Top 10 Urban Fantasy Tropes

Urban fantasy is legendary for its tropes. Contrary to popular belief, tropes aren’t a bad thing. When you understand them, they can be your superpower. In this video, I’m counting down the top 10 urban fantasy tropes. If you’re wanting to break into the genre or if you just want a quick tour of one of the hottest selling fantasy genres right now, this video’s for you.

Some of my favorite Urban Fantasy Books:

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
Storm Front (Dresden Files #1) by Jim Butcher
Justice Calling (Twenty-Sided Sorceress #1) by Annie Bellet
Moon Called (Mercy Thompson #1) by Patricia Briggs
Black Spark (Dark Magic Enforcer #1) by Al K. Line

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[mouktaralbert]

My favorite trope is the first one. I like when magic isn’t widely known or expected.

[lunareclipse]

My favourite trope is also mythical creatures living and working in a modern society and my least favourite trope is when vampires are described at love gods instead of monstrous and cunning like they are in The Dresden Files and The Witcher series.

[naomikathleen]

My least favorite trope is actually the creatures living and working in society. You’re right in saying that if done well it can be very intriguing and unique, my issue is that it feels like so many people have done this trope that the mythical creatures almost always fall into the, “my only real personality trait is being a supernatural being, ” trope. I love it though when the monsters actually function as monsters, less like an attractive vampire or werewolf and more like a man eating cryptid. I think the concept of horrifying monsters living right under our noses is exhilarating. I personally haven’t seen it done as often, but I think it offers some unique design for the creatures and set up of the world. I’m more of a comic writer, though, so a lot of my love for it comes from the character design aspect, too. Sorry for that essay, love your videos though!!

[brotherofAnubus]

Favorite trope: mundane sidekick who gets dragged into things
Least fav: end of the world scenario.

[azureroro]

Sorry for broken English. Hi I'm Korean and l really love your youtube channel. and I really want to be a fantasy novelist. well, i read some English fantasy novel and korean fantasy novel. Then i realize they are different. In Korea, Urban fantasy has some stereotype. Thesedays, Korean fantasy hero usually die first, and then go back to past with new life. And they use their future knowledge. They live like celebrity.

My favorite part is monster hunting. It is similar to world of warcraft's game(specially boss fight). Magicians or hunters makes team and fight against strong monster.

My least favorite trope is conspiracy theory. well, some urbanfantasy has illuminati or freemason. They control world. But sometimes they are way too stupid and easily deafed by hero. That doesnt make sense and i like clever and strong enemy.

I really love your channel. when I almost give up writting i saw your channel. It really helps me a lot. And I want to be a novelist again after I watch this videos(Not English. I mean not yet.).

This weekend, i'll go to bookstore and try to find your books. Thank you for you nice videos.

[heavymetalelf]

Michael, I've been watching a lot of your videos lately. I have to say I'm so glad that you gave a hard clear delineation between urban fantasy and paranormal romance. It's so frustrating for me to see the urban fantasy genre saturated with paranormal romance books.

[Διόνυσος-ξξ]

You're like a writing version of Bob Ross 😁

[CeaselessEnemy]

my favorite trope is the "scooby doo gang". Group of friends that figure things out together, and it's campy and fun.

[satana]

I don't think the 1st person POV matters that much. I read "Fevre Dream" by George R.R. Martin, and I think it was the best Urban Fantasy book I've ever read, and it is in 3rd person POV. I couldn't put the book down and I ended up reading 400 pages in a day until it was finished in second day.

[johncromerbooks]

really interesting breakdown of tropes super useful; only one slight niggle it may be useful to note Cardiff is the capital city of Wales and has a metropolitan population of nearly half a million people . . .

[timbuktu]

I love to see a fantasy character in an absolutely mundane job-a Elf accountant, a Dwarf fast food cook.

[DOC]

Thanks. This has solidified that I’m on the right path with my book. First time writer here. I know my book idea has what it takes to be on the best seller list. I knew it was going to be a good book when I wrote a passage about a certain god that I thought was fictional and an original plot, to fit my story, was actually a true story! The detail was so minor that you wouldn’t have learned about it in grade school. I know I never heard, or read about this detail ever. It’s an exciting and spooky revelation lol

[OldManMoko]

This is amazing. Thanks. Also, it may have been said… But Cardiff is in wales.

[rigormortis]

Chidi! Sorry, my first time watching your videos and I noticed you looked like Chidi from The Good Place

[Jonas_Fox]

This helped me understand urban fantasy much better. I'll still need to figure out what aspects attract and repel me.

[sharonpearson]

I’m not a reader of urban fantasy really, but I’ll check out your book. I love the mythical creatures living in society trope and I also dislike the vampires being from Eastern Europe.

[SuperAmaton]

I honestly didn't know this genre had a name until recently, so i was just trying to find something that resemled Magic/Supernatural stuff in a modern Setting.
My favorite Trope: The diffrent Culture that these races bring with them. A Devil will have a diffrent livestyle and view of the world than a Vampire or Elf or Youkai or ... and a human will have trouble understanding how in the world these things are considerd normal.
And my least favorite Trope: The Overpowerd-Protagonist. When somebody for some nonsensical reason is above and beyond anybody despite being a mortal and facing creatures that are sometimes Centuries old. I do not mind if they are overpowerd since they had centuries to cultivate it, but the average 20-30 year old Protagonist? No. I hate it. It is diffrent however if he discovers some sort of secret flaw or something in the magical System or his Ancestors essentailly manufactured him to be that way. Then it gets better, but can still fail.

[grekoy]

Thanks for making this video. I'm new to urban fantasy and don't know much about it.

[sonicson]

Urban fantasy tv-shows/movies/video games:
American dragon Jake long
Class of the titans
Tmnt
Gargoyles
Toy Story
Harry Potter
Ben 10
DC universe
Marvel
Mortal kombat
Ninja Gaiden
Super sentai

[SA-hisc]

Just stumbled on your video, love your advice. Subscribed!