There is something irresistible about paranormal romance.
Maybe it is the vampire who has lived for centuries but somehow finds the one person capable of making him feel human again.
Maybe it is the werewolf who knows exactly who his mate is before she has any idea what is happening.
Maybe it is the immortal warrior carrying a curse that makes love almost impossible.
Or perhaps it is simply the thrill of falling in love when the person standing across the room is not entirely human.
Top paranormal romance books let readers see love stories in a different way. Readers can explore how different supernatural beings act and react within the confines of a love story.
A world where a being from a different realm is forbidden from being with someone, yet cannot resist the attraction? A being that can be killed if they are caught with the object of their desire? A world where characters are forced to battle, inevitably gaining a romantic connection? Characters can be of a different realm with magical abilities.
So grab your TBR. These are 20 paranormal romance books worth getting obsessed with.
What is Paranormal Romance?
Paranormal romance is the subgenre of the romance genre that incorporates some form of the supernatural, such as the otherworldly beings, fae, demons, angels, ghosts, immortals, psychics and other paranormal entities.
The main focal point is the central romantic relationship.
The supernatural introduces elements that allow the author to devise a love story that cannot exist in the contemporary world.
A mate can be destined.
A vampire can live for centuries.
A curse can prevent two people from touching.
A demon can literally be fighting for control of a person’s soul.
And sometimes the person who is supposed to be your greatest enemy turns out to be the person you cannot live without.
What Makes Top Paranormal Romance Books?
The best paranormal romance books typically do several things well:
- A strong central romance
- Supernatural or paranormal characters
- High emotional stakes
- Strong romantic chemistry
- An immersive supernatural world
- Fated mates or soul-bonded relationships
- Forbidden or dangerous attraction
- Tortured or morally complicated heroes
- Powerful heroines
- Action, mystery or supernatural conflict
With that in mind, here are 20 paranormal romance books to put on your reading list.
Must Read Paranormal Romance: Dark Lover by J.R. Ward
- Series: Black Dagger Brotherhood
- Paranormal element: Vampires
- Romance: Vampire romance, forbidden attraction, protective hero
- Goodreads: 4.15 Stars
If you want to enter the world of vampire romance, Dark Lover is one of the classic places to begin.
J.R. Ward introduces readers to the secretive Black Dagger Brotherhood, a group of powerful vampire warriors protecting their race from enemies.
At the centre of this story is Wrath, a dangerous vampire warrior who has spent years carrying the weight of his responsibilities. Then Beth Randall enters his life.
She is human. He is a vampire. And their worlds should never have collided.
What makes Dark Lover particularly memorable is the combination of intense romance, supernatural mythology and a hero who feels larger than life.
If your ideal paranormal romance involves dangerous vampires, protective heroes, forbidden attraction and a dark supernatural world, this is one to add to your list.
The Darkest Night by Gena Showalter
- Series: Lords of the Underworld #1
- Paranormal element: Immortal warriors, demons and curses
- Romance: Fated mates, tortured hero, forced proximity
- Goodreads: 4.05 Stars
The Darkest Night introduces the cursed Lords of the Underworld, immortal warriors who became hosts to demons after opening Pandora’s Box.
Maddox is cursed to die every night. Ashlyn Darrow has spent her life hearing every conversation that has ever happened around her.
Neither expects the other to become the answer to their suffering.
Their relationship develops against a backdrop of curses, demons, mythology and supernatural danger.
What particularly stands out is the emotional connection between two people who are both carrying extraordinary pain.
If you love immortal warriors, cursed heroes and intense paranormal romance, this is one of the BooksandDramas picks you should not skip.
A Hunger Like No Other by Kresley Cole
- Series: Immortals After Dark
- Paranormal element: Lykae and Valkyrie
- Romance: Fated mates, enemies-to-lovers, possessive hero
- Goodreads: 4.04 Stars
Kresley Cole’s Immortals After Dark series is practically a playground for paranormal romance lovers.
A Hunger Like No Other introduces Lachlain MacRieve and Emmaline Troy.
Lachlain is a powerful Lykae who has spent centuries waiting for his mate. When he finally discovers her, the reunion is nothing like the romantic fantasy he imagined.
Because Emmaline is half-Valkyrie and half-vampire. And she is terrified of him.
Their relationship is full of tension, supernatural conflict and the deliciously dramatic push-and-pull that makes paranormal romance so addictive.
