I am often asked what the difference is between paranormal romance and urban fantasy since I write both—The Nightcreature Novels are my paranormal romance series—Blue Moon, Thunder Moon etc—and The Phoenix Chronicles is my new urban fantasy series that begins this week with Any Given Doomsday.
Paranormal romance has one hero and one heroine. The book is primarily a romance, with the relationship and the plot resolved in that book, though characters can continue, usually secondary characters in other books. Most paranormal romances are told in the 3rd person, although my series was told in the first person. They can be set in the past, present or future. Paranormal romances can be both light or dark. The line between good and evil is very clearly defined with the hero and heroine being firmly on the side of good—although there may be some question about one or the other’s allegiance, but that is resolved by the end of the book. Paranormal romances have more romantic covers with the hero and the heroine or sometimes just the hero.
In the first book of my paranormal romance series, Blue Moon, Officer Jessie McQuade has seen plenty in her years on the force—but nothing as intriguing as the gorgeous, naked man she encounters while tracking a rogue wolf. Professor Will Cadotte is a Native American activist. He’s also the only man capable of distracting Jessie from her work. And for a cop, distraction—no matter how pleasurable—can be deadly. It’s against Jessie’s better judgment to accept Will’s help in her investigation, yet she soon finds herself doing exactly that—and more. Will’s dark, penetrating eyes see into a part of Jessie’s soul she never knew existed. It’s exhilarating…and terrifying.
Now, as a town’s deepest secrets come to light, no one is safe: not friends, lovers, or strangers. And as Jessie follows a bloody trail to the shocking truth, she’ll have to decide whom she can trust when the moon is full…
Other examples—Sherrilyn Kenyon, Christine Feehan, Lynsay Sands
Novels of urban fantasy have a continuing character—usually a heroine but can be a hero, who is of the kick ass variety. There is often more than one love interest and therefore the relationship is not resolved in one book, sometimes neither relationship is ever resolved and more may be added in future novels. In urban fantasy, there is a finer line between good and evil. One or more characters may be anti-heroes. The heroine may have a relationship, romantic or otherwise, with someone from the dark side. Relationships and plotlines continue into other books. Urban fantasy is usually told from the first person point of view of the main character. Most urban fantasy novels have contemporary settings in familiar urban arenas. They are usually very dark. These covers are more mainstream in tone having concept covers or heroine only covers, body part covers.
Darkness will summon her…
Elizabeth Phoenix once used her unique skills as a psychic to help in the Milwaukee Police Department’s fight against injustice. But when Liz’s foster mother is found viciously murdered—and Liz is discovered unconscious at the scene—her only memory of the crime comes in the form of terrifying dreams…of creatures more horrific than anything Liz has seen in real life. What do these visions mean? And what in the world do they have to do with her former lover, Jimmy Sanducci?
To places she’s never been before…
While the police question Jimmy in the murder, Jimmy opens Liz’s eyes to a supernatural war that has raged since the dawn of time in which innocent people are hunted by malevolent beings disguised as humans. Only a chosen few have the ability to fight their evil, and Jimmy believes Liz is among them. Now, with her senses heightened, new feelings are rising within Liz—ones that re-ignite her dangerous attraction to Jimmy. But Jimmy has a secret that will rock Liz to her core…and put the survival of the human race in peril.…
In my debut urban fantasy, Any Given Doomsday, available Nov. 4, readers are introduced to Elizabeth Phoenix, an ex-cop with psychic abilities who is drawn into an age-old supernatural conflict. Liz begins to have dreams of malevolent creatures disguised as humans. Only a chosen few have the ability to fight their evil, and Liz is now among them. She must travel from her hometown of Milwaukee to the gorgeous vistas of New Mexico, then on to the glittering world of Manhattan as she fights demons of Biblical proportions along with the two men in her life, both hot as hell and neither completely human.
Other examples-Laurel K. Hamilton, LA Banks, Kim Harrison, Kelley Armstrong
I enjoy both genres—both reading and writing them. My favorite thing about paranormal romance is the romance in the middle of incredible, supernatural forces. My favorite thing about urban fantasy is the darkness, the danger, the possibilities—not everyone gets out alive, not everyone stays dead.
Which do you prefer paranormal romance or urban fantasy and why?
