Paranormal Romance & Urban Fantasy discussion

Hi.
I've scavenged a few pages back through previous recommendation discussion, but still feel like I haven't found enough of what I'm looking for...

I'm a very fast reader, and looking for things I haven't seen yet.

What I'm looking for: paranormal romance, urban fantasy. Romance doesn't have to be in your face, interesting plot is more important. NO love triangles. NO harems, reverse or otherwise, NO obsession with angst. Good writing. Angst maybe permissible if writing is very good.

What (books by) I love: Ilona Andrews , Shelly Laurenston, Ann Aguirre, R.J. Blain, Hailey Edwards, Nalini Singh, Jennifer Ashley, Diana Pharaoh Francis, Audrey Faye, Anne Bishop, Grace Draven

Things I really DO NOT like: YA in general. No YA please.
Unnecessary angst, pointless porn, insta-mates, brainless hot dudes, obsession with rape and humiliation, bad writing and books by:
Sherrilyn Kenyon, Carrie Vaughn, Kresley Cole, things like Black Dagger Brotherhood, Cruel Prince, etc.

(Also not a fan of Patricia Briggs books or "Night Huntress" series.)

I need books to escape from too much real-life stress, books that will allow me to escape without emotionally draining me with their own angst, and I need as many as you can throw my way.
Help please.

Try:
Demon Days, Vampire Nights series by KF Breene

Betrayals & Broken Promises by Takari Hunter

Crossbreed series by Dannika Dark (all her other series are in the same world)

Imp series by Debra Dunbar

Rosie O'Grady's Paranormal Bar & Grill series by BR Kingsolver

Hope you find something you enjoy in there. I'm sure I'll come up with some more as soon as I hit send lol

Hey, most of your likes and dislikes align closely with mine. Although I do like angst, I don't like it when it is just thrown in for the sake of it or just to manipulate reader emotions, but I tend to read more angsty CR that fantasy. I'm also turned off by pointless porn, insta-mates, brainless hot dudes (some have their place tho🤣!!!) and the obsession with rape and humiliation in a lot of books but I would say that 'bad writing' is very subjective.

I notice that you have included Shelly Laurenston and Jennifer Ashley in your author loves and both of those are in my top UF/UFR picks too and one of the reasons is that even though both are very different in style (!), I love that they have an overriding plot that runs throughout most or all of the series'. I've not read any of your others though apart from Ilona Andrews and only a couple by Ann Aguirre.

And I have to say it is so refreshing to hear someone finally say that they are not interested int he like of the authors you mentioned as these ones are so often the most lauded series in the UFR world and apart from Carie Vaughn, they are also ones I have very little interest in too.

So, onto a few recs from me...

High angst (not just the romantic kind) BUT beautiful writing very lyrical and poetic in places, very strong characters, excellent series long story arc and rock-solid found family that builds throughout. It is also action-packed with a lot of humour too. There is only one or two sex scenes in each full-length book (the shorts are free on the author's website and are just interstitials) even though each one is a different love story. Each relationship and couple are also very very distinct from the others too which is something you don't see too often, and those relationships really play into the overall arc that builds up through over the series. One of my top 5 series, by a top 5 author and Ox, the MC of book 1, is my favourite fictional character ever.

Another fairly unique story that is set mostly in Prague in the Czech Republic which makes a change. It is based on necromancers and dancers for the Gods. The first two are a duet with the same main couple (the FMC is a Gods dancer and is struggling with issues that are affecting her body), but the story arc does continue in book 3 with a different couple. Not really angsty, it is quite romance based but is also action heavy at the same time. Also has some lovely writing.


this one is fun and bloody but does have some see scenes although the romance does not take over as it does in some of the big name UF series. also, another unique set up as it is virtually all vampires and they are DJ's, the FMC is a recovering con artist whose (con artist) family tries to stir up shenanigans along the way. It also has a very strong female BFF relationship throughout which I loved, and a VAMPIRE DOG. Another one where the 'interstitials' are free to read on the author's website.

a unique UF that is about science-based magic users and virtually no supernatural creatures (so no shifters, vamps etc). It is very action based with a very slow burn relationship and virtually no sex scenes. Once the relationship is established, it is more about them working and fighting together than it is about their romance which is one thing I really appreciated about this series.

Hej does anyone have any book recommendations for supernatural series? I really loved books written by A&E kirk, Kelly St. Claire, Annette Marie.

