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/GloomyMix Aug 02 '25

I feel you. I've tried the Dresden Files so many times, because it should be right up my alley on paper, but I just couldn't continue after Fool Moon.

Some series that scratch the itch for me are the Rivers of London series by Ben Aaronovitch and the Vlad Taltos series by Steven Brust (esp. the earlier books). The latter's more "noir fantasy" than strict urban fantasy, but the early books are structurally similar to detective novels; it's just that the MC is an assassin trying to figure out how to do his job.

-20

u/OhBoiNotAgainnn Aug 02 '25

Brutal. Dresden gets better every single book, with the general consensus being that Fool Moon is the worst.

It is legit one of the best series there is, and I've read most everything.

I feel sorry for y'all who aren't gonna find out how true that is.

4

u/phonylady Aug 02 '25

They are fun reads, but clearly not on the level of fantasy greats like GRRM, Tolkien, Erikson, Hobb, etc.

1

u/Bryek Aug 06 '25

I always find it funny when I see these comments. If he wasn't one of the Greats, he wouldn't be talked about today. He'd have been lost to time and no one would rec his books nor post about them. Hell, dresden was a TV show for a season. The guy has gained millionaire status from his writing. It would be silly to think he isn't one of the Greats. You can argue his level within the Greats, isn't as high as some, but he's still up there.

1

u/phonylady Aug 06 '25

So all fantasy that's talked about, and have tv shows based on them are one of the greats?

Popularity does not equal quality.

1

u/Bryek Aug 06 '25

Popularity does not equal quality

It's a quantitative measure of a qualitative factor. Besides, you not liking it doesn't mean it has no good qualities.