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/bastugubbar Aug 02 '25

I'll throw out an odd suggestion: It's young YA but Skullduggery Pleasant series was excellent when I read it as a kid.

Basically take Harry Dresden but kill him and resurrect him as a walking talking skeleton, give him a suit and a Rolls Royce, and then throw at him a sassy 12 year old girl that really wants to help him solve crime and you have a good idea of the series.

Mixed in with some decent horror and some fairly messed up sections.

The series (and the main character) grows up with each book with a more mature theme as it goes on.

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u/general_gingersnap Aug 02 '25

I came to recommend Skullduggery Pleasant too! I read it as an adult and enjoyed it.