Dive into the shadowy streets of Black London, where magic crackles in the air and danger lurks around every corner! Caitlin Kittredge’s Black London series is a gripping urban fantasy saga that blends gritty noir with supernatural thrills. Follow detective Pete Caldecott and the troubled mage Jack Winter as they battle ancient forces, personal demons, and the murky line between good and evil in a London teeming with fey, demons, and dark magic.
With its atmospheric prose and flawed, unforgettable characters, this series pulls readers into a world where the supernatural underworld mirrors the chaos of modern life. Ready to explore a city where every spell has a cost? Let’s uncover the magic of Black London!
How Black London Began
Caitlin Kittredge, an American author with a knack for dark fantasy, launched the Black London series in 2009 with Street Magic. Inspired by pulp noir, Raymond Chandler’s hardboiled mysteries, and the gritty urban fantasy of Neil Gaiman, Kittredge crafted a London that’s both familiar and otherworldly. Her love for punk rock, comic books, and ghost stories shaped the series’ moody vibe, while her English degree fueled its lyrical, metaphor-rich style. What started as a tale of a detective and a mage grew into a six-book journey, plus novellas, that’s as much about human struggles as it is about magic.
The Heart of Black London
The series kicks off with Street Magic (2009), where Pete, a no-nonsense detective, reunites with Jack, a heroin-addicted mage she thought was dead. They dive into a kidnapping case that pulls them into the fey-filled Black, a supernatural shadow-world. Demon Bound (2009) ups the stakes as Jack’s past bargains with demons threaten their lives. Bone Gods (2010) sees Pete grappling with Jack’s absence and a necromancer’s plot, while Dark Days (2013) wraps the series with an apocalyptic battle against world-ending forces.
Kittredge’s London is a character in itself—dark, dank, and pulsing with ancient magic. Themes of addiction, redemption, and the cost of power weave through the narrative, with Pete’s Weir abilities (channeling primal magic) and Jack’s crow-mage connection to Morgana adding depth. The series’ noir tone, laced with Jack’s sardonic humor, keeps it grounded, while its complex mythology—demons, fey, and witch hunters—sparks the imagination. Fans praise the raw, flawed humanity of Pete and Jack, whose evolving bond feels like a beacon in the darkness.
Why Black London Resonates
Black London carved a niche in urban fantasy for its unapologetic grit and emotional depth. Readers on Goodreads and Amazon rave about its vivid world-building and the push-pull dynamic between Pete and Jack, which grows from mistrust to a partnership strong enough to face apocalyptic threats. Though not a bestseller, the series has a cult following for its bold take on magic and morality, influencing later urban fantasy works that embrace flawed heroes and dark settings. Its legacy lies in proving that fantasy can be both thrilling and deeply human.
- First Book: Street Magic (2009)
- Total Books: Six, plus novellas
- Genre: Urban Fantasy/Noir
- Setting: Supernatural London
Ready to get lost in a world of magic and mayhem? Grab Street Magic and step into Black London’s spellbinding streets!