The supernatural romance genre has taken the world by storm. Vampires, shifters, ghouls, and more lurk in intricate worlds crafted onto these haunting pages. Often including elements beyond the scope of scientific explanation or reason, paranormal romance allows readers to fully immerse themselves in the characters’ experiences.
Fantasy, science fiction, and horror combine in these 20 must-read supernatural romance novels. So sit back, relax, and be possessed by these sizzling otherworldly romantic reads!
20 Must-Read Supernatural Romance Books
King of Battle and Blood by Scarlett St. Clair
The wicked and cruel vampire king, Adrian Aleksandr Vasillev, chooses Isolde as his bride-to-be in King of Battle and Blood. To end a long and bloody war, Isolde must marry the vampire conqueror or watch as he invades and destroys her beloved kingdom. Their dreaded wedding day is her worst nightmare, but with a plan to assassinate the king, she holds out hope for her future. But as Isolde becomes swept up in the Vampire courts, which prove more complex than the merciless king himself, passion ignites between Isolde and Adrian as secrets slip one by one.
This supernatural romance full of vampires and political intrigue delights with danger, passion, and revenge. Scarlett St. Clair, the viral A Touch of Darkness author, pens the first book in this supernatural series. You can get the novel here!
Heart Haunt Havoc by Elizabeth O’Roark
Colin Hart is a transgender exorcist called to nonbinary Bishop Martinez’s haunted house in Colorado. There, ghosts, demons, and ghouls run rampant, keeping them awake. As the mystery unravels behind the haunt, Colin finds himself falling for the handsome Bishop, despite the secrets Bishop keeps.
Heart, Haunt, Havoc is a paranormal romance full of gothic imagery written by Freydis Moon. You can get the novel here!
The King’s Captive by K. M. Shea
A retelling of Hades and Persephone, The King’s Captive spins a world of fae and mythical beings. A world in which Chloe doesn’t fit in. She can shapeshift into a housecat, but that’s nothing among vampires and werewolves. Often ostracized by her peers, it’s during a fierce chase that Noctus finds her amid trouble and saves her–in cat form.
Not realizing her proper form, he takes her in as a pet, where she learns of his secrets one by one, starting with the fact that he’s really an elven king ruling over other supernaturals. The King’s Captive by K. M. Shea is the first book in the Gate of Myth and Power trilogy. You can get it here!
Hammered by Lindsay Buroker
Wielding a magical hammer, Matti Puletasi has superhuman strength. When she finds a sought-after artifact, everyone, from werewolves to orcs to elves, is after the mysterious item. An attractive and secretive elf from another realm is the only person seemingly on Matti’s side. Still, trust doesn’t come easy with everything, including her heart and life, on the line.
With a slow-burn romance between an elf assassin and a woman who’s a powerhouse, Hammered is perfect for fans of the supernatural romance genre. You can get the first book in the Legacy of Magic series here!
The Awakening by Nora Roberts
Breen Kelly’s everyday life includes working a terrible job, student debt, and anxiety. But that all changes when she discovers her dad, who used to tell her tales of magical lands, has funneled millions of dollars into an investment account for her. With the money, she takes off to Ireland, where she slips through a portal into a land full of the fae, mermaids, and faeries. It’s here she encounters Keegan, a man who might be the answer to all of the questions Breen has been asking herself.
You can get this novel by Nora Roberts here and delight in a supernatural story filled with dragons, intrigue, and plenty of romance. The Awakening is the first book in the Dragon Heart Legacy series.
House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas
Bryce Quinland is half-Fae and half-human in a world that hates her kind. She lives in the luminescent Crescent City, working at an antique shop of magical items during the day and partying hard with her friends at night. Until the brutal murder of her best friend, Danika, changes everything.
Two years later, Bryce pairs up with the fallen angel and warrior Hunt Athalar to solve the case. They follow a string of deaths, murders, and crimes, working together to uncover a horrifying plot before the city falls. But as mysteries unravel, their tension grows into a searing romance neither can deny.
House of Earth and Blood is the first novel in the Crescent City series by Sarah J. Maas, author of massive bestsellers A Court of Thorns and Roses and Throne of Glass. Full of action, twists, and sizzling romance, House of Earth and Blood is available for purchase here!
The Coven by Harper L. Woods and Adelaide Forrest
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Willow is a powerful earth witch sent on a mission to the prestigious Hollow Grove University. Here, those with magical abilities practice safely without the interference of humans. Here, she meets Alaric Grayson Thorne, headmaster of the university. Immediately, she despises him. He is the very thing she is trying to destroy–a Vessel, a being who feeds on witch blood, and a complete prick.
