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Re: Kate Daniels...really I dunno I am still really into Kate and Curran but then again I hate love triangles I am like pick a mate and lets move on lol

I never think of Rachel and romance I mean I would love to see her get with Trent but for me it is more about the mess she gets herself into. I have to say that I am so glad that the Rachel and Ivy thing is over. I am excited for the next book.

My Favorite book series ever is Jim Butchers "Dresden Files" and Kim Harrison's "Hollows Series". They are both tied for first place in my opinion. Stacia Kane in the "Downside Ghost" series is also very good. I consider it a Dark Urban Fantasy.
As far as Rachel in the Hollows Series; I am more then ready for her to have her Happily Ever After. I am hoping for Trent of course. They are perfect for each other. The story is more important to me then the romance, but I want to see her settle down too, so I am ready for her to get it! Trent needs to speed it up though! ;D

I'd say:

Patricia Briggs Alpha and Omega --although I also love the Mercy Thompson

Ilona Andrews - The Edge is great, but love Kate Daniels

Frank Tuttle - Markhat series. The first couple are just good, but the later ones are extraordinary. Great fun.

Just read Blade Song by J. C. Daniels. This series has huge potential, I think. Really loved the first and hope it turns into a great series.

Kelley Armstrong - women of the Otherworld

Kim Harrison - the Hollows

Kevin Hearne - Iron Druid Chronicles

Patricia Briggs - Mercy Thompson

Karen Marie Moning - Fever series (although I would rather have Mac back than Dani or age Dani up)

Alex Becktrom by Devon Monk

The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher

Some other names that aren't heard often:

John Levitt -- good blend of mystery and fantasy
Chris Strange (The Man Who Crossed Worlds)
Joe Nassise (The Heretic)
Holly Lisle has some good ones
Mercedes Lackey -- Diane Tregarde series

Marsha wrote: "This is a hard question, for sure - but, I think I'll have to say that Stacia Kane (Downside Series), Devon Monk, Jennifer Estep, Patricia Briggs, Ilona Andrews, and Kim Harrison are among my favor..."

I just finished Downside. I am so mad at myself for not reading it sooner, and I freak out when I think I might not have read it. I just picked it on a whim! I finished it a few days ago, and can't bring myself to start something else. I am trying to spread the word to everyone I know who likes to read!

Dnelson wrote: "...I just finished Downside. I am so mad at myself for not reading it sooner, and I freak out when I think I might not have read it. I just picked it on a whim! I finished it a few days ago, and can't bring myself to start something else. I am trying to spread the word to everyone I know who likes to rea"

I love when that happens!

My favorite UF series by far is Rachel Morgan, The Hollows by my favorite author Kim Harrison. Of course, like many people I have a few series that I enjoy. I think my second favorite series are Night Huntress, Night Huntress World, and A Night Prince by author Jeaniene Frost. Also, I love the Tigers Curse series. Last of all, I read the first book in a new series, Blood of Eden; The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa and I really enjoyed this new and different outlook on vampires. Not only has Julie mastered the world of the Fey, she has nailed it with her first book about vampires and other things

My favs would be Kate Daniels, Mercy Thompson, Alpha & Omega & all the Night Huntress and spinoffs. I also really enjoy Elemental Assassins with Gin Blanco, with a huge soft spot for Cassie Palmer & Dori Basarab.

I like Gin Blanco okay. She's a bit annoying in the first book (okay, really annoying) but the pace is fast and there are some really good stories there. Cassie Palmer...that rings a bell. Can't place the series. NY...I think...paranormal investigator? Or is she the ghost hunter?

Cassie Palmer is the series name, first book . She is dhampir, father is a bigwig council vamp and he loves her in his own way. She does assassin type stuff for the vamp council even though they don't like her. Major war happening against the dark circle who are mostly the bad war mages who want to wipe out vamps.

Ah. I haven't read those. Thanks. I've only heard of them. They're probably somewhere buried on the TBR.

I think my favorites are Kate Daniels, Guild Hunter, The Hallows (Rachel Morgan), Women of the Otherworld and the Kitty series.

Of course I am sure I have forgotten some :-)

Whoa, I've got some reading to do. Looks like some fantastic stories.
Out of your favorite UF series - what makes it a favorite? Twisty/deep plot, unforgettable characters, snappy dialogue, fast action, other? (I'm partial to vampires with swords and more action, but don't let that influence anyone in responses, if any).

