Comments on: Defining Genre: Paranormal Romance

By: Alana Abbott

Alana Abbott — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 01:42:51 +0000

The line is definitely blurring all the time, and I think there’s actually quite a lot of romance-as-major-plot in UF, too. I remember how excited I was to finish Unshapely Things, because it was the first UF I’d read in ages where the plot didn’t hinge around the relationship between two characters. (No love interest at all in that book. How refreshing!)

But I think the blurring is part of the fun, too.

By: Monica

Monica — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 01:37:25 +0000

This post was pretty interesting, because I just had a conversation with Lori Devoti about that distinction. She had mentioned that in a paranormal romance, the main focus of the story is the romantic relationship between the two characters. In an urban fantasy, even if there is sex present, if the plot doesn’t focus on that relationship then it’s not technically romance.

It is pretty challenging, though, to continually define these genres as they get more and more convoluted.

By: Alana Abbott

Alana Abbott — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 22:59:27 +0000

Thanks Jeff!

I actually got started reading romance with the “nerd” series by Vicki Lewis Thompson (the title Nerd in Shining Armor made me overcome my initial reluctance toward romance), and I went through a pirate phase, so I have to say, there are definitely category romances without the paranormal that I’ve enjoyed. I know a lot of Regency fans, too, and there’s a whole series about hockey players…

I may now have shared too much about my reading taste. Back to our regularly scheduled dark fantasy!

By: Jeff LaSala

Jeff LaSala — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 22:52:16 +0000

Good column concept, Alana.

Personally, the only type of romance worth reading an entire novel about OUGHT to have supernatural and/or fantastical elements in it. My favorite movie romance does: Ladyhawke.