Last week: Urban Fantasy.
This week: Paranormal Romance.
Your job: go to the comments. Pop in and list your top three favorite (read: “essential”) paranormal romance novels. Go go go! Do it now! I’ll wait here behind this two-way mirror, taking weird sciencey-flavored notes. *scribble scribble*
(And I’ll tally the urban fantasy ones later in the week when I have time.)
(HA HA HA HA have time.)
(That’s a good one, me.)
(High-five)
Kirsten says:
Affliction, Bad Mouth, Silver Bourne
July 15, 2013 — 12:22 AM
Jennifer says:
1. Twilight (don’t judge me :))
2. Black Dagger Brotherhood by J.R. Ward
3. The Fallen Angels Series by J.R. Ward
July 15, 2013 — 12:38 AM
Laura W. says:
🙂 I’m not judging. While Twilight isn’t on my “essential reads” list, it is definitely an essential book in that it helped define — well, maybe not define, but definitely popularize — paranormal romance as a genre.
July 19, 2013 — 6:03 PM
Sarabeth Tolbert says:
Bad Mouth, Angela McCallister. Killer intentions, Christie Silvers. Reaver, Larissa Ione.
July 15, 2013 — 12:59 AM
Jessa Slade says:
Others will throw out some of the best knows, so I’ll share my best from lesser-knowns who should become known to you all IMHO. I know these won’t make a compiled list, but somebody needs to skew the curve and it might as well be these writers.
Erin Kellison’s series, starting with SHADOW BOUND. The dark fantasy elements are excellent, and the romances are deep.
Danielle Monsch’s STONE GUARDIAN. Long-time PNR readers will like having something new with these Gargoyles.
Emma Jane Holloway’s A STUDY IN SILKS (not out quite yet) with the niece of Sherlock Holmes. Readers who like Meljean Brook’s Iron Seas books will like this, I think.
July 15, 2013 — 2:17 AM
22pamela says:
And and all J.R. Ward. Book 2 is beyond weird and not my personal, cup of tea…but still relevant in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series of 6.
July 15, 2013 — 3:11 AM
RavenBlackburn says:
Jeaniene Frost’s Night Huntress and Night Prince series. I know it is more than 3 novels, but please don’t make me choose!
Other than that, I like Charlaine Harris’ Sookie Stackhouse series. Once in a while even Twilight. Yes, I said it.
July 15, 2013 — 6:51 AM
Gaye Weekes says:
Any of Elizabeth Hunter’s Elemental World series, Kristie Cook’s Soul Savers series or Sylvia Day’s Renegade Angel series … looks like I’ll be googling J R Ward this afternoon too. Thanks!
July 15, 2013 — 7:09 AM
Troy L says:
I try to stay away here, but…
Shannon Butcher’s Sentinels
I got nothing else.
July 15, 2013 — 7:31 AM
brittneydherz says:
The Shiver series. if you haven’t read it its a good easy read much better than twilight. Although I did like them okay…
July 15, 2013 — 8:21 AM
Kait Nolan says:
Nalini Singh’s Psy-Changeling and Guild Hunter series. Marjorie Liu’s Dirk and Steele series. You should, btw, do one of these for Steampunk too.
July 15, 2013 — 8:45 AM
Chelsea Hart says:
Yay someone loves the Guild Hunter series by Nalini Singh too. Oh and I guess *whispers under breath* Twilight
July 15, 2013 — 2:52 PM
Envy Augustine says:
Karen Marie Moning’s Highlander series is satisfying. I particularly enjoyed The Immortal Highlander because it has the bad boy is bad except when it comes to you ’cause he’s got major feels for you trope. He’s also a Fae cursed human which is nice.
I prefer her later Fever series because it’s darker and is more action/sexual tension than romance. Fever is more urban fantasy, though.
July 15, 2013 — 9:08 AM
erimeh says:
1. The Darkest Night by Gena Showalter (Book One of the Lords of the Underworld series)
2. Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh (Book 1 of the Psy-Changeling series)
3. Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost (Book On of the Night Huntress series)
July 15, 2013 — 9:10 AM
Andrea Anderson says:
1. Karen Marie Moning ~ Fever series (so well-written)
2. JR Ward ~ Black Dagger Brotherhood
3. Sherrilyn Kenyon ~ Dark Hunters
i could go on & on… this is my favorite genre to read.
