urban fantasy
Metropolitan supernatural fiction
Urban fantasy is a genre of fiction that places magical or supernatural elements in a modern city setting.
Vampires, werewolves, and witches navigate contemporary urban life alongside or hidden from ordinary humans.
The genre often features a detective or investigator protagonist: The Dresden Files is classic urban fantasy.
Distinguished from high fantasy by its real-world setting rather than invented worlds.
Fiction blending otherworldly creatures with courtship
- supernatural thrillerSuspenseful story with otherworldly elements
- hidden worldUnseen reality existing alongside ours
- secret societyCovert fraternal organization
- masqueradeDeceptive act or costume party
antihero · noir · hardboiled · investigation · underworld · gritty · shadowy · mystery
Practice of dark magic
- enchantmentMagical influence over someone
- wardsProtected dependents or districts
- glamourFascinating, elegant attractiveness
- hexesMalevolent magical spells
spellcasting · ritual · summoning · divination · blood magic · runes · sigils · portals
Large important city
- cityscapeView of urban architecture
- downtownCentral business district
- subwayUnderground transit passage
- alleywayNarrow urban passage
skyscrapers · neon · rooftop · nightclub · back alley · warehouse · cemetery · hidden realm
Undead who drink blood
- werewolvesHumans who become wolves
- faeOtherworldly Celtic beings
- demonsMalevolent supernatural beings
- ghostsSpirits of the deceased
witches · shapeshifters · necromancer · gargoyles · ghouls · changelings · revenants · djinn
Secret parallel identity
- territorial conflictDispute over geographic boundaries
- chosen oneProphesied special individual
- forbidden knowledgeDangerous truths deliberately hidden
paranormal romance
Fiction blending otherworldly creatures with courtship
- supernatural thrillerSuspenseful story with otherworldly elements
- hidden worldUnseen reality existing alongside ours
- secret societyCovert fraternal organization
masquerade · antihero · noir · hardboiled · investigation · underworld · gritty · shadowy · mystery · gaslamp
sorcery
Practice of dark magic
- enchantmentMagical influence over someone
- wardsProtected dependents or districts
- glamourFascinating, elegant attractiveness
hexes · spellcasting · ritual · summoning · divination · blood magic · runes · sigils · portals · ley lines
metropolis
Large important city
- cityscapeView of urban architecture
- downtownCentral business district
- subwayUnderground transit passage
alleyway · skyscrapers · neon · rooftop · nightclub · back alley · warehouse · cemetery · hidden realm · underground
vampires
Undead who drink blood
- werewolvesHumans who become wolves
- faeOtherworldly Celtic beings
- demonsMalevolent supernatural beings
ghosts · witches · shapeshifters · necromancer · gargoyles · ghouls · changelings · revenants · djinn · kitsune
double life
Secret parallel identity
- territorial conflictDispute over geographic boundaries
- chosen oneProphesied special individual
- forbidden knowledgeDangerous truths deliberately hidden
- booksnovel, textbooks, study guides, book, paperback
- fantasywizard, witch, magic, dragon, elf
- fictionfiction, novel, novels, novella, novellas
- genresaction, comedy, detective fiction, horror, documentary
- fantasy fictionsword and sorcery, fairy tale, hero journey, magic system, dragon tale
- speculative fictionsci-fi, science fiction, dystopia, futurism, utopia
urban fantasymedieval fantasy
Fictional Middle Ages setting
high fantasy · epic fantasy · portal fantasy · sword and sorcery · heroic fantasy
fantastic, fantasy, urban, suburb, suburban, urbane, suburbs, fantasize, urbanity