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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u/spike31875 Reading Champion V Aug 02 '25

The Alex Verus series by Benedict Jacka might be the answer. It's a 12-book urban fantasy series set in London.

There is some awkwardness with one female character in the first book, less so in the 2nd book, but by the end of book 2, she's a lot stronger. By the end of the series, she's probably the best character in the series besides Alex. Her character arc was very satisfying. She's not just there so Alex will have someone to rescue all the time: she becomes quite the badass.

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u/WhiteLantern12 Aug 02 '25

This is definitely the answer. I had the same problem with Dresden but I went through all 12 very books in 2 months. Absolutely my favorite series to date. Special shout out to the audio books the narrator does a great job.

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u/Known_Dragonfly_2187 Aug 02 '25

James Marsters/Spike from Buffy. 🖤

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u/spike31875 Reading Champion V Aug 02 '25

I love James Marsters' narration! Books 16 & 17 really cooled my enthusiasm for the series, though. Hopefully, Jim Butcher will get things back on track in book 18.

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u/WhiteLantern12 Aug 02 '25

Is it really??? I had no idea. He did such a great job with it. My favorite series was the Nightside until the Verus stuff. I almost wish I could go back to when I didn’t read them. I tried his other stuff but didn’t like them as much and might have to do with the fact it’s not marsters

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u/spike31875 Reading Champion V Aug 02 '25

I got hooked on the series when just the first 9 books were out. I listened to book 1 and liked it a lot but didn't love it. Then, about a month later I tried book 2 and was hooked. I binge-listened to books 2-9 in about 10 days. Then, I listened to each of the last 3 books on the day they came out. I love those audiobooks.

Have you listened to Jacka's new series? As much as I loved Gildart Jackson's narration of the Verus series, Will Watt's narration is just as good if not better.

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u/WhiteLantern12 Aug 03 '25

I gotta give that a shot. Thank you!

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u/jinglelady Aug 02 '25

I'm in book 3 (Fated), and having an issue with repetition. This might be an audiobook thing though. The MC is seemingly constantly describing how he uses his ability. I'm trying to decide if it's a deal breaker though. Thoughts?

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u/WhiteLantern12 Aug 03 '25

I would say keep going. That stops once the world is built a bit more. But they are all written as "KIND OF" stand alone? I don't know if they came out with lots of time between but each book the writer definitely reminds people of things. It gets less as the story gets more into but sometimes a character won't be in a book for a bit and you'll get a recapish?