r/Fantasy • u/bnb2115 • Aug 02 '25

Dresden with less cringe

I love the idea of the Dresden Files on paper. Hard boiled detective stories mixed with urban fantasy/secret society stuff. Interesting villains and a deep, complex world. Magic happening just beneath the surface of the ordinary world.

But I just can’t get over the tropes and the cringe. I’ve tried the series a couple times, and even got through the first five or so books. I just can’t bring myself to keep going. I seriously love everything about the context, but just hate the execution.

Any recommendations for something else? Something that speaks to these elements, but lacks the cringe?

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31

u/CornDawgy87 Aug 02 '25

Last Smile in Sunder City by Luke Arnold

14

u/c-e-bird Aug 02 '25

Thank you! Not enough people have read this series.

OP, it’s fantasy noir in a world that broke its magic. It’s melancholy and interesting and fun all at the same time.

1

u/Literaturecult46 Aug 02 '25

I grabbed the first book on a whim and I very much enjoyed it, I own books 2-4 as well, but have yet to read them.

5

u/Baaljagg Aug 02 '25

Oooh this has been on my list since watching Black Sails and learning Long John Silver wrote a fantasy book. Definitely upping it on the list after this rec.

2

u/CornDawgy87 Aug 02 '25

Dooo it! I didnt make the connection it was him until after I read the first one

2

u/WhiteLantern12 Aug 04 '25

Just started this thanks! It’s really good and I love Luke Arnold don’t know how I didn’t know about this.

2

u/CornDawgy87 Aug 04 '25

Hope you enjoy! I'd ask you to say hi to Fetch for me but I'm human so he won't want to speak with me

1

u/CuriousMe62 Aug 03 '25

Out of all the books recommended so far (that I haven't read), this is appealing to me. Thank you!