Genre guide · Fiction
Urban Fantasy: word count & book length
How long a urban fantasy book should be, which trim sizes suit it and what that means in printed pages. Typical length: 75,000–100,000 words.
About urban fantasy
Magic and supernatural creatures in a contemporary city, often with a first-person, wise-cracking protagonist and a mystery or thriller structure.
Printed length in recommended trim sizes
| Trim | Pages at 11 pt | Spine (white) |
|---|---|---|
| 5.5 x 8.5 in Digest | 292–398 pages | 0.66–0.9 in |
| 6 x 9 in US Trade | 258–348 pages | 0.58–0.78 in |
Page counts for these lengths
Tips for this category
- Fast release cadence matters more than length in this category.
About Urban Fantasy
Urban fantasy is a subgenre of fantasy, placing supernatural elements in a contemporary urban setting. The combination provides the writer with a platform for classic fantasy tropes, quixotic plot-elements, and unusual characters without demanding the creation of an entire imaginary world. Precursors of urban fantasy are found in popular fiction of the 19th century and the present use of the term dates back to the 1970s. Much of its audience was established in the 1930s–50s with the success of light supernatural fare in film and, later, television. The genre's current publishing popularity began in 1980s North America, as writers and publishers were encouraged by the success of Stephen King and Anne Rice.
From the Wikipedia article “Urban fantasy”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Most-published urban fantasy works in Open Library
| Title | Author | First published | Editions |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Gods | Neil Gaiman | 2001 | 72 |
| Dead Until Dark (Sookie Stackhouse, #1) | Charlaine Harris | 2001 | 38 |
| Storm Front | Jim Butcher | 2000 | 22 |
| The Wolf Gift | Anne Rice | 2012 | 21 |
| Fool Moon | Jim Butcher, Mark Powers | 2001 | 19 |
| A Darker Shade of Magic | V. E. Schwab | 2015 | 17 |
| Kraken | China Miéville | 2010 | 16 |
| The Raven King | Maggie Stiefvater | 2016 | 12 |
| Aru Shah and the City of Gold | Roshani Chokshi | 2021 | 12 |
| Lost Souls | Poppy Z. Brite | 1992 | 11 |
Open Library lists 242 works under this subject.
Frequently asked questions
How long should a urban fantasy book be?
What trim size is best for urban fantasy?
Sources & data
- Subject statistics from Open Library.
- Summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).