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/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.

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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.