Comments on: Urban Fantasy or Romance – Win a Book

By: Maria Lokken

Maria Lokken — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 11:08:27 +0000

Thanks everyone for your comments.

Congratulations to Beth ! You’ve won a book. Please send your snail mail address to alphamail@romancenovel.tv

By: Raelena

Raelena — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 08:42:16 +0000

I think it is fantasy that takes magical creatures and places them in a modern day type setting. Definitely one of my fave genres.
throuthehaze at gmail dot com

By: Donna S

Donna S — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 03:32:07 +0000

I think UF fantasy is something that could take place in our world or an alternate version but involves people and situation that are not possible in the “real world.” There can be romance or a HEA but it is not the central focus of the story and is more of a secondary story arc. It is more about the characters, situations and locations of the story than the romance.

By: Beth

Beth — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:00:35 +0000

Maria,

If that is true I wouldn’t call any book without a HEA a romance whether it is “urban” or not. I’m an HEA girl and if it doesn’t have that I would like to know ahead of time.

By: Maria Lokken

Maria Lokken — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 23:03:02 +0000

Wow Beth – that’s interesting – I didn’t know that.

As far as urban fantasy is concerned – I read it, and I enjoy it. I think one of the main differences is that you don’t always get the HEA with urban fantasy.

By: Beth

Beth — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 22:10:25 +0000

I know at least from a librarian perspective there is a huge difference between urban fantasy and romance. Many, many “urban” books come with a subject heading erotica and many, many public libraries have a strict collection development policy that excludes all erotica no matter the author, publisher, or sub-genre. If the library market is important to an author or a publisher they must watch how their book is classified to see if that erotica subject heading is used.

By: Elena

Elena — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 15:24:52 +0000

I think romance is more of a catch-all term, and urban fantasy is a specific subgenre. Romance is an amazing term, because it funnels in so many different settings, characters, and even plots; but at its core it must have two people falling in love. Urban fantasy is much more specific. While “fantasy” is something of a catch-all term, urban fantasy requires a city (or town) as its setting, a plot, world-building, and so on.

But I think something can certainly be a romance and urban fantasy. Personally, I prefer my romances with plot and world-building; they genuinely seem more engaging and, yeah, romantic!

By: Dee

Dee — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 10:34:18 +0000

I agree with Pam P. The romance and sole focus of the hero and heroine combination takes a backseat to action, world building, and character development for either the first person narrative character, or in a third person, the characters within the world.

By: Pam P

Pam P — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 10:10:00 +0000

Darn, my sound card isn’t working, will check back on comments later.

For me, UF is more focused on a plot and the world, main character growth depending on the book, not the romance. Any romance being secondary, may or may not result in a traditional HEA down the road in the series.