If you have devoured every morsel of the Kate Daniels series and find yourself quite bereft—rather like a child who has eaten all the sweets and discovers the jar now empty—then do take heart. For there exist in this world other marvelous tales of magic and mayhem, of fierce heroines who wield swords as deftly as they wield their wits, and of supernatural creatures who lurk in the shadows of our modern cities.
Come along, dear reader, and let us embark upon a grand adventure through the very finest urban fantasy series that share that same delicious spirit of Kate Daniels.
The Mercy Thompson Series by Patricia Briggs
In the Tri-Cities of Washington State, there lives a most remarkable young woman named Mercedes Thompson—Mercy to her friends. She is what they call a walker, which means she can become a coyote whenever she pleases, though this makes her rather an oddity even among oddities. Her neighbors include werewolves, her former employer is a grumpy old fae, and she repairs Volkswagens for vampires.
Moon Called begins this splendid series, and you shall find Mercy to be every bit as clever and stubborn as Kate herself. The banter is priceless, the mysteries are twisty, and the supernatural world unfolds in delightful layers.
The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher
Harry Dresden is the only professional wizard listed in the Chicago telephone directory, and what a peculiar fellow he is! Equal parts detective and magician, he solves supernatural crimes whilst throwing the occasional fireball and exchanging quips with a spirit who lives in a skull named Bob.
Storm Front introduces us to Harry’s world, and one might describe it as what would happen if a wizard grew up to become Sam Spade. The humor is wonderfully similar to Kate Daniels, the magical world is richly imagined, and the friendships Harry forms will warm your heart even as the dangers chill your bones.
The Hollows Series by Kim Harrison
In Cincinnati’s supernatural district called “the Hollows,” there works a bounty hunter named Rachel Morgan. She is a witch with rather more attitude than sense—at least at first—and she finds herself in quite the pickle when she quits her job and her former employer puts a price on her head.
Dead Witch Walking launches this romp of a series with magical mayhem, a living vampire roommate, and a spirited pixie partner. Jim Butcher himself praised it as blending “the best qualities of Anita Blake and Stephanie Plum,” and he would know a thing or two about such matters.
The Jane Yellowrock Series by Faith Hunter
Jane Yellowrock is one of the very last skinwalkers of Cherokee descent, and she shares her body with the soul of a mountain lion called Beast. She hunts rogue vampires for a living, rides motorcycles, and has a rather mysterious past involving black magic when she was but a child.
Skinwalker brings Jane to New Orleans to hunt a dangerous vampire, and you shall find her every bit as formidable as Kate Daniels. The fight scenes are thrilling, the vampire politics are deliciously dangerous, and Jane’s dual nature makes for fascinating reading.
The October Daye Series by Seanan McGuire
October “Toby” Daye is a changeling—half-fae, half-human—which means she belongs fully to neither world. She works as a private investigator in San Francisco, though her last case ended rather badly: she spent fourteen years transformed into a fish.
Rosemary and Rue pulls Toby back into fae society when a dying countess binds her with a curse to solve her murder. The worldbuilding is extraordinary, the fae mythology is deep and strange, and Toby’s journey from outcast to hero spans many wonderful volumes.
The Night Huntress Series by Jeaniene Frost
Catherine Crawfield—Cat to her friends—is half-vampire, which she learned is possible when a vampire named Bones captured her during one of her vampire-hunting expeditions. Their partnership becomes something far more complicated, dangerous, and passionate.
Halfway to the Grave begins this dark and delightful series with action that never stops and romance that burns hot. Cat’s personality reminds many readers of Kate Daniels herself—sharp-tongued, fierce, and utterly uncompromising.
The Fever Series by Karen Marie Moning
MacKayla Lane was once a perfectly ordinary Georgia woman who loved pink and sunshine. Then her sister was murdered in Dublin, and Mac discovered she could see the Fae—those ancient, dangerous creatures from Celtic mythology who hide among humans.
Darkfever transforms our Barbie-doll heroine into something far more formidable as she navigates a Dublin filled with dark magic and darker secrets. The atmosphere is intoxicating, the mysterious Jericho Barrons is magnificently infuriating, and Mac’s transformation is utterly compelling.
