Paranormal romance and urban fantasy recommendations from CV readers are posted below for your enjoyment and list-making. The line between urban fantasy and paranormal romance is pretty fuzzy, so I’ve done my best to categorize between the sub-genres.
Authors are listed alphabetically by first name. Links are generally to the first book in the series. Some authors may be in both categories.
Asterisks indicate recently-added books / Last updated June 20, 2018
Urban Fantasy
This list includes historical, steampunk, vampires, ghosts, goblins, and other assorted paranormal things. Each book typically includes the same hero/heroine.
- Adrian Phoenix, The Maker’s Song / Hoodoo
- Allison Pang, Abby Sinclair
- Amanda Bonilla, Shaede Assassin
- Amber Benson, Calliope Reaper-Jones
- Andrea Cremer, Nightshade / The Inventor’s Secret
- Ann Aguirre, Corine Solomon
- Anne Bishop, The Others
- Annie Bellet, Twenty-Sided Sorceress
- Anya Bast, Elemental Witches
- Anton Strout, Simon Canderous
- C.E. Murphy, Walker Papers
- Carrie Vaughn, Kitty Norville
- Charlaine Harris, Southern Vampire Mysteries (Sookie Stackhouse) / Midnight, Texas / Harper Connelly
- Cherie Priest, Clockwork Century / Eden Moore / Borden Dispatches
- Cheyenne McCray, Night Tracker
- Christina Henry, Black Wings
- Christine Feehan, Carpathians
- Chloe Neill, Chicagoland Vampires / Heirs of Chicagoland / Devil’s Isle / Dark Elite (YA)
- Dakota Cassidy, Accidental
- Dannika Dark, Mageri
- Darynda Jones, Charley Davidson
- Deborah Harkness, All Souls
- Debra Dunbar, Imp* / Templar*
- Devon Monk, Allie Beckstrom / House Immortal
- Diana Pharaoh Francis, Horngate Witches
- Diana Rowland, White Trash Zombie / Kara Gillian
- Diane Sylvan, Shadow World
- Elizabeth Hunter, Elemental Mysteries / Irin Chronicles / Camino Springs*
- Faith Hunter, Jane Yellowrock / Rogue Mage /Soulwood
- Gail Carringer, Parasol Protectorate / Custard Protocol
- Ilona Andrews, Kate Daniels / The Edge / Hidden Legacy / Innkeeper Chronicles
- James A. Hunter, Lazarus*
- Jaye Wells, Sabrina Kane / Prospero’s War
- Jeanne Steine, Anna Strong
- Jenn Bennett, Arcadia Bell
- Jennifer Armentrout, Covenant
- Jennifer Ashley, Stormwalker
- Jennifer Estep, Elemental Assassin / Mythos Academy / Black Blade (YA)
- Jennifer Rardin, Jaz Parks
- Jeri Smith-Ready, Shade / WVMP Radio
- Jim Butcher, Dresden Files / Cinder Spires
- Jocelynn Drake, Dark Days / Asylum Tales
- Kalayna Price, Alex Craft
- Karen Chance, Cassandra Palmer / Dorina Basarab
- Karen Marie Moning, Fever
- Kat Richardson, Greywalker
- Kelley Armstrong, Otherworld / Cainsville
- Kelly Gay, Charlie Madigan
- Keri Arthur, Ripple Creek / Dark Angels / Riley Jensen / Spook Squad
- Kerry Shafer, Between
- Kevin Hearne, Iron Druid
- Kim Harrison, The Hollows / Peri Reed Chronicles / Madison Avery (YA)
- Kimberly Frost, Southern Witch Series
- Kristen Painter, Crescent City
- Laura Resnick, Esther Diamond
- Laurel K. Hamilton, Anita Blake / Merry Gentry
- Lauren Dane, Bound by Magick
- Leigh Evans, Mystwalker
- Lillith Saintcrow, Dante Valentine / Jill Kismet / Bannon and Clare
- Lisa Shearin, SPI Files
- M.J. Scott, Half-Light City / Wild Side
- M.L. Brennan, Generation V
- Marcus Pelegrimas, Skinners
- Mark Del Franco, Connor Grey / Laura Blackstone
- Melissa de la Cruz, Witches of the East End / Blue Bloods
- Meljean Brooke, Iron Seas
- Mercedes Lackey, Bedlam’s Bard* / Diana Tregarde*
- Michelle Rowen, Immortality Bites / Nightshade
- Molly Harper, Jane Jameson
- Nalini Singh, Guild Hunter
- Nicole Peeler, Tempest (Jane True)
- Patricia Briggs, Mercy Thompson / Alpha & Omega
- Rachel Caine, Morganville Vampires / Weather Wardens / Great Library
- Rachel Vincent, Shifters / Soul Screamers
- Richelle Mead, Dark Swan / Bloodlines / Vampire Academy / Georgina Kincaid
- Rob Thurman, Cal Leandros
- Robin LaFevers, His Fair Assassin
- Seanan McGuire, October Daye / Incryptid
- Simon Green, Nightside
- Shannon Mayer, Rylee Adamson / Elemental / Blood Borne*
- Stacia Kane, Unholy Ghosts
- Suzanne McLeod, Spellcrackers
- Tanya Huff, Victoria Nelson*
- Vickie Pettersson, Celestial Blues / Sign of the Zodiac
- Yasmine Galenorn, Otherworld / Fly By Night
Paranormal Romance
Books in this list typically include a new heroine/hero/romance in each volume.
