Hungry for YA paranormal romance, but daunted by the number of books out there! Then check out this list of some of the best YA paranormal romance books from 2014 and 2015 – and see if you find a new favorite!
Token Huntress by Kia Carrington Russell
In the year 2,341, the world is rampant with vampires, stalking their victims in a half-lit world. The few humans remaining are struggling, with the laws and rules that once bound the world having been lost. Now, the Hunter Guild struggle to stay one step ahead of the vampire council. Esmore is a Token Huntress, and has exceeded all expectations at only 18 years of age. She is a fearless leader of her team, and relentless in her pursuit of the enemy. But there is a darkness within Esmore, something she’s struggling to repress something that seduces her from within. It threatens to take over, especially when Esmore meets a teasing, tantalizing vampire. The lines between right and wrong are blurred further as Esmore gives into her temptation, and her reality becomes deliciously tainted both with evil and with lust.
What do the readers say?
“I was pretty impressed with this book. It has a original concept and great story building qualities. I mean come on a vampire apocalypse yes please! It has a fast paced plot line that will keep you captivated until the last page. Once I got through the first few chapters I had a hard time putting it down.” – Kimberly Vanderbloom, Amazon user. [Review from Amazon]
Chaos by C.M. Fenn
The Shades in Chaos have one goal: get to Earth Realm and wreak havoc. For a select group of people called Realmwalkers, sleep is the gateway to another Realm known as Chaos. When 17-year-old Addy is called to Chaos, she yearns to conquer her crippling fears and prove her mettle by fighting alongside her fellow Realmwalkers. While she hopes to impress their handsome leader, Sam, she’s also keenly driven by the urge to protect the ones she loves on Earth. The Realmwalkers are baffled, however, when they encounter a powerful and seemingly invincible Shade with strange motives and a dark obsession with Addy. As they work to unravel the mystery to defeating this new threat, Addy finds herself at odds with the Walkers. Gut instinct says to put her faith in Mikhail, the black sheep of the group, but she fears losing the respect and friendship of the others. Addy is willing to die to keep Earth safe, but the Walkers are her new family, and she’s on the verge of falling in love. With Addy coming into her own, death shouldn’t be on the horizon. But when the doors of hell are ripped open, there are no guarantees.
What do the readers say?
“This book is a great combination of fantasy and coming-of-age. Addy is easy to root for, and the supporting characters are worthy characters in their own rights. The concept of the Realmwalkers is unique, and the Shades are intimidating foes. I’m not usually a fantasy fan, but I was very glad I read this book and am excited about Book 2!” – S. Honeycutt, Amazon user. [Review from Amazon]
Refuge by Karen Lynch
To keep the people she loves safe, Sara left everything she knew behind. She soon learns this new world is nothing like her old one, and she struggles to make a place for herself among the Mohiri. But it soon becomes apparent to Sara and to everyone one around her that she is not your typical warrior. As the weeks pass, Sara builds new relationships, copes with her new trainers, and tries to manage her ever-changing powers, while keeping her unique heritage a secret. Looming in the background is the constant shadow of the Master who will do anything to find her. Sara finds herself on a journey of self-discovery that uncovers her true strengths and awakens a part of her she never knew existed. She experiences the delight of new friendships, the sweetness and pain of first love, and a loss so deep it could be the thing that finally breaks her. At the end of it all, she discovers that the one place she was supposed to be safe might not be the refuge she thought it was.
What do the readers say?
“Refuge has action of course (Sara is a disaster magnet), romance (hello Nikolas), new family members and friends to meet, fantastical creatures, new powers to explore, shocking surprises and a betrayal so deep who know if anyone will be able to get over it. Then there is the ending, it will leave you begging for Rogue, the third book in the Relentless series and I cannot wait to see what Sara does next.” – Amazon Customer [Review from Amazon]
Carnelian by B. Kristin McMichael
Seth Sangre’s past is literally from thousands of years ago. It has led him to the present, seeking something that might help him save his country from destruction. After being in the present for over three years now, he has found exactly what he’s been looking for – a girl by the name of Mari. Mari, who has just entered college and is determined not to fall for the good looking player, like in high school. But then she meets Seth Sangre, and finds that she’s connected to Seth far more than she ever wanted to be. He’s not the player she thought he was, and if Mari can trust her heart enough to follow him, Seth will lead her on an adventure of a lifetime – and reveal family secrets she never knew existed.
What do the readers say?
“Very impressed! This book has been so much more than I had expected it to be. After reading the reviews I decided to give it a read and…wow! The story line is very clever but to be honest the blurb does not do it justice. When I was reading the first few chapters I thought that this was going to be a typical romance with a generic time travel story line, but I was wrong. This is actually a very well written novel that I am really glad I had bought.” – Karl, Amazon user. [Review from Amazon]
White Hot Kiss by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Seventeen-year-old Layla faces tougher choices than most. She has to choose between the wickedly sexy demon prince Roth, or the gorgeous Warden, Zayne. And she has to decide which side of herself to trust What’s more, a Lilin, the deadliest of demons, has been unleashed, wreaking havoc on thouse around her… including her best friend. To keep Sam from a fate much worse than death, Layla must strike a deal with the enemy while saving her city – and her race – from destruction. There are no certainties for Layla, least of all survival, especially when an old bargain comes back to haunt them all. But sometimes, when secrets are everywhere and the truth seems unknowable, you have to listen to your heart, pick a side – and then fight like hell.
