Think urban fantasy is all leather-clad heroines and male sidekicks with big guns? Think again. Urban fantasy has become one of the most varied of the speculative genres. In fact, it’s no longer necessarily urban, and the fantasy elements can be light and whimsical or deep and dark. Don’t even think about delving more deeply into the world of UF until you’ve completed this core reading list.

Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice

Published in 1976 as the first in a series of novels that became known as The Vampire Chronicles, this book is more horror than urban fantasy as we think of it today. But the series laid the groundwork for modern urban fantasy, setting its immortal beings in the modern world undetected among humans—that intersection of fantasy and reality which lies at the core of urban fantasy. It also took the emotions of vampires outside the monster realm and into a territory with which human readers could sympathize.

[Normal emotions for paranormal creatures...]

Urban fantasy heroes and heroines aren’t known for their stable relationships. I mean, once you get past Cat and Bones, Mercy and Adam, and Charles and Anna, the picture gets ugly, fast. (And two of those three are from the same author, the obviously stable Patricia Briggs.)

Poor Sookie’s slept her way through half of the greater Shreveport area since the early days of bliss with Vampire Bill. Harry Dresden couldn’t find a lasting relationship if a woman were Superglued to his leather duster. And Anita Blake....do we really even want to go there? (And there, and there, and there?)

But maybe the worst love life of all belongs to Rachel Morgan, the “itchy witch” heroine of Kim Harrison’s Hollows series. Rachel wants to find the right guy (she loves vampire Ivy as a friend and not the way Ivy wants), but Rachel has had buzzard’s luck when it comes to romance.

In honor of Ever After, the eleventh book in the series (out of thirteen), which has just been released, let’s have a quick, graded retrospective on Rachel’s love life.

[For all our sakes, let's hope it gets better for her!...]

Cynthia Eden
Angel in Chains (The Fallen)
Brava / November 27 / $14.00 print, $11.99 digital

As a fallen Angel of Death, Azrael is cursed to walk the earth alone in search of redemption. One night, as he wanders the streets of New Orleans, he discovers a woman surrounded by panther shifters. No longer able to contain the anger simmering within, Az summons his dark powers and attacks, determined to protect this innocent human from certain death.

Only Jade Pierce is no delicate flower. She's spent years learning to survive and fight the evil forces sent by her ex-lover who refuses to let her go. But after seeing Az in action, she figures she could use a little supernatural help. And so she plans a course of seduction guaranteed to arouse his interest and his angelic passions. . .

First, let’s establish a simple fact: angels are hot. There’s the whole forbidden fruit thing with a hero who’s an angel. There are wings, and what’s not sexy about wings? And a fallen angel whose former job description included a killer touch—literally—and the transport of souls from the newly deceased? Angel and bad boy all tied up in a neat bow.

Cynthia Eden’s Fallen series has the hot angel thing nailed. In each of the books, an Angel of Death—Keenan, Sammael, and now Azrael—have fallen, and fallen hard.

[Fall with them...]

This blog was supposed to be about how all our favorite kick-ass urban fantasy heroines wear skintight black leather while still managing to wield heavy weaponry, outrun demons, and avoid unsightly leather-sweats. It was supposed to offer a few options on quick urban fantasy heroines you could emulate for Halloween costumes that didn’t involve leather. It was supposed to poke a little gentle fun at what is a huge genre cliché.

But a funny thing happened on the way to the leather shop. I discovered that while tight leather clothing is very popular among urban fantasy cover artists, the heroines of those novels don’t wear the stuff all that often. In fact, the heroines of today’s most popular UF series can be firmly divided into the jeans crowd, the leather crowd, and Sookie.

Still looking for that Halloween costume and want to avoid leather or (worse) pleather? Try these sartorial seductresses:

Sookie Stackhouse. Never mind that it’s late October. To dress like Sookie, slather on the spray tan and pull out a nice cotton sundress and some strappy sandals. Be sure to throw a tasteful scarf in your bag to cover any unsightly fang marks, and carry a casserole to your Halloween party.

[More fashion tips ahead...]

What, you didn’t realize Stephen King, the master of horror, was a romantic at heart? I beg to differ. Some of his greatest works have featured couples, from the first blush of young love to the seasoned affection of long-term blood, um, bliss.

And what better time that Halloween to look at Stevie’s ten greatest love stories?

Susan and Roland.

Teen lovers in The Dark Tower IV: Wizard and Glass, these two give Romeo and Juliet a run for their money as they conduct a clandestine love affair, sexually christening every abandoned building in the barony of Mejis. Sadly, in the end, 14-year-old Roland rides off to save the world, leaving 16-year-old Susan to be painted like a scarecrow and burned to death by ravening villagers in the harvest bonfire. Those May-December romances never work.

Susan and Ben.

