The 20 Best Paranormal Romance Authors – Ultimate Guide

If you’re looking for the best paranormal romance authors–ones who write about romance that goes beyond the realms of reality–then you’ve found the right place! In this article, we’ll take a look at 20 of the best paranormal romance authors, from new names to para-romance legends!

The 20 Best Paranormal Romance Authors - Ultimate Guide

So, whether you’re searching for werewolves or witches, fresh faces or classics, decades-old novels or soon-to-be-released stories, get ready to find your next favorite author and your next favorite read! 

About The 20 Best Paranormal Romance Authors

The paranormal romance genre is filled with novels that have evocative writing, unique plotlines, magical elements, dazzling new worlds, and–perhaps most importantly–intensely passionate romance that will sweep you off your feet!

The genre often blends themes of science fiction, horror, and fantasy while focusing on the romantic relationships of extraordinary characters and their supernatural adventures.

So, if you’re looking for a talented author who has mastered the art of building worlds like no other and writing scientifically unexplainable scenarios, keep reading to find the 20 best ones!

The 20 Best Paranormal Romance Authors – Ultimate Guide

Bianca D’Arc

Lords of the Were (The Others)

First on the list is Bianca D’Arc, who has written over a hundred books in the paranormal romance genre since 2006. 

The winner of two EPPIE Awards and twice nominated for the prestigious RT Reviewers’ Choice Award, she often mixes genres and is known for writing in a way that can pull readers into her novel’s worlds immediately!

One of her beloved books, Lords of the Were, follows were-woman Allie, who is destined to be the mate of twin alpha rulers of the werefolk, Rafe and Tim. An ancient evil is stalking the twins, and the three of them are hunted by a hostile human mage and a vicious vampire as they attempt to battle that evil.

You can find Lords of the Were here.

Lora Leigh

Tempting the Beast (Breeds)

The recipient of the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award for Best Erotic Romance, Lora Leigh is best known for the more than 70 erotic and paranormal romances she’s written. Her longest-running and perhaps most well-known series, The Breeds, begins with Tempting the Beast.

Merinus Tyler is a journalist who is willing to do whatever it takes to get her story. Her oldest brother, Caleb, is editor-in-chief at the National Forum where she works. 

Callan Lyons is a genetic experiment–half-human, half-lion–who only wants to be left alone, but Caleb was once friends with his birth mother and thus has proof of his existence. 

Proof that leads to Merinus’ obsession with finding him and getting him to speak out against the illegal experiments that were conducted on him. Merinus was expecting to get a hard-hitting story and maybe even some justice.

She wasn’t expecting to fall in love with the overbearingly handsome half-breed.

You can find Tempting the Beast here.

Nalini Singh

Slave to Sensation: Book 1 (The Psy-Changeling Series)

Nalini Singh has had several of her books appear on the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestsellers lists.

Her 2021 novel, Quiet in Her Bones, was selected as a finalist in the 2022 Ngaio Marsh Awards, recommended by Oprah Daily in its Crime Fiction Goes Global and Diverse, as These 20 Books by Women Writers Show feature, and optioned by Showtime Networks!

One of her early novels, Slave to Sensation, published in 2006, is the start of her vehemently popular Psy-changeling series.

Lucas Hunter is a Changeling who is determined to find the Psy killer who murdered his packmate. Instead, he finds Sascha, a seemingly uncaring Psy, just like all the rest. 

However, despite their conflicting worlds, the two develop strong feelings for one another–which is especially a problem for Sascha, who’s trying to avoid being punished and rehabilitated for showing any signs of desire.

You can find Slave to Sensation here.

J.R Ward

Dark Lover

Also known as Jessica Bird, J.R Ward has written over 30 books in the paranormal romance genre and has won several awards for her writing, including the RITA Award for Best Paranormal Romance and the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award for Best Urban Fantasy Novel.

Ward’s infamous novel, Dark Lover, follows the last purebred vampire on the planet, Wrath. He’s the leader of the Black Dagger Brotherhood–a gang of vampires. 

