The Difference between Paranormal Romance VS. Fantasy Romance

​​Paranormal romance and fantasy romance are two different kinds of literature; how do you distinguish one from another? 

Paranormal Romance VS Fantasy Romance: How The Two Differ
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...and why we write Unexpected Paranormal Romance. (How we're different) 

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What is Fantasy Romance?

​You must have read tons of spellbinding fantasy novels by authors such as J.K Rowling, Jennifer L. Armentrout, Amanda Bouchet, Amy Hamon, and Grace Draven. Fantasy books tend to explore themes like magic, fae, and magical creatures, and fantastical worlds. Most fantasy literature writers are great at creating imaginary worlds or settings for their stories.
 
Fantasy fiction uses dragons, humans, mutants, robots, extraterrestrials, time travel, alternate history, space opera, steampunk, vampires, werewolves, zombies, ghosts, angels, fairies, mermaids, mummies; you name it. Fantasy romance is a subgenre of fantasy literature. A romantic fantasy writer fuses her story with different elements and conventions of the chivalric romance genre. For example, in "Amber Smoke" by Kristin Cast, Eva is caught in the crossfires with Alek. 

Fantasy writers follow the hero's journey while falling in love (half the time with themselves). 

So... What is Paranormal Romance

​What comes into mind when you hear the phrase paranormal romance? Ghost love stories, haunted houses, and vampires. While you might see many of the same types of creatures involved in the story there is more to it than tropes. This is what you don’t know:
 
A great paranormal romance writer is great at telling love stories involving a supernatural protagonist. The writer blends themes from the speculative fiction genres of fantasy, science fiction, and horror. Paranormal romance usually consists of some obstacle to the would-be love affair.
 
Popular themes for paranormal literature include vampires, werewolves, witches, and magic warriors. In most paranormal romance stories, the female protagonists are stronger and more empowered. Examples of paranormal fiction include The Ivory Key by Rita Clay Estrada, The Black Lily by Juliette Cross, and Kiss Of Steel by Bec McMaster. 

Why We Write Paranormal Romance

​Something I see in a lot of stories are the quintessential bad ass Black Widow type heroines.
 
They. Kick. Ass.
 
Who doesn’t love to see that? I know so many men that love it. These girls know how to fight and beat people to a pulp.
 
But in The Demon of Reginhart, I wanted to show a different type of strength. Strength that comes from standing up for yourself but the kind that more often than not is misunderstood as weakness.
 
These strengths are things like NOT saying hurtful things.
 
Sure there is courage in speaking your mind. But the courage to keep a comment that would destroy another person for no reason other than lashing out from one’s own pain? That’s the type of restraint that takes deep reserves of strength.
 
The movie Parenthood at the end… we’ll you’ll have to watch that kitchen scene to understand.
 
There is the strength to beat people up and then there is the strength to not physically hurt people. What do you find takes more reserve? Fighting back or collecting a shit load of bruises because you promised your girlfriend you wouldn’t fight?
 
Que the movie Footloose. One of the characters promised his girl he wouldn’t get in fights and didn’t fight back when bullies went after him.
 
Say what you want but that’s not only love but amazing and shows an incredible amount of will power.  
 
Not all women want to use their fists to win an argument. Sometimes it takes thought, courage, and words (or in some cases silence) to defeat the most powerful evil. I’m talking about the antagonist within ourselves.

This is what Platt, the heroine of The Demon of Reginhart, represents.
 
I love Wonder Woman, Black Widow, Red Sonya and the bad ass women of fiction. But they aren’t really role models for those that fight without violence. Therein, I offer Platt. A woman that only has herself and her blood to offer a demon to keep an entire town safe.
 
You could say Marcus was the hero of the story. But I ask you take a good look at the words and actions of a terrified teenager that thought she entered an eternal cycle of death and rebirth the day she made a pact with the devil. ​

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