July 15, 2013 — 9:12 AM
Buffy Armstrong says:
Kresley Cole’s Immortals After Dark series and Gena Showalter’s Lords of the Underworld series.
July 15, 2013 — 9:13 AM
Lucie says:
Richelle Mead Succubus Blue series
Cynthia Hand Unearthly trilogy
July 15, 2013 — 9:55 AM
shannonB. says:
Fever Series by Karen Marie Moning
Black Dagger Brotherhood Series by J.R. Ward
Demonica & Lords of Deliverance (spin-off of Demonica) Series by Larissa Ione
July 15, 2013 — 10:00 AM
Dana W says:
1) Pride series by Shelly Laurenston
2) Psy-Changeling series by Nalini Singh
3) Dark Prince/Dark Melody/Dark Slayer by Christine Feehan (<– I know I'm cheating but I wanted to acknowledge a favorite series while highlighting some of my personal favorites)
July 15, 2013 — 10:11 AM
Luke says:
50 Shades of Green, the Chthulu-based parody by Chez Apocalypse <3
"Dark Chthulu lies dreaming… Of her."
July 15, 2013 — 10:15 AM
Lala says:
It hasn’t even gotten an agent yet. And the author is Serra Elinsen, silly! That’s not even the name of the book. It’s called Awaken or some stupid name like that.
July 15, 2013 — 1:19 PM
Julia M. says:
1. Jeaniene Frost- Night Huntress Series
2. Karen Marie Moning- Fever Series
3. J. R. Ward- Black Dagger Brotherhood Series
Others worth mentioning:
Karen Marie Moning’s Highlander series
Laurel K. Hamilton’s Anita Blake series (only the first 8 or so books.)
Kresley Cole’s Immortals After Dark Series
Looks like I’ll have to look up Gena Showalter, Larissa Ione, and Sherrilyn Kenyon. Thanks!
July 15, 2013 — 10:20 AM
Alessa says:
1. Black Dagger Brotherhood by J.R. Ward
2. Psy-Changeling by Nalini Singh
3. Dirk and Steele by Marjorie Liu
July 15, 2013 — 10:41 AM
Lauren Stone (@laurenistone) says:
um… I’m not sure if this counts but here ya go, a trio of Christopher Moore
Blood Sucking Fiends
You Suck
Lamb
July 15, 2013 — 10:57 AM
Katrina T. says:
Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
Night Huntress series by Jeaniene Frost
Fever Series by Karen Marie Moning
July 15, 2013 — 11:11 AM
Greg says:
I’ve not read much paranormal yet but I quite loved Deliah S Dawson’s Wicked as they Come…. And though its falls more into the steampunk genre Vampire Wars:Greyfriar is definitely one of my favorite books that focuses on romance…
July 15, 2013 — 11:18 AM
Leslie says:
3) Nice Girls don’t date Dead Men – Molly Harper
2) White Trash Zombie – Diana Rowland
1) Bitten – Kelley Armstrong
Each is the first in their series
July 15, 2013 — 11:33 AM
jnbradley says:
1.) Bitten – Kelley Armstrong
2.) Dead Until Dark (Sookie Stackhouse) – Charlaine Harris
3.) The Host – Stephanie Meyer (way better than Twilight)
July 15, 2013 — 11:46 AM
Monique says:
1.) J.R. Ward-Black Dagger Brotherhood Series
2.) Kresley Cole-Immortals After Dark Series
3.) Lara Adrien-Midnight Breed Series
July 15, 2013 — 12:16 PM
Lois Breedlove says:
Umm, how would you define the difference between these two groupings?
That said:
Elizabeth Hunter, Elemental World series
Shelly Laurenston, Pride series
Nancy Gideon, Shadows series
July 15, 2013 — 12:36 PM
Nikki says:
The best explanation I’ve seen said that if you can remove the romance and still have a viable plot, it’s probably urban fantasy. If not, it’s more likely to be paranormal romance. I’ve noticed that urban fantasy series tend to have a single main character who deals with a different ‘mystery’ in each book. Paranormal romance series tend to focus on a linked group of characters and each book will have a HEA for the main couple of the story.
