Paranormal Romance & Urban Fantasy discussion

Hello, I'm searching for books with heroes that are interesting, sometimes morally ambiguous and twisted, can be sort of villainous but have soft spots for heroine. Anti-heroes, I suppose. Also it would be better if the plots are unique and intriguing too.
These are some of the books that I enjoyed:

Anita Blake series by LKH: Though I stopped reading the series from 7(I was aware of all those reviews of the books 6-above, It's really sad how the series that once had such fame and lovable characters ended up in a mess...), I was really fond of Jean-Claude and Anita Blake till then.

The Fever series by Karen Marie Moning: Jericho Barrons is amazing. He is dark, enigmatic, powerful and sometimes can be evil yet has some feelings for the h indeed.

The Shatter Me series by Tahereh Mafi: I need more heroes like Warner...who started as villains with love-hate relationships but ends up with the h pleeeaase:(

Six of Crows series by Leigh Bardugo: The characters, esp Kaz, were lovable. Their abilities and the heist were interesting enough.

So please, help me find heroes who are mysterious, powerful and charismatic, and also quite elegant and clever. Oh, and it would also be really great if the plot is not filled with insta-love and aggressive sex:) I do not mind YA, as long as the story is not cheesy.
Any recommendations...?

Alyssa wrote: "Hello, I'm searching for books with heroes that are interesting, sometimes morally ambiguous and twisted, can be sort of villainous but have soft spots for heroine. Anti-heroes, I suppose. Also it ..."

Ok Alyssa, you mentioned one of my book boyfriends ... Barrons (yummy)

Have you read the King Triology?




King, comes the closest to Jericho Barrons as being an anti-hero. There are dark elements to the book and there's definintely something special about King himself. Nope, I'm not gonna tell you BUT there are clues along the way to help you figure it out. :-) He also has a talent for finding anything or anyone. Which is why the heroine goes to see him in the first place. Her brother goes missing in Mexico and she makes a deal with King to find him.

Lots of twists and turns and I can guarantee you will not expect the ending!

Happy Reading

Who wrote the king series? :)

Never mind- the pictures showed at later date xD

Stine wrote: "Who wrote the king series? :)"

Mimi Jean Pamfiloff is the author. Her writing style is similar to Charlene Harris with a little Anne Rice in the mix, Some of her books are laugh out loud funny,

There is a character in the book, Mack (I won't reveal is true identity), but she wrote his book which comes out at the end of the month, Can't wait for that one.

Another book by Mimi that I suggest is called Fugly. It has a very unique storyline and the subject is something that most women can relate to on some level. It's not dark read or PNR but it's a really worth reading. Funny, unusual, sexy and heartbreaking and heartwarming at a the same time.

"First fear then flutter." Want to feel it?
There is a surprise in the novel exactly like what you are asking for.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

Crossed Stars

The Sandman Slim series by Richard Kadrey - though that might be a bit too dark for some.

Also try Darker Shade of Magic by V.E Schwab

I just finished a dark UF/police procedural mashup Harmony Black by Craig Schaefer that might or might not work. Female lead character.

All of the above are very noir. If you prefer something lighter, try Benedict Jacka's Alex Verus series. It quite good. So was Kevin Hearn's Iron Druid till his last book when it went sideways.

Another option is the Alex Craft series by Kaylana Price. She FINALLY got her act together and book 4 is due Feb 2.

I would suggest Vamp City by Pamela Palmer


Washington, V.C. (Vamp City) was created in 1870 by a powerful sorcerer. A vampire utopia, it was an exact replica of the humans' Washington, D.C., but one in which the sun never shone—a world of perpetual twilight where vampires can live openly and safely, free to hunt and feed on the humans brought in for their sustenance and pleasure, a paradise where every vampire can, if he wants to, own his own house and his own blood slaves. The vampires have always been free to come and go from this paradise as they wished until the magic began to fade, the world began to crumble, and paradise turned into a death trap.

Only another sorcerer can renew the magic and save them all, but the sorcerers have been hunted to near extinction and dark, dangerous vampire, Arturo Mazza, despairs of finding a savior. Then Quinn Lennox, a human with no knowledge of her magical heritage, wanders in on a sunbeam as she searches for a lost friend. She's the one Arturo's been looking for…the savior…if she'll help them. If Arturo can keep her alive that long.

Arturo is no nice guy and is constantly testing Quinns trust with twists and turns that serve him. You wonder what his commitment to her is if any. Is he just using her or is he falling for her.

Dominion by S.E. Lund (4/5 books)


A paranormally-gifted female vampire hunter is seduced by beautiful eight-hundred year old identical twin vampire brothers. These twins are not good boys.

Katya, I read the Dominion series. I'm looking foward to the final book later this month.

Alyssa wrote: "Hello, I'm searching for books with heroes that are interesting, sometimes morally ambiguous and twisted, can be sort of villainous but have soft spots for heroine. Anti-heroes, I suppose. Also it ..."

Alyssa - if you are at all into historical paranormal featuring a demon with both elegant and barbaric tendencies, you might try the Black Prince series by P.J. Fox. The books start with . I have read the first two, but the last two are in my next-to-be-read pile (author split the last book into two parts). The books tie into each other and I have no idea if there is a HEA!

Kim wrote: "Katya, I read the Dominion series. I'm looking foward to the final book later this month."

Me too Kim.....you either love it or hate it....and I loved it! So far anyway.

Katya wrote: "Kim wrote: "Katya, I read the Dominion series. I'm looking foward to the final book later this month."

Me too Kim.....you either love it or hate it....and I loved it! So far anyway."

Awesome! Are you Team Michael or Team Julian?

Thank you so much for the books!!! Most of them are new to me so I should definitely try reading them..:)Villainous heroes are just so rare and hard to find, maybe that's why I am drawn to them :D

That's my favorite type of hero as well. I'm not the OP, but my wishlist and to-read-list has definitely grown from reading this thread :D

Alyssa wrote: "Hello, I'm searching for books with heroes that are interesting, sometimes morally ambiguous and twisted, can be sort of villainous but have soft spots for heroine. Anti-heroes, I suppose. Also it ..."

Not technically urban fantasy but the Prince of Thorns books by Mark Lawrence definitely feature an anti-hero. He's perhaps too much on the wrong side of evil perhaps, but he's still a very interesting character. It's set in what seems to be a standard fantasy world but as the layers peeled off there's much more relevance to the world as we know than you first think.

Just my tuppence worth :-)

Alyssa Crissed Stars by Blow has an unexpected but villainous hero. You will not see it coming.

Christy wrote: "Alyssa Crissed Stars by Blow has an unexpected but villainous hero. You will not see it coming."

Can you link to the book? I'm not bringing up anything in search

My new favorite series is Shiv Crew. The heroine is not typical. the story line can be brutal and you will go through a roller coaster of emotions but it is the best series I have read in a long time.

Hi Erin sorry it is a typo
Crossed Stars
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0196PG...

<-- I loved this one.