The first three books (a full narrative arc) in Michelle West’s House War series is exactly this. Scrappy orphan girl gathers together a gang of fellow street urchins complete with grouchy older mentor figure.
Most of the Guardsmen books in Terry Pratchett's Discworld series would fit if you want some humor with your fantasy. I would also say the Ravnica novels from Magic the Gathering are super involved with city politics and though it's been a long time since I red them, I recall enjoying them.
The Craft sequence by Max Gladstone are a series of loosely connected High Fantasy stories (where magic suffuses everything the way technology does in the real world) each happening in a gigantic metropolis with a unique flavor and twist. My favorite so far is Two Serpents Rise, a city powered by a slumbering snake god (inspired by native American mythology).
I really enjoyed The Mask of Mirrors by M. A. Carrick about a young urchin/pickpocket who cons her way into a noble family by pretending to be their long lost niece in a very cool, almost Venetian city-state. The city has a ton of character and history and you get to see all sides of it. It's a great book!
Bioshock probably. It is definitely a metropolis setting. Underwater metropolis and an awful place. Tho it isn't about urchin story. It is a videogame.
You might enjoy The Thirteenth Hour by Trudie Skies! Had a very similar flair (tonnes more magic though), even with the "upper and lower" trope from Arcane! It's been one of my favourite reads this year :D
Mordew by Alex Pheby is absolutely this, complete with Dickensian-style urchin, taverns, a zoo, a city within a city, and a sequel coming out this summer.
The War for The Rose Throne Series by Peter Mclean, not exactly a metropolis but very very fun. The usual tagline is peaky blinders with magic but it's a lot more fun
Hello. I am writing a book called foreshadow, and it's rather similar to arcane, with a bunch of kick ass girls and fantasy Citys. It's still in the early stages but if you want to witness it being made before I try to publish it here it is.
If you haven't read The Lies of Locke Lamora, now's the time! It's very city-based, with lots of flashbacks to Locke's urchin childhood.
Thanks, yeah I have read it and loved it for that reason amongst others!
Check out Foundryside by Robert Jackson Bennett and or City of Ash by Daniel Abraham
Also the Divine Cities Trilogy, also by Robert Jackson Bennet.
Came here to suggest Foundryside.
The Black Iron Legacy series by Gareth Hanrahan sounds like it's up your alley. The first book is The Gutter Prayer.
China Miéville's 'Perdido Street Station'
Jade City by Fonda Lee
The first three books (a full narrative arc) in Michelle West’s House War series is exactly this. Scrappy orphan girl gathers together a gang of fellow street urchins complete with grouchy older mentor figure.
One of my favorites!!
Most of the Guardsmen books in Terry Pratchett's Discworld series would fit if you want some humor with your fantasy. I would also say the Ravnica novels from Magic the Gathering are super involved with city politics and though it's been a long time since I red them, I recall enjoying them.
The Nights Watch books and Going Postal were my favourite Pratchett books. Really got you in deep into Ankh-Morpork. I’ll check out Ravnica, thanks
The Tower of Babel series by Josiah Bancroft, the first book is Senlin Ascends. One gigantic tower with each layer like it’s own city.
Thanks, I listens to the series on audible. Loved it!
Low Town Trilogy by Daniel Polansky.
The Craft sequence by Max Gladstone are a series of loosely connected High Fantasy stories (where magic suffuses everything the way technology does in the real world) each happening in a gigantic metropolis with a unique flavor and twist. My favorite so far is Two Serpents Rise, a city powered by a slumbering snake god (inspired by native American mythology).
I really enjoyed The Mask of Mirrors by M. A. Carrick about a young urchin/pickpocket who cons her way into a noble family by pretending to be their long lost niece in a very cool, almost Venetian city-state. The city has a ton of character and history and you get to see all sides of it. It's a great book!
Dance of the Rings by Jane S. Fancher (Starts with Ring of Lightning). Not all the action is in the big city, but a lot is.
Bioshock probably. It is definitely a metropolis setting. Underwater metropolis and an awful place. Tho it isn't about urchin story. It is a videogame.
The Creature Court trilogy by Tansy Rayner Roberts has a very strong sense of place, and the city world building is really interesting and unique.
You might enjoy The Thirteenth Hour by Trudie Skies! Had a very similar flair (tonnes more magic though), even with the "upper and lower" trope from Arcane! It's been one of my favourite reads this year :D
Garrett, P.I by Glen Cook, if you like kitchen sink/D&D fantasy and private decks.
The city by Stella Gemmell.
Mordew by Alex Pheby is absolutely this, complete with Dickensian-style urchin, taverns, a zoo, a city within a city, and a sequel coming out this summer.
Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson
Videogames: Dishonored, Bioshock, Disco Elysium
Imajica by Clive Barker
The God Catcher by Erin M Evans (and the entire Waterdeep series by various authors).
Alot of the earlier books in Brust's Taltos series are set in an urban area though its considerably less steampunkish than Arcane.
How about: The Nine by Tracy Townsend. I think it has quite the Arcane vibe.
Garrett, P.I by Glen Cook, if you like kitchen sink/D&D fantasy and private decks.
The War for The Rose Throne Series by Peter Mclean, not exactly a metropolis but very very fun. The usual tagline is peaky blinders with magic but it's a lot more fun
Mistborn, street urchin wrecks the world. She's not crazy as jynx but shes a fucking beast.
Hello. I am writing a book called foreshadow, and it's rather similar to arcane, with a bunch of kick ass girls and fantasy Citys. It's still in the early stages but if you want to witness it being made before I try to publish it here it is.