If fated mates, supernatural creatures and obsessive chemistry are your favourite romance ingredients, Kresley Cole deserves a place on your TBR.
The Darkest Surrender by Gena Showalter
- Series: Lords of the Underworld #8
- Paranormal element: Immortal warriors, demons and harpies
- Romance: Slow burn, rivals, supernatural romance
- Goodreads: 4.38 Stars
If you want paranormal romance with a competitive edge, The Darkest Surrender deserves attention.
Strider is cursed with the demon of Defeat. He cannot lose.
Kaia, meanwhile, is a fierce Harpy determined to prove herself.
When their goals collide, competition turns into attraction. The result is a romance filled with banter, rivalry and supernatural danger.
Werewolf Romance Books: Moon Called by Patricia Briggs
- Series: Mercy Thompson
- Paranormal element: Werewolves, vampires, fae and shapeshifters
- Romance: Urban fantasy romance, supernatural tension
- Goodreads: 4.14 Stars
Patricia Briggs takes a slightly different approach to paranormal romance.
Moon Called follows Mercy Thompson, a mechanic who also happens to be a shapeshifter capable of transforming into a coyote. And Mercy’s world is packed with supernatural beings.
Werewolves. Vampires. Fae. Shapeshifters.
Unfortunately for Mercy, supernatural trouble has a way of finding her.
The romance develops alongside a larger supernatural mystery, giving the story a strong urban-fantasy atmosphere while still delivering romantic tension.
If you like paranormal romance with strong world-building, shapeshifters, supernatural politics and a capable heroine, Moon Called is an excellent choice.
The Darkest Whisper by Gena Showalter
- Series: Lords of the Underworld #4
- Paranormal element: Immortals, demons and harpies
- Romance: Tortured hero, supernatural romance, strong heroine
- Goodreads: 4.30 Stars
Sabin is the Keeper of Doubt. His curse means that people around him begin questioning themselves.
Then he meets Gwendolyn the Timid, an immortal harpy who is struggling with her own nature.
Their relationship is complicated from the beginning. Sabin is exactly the kind of man Gwen should probably avoid.
Which, naturally, makes their chemistry even more interesting.
This is particularly suited to readers who enjoy tortured heroes, strong heroines, immortal characters and dark paranormal romance.
Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost
- Series: Night Huntress
- Paranormal element: Vampires and dhampirs
- Romance: Enemies-to-lovers, vampire romance, forced partnership
- Goodreads: 4.12 Stars
Cat Crawfield spends her life hunting vampires. There is just one problem. She is half-vampire herself.
When she encounters Bones, a powerful vampire bounty hunter, she expects him to be her enemy. Instead, he becomes her unlikely partner.
And then things become considerably more complicated.
The relationship between Cat and Bones is one of the biggest reasons Halfway to the Grave remains such a popular paranormal romance recommendation.
Their chemistry is sharp, their banter is entertaining, and the supernatural danger keeps the story moving.
If you enjoy vampire romance with enemies-to-lovers tension, this belongs on your list.
The Darkest Secret by Gena Showalter
- Series: Lords of the Underworld #7
- Paranormal element: Importal Warriors, Demons and Assassins
- Romance: Enemies-to-lovers, dark romance, forced proximity
- Goodreads: 4.29 Stars
Amun is the Keeper of Secrets. His supernatural ability allows him to hear and manipulate the darkest thoughts of others, making intimacy almost impossible.
Then he meets Haidee. She has been raised to hate his kind.
And suddenly, the woman who should be his enemy becomes the person he cannot ignore.
This is one of the more intense books on this list because the romance grows from genuine conflict and emotional vulnerability.
The enemies-to-lovers dynamic makes it particularly appealing for readers who want their paranormal romance darker and more complicated.
Best Paranormal Romance Books: Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning
- Series: Fever
- Paranormal element: Fae
- Romance: Dark supernatural romance, enemies-to-lovers tension
- Goodreads: 4.05 Stars
Darkfever takes paranormal romance into darker territory.
MacKayla Lane travels to Ireland after her sister is murdered, expecting to uncover answers. Instead, she discovers an entirely hidden supernatural world.
Fae walk among humans. Dark creatures exist beyond ordinary perception. And Mac becomes entangled with the mysterious Jericho Barrons. Their relationship is complicated, dangerous and filled with tension.
What makes Darkfever particularly addictive is the atmosphere. The supernatural world feels mysterious and threatening, while the relationship between Mac and Barrons develops beneath layers of secrets.
