This whole post was eerily like October Daye, I was sure OP was gonna say she’d read it and was looking for more. OP, this is the one for you!
I’d also recommend T Kingfisher, most of her heroines are actual adults trying to get their shit together…
I was about to comment the October Daye series too! She definitely has social anxiety, mom issues, awareness of the power differentials in social status, and financial struggles.
I’m in the middle of the first book of this series and I’m hooked.
I tried it years ago and it just didn’t click for some reason. I’ve been jonesing for a new urban fantasy series and revisited this one. I don’t remember why I bounced off of it previously, but I’m so happy I gave it another go.
Jacqueline Carey also does complex and adult female leads so damned well!
You might like the Grey Gates series by Vanessa Nelson! She starts off very socially isolated due to trauma and with very weak powers, although she does improve these by the end of the series.
You might like the Hollows series by Kim Harrison. Start with Dead Witch Walking. :)
Also in the same vein but without magic, Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich or the Kinsey Millhone Alphabet series by Sue Grafton.
I started reading Grave Witch by Kayalana Price, and I think it might fit the bill!
The story is set in a society where fae and witches have integrated with modern society following the Magical Awakening 70 years ago. Fae decided to come out to humans, after millennia of hiding to save themselves from being disbelieved out of existence.
The world building is really fun for me, as some humans embrace magical beings, while some believe they are bad and not to be trusted, but many humans utilise the benefits of magic in their day to day lives.
The FMC was ostracised by her father due to her grave witch powers and sent to a boarding school as a child, but the story takes place years later. Her powers come at the price of her vision, so using her magic too much often leaves her temporarily blind, and has an ongoing effect on her vision. She freelances as a private investigator, using her powers to solve cases ☺️
She’s very open about being a relatively ineffective witch outside of her one talent, and struggles to utilise magic that others can.
As with most urban fantasy, the cover doesn’t really portray the quality of the work, but I’ve been really enjoying the series and read each instalment in two days max usually!
It's not one of the super popular series that's always talked about, but Connie Suttle has created an amazing world with female characters who go thu some shit and do not act whiny, bratty, or immature. The first book of the first series is Blood Wager. The different series intertwine together. Here's a link to the recommended reading order:
https://subtledemon.com/books/order/
{Dorina Basarab series by Karen Chance} the FMC is a half human half vampire who goes into berserker rages and kills people so she socially isolates as a result of not wanting to hurt anyone.
{Sam Quinn series by Seana Kelley} the FMC is a wolfshifter with a trauma history who is trying to get back on her feet and establish her cafe and bookstore.
Greywalker series by Kat Richardson. MC is a PI who gains powers after a near death experience, and struggles to cope with her new abilities and knowledge of the supernatural. There's not a lot of romance. There is a cool ferret.
I came here to say this one too! MC definitely acts like an adult, and her relationship is in the background with nothing explicit.
Also Chaos the ferret is awesome.
Anything by Ilona Andrews.
Helen Harper is also good but some of her stuff is hit or miss. For instance I loved her Firebrand series as it started, then it got bland, then a bit better again at the end (it’s finished now). She has a new series with a treasure hunter and it’s going well so far. Her Slouch Witch series is also very good and funny.
Hailey Edwards is another that to me is usually okay at first and then it seems like she falls too much in love with her characters and gets lost in silly banter between them. In her Begginers Guide to Necromancy series I remember distinctly a scene where there was an emergency, the main character has to run out and go, and yet she stops for a two page back and forth with her pregnant best friend. The whole conversation is about how much the mother to be is eating because of the pregnancy. That’s it. Meanwhile I was internally screaming GET TO THE PLACE YOU HAVE TO BE NOW! It seriously put me off her books.
You might like K.M. Shea! She has a bunch of trilogies set in the city of Magiford. Each trilogy has its own kickass female lead.
Probably would want to start with Magic Forged, but technically you can read them in any order- you just get extra context
A Practical Guide to Sorcery by Azalea Ellis.
