If you've devoured Tanya Huff's Blood Books and followed Vicki Nelson through the supernatural underworld of Toronto, you know the irresistible pull of urban fantasy done right. Huff's genius lies in her ability to craft protagonists who are tough without being invulnerable, funny without undermining the stakes, and deeply human even when surrounded by vampires, demons, and ancient magic.
What makes Huff special? Her heroines don't just survive in supernatural worlds—they thrive with snark, competence, and emotional intelligence. Whether it's Vicki's no-nonsense detective work or the military precision of her Valor series, Huff balances heart-pounding action with genuine character growth and relationships that feel earned, not forced.
Ready to find your next series obsession? These 15 authors deliver that same addictive mix of supernatural intrigue, kickass protagonists, and the kind of world-building that makes you wish you could step through the page.
Start with: Storm Front
Why you'll love it: If you loved Vicki's detective background colliding with the supernatural, Harry Dresden is your next obsession. He's Chicago's only professional wizard detective, and Butcher delivers the same blend of noir investigation and magical mayhem that makes the Blood Books so addictive. Harry's running commentary is pitch-perfect, the magic system is intricate and satisfying, and the supporting cast—from his police liaison Karrin Murphy to the vampire court politics—rivals anything in Huff's Toronto.
The Huff connection: Like Vicki, Harry refuses to let his limitations define him. Both series excel at grounded characters navigating increasingly cosmic threats while maintaining their humanity (and wit).
Start with: Rosemary and Rue
Why you'll love it: October "Toby" Daye channels that same reluctant hero energy as Huff's protagonists. Half-human, half-fae, she's pulled back into faerie politics after spending fourteen years transformed into a fish. McGuire's faerie world is darker and more complex than most, with genuine consequences and a mystery structure that will satisfy any Blood Books fan. The series also features one of the best slow-burn character arcs in urban fantasy.
The Huff connection: Both authors excel at creating protagonists who grow stronger not by gaining power, but by understanding themselves and their relationships better. Plus, McGuire's San Francisco fae courts have the same lived-in authenticity as Huff's Toronto.
Start with: Dead Witch Walking
Why you'll love it: Rachel Morgan is a bounty hunter witch trying to survive in an alternate Cincinnati where supernaturals "came out" after a plague killed a quarter of humanity. Harrison's world-building is meticulous—this is urban fantasy where the supernatural community has infrastructure, politics, and bureaucracy. Rachel's friendships, particularly with her vampire roommate Ivy, have the same depth and evolution as Vicki's relationships with Henry and Mike.
The Huff connection: Both series feature competent women navigating dangerous supernatural politics while maintaining their independence and moral compass. The romantic tensions simmer without overwhelming the plot.
Start with: Moon Called
Why you'll love it: Mercy Thompson is a coyote shapeshifter and VW mechanic caught between werewolf packs, vampire seethe politics, and fae intrigues in the Tri-Cities of Washington. Briggs creates a protagonist who survives on competence, intelligence, and an unerring moral compass—not superhuman power. The pack dynamics are fascinating, the romance feels natural, and Mercy's voice has that same dry humor Huff fans appreciate.
The Huff connection: Like Vicki Nelson, Mercy doesn't let being the "weakest" supernatural make her a victim. Both authors understand that strength comes in many forms, and both create rich ensemble casts.
Start with: Magic Bites
Why you'll love it: Kate Daniels is a mercenary working in an Atlanta where magic and technology battle for dominance in waves. The husband-and-wife writing team creates one of urban fantasy's most satisfying slow-burn romances alongside genuinely threatening stakes. Kate's sarcasm and competence echo Vicki's, and the supporting cast—shapeshifter packs, vampire navigators, and ancient gods—creates a richly layered world.
The Huff connection: Both series balance humor with darkness, romance with independence, and personal growth with saving the world. Kate and Vicki would absolutely get along over beer and war stories.
Start with: Bitten
Why you'll love it: Elena Michaels is the world's only female werewolf, and Armstrong's series rotates between different supernatural women navigating a hidden world. The mythology is deep, the characters complex, and Armstrong excels at showing how supernatural abilities complicate rather than simplify life. Each book focuses on a different protagonist, giving you fresh perspectives while building an interconnected universe.
The Huff connection: Armstrong and Huff both write women who are allowed to be flawed, fierce, and feminine without apology. The Canadian settings don't hurt either.
Start with: Skinwalker
Why you'll love it: Jane Yellowrock is a Cherokee skinwalker who hunts rogue vampires in New Orleans. Hunter's prose is more atmospheric and darker than Huff's, but Jane's internal dialogue with her mountain lion soul (Beast) provides unexpected humor. The vampire politics are intricate, the action visceral, and Jane's journey to understand her own past parallels the mystery-solving structure Huff fans love.
The Huff connection: Both authors create protagonists who are dangerous without being cold, capable without being superhuman, and deeply connected to chosen family.
