Well, well, well, we’ve got ourselves a fantasy fan! You love, I mean LOOOOVE, Iron Druid Atticus O’Sullivan and the behatted wizard Harry Dresden, folks that love a good brew as much as they love a good brawl. You’re into deep character development, relentless action, and you definitely have a good sense of humor.
Hang onto your magic cap, ’cause we’re about to take a long, wild ride through a land even crazier than your Aunt Edna’s hair on a windy day at the beach! Let’s embark on this magic carpet ride and get our bearings! Woohoo!
There’s a whole wide world of fantasy out there, my friend, chock-full of wacky characters, wicked plots, and more mystic beasties than you could shake a magic stick at. But you need the right stuff, don’t you? Something that tickles your funny bone just right, a book that’s the literary equivalent of the thrill of riding your bike downhill while juggling flaming swords and singing show tunes. Or is that just my Tuesday night? Anyway.
From the grand expanse that spans your preferences, we shall pluck an absolutely marvelous possibility. But first, some honorable mentions!
First in line, the ‘Alex Verus’ series by Benedict Jacka comes to mind. Not that Alex is a toad, but he’s definitely a tadpole in the big frog pond of magic, struggling to stay afloat. Talk about underdog versatile veracity, right!
Next up, consider the ‘Sandman Slim’ series by Richard Kadrey, a half-angel, half-human, all badass protagonist who’s spent a bit of time in Hell. Literally. The underworld’s loss was L.A.’s gain, folks! All grit and gallows humor, this one.
Looking for a more international flavor? You might like Sergei Lukyanenko’s ‘Night Watch’ series. It’s a bit like a Cold War spy novel, if the spies were wizards and shapeshifters and the Berlin Wall was a magically-imposed treaty between the forces of Light and Dark. Sounds murky and moody right! Talk about a magical ride to Russia!
But, my fancy fantasy fan friend, you’re looking for the main event, aren’t you? The hot tamale with a side of enchiladas? Well, bless your heart for being patient, cause…
The grand prize pick, for your extraordinary taste, is the ‘Rivers of London’ series by Ben Aaronovitch.
Let’s meet our contestant! Our main man, Peter Grant, much like our beloved Harry Dresden, is a detective, and boy, is he stuck in quite the quagmire! While Harry’s stomping ground bleeds Chicago blues, Peter prowls the misty cloak and dagger alleyways of London. Except, Peter’s monsters include ethereal river goddesses, conniving wizards, and malicious spirits, and they’ve all got a bone to pick with him!
Peter’s a newbie to the magical beat, trained by the only wizard left in jolly ol’ England. His world’s gritty, mystical, and riddled with more mythology than you can shake a fairy wand at!
Sounds heavy, right? Ah, but our good friend Ben lightens the load with stinging satire, sight gags, and more British humor than a Monty Python’s flying circus. And I’ll be blunt about this: Mitigating magic madness with mirth? Absolutely stellar!
This isn’t just about the belles of the ball, the dramatic moments, or the high-speed chases, though there’s plenty of them. It’s in the everyday absurdity of Peter’s reactions as he navigates these fantastical phenomena, be it concocting a wizard’s version of Miranda rights or bemoaning the damage a supernatural brawl does to his stylish suit.
In closing, my dear friend, all these qualities make ‘Rivers of London’ a perfect match for a Dresden Files and Iron Druid Chronicles fan like yourself. It’s got your magic, your lore, your knee-slapping comedic moments, and a protagonist you’d love to share a pint and a story with. Now, open that book and let the wizardry wash over you like a tsunami of sparkling magic dust!
Enjoy the ride, my friend, and till our next fantastical journey, keep those pages turning and your imagination burning!
Your dedicated book genie signs off with a tip of the hat and a hearty “Happy Reading!”
Assistant vanishes in a puff of smoke.