Brandy wrote: "Try:
"

Thanks! I actually just started reading "Demon Days, Vampire Nights". So far so good.

I have looked at "Betrayals & Broken Promises" by Takari Hunter, but it says 'Reverse Harem' in Genres? Is there?

I actually read "Keystone" by Dannika Dark and "Shadow Hunter" by BR Kingsolver before and didn't really enjoy either... do the series get better?

kittykat (Jo Tortitude) wrote: "Hey, most of your likes and dislikes align closely with mine."
Cool! Hi friend!

And I have to say it is so refreshing to hear someone finally say that they are not interested int he like of the authors you mentioned as these ones are so often the most lauded series in the UFR world...
Oh, I can rant about it for ages... I used to pick my books from 'best of ***' lists here on Goodreads, and it's very frustrating when the top rated books in these lists are something I gave 1 star to or DNFed completely. It's absolutely beyond me what people see in some of those series...

Green Creek series sounds awesome. I'll give it a try.

Another fairly unique story that is set mostly in Prague in the Czech Republic which makes a change.
Oh... I used to live in Prague. It makes me very curios on one hand, but also very cautious on another... I get very sensitive about people using foreign languages and cultural references with mistakes in books ＾_＾'

WVMP Radio sounds like a unique setting and I'll give it a go!

And I've actually read "Magic to the Bone" recently, but I kind of found it too angsty and depressing... The MC is constantly on the run, injured, sick, everything is covered by distrust, secrecy, betrayal, multiple near-death experiences, she can't even trust her own mind because she forgers everything because of her conditions... The whole book was kind of a 'downer'... Does it get better in the series or does it kind of maintain the same tone?

Kiss of Midnight by Lara Adrian should be a good fit for you. There’s about 18-ish books in the series. And while Kiss of Midnight is book 1, there is a .5 A Touch of Midnight. It’s a different take on vampires.

Surprised no one’s put Suzanne Wright down.

Dark in You series Burn is a good one.

She also has the Phoenix Pack Feral Sins and the “Mercury Pack” series Spiral of Need. I hesitate to include these series because it’s got a heavier amount of sex in them. But I thought I’d just throw it out there.

Lexi Blake’s Steal the Light might fall into what you’re looking for. But I hedge a little bit on that. Read the sample pages before deciding. Oh, and one important thing its not really a love triangle. The relationship(s) evolve as the series goes on into a co-equal menage’ thing. But this series is also heavy on the sex.

Born in Fire is a solid suggestion to fit you mark. It's hot and heavy stuff doesn’t come in until book 2 and this series has a bit of humor added to it. It also spins off into two additional series (each a trilogy). Character# from these series do appear throughout all these books, especially Reagan. *Note* Book 3 seems to be her best work so far. She exceeded my expectation and made a perfect book.

Natural Witch is the first book in the spin off, Magical Mayhem trilogy.

And Warrior Fae Trapped is the next spin off after that.

Totally unrelated K.F. Breene also has a Darkness series (9 books in total) Into the Darkness. Also another different take on vampires. It really starts picking up on book 2 and the side characters really bring out the story.

Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs by Molly Harper is a good series. Lighter on the sex and heavier on the humor. She also has a couple of other paranormal romance series. But I only really read this one to comment on it.

And oh my gosh. Eve Langlais, the comedic world builder extraordinaire. Her books are usually a hit or miss with me. But she's been cranking out books like crazy since this pandemic. Her earlier stuff “meh” but I’d suggest reading a few samples before deciding if she’s right for you.

First is her “Welcome to Hell” series A Demon and His Witch is to die for. Pun intended.

And I just finished her “The Deviant Future” Toxic Dust series. A recent release. More of a PR/Dystopia/Sci-fi series. Less on the humor and more on the dystopia. But the world building in this series is great.

Jennifer Armentrout has a decent series, “Wicked” Wicked.

You have to dive into the Southern Sanctuary series by Jane Cousins. she's like the Australian version of Shelly Laureston.

There are 13 books so far in the series - feisty heroines, sexy but sweet heroes. Fun, action and lots of snark. And absolutely no love triangles, major angst or harems.

start with book 1 - To Woo A Warrior.

every book is a stand out with valkyries, sociopaths, sirens, goddesses and a fabulous interfering match maker.

Kei wrote: "... Green Creek series sounds awesome. I'll give it a try.

WVMP Radio sounds like a unique setting and I'll give it a go! ..."