July 15, 2013 — 6:25 PM
Jessie says:
1) The Black Dagger Brotherhood Series by J.R. Ward- My favorite is Lover Revealed.
2) The Dark Sword/ Dark Warriors Series by Donna Grant- My favorite is Untamed Highlander.
3) The Blud Series by Delilah S. Dawson- My favorite is Wicked As They Come!
July 15, 2013 — 12:38 PM
Lala says:
Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause
Black Dagger Brotherhood by J.R. Ward
Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce
July 15, 2013 — 1:29 PM
Jules says:
Have you been watching Felicia Day’s Vaginal Fantasy Book Club? 🙂 (It’s on youtube, there are 18 episodes so far, and they are FUN! Four smart, funny women drinking and talking paranormal romance. Their forums are on Goodreads.)
Cuz I have. So far, I’ve only read one, Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey. I’m not really a romance girl, but I like it a lot. Very well written and the world building is subtle and thorough. Will definitely pick up the rest of the series.
Among many others, they also recommended The Iron Duke (among many others), which is Steampunk. Haven’t read that one yet but I’m looking forward to it.
July 15, 2013 — 3:26 PM
Tina Moss says:
1) Psy-Changeling series by Nalini Singh
2) Lords of the Underworld series by Gena Showalter
3) Black Dagger Brotherhood by J. R. Ward
All series, but you can pick pretty much any books from those series. Amazing!
July 15, 2013 — 3:52 PM
Vivi Anna says:
Jeanine Frost’s Night Huntress series
Kresley Cole’s Immortals After Dark
Sherrilyn Kenyon Dark Hunter series
July 15, 2013 — 3:58 PM
Tems says:
1) Psy-Changeling Series by Nalini Singh
2) Sunshine by Robin McKinley
3) White Trash Zombie by Diana Rowland!
July 15, 2013 — 4:01 PM
Ronda K. Reed says:
Here are my favorite paranormal fantasy/romance choices, listed in order of how I ranked their awesomeness:
1) J R Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series–hoping for a film version of this one! I liked the Fallen Angels series too, but not as much.
2) Kresley Cole’s Immortal After Dark Series was awesome.
3) Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dark Hunter’s run a close race with K C’s.
4)Gena Showalter’s Lords of the Underworld was great, too…mainly listed last only because someone had to be!
July 15, 2013 — 4:07 PM
im_not_a_lizard says:
Wicked Lovely series – Melissa Marr (these deal with rape (male and female), drug abuse, violence and a whole other host of controversial subjects – all written believably. By far my absolute favourite of the Paranormal Romance boom).
13 to Life series – Shannon Delaney (Really interesting werewolf-based novels – hard to get outside of America but beautifully written and executed).
Need series – Carrie Jones OR Faeriewalker Trilogy – Jenna Black (these tie in 3rd place for me – are similarly set in Fae worlds with lead char’s who are a little more than human but also deal with difficult subject matter smartly and are definitely worth a read).
July 15, 2013 — 4:15 PM
Momduckie says:
Ok, I know most everyone will mention J. R. Ward’s Brotherhood because let’s face it, she’s the Queen. That being said, I’m giving you my 2, 3 & 4 in no particular order (because I couldn’t decide even if you threatened to take away my book collection!).
*Lara Adrian’s Midnight Breed
*Thea Harrison’s Elder Races
*Larissa Ione’s Demonica/Lords of Deliverance
Yes, I do see that the request was for the top three novels but we, as PNR reader’s, are incapable of really breaking it down beyond a series vote. It’s cruel and unusual to ask it of us. So we ignored the request. ; )
July 15, 2013 — 4:25 PM
Bran Gardner says:
I’m not very familiar with paranormal romance. I read quite a few of Hamilton’s Anita Blake books. But I absolutely love the WVMP series and the Shade trilogy by Jeri Smith-Ready.
