Top 25 Paranormal Fantasy Books

Bare chests and muscles. Tattoos and fangs. Bad boys and shapeshifters. Paranormal romance is fantasy heavy petting lite. It's the genre millions of people turn to when they're looking for a mindless escape from life, literature and love. Because the characters in these books, even when facing the worst the supernatural world/Stephanie Meyer could throw at them, find romance. Often that means that they find acceptance in the most unusual places.

And that's what makes these book so popular: Even if its not an explicit theme, there's a sense that no matter who (or what) a person is, there is always someone willing to love (and grope) them.

A few things to be aware of: The older titles in the genre, like Anne Rice's Interview With the Vampire haven't aged well. As long as you take these books for what they are, you'll enjoy them. This isn't a genre known for being written well, so when you do find an author with some skill, you appreciate them even more.

For a series to be considered a ‘good' paranormal romance, it has to blend elements of fantasy, horror, romance and humor. More importantly, it has to balance them so that one doesn't overwhelm the others. Because this is a romance genre, the focus is mostly on characters and their interactions.

You'll notice that Twilight isn't on this list. When we write a list about the top 25 Worst Books Of All Time In Any Universe Ever, we promise we'll consider it as a top contender.