Mysteries, Magic, and Vampires: Urban Fantasy vs. Paranormal Romance

Not all fantasy takes place in other worlds, and two subgenres that take place in our world are urban fantasy and paranormal romance. Much like dark fantasy and grimdark fantasy, however, these are two genres with a lot of bleed-over and a lot of confusion between the two. So, let’s take a look at these subgenres and see what brings them together and what sets them apart.

But First, the Similarities

Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance have a lot of similarities, so let’s get those out of the way first, so that we have an idea of what we’re working with.

Both Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance Tend To Have:

• A setting in our world, often modern-day, with magical elements that tend to be kept secretive from normal, non-magical people. (There are some that take place in a secondary world or have the paranormal elements widely known, but they are generally the exception to the rule.)
• Vampires, Werewolves, Witches, Wizards, Ghosts, etc; with a mix of folklore-based creatures or cryptids.
• Mystery plots and main characters who are sleuths, either professional or amateur.
• Female characters who are tough and can hold their own against the supernatural forces against them (though in paranormal romance they may be more vulnerable to make more room for their alpha werewolf or vampire boyfriend, on a case-by-case basis).
• Snarky main characters.

A Matter of Focus

One of the biggest differences between Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance is actually in the names themselves: Urban Fantasy is a fantasy subgenre, where Paranormal Romance is a romance subgenre. So, even though there are many similarities between them, they are designed to appeal to different audiences.

However, since they are technically part of two different genres, one of the easiest ways to figure out whether or not a story is Urban Fantasy or Paranormal Romance is to look at where the narrative focus is.

Urban Fantasy:

• Has a stronger emphasis and focus on the worldbuilding and plot. There might be a romance, but it will take the back seat to other storytelling elements.
• Romance, if it is present, is the Sub-Plot.

Urban Fantasy Examples:

• The Dresden Files; by Jim Butcher
• The Iron Druid; by Kevin Hearne
• Mercy Thompson; by Patricia Briggs
• Buffy the Vampire Slayer
• Supernatural
• Underworld
• Blade
• Persona Series

Paranormal Romance:

• Has a stronger emphasis and focus on the romance and character relationships. There will still be some focus on worldbuilding and plot, but it is secondary to the romance itself.
• Almost exclusively features “Paranormal” fantasy creatures: werewolves, vampires, ghosts/spirits, witches/wizards, and the like. Doesn’t usually focus on other creatures (that I have seen).
• Romance is the Main Plot.

Paranormal Romance Examples:

• Twilight; by Stephanie Meyer
• Vampire Academy; by Richelle Mead
• Kate Daniels Series; by Ilona Andrews
• Bride; by Ali Hazelwood
• Vampire Diaries

Crossovers

Of course, as with all subgenres, these exist on a spectrum that often cross over with one another. Mercy Thompson and The Mortal Instruments are two notable examples, where they can be considered either Urban Fantasy or Paranormal Romance due to how prominent the relationships become over the course of the story.

Basically, imagine these two genres are on a sliding scale, with one end being “no romance” and the other being “all romance.” All urban fantasy and paranormal romance stories fall somewhere on this scale, usually leaning toward one side or the other. Crossovers between these two exist somewhere near the middle of the scale, sometimes switching which side they lean toward depending on the book in the case of series.

Why it’s Important to Know the Difference

So why does this delineation even matter? They’re similar enough. Why bother caring about the difference between them?

Well, it’s all for one very simple but vital part of writing: understanding your audience.

That’s right, this is all about marketing.

Whether you’re an indie author trying to market your own books, on submission to agents or publishers, or even a traditionally published author trying to connect with your audience, it’s important to understand what your readers want. A big part of that is knowing where your book belongs when it comes to subgenres.

Marketing a book is essentially making a promise to the potential reader. It’s saying “this is abc genre,” or “this book is an xyz kind of story.” Marketing a book incorrectly by calling it a subgenre or genre it isn’t can attract the wrong readers to your work, and can also keep your ideal audience from ever picking it up.

Giving readers what they want isn’t about chasing popular trends; it’s about marketing your book to the right readers.

If a reader is looking for an urban fantasy story, they probably won’t be thrilled if the entire thing is focused on romance rather than on plot and worldbuilding. If a reader is looking for paranormal romance, they’re probably going to be disappointed if the relationship is nothing more than a side-plot and has little focus in the story.

Using the correct subgenres and categories when marketing, pitching, and advertising your book is a vital part of reaching the people who will enjoy your work the most.

What It All Comes Down To

All of this comes down to understanding what you’ve written and being able to figure out what category it fits in best. And, though they have many overlapping elements, Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance are two different subgenres and should be treated as such. Even so, Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance also cross over with one another quite frequently, even within the same series. They are subgenres that pair well with one another, even though books frequently lean harder to one side or the other.

Writing the story that you want to write and bringing it to life is the best part of being an author. However, being able to accurately categorize and market your story to prospective readers, agents, and editors is a vital part of success as an author, and it all starts with being able to understand the differences between genres and subgenres so your best readers can find (and love) your work.