*****Leave a comment for the chance to win a copy of ANY GIVEN DOOMSDAY! Good Luck! 🙂
As far as paranormal romance or urban fantasy I like both, I prefer them in a historical setting rather than a contemporary setting. For me contemporary is like the here and now, which I am living in. I really don’t want to read about what I can see around me. I want to read about the past mixed with the paranormal & fantasy, medieval, time travel. Give me a mix of that and I’m hooked!
Hi Ms. Handeland:
Interesting explanation with respect to the differences between PNR and UF genres. Your new series sounds wonderful.
I tend to blend my reading with respect to UF and Paranormal. I really like Kat Richardson’s, “Greywalker” series. Have you read her work? Her heroine ‘Harper Blaine’, is a tough, gritty and intelligent PI. Ms. Richardson has sculpted a facinating world for Harper that evolves with each book.
I also really enjoy dark PNR, Larissa Ione, Lara Adrian, Devyn Quinn, Lynda Hilburn, to name a few. I have to admit, I do tend to read more PNR though.
Great question!
Best Regards and Good Luck with your new series. I will add your book to my list. 🙂
I have not read very many historical paranormals, Tammy. A friend of mine writes a historical fantasy series though that is very good. Linda Winstead Jones–she’s written a really good series that I think began with The Fyne Witches.
I have Kat’s book here, Lea. But haven’t gotten to it yet. I have WAY too many books here that I haven’t gotten to yet!
Hi Lori!!!!
As you know I adore, love, am deeply moved by your paranormal series, THE NIGHTCREATURE NOVELS. I did have the great pleasure of reading ANY GIVEN DOOMSDAY. I have to say while it was good, I miss the straight or more of a focus on romance when reading Urban Fantasy. It was a great book and one fans are going to really enjoy especially Liz’s character. I have my favorite “man” but I won’t give his name yet.
Great explantation of the difference in the two. Me personally I’m finding I love Paranormal romance a bit more than Urban Fantasy. Having said that I won’t “not” read UF.
Great post and if you all haven’t gotten it yet, run out and get ANY GIVEN DOOMSDAY!
hugs,
WendyK
I love both paranormal and urban fantasy. I love the new world they create with them. Any given doomsday day sounds like a really good book.
I’m a broken record 😀 ’cause I respond always that it depends on the writing–and it does.
I prefer romance in the sense of a guaranteed, uplifting, hopeful ending–many an urban fantasy ends with the protagonists facing even worse odds and an even more uphill battle. But a well written story with characters that grab me and won’t let loose is a win-win, no matter the end.
Hey, Wendy!
I am hoping to be able to write more paranormal romance in the future. Just have to put something together!
Hi, Rebecca,
I am a fan of both too. Depends on the mood.
And like, Azteclady, the writing. I read by author not by plot or even genre. So if Harlan Coben writes a Regency any time soon, I’m there! LOL!
Hi Lori. I am a fan of both paranormals and urban fantasy. The characters are fascinating and I get swept into their world. Any Given Doomsday sounds wonderful.
Hi Lori, I’ve read that series by Linda Winstead Jones with the Fyne Witches and the 3 books after that has the Fyne Witches children. I loved all 6 books.
I don’t really prefer one over the other, though I have read more paranormal romance. The reason for that, though, is that I’ve just found Urban Fantasy thanks to L.L. Foster and her Servant series. I’m thoroughly enjoying it and have found a few other Urban Fantasy series to enjoy now as well. Now I can add yours to my list. 🙂
i like paranormal romance and just sort of figuring out the differnce of urban fanstasy
i like a little of evreything in a book, laughs, the feeling, of wantign to go to the end of the book, dying to see how it ends lol
Hope you enjoy AGD, Crystal.
Great, Tammy. I think Linda has 3 more books coming out right now about the Emperor’s children. The covers are gorgeous.
I enjoyed Lori’s new UF too, Karin. She was nice enough to give me a quote for AGD, too.
I agree, Tashat. It is so great when we find a book where we just can’t wait to get to the end, but then we don’t want it to end either.
Congrats on the new release, Lori. I enjoy paranormal romances. I just discovered Christine Feehan two months ago. I haven’t read an urban fantasy yet.
