And one of the things I love most is seeing the different way paranormal creatures are portrayed by different authors. I usually prefer the "good" kinds, the ones who are the protagonist or the love interest or the best friend and are technically monsters but still have a good heart, though we all know the "bad" kinds can be just as interesting. Regardless of how good or bad they are though, they're always different, and they always make a fascinating read.
So here are my thoughts on my favorite supernatural/paranormal creatures and recommendations for each that I've either enjoyed or plan to read!
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted at The Broke and the Bookish. This week was a Halloween freebie, so my topic is:
Top Ten Paranormal Creatures I Like to Read About
10. The Unclassifiables
You know, the ones with abilities that are usually really specific and/or random, sometimes even made up by the author. For example, in The Usual Apocalypse, the MC’s ability is that people can’t help but tell the truth around him. It’s fun to see the sorts of things authors come up with though.
Book Rec YA: Hope(less) by Melissa Haag (TBR)
Book Rec Adult: The Usual Apocalypse by Christine Price – My Review
9. Shifters
AKA were-animals, shapeshifters (the terms are sometimes used differently in different books/movies/shows). I’m actually not a huge fan of shifters on their own. Rarely will I pick up a book that’s just about shifters. It’s been known to happen, but more often I enjoy reading about them in books with other creatures, too.
Book Rec YA: Moon Crossed by Bella Roccaforte (TBR)
Book Rec Adult: The Duality Paradigm by Lia Cooper (TBR)
8. Mermaids
Half human, half fish—but I’m pretty sure everyone already knew that. I’ve read one book about mermaids, and it was so terrible it kind of made me hesitant to try more. But I’ve always loved the idea of mermaids! When I was little, I never pretended to be a princess, it was always a mermaid. So I’m definitely planning to give mermaid books another chance very soon.
Book Rec YA: Mermaid: A Twist on the Classic Tale by Carolyn Turgeon (TBR)
Book Rec Adult: Drowning Mermaids by Nadia Scrieva (TBR)
7. Witches
Almost human, but with magic and spell-casting abilities. Much like with shifters, I rarely read books that are just about witches, but, oddly enough, my two favorite female characters (in the books below) are both witches. And their magic is fun to read about.
Book Rec YA: The Key to Erebus by Emma V. Leech – My Review
Book Rec Adult: The Ghost and The Graveyard by Genevieve Jack – My Review
6. Dragons
Big, reptilian, winged creatures—I’m amazing at definitions, right? I actually haven’t read much about dragons, but I have this strange affinity for characters with wings, especially the dragon-type ones (i.e. not feathered), so I plan to read more. (I’ve already got a few on my kindle!) Thought I do prefer dragon shifters or, in the case of Chase the Dark (below), creatures who are part dragon.
Book Rec YA: Chase the Dark by Annette Marie – My Review
Book Rec Adult: Bound by a Dragon by Linda K. Hopkins (TBR)
5. Ghosts
AKA spirits, specters, floating white sheets that say, “BOO!” Sometimes they’re good. Sometimes they’re bad. Sometimes they’re strong enough to throw people around with a flick of the wrist, become practically solid, or move things (I swear a ghost once moved something in my shower in real life, but I won’t get into that). But their abilities are always either fascinating and/or terrifying.
Book Rec YA: Dollhouse by Anya Allyn
Book Rec Adult: The Ghost and The Graveyard by Genevieve Jack – My Review
4. Demons
Creatures from Hell who generally create chaos, wreak havoc, do various sorts of bad things, and sometimes possess people–but not ALL of them are bad. And even when they are wreaking havoc, they’re still fun to read about.
Book Rec YA: Beautiful Demons by Sarra Cannon (TBR)
Book Rec Adult: The Demon You Know by Barbara Elsborg (TBR)
3. Faeries
Technically the word faerie can encompass all types of fae, but I’m talking about the ones who look human but have magic. They’re some of the most powerful creatures I’ve read about, and their different types of magic and customs are always interesting.
Book Rec YA: The Faerie Guardian by Rachel Morgan – My Review
Book Rec Adult: Steal the Light by Lexi Blake – My Review
2. Incubi
In the original mythology, they generally go around impregnating women. But in many books they’re portrayed as simply needing to feed on sex to survive and having sex-related magic—no evil deeds or pregnancy required! I had actually never read about an incubus until this year, but I quickly realized how playful and lovable they can be!
Book Rec YA: Chase the Dark by Annette Marie – My Review
Book Rec Adult: Incubus by Amanda Meuwissen – My Review
1. Vampires
Blood-drinking creatures of the night! I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: I love vampires! I don’t care how cliche it is. I love the biting and the bloodlust and the fangs and the sensuality and the magic and the darkness and the brooding that comes with them. I love it all.
Book Rec YA: The Scarlet Dagger by Krystle Jones
Book Rec Adult: Steal the Light by Lexi Blake – My Review
Platypires… They should be in more books!
Haha, you should write some platypire books!
I have always wanted to be a mermaid since the world is 70% water so they have more places to be in. So I was really happy to see a book entitled Mermaid in your list this week.
ADVANCE HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
Here’s mine I hope you check it out 🙂 MY TOP TEN TUESDAY
Smart thinking, we’d all be better off as mermaids if global warming takes over the planet lol. They are such beautiful creatures to read about though. Happy Halloween to you, too!
I’m slightly afraid to read a dragon books, mostly because my imagination can’t handle it.
There also needs to be more mermaid books in the world!
I’m not sure if your imagination not being able to handle dragons is meant as a good thing or a bad thing? Lol but yes, I totally need to find some GOOD mermaid books! Maybe soon I will try one that I have on my kindle.
Awesome list! I love every paranormal creatures but I haven’t heard of many of these books on your list- I must check them out. Thanks for sharing! Happy reading!
Hurray for fellow fans of paranormal creatures! Lucky for us, there are so many books out there, but I definitely do recommend these 🙂 Thank you, happy reading to you, too!
love all the great info in this post! 🙂 My TTT
Thanks!
Great list! I love reading about paranormal creatures, however, I haven’t heard about any of your recommendations, so thanks! I’d really love to read more books about witches, so I’ll have to check those out first!
The witch recommendations are two of my favorite series 🙂 The only bad thing is that I’m still waiting for the next Emma V. Leech one. But it’s always nice to find another paranormal creature fan!
Fairies are my favorite to read about! They are always so beautifully creepy! Love your list! It makes me want to pick up a paranormal book!
Thank you! This week has apparently become faerie week for me since I just finished one faerie book and am now reading another lol. So I can definitely understand why they’re your favorite!
I LOVE reading about dragons. They’re my favorite “creature” to read about. Because they rule. But I love mermaid books, too. Have you read Ingo by Helen Dunmore? It’s my favorite mermaid books, and one of my favorite books in general. 🙂
I’ve not heard of that book, but thanks for the rec, I’ll definitely check it out! I need a good mermaid book to make up for the terrible one I read, haha. And dragons are pretty awesome, so I can understand your love for them 🙂
I really love your list! I happen to have just picked up Hope(less) myself and look forward to it. I always enjoy a great supernatural book. I look forward to checking out some of the books you listed. Happy (early) Halloween!
Thank you! Supernatural books are definitely my favorite, hopefully you’ll like my suggestions! Happy Halloween to you, too 🙂
I’ve never read books about mermaid. They sound fun. Anyway, great list!
Thanks! And it’s definitely different the first time you read a book about mermaids, but interesting!