Oh, I forgot to add in the Guild Hunter series and Kitty Norville. Like you Dawn I'm sure there are more I could add. LOL

J Gordon, I think it is the characters and their interactions with friends and enemies that make it a fav. The odd sword fight doesn't hurt either. :D

So I'm in looking up what seems to be the consensus favorites of these authors to pick a few titles and I see some series are over twenty books long with "half" stories in between (absolutely great method by the way) - so I understand the spreadsheet dilemma noted above :)
... Now I'm wondering if I must read the books in the proper number sequence? Are there large multi-book arcs with important secondary characters (heroes and/or villains) that change the primary character or are many of the series written in episodes focused on the incident within so sequence doesn't matter too much?
I have some favorite covers so far:

For the Laurel K Ham books the only good ones are the first 3 or so. I'd say read in order until you can't stand them, but if you start somewhere in an upper number you'll miss the only good ones.

I don't know the other series so I can't give an opinion.

Sandra wrote: "Cassie Palmer is the series name, first book . She is dhampir, father is a bigwig council vamp and he loves her in his own way. She does assassin type stuff for the..."

That synopsis is Dorina Basarab the spin-off. Cassie Palmer is the new Pythia and she is trying to come to terms with her new powers and to stop a war between the white and black circles.

You are so right Mike!!!!!!

Glad someone was paying attention :)

*slaps hand .... Owwww*

Must be because I wasn't thinking straight and I recently re-read Dori's books in prep for Fury's Kiss and there is the crossover as well.

@ J Gordon
To your first question I think I like a combination of all that you mentioned. I need a fast moving plot not like breakneck speed but it needs to steadily move. I also like characters that are witty and have an interesting POV for example in Kate Daniels there is a woman who is half blind but she likes to race cars, she is also a tiger but hates the sight of blood and she is very smart. But these issues make sense she is over compensating in some areas for some of her choices...hopefully you will see me point. And we all love a good fight scene :-)

I find I need to read series books in order as that is the only way you can see character progression. Even if you read those with different lead characters then you will miss points about the central story arc...Plus if you don't then there will be spoilers.

Okay, I'm doing this...

I have not one but several favourite UF series (as some of you do).

Jim Butcher ~ The Dresden Files
Kim Harrison ~ The Hollows
Kevin Hearne ~ The Iron Druid Chronicles
Karen Marie Moning ~ The Fever Series

I see myself as a kind of an addict, as far as these series are concerned.... ;D

hmmm....I might really be a major book snob!!! I ran into someone that saw that I had a nook. He stopped me to ask about if I liked it and if it was worth the price. He then started going on and on and on about books. When he asked me what I was currently reading, I said Patricia Briggs. He didn't know who she was. I told him that she writes Urban Fantasy. He then started gushing about how much he LOVES Urban Fantasy and that his favorite authors in the genre are J.R.R. Tolkien, Orson Scott Card and George R.R. Martin. It was so hard for me to just nod my head and smile rather than telling him that he's an idiot since NONE of these authors writes Urban Fantasy. Yeah, pretty sure this does make me a reading snob!

Kas wrote: "hmmm....I might really be a major book snob!!! I ran into someone that saw that I had a nook. He stopped me to ask about if I liked it and if it was worth the price. He then started going on and..."

Well, to be fair, there wasn't an 'urban fantasy' genre until a few years ago (even though there were books that fit the category). He probably thought you meant fantasy. There STILL isn't a library catalog category for it...

Hands down, The Dresden Files, by Jim Butcher. Nothing else comes close. But after that:

Seanan McGuire's Toby Daye series
Rachel Caine's Weather Warden series
Kim Harrison's Rachel Morgan/Hollows series
Ilona Andrews' Kate Daniels series
Ilona Andrews' On The Edge series
Maggie Stiefvater's Raven Boys series
Faith Hunter's Jane Yellowrock series
Rob Thurman's Leandros Brothers series
Patricia Brigg's Mercy Thompson series
Patricia Brigg's Alpha & Omega series
and probably a crossover with horror, but I'd also add
Simon R. Green's Tales From the Nightside series

I could go on, but to me, these are the best I've read that don't lean toward paranormal romance.

Unholy Ghostsseries by Stacia Kane is another great series. Urban fiction/dystopian

My top three right now:

1. Kim Harrison - Rachel Morgan series
2. Patricia Brigss - Mercy Thompson series
3. Seanan McGuire - October Daye series.

Though the Rachel Morgan series is the only one where I buy the book in all its forms: HC, MMP, audio, and ebook.

