noir urban fantasy novel

One great noir urban fantasy novel is 'Neverwhere' by Neil Gaiman. It combines a dark, gritty urban setting with elements of fantasy like underground kingdoms and strange creatures. The story follows an ordinary man who stumbles into a hidden world beneath London. Another is 'The Dresden Files' series by Jim Butcher. It features a wizard detective in a modern, seedy city filled with magic and danger. And 'Sandman Slim' by Richard Kadrey is also a notable one, with its anti - hero protagonist navigating a dark, supernatural Los Angeles.

First, create a gritty urban setting. Think about a real - life city and add elements of decay, like rundown buildings and seedy alleyways. Then, develop a protagonist with a dark past or a troubled present. For example, a detective with a drinking problem or a magical being who's an outcast. Next, introduce some sort of mystery or conflict that has both mundane and supernatural elements, like a string of murders that seem to be the work of a vampire gang.

Well, in a fantasy noir novel, one key element is a shadowy and often corrupt setting. This could be a dark, magical city filled with secrets. Another element is the complex, morally ambiguous characters. They're not simply good or bad. And, of course, there's usually a mystery at the heart of the story. For example, a detective in a world of magic might be trying to solve a series of murders that seem to be linked to some ancient, dark magic.

One of the best urban noir novels is 'The Big Sleep' by Raymond Chandler. It features a hard - boiled detective, Philip Marlowe, navigating the seedy underbelly of Los Angeles. Another great one is 'Sin City' by Frank Miller. Its dark, gritty art and noir - like stories set in Basin City are really captivating. And 'The Wire' (which also has a novelization) can be considered in this genre as it shows the complex and often dark aspects of urban life in Baltimore.

Modern fantasy noir novels often incorporate elements of the supernatural or magic. For instance, in a traditional noir novel, the mystery might be centered around a crime in a normal, urban setting. But in a modern fantasy noir, like 'The Dresden Files', there could be a werewolf or a vampire involved in the crime.

Characteristics of good noir fantasy novels include a sense of fatalism. The characters may feel as if they are at the mercy of larger forces. In 'The Black Company' by Glen Cook, the mercenaries are often caught up in events beyond their control. There is also a prevalence of shadowy elements, both in the setting and the characters. The city in 'The City Stained Red' by Sam Sykes is full of dark alleys and hidden secrets. Plus, these novels often have a non - traditional view of heroism, where the so - called heroes may not be as noble as expected.

Another example is 'City of Stairs' by Robert Jackson Bennett. It's set in a world full of gods and magic, but with a noir - ish feel. The main character Shara Thivani is an agent who has to navigate a complex and often dangerous world filled with political intrigue and secrets.

Sure. 'The Maltese Falcon' by Dashiell Hammett is a classic that's great for beginners. It has a simple yet engaging plot about a search for a valuable statuette. 'The Postman Always Rings Twice' by James M. Cain is also good. It's a short and intense read that showcases the key elements of urban noir. And 'The Killer Inside Me' by Jim Thompson, which gives a disturbing but fascinating look into the mind of a killer in an urban setting.

A noir novel is typically a crime or mystery story that's dark, gritty, and often set in a morally ambiguous world.

To determine if 'The Wife' is noir fiction, you need to look at elements like a dark and gritty atmosphere, morally ambiguous characters, and a sense of fatalism. If these are present, it could be classified as such.