SOS: Serious Overload of Series discussion

In an effort to determine the differences in these (sub)genres, I scoured the internet and boy, there are A LOT of definitions and guidelines out there.

Here are the distinctions I found (pulled together from many different sites):

Paranormal Romance:

- Usually written in the 3rd person
- Main characters are Hero and Heroine
- The search for a HEA
- Love shall overcome is the theme

Like regular romance, paranormal romance covers the whole genre spectrum. They can be humorous, historical, futuristic, contemporary, mystery, fantasy, scifi, gothic, erotica — basically, if the romance is front and center with paranormal characteristics, then it’s labeled a paranormal romance, regardless of the genre.

Examples: JR Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood, Nalini Singh’s Psy/Changelings series, Kresley Cole’s Immortals After Dark series, Marjorie M. Liu’s Dirk & Steele series, Meljean Brooks’ Guardian series, Lori Handeland’s Nightcreature series , Lara Adrian’s Midnight Breeds series, Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dark Hunter series, Alexis Morgan’s Paladins of Darkness series

Urban Fantasy:

- Usually written in the first person
- The Greater Good (struggle between Good & Evil) is the theme
- The protagonist is often a cynical, fiercely independent, tough with commitment and trust issues
- There may be a love interest, but it's not the priority
- Can be set in historical times, modern times, or futuristic times. The prerequisite is that it must be primarily set in a city, rather than in a suburban or country setting

Urban fantasy is fantasy that is set in a modern, urban environment (for example, Melbourne, New York, or even some made up city) and it can contain any and all paranormal or fantasy elements (such as vampires, weres, shifters, demons, succubus, magi etc). But in urban fantasy, romance and romantic entanglements are not the main plot element, though they are often present as a sub-plot.

Examples: Laurell K Hamilton’s Antia Blake series, Ilona Andrews’ Kate Daniels’s series, Patricia Briggs’ Mercy Thompson series, Kelly Armstrong’s Women of the Otherworld series, Kim Harrison’s Rachel Morgan series, Jim Butcher’s Harry Dresden series, Marjorie M. Liu’s Maxine Kiss series, Keri Arthur’s Riley Jensen series, Karen Chance’s Cassandra Palmer series, Jeanine Frost’s Night Huntress series

Seems these days, with so many PN books out there, stores are often muckin' up the divide too ... shelving books like BDB in the horror section and Kate Daniels in the romance section?!

Personally, I break it down like this:

Urban Fantasy stories involve mystery and action. The characters are mostly concerned with achieving a goal (saving the world, themselves, people they love). There are often romantic subplots, but they aren’t the main focus of the book.

Paranormal Romance stories involve romance. Mystery and action may also be there, but in the end, you're gonna have a HEA (happily ever after).

What about you? Got some quick, easy ways to distinguish the two?

That's pretty much how I break them up, too.

Another easy way to distinguish them is if it's a series, in a PNR, each book has a different couple as the main characters. You may see main characters of past books again, but only as side characters.

In a UF, you have the same protagonist across all books in the series. And if there is a romantic sub-plot, the 2 characters are usually antagonistic to each other in the beginning, then you have many books of sexual tension until they finally do the deed.

With that in mind, you then have the new little subgenre of Urban Fantasy Romance. A couple examples of UFR series are Jeaniene Frost's Night Huntress or Nalini Singh's Guild Hunter. In both series, the main couple has their HEA love story, but then they continue to be the main characters for subsequent books. And there is more action than typical PNR, but more romance than typical UF. :)

I always get confused and have to think about it, especially if you need a particular genre for a challenge.

Basically I agree with everything you've both posted above but I still have to think about it. Generally I lump them together on my shelves etc.

Paranormal Romance is easy to define because the operative word is 'romance'. The book must have a Happily Ever After at its end. The only difference it has from a historical or contemporary romance, is that it has paranormal elements.

Urban Fantasy is a little more complex, but Steph had pretty summarized most of the guidelines I would use to earmark one.

-same main character/s throughout the series.
-usually narrated in first person
- set in a city or urban setting

Frost's Nighthuntress series is more of Romantic Urban Fantasy, but it is still mainly Urban Fantasy.

Can't keep it easy, gotta muck it up with pieces of one or the other. hehe Romantic Urban Fantasy, etc.

The majority of the books I used to read were UF, so when I started with some PNR series and thought "I bet the next book will have one of the other ...brothers/warriors/whatever... find their HEA" I didn't realize, duh, that's the main characteristic of PNR. LOL! Now, I know. :)

I'm still a UF girl at heart, but these PNR with their sexy heroes and strong heroines are growing on me.

Another difference - the covers. PNR usually have covers with males or couple on the front. UF just have a single female on it.

YA tends to muck this up though - they tend not have a human image on them but most paranormal YA centre mostly on a romance but are probably considered UF. I guess these would be UFR as Steph suggests.

Amy or "Ames" wrote: "Another difference - the covers. PNR usually have covers with males or couple on the front. UF just have a single female on it.

YA tends to muck this up though - they tend not have a human image o..."

