Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy Addicts discussion

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General Discussion > Do You Need HEA if a book is NOT a Romance?

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message 1: by Nicole (last edited Sep 25, 2015 11:20AM) (new)

Nicole (nicoleminsk) | 19 comments Nicole Minsk
Do You Need an HEA in a non-romance Paranormal book?
Some Paranormal books are Paranormal Romance, but some aren't.

Readers, how do you feel about paranormal books that aren't classified as romance that have romantic elements without an HEA?

Authors, did you feel the need put an HEA in your paranormal novel? Did you catagorize it as "Paranormal Romance?"

I Know How You Feel The Sensate by Nicole Minsk My debut novel, "I Know How You Feel: The Sensate" is heavy on the sex, but doesn't have a wedding at the end, so I'm especially curious what people think. I didn't classify it as paranormal romance.


message 2: by MadameZelda (new)

MadameZelda I read to escape. Yes, I want an HEA in any genre I read.


message 3: by Zuleen (new)

Zuleen Tan | 4 comments Yes, HEAs are a must for me. I generally avoid books without them. :p


message 4: by Sandra J (new)

Sandra J Weaver (sandraweaver) | 67 comments HEAs are a must for me, too. In fact, I'm an end reader and have been for years. No cliffhangers for me, either.


message 5: by Olivia (new)

Olivia | 17 comments HEA is a must for me also.


message 6: by [deleted user] (new)

Hmmm...I dont require heas, if they happen ok, but not all hea ending are satisfying.

Maybe in contemporary romance, but even then, a hea can mean marriage or something in those lines, but if I didnt like the characters together, its not MY hea hehe


message 7: by [deleted user] (new)

Paranormal romance I think its hard to have a true hea. If were talking about being with a supernatural creature who's immortal or long life span, being with them now seems happy for now, but the human one will eventually die XD so its not really hea hehe


message 8: by Lisa (new)

Lisa Emme (Lisa_Emme) | 20 comments Hmmm that's a tough one and I think for me that it also helps to divide the difference between PNR and UF. A UF (again, this is IMO) can have romantic elements but it is not the main focus of the story. In this case a HEA is not a necessity, and in fact, could add to the tension/drama. If I'm reading PNR though, I would expect a HEA. I think it sort of depends what genre you are planning on listing your book. If I buy it as a PNR I'd expect the HEA. If it is UF or erotica, then not necessarily.


message 9: by Nicole (new)

Nicole (nicoleminsk) | 19 comments Lisa, what do you think about a book classified as paranormal but not pnr? Can it have romantic elements that aren't the main focus of the story and have an ending that isn't HEA (i.e. the romantic characters aren't married at the end?)


message 10: by Astor (new)

Astor Teller (AstorETeller) | 11 comments I guess the rule of thumb is that the main protagonist in a paranormal story whether romantic or not, should survive whatever the danger was, and therefore have a 'HEA'. However, personally, I'm one more for the shock element and don't like romance in paranormal. Strong relationships, certainly, but romance only as a minor sub-plot.


message 11: by Lisa (new)

Lisa Emme (Lisa_Emme) | 20 comments Nicole wrote: "Lisa, what do you think about a book classified as paranormal but not pnr? Can it have romantic elements that aren't the main focus of the story and have an ending that isn't HEA (i.e. the romantic..."

For me, if it is in a category that has 'romance' anywhere then I would expect a HEA. If it is 'Fantasy>Paranormal' then I wouldn't be expecting it (doesn't mean I wouldn't want it).


message 12: by Biate (new)

Biate HEA!!! A book without a HEA is just a disappointment.


message 13: by Sandra J (new)

Sandra J Weaver (sandraweaver) | 67 comments Lisa wrote: "Nicole wrote: "Lisa, what do you think about a book classified as paranormal but not pnr? Can it have romantic elements that aren't the main focus of the story and have an ending that isn't HEA (i...."
Totally agree.


message 14: by Hope (new)

Hope Irving (hope_irving) | 182 comments I love to fall in love with the characters or hate them or struggle with them. I love a wicked story line that makes you want to read until you're about to finish it, then slow down because you don't really want it to end. I want to be moved and have emotions when I read. I don't want to know how it's going to end before I start.
So I have to disagree (although I do like HEA, but it doesn't have to be given).


message 15: by BarbaraAnn (new)

BarbaraAnn | 43 comments If the book isn't classified as a romance, I don't necessarily need a HEA as long as I get involved with the characters.


message 16: by Lara (new)

Lara S. (laraschase) Great question. As an author of UF/PR, I have also found that if the person leans towards UF, they seem to tolerate cliffhangers better than those who read a lot of romance. There's a lot of overlap between UF/PR fans, though. I've ended up marketing to both and hoping the paranormal romance readers don't get too mad at me for not giving them their HEA until later in the series. In general, the reviews are positive, but every so often you get someone who is really upset about not getting the HEA in the first book.


message 17: by Kathleen (new)

Kathleen Kurdziel | 13 comments Generally, I prefer an HEA if the book is a standalone. However, I have read certain series, where there is love interest that evolves over the course of the series and I've been fine with that if each book in the series is a complete story. I don't mind foreshadowing of what may come in future books in the series. In fact, foreshadowing are like little clues to an upcoming mystery I can solve and enjoy my favorite characters again. But, I hate cliffhangers! To me a cliffhanger is a fake out by the author. An absolute money grab. "I got you interested in my characters, to see how it is resolved shell out more$$$" Irritating and an absolute turn off for me.


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I Know How You Feel: The Sensate (other topics)