Not all fantasy is like Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter. The fantasy genre has many subgenres one of which is urban fantasy. This subgenre is usually attributed to books such as The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, Fire and Hemlock by Diana Wynne Jones, and The Modern Faerie Tale series by Holly Black. What are the criteria for a book to be called an urban fantasy?
American Gods is probably urban fantasy. This genre is typically defined by an urban setting, small town America, the city, the suburbs, wherever, as long as it is in the real world. It is also often characterized by the supernatural such as werewolves, zombies, and vampires, though I think it is more complex than that. I recommend looking into A Short History of Fantasy. It is an excellent book. – Travis Kane10 years ago
The mortal instruments series and the Jim Butcher books both come under this title as well, dealing with supernatural elements and creatures within a city. – Tyler McPherson10 years ago
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