I hope that you like them. Both are set in towns rather than cities but are very different types of story. Wolfsong (Green Creek book 1) is one of my top 5 books of all time and WVMP is just so much fun.



Kei wrote: "... And I've actually read "Magic to the Bone" recently, but I kind of found it too angsty and depressing... The MC is constantly on the run, injured, sick, everything is covered by distrust, secrecy, betrayal, multiple near-death experiences, she can't even trust her own mind because she forgers everything because of her conditions... The whole book was kind of a 'downer'... Does it get better in the series or does it kind of maintain the same tone?"

It took me until book 3 to be sold on it, but I don't recall ever thinking it was particularly angsty, although Allie certainly does have daddy issues which comes up more than once. I actually liked it because she is not a Mary Sue who is impervious to harm despite all that she gets involved in. Also, later on there are is a larger cast of characters that play a stronger role in the narrative overall and shares the burden of 'the fight'. I hope that helps.

Cozen wrote: "Kiss of Midnight by Lara Adrian should be a good fit for you. There’s about 18-ish books in the series. And while Kiss of Midnight is book 1, there ..."

Thanks! I'll try these out.
I remember looking at "The Phoenix Pack" series before, not sure why I haven't read it before now...

the comedic world builder extraordinaire

Sounds great!

KarenMac wrote: "You have to dive into the Southern Sanctuary series by Jane Cousins. "

I actually just read "To Woo A Warrior" this week! I think this series will work great for me.
Just wish the writing was a bit more stable, without the grammar mistakes and floating POV...

KarenMac wrote: "You have to dive into the Southern Sanctuary series by Jane Cousins. she's like the Australian version of Shelly Laureston.

There are 13 books so far in the series - feisty heroin..."

Thank you for this recommendation! I love most of the authors in the original post too, but none of the other recs were quite hitting the mark for me….

Hi Kei, your post jumped out at me and I couldn't help but notice your fave authors are mine. Ilona Andrews and Nalini Singh can do no wrong in my eyes EVER.

I've written a book which I think ticks all your boxes: no angst, no love triangles, humiliation, etc. It's a paranormal romance (vampire) set in Las Vegas where vampires now rule. It's a romance between a (kind-off) vampire princess and her human guard.

It's available on Amazon, and if you want, you can check out the look-inside and see if the story and the writing style is something you might like, but no pressure. Link is below:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B096XY1MWH

Kei wrote: "Hi.
I've scavenged a few pages back through previous recommendation discussion, but still feel like I haven't found enough of what I'm looking for...

I'm a very fast reader, and looking for thing..."

Hi👋
I couldn't help but comment once I saw this.
When you say you don't like Patricia Briggs, do you mean just Mercy Thompson? I dnf'd that one.
But Briggs was one of the authors two of my friends didn't like until I introduced them to the Alpha and Omega series. Briggs' obsession with rape shows in the start of the series, but A&O is all about healing and perfect balance in a relationship. A&O is mercifully free of the crap that was dumped in huge quantities in MT. Anna and Charles are beautiful as a couple. Anna is a beloved Omega werewolf, so it's kinda funny how everyone (werewolves!) walk on eggshells around her. Charles is this tall, dark and broody assassin (by necessity) who is totally not typical because though he is technically the 2nd most dominant werewolf in the world, he respects Anna's judgement, and gives her a loving environment to grow in, all the while battling some serious demons himself. Anna is this bubbly little Rabbit, who is scared one second and a hero the next🥰 They're so cute together🐇
Sorry, I realize I am starting to rant, but I can't just talk enough about that one.
So.
Onto the next point.

There are a lot of authors I love, here are some off the top of my head. I still have to complete my goodreads profile (it's new) so it's not of a great help (the books will fit your rules, because mine are tighter than yours🙄)
•Lords of the Underworld (Gena Showalter) 😍
•The Bargainer (Laura Thalassa) 😍
•Guardian of Hades (Felicity Heaton)
•Ghostwalkers (Christine Feehan)
•Kingdom series (Marie Hall) or The Dark Queens (Jovee Winters) 👈 Same author, Everyone in kingdom series is torn apart due to a curse, The Dark Queens and Kings pick up the storyline
•The Treasure of Paragon (Genevieve Jack) 👈So far, so good. I'm couldn't get some books in the series, but after my extensive research (source material: reviews) I know it's safe.