- Alexandra Ivy, Guardians of Eternity
- Angela Knight, Mageverse
- Angie Fox, Biker Witches
- Bella Forrest, Shade of Vampire* / Shade of Kiev* / Beautiful Monster* / Shade of Dragon*
- Carrie Ann Ryan, Dante’s Circle* / Redwood Pack* / Talon Pack*
- Carrie Ann Ryan/Alexandra Ivy, Branded Packs*
- Christine Warren, The Others
- Cynthia Eden, Night Watch
- Dannika Dark, Seven Years
- Deborah Blake, Baba Yaga
- D.B. Reynolds, Vampires in America
- Delilah Dawson, Blud Novels
- Dianne Duvall, Immortal Guardians / The Gifted Ones*
- Eileen Wilks, World of the Lupi
- Gena Showalter, Lords of the Underworld / Alien Huntress
- Heather Killough-Walden, Lost Angels* / The Big Bad Wolf* / The Kings*
- J.R. Ward, Black Dagger Brotherhood / Fallen Angels
- Jeaniene Frost, Night Huntress / Night Prince / Broken Destiny
- Jenn Bennett, Roaring Twenties
- Jennifer Ashley, Shifters Unbound
- Katie MacAlister, Aisling Grey / Dark Ones
- Kerrelyn Sparks, Love at Stake
- Kresley Cole, Immortals After Dark
- Kristen Callihan, Darkest London
- Lara Adrian, Midnight Breed
- Lara Wright, Mark of the Vampire
- Larissa Ione, Demonica* / Lords of Deliverance
- Lisa Olsen, Forged Bloodlines* / Fallen* / Company of Shadows* / Wolves of Cutter Folly*
- Lora Leigh, Breeds
- Lynsay Sands, Argeneau Vampires
- Molly Harper, Half Moon Hollow / Naked Werewolf
- Nalini Singh, Psy/Changling
- Nancy Holzner, Deadtown*
- Nina Bangs, Castle of Dark Dreams
- Rachel Vincent, Wildcats
- Shannon K. Butcher, Sentinel Wars
- Shayla Black, Doomsday Brethren
- Shelly Laurenston, Pride Series
- Sherrilyn Kenyon, Dark-Hunter
- Stephenie Meyer, Twilight Saga
- Thea Harrison, Elder Races
- Tina Folsom, Scanguards Vampires* / Out of Olympus* / Stealth Guardians*
Romance/Urban Fantasy set in New Orleans / Louisiana
Leave your suggestions in the comments. Comments are moderated, so it may take 24 hours for your comment to appear. Also, so that I can keep track, I delete comments once I’ve added the suggestions to the list.
There is a new author in paranormal that I think is deserving of your list. Her name is Marianne Maguire from the Legacy series.
This is a great list! I love it. Here are some you might look at adding, though I realize this is YOUR favorites list. 🙂
A. A. Aguire’s Aparatus Infernum series
Adrian Phoenix’s Hoodoo series (short-lived but good)
Charlaine Harris’ Harper Connelly series
Cherie Priests’s Maplecroft (just one book so far)
Devon Monk’s House Immortal series and Broken Magic series (an extension of Allie)
Gail Carriger’s new Custard Protocol series (Prudence as a new adult)
Jennifer Ashley’s Stormwalker series
Jocelynn Drake’s Asylum Tales series
Kelley Armstrong’s Cainsville series
Mark del Franco’s Laura Blackstone series (same world as Connor Grey, but just two books)
Rachel Vincent’s new Wildcats series (spin-off of the Shifters series)
Thanks for the list!
Great recommendations! So many that I missed. Thanks! 😀
paranormal romance suggestions:
Jordan Castillo Price, Psycop series
Ally Blue, Bay City Investigators series
Rick Gualtieri, Bill the Vampire series
Under Paranormal Romance I recommend Marie Dry’s Alien series. Book one is Alien mine. Book two is out now – Alien Undercover.
I suggested Grave Robber for Hire by Cassandra L. Shaw earlier but forgot to mention that it is urban fantasy.
Great recs. Definitely look into adding the Woman King series by Evette Davis. Steamy paranormal rom with a lot of complexity that deserves to be on this list!
Always loved Kim Harrison and Chloe Neill but didn’t realize they’re considered Urban Fantasy until now 🙂
Anne Bishop’s The Others series. Wonderful!
Also Sharon Lee’s Carousel series, now sadly finished
Anne Bishop’s on there. Top list. 🙂
Christine Feehan-Carpathian series/Drake Sisters series/Ghost Walker series
Kresley Cole-Immortals After Dark
Robin Owens-Celta series/ Ghost Seer series
Shelly Laurenston- Dragon Kin series
Mary Janice Davidson-Betsy the Vampire Queen series
Benedict Jacka-Alex Versus series
Susan Sizemore-Prime series
Lori Handeland-Night Creatures series
CT Adams-Sazi series/Siren series
Erin McCarthy- Vegas Vampire series
A bunch of those are already on the lists, but thanks for the new suggestions!
Some great stuff, but I would also add Ben Aaronovitch. His Rivers of London series is just outstanding.
I recommend Elliott James series – Charming (Pax Arcana)
Another author you might want to add is Kristi Charish. She has two series, the Owl series and her Voodoo series.
SM Reine’s Preternatural Affairs series is a must read!
Vered Esani – Cozy Tea Shop Mysteries/Lion Shifters