See! Something/one is always muckin' up the system! They gotta stop doin' that! LOL

I don't care, a good book is a good book, no matter the genre, right guys?!

Amen sister

If those are the definitions I think the ones I enjoy more are the PNR as opposed to UF. I tend to enjoy 1st person PNR though. I can enjoy 3rd person but I like it when the author gets in their head with the thoughts and feelings. I am not all about the action. I want the mushy and sexy stuff. I want a relationship that develops too. Not "Oh Hi... so your a vampire? Okay lets have sex now."

LOL! Yep, that'd be PNR, you're guaranteed a HEA with those. And, sometimes a "Why, yes, I'll be happy to have sex with you now" said the sexy vamp. hehe

Great breakdown. I definitely prefer UF. Although there are some exceptions -- like Ward's BDB, I like that. Though I think she is distinct in PNR, her characters do not have an immediate HEA (as the series continues ......) and her world building is very strong, central to the story. I am sure there is some cross over.

There is are definitely bits of UF's "good v evil" in Ward's BDB series. Same with LoTU and others like it, but the HEA for each keeps them in the PNR column.

Steph wrote: "The majority of the books I used to read were UF, so when I started with some PNR series and thought "I bet the next book will have one of the other ...brothers/warriors/whatever... find their HEA" I didn't realize, duh, that's the main characteristic of PNR. LOL! Now, I know. :)"

Lol. I am a UF girl too, but every once in awhile I'll read PNR. I have no problem differentiating them, must be the anal organizational part of my brain.

But like you said Steph, I just finished the 1st Demonica, Pleasure Unbound, and since it's PNR, I knew as I was reading that the next books would be Eidolon's brothers getting their HEAs. And Eidolon & Tayla would be annoying-mushy-gushy-in-love bit side characters in those books. That's just how a PNR series works. :)

Yep, definitely the annoying-mushy-gushy-in-love bit. But, right now for example. I've just come off of reading quite a few UFs in a row and I gotta say, it's nice to be reading a PNR. It so warms the heart. :)

Hmmmm, I don't know, I'M SO CONFUSED NOW! lol

I think that I am more of a UF gal since why read about something that is so mythical (Romance, yes I am cynical because I have never met a man who has even a small romantic finger bone in his body)... that and I LOVE! Kelley Armstrongs work! And the men she creates are just SO DELICIOUS!

But despite my cynicial nature and my derision I do still enjoy Lara Adrians work, but again her men and equally delicious! Yumm!

Steph wrote: "There is are definitely bits of UF's "good v evil" in Ward's BDB series. Same with LoTU and others like it, but the HEA for each keeps them in the PNR column."

That being said, you could argue that in some of Kelley Armstrong's work there are some PNR tendencies, take Clay Danver's need for Elana as his HEA? Some of her books walk a very fine line between both notions.

I'd just like to say that my hubby has several "romantic bones" in his body. >:)

Some PNR characteristics are in KA's books. I think it goes both ways, bits of one or the other can be weaved in, but the overall theme of a series/book is either PNR or UF.

Yes, and even with the Clay/Elena, Paige/Lucas, Jeremy/Jamie, Faith/Karl HEA-ish storylines in the WotO series, it still reads UF.

I'm not a huge PNR fan, but I will read some (BDB, Psy-Changeling, Demonica) and I can tell a PNR book from the first chapter. In UF, the characters might be attracted to each other from the beginning, but the emphasis of the book as a whole is on the action/mystery, not the romance. In a PNR, the romance is central, with any action/mystery taking a backburner to the romantic resolution.

Exactly! What ^^ she said. LOL! :D

I found this great blog post when I was hunting around the internet last night. The author of the blog poses two questions to some of our favorite authors: What they believe they write and what they think of labels.

Author Q&A:
# Kelley Armstrong
# Patricia Briggs
# Kim Harrison
# Lois McMaster Bujold
# Kristine Kathryn Rusch aka Kristine Grayson
# Sharon Shinn
# Meljean Brook
# Christine Feehan
# Sherrilyn Kenyon
# Nora Roberts
... Among others

Interesting! :)

That was great Steph! And I agreed with almost everyone. I didn't agree with the professor at the end who said PNR has to be about a romantic relationship between a paranormal and a mundane. She even referenced BDB and used Beth, Mary, Jane & Butch as examples, but totally forgot about Z & Bella. Was their book not PNR just because both were vamps? I don't think so. ;)

I know. Same here. It was a happy find. Always neat to hear what the authors think.

Laura Lulu wrote: "That was great Steph! And I agreed with almost everyone. I didn't agree with the professor at the end who said PNR has to be about a romantic relationship between a paranormal and a mundane. She ev..."
And how about Phury and Cormia or Rhev and Elehna or Shelly Laurenston's shifters?

Sandra J wrote: "And how about Phury and Cormia or Rhev and Elehna or Shelly Laurenston's shifters?"

Exactly. It's romance if the central storyline centers on the romance and it has a HEA.

It's paranormal romance if it's a romance with paranormal elements.

