Look, the heyday of the badass urban fantasy detective hero is over. The publishes arnt putting out 15 books a year with rear views of women in leather jackets holding swords. All the angry 20 someting who owe so much to vicky nelson and anita blake have grown up or calmed down. The established series are still kicking. But I don't see as many new girls running around with diy silver bullets and crosses tucked in thier bras.
Don't get me wrong, I can get all the supernatural romance I want. The sexy vampire trope will endure long after im dead.
But I miss the noir aspect, the murders with murky motive, the simple favors complicated. The flipped script of the Femme fatal as the the PI and the alpha male matched in wits if not always im power. I like the supernatural summits at Sizzlers and the demon summoning in dorm rooms. And I love how much each series was a love letter to its city! Even cities I think of as shitty were rendered magical by the love of these authors and thier charecters.
And yeah, a lot of the series I read were a little to found of making shit up about other cultures mythological especially native American and african diaspora religios.
And there was a rather toxic strain of not like other girls/cool girl that I can acknowledge. But there was also something freeing about the girls who were mouthing off and doing it afraid.
But god do I love the genre and miss it
They were fun mystery/adventure/political thriller that allowed for delightfull blend of magic and pop culture reference.
I think they have been replaced by Isekai's (which are also good)
But I miss getting a new book with a new hothead in her combat boots ready to fight for her city even as her impulsively leads her into stupid situations.
