Laura Anne Gilman

Laura Anne Gilman is particularly recognized for her urban fantasy series, especially the "Cosa Nostradamus" series, which blends magic with organized crime. She also has a strong reputation for her short fiction and editorial work in anthologies.

For readers interested in urban fantasy, a good starting point is "Hard Magic," the first book in her "Cosa Nostradamus" series. If you prefer a more traditional fantasy setting, her "Vineart War" series, beginning with "Flesh and Fire," is also a strong entry point.