Book picks similar to
To Kill a Unicorn by John Corwin


fantasy
urban-fantasy
fantasy-urban
3-good

Entrance Wounds


S.A. Magnusson - 2020
    He wanted to become a doctor. Help people. Save lives. But when his free-spirited sister Nora disappeared under suspicious and likely mystical circumstances, it threw a troll-sized wrench in Leo’s plans.The idea was simple. Drop out of med school. Make a deal with a gorgeous Fairy Queen. Accept the intoxicatingly powerful magical abilities she could bestow upon him. Use them to find Nora—and to put an end to anyone who had hurt her or stolen her away.The execution? A little sloppier. For a year now, Leo has been running a dubious magical medical practice while searching for clues as to Nora’s whereabouts—and only now has he stumbled on something promising. Word on the street is that a guild of wizards is meeting on the summer solstice, and Leo has caught wind that someone matching Nora’s description might be there.Just when Leo thinks he might have finally made the break in Nora’s disappearance that he’s needed for so long, something else is dumped into his lap. Someone in the city’s clubs spiking drinks with dark magic. Worse, across the Twin Cities, even more young women are going missing—and if Leo doesn’t find them, he’s not sure anyone will.

The Merging


John P. Logsdon - 2017
    In other words, his DNA soup includes vampire, werewolf, fae, werebear, hellion, demon, pixie (yes, pixie), and...well, everything!He's also the chief of the Las Vegas Paranormal Police Department (PPD).His job is to monitor all supernaturals and their involvement in the world of normals.Things are going pretty smoothly, until a new breed of supernaturals turns up. They're a lot tougher to deal with than your run-of-the-mill vampires and werewolves. These bastards are larger, stronger, and they laugh at wood and silver bullets.But fighting these ubernaturals really sucks when the mage who created them arrives on the scene. The dude is using demons to give him an inexhaustible supply of power, he's bent on world domination, and he simply adores inflicting pain. Even worse, though, is the fact that he walks around with his shirt open because he looks like a damn Chippendale's model.The odds are stacked against Ian and the Vegas PPD crew, but they'll have to defy those odds if they're to save the city of Vegas from cashing in its chips...

Inborn Magic


Kim McDougall - 2020
    It’s his job to keep strangers out. Especially when a demon is hell-bent on stealing their most precious resource—magic.Can Quinn lower his shields enough to let Bobbi in?Can Bobbi trust these witches to help her tame the wild magic inside her?No one can stand alone against the coming darkness.No witch can hide any longer.Inborn Magic, Book 1 of the Hidden Coven series. You’ll love this sizzling paranormal suspense because of its quirky characters and action-packed story.

Stone and a Hard Place


R.L. King - 2015
    Especially after a university colleague wants him to investigate a massive old house for things that go bump in the night. Still, Stone figures it’s an easy job: just turn up, put on a little show, and announce that the house is clean.Only it isn’t. A malevolent spirit is reawakening in the basement, imprisoned between dimensions and intent on escape. If it succeeds, countless people will die. Worse, a trio of dark mages want to help it break free so they can control it for their own sinister purposes. They’ll do whatever it takes—including seducing Stone’s young apprentice and using him against his master—to get what they’re after.With time running out, Stone has to stay alive long enough to uncover the spirit’s secrets. But even if he does, he fears that his own power won’t be enough to send it back.