I LOVE paranormal romances, they are my favorite. They have an equal amount usually of romance, danger, action, and that halloween scary theme that I love.
xoxo
I enjoy both paranormal and urban fantasy.
It depends on the writing and the storyline, and my mood, lol, but I enjoy reading both paranormal and urban fantasy stories. I tend to lean more towards romance, and read a lot of paranormal books, but sometimes a darker, edgier story grabs my attention, and be just as satisfying a read.
Like what I’ve read so far about Any Given Doomsday, it sounds like a story I would enjoy.
I love paranormals and fantasy, so this would be a great addition to my books.
Congrats on the release!
I love both paranormal romance and urban fantasy. I’m really looking forward to reading Any Given Doomsday – I really enjoy your Nightcreature Books.
I enjoy reading both paranormal and urban fantasy, it just depends on the mood I am in. I switch around alot. I also love a good historical so if you add that setting to the books I would love them.
I love reading paranormal, I’m not sure if I’ve reading any urban fantasy. However, you book looks excellent. So I may have to give it a try.
i don’t prefer either. I like them both some more than others depends on the writer lol.
I like them both but lean towards paranormal romance because I love that HEA. I like romantic elements in my urban fantasy but that doesn’t always happen.
Thanks for all the comments. I agree with the HEA. I love that too and would like to write paranormal romance again soon.
I also love the really dark and dangerous world of UF so I hope y’all give Any Given Doomsday a try.
I like both paranormal and urban fantasy. I want to be able to suspend belief either way and really get immersed in the world of the book. And dark and dangerous is really what I like so this book sounds great.
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Thanks for stopping by and chatting everyone. The winner of the copy of ANY GIVEN DOOMSDAY was Greta. Greta, if you could send me your address at
LHANDEL120@aol.com
Thanks.
Congrats Greta! 😀
Lori, I already have this book so don’t put me in the contest! I love Urban Fantasy! Since I started them, I just get totally hooked into them. I just have to have patience waiting between books, LOL. This genre gives me something to look forward to, to re-visit the characters, watching the relationship continue to grow (if there is one in the book, most I read do have one), and re-visiting the world. Its so good to not have to let go right away after a book or 3 (trilogy).
I read a variety! I go from all different genres in romance and then to historical mysteries, urban fantasy and back to romances with another genre (like historical, then paranormal, then erotica romance, etc). I love those HEA! And too there’s stories I want to read where the ending is at the end of the book. It all goes with my mood. Thats why I rotate all I read.
So I couldn’t pick just one thats my favorite with paranormal romance and urban fantasy, but I do prefer that the urban fantasy has a ‘love interest or relationship’ within the series. I think thats mostly because I love reading romances so I still want something in the books, but too, I used to read like straight suspense and got burned out and when I discovered romance suspense, I then knew exactly what I was looking for (romance within the books).
I enjoy reading them both but I have to admit that paranormal has the edge because I just love shifter stories. This book sounds great. I like the unusual plot and that is a great cover.
Hi, Lori! I LOVED Any Given Doomsday. I was super lucky to get an ARC for reviewing and totally loved it. 😀 I CAN’T wait for the next one!
[/fan grrl moment]
LOL. 😀
I didn’t really realize that I had a preference until you asked this question. From the list of books I’ve read in the last few years and the books in my TBR pile, paranormals are about twice as many as urban fantasy.
ANY GIVEN DOOMSDAY sounds like a wonderful read!
I should be getting Any Given Doomsday in the mail any day now, looking forward to reading this new series, Lori.
I like both equally, paranormal and UF, and of course, depends on the writer as said. At one time, I was more into mystery and then went back to romance, so having less romance, but still some, along with the plot is fine with me, a bit more realistic, too. Sometimes I’m in the mood for everything to be tied up in that one story, but I also like those that continue on, like in real life or an ongoing TV show. I like that darker edge, good v. evil theme as a change from lighter reading, and an anti-hero can be so intriguing, just like your favorite bad-boy hero, but more so.
Hi,
Thank you for defining paranormal romance and urban fantasy.
I’m new to the romance neighborhood, and I’m inviting you to drop by and visit. I’m at http://nightsofpassion.wordpress.com
Hope to see you.
Sue
Susan Hanniford Crowley