For readers who want dark paranormal romance, fae, mystery and intense romantic tension, this is an excellent choice.
The Darkest Seduction by Gena Showalter
- Series: Lords of the Underworld #9
- Paranormal element: Immortals, demons and ghosts
- Romance: Fated mates, reunion romance, tortured hero
- Goodreads: 4.31 Stars
Paris has one of the cruellest curses in the Lords of the Underworld. He must be with a different woman every night, or his strength begins to disappear.
But there is one woman he truly wants. Sienna. The problem? She is now possessed by the demon of Wrath.
Their reunion becomes an intense battle between desire, pain and supernatural forces.
This is one of the strongest choices on this list if your favourite paranormal romance trope is fated mates.
Paranormal Romance: Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh
- Series: Psy-Changeling
- Paranormal element: Psychics and changelings
- Romance: Shifter romance, forbidden attraction
- Goodreads: 4.08 Stars
Nalini Singh’sPsy-Changeling universe combines psychic powers, shapeshifters and romance in a world divided between very different supernatural groups.
Slave to Sensation introduces Sascha Duncan, a Psy woman who is hiding a dangerous secret. Then she meets Lucas Hunter, an alpha changeling.
Their worlds should not fit together. But attraction has absolutely no respect for rules.
The romance develops against a larger conflict involving the Psy and changeling worlds, giving the book both emotional intimacy and a compelling supernatural backdrop.
If you want shifter romance, powerful heroes, supernatural politics and forbidden attraction, start here.
The Darkest Touch by Gena Showalter
- Series: Lords of the Underworld #11
- Paranormal element: Immortal warriors and demons
- Romance: Forbidden touch, slow burn, tortured hero
- Goodreads: 4.28 Stars
What if touching the person you love could literally destroy them?
That is the problem Torin faces. He is the Keeper of Disease, and his touch can spread devastating illness.
So physical intimacy is practically impossible. Then Keeley Cael enters his life. She is powerful, unpredictable and carrying wounds of her own.
Their relationship creates one of the more unusual romantic conflicts in the series.
This is a fantastic choice if you love forbidden romance, slow burn, supernatural curses and emotional tension.
Top Paranormal Romance Books: Dragon Bound by Thea Harrison
- Series: Elder Races
- Paranormal element: Dragons and supernatural beings
- Romance: Paranormal romance, powerful hero, forced proximity
- Goodreads: 4.05 Stars
Dragons make everything more interesting.
In Dragon Bound, Thea Harrison introduces Pia Giovanni, a woman who has spent her life hiding her supernatural identity.
Then she steals something from the wrong person. Specifically, from Dragos Cuelebre. And Dragos is not someone you want as an enemy.
He is an immensely powerful dragon who has ruled his territory for centuries.
When Pia becomes entangled in his world, their relationship develops into a powerful paranormal romance filled with danger, attraction and supernatural politics.
For readers who want something beyond the usual vampire-and-werewolf stories, dragon romance is a wonderful change of pace.
The Darkest Torment by Gena Showalter
- Series: Lords of the Underworld #12
- Paranormal element: Immortal warriors and demons
- Romance: Enemies-to-lovers, dark romance, tortured hero
- Goodreads: 4.15 Stars
Baden has spent centuries trapped in torment. Now he has returned, but the experience has changed him.
He is dangerous, distrustful and unable to tolerate the touch of another person.
Then Katarina enters his life. Their romance is complicated by captivity, danger, supernatural curses and the emotional scars both characters carry.
If your ideal paranormal romance has a deeply tortured hero, strong heroine, enemies-to-lovers tension and a darker atmosphere, this one belongs on your reading list.
Werewolf Romance Books: Wolfsong by T.J. Klune
- Series: Green Creek
- Paranormal element: Werewolves
- Romance: Werewolf romance, found family, emotional romance
- Goodreads: 4.18 Stars
If you want paranormal romance that is deeply emotional, Wolfsong is one to remember.
The story follows Ox Matheson, a young man whose life changes when the Bennett family moves in next door.
There is something unusual about this family. They are werewolves.
And Ox becomes increasingly connected to their world.
At the centre of the story is Ox’s relationship with Joe Bennett, but Wolfsong is about much more than romance. It explores family, belonging, loyalty, identity and the bonds people create with one another.
If you want werewolves, found family and an emotional paranormal romance, put this one on your TBR.
