What is your favorite paranormal element to geek out on?

[Domino]

It could be a cliche, except you need to like it. Or it could be something only a few books do, but those are your favorite books. Assuming the book otherwise appeals to you, what story element will make it an automatic read?

[Dina]

I think for me it is about dreams. Although, so far, I haven't really found a book involving dreams that I love. Maybe it will happen someday.

Well, there was one I read recently that I liked, but I think it would fall under magical realism rather than paranormal.

What about you, Domino?

[G.G.]

Ok... I honestly don't know if it can be classified as paranormal, but for me a book I'd have to read would be about aliens on earth. I have a few on my to read list... If I can ever find time.

(Edited. Darn Ipad posts)

[Jessica (Goldenfurpro)]

Okay, mine are more like sci-fi rather than paranormal, but if there is any Time Travel, Aliens, Space Travel, or PARALLEL UNIVERSES, I will want to read it!!

[Domino]

Dreams are an interesting subject. They can go a lot of ways, I suppose, like foretelling, alternate worlds, astral projection, etc.

Aliens on Earth used to be really big but isn't huge anymore, huh? At least with movies. I can see the genre exploding again.

Scifi stuff is fine, Jessica! I like Parallel Universes too, they can be real cool if done right.

Dina, as far as me, it's hard. I was thinking about this earlier in the day and couldn't nail it down. That's why I decided to ask here. I guess for me it wouldn't be an answer like "vampires" or "werewolves", but would depend more on the story treatment. So maybe something that has a hint of realness and scariness to it, almost like an urban legend. It could be fun and actiony, it doesn't need to be horror, but just have that edge. Then I think I can really immerse myself in the paranormal. I think that fits a lot with ghost stories, but it can be other things too.

[Ginger]

I would have to agree with the dreams, it isn't done often and not always well.
I love faery tale retellings, usually a fun read.
I also love story lines that follow clans/families/close knit friends. Kind of communicates a sence of belonging.

Do you think we crave those things in our reading that we are missing out on in our own lives?

[Wren]

I'm fond of characters with extra or enhanced senses. They can feel or see things that others can't, or are more in tune with the world.

[Dina]

Ginger wrote: Do you think we crave those things in our reading that we are missing out on in our own lives?

I think so. Maybe we enjoy reading about supernatural characters because we feel a lack of power in our own lives. And a lack of attention. I think one of the reasons Harry Potter is so popular is a lot of people can relate to Harry early in the book...maybe not mistreated to that degree. But we can relate the the loneliness, rejection, pushed aside by blatant favoritism.

[Domino]

I agree. Fantasy and paranormal are about escapism. It's fun to imagine, what if?

[Yasmin]

I think wolves and a love triangle are my fave geek elements... I also like umm macho alphas, dream/vision angel quests, vamps, high school for paranormals and detective cases... :)

[Jessica]

For me it really is vampires. But I want vampires like Vampire Academy or even Blue Bloods. I liked the Anne Rice Interview with a Vampire series as well, but it has to be those real vamps that don't sparkle (admittedly I read that series too, but it didn't hold a candle to Vampire Academy.) The most appealing Vampire stories, at least to me, are the ones with a mystery, i.e. Vampire Academy and the existence of "spirit" and how it works for Rose and Lissa or Blue Bloods with their creation story.

Dina, I also agree with the Dream element. There's just something so appealing about it.

[C.]

For me it's ghosts,haunted houses/places/items,the unexplained. I like SPOOKY/CREEPY,but no grisly,gory stuff!

Would love to find a book series like the TV series Steven Spielberg Presents Taken (2002)http://www.amazon.com/Steven-Spielber....... or the new series Sleepy Hollow,or the movie The Skeleton Key (2005) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0397101/?...

Does anyone know of any books like those?

[Domino]

I don't watch those tv series, but the Skeleton Key is one of my favorite horror movies! Very cool plot line. My newest book (not released yet) is about shades- ghosts who possess human bodies to return to the world of the living... some aspects are semi-inspired by that movie.

I do think mixing some creepy into almost ANY paranormal element is a must.

[C.]

G.G. wrote: "Ok... I honestly don't know if it can be classified as paranormal, but for me a book I'd have to read would be about aliens on earth. I have a few on my to read list... If I can ever find time.

(E..."

Also a cool plot device,and Aliens/UFOs are considered Paranormal. Have you seen the movie~'I Am Number Four'?http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1464540/?...

I loved it now want to read the book series... http://www.amazon.com/Am-Number-Four-...

[Rachel]

I love the world of Fae and anything magical in my books.

[Kitty-Lydia]

Awakening and coming of age themes, where the character has only just discovered their powers/differences to humans, alongside a established culture of people with these same powers/differences. We can read about the main character's changes and discover new things alongside them while there's a established community to examine and delve into :)

[☆☆Hannah☆☆]

I like lots of different ones but I read Vampires and Angels more than the rest.