But secrets about the decades-old bloody massacre at the university swell, and Willow must uncover them while holding tight to her own. The Coven is the delicious first book in this steamy duology by Harper L. Woods and Adelaide Forrest. Uncover all the secrets with the first novel here!
A Soul to Keep by Opal Reyne
After the death of her family, Reia is a shunned harbinger of bad omens in the village she resides. She longs for freedom, but the town is merciless. One night they force her to make a choice: rot in prison or go as a sacrifice to the faceless Duskwalker, a terrifying monster who requires a human sacrifice every decade. But when she looks into the face of the demon they call Duskwalker, she’s not frightened–she’s enchanted.
In this #1 Amazon Best Seller, Opal Reyna writes a steamy love story between a misunderstood monster and a courageous woman. You can get A Soul to Keep, the first book in the Duskwalker Brides series, here!
Spellbound Falls by Janet Chapman
Widow Olivia Baldwin loves running camp Inglenook, where parents and their children spend time together in the beautiful Spellbound Falls. This year, single father Maximilian Oceanus and his young son attend, saving Olivia from a precarious situation. But as the weeks go on, strange happenings follow Maximillian as he and Olivia kindle a heartwarming bond.
This contemporary paranormal romance is upbeat and filled with banter. You can get Spellbound Falls by Janet Chapman here!
The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
16-year-old Blue comes from a family of psychics with a curse saying if she kisses her true love, they will die. But instead of being a psychic herself, she can amplify others’ abilities, including that of Gansey, a Raven Boy from Aglionby Academy. Obsessed with finding the body of an ancient Welsh king, Gansey and his three friends, Adam, Ronan, and Noah, race to find the king before someone far more sinister discovers him. And then Blue comes into their lives with a vision of Gansey dying, and the plot thickens.
This complex, atmospheric young adult novel is an award-winning supernatural romance with themes of dark academia and a band of misfits. You can get the first book in Maggie Stiefvater’s The Raven Cycle series here!
The Ex Hex by Rachel Hawkins
9-years-ago, witch Vivienne Jones suffered heartbreak and accidentally cursed the man responsible, Rhys Penhallow. Now, the ancestor of the town’s founders is back in spooky Graves Glen to recharge the ley lines. But a certain witch’s curse causes things to go disastrously wrong.
In this romantic comedy with a second-chance romance, Vivienne and Rhys must work together to save the town or doom Graves Glen to haunting for all eternity. You can get The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling here!
Feral Sins by Suzanne Wright
Trey Coleman is an alpha wolf shifter with irresistible charm who Taryn Warner is determined not to fall for. But when they discover an alliance between their packs will grant Trey political favor and Taryn an out from an arranged marriage, they agree to fake a mating relationship. But wolf shifters are territorial and feral, and the charade falls apart as feelings grow.
Written by Suzanne Wright, Feral Sins features two strong alphas as they battle against giving in to their instincts and temptation. You can get the first book in The Phoenix Pack series here!
A Hunger Like No Other by Kresley Cole
Lachlain MacRieve is the werewolf leader of the Lykae Clan who endured years of torture at the hands of vampires. Emmaline Troy is the ethereal half-vampire, half-Valkyrie woman Lachlain discovers is his mate and steals away. At his Scottish castle, they grow to know each other as desire builds, dangers lurk and roles reverse.
You can get this romance about a strong werewolf warrior who turns gentle at his lover’s touch and a half-vampire woman who strengthens herself and those she loves here!
The Dragon’s Bride by Katee Robert
Briar Rose knows her life isn’t a fairytale and a prince isn’t coming to save her. So she strikes a deal with a demon to free her from her cruel husband, only to find herself being sold to the highest bidder at an auction full of monsters.
Sol, a dragon, wins the bid and takes her away. He promises to care for and look after her, but trust doesn’t come easy after everything Briar’s been through. It doesn’t matter how kind he seems or the promises he makes; she refuses to fall in love with him. But her original deal with the demon said seven years of service. Once she’s free to return to the mortal lands after those seven years, Briar isn’t sure how she won’t leave a piece of her heart with the dragon who vows to take care of it.
You can get The Dragon’s Bride by Katee Robert here!
Ice Planet Barbarians by Ruby Dixon
This viral book starts with a human girl, Georgie Carruthers, along with several other women as they are abducted by aliens. Refusing to be taken against their will, the women fight back against their will, the women fight back against their captors. When the ship is abandoned with the women inside on an ice planet, Georgie goes out to find help and runs into a blue alien named Vektal.