Immortal Merlin, Books 1-4: Ignition, Winded, Floodgates, Buried


Emma Shelford - 2020
    Read the first four Musings of Merlin books here! "A marvelous modern take on the legendary Merlin... A definite must-read!" - Readers' Favorite "Ignition is... a unique take on [Merlin's] life without Arthur." - Bibliophilic Book Blog "Highly recommended for lovers of fantasy and the Merlin legends." - Amazon Reviewer Ignition, Book 1: Merlin, the legendary King Arthur’s mysterious magician, is immortal. As Arthur lay dying he promised to return. Merlin is holding him to his word. Forever young, forever waiting, Merlin lives an unassuming life in the city, keeping his identity and abilities secret from his friends. It's a long and lonely road, but Merlin is a patient man. It's now the 21st century and when the earth begins to groan with earthquakes, Merlin knows the situation is anything but natural. An eruption is imminent, but something—or someone—is forcing this volcano to erupt. Merlin must use his concealed talents and practiced charisma to save a town of innocent people before disaster strikes. He has the power to thwart a catastrophe—if time doesn’t run out first. Winded, Book 2: Merry Lytton, or Merlin as he was once known, has been waiting for the return of his friend King Arthur for centuries. It's an eventful wait: only weeks ago, he stopped a wicked plot to magically erupt a nearby volcano. Merry's latest worry is the revelation of his immortality—his modern-day friends are a little too curious. They do not need to know he has a history that could fill a library. Unknown to Merlin, the organization Potestas is furious at his geologic meddling, and an enraged member of the group is determined to wreak vengeance. For the first time in Merlin's ancient life, he must confront an enemy vastly more powerful than himself. Battling high in the skies and over mountain peaks, will Merlin's foe leave him breathless—forever? Floodgates, Book 3: Merlin the magician from centuries past now lives in Vancouver as an unremarkable young professor known as Merry Lytton. Merry keeps his secrets from friends and foes alike while infiltrating the nefarious organization known as Potestas, whose goal is to gain unimaginable power. Potestas' charismatic leader has welcomed Merry into the group, but for what purpose? Merry soon discovers that Potestas must recover King Arthur's holy grail to complete its plans, but the grail is firmly fused to the seafloor by magical means. As Merry is threatened by hostile spirits and hallucinations, will he succeed in stopping Potestas before they unleash the full fury of the ocean's power? Buried, Book 4: Immortal Merlin, known as Merry Lytton to his twenty-first century friends, is in a battle of wits with the powerful Potestas organization. Potestas is determined to gain unimaginable powers for its members, and Merry holds the key to unlocking this ambition. In exchange, Potestas promises to reveal crucial information on Merry’s heritage and answer questions he’s had for centuries. But when Merry learns that Potestas plans a human sacrifice, he is in a race against evil. Can he save an innocent life before a destructive new reality is thrust upon an unsuspecting world?

The Complete Chronicles of William Wilde


Davis Ashura - 2020
    Dead things stalk him, and he has no idea why. He thought he was simply another high school student, but it turns out he’s much more. And the powers percolating through the world know it. They’ve already killed his family, and if tested, they’ll murder him as well.It’s only the beginning of William’s troubles, especially when he’s drafted into a war stretching back thousands of years—one involving monsters, evil gods, and resurrected heroes.His magic might be the key to victory for both sides. William is the most powerful mage born in generations, and while some might aid him, can he trust their motives? There is Serena Paradiso who holds secrets about his heritage. And the warriors, Rukh and Jessira Shektan, whose faces shine with ancient knowledge. Who are they really?William doesn’t know. His only certainty is that if he doesn’t master his powers, he’ll only live long enough to see his world enslaved.This is the complete five-volume omnibus of The Chronicles of William Wilde, a series full of epic adventure and pulse-pounding excitement mixed with a dash of romance.

Heart of Gold


J.A. Cipriano - 2016
    I said magic. I didn't know it was a thing either.Now, an ancient artifact is the only thing keeping me alive, and to make matters worse, that artifact is what those cultists wanted.Still, I could have made a run for it, disappeared down into South America and spent the rest of my life on a beach. I nearly did it, but I didn't.Why? Because the cultists have offered me a trade. Come to them or they start killing kids

Spirelli Paranormal Investigations: Episodes 4-6


Kate Baray - 2020
    Unexpected clients, deadly magical objects, and a disturbingly aware house lead the duo to the edge of catastrophe more than once in this collection.

By Darkness Revealed


Kevin O. McLaughlin - 2011
    Instead, he finds himself in the midst of a deeper and more dangerous sorcery than he has ever encountered before.Things spiral out of control, and soon only Ryan's wit, will, and the talent he once hoped to leave behind stand between a nightmarish creature and everything he cares for.There is more to Ryan than meets the eye. But even with the powers he controls, can he stand against this darkness, or will it swallow him whole? About the Author When not practicing hobbies which include sailing, constructing medieval armor, and swinging swords at his friends, Kevin McLaughlin can usually be found in his Boston home. Kevin's award-winning short fiction is now available in digital form at all major ebook retailers. His debut novel, "By Darkness Revealed", is an urban fantasy available in ebook and print, as is the sequel “Ashes Ascendant”. His latest effort, the STARSHIP series, is ongoing. Scroll up and grab a copy today.