Wrath is entirely consumed by the need to settle the score with the slayers who killed his parents centuries ago–until his best friend is killed, and he is tasked with the duty of taking care of his daughter, half-breed Beth Randall.

You can find Dark Lover here.

Sherrilyn Kenyon

Acheron (Dark-Hunter, Book 12)

The author of multiple New York Times Bestsellers over a decade, Sherrilyn Kenyon is best known for her Dark-Hunter series. Diehard fans of paranormal romance may already be familiar with her most popular novel of the series, Acheron.

Acheron was the most anticipated novel in the series as it tells the story of the Dark-Hunter leader, Acheron. He was made into a human in order to escape death, but eleven thousand years ago, he was born a God.

For centuries, he was determined to keep his past secrets concealed–until a woman who refused to be intimidated by him threatened his complicated existence.

You can find Acheron here.

Kresley Cole

A Hunger Like No Other

Inducted into the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame in 2009, Kresley Cole is one of the most successful paranormal romance authors to date. The first book in her Immortals After Dark series, A Hunger Like No Other, developed a cult following and propelled her career to new heights!

A Hunger Like No Other tells the story of unlikely soulmates, werewolf warrior Lachlain MacRieve and Valkyrie vampire Emmaline Troy. 

Lachlain isn’t too pleased to find out that his mate is half-vampire, yet intense feelings of love and desire begin to fester between the two of them in no time.

You can find A Hunger Like No Other here.

Gena Showalter

[(The Darkest Night)] [By (author) Gena Showalter] published on (January, 2010)

Having published over 70 books thus far, Gena Showalter knows a thing or two about creating an addictive paranormal romance that will keep you on your toes throughout! Her fan-favorite novel, The Darkest Night, is a prime example. 

Ashlyn Darrow has been tormented by voices from the past throughout her whole life. Desperate to get rid of them, she seeks help from men in Budapest who are rumored to have supernatural abilities.

The most dangerous man of them all, Maddox, is trapped inside his own hell but soon finds his way out through Ashlyn. But with every heated kiss and passionate touch the two share, they come closer and closer to destruction.

You can find The Darkest Night here.

Carol Van Natta

In Graves Below: Magic, New Mexico

A skilled writer of science fiction and fantasy, Carol Van Natta has dipped her toe inside the paranormal romance genre a few times as well! In her 2018 novel, In Graves Below, disabled veteran Idrián Odair is running out of time.

He needs the help of Riya Sanobal–a mostly human dancer–if he wants to have any chance of figuring out how to use earth magic to renew the barrier protecting his tribal lands. 

Idrián is the only dreamwalk warrior left in the world, and his grandfather died before telling him how to navigate his magic, but Riya has a gift for portal magic, which could help him. 

They just have to make sure that a greedy and powerful demon doesn’t get to her first.

You can find In Graves Below here.

Christine Feehan

Dark Prince

Known for her paranormal military thrillers, Christine Feehan stole the hearts of millions of readers with her 1999 novel, Dark Prince

Raven Whitney is a psychic who has used her gift to help track down a serial killer. She decides to escape the recent publicity for the peace and quiet of the Carpathian Mountains.

Prince Mikhail Dubrinsky is the leader of the Carpathians–an immortal race of beings with animal instincts. Every Carpathian male is drawn to his life mate: a woman who can show him light despite the darkness that surrounds him.

The Carpathian race is growing closer to extinction as more and more Carpathian men succumb to the darkness, and Mikhail, too, is close to giving in. But when he meets Raven, everything changes.

You can find Dark Prince here.

Elizabeth Briggs

Stroke The Flame (Her Elemental Dragons)

Elizabeth Briggs’ relatively recent series, Her Elemental Dragons, is a much-needed fresh entry into the paranormal romance genre! 

With her immense character-building and descriptive writing style, Briggs created an instant fan-favorite with the first book in the series, Stroke the Flame.

The story follows four sexy dragon shifters–a clever prince, Auric, an arrogant soldier, Jasin, a precocious blacksmith, Slade, and a mysterious assassin by the name of Reven–along with a huntress named Kira. 