I'd really like it if you could help me with my list. It's all about 'safe' paranormal books.

Maayra wrote: "Kei wrote: "Hi.

When you say you don't like Patricia Briggs, do you mean just Mercy Thompson? I dnf'd that one..."

Hi

I read 2 Mercy books, the 1st one was fine. I stopped reading the series because I realized the books were too repetitive in their construction and just didn't attract me with the directions she was going in. I actually disliked the 1st book for Alpha and Omega much much more, and I will quote from my short review of it: "there's just something about the tone, and the fascination with the dominance/domination game, manipulations, angst... And overly cruel bastards that get away with doing whatever they want for too long because of some idiotic 'hierarchy' games. The angst and frustration with bad shit seems to overshadow everything else in this book. Which is a shame, because I though I would like it." I don't know how you can say it is "mercifully free of crap" when, when I read it, I found it TOO FULL of the agsty dominance politics crap. Did we read the same book? ​I actually hate it when people write about werewolves and focus on "abo" dynamics and all the hierarchical crap.
​It all leaves such a bad taste in my lmouth.
I dislike Patricia Briggs's writing because I feel she is overly involved and fascinated with domination/submission/rape culture.

I have not read some of the other books you recommend, but somehow I very much doubt that "your rules are tighter than mine" XD
Because:
I have finished the Bargainer series, and, as with Alpha & Omega, I definitely did find it TOO angsty and TOO rapey to really enjoy. And I didn't really feel for the protagonist ... definitely not my favorite type ...

I have read one Dark books (number 20smth?) by Christine Feehan, and found it somewhere between mleh and disturbingly bad, and the absolute lack of logic, commons sense, and writing quality pretty much scared me off from trying anything else by this author ... unless I get very desperate.

I like to keep an open mind, so I'll definitely try out the ones I'm unfamiliar, but so far .... I have a sneaking suspicion we might have somewhat different definitions of the word "safe" ...

With how much rape and death and domination there is in Alpha & Omega, I definitely wouldn't put it on any on any "safe" list ... And neither I would put Laura Thalassa's books on it :)
From your list, I get an impression that you have a very specific "male hero" type that makes you consider the books safe ;)

Kei wrote: "Maayra wrote: "Kei wrote: "Hi.

When you say you don't like Patricia Briggs, do you mean just Mercy Thompson? I dnf'd that one..."

Hi

I read 2 Mercy books, the 1st one was fine. I stopped reading..."


Well, I think it's all a matter of taste. Yeah I find MT repetitive and boring, but I didn't not like it for it's scenes of rape, but for the love triangle (she measures  inspects and vacillates between the two men as if she were choosing a car) and world-building crap.
Let me explain. 

First, about the dominance/domination thing. 
I don't like it in romantic relationships, true, but it makes for some very interesting dynamics when done right. It could very well create the best characters in the series, and this cannot be done better than how Nalini Singh does it (SnowDancer, DarkRiver, StoneWater, RainFire etc.)
In Briggs' books, if you cut to the heart of the matter, and while not ideal,  you'll see modern day institutions reflected back by the werewolf hierarchies. So maybe this doesn't make it the world of my dreams,but I definitely find it relatable.

Second. I'm going to repeat it since you seemed to have missed it the first time around. I'd said, "Briggs' obsession with rape shows in the start of the series." Not the whole series. Book 2 is almost free of the crap of the novella and book 1. 

And next, I'm gonna be assuring you that my rules are quite tighter than yours, and not only because I've been teased to death about my 'snobby' tastes way too many times to count. 

It's a simple difference in opinion, if you ask me. Someone would see my bio and your rules in the original comment and assume that we have similar tastes. I don't know how it came down to this, but we basically have different opinions on depiction of rape in books. That's it. 
To me, fantasy is seeing people achieve their (sometimes seemingly impossible) dreams against impossible odds, no matter how low they were brought. For women, rape (fear of rape- it's everywhere, where we go, who we hang out with...) is the lowest of lows. Seeing the victims (h/H) rise above their abuse and shine is the highest of highs for me. It all 'Phoenix from the Ashes' and 'Run towards the Roar' for me, I suppose. 
So yeah, I love Callypso, Zarek, Acheron, Anna, Lana, etc.