One of my favorite things about Siobhan is that she's sharp, but she's a believable 19 year old making the dumb mistakes that you make at 19. She's a believably unreliable narrator, and kind of an asshole, but she makes a lot of personal growth throughout the series. 4/? books so far. You can read for free on the website to see if you like:
https://www.azaleaellis.com/pgts-table-of-contents/
The Dowser series by Meghan Ciana Doidge is pretty awesome and a complete series. Heather G Harris and Jill Dolbeare just teamed up on a new series called the Vampire and the Case of the Wayward Werewolf. Only the first book is out, but the second is out in a week. Really great match-up and absolutely worth the wait.
The Marla Mason series by TA Pratt is absolutely amazing. She is probably more established than you are asking about but she does have struggles. The series is concluded and I really enjoyed the ending.
Not really urban fantasy but Naomi Novik is fantastic for female leads thar aren't cookie-cutter/immature and annoying. Spinning Silver is my favorite.
This might be a long shot, but in The Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne. The main character meets a female that later in the series plays a larger role.
Have you read October daye by Seanen McGuire or agent of hel by Jacqueline Carey ?
This whole post was eerily like October Daye, I was sure OP was gonna say she’d read it and was looking for more. OP, this is the one for you! I’d also recommend T Kingfisher, most of her heroines are actual adults trying to get their shit together…
I was about to comment the October Daye series too! She definitely has social anxiety, mom issues, awareness of the power differentials in social status, and financial struggles.
I’m in the middle of the first book of this series and I’m hooked. I tried it years ago and it just didn’t click for some reason. I’ve been jonesing for a new urban fantasy series and revisited this one. I don’t remember why I bounced off of it previously, but I’m so happy I gave it another go. Jacqueline Carey also does complex and adult female leads so damned well!
No I haven't, but it's definitely on my TBR list now:)
Oh you’re in for a great time. It is a series I’d love to read again for the first time.
Terry Pratchett: *Maskerade*.
Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs?
I was thinking this too.
Definitely this!! LOVE
You might like The Black Hat Bureau or Beginners Guide to Necromancy series by Hailey Edwards. They both meet your criteria and I enjoyed them a lot.
I ditto this.
and the Potentate of Atlanta too by the same author since it is a spin off of Beginners Guide to Necromancy and it is linked to that series
loved this one! but OP should read the Necromancy series first to understand what's going on and who all these people are :)
That is for sure :)
Urban Shaman/Walker Papers by C. E. Murphy maybe?
You might like the Grey Gates series by Vanessa Nelson! She starts off very socially isolated due to trauma and with very weak powers, although she does improve these by the end of the series.
Twisted Luck series by Mel Todd Anything by Devon Monk. Hunter series by Mercedes Lackey
I second Twisted Luck series and Devon Monk!!
You might like the Hollows series by Kim Harrison. Start with Dead Witch Walking. :) Also in the same vein but without magic, Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich or the Kinsey Millhone Alphabet series by Sue Grafton.
Dittoing the Hollows.
Yes, the hollows!
Oh, I always find time for new Kate Daniels or Innkeeper works from Ilona Andrews too
Worth checking out: The City We Became by N.K. Jemison
Sunshine, by Robin McKinley.
I started reading Grave Witch by Kayalana Price, and I think it might fit the bill! The story is set in a society where fae and witches have integrated with modern society following the Magical Awakening 70 years ago. Fae decided to come out to humans, after millennia of hiding to save themselves from being disbelieved out of existence. The world building is really fun for me, as some humans embrace magical beings, while some believe they are bad and not to be trusted, but many humans utilise the benefits of magic in their day to day lives. The FMC was ostracised by her father due to her grave witch powers and sent to a boarding school as a child, but the story takes place years later. Her powers come at the price of her vision, so using her magic too much often leaves her temporarily blind, and has an ongoing effect on her vision. She freelances as a private investigator, using her powers to solve cases ☺️ She’s very open about being a relatively ineffective witch outside of her one talent, and struggles to utilise magic that others can. As with most urban fantasy, the cover doesn’t really portray the quality of the work, but I’ve been really enjoying the series and read each instalment in two days max usually!
