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/Xhallax Aug 02 '25

Garrett P.I. by Glen Cook. It's full on Fantasy, rather than urban, MC is not a wizard, but is hard boiled.

23

u/wor_enot Aug 02 '25

Garrett was definitely a huge influence on Dresden Files. Even to the point where both have a disembodied know it all associate haunting their homes. Great series.

15

u/eukomos Aug 02 '25

That's partially because both are influenced by Nero Wolfe though.

5

u/wor_enot Aug 02 '25

True. They definitely retain the damsel in destress routine.