Kira’s been keeping a low profile since her parents were killed by the Black Dragon, but when four handsome shifters show up claiming that she must save the world, that changes very quickly.

You can find Stroke the Flame here.

Larissa Ione

Pleasure Unbound

The winner of the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award for Best Vampire Romance and the RITA Award for Best Paranormal Romance, Larissa Ione’s novels have seen plenty of success over the course of the last decade!

The first book in her Demonica series, Pleasure Unbound, is one of her most popular to date. 

Tayla Mancuso is a demon slayer who ends up in a hospital run by demons in disguise. The head doctor, Eidolon, makes Tayla feel a kind of sensual desire that she’s never felt before, but to prove her loyalty to her peers, she must betray the maddeningly gorgeous doctor that saved her life.

You can find Pleasure Unbound here.

Jennifer Estep

Touch of Frost (Mythos Academy)

Jennifer Estep is known for her breathtaking urban fantasy and paranormal romance novels, which easily encapture readers from start to finish! Her Mythos Academy series is her most popular one, and it begins with Touch of Frost.

Gwen Frost attends Mythos Academy—a school of myths, magic, and warrior whiz kids–and lately, things have been pretty weird. First, mean girl Jasmine Ashton was murdered, and then a magical artifact that could bring on the second Chaos War was stolen.

Gwen is determined to figure out what’s going on. Particularly, who killed Jasmine and why–because it was supposed to be her who died instead.

You can find Touch of Frost here.

Roxie Ray

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Roxie Ray is not one author but several! The group of writer friends writes Sci-Fi Alien Romance and Paranormal Romance predominantly . 

Looking for another novel with an academic setting? They’ve got you covered with their 2022 novel, Zodiac Elite!

Ash, Heather, and Lace learned that they were changelings when they were saved from their untimely deaths by the headmaster of the Zodiac Academy. 

They don’t believe they belong at the academy, and it’s clear the other students don’t either, but when they discover they are taking the place of three students who were recently murdered–and who looked just like them–they begin searching for answers about their true beginnings. 

All while trying to master the power of all twelve zodiac signs.

You can find Zodiac Elite here.

Jeaniene Frost

Halfway to the Grave

Jeaniene Frost is an international bestselling author known for her Night Huntress series and the Night Huntress World novels. The first novel of the seven-book series, Halfway to the Grave, was published in 2007 and follows half-vampire Catherine Crawfield.

She’s on the hunt for her deadbeat, vampire father, who ruined her mother’s life, and she isn’t going to stop until she finds him. But then, she’s captured by Bones, a vampire bounty hunter who forces her into a partnership.

Cat must train with Bones until her battle skills are as sharp as his fangs are, and in exchange, Bones will help her find her father. Soon, Cat comes to realize that being half-dead isn’t half-bad.

You can find Halfway to the Grave here.

Lara Adrian

[Kiss of Midnight] (By: Lara Adrian) [published: October, 2009]

This historical and paranormal romance author is known for her New York Times and #1 internationally bestselling Midnight Breed series. In book #1, Kiss of Midnight, Gabrielle Maxwell witnesses a murder outside of the club, and her life changes forever as a result.

She’s suddenly thrust into the world of vampires, where they wait in the shadows until it’s time to feed on their next victim, and a blood war is soon to ignite.

You can find Kiss of Midnight here.

Lana Harper

Back in a Spell (The Witches of Thistle Grove)

Lana Harper is a newbie to the genre and has already published four novels since 2021. If you’re looking for YA novels about modern-day witches and historical murderesses, then look no further!

In her latest rom-com, Back in a Spell, powerful witch Nineve Blackmoore is sick of feeling low a year after her ex-fiance ditched her at the altar. 

So, she decides to try out a dating app and ends up on a date with Morty Gutierrez, a nonbinary, offbeat, spontaneous soul who co-owns the Shamrock Cauldron.

Their date is awkward and borderline terrible, and Morty isn’t a fan once he discovers what Nina’s last name is. 

