are any other authors turning out good books or series of good books like the authors I've listed here, PLEASE LET ME KNOW! Give me some names of books and authors, please! I'll return the favor if you have not been turned on to some other great books and writers I've gotten into.
Fair trade,right?
Thanks,
Diego
roughcreator@aol.com
W. wrote: "I feel the same way. I really dig good urban fantasy i.e. Jim Butcher's "Dresden Files" series, Larry Correia's "Hard Magic", "Spellbound" and the M.H.I's series, or Richard Kadrey's "Sand Man Slim..."If those are some of your favorites, as they are some of mine, check out the Iron Druid series by Kevin Hearne, the Alex Versus series by Benedict Jacka, the Connor Grey series by Mark del Franco, or the Zero Sight series by B. Justin Shier.
Hope one of those series may interest you, happy reading.
Why is Peter V. Brett on here? I'm sorry, but even though his series is awesome, it's not Urban Fantasy.
J. wrote: "Mick wrote: "There's got to be more than this! I am desperate for some Urban Fantasy that's not mired in romance.I am working on a book now in this genre--Urban fantasy with a male protagonist.
..."
Wow! I can't believe it was over a year ago that I posted this. I totally underestimated the time it would take to get my book out. My official ebook release is tomorrow, October 14th, 2013. The paperback is coming later.
Hey! Go check out Alex Hughes' Clean. Totally getting a Dresden vibe off of it, but it looks like it's getting even less recognition than Harry Connolly's Twenty Palaces. Bummer.
Amanda wrote: "Hey! Go check out Alex Hughes' Clean. Totally getting a Dresden vibe off of it, but it looks like it's getting even less recognition than Harry Connolly's Twenty Palaces. Bummer."I do like this series, but I thought it was science fiction, not urban fantasy. What makes it urban fantasy for you?
Amanda wrote: "A telepath who works with the police? It's classic urban fantasy a la detective story."OK, you're right. I guess the world just feels different to me.
Im looking for a good read thats more like jim butcher but with mind powers. Kinda like star wars but more in this galaxy, couldn't find anything that stuck out at me on this list. If you can think of exactly what I'm talking about please let me know and thanks.
Amanda wrote: "Jim Butcher with mind powers - going to reprise my suggestion of Clean by Alex Hughes. :)" @amanda while i was waiting for a reply i kind of fell in love with the sandman slim series. If Harry Dresden is the badass hero on one end of the spectrum then Sandman Slim by Richard Kadrey is the sadistic anti-hero on the other side. Give it a shot if you haven't read it already, you might fall in love after 30 pages. ;)
This is a list for urban fantasy, and I see some epic/period historical fantasy added. Please remove those if you've added them. Thanks!
Add me as a friend I have many books I have read and are waiting to read with Male lead characters. I dont think the list on this page has been updated in some time.
You don't need to be a friend of the list creator to add books. You can add books by clicking on the 'add books to list' tab at the top of the screen.
I suggest the list creator edits the description to say "with only a male lead" or something similar.You'd think people would think that already, but I see many instances where they're voting for books that have a female AND male lead, as in Paranormal romances (sigh), so can't delete them as a librarian with that wording being too vague.
I wouldn't delete a book I personally don't consider Urban fantasy, as that is an arguable classification, but it's easy to remove books that have mainly female leads - like the Tanya Huff Blood price, Jaz Park series, Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs, Tales from the Underworld, etc, but not touching until the description is clearer on restrictions.
I appreciate the suggestion, Erin. I did restate that in the description. You would think that it should be pretty clear that the lead character should be a male and the books should be urban fantasy. However Listopia is a big joke on Goodreads since people add any books they want with impunity and list creators cannot remove books unless they are a Librarian. Apparently us list creators will run rampant and delete people's additions out of bitterness instead of just keeping our lists in order. I've had problems with every list I made since I don't have time to track down librarians every time someone adds a non-relevant book because they can't or choose not to read the instructions.
*Not that I'm bitter* :)
I understand Danielle, it can be frustrating. Thanks for adding more specifics so I can remove stuff I know doesn't belong without people complaining.
Erin (Paperback stash) *is juggle-reading* wrote: "I understand Danielle, it can be frustrating. Thanks for adding more specifics so I can remove stuff I know doesn't belong without people complaining."
I trust you to remove books that aren't Male-Lead UF. :)
Removed - Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs
Tales of the Otherworld by Kelley Armstrong
Jaz Parks series *and 2 duplicates of that*
Ghost Rider Comic/Graphic Novel
Danielle The Book Huntress (Self-Proclaimed Book Ninja) wrote: "I trust you to remove books that aren't Male-Lead UF. :)
"
Thanks for the vote of confidence :) There's still a lot I see that I wouldn't personally consider Uf....but that's not a genre easy to classify so I will leave those alone and up to you if you have a strong objection.
Erin (Paperback stash) *is juggle-reading* wrote: "Removed - Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs
Tales of the Otherworld by Kelley Armstrong
Jaz Parks series *and 2 duplicates of that*
Ghost Rider Comic/Graphic Novel"
I don't have an argument with those. I think Cry Wolf is not quite male-lead and it's probably a little more UF/PNR.
Danielle The Book Huntress (Self-Proclaimed Book Ninja) wrote: "Can you remove the ones that aren't urban/contemporary? I saw a few of those."I can, but I would prefer if you list specific titles. I am uncomfortable passing judgment on books I haven't read.
Please remove The Warded Man (Demon Cycle, #1) by Peter V. Brett. While a good book and series in it's own right, it is set in a fantasy world.
ThatEzi wrote: "Hmmm, I just realized that I don't like any books with male leads."Really? I think they can be better than the female leads as the angst seems to be less. Then again Dresden can really exude angst.
Amanda wrote: "Jim Butcher with mind powers - going to reprise my suggestion of Clean by Alex Hughes. :)"
I agree. I really, really like this series too. I actually like it better than Dresden.
Related News
One of the great pleasures of an adventurous reading life is discovering new authors. If you’re the kind of book lover who likes to head...
Anyone can add books to this list.














I'm going to have to go old-school on this and add some favorites from the past.