What is your favorite urban fantasy?

I was reading urban fantasy long  before the paranormal romance craze hit.  I still like my urban fantasy more on the fantasy side, less on the romance side. Here are a few of my favorites:

Mercy Thompson is a were coyote who also fixes VWs.   She has to watch her step as she is surrounded by very sexy werewolves, witches, vampires and other paranormal creatures.  Frost burned is a recent volume in this long standing series which is set out the Tri-Cities of Washington.

 

Vicki Nelson can no longer be a police officer since she is losing her eyesight.

She can still fight evil when she joins forces with vampire Henry Fitzroy, illegitimate son of Henry the Eight.  This series was original written in the 1990s but it still is one of the best. (I liked the original covers much better).

 
 

 

Harry Dresden is a professional wizard in Chicago.  His work is made more  difficult by the White Council of Wizards.  Again, there are many volumes in the series

 

                                

                                     

Popcorn Read: the Alexia Tarabotti novels

As a librarian, a lot of my reading ends up being somewhat serious.  To be good at my job I read a lot of award winners and things I can booktalk at the schools for teen audiences.  But there are some things I read simple for the sheer joy of reading and being entertained...my popcorn reads.  Some people might call these guilty pleasures, but as a librarian I feel you should never feel apologize for what you like to read.  

One of my favorite popcorn reads right now is the Alexia Tarabotti series by Gail Carriger.  They are basically about a 20 something Victorian spinster who has a vampire best friend, and falls for a dashing werewolf, all the while discovering her own special powers and solving crimes against the Realm.  Silly?  Frequently.  Fun?  Always.  Plus they are filled with fashion, inventive alternative history science, great characters, and a rather passionate romance that really puts the steam in steampunk.

Gail Carriger has a great website!

Also...these are fantastic as audiobooks.  The manga are silly, but really get the period costumes down nicely!

What are your favorite popcorn reads?