In Salem’s Lot, novelist Ben moves back to his hometown of Jerusalem’s Lot and begins a romance with Susan (one of the two people who actually bought Ben’s first novel). Unfortunately, after Ben begins writing a book about an evil abandoned mansion in town, he learns it’s a vampire lair and Susan gets turned all fangy. Ben does the noble thing and stakes her through the heart. Someone named Susan must have made Mr. King very, very angry. (Remember, Stevie, the name’s Suzanne, not Susan.)

[But wait, there's more!...]

Okay, I’ll admit it. I love vampires. I like them undead, formerly human or a different race altogether, cold and scary, or hot and sexy. They might live the life of the undead in Victorian England, rule over a palatial mountain enclave in Romania, stalk the alleys of an American metropolis, or make a cave their home. (I mean, seriously, would you throw Bones out of bed just because of the cave thing?)

Gotta say: The sparkling-in-sunlight business almost drove me away, but then JR Ward released the first book in a new vhampire series called the Black Dagger Brotherhood, and the world righted itself. In fact, the fanged had never looked better.

(Did you realize that Dark Lover, the first Black Dagger book, and Twilight came out within a month of each other? Talk about the yin and yang of vampires.)

[Bite me...]

More years ago than I want to admit (okay, it was eighteen) my friend Meg thrust a trio of paperback books at me. “You have to read these,” she said. “They’re about vampires.”

The books were written by an unfamiliar author—Laurell K. Hamilton—and had the ominous names of Guilty Pleasures, The Laughing Corpse, and Circus of the Damned. Until this point, Meg had mostly cajoled me into reading cozy mysteries, and these books didn’t sound cozy.

They weren’t—not even close. And they blew me away, unlike anything I’d read to that point. Since that time, say what you will about whether or not the Anita Blake Vampire Hunter series has veered into “vampire porn,” what we’ve come to know as urban fantasy and paranormal romance owes Anita a nod of acknowledgment.

I wasn’t convinced until a couple of weeks ago, when I decided to try and determine if Laurell K. Hamilton had, indeed, “invented” the modern urban fantasy.

[And what did you find?...]

You put romance in my WHAT?

Imagine this scenario: Your significant other is reading a manly science fiction or epic fantasy novel when he suddenly begins to hyperventilate.

Have the aliens finally obliterated Earth? Have the dragons been rendered extinct by primitive hordes from the Kingdom of N’ai’noth?

No, he’s just come across romance—or even worse, emotion—in his novel. His pure genre has been infiltrated by relationships more than an inch deep.

God forbid.

In publishing circles, these things are called “romantic elements,” and they occur when devious authors slip bits of emotion-driven romance, sometimes entire subplots, into non-romance books, thereby tricking unsuspecting readers. The gall!

[Trick or treat?...]

The Symptoms: Despite rumors to the contrary, vampires just keep rising from the dead. And so do zombies. Werewolves are dwindling in numbers, angels have all but disappeared — but there still be dragon-shifters.

The Diagnosis: Fifty-three new books in these overlapping genres come out in October — 29 in urban fantasy and horror, and 24 in paranormal romance, with vampires putting a serious bite on all the other creatures out there.

The Cure: There are lots of monsters hanging around this month, so maybe take a light approach by checking out a couple of vampire Christmas anthologies (don’t think about it too hard), two Jane Austen-as-vampire books, or the titles-so-nuts-they-have-to-be-good: The Twilight of Lake Woebegottenor Real Werewives of Vampire County.

For the full article on September’s new releases in Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy, visit our sister science fiction and fantasy blog, Tor.com.

The Symptoms: Urban fantasy has held the lead the last two months in the battle for dominance over paranormal romance, but the kiss ’em deadly crowd surges ahead in September despite UF’s attempt to bolster its numbers by incorporating horror.

The Diagnosis: Forty-seven new urban fantasy and horror (21) and paranormal romance (26) books weigh down the shelves in September, with vampires holding their own against lesser beings such as demons. Zombies appear to be dying out faster than they can scramble up some brains.

The Cure: Haven’t succumbed to the lure of urban fantasy or the allure of paranormal romance yet? Then settle in for some ghost stories this month. We’re on the march toward Halloween, after all.

For the full article on September’s new releases in Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy, visit our sister science fiction and fantasy blog, Tor.com.

The Symptoms: If you’re over eighteen, might as well toss your dentures in a cup and take a nap.

The Diagnosis: It’s a teen’s world, as evidenced by the utter publishing domination of Young Adult releases. Thirty-eight emo themselves onto the shelves this month, and that’s just the paranormals.

The Cure: You might try re-enrolling in high school wearing a wide-eyed look and a wig, glomming onto the broody new kid in class. But it’s a dangerous world out there for the 15-18-year-old set. Unless, of course, you are the broody new kid in class.

