PNR vs. FR
Paranormal Romance
PNR, otherwise known as paranormal romance, is a subgenre of romance fiction that typically contains supernatural beings such as werewolves, vampires, ghosts, witches, or other mythical creatures. In recent years, however, PNR has branched out into new horizons with less typical mystical creatures such as mermaids, monsters, elves, and fae.
You may be asking, “Wait, Brandee, I’ve read and/or written lots of books with elves and fae that are considered fantasy romance?”
You would be correct. When deciphering between PNR and FR the lines do tend to get blurry!
Fantasy Romance
So, what is FR? FR, short for fantasy romance, usually includes magical elements, typically set in a fictional universe and usually inspired by mythology or folklore. Sounds very similar to PNR!
Sooo…what’s the difference?
Well, for starters, it’s in the name—paranormal.
The definition of paranormal is peculiar events or phenomena that occur beyond the normal scope of scientific understanding. In layman's terms, if you walked into a bar and saw a fanged man turn into a bat or a woman suddenly shifted into a wolf, you’d probably run out screaming like the less brave members of The Mystery Gang. Zoinks! Because even if we wished there were such things as vampires, werewolves, and witches, sadly, they have not yet come out of hiding. Wink wink.
So, there lies the main difference between PNR and FR. In PNR, when something magical or supernatural shows up, it is considered abnormal. In FR, the story is, more often than not, set in a different world or realm from ours. And in these other worlds/realms it is considered normal to its inhabitants to run into other mythical creatures like an elf or dwarf, or watch as a dragon or pegasus flies over their head. Speaking of which, if anyone knows how to get kidnapped by a handsome fae from a magical kingdom, please let me know.
Reader’s Opinions:
I collected various opinions from a variety of readers on what they thought the difference between PNR and FR were. Here are a few:
Reader #1: Paranormal Romance has more shifters and vampires. Fantasy Romance is more fae, wood nymphs, and creatures like that.
Reader #2: Paranormal Romance is more about spirits, ghosts, and shifters. Fantasy Romance I think fae and magic.
Reader #3: Paranormal Romance usually involves a supernatural creature but focuses primarily on romance. Fantasy Romance is more fantasy based with a major romantic subplot. Fantasy has to have a magic system; paranormal does not, but can.
What’s a magic system?
A magic system refers to the rules, limitations, and abilities that define the magic in the story you’re reading and/or writing. Any single effect or ability can be magical, but the theories, rules, and connections that tie them all together are the system.
What if the story is about aliens and robots in space?
Technically, it is ABNORMAL—at least in this day and age—to see a robot or an alien walking down the street. However, the stories that include these particular creatures are neither a PNR, nor a FR. These are instead considered: Science Fiction or Sci-Fi.
Science fiction typically deals with imaginative and futuristic ideas such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel universes, and extraterrestrial life.
Romantic Fantasy Vs. Fantasy Romance
“Um…Brandee? These are the same thing, no?”
Nope. The world of fiction works in strange and mysterious ways. Romantic Fantasy and Fantasy Romance are like a set of identical twins, they look alike, but they have small traits that set them apart from each other.
Similarities:
Fantasy Setting/Worldbuilding
Romantic Tension between characters
Romance Tropes
Fantasy Tropes
At this point you’re probably thinking…this girl is off her rocker. Those traits are basically what makes up both of these subgenres? What could be the difference? Well, my young padawans, there is one major, eye-sore, of a difference!
Let’s say you’re reading one of the most recently popular fantasy romance series: A Court of Thorn and Roses by Sara J. Maas. Without giving away any spoilers, would that series have survived without the romance aspect of the story? Buzzer noise! Sadly, no. A huge aspect of that story was the twists and turns of the romance, and without it the entire plot would have fallen apart.
Okay, now let’s switch to our other huge romantic fantasy series: The Empyrean (Fourth Wing) by Rebecca Yarros. Once again, let’s take away the romance aspect. Do we still have a plot that can stand on its own? I think so…there’s still: dragons, the rider quadrant, and multiple riders falling off the parapet.
So, therein lies the difference: Does the story require the romance arc to stand on its own, or would it fall off the parapet, crashing to the ground and breaking into tiny subplot pieces?
Fantasy Romance is a subgenre that contains some fantasy tropes, but heavily relies on the romance in its story.
Romantic Fantasy, while it can still have romance between characters, primarily relies on the fantasy aspect—the myth, folklore, and magic-to stand on two feet.
Why Should You Care About the Differences in All These Subgenres?
Maybe you don’t. Maybe you just picked the book up because it had a pretty cover, or because a friend told you about it. Or maybe you just enjoy anything with fantasy, romance, or supernatural creatures.
However, there are a lot of readers/writers that would care. When you open up whatever book shopping website you use, or even just walk into your local bookstore, typically you’re looking down a specific aisle or page for your favorite genre or trope. This is your niche, the type of story or book that you prefer.
Let’s take me as an example—but let’s rewind about fifteen years—to a middle school version of myself binge-reading the Twilight Series By Stephanie Myers, The Grey Wolves Series by Quinn Loftis, and The House Of Night Series coauthored by P.C. Cast and Kristen Cast. These are all Paranormal Romance Series, and do you think my tastes have changed much since then? Not really…besides the occasional splash of Romantic Fantasy and Fantasy Romance. PNR is my niche...and that’s probably why I started writing it as well.
As an author, we hear the phrase “market to your target audience” a lot. While there are many things that go into finding your target audience, marketing to the readers that like to read my specific sub genre is one of the most important steps. Marketing to a reader that primarily likes to read horror fiction and Sci-Fi isn’t going to help me sell my PNR books very well.
Game Time:
Let’s put our new knowledge to the test! What subgenres do you think these fall into?
A girl that gets bitten at a club in Vegas, and wakes up the next day with fangs and the urge to drink the blood of her boyfriend.
An elf travels to the leading kingdom of her realm to rescue her grandmother from the evil clutches of the sorcerer king.
A girl is abducted by a handsome green man with an antenna and taken back to his planet, Plutonium.
A couple goes camping in the woods and while taking a midnight hike, the boyfriend discovers his girlfriend chanting in a circle with seven other women in cloaks.
A girl is kidnapped and taken to the fae kingdom and told the only way to save everyone is to marry the fae prince and break the evil spell that has been cast on the realm.
Answer key: 1) PNR 2) RF 3) Sci-Fi 4) FR 5) PNR
Well, that’s it for me! I gotta go finish drafting a PNR and a FR at the same time! Happy reading and/or writing! If you do find a werewolf or vampire on the street though, please let me know!
Brandee Paschall is the author of the YA Paranormal Romance Series, The Keepers of The Sacred Series. The first installment, Still Waters, is available on Amazon, Kindle, and Kindle Unlimited. Connect with her here!