Pretty simple. ;)

Gee, L³, you make it sound so simple. hehe >:)

Steph wrote: "Gee, L³, you make it sound so simple. hehe >:)"

It is for me & my analytical "black & white" brain. ;)

Sure there's no gray in there somewhere? >:)

Steph wrote: "Sure there's no gray in there somewhere? >:)"

There's gray, but it's in my hair, not my brain. ;)

LMAO!!

aha I like the term UFR! Now let's get it out there on the site! lol

Ah, ok. I think I understand the differences now.
I never broke it down to first person, third person, etc. I always looked at what kind of characters were in the book and then mentally placed them in what I thought was paranormal or other. For example; Riley Jensen turns into a wolf - the books go in my paranormal pile.
But in the end, if it's a good story then it doesn't matter what genre it is.

Easiest way to remember is: is there a HEA with a new couple with every book? If so, it's a PNR. There are those that confuse the line between UF & PNR making them more of a UF+R. But, the HEA meter is an easy way to know if it's PNR or UF.

I found this chart somewhere though for the life of me I can't remember where but it certainly helps clarify these two genres.

Laura Lulu wrote: "....Exactly. It's romance if the central storyline centers on the romance and it has a HEA.

It's paranormal romance if it's a romance with paranormal elements.

Pretty simple. ;) ..."

I agree it is that simple. I really do not think POV is part of a genre definition, nor whether series always follows same characters or what sort of ending.

I generally rate something Urban Fantasy when, while having paranormal races/elements, plot is more than romance and setting is urban. Non-urban settings are sometimes gray areas if Plot really gritty and book does not become straight romance when you remove the paranormal elements.

Great, thanks, Barbara. And, I'm guessing it came from imlovingbooks.com from the info at the bottom. ;)

Thanks so much for sharing it w/us.

I tend to view them based on characters --- same throughout = more of a UF; alternating H/h throughout = more of a PNR. Beyond that, it can all get mussed up.

I found another post about UF and thought I'd share some info gathered. (Source: https://www.npmartin.com/modern-magic...)

"... Graphic created by Alex at K-Lytics for their report on urban fantasy for authors"

"So what’s the difference [between PNR & UF]?

In urban fantasy, romance is just another element to the story, and often doesn’t play that big a part, if any part at all. In paranormal romance, the romance plays the central role, with the UF elements being nothing more than a colorful backdrop to an essentially romantic story."

So nothings changed then? LOL

I do love these discussions!

TBH though, I think this one, in particular, is quite often made far more complicated than it needs to be. To me, the difference is very simple

PNR - the primary plot is the romance even if it continues over more than one book. In other words how much story is there without the romantic element?

UF - the primary plot is NOT romance, but it may include romantic relationships. In other words how much story is there without the romantic element?

I will admit though that sometimes this is a very faint line or perhaps just subject to interpretation by different people such as with my beloved
, and also with , and . All these series' are plot/action heavy with strong or very strong romantic elements...

NB both PNR and UF are sub-genres of fantasy with PNR also being a sub-genre of romance.

I'm a romance and fantasy reader primarily and I pride myself (😉) on my dissenting views, so I'm quite often attracted to certain PNR's for everything besides the romance as it's the fantasy element (however small/weak) that attracts me; the politics of the supernatural world/shifters infighting/vampires learning to control their urges/fae learning how to navigate the human realm etc. For me, CR is where I get my 'romance only' fix.

Prime examples of exciting PNR worlds/plots for me are
(terrible and boring romance and MCs but fab secondary characters and magic system and thrilling plot and supernatural world machinations and some history to boot),
(some dreadful insta love and boring romances but exciting meta plot to fight their freedom from their near-slavery - and it includes some fae elements) and
TS Joyce's Damons Mountains Collection (novella-length books with a lot of formulaic insta love but also with some awesome romances, some utterly hilarious and alpha females, mostly normal working men types and a spectacular world of shifters of all species including dragons, boars, different birds and gorillas! all in a riveting meta plot where the sups start out in the closet and end up outed accidentally and fighting the humans and corrupt government officials for their 'freedom').

Anyway, (TED talk now complete!), all this to say that IMO the defining factor in both UF and PNR is the fantastical so really why bother arguing over what makes them different rather than celebrating what makes them fabulous!!! 😍😍😍

LOL! Thanks for sharing, kittykat. I agree, it does tend to be made more complicated than necessary. I think romance + new couple each book is a good way to tell PNR from UF. As you mentioned and we've discussed around SOS before, there are some UF+romance novels, but the overall series is UF. Nalini's Guild Hunter series is a good example of that mix.

Steph wrote: "LOL! Thanks for sharing, kittykat. I agree, it does tend to be made more complicated than necessary. I think romance + new couple each book is a good way to tell PNR from UF... "

Welcome :). All opinions are interesting to hear.

Personally, the couplings are irrelevant to me as a fair amount of PNR series' follow a single couple and vice versa for UF series'. But I do understand it is a major determining factor for most readers of both.

:)