The Shattering, by Karen Healey (Sept. 5, Little, Brown)

Seventeen-year-old Keri likes to plan for every possibility. She knows what to do if you break an arm, or get caught in an earthquake or fire. But she isn’tprepared for her brother’s suicide. When her childhood friend Janna tells her it was murder, Keri wants to believe her. After all, Janna’s brother died under similar circumstances years ago, and Janna insists a visiting tourist, Sione, has helped her find answers. As the three dig deeper, disturbing facts begin to pile up: one boy killed every year; all older brothers; all had spent New Year’s Eve in the idyllic town of Summerton. But when their search for the serial killer takes an unexpected turn, suspicion is cast on those they trust the most.

For the full article on September’s new releases in Young Adult Paranormal, visit our sister science fiction and fantasy blog, Tor.com.

The Symptoms: Summertime, and the waters are filled with nubile young sirens who… wait, is this paranormal romance? Teens save the world, win the guy/girl, beat off the zombies, and protect Dr. Phil from a smokin’-hot robot babe. Geeks rule.

The Diagnosis: Twenty-one new YA paranormals take the emo route this month, with sirens, demons, angels and dragons leading the way and a vampire named Ultravox trailing behind.

The Cure: Just crank up some 1980s new wave music. The runaway bot-girl will follow Mr. Roboto and the vampire Ultravox will turn out to be a zombie techno-pop band member. Those too young to understand the pop culture reference are reading in the right category.

For the full article on July’s new releases in Young Adult Paranormal, visit our sister science fiction and fantasy blog, Tor.com.

The Symptoms: It might be time for summer break to begin, but there are lots of mysterious new boys lurking around the halls during summer school, and even more girls finding how Just-How-Special they are. Not to mention the alien on the hunt for Johnny Depp.

The Diagnosis: Twenty-eight new YA paranormals take on that dystopia called high school this month, and lots of girls who learn they’re really strange new creatures—often the only one left of their kind—are having nightmares that prove prophetic.

The Cure: Girls, you could always just stay awake, which would not only fend off the nightmares but sleep deprivation makes a great excuse for those abnormal symptoms you seem to be having. And, this warning can’t be repeated often enough: Stay away from mysterious new male classmates, especially if you run into them in the woods at night. Special note to Johnny Depp: beware.

For the full article on new releases in Young Adult Paranormal, visit our sister science fiction and fantasy blog, Tor.com.

The Symptoms Chicks kick butt. ’Nuff said.

The Diagnosis Forty-one new urban fantasy (24) and paranormal romance (17) books blaze into June, including new titles from old favorites and the ever-burning question: what guys are, uh, “hangin’ out” with Anita Blake these days?

The Cure In case your summer isn’t hot enough, there are some steamy anthologies from smokin’ authors, plus Kitty the Werewolf can fix all your problems in the midnight hour and beyond.

For the full article on New Releases in Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance, visit our sister science fiction and fantasy blog, Tor.com.

The Symptoms: May is a month for singing and dancing—well, at least for those teens not trapped in a hellish dystopia. “Glee” comes to YA paranormals this month as superpowered high school students take to the stage.

The Diagnosis: Twenty-two new YA paranormals break out in verse and song this month, including proms, costumes, and a resurgence of Shakespearean melodrama.

The Cure: Make your choice. Perform Shakespeare before a live audience (which could involve kissing your BFF’s guy), or move into the dystopian worlds where the sun never shines. Oh, or find a hot vampire guy in your school to protect you.

[You had me at “kissing”...]

The Symptoms: Who said vampires were dead? Well, okay, they might be dead, but they’re not resting in peace. Sookie’s not the only one in Paranormaville with vampire troubles this month.

The Diagnosis: Forty-four new urban fantasy (21) and paranormal romance (23) books storm into May, including Sookie and Eric, some new Argeneaus, a Psy/Changeling or two, and lots and lots of fangs and demons.

The Cure: Uh, turtlenecks? Garlic? Holy water? They don’t work. Might as well bare that carotid and let ’em have it, or call on that Druid shapeshifter for help if he isn’t out running with his wolfhound.

[Read about May releases in urban fantasy (listed first) and paranormal romance...]

The Symptoms: Teenagers suddenly discover they are the only ones left of their kinds—kinds they didn’t know existed before their sixteenth birthdays. Now, the world rests on their hormonally challenged shoulders, which could explain the abundance of dystopian fiction these days.

The Diagnosis: Twenty-five new YA paranormals try to save humankind and various non-human species in April, including a flurry of faeries (godmothers and otherwise), some sickly shapeshifters, and at least one enclave of evil.

The Cure: Really—if your 16th birthday is coming up, leave town. Chances are, your Secret Immortal Purpose will still overtake your soul, but at least you won’t take the whole family down with you.

[Read descriptions of April YA releases...]