My Favorite Paranormal, Alternate Reality and Urban Fantasy Books

OK, this is it, the final installment of the "My Favorites" series. Today I tackle Paranormal Romance, Alternate Reality and Urban Fantasy books. I don't always have the easiest time differentiating between the three, so I'm not going to try. Again, I'll do what I can to limit my choices to choose only one book by each author and not repeat within a series. Please see Renee's excellent list and definition of PNR vs. UF (which is much better than mine!). Thanks again to Renee for the great idea of making this list!

On to my choices!

Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh - This is far and away my favorite ongoing paranormal series out there. The world building is completely evolved and you never get the feeling that Nalini is writing herself into a corner. The heroes tend to be very alpha, but the heroines are strong in their own way too. Each book raises the stakes in the series, and I've found that her craft is becoming more refined as she goes. A truly outstanding series. I've re-read StS probably 20 times. Lucas is my favorite hero thus far in the series. Dominant and aggressive, he knows just exactly how to wring the emotion out of his "emotionless" Psy, Sascha. Their chemistry is terrific, and the introduction to the world is wonderfully done.

Lover Eternal by JR Ward - I'm one of those readers who has grown very disenchanted with the series, but can't seem to stop reading. But the first three books in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series were everything I want in PNR: tautly written, fully imagined world building, and very strong romances. Sure, the heroes names are silly, and the heroines can be pretty door-matty, but Ward knows how to write an emotional romance. Rhage is my favorite of the brothers (until I finally get Tohr's book). He's a caregiver, and a pussycat, all dressed up in that badass warrior disguise. I think this series either works for you, or doesn't. But for the first three books, I was as rabid as any fangirl.


Warprize by Elizabeth Vaughan - The Warlords of the Plains series is one of my all time favorites. The series has a medieval, sort of Clan of the Cave Bear feel to it. With the heroine Xylara, a princess and accomplished headler, being sold into servitude to Keir of the Cat, who conquers her land. Nothing is exactly as it seems in this series, and Vaughan uses the luxury of the three books to make the story unfold slowly. Evoking both tears and laughter from me, Warprize is another book that I've read over and over again.


Witness in Death by JD Robb - The In Death series is one of the longest running, featuring more than 30 books. The story of Eve and Roarke has definitely had its ups and downs, and I was hard pressed to choose which of the books is my favorite. But Witness in Death has one of my favorite scenes between Eve and Roarke, when Eve attempts to put together a surprise dinner for Roarke - and he fumbles it badly. I love the scene because Roarke rarely missteps. The series features wonderful secondary characters and one of the strongest protagonists out there.

Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs - I read this series at the urging of author Vivi Anna. What appeals to me about this series? The heroine. Mercy is a shapeshifting coyote. A walker, and she is also the chosen mate of Adam Hauptman, the local werewolf alpha. Adam is one of my favorite romance heroes. He's honorable and sweet and utterly dominant. What I love about Mercy is that she is smart enough to be terrified, a lot of the time. But she's also completely honorable, and smart and resourceful. Iron Kissed is my favorite of the books so far because Mercy makes some big decisions about her life, especially the decision about whether she'll be a victim or not. If you like strongly written heroines and fantastic world building, this is a great series to start with.

As Shadows Fade by Colleen Gleason - A brilliantly written historical paranormal series, the Gardella Chronicles are some of my favorite re-reads. The heroine, Victoria Gardella Grantworth de Lacy straddles the line between ton debutante and vampire slayer so adeptly the mind boggles. Featuring two wonderfully drawn hero choices, the series is five books long. Fair warning, if you're not a fan of the love triangle, this series isn't for you. Almost all of Gleason's fans had chosen a team (Team Max or Team Sebastian) by the second book in the series. What I love about this series is that Gleason pulls no punches in torturing her heroine. Victoria suffers great losses throughout the series, which makes the emotional punch bigger and raises the reader's investment in the series.

Lord of the Fading Lands by CL Wilson - The Tairen Soul series was my first foray into fantasy romance. While I understand from regular readers of fantasy, part of it edges toward fantasy cliche, but for me, the series absolutely captured my imagination. I love a tortured hero, and Rainier certainly applies. The worldbuilding is complicated, but well described, and Wilson has successfully raises the stakes with each book in the series. I'm quite looking forward to the final book. Fair warning for those who don't care for the trope, this series features soulmates.


Queen of the Darkness by Anne Bishop - Brilliant. Truly, when I first heard about this series, I wasn't sure. This series is complicated, emotionally gripping and oh so very, very dark. In Bishop's world, Satan is a good guy and a worried and frustrated father. The heroine of the piece, Jaenelle is the strongest person in the world, and when we meet her, she is an abused and damaged child. What makes this series so compelling is the incredible world building, the juxtaposition of dark and light, and mostly, the hero of the piece, Daemon Sadi, who goes through every possible horror for love of Jaenelle. He is a wonderfully dark and nuanced hero, one who doesn't have a lot to care about beyond his own personal agenda. Watching Bishop redeem him is a revelation.

Eve of Darkness by SJ Day - I just inhaled the first three installments of the Marked series. It's a fantastically imagined wonderful world, based on the battle between Heavenly good and Hell's evil. There are angels, demons, mal'akhs, seraphim, cherubim, and one kick ass heroine torn between two delicious men: Alec Cain and Reed Abel. What makes the series so fun is Evangeline Hollis, the heroine who is smart and kick ass, and totally torn between the two brothers, who are fighting their own private battle. I love this series, and was thrilled to hear it wouldn't end with just three books. In fact, the last one ends in a bit of a cliff hanger, so I'm glad there will be more to come.

Pleasure Unbound by Larissa Ione - Deliciously steamy paranormal romance set in a demon hospital full of varying types of demons, fallen angels, vampires, and humans. This book features Eidolon, a surgeon, and a demon and Tayla, a demon hunter sworn to kill every demon out there, while hiding a critical aspect of her character. The sexual tension between the two is palpable, and the book kicks off a terrific series from the fertile mind of Ione.

Midnight Rising by Lara Adrian - I adore the Midnight Breed series, although I think that it is veering towards a jump the shark moment. But Adrian's vampire mythology is different from others, and I love the idea of Breedmates (which are NOT soul mates). This particular book features a hero who is one step away from the abyss and a heroine who has, by necessity, gone vigilante.

Now it's your turn, have you read any of these? Agree? Disagree? What are your favorite paranormal/alternate reality/UF books?