My current favorite is Mark Tufo and his zombie fallout series. 99% of all my books are audiobooks. You know it's a good audiobook and you are still sitting in the driveway 5 minutes after you arrived home. Others not mentioned much the dark hunter books, Chloe neill, Ilona Andrews, and so many others.

I haven't heard of Mark Tufo. I'll hv to check those out.

Oh I also love Seanan McGuire's October Daye and Incryptid series and Carrie Vaughn's Kitty Norville series followed by Chloe Neill's Chicagoland Vampires and Jaye Well's Sabina Kane. Jen Bennett's Aracadia Bell series is growing on me too.

Merinda wrote: "Marcia wrote: "Hands down, The Dresden Files, by Jim Butcher. Nothing else comes close. But after that:

Seanan McGuire's Toby Daye series
Rachel Caine's Weather Warden series
Kim Harrison's Rachel..."

I'm in the UK and I struggle to get the October Daye books :( Really enjoyed the first though.

May fav series has to be Mercy Thompson. Although Adam doesn't particularly float my boat for some reason.

The fever series comes close behind, if not joint lead. Thankfully I was late discovering this one, and could buy the series one after another, otherwise those cliffhangers would have killed me.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone series by Laini Taylor
The Fever Series by Karen Marie Moning
Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews

My favorite series?
1. Kate Daniels
2. Is a tie: Mercy Thompson & Alpha&Omega
3. Vampire Academy (young adult)
4. Another tie: Elemental Assassin & The Dresden Files

Pippa, I'm in Australia and I frequently buy books 2ndhand from US - Better World Books, you could try them for the October Day books. Even if they don't have them at the moment, put them on your wishlist, cause they have a great turnover.

1) Rachel Vincent's Shifter series
2) Kim Harrison's Hollows series
3) Patricia Brigg's Mercy Thompson series
4) Ilona Andrews Kate Daniels series

Kim Harrison's Hollow series

Sandra wrote: "Pippa, I'm in Australia and I frequently buy books 2ndhand from US - Better World Books, you could try them for the October Day books. Even if they don't have them at the moment, put them on your w..."

Thanks Sandra.

I think that's how I got the first one. I'll take another look for the second book. I wonder why they aren't freely available?

Pippa wrote: "...May fav series has to be Mercy Thompson. Although Adam doesn't particularly float my boat for some reason..."


I am so glad it is not just me. I mean Adam is ok but I just don't see it.

Dawn wrote: "Pippa wrote: "...May fav series has to be Mercy Thompson. Although Adam doesn't particularly float my boat for some reason..."


I am so glad it is not just me. I mean Adam is ok but I just don't s..."

I was Team Samuel. So, so sad when she chose Adam instead. I am still crossing my fingers for a Samuel&Ariana spin-off

Phew, there are others that aren't too hot on Adam too?! That makes me feel better. He's a bit... meh.

I didn't want Mercy with Samuel, so Adam by default, but my favorite wolves in the series are Ben and Bran. In fact Bran is my number one wolf.

I love the Mercy Thompson series!

For me my two top favorite UF series are Jeaniene Frost's Night Huntress which has sadly come to an end and Darynda Jones' Charley Davidson series .... There are other I really love too but those are my top two :)

Gale wrote: "For me my two top favorite UF series are Jeaniene Frost's Night Huntress which has sadly come to an end and Darynda Jones' Charley Davidson series .... There are other I really love too but those a..."

Night Huntress was awesome. Maybe we'll get some additional spin offs.

Mike wrote: "I didn't want Mercy with Samuel, so Adam by default, but my favorite wolves in the series are Ben and Bran. In fact Bran is my number one wolf."

Honestly I did not want her with anyone. I like her single with lots of friends.

I hate the idea that to be complete you have to be part of marriage...I am sure that is my own issue coming through.

I think my favorite series are

October Daye
Kate Daniels
Rachel Morgan
The Others

Dawn wrote: "Mike wrote: "I didn't want Mercy with Samuel, so Adam by default, but my favorite wolves in the series are Ben and Bran. In fact Bran is my number one wolf."

Honestly I did not want her with anyon..."
I agree. I would have been ok with her being by herself, or at least waited until the end of the series to get her together with Adam.

Mike wrote: "..I agree. I would have been ok with her being by herself, or at least waited until the end of the series to get her together with Adam"

That would have been awesome!

I didn't want Mercy & Samuel either. Just too manipulative for me. I like Adam but I think PB doesn't do him justice, so maybe she doesn't like him either. LOL.

And I do love Bran, bring on more Bran anytime. Probably why I love Alpha & Omega, cause he gets a good run there.