I had to educate myself on this. For instance, until I read Katiebabs’ WTF post on Laurell K. Hamilton (among other things) I would have cleanly classified Anita Blake as contemporary paranormal romance. If Anita Blake is urban fantasy then so to by deduction must be Keri Arthur’s Riley Jenson Series and Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Which begs the question, when did vampires and werewolves leave their home in Paranormal Land and cross into the Fantasy World? Isn't fantasy populated with witches, magic, dragons, and princes? As Orson Scott Card said (and I’m paraphrasing) if you think trees the story is a fantasy; if you think metal it’s a science fiction… or in this case not-fantasy. I think of vampires and werewolves as claws and teeth, which is probably why I’m so confused. 
Are you? Let’s figure it out together.
Urban Fantasy Romance Is:
- Fantasy elements (also including paranormal here don’t ask me why) in a people populated setting be it city or town.
- Sure to deal with mystery, suspense, and/or crime.
- Reliant heavily on world-building to make it work. How did these creature rise from obscurity and into the everyday? How do normal humans deal with them?
- A romance, but it doesn't overwhelm the driving plot.
- Usually a series so world-building and romance arcs are sprinkled throughout many books.
- Usually contemporary or modern, but can be set in historical or futuristic settings too.
- Populated with tough kick-ass heroines.
- Never fluffy. It’s gritty, dark, and thrilling.
Urban Fantasy vs Paranormal Romance:
What’s the difference between an urban fantasy and a paranormal written in an urban setting? Please explain! Here’s what I got so far…
- Paranormal romance is usually hero-centric whereas urban fantasy tends to be heroine-centric.
- Paranormal romance is about the hero and heroine’s relationship first and foremost with a HEA (happily ever after). Urban Fantasy romance is about saving the world and finding love while you do it.
-
Avon executive editor Erika Tsang explains: “In paranormal romance the relationship between the couple is the focus of the main plot. In urban fantasy, the world that the couple exists in is the focus.” Publisher's Weekly
This is why everyone says the two get confused and are used interchangeably. It really is a difference of degrees I feel.
Do you prefer Urban Fantasy or Paranormal Romance? I am clearly a fan of both even though before I wrote this post I thought I never read an urban fantasy. Give me Edward Cullen and Buffy Summers!
What are some of the other Urban Fantasy Romance series that you enjoy?
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Defining the Genre, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy
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7 comments ↓
If you think this is twisting your brain stalk, try writing erotic urban fantasy! Then you’ve got both major plot streams (erotic romance + urban fantasy) vying for story telling time on the page.
Teal.
[Erotic Urban Fantasy author]
The way I see it:
UF is more in an urban setting and no set HEA at the end. The main storyline is not a hero and heroine based relationship. In a UF, the main characters has to come to grips with whatever issue they are involved with.
PR anything goes, mainly the hero and heroine are driven and working towards a HEA with one another.
The book I picked up during one of my last trips to the library was an urban fantasy, “Moon Called” by Patricia Briggs. I can spot some UF novels by their covers, there’s usually a woman alone; a tough don’t mess with me heroine.
I think I prefer paranormal romance, although I’m burned out on both of them at the moment.
Been glomming? I pick up categories and whiz through them when I get burned out on a genre. It usually helps.
Anita Blake is urban fantasy!
All romances, I think, must have focus on the romance and have a HFA.
lol and yeah lots of fantasy does have princes and dragons and magic, but there is lots that doesn’t. well, most fantasy has magic but there is lots that doesn’t have those other elements.
I like urban fantasy better but I read both.
urban fantasy writers I enjoy: Jim Butcher, John Levitt, PN Elrod, Charles Stross, Charlaine Harris, rachel caine, Simon R. Green, Rob Thurman, Ilona Andrews, Mark Del Franco, Thomas E Sniegosk . . . I could go one and on. Not all of them use vamps and weres, either, or not as main characters.
[...] Romance Passion took a stab at defining it a while back. Their “What is Urban Fantasy Romance?” is a great attempt, but quite a few readers got confused, I think, because they thought the [...]
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