What do the readers say?
“Jennifer Armentrout does it again! I cannot believe how much I love this book! It is the journey through Layla’s life which is complicated due to being half demon and half warden. However, as Roth shows her, that makes her special in so many ways. I immediately bought the next book and the third after that. It was completely worth it!” – coales, Amazon user. [Review from Amazon]
Parrish by Shannen Crane Camp
Sadie Smith was absolutely certain of three things: (1) ghosts were indisputably real; (2) she and her three friends were some of the best (though not the most successful) ghost hunters in Oregon; (3) her teammate Jefferson Parrish was always the scariest thing in the room. In a face-off between supernatural beings and Jefferson’s Tim Burton-esque vibe there really was no contest.
But ghosts unsurprisingly can t help pay the rent. So when Sadie and her friends are offered an undisclosed sum of money from an anonymous client to find a link between four historical haunted locations, it s an easy sell. During their cross-country investigation, Sadie finds herself forgetting about Jefferson s macabre tendencies and falling for his sweetness, even if his idea of a love letter reads more like a note from a serial killer. And she can’t stop thinking about his annoyingly irresistible deep green eyes. As Sadie’s feelings get more tangled up with Jefferson, their group puts together the final pieces of a 100 year old mystery one that will change Sadie s life forever.
What do the readers say?
“Funny. Charming. Adorable. I love Parrish! Right from the beginning I loved the witty banter between Sadie and Jefferson. They’re a great match. Add in Deacon and Brighton and you have this perfect, quirky group of ghost hunters. I really enjoyed tagging along for their adventures. Somewhere among the pages of this wonderful book, I fell in love with Jefferson Parrish.” – Melanie S., Amazon user. [Review from Amazon]
Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater
Blue Sargent has found things. For the first time in her life, she has friends she can trust, a group to which she can belong. The Raven Boys have taken her in as one of their own. Their problems have become hers, and her problems have become theirs. The trick with found things, though, is how easily they can be lost. Friends can betray. Mothers can disappear. Visions can mislead. Certainties can unravel.
What do the readers say?
“Once again, Stiefvater presents an intriguing and well written tale full of fantastic characters. An excellent continuation of the story she’s expertly woven.” – Amazon Customer [Review from Amazon]
Rising Tide: Dark Innocence by Claudette Melanson
Maura’s never been able to make friends. She is isolated and sheltered by her mother, and her classmates just torture her if they even pay her any attention. Maura doesn’t understand why, and she considers herself a freak of nature, with her unusually pale skin and her aversion to the sun. She doesn’t know her father, and her mother Caelyn can’t be made to open up about him. When a cruel prank nearly claims Maura’s life, one of her classmates, Ron, rushes to hehr rescue. He is darkly handsome and mysteriously accepting, but Maura is too reluctant to get close – especially since she and her mother are moving to Vancouver from their hometown of Indiana, Pennsylvania, soon. If life wasn’t challenging enough, Maura begins to experience bizarre physical changes her mother seems hell bent on ignoring. Maura starts to fear for her own life, as nightmares, blood cravings, failing health, and the loss of Ron become obstacles in Maura’s desperate quest for the unfathomable truth she was never prepared to discover.
What do the readers say?
“This is an interesting twist on the usual vampire books. The characters are well developed, but I knew the truth about halfway through the book. This is a great book for anyone interested in young adult with a paranormal twist. No spoilers, just grab your copy and enjoy!” – Amazon Customer [Review from Amazon]
Compulsion by Martina Boone
All her life, Barrie Watson has been a virtual prisoner in the house where she lived with her shut-in mother. When her mother dies, Barrie promises to put some mileage on her stiletto heels. But she finds a new kind of prison at her aunt’s South Carolina plantation instead–a prison guarded by an ancient spirit who long ago cursed one of the three founding families of Watson Island and gave the others magical gifts that became compulsions. Stuck with the ghosts of a generations-old feud and hunted by forces she cannot see, Barrie must find a way to break free of the family legacy. With the help of sun-kissed Eight Beaufort, who knows what Barrie wants before she knows herself, the last Watson heir starts to unravel her family’s twisted secrets. What she finds is dangerous: a love she never expected, a river that turns to fire at midnight, a gorgeous cousin who isn’t what she seems, and very real enemies who want both Eight and Barrie dead.
What do the readers say?
“I knew the moment I started reading this book I wanted to devour it, but at the same time you want to read slow so that it will never end. The characters and the story leap off the pages! Full of Southern Charm, mystery, magic and romance for an unforgettable read!!! I look forward to many more book by Martina Boone!!!” – Melonie B. Hill, Amazon user. [Review from Amazon]
Weresisters by Jade Clark and Shelley Stoehr
Sixteen-year-old Kyra can’t remember anything before the age of ten. She wants to get her memories back, so she can understand why she has a torn-up leg, or why she has the ability to “mind-speak” with her adoptive father. All she wants to do is to climb the popularity ladder at school, but life seems to have other plans. When she transforms into a werewolf, Kyra must fend off a deadly madman who threatens her father, her newly discovered family, and the werewolf pack. She might succeed – as long as she can control the beast within.
Punk rocker Selene leads the meanest gang in school. She’s also a badass werewolf, