There exists, if one knows where to look, a rather marvellous collection of stories about witches who dwell not in tumbledown cottages but in modern cities, who brew their potions whilst the traffic hums below, and who cast their spells between appointments. These are the witch urban fantasy books, and they are quite splendid indeed.
If you have ever felt—even for a moment—that magic might be hiding just around the corner of an ordinary street, then you are the very sort of reader for whom these tales were written. Come along now, and let us discover the very best of them together.
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
In the hallowed halls of Oxford’s Bodleian Library, a historian named Diana Bishop does what many sensible witches do—she pretends not to be one. Her scholarly life proceeds quite peacefully until she summons an enchanted manuscript that has been lost for centuries, which draws the attention of a most intriguing vampire named Matthew Clairmont.
What follows is a sweeping tale of forbidden love, alchemical secrets, and ancient powers awakening. Deborah Harkness weaves real historical mysteries with supernatural intrigue across seven hundred pages that shall transport you utterly. The television adaptation proves the tale’s enduring appeal, though one suspects the book shall always be the superior enchantment.
Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison
In a Cincinnati where a genetically modified tomato once unleashed a plague that brought supernatural creatures out of hiding, there works a rather spirited bounty hunter named Rachel Morgan. She is a witch, you see, though not a particularly obedient one, and when she decides to leave her position at the supernatural law enforcement agency, she discovers her former employers have put quite a nasty price upon her head.
Kim Harrison’s debut introduces us to the Hollows—a world of vampires, pixies, and demons where Rachel must rely upon her wits, her magic, and her wonderfully peculiar friends. The series spans many adventures, and devoted readers insist it only grows more marvellous with each instalment.
Storm Front by Jim Butcher
Harry Dresden is the only wizard listed in the Chicago phone directory, which tells you rather a lot about his character. He works as a private investigator, taking cases that perplex the ordinary police, and his life is a magnificent tangle of noir mystery and magical mayhem.
When Chicago’s police summon Harry to examine two bodies destroyed by dark magic, he finds himself hunted by forces both supernatural and mortal. Jim Butcher’s creation has enchanted millions, for Harry is wonderfully human despite his powers—frequently broke, perpetually stubborn, and possessed of a sense of honour that leads him into the most spectacular trouble.
Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman
For more than two hundred years, the Owens women have been whispered about in their small Massachusetts town. The sisters Sally and Gillian grew up different from other children—forever outsiders with their aunts’ strange cats and stranger visitors. Sally chose marriage to escape the family curse, whilst Gillian simply ran.
Alice Hoffman writes of sisterhood and sacrifice, of the magic that binds families together even when they desperately wish to be apart. This is witchcraft woven into the fabric of ordinary life, a tale where love spells and garden herbs carry the weight of centuries, and where coming home means finally accepting who you truly are.
Moon Called by Patricia Briggs
Mercedes Thompson is quite an unusual sort of mechanic. She repairs Volkswagens by day and transforms into a coyote whenever she pleases, living next door to the local werewolf pack’s Alpha in the Tri-Cities of Washington State. When a frightened teenage werewolf appears at her garage, Mercy finds herself drawn into supernatural politics far more dangerous than any engine trouble.
Patricia Briggs has crafted a heroine who is clever rather than powerful, resourceful rather than invincible. In a world of werewolves, vampires, and fae, Mercy’s shapeshifter abilities seem modest—yet she proves that courage and quick thinking count for rather more than brute strength.
The Witching Hour by Anne Rice
The Mayfair witches have prospered in New Orleans for three hundred years, each generation’s most gifted daughter inheriting both magnificent power and a mysterious spirit called Lasher who has served—or perhaps enslaved—the family since its beginning. Rowan Mayfair, a brilliant neurosurgeon in California, knows nothing of her heritage until her biological mother’s death summons her home.
Anne Rice’s thousand-page opus is a gothic cathedral of a novel, spanning centuries of family secrets and supernatural bargains. The Washington Post declared her descriptions “so opulent they almost beg to be read by candlelight,” which seems entirely fitting for such deliciously dark material.
Her Majesty’s Royal Coven by Juno Dawson
In modern Britain, a secret coven of witches has served the Crown since Elizabeth I first established it. Four friends—Niamh, Helena, Elle, and Leonie—once trained together as young witches, but years and wounds have frayed their bonds. When a mysterious child appears, linked to an ancient prophecy, these four must decide what truly matters to them.
Juno Dawson’s adult debut has been described as “A Discovery of Witches meets The Craft,” and it explores questions of friendship, identity, and belonging with both wit and heart. The New York Times Book Review called it “superb and almost unbearably charming,” which seems about right.
Circe by Madeline Miller
She was the daughter of Helios the sun god, dismissed as neither beautiful nor powerful enough to matter. Yet Circe discovered within herself a gift for witchcraft—the first of the gods to master such art—and for this transgression was banished to a lonely island for eternity.
Madeline Miller transforms a minor figure from the Odyssey into the heroine of her own magnificent story. Here is a goddess who learns to be human, who turns men into swine not from cruelty but from hard-won wisdom, who loves and loses and chooses her own fate at last. Publishers Weekly praised it as “a classic story of female empowerment,” though it is rather more than that—it is simply excellent storytelling.
Throwing Shade by Deborah Wilde
Miriam Feldman is forty-two, divorced, a librarian, and secretly a shadow witch who buried her powers after witnessing her parents’ magical murder. When her best friend vanishes in circumstances distinctly vampiric, Miri must dust off abilities she has spent decades suppressing and dive into a supernatural underworld she never wanted to know existed.
Deborah Wilde writes urban fantasy that does not take itself too seriously, featuring a protagonist whose To-Do lists and practical sensibilities make her wonderfully relatable. The slow-burn romance with a grumpy French wolf shifter provides additional entertainment, and reviewers have praised the novel’s unique blend of Jewish mythology and magical mayhem.
Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco
In nineteenth-century Sicily, twin witches Emilia and Vittoria live secretly among humans, helping their grandmother run a restaurant while practising kitchen witchcraft. When Vittoria is murdered in a ritual killing, Emilia’s grief transforms into a dangerous quest for vengeance—one that leads her to make a bargain with Wrath, a prince of Hell.
Kerri Maniscalco delivers gothic mystery wrapped in slow-burn romance, with detailed descriptions of Sicilian food and culture that transport readers utterly. Kirkus Reviews called it “an intoxicating, tightly plotted feast for the senses,” and fans of enemies-to-lovers tales shall find much to savour here.
The Witch’s Daughter by Paula Brackston
In 1628, young Bess Hawksmith survived plague and witch hunters by learning magic from a dark warlock named Gideon. Three hundred and eighty-four years later, she has lived under many names and through many histories, but Gideon still hunts her. Now, in a quiet English village, she has taken a young woman named Tegan as her student, and the confrontation she has fled for centuries can be postponed no longer.
Paula Brackston weaves historical periods together brilliantly—from the horrors of witch trials to the trenches of the First World War—whilst building a tender mentorship between Bess and Tegan. Booklist praised the novel for its “absorbing plot and altogether delicious blend of historical fiction and fantasy.”
Dime Store Magic by Kelley Armstrong
At twenty-three, Paige Winterbourne finds herself leading the American Coven whilst serving as guardian to Savannah, the preteen daughter of a powerful dark witch. When Savannah’s apparent father—a sorcerer of considerable power—arrives to claim custody, Paige discovers that protecting her charge means losing everything else she possesses.
Kelley Armstrong’s Women of the Otherworld series features strong heroines navigating a world of werewolves, demons, and spellcasters. This particular installment explores the complicated relationships between witches and sorcerers whilst delivering considerable adventure and a touch of romance with a principled lawyer named Lucas.
Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning
MacKayla Lane’s life was sunshine and fashion until her sister Alina was murdered in Dublin. Travelling to Ireland for answers, Mac discovers she possesses the sight—the ability to see the Fae creatures walking among mortals—and that Dublin hides a darkness beyond imagining. To survive and find justice, she must locate an ancient book of evil magic before others claim it first.
Karen Marie Moning writes dark urban fantasy with emphasis upon dark, and reviewers praise Dublin as the perfect shadowy setting for this atmospheric series. The Fever books demand investment—this is no light entertainment—but devoted readers insist the journey is entirely worthwhile.
Payback’s a Witch by Lana Harper
Emmy Harlow fled her magical hometown of Thistle Grove after heartbreak, only to return years later when duty calls her to judge the town’s annual magical tournament. When she discovers her faithless ex is competing, Emmy joins forces with two other wronged women—including the captivating Talia Avramov—to ensure he suffers appropriately.
Lana Harper’s debut has been described as “the sexy Sapphic modern Gothic I didn’t know I needed.” The New York Times Book Review praised its sharp humour and crackling romance, and readers who enjoy witchy small towns and delightful revenge schemes shall find much to love here.
Glimmer of the Other by Heather G. Harris
Jinx is a private investigator with an unusual talent—she can detect lies with perfect accuracy. When hired to find a missing university student, she discovers that her abilities are not merely human gifts but signs of belonging to the Other Realm, a hidden magical world of vampires, werewolves, dragons, and trolls. Her dog, it transpires, is actually a hellhound of considerable power.
Heather G. Harris delivers fast-paced adventure with witty narration and a mystery at its heart. Reviewers have praised the book as “gold standard Urban Fantasy,” noting both its humour and its surprisingly deep world-building.
Finding Your Perfect Witch Urban Fantasy
The marvellous thing about witch urban fantasy is how wonderfully varied it has become. For those who love sweeping romance, A Discovery of Witches and Kingdom of the Wicked shall satisfy. Those preferring mystery and investigation shall adore the Dresden Files and Glimmer of the Other. Readers seeking strong female friendships should look to Her Majesty’s Royal Coven and Practical Magic, whilst those wanting historical depth shall find it in The Witch’s Daughter and Circe.
Whatever draws you to tales of modern witchcraft—whether the allure of hidden worlds, the promise of powerful heroines, or simply the delicious possibility that magic might be real—these books shall not disappoint. For in every city, in every ordinary street, there are stories waiting to be discovered by those who believe.
Now go forth and read. The magic is waiting.