Start with: Dead Until Dark
Why you'll love it: Before True Blood, there was Sookie Stackhouse, a telepathic waitress in small-town Louisiana navigating a world where vampires have "come out of the coffin." Harris's Southern Gothic atmosphere differs from Huff's Canadian settings, but Sookie's matter-of-fact acceptance of the supernatural and her determination to live her life on her terms echo Huff's heroines. The series is lighter in tone but never sacrifices genuine stakes.
The Huff connection: Both authors write working-class protagonists who don't have the luxury of running from the supernatural—they have to figure out how to survive while still paying rent.
Start with: Some Girls Bite
Why you'll love it: Merit is a graduate student turned vampire who must navigate Chicago's supernatural houses while maintaining her sense of self. Neill's series is slightly lighter in tone than Huff's but still delivers satisfying mysteries, complex relationships, and a heroine who refuses to be defined by what was done to her. The found family dynamics of Cadogan House rival Vicki's relationships with Henry and Mike.
The Huff connection: Both series feature protagonists transformed against their will who choose to embrace their new reality without losing themselves.
Start with: Magic to the Bone
Why you'll love it: In Monk's Portland, magic has a price—literally. Every spell cast must be paid for with pain, memory, or life force. Allie Beckstrom is a Hound who traces illegal magic use, and the noir-mystery structure combined with unique magic mechanics creates something fresh. The cost-based magic system adds genuine tension to every supernatural encounter.
The Huff connection: Both authors understand that limitations make protagonists interesting. Vicki's deteriorating eyesight and Allie's magical backlash force creative problem-solving.
Start with: Touch the Dark
Why you'll love it: Cassie Palmer is a clairvoyant on the run from the vampire mob who raised her, only to discover she's destined to become the Pythia—the world's chief clairvoyant. Chance adds time travel to the urban fantasy mix, creating delightfully complicated plots that never lose emotional resonance. The vampire court politics are Byzantine and fascinating.
The Huff connection: Both series feature protagonists thrust into supernatural politics who survive through wit, adaptability, and refusing to play by others' rules.
Start with: Ill Wind
Why you'll love it: Joanne Baldwin is a Weather Warden who can control storms, on the run after being accused of murder. Caine's series takes urban fantasy on the road, with Joanne racing across America to clear her name. The elemental magic system is unique, the pace is breakneck, and Joanne's relationship with a djinn named David creates genuine emotional stakes.
The Huff connection: Both authors excel at throwing their protagonists into impossible situations and watching them fight their way out with intelligence and determination.
Start with: Spider's Bite
Why you'll love it: Gin Blanco, aka the Spider, is a retired assassin running a barbecue joint in a city controlled by elementals. When her past catches up with her, Gin must use her stone and ice magic to survive. Estep's series is grittier and more violent than Huff's, but Gin's dry humor and fierce loyalty to her chosen family create the same emotional core.
The Huff connection: Both authors write protagonists who've killed and carry the weight of those choices, yet remain fundamentally good people.
Start with: Nightlife
Why you'll love it: Cal Leandros is half-human, half-Auphe (a species of nightmare monsters), and his relationship with his fiercely protective brother Niko anchors this dark, fast-paced series set in New York's supernatural underworld. Thurman's prose is razor-sharp, the monsters genuinely threatening, and the gallows humor earned. Be warned: this series is darker than Huff's, with genuine horror elements.
The Huff connection: Both explore what it means to be human when you're not entirely human, and both understand that family is what you make it.
Start with: Charming
Why you'll love it: John Charming is a werewolf cursed to hunt supernatural threats, descended from a long line of knights who protected humanity. James blends fairy tale mythology with modern urban fantasy, creating a world where ancient magic collides with contemporary sensibilities. John's first-person narration has the same wit and self-awareness as Huff's protagonists, and the supporting cast is exceptional.
The Huff connection: Both authors understand that humor doesn't undermine tension—it makes the dark moments hit harder. Both also excel at ensemble casts where secondary characters feel like fully realized people.
If you loved the Vicki Nelson mysteries: Start with Jim Butcher's Dresden Files or Kim Harrison's Hollows for that supernatural detective fix.
If you loved the slow-burn romance with Henry: Patricia Briggs's Mercy Thompson or Ilona Andrews's Kate Daniels deliver satisfying romantic arcs without sacrificing plot.
If you loved Vicki's transformation and adaptation: Chloe Neill's Chicagoland Vampires or Karen Chance's Cassandra Palmer both feature protagonists learning to thrive in supernatural circumstances.
If you loved the found family dynamics: Seanan McGuire's October Daye or Faith Hunter's Jane Yellowrock create rich communities of supernatural allies.
If you want something darker: Rob Thurman's Cal Leandros or Jennifer Estep's Elemental Assassin series lean into horror without losing heart.
The beauty of urban fantasy is that once you find one author you love, you've found a gateway to an entire community of storytellers who understand what makes the genre special: ordinary people doing extraordinary things, chosen families forged in fire, and the understanding that sometimes the monsters are the good guys. Tanya Huff helped define this genre, and these fifteen authors are carrying the torch forward in their own unique ways.
Happy reading, and may your TBR pile grow ever higher!