But when he begins developing magical powers–which usually only happens to committed romantic partners when they officially join a founding family—at the same time that Nina’s magic swells beyond her control, Nina must manage Morty’s rude awakening to the hidden magical world, uncover its cause, and face the intensity of their feelings for one another head-on.

You can find Back in a Spell here.

Ilona Andrews

Magic Tides (Kate Daniels: Wilmington Years)

This husband-and-wife duo is known for its intense and jaw-dropping urban fantasy and paranormal romance novels. Their most recent release, Magic Tides, is a 2023 novel that follows Kate, Curran, and their son, Conlan, who’ve left Atlanta to keep a low profile. 

But when Kate rescues a kidnapped kid while Curran guards the homefront, things take a turn. It’s supposed to be a simple rescue, but with monsters on the land and in the sea, things get complicated quickly.

You can find Magic Tides here.

Chloe Neill

Some Girls Bite (Chicagoland Vampires)

Chloe Neill’s infamous Chicagoland Vampires series begins with the 2009 novel, Some Girls Bite

Merit is attacked by a rogue vampire, saved from said rogue vampire by another bloodsucker, and promptly turned into an undead creature herself. As it turns out, her savior was the master vampire of Cadogan House, Ethan Lord. 

Now, instead of being a stressed-out grad student, Merit is trying her best to fit in at a Hyde Park mansion full of vampires, and she’s expected to give her utmost gratitude and servitude to the vampire with four centuries worth of charm.

On top of that, someone’s out to get her, and she has to prepare for war.

You can find Some Girls Bite here.

N. D. Jones

Of Deception and Divinity (Death and Destiny Trilogy)

N.D. Jones wanted to see more novels with positive, sexy, and three-dimensional Black characters as soul mates, friends, and lovers, so she took on the challenge herself and began writing paranormal romance and fantasy novels!

Her book, Of Deception and Divinity, follows Assefa and Sanura, who are struggling to complete their mate bond while fighting a ferocious war of fire versus water which is waged every five hundred years.

Surprise magic attacks and betrayal lurks around every corner, and the longer they fight, the more they realize that destiny and divinity may have already sealed their fate.

You can find Of Deception and Divinity here.

Mia Tsai

Bitter Medicine

Mia Tsai’s enchanting paranormal debut, Bitter Medicine, was released on March 14, 2023. If you’re looking for a book with three-dimensional characters, a plethora of charm, and an intricate magic system, this is the one for you!

“As a descendant of the Chinese god of medicine, ignored middle child Elle was destined to be a doctor. 

Instead, she is underemployed as a mediocre magical calligrapher at the fairy temp agency. Nevertheless, she challenges herself by covertly outfitting Luc, her client–and crush–with high-powered glyphs.

Half-elf Luc, the agency’s top security expert, has his own secret: he’s responsible for a curse laid from an old assignment. 

To heal them, he’ll need to perform his job duties with unrelenting excellence and earn time off from his tyrannical boss.

When Elle saves Luc’s life, they begin a dangerous collaboration, but their chemistry blooms. Happiness, for once, is an option for them both. But Elle is loyal to her family, and Luc is bound by his true name. To win freedom from duty, they must make unexpected sacrifices.”

You can find Bitter Medicine here.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’ve been a long-time lover of the paranormal and fantasy romance genres or you’re a newcomer who’s just taking a step into the otherworlds, I hope this article was able to help you find an author whose unforgettable characters and imaginative worldbuilding can resonate with you!

FAQs

What is Nalini Singh’s next book?

Resonance Surge (Psy-Changeling Trinity Book 7). It will be released on July 25, 2023.

How many books are in the Dark-Hunter series by Sherrilyn Kenyon?

There are 30 books in the Dark-Hunter series. The series begins with Dark Bites, and the latest book is Stygian.

Is Kresley Cole still writing books?

Yes! The final installment of her Arcana Chronicles series, From the Grave, is coming out on April 18th, 2023.

When did J.R. Ward publish her first novel?

Jessica Bird published her first novel in 2002. However, the first novel published under her pen name, J.R. Ward was published in 2004.

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Tia Trammell