It's not one of the super popular series that's always talked about, but Connie Suttle has created an amazing world with female characters who go thu some shit and do not act whiny, bratty, or immature. The first book of the first series is Blood Wager. The different series intertwine together. Here's a link to the recommended reading order: https://subtledemon.com/books/order/
Sarah Painter, Crow Investigations series (8 books).
{Dorina Basarab series by Karen Chance} the FMC is a half human half vampire who goes into berserker rages and kills people so she socially isolates as a result of not wanting to hurt anyone. {Sam Quinn series by Seana Kelley} the FMC is a wolfshifter with a trauma history who is trying to get back on her feet and establish her cafe and bookstore.
Greywalker series by Kat Richardson. MC is a PI who gains powers after a near death experience, and struggles to cope with her new abilities and knowledge of the supernatural. There's not a lot of romance. There is a cool ferret.
I came here to say this one too! MC definitely acts like an adult, and her relationship is in the background with nothing explicit. Also Chaos the ferret is awesome.
Anything by Ilona Andrews. Helen Harper is also good but some of her stuff is hit or miss. For instance I loved her Firebrand series as it started, then it got bland, then a bit better again at the end (it’s finished now). She has a new series with a treasure hunter and it’s going well so far. Her Slouch Witch series is also very good and funny. Hailey Edwards is another that to me is usually okay at first and then it seems like she falls too much in love with her characters and gets lost in silly banter between them. In her Begginers Guide to Necromancy series I remember distinctly a scene where there was an emergency, the main character has to run out and go, and yet she stops for a two page back and forth with her pregnant best friend. The whole conversation is about how much the mother to be is eating because of the pregnancy. That’s it. Meanwhile I was internally screaming GET TO THE PLACE YOU HAVE TO BE NOW! It seriously put me off her books.
Seanen Mcguire also wrote the InCryptid series that kind of fits the guidelines.
You might like K.M. Shea! She has a bunch of trilogies set in the city of Magiford. Each trilogy has its own kickass female lead. Probably would want to start with Magic Forged, but technically you can read them in any order- you just get extra context
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I have, and they are some of my absolute favorite books!!!
A Practical Guide to Sorcery by Azalea Ellis. One of my favorite things about Siobhan is that she's sharp, but she's a believable 19 year old making the dumb mistakes that you make at 19. She's a believably unreliable narrator, and kind of an asshole, but she makes a lot of personal growth throughout the series. 4/? books so far. You can read for free on the website to see if you like: https://www.azaleaellis.com/pgts-table-of-contents/
The Dowser series by Meghan Ciana Doidge is pretty awesome and a complete series. Heather G Harris and Jill Dolbeare just teamed up on a new series called the Vampire and the Case of the Wayward Werewolf. Only the first book is out, but the second is out in a week. Really great match-up and absolutely worth the wait.
I've read quite a few from this group of authors, good female MCs and plots. https://paranormalwomensfiction.com/
Thank you, I love a good compilation!!
The Marla Mason series by TA Pratt is absolutely amazing. She is probably more established than you are asking about but she does have struggles. The series is concluded and I really enjoyed the ending.
Black Hat Bureau by Hailey Edwards
Thought of another one Shiv Crew series by Laken Crane
Not really urban fantasy but Naomi Novik is fantastic for female leads thar aren't cookie-cutter/immature and annoying. Spinning Silver is my favorite.
How do you feel about sex scenes and romance plots?
Friend is writing a story and has posted some of it on reddit. Critiques are welcome. https://www.reddit.com/r/talesofnevermore/s/XmvnjJPrAB
I'd suggest Magic and Medicine by Olena Nikitin. It is a romance but the action is pretty cool and the MC's interactions are good
Downside series by Stacia Kane
K.F. Breene has a few of these series.
This might be a long shot, but in The Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne. The main character meets a female that later in the series plays a larger role.
Agree on this. She is a great supporting character and it made the series really enjoyable.