I see Paranormal Romance as romance with fantasy aspects (beyond the obvious) as part of the world. Throw in those vampires and fairies and all the other aspects of Grimm’s Fairy Tales and Dracula, and The Swamp Thing, etc. that we loved to immerse ourselves in as kids (and adults) to illustrate our best Happily Ever After. Make Beauty and the Beast come true for us, even if just for a little while.

Defining Paranormal Romance

According to Wikipedia, “Paranormal romance is a subgenre of both romantic fiction and speculative fiction. Paranormal romance focuses on romantic love and includes elements beyond the range of scientific explanation, blending together themes from the speculative fiction genres of fantasy, science fiction, and horror. Paranormal romance may range from traditional category romances, such as those published by Harlequin Mills & Boon, with a paranormal setting to stories where the main emphasis is on a science fiction or fantasy-based plot with a romantic subplot included. Common hallmarks are romantic relationships between humans and vampires, shapeshifters, ghosts, and other entities of a fantastic or otherworldly nature.”

I think that’s a pretty good explanation.

There is a bit of a crossover with other genres, such as the aforementioned fantasy, especially urban fantasy, or sometimes science fiction. What makes paranormal romance unique unto itself is first of all, the romance. Science fiction, fantasy, other genres may have a romance element, but it generally isn’t a driving part of the plot and themes the way it is in romantic fiction.

I think the second way you can define paranormal romance, is by the paranormal elements. Paranormal describes events or phenomena that are beyond the scope of normal scientific understanding. Usually, it’s something just a little off from our ‘normal’ world. Instead, psychic abilities, fae, shifters, or other supernatural conditions are, if not widely known in the world, centrally important to the story.

It coalesces the escapism of both romantic fiction and fantasy fiction, and that is why it is such a popular genre.