Vektal seems to believe Georgie is his mate and vows to help her people, and as they spend time together, Georgie can’t help but think he might be right. Ice Planet Barbarians has gained a large following on TikTok and is the first book in the series. You can get this passionate romance novel here!
Moon Touched by Elizabeth Briggs
Rejected by her mate, half-human and half-wolf, Ayla is a member of the Cancer clan. Her entire pack is murdered by the Leo pack after the alpha turns down their bond in front of everyone. Though she manages to escape the slaughter, she is picked up by someone just as dangerous: the alpha of the lost pack. And when he offers her revenge, Ayla might just take it.
Moon Touched by Elizabeth Briggs is the first book in the Zodiac Wolves series. You can get the irresistible paranormal romance novel here!
Blood Orange by Karina Halle
Dahlia Abernathy has been after revenge ever since her parents were murdered by vampires. Since then, she’s been trained to kill them at the Witch’s Guild. Her new mission puts her at an academy in Venice, where she’s tasked to kill Professor Valtu Aminoff, the vampire who sparked Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
Blood Orange is a supernatural vampire romance novel about love lost and love versus revenge. You can get this spicy book here!
A Ghoulish Midlife by Lia Davis and L. A. Boruff
Ava Harper has faced enough death in the past few years to last her a lifetime. Widowed, she buried her aunt who helped raise her, watched her son go to college, and is now back in Shipton Harbor, Maine, to sell the family home. But things are not the same as they were when she left. There’s magic stirring in the house, an old rival is trying to make amends, and a sheriff is dangerously attractive. When a body turns up, Ava must tap into the dangerous power she’s kept under control for decades and work alongside the sheriff to solve the crime.
You can get A Ghoulish Midlife by authors Lia Davis and L. A. Boruff here!
The Grim Reaper’s Lawyer by Mea Monique
Recently killed, Joyce has a choice: be the Grim Reaper’s lawyer and represent him in Reaper’s Court or go straight to hell. She chooses hell. But as chaos unfolds, Aiden and Joyce are thrown in the middle, and Joyce is tasked with saving all of the Afterworld. And for a dead girl, she’s never felt so alive.
This witty, action-packed romance novel is written by Mea Monique and is full of bold settings and a unique plot. You can get The Grim Reaper’s Lawyerhere!
Shadow Slayer by Rory Miles and Harper Frey
Greer is a demon slayer who prides herself on independence, but after her parents force her into a marriage with a fellow demon hunter, Valen, who also wants nothing to do with Greer, she discovers she doesn’t have to do everything alone. Along the way, she encounters Dane, a bear shifter who claims to be her mate and another handsome fae.
A rogue slayer is forced into an arranged marriage in this forced proximity supernatural reverse harem romance novel. You can get Shadow Slayer by Rory Miles and Harper Frey here!
Final Thoughts
Ghosts haunting houses, blood swirling in wine glasses, grim reapers collecting the living, and aliens protecting humans–these passionate, humorous, and haunting love stories abound within the 20 books on this list. We hope you enjoyed our picks and find your next favorite supernatural romance read right here!
FAQs
What are romances with a supernatural element called?
Romance novels with supernatural elements are called supernatural romances or paranormal romances.
What is shifter romance?
Shifter romances fall under the supernatural romance genre and feature characters who can change into one or many forms, such as werewolves, animals, or any other mythical being, as they fall in love.
What book series is an angel falling in love with a human?
In House of Earth and Blood, the first book in the Crescent City series by Sarah J. Maas, Hunt Athalar is a fallen angel who falls in love with Bryce Quinlan, a half-human woman.
What are open-door and closed-door romance books?
Open-door romance books have scenes that allow readers to see the moments of passion in the bedroom. Closed-door romance books typically cut off the scenes and suggest those moments of love have happened rather than explicitly sharing them.
Will there be a 3rd book in Crescent City?
House of Flame and Shadow by Sarah J. Maas is Crescent City’s third book. It comes out in January 2024.
Hi! I'm Taylor, and I've always loved getting lost in a good book. Book stores and libraries are my happy spaces, and reading is my favorite form of escape from the pressures of everyday life. When I'm not reading, I'm writing my own novels, working on blog posts, and freelancing while blasting Taylor Swift's music. I have a degree in English—Creative Writing from the University of North Carolina at Asheville, where I studied under amazing writers, including New York Times best-selling author Wiley Cash. I've worked at my local library in the Children's and Teen departments and love sharing all things literary as a community! Happy reading! PS: Find me on Instagram @taylor_brazzill