P.S. I'd have written a light non-response and let it go if your comment hadn't way more judgmental than you had any right to be. Just because I don't have the same preferences as you doesn't give you the right to dismiss my choices by saying I like them because I have a specific 'male' type.
If you don't like it, it's fine. But did you ever stop to think that maybe, just maybe, it's not because she has a 'fascination' with rape culture that she writes in that manner but because she wants to write about them? Plus size women can be represented on paper, and it's even encouraged, but talk about rape victims, and it's 'fascination?'
I'm aware that you may not meant to have written in a slightly superior tone, especially the last comment, but you must be aware that these are touchy subjects. Feminism is ever-changing, and so do opinions. I'm sorry if it offends you, but I sincerely wrote this to tell you it's not ok to be dismissive.
Again, sorry if it offends you.

Maayra wrote: "Kei wrote: "Hi.
And next, I'm gonna be assuring you that my rules are quite tighter than yours,


Why? I don't want to argue with you, but 1) you don't know anything about me, and 2) it's not a competition?
I don't get why you have to "assure" me about your conclusion about a comparison you can't make because you can only know one side?
Did you learn everything there is to know about me, my tastes, and my rules from my first post?

And hi, I was in no way trying to be judgmental and saying that you have a preferred type of a male hero was not at all meant in a negative way. I don't know why you took as such?
We all have types we prefer. Absolutely nothing wrong about it. I thought that the MC from Alpha&Omega, Bargainer, and Feehnas heroes shared similar characteristics and pointed it out, no more.

If saying "thanks for your recommendations, but I have read some of the books you recommend and did not like them" is dismissive, so be it ... but I was just being honest.
I'm sorry if you feel hurt by the fact that I don't like the same books you do and have very different opinion regarding some authors and themes.


I hate reading about rape and abuse, because I've seen too much of it in real life. I really don't need to relive it books.
Which is why I asked for recommendations for books that don't have angst in them, which I assure you, definitely include depictions of rape, abuse, and domination.

Maayra wrote: "Kei wrote: "Maayra wrote: "Kei wrote: "Hi.

Seeing the victims (h/H) rise above their abuse and shine is the highest of highs for me."

I won't try to prove my point about Briggs, we can all keep our different opinions, but I will share this series which I personally consider a good example of a real healing story based in a werewolf pack.

Kei wrote: "Maayra wrote: "Kei wrote: "Maayra wrote: "Kei wrote: "Hi.

Seeing the victims (h/H) rise above their abuse and shine is the highest of highs for me."

I won't try to prove my point about Briggs, we..."

Thank you, looks good. I added it on my tbr🙂

Billie wrote: "Was going to post my own question but my question is similar to Kei's so I just stuck it here. Hope you don't mind.

Looking for books similar to The Fever Series by Karen Marie Morning, The Glass ..."

I really like Debra Dunbar and think her writing is somewhat similar to the Charlie Davidson series in that she has fun and her characters have a mischievous streak. She has a shorter series (that’s maybe complete? It’s a family of sisters (mostly witches) living in a small town with other magical creatures and they all have their own books now) that is on kindle unlimited. Brimstone and Broomsticks

If you like her writing try her Imp series. A Demon Bound She did take an unnecessary detour into some rape/sexual abuse/sex trafficking in one of the books (Penance) but I think it was a side book that you can easily skip (and maybe should—it was the only one I didn’t like and even though the events were handled well enough (not just for plot or character development or icky relationship or glossed over as not traumatic) I just don’t like reading about it). None of her other books have graphic sexual violence that I remember, although I thought the half-succubus series got too close to the line on consent v magic (I tend to avoid succubus series for the most part for that reason). I’m currently reading the California Demon series, which is a spin off of the Imp series, and really like it. California Demon

Darynda Jones has a new series (not finished yet) that I’m really enjoying (will someone please leave me a magical house in Salem??). The main character is a divorced middle aged woman and the story is delightful. Betwixt

I really liked Kelley Armstrong’s Women of the Otherworld series and the main characters always were independent (no sexual violence that I recall—I think one of the characters may have been abused as a child but it wasn’t described graphically and was handled well as far as I remember). Bitten

I like Melissa Olson’s books. Dead Spots Boundary Crossed I liked the Scarlett Bernard series slightly more than the Lex Luther series, but both were really good (still ongoing as far as I know). They definitely both feature protagonists who are young but have life experience (Scarlett runs her own business as a contractor cleaning up after the city’s supernaturals and Lex is an army veteran readjusting to civilian life). Both series were available on Kindle Unlimited when I read them. I don’t remember any sexual violence in either.