The Shape of Fire


D.K. Holmberg - 2020
     Serving as the Master of Spirit leaves Tolan with little time for anything beyond teaching. There’s no time for the research he enjoys, no time to explore ancient ruins, and no time to search for strange elementals in the land beyond the bleak waste where no magic can exist. During a Selection of new students, Tolan uncovers a strange village where the elementals are worshipped, along with power he didn’t believe possible within his homeland. When a threat all thought long ago defeated returns, Tolan finds his service to the Academy will require more than a Master of Spirit. Stopping this threat will need a master of all the elements—and the elementals, but can he still be that person?

Malison: The Complete Series


Jonathan Moeller - 2019
     But Roland and his men were drawn through a magical gate, to a new and strange world of magic and deadly creatures. A world where every man, no matter what his estate or rank, no matter how poor or common or rich and influential, was born with the power of magic. But the magic of this world carries a deadly curse, and the price for abusing its power is ruinous. This, then, is the story of the kingdom they built, and the knight who would decide its fate.

Dark Wizard's Case


Kirill Klevanski - 2019
    At first, everyone thought it was just a new game, however... Alexander Dumsky, or Alex Doom, was a dark wizard. At the age of seventeen, he was convicted of a litany of crimes so long that even the seasoned investigators, judges, and prosecutors involved in the case could only shudder. Not a single attorney could be found to defend him in court. But four years later, Alex was released from prison to become the Professor of Dark Magic. They'd thrown him into the deepest hole they could find, one built for the sole purpose of holding wizards, and then they let him back out again... Why him? Why then?

Death Rites


E.A. Copen - 2018
    Hunted by gods. Low on ramen.After getting out of prison, necromancer and curio shop owner Lazarus Kerrigan has done his best to stay out of trouble. Unfortunately for him, fate has other plans.When a woman is found dead on his doorstep, Laz’s checkered past makes him the prime suspect, especially since he was the last person to see her alive.Lazarus will have to find the real killer if he wants to clear his name. That means delving into the magical world of vengeful gods, conniving fae, and powerful witches, a world that once shunned him.But more than monsters go bump in the night in New Orleans, and what Laz awakens in his quest for answers might just be more than he bargained for. Baron Samedi is back in town, asking for Lazarus by name. And when the Baron of Death calls, answering is a dangerous game.NOLA may never be the same.

Silver Hollow Cozy Mysteries Box Set, #1-3


Leighann Dobbs - 2019
    Welcome to the small town of Silver Hollow with its bewitching magic and twisty mysteries.  Follow the Quinn cousins, Issy, Gray, Ember and Raine and their quirky familiars as they become embroiled in one paranormal mystery after another.  If you like enchanting witches, snarky familiars and hard-to-solve mysteries in a quaint small town setting, then this box-set is a must read.  This set includes the first 3 books in the series: Book 1: A Spell of Trouble Book 2: Spell Disaster Book 3: Nothing to Croak About

Rebel Witch


Ariel Hunter - 2020
    There’s only one thing you really need to know about the world I come from:the witch council is as archaic and backwards in their ways as they are powerful.So when they arrange for me to marry the most powerful warlock in the world so I can give them magic babies, I do what any sensible twenty-four-year old would do.I run.Or at least I try to.Turns out, when push comes to shove, they’re willing to bargain on the whole marriage thing.To keep my life the way I like it, I just have to do one little thing: claim my powers.Easier said than done when the unruly power awakened inside of me is a magic that shouldn’t exist.As if that wasn’t bad enough, my Mystic meant to guide me through the change is the very warlock I was supposed to marry.Now I’m faced with another bargain, and this time there’s no getting out of it.Train with Callan and learn how to control my magic, or face the Council’s wrath.One of these things is sure to end in my demise.The other? I give it a fifty-fifty shot.