The Darkest Promise by Gena Showalter
- Series: Lords of the Underworld #13
- Paranormal element: Immortals, demons and supernatural curses
- Romance: Dark romance, emotional romance, supernatural romance
- Goodreads: 4.27 Stars
Cameo has one of the cruelest curses in the Lords of the Underworld universe. She cannot experience happiness without paying an unbearable price.
Her story is therefore built around the question of whether someone who has been denied happiness for so long can ever allow herself to love.
The Darkest Promise explores pain, longing, sacrifice and the possibility of finding love despite supernatural forces designed to destroy it.
Must Read Paranormal Romance: Bride by Ali Hazelwood
- Paranormal element: Vampires and werewolves
- Romance: Arranged marriage, enemies-to-lovers, forbidden romance
- Goodreads: 3.99 Stars
Ali Hazelwood brings her trademark romantic chemistry into the paranormal romance genre with Bride.
Misery Lark is a vampire. Lowe Moreland is a werewolf alpha.
Their communities have every reason to distrust each other. Naturally, the solution is marriage.
Misery enters the arrangement expecting it to be purely strategic. But living alongside Lowe changes the situation.
What follows is a paranormal romance involving vampire and werewolf politics, suspicion, attraction and an increasingly complicated relationship.
If you enjoy enemies-to-lovers paranormal romance with vampires and werewolves, Bride is an easy recommendation.
Paranormal Romance: Angels' Blood by Nalini Singh
- Series: Guild Hunter
- Paranormal element: Angels and vampires
- Romance: Forbidden attraction, powerful hero
- Goodreads: 4.06 Stars
If vampires and werewolves are not enough supernatural chaos for you, try angels.
Angels’ Blood introduces Elena Deveraux, a vampire hunter hired by an archangel.
Her assignment is dangerous enough. But then she becomes entangled with Raphael, an incredibly powerful archangel.
Their relationship develops against a supernatural world filled with angels, vampires and ancient power.
The romance is intense, but the supernatural hierarchy gives the story an additional layer of danger.
If you want angel romance, vampires, powerful supernatural heroes and high-stakes attraction, this is one to try.
Top Paranormal Romance Books: Pleasure Unbound by Larissa Ione
- Series: Demonica
- Paranormal element: Demons
- Romance: Enemies-to-lovers, demon romance, forbidden attraction
- Goodreads: 4.04 Stars
Demons and demon hunters do not exactly sound like a recipe for a peaceful relationship. And Pleasure Unbound proves why.
Larissa Ione introduces readers to a world where demons are real and supernatural danger is everywhere.
The central romance brings together characters who should be on opposite sides. That creates exactly the kind of romantic conflict paranormal romance readers love.
There is danger, attraction, supernatural mythology and plenty of tension.
If you are looking for dark paranormal romance with demons and enemies-to-lovers chemistry, add this one to your list.
Kiss of Midnight by Lara Adrian
- Series: Midnight Breed
- Paranormal element: Vampires
- Romance: Vampire romance, forbidden attraction, protective hero
- Goodreads: 3.92 Stars
We couldn’t finish a paranormal romance list without another vampire romance.
Kiss of Midnight introduces readers to Lara Adrian’s Midnight Breed world, where powerful vampire warriors live hidden among humans.
Lucan is a breed warrior who has spent his life fighting to protect his people. Then he meets Gabrielle.
She is human. And she becomes dangerously important to him.
Their relationship draws her into a hidden supernatural world while Lucan tries to protect her from the enemies surrounding them.
For readers who love vampire warriors, protective heroes, dangerous attraction and supernatural romance, this is a strong way to finish the list.
Conclusion
The Top paranormal romance books give you so much more than a romance. They create a world where you can truly escape, a world full of mystery.
There are vampires lurking in the shadows, werewolves contending with their inner beasts, immortal warriors with a heart of stone, demons with a curse, fae hidden behind a beautiful mask, and so many other supernatural creatures who are waiting to cross paths with their other half.
And through it all, you will find love. Sometimes sweet, sometimes dark, sometimes completely forbidden.
Oftentimes, it’s the kind of destined connection that leads to, “If you’re reading this, it means I’m dead.”
That’s just part of the fun of reading paranormal romance. You never know which type of monster will fall in love next.
Also, be sure to check out the other Lords of the Underworld reviews on BooksandDramas for more paranormal romances. The reviews have been some of the most popular additions to the site, covering the immortal warriors, demons, and mythology.