The Elemental Assassin Series by Jennifer Estep
Gin Blanco is an assassin codenamed the Spider, and she controls both Ice and Stone magic. When she isn’t eliminating targets, she runs a barbecue restaurant in the fictional Southern city of Ashland, which is home to giants, dwarves, vampires, and all manner of elementals.
Spider’s Bite introduces Gin’s gritty world with plenty of action and a revenge plot that will keep you turning pages deep into the night. Gin is pragmatic, powerful, and wonderfully dangerous—qualities that Kate Daniels fans will recognize and adore.
The Alex Verus Series by Benedict Jacka
Alex Verus runs a magic shop in Camden Town, London, and possesses a rather unusual talent: he can see into possible futures. This makes him quite useful to more powerful mages—and quite dangerous to those who would rather their secrets remain hidden.
Fated begins this twelve-book series with intrigue, danger, and a magical underworld that spans London’s most famous landmarks. Jim Butcher himself declared that “Harry Dresden would like Alex Verus tremendously—and be a little nervous around him.”
The Downside Ghosts Series by Stacia Kane
In a world where ghosts nearly destroyed humanity and only the Church of Real Truth could banish them, Chess Putnam works as a ghost hunter. She is powerful, tattooed, and fighting demons both supernatural and personal.
Unholy Ghosts is gritty and dark, with a heroine who is beautifully flawed. The worldbuilding is unlike anything you have encountered before, and Chess’s struggles make her victories all the sweeter.
The Chicagoland Vampires Series by Chloe Neill
Merit was a graduate student until a rogue vampire attacked her and the master of Cadogan House turned her to save her life. Now she must navigate vampire politics, supernatural dangers, and her complicated feelings about the four-hundred-year-old vampire who made her.
Some Girls Bite creates a world where vampires have revealed themselves to humanity and live in Houses governed by ancient rules. Merit is sassy and smart, and her journey from unwilling vampire to fierce warrior is most satisfying.
The Kitty Norville Series by Carrie Vaughn
Kitty Norville is a werewolf who hosts a late-night radio advice show for the supernaturally disadvantaged. When vampires, werewolves, and witches call in to share their troubles, her show becomes a sensation—and makes her powerful enemies.
Kitty and the Midnight Hour offers a fresh and clever premise that explores what happens when the supernatural meets modern media. The tone is lighter than some entries on this list, but the heart is just as true.
The Sookie Stackhouse Series by Charlaine Harris
In the small Louisiana town of Bon Temps, waitress Sookie Stackhouse can read minds—which makes dating rather difficult. Then she meets Bill Compton, a vampire whose thoughts she cannot hear, and her quiet life becomes considerably more complicated.
Dead Until Dark began the series that inspired True Blood, and it remains a charming blend of Southern gothic atmosphere, murder mystery, and supernatural romance. Sookie’s voice is warm and witty, and her adventures are endlessly entertaining.
The Alpha and Omega Series by Patricia Briggs
Anna Latham was turned into a werewolf against her will and abused by her pack—until Charles Cornick, the son of the leader of all North American werewolves, discovers her true nature. Anna is an Omega wolf, rare and precious, and together she and Charles form an unbreakable bond.
Cry Wolf begins this companion series to Mercy Thompson, and it offers a different perspective on the same richly imagined world. Anna’s journey from victim to powerful partner is deeply moving, and her romance with Charles is both tender and fierce.
Your Next Adventure Awaits
There you have it, dear reader—fourteen magnificent series to explore when you find yourself missing Kate Daniels and her beloved Curran. Each offers its own particular magic: fierce heroines, dangerous creatures, mysteries to solve, and romances to swoon over.
The beauty of urban fantasy lies in its endless variety. Whether you prefer the noir detective stylings of Harry Dresden, the fae intrigues of October Daye, or the vampire politics of Merit, there is a series here waiting to sweep you away.
So choose your next adventure, settle into your favorite reading spot, and prepare to lose yourself once more in worlds where magic hides just beneath the surface of our own.