July 15, 2013 — 4:26 PM
Dale says:
Heart of Stone – C.E. Murphy. It has gargoyles!
Dead Witch Walking – Kim Harrison. Witches and demons and a pixie.
Bad to the Bone – Jeri Smith-Ready. Vampires pretending to be humans pretending to be vampires. At a radio station.
July 15, 2013 — 5:18 PM
Susan says:
#1 Nalini Singh’s Psy-Changeling, starting with first book Slave to Sensation
#2 Thea Harrison’s Elder Races, especially book one Dragon Bound
#3 Jacqueline Frank’s Nightwalkers, my fave being Noah, but start with Jacob
July 15, 2013 — 6:19 PM
Pat Whitney says:
First Grave on the Right -Darynda Jones
Lover Awakened – J. R. Ward
Derangement – Karen Marie Moning
July 15, 2013 — 7:55 PM
Veronica says:
YES! First Grave!
I’ve read every Moning book, and I like Darynda Jones better.
July 16, 2013 — 12:01 AM
Pat Whitney says:
Damn spell check…Dreamfever – Karen Marie Moning.
July 15, 2013 — 8:03 PM
katydidinoz says:
1) Slave to Sensation – Nalini Singh
2) Bitten – Kelley Armstrong
3) Shadowfae – Erica Hayes
3) Demon Angel – Meljean Brook
3) Heartless – Gail Carriger
3) Full Moon Rising – Keri Arthur
3) The Smoke Thief – Shana Abe
3) Fantasy Lover – Sherrilyn Kenyon
3) Shadow Touch – Marjorie Lu
….I’m going to stop now. I think. I might come back 🙂
July 15, 2013 — 9:26 PM
Theresa Meyers says:
Anything by Yasmine Galenorn, but in particular her Otherworld series featuring three kick ass half-fae sisters who work for the Otherworld Intelligence Agency.
Blackdagger Brotherhood series by J.R. Ward
…and my own vampire Sons of Midnight mini series for Harlequin (vampires created by virus living in the Seattle Undgerground) I wouldn’t write paranormal romance if I didn’t love it.
July 15, 2013 — 9:42 PM
Kathy O says:
Karen Marie Moning — Fever series
JR Ward — Black Dagger Brotherhood
Keri Arthur — Riley Jensen series
Granted, Moning and Arthur end their series with HEA, but it takes the whole series to get there. So worth it. Ward has a HEA in every book.
July 15, 2013 — 10:39 PM
Kelsey says:
Wicked Lovely series, by Melissa Marr
The Forbidden Game, by L.J. Smith
Bitten, by Kelley Armstrong
July 16, 2013 — 9:26 AM
sharmylae says:
does fantasy count? if yes, the summer king by O.R. Melling.
July 16, 2013 — 10:38 AM
kindle-aholic says:
Riveted (Iron Seas #3) by Meljean Brook
Psy-Changeling series by Nalini Singh
One Foot in the Grave (Night Huntress 2) by Jeaniene Frost
July 16, 2013 — 11:19 AM
Hanna Martine says:
I’ve noticed a lot of these already mentioned might actually be considered urban fantasy. A romance novel is defined by the relationship between the main characters, and the reader is guaranteed a happy ending or an overall satisfactory resolution (either Happy Ever After or Happy For Now). In urban fantasy, the world takes precedence, and the couple in question may not find their togetherness by the end of the book. UFs can certainly be romantic or sexy, but they won’t be labeled as paranormal romance or even romance if there is no HEA.
Here are my favorite paranormal romances:
1. The Iron Duke (Meljean Brook)
2. Midnight (Ellen Connor)
3. Lover Revealed (J.R. Ward)
July 16, 2013 — 8:09 PM
alyshahayden says:
Riley Jensen Series by Keri Arthur
Chicagoland Vampires Series by Chloe Neill
Night Huntress Series by Jeaniene Frost
July 16, 2013 — 10:34 PM
Miguel says:
It might be more Urban Fantasy than Paranormal Romance, but White Cat by Holly Black is awesome. Also the Sookie Stackhouse novels by Charlaine Harris. And I suppose the Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare, as well.
July 16, 2013 — 11:05 PM