[G.G.]

Christine wrote: "G.G. wrote: "Ok... I honestly don't know if it can be classified as paranormal, but for me a book I'd have to read would be about aliens on earth. I have a few on my to read list... If I can ever f..."

I had miss this post, sorry. Yes I have seen the movie and loved it. I also would love to read the series. It sounds great. :)

[K.J.]

I tend to love any story with an orginal spin on the paranormal! For example, I loved the show Buffy the Vampire Slayer, because it was completely unique compartively to any vampire hunter story I'd seen.

My favorites are stories that are original but realistic, with just enough magic in it to make it interesting. I fell in love with the Diviners by Libba Bray. And, of course, Harry Potter :)

[Sarah]

Witchcraft witchcraft witchcraft!!! I also love demonic stuff.

[Sandyinlargo]

Shifters other than werewolves!

[Rosanna]

Although I write shifters (mostly), the paranormal element I geek out on for reading is ghost stories. I love a ghost story, and have read them since I first picked up books. Give me a tale about specters or succubi and I'm putty in your hands.

[A.D.]

Brigitte wrote: "I like anything that falls into the Paranormal category. I can't resist Fallen Angels, Shape shifters and Vampires. I read anything, that we can only imagine exists as long as there is a good stor..."

I'm the same way. I like them all. Well except for love triangles. I don't care for those and usually avoid books that have them.

[Nyghtengale]

I love demons angels and no wolf shifters. My favs are cat shifters or avian shifters.

[Sarah]

Michelle wrote: "I love demons angels and no wolf shifters. My favs are cat shifters or avian shifters."

I used to love wolf shifters because wolves are my favorite animal. If I were a shifter, my first choice would be a wolf. But. They're in EVERYTHING! I'm so tired of them!

Michelle, have you tried the Darkness Chosen series by Christina Dodd? The first is a wolf shifter, but then there are two cats and a hawk or falcon. And the demonic thing is woven in there. Fabulous books.

[Marsha]

I love complex magical systems and often am drawn into reading a book or watching a TV series just to discover the rules of the magic.

[Maryblack]

I love shifters cause they can change in everything I like

[Anna, LoP BOTM & R2R mod]

I have friends who are real-life professional psychics and I've had a bit of training myself, so I always enjoy a paranormal story that has a CREDIBLE system of either magic, magic-like science, shamanism, or some other explanation of how the paranormal creature can enact change in their environment other than simply wiggling their nose or waving a magic wand. I've studied just about every system of 'knowing' on the planet, ranging from religious-based prayer systems to quantum entanglement theory, and enjoy a book where the characters use that system of magic in such a way that it doesn't violate any of the known real-life 'rules.'

[K.J.]

Sarah wrote: "Michelle wrote: "I love demons angels and no wolf shifters. My favs are cat shifters or avian shifters."

I used to love wolf shifters because wolves are my favorite animal. If I were a shifter, m..."


Wolf is my favorite animal too, but I agree. Wolf shifters are in everything right now....

[Stephen]

For me it's like mystery thriller fiction about ghosts or paranormal powers and Unicorne Files, A Dark Inheritance has ghosts and paranormal powers so it is probably my favorite book

[Stephen]

And Unicorne Files, A Dark Inheritance has paranormal powers ghost and alternate reality jumping.

[witchyreader13,]

I'll read just about anything Vampire or Witch related. Bonus points for any novel that comes up with a back story to these creatures that I haven't heard before. Also doesn't matter if they are the good guys or the bad guys as long as they're involved in the story.

[K.P.]

I love reading about demons, ghosts, and magic. Some witchy stories get on my nerves (I'm a big fan of magic realisim and urban fantasy) but sometimes I need to shut up the metaphysics critic and have fun. Lately I've been reading a novel series about jinn and vampires and how they're enslaving the humans to feed off their blood/souls... yeah...

[K.P.]

Anna wrote: "I have friends who are real-life professional psychics and I've had a bit of training myself, so I always enjoy a paranormal story that has a CREDIBLE system of either magic, magic-like science, sh..."

*raises hand* Same boat here too!

[G.D.]

witchypoo wrote: "I'll read just about anything Vampire or Witch related. Bonus points for any novel that comes up with a back story to these creatures that I haven't heard before. Also doesn't matter if they are th..."
Hi Witchypoo, I've got a backstory on Vlad Dracula's past starting on page 147 of my third book in my "Immortal Relations" series. If interested send me an E-Mail gog6692@msn.com and I'll send it to you. If you like it you might want to read one of the first two novels. The first is restricted to adults only but the second has the major points of the first just w/o the "explicit togetherness."

[Shelbey]

I really like the idea of objects or animals that specifically belong to one person. You know how in Harry Potter how the wand chooses the person? And then in A Game of Thrones how all of the children have direwolves? I think it's the fact that these things are almost like an outward extension of the person's soul. It's part of them.
Also, I like things like family crests and whatnot. Although I wasn't a fan of Twilight I did like how the Cullens all wore something with their family crest on it. I guess I like it so much because it shows a unity and a sort of belonging. :)

[Juli]

I'm a big fan of witches so just about anything with them will do--so long as they're not stereotypically evil. Kim Harrison of course is a favorite author in that realm. I also enjoyed Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman. The witches in Phillip Pullman's His Dark Materials series were great. I also enjoyed The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katharine Howe, though it's more historical paranormal mystery than urban fantasy-esque. I'm looking forward to reading April Aasheim's The Witches of Dark Root, right now, and Indie author Patti Roberts has a series called Witchwood Estate: Witchwood Estate - CURSED.
Also Anne Rice's , The Mayfair Witches. I was a little turned off by book one (IE. The Witching Hour), when I first read it, (I would've preferred her to stick with the older generations of the Mayfair family! ;)) but they get better.

...And ... are we allow to plug our own books here? My Antique Magic paranormal fantasy series involves a witch and her coven. So, yeah. I guess you could say I love a good witch character. :)

[Ria]

Aliens! Definitely aliens or werewolves :)

[S.B.]

I'm a big fan of witches, especially witches that are solitary but that belong to a looser group or category. Also I like to write about witches that may be considered dark but are not necessarily evil.
I also like vampires, but I think they need to be part of a nest or something of that nature. IMO they need structure rather than being loners.
Werewolves also need to be a part of a pack, IMO.
I'm writing a fairy character, so I'm going to be doing more research and then making her with my own little twist (of course).

[Anna, LoP BOTM & R2R mod]

For witches I like Lisa Olsen's Pretty Witches All in a Row.



Strega is also pretty good and fairly realistic insofar as research into the Italian stregheri.

[K.J.]

Maria Kim wrote: "Aliens! Definitely aliens or werewolves :)"

Aliens are too often put into science fiction, I think. It'd be cool to see more aliens in the paranormal genre!

[Anna, LoP BOTM & R2R mod]

The Saga Of Pliocene Exile by Julian May had elements of both science fiction and fantasy in a 4-book series. A group of humans travel through a one-way time travel device to the Pliocene Era (early pre-humans) to 'exile' themselves from a galactic empire. One of the exiles is a psychic who has lost her psychic gift, but the moment she gets there her gift returns. The discover pre-humans are not the only people there, but a previously unheard of alien race with the same gift as the exile. From there is a blend of science fiction and fantasy which would keep lovers of both genres amused and happy, including a living spaceship, teleportation, psychic abilities, and other good stuff not traditionally in a scifi novel. What's interesting is the aliens came to earth because they are dying out and use the pre-humans as surrogates.

[S.B.]

Anna wrote: "The Saga Of Pliocene Exile by Julian May had elements of both science fiction and fantasy in a 4-book series. A group of humans travel through a one-way time travel device to the Pli..."

That sounds very interesting. I'm going to have to check that one out at some point!

[G.D.]

I'm passionate about those books who show that not all vampires are evil. Certainly there are evil ones but the books that I love best show there are good ones who, having been "turned" against their will, fight to protect humans (and other animals) from the out of control (Bram Stoker) types of vampires and other supernatural type of beings. That is why I wrote my own "Immortal Relations" series.

[Tina]

All of them from fae, vampires, werewolves, angels

[G.D.]

My 1st novel, "Immortal Relations" http://amzn.com/B006ZCBT6G is FREE 26-30 July. I'm trying to get book #2, "Immortal Relations, Love and War" http://amzn.com/B00A4IEHL6 offered for FREE 31 July to 4 August (having problems since both have the same main title, KDP is giving me a hard time). Once that is resolved #3 in the series, "Immortal Relations Coming Out" http://amzn.com/B00G5BQS18 will be FREE 6-10 August. Note: the first book in the series is MATURE ADULTS ONLY, but #2 & 3 are somewhere between PG 13 - 17.

[Kristy]

In love with fae, second werewolves then angels then zombies, do they fit? Then vampires

[G.D.]

My third In the series introduces a shape-shifter werewolf who falls in love with a hybrid vampire (half human & half vampire). These are good vampires not the Bram Stoker type.

[Chris]

I like books where the monsters are actually monsters, where the appropriate response to discovering your next door neighbor is a vampire, werewolf or bridge troll involves a wooden stake, silver or a billy goat. Because if something eats people, that's a deal breaker for co existence.

Also, I like stories about fighting against helpless odds just because it's the right thing to do (this is the main reason the Dresden Files is one of my favorite series).

[[deleted user]]

I immediately fall for anything with a sense of absence or isolation, and the dynamics between characters that often go with that. As such, apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction tend to push all my buttons by the end of page one.
It's an addiction I do my best to keep in check--and regularly fail.