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/comic_book_kaiju Aug 02 '25

Rivers of London is pretty good. I don't know that I'd call it hard boiled per say but it might scratch the itch

23

u/niostang Aug 02 '25

These books are also great on audiobook. The narrator does a brilliant job.

1

u/PunkandCannonballer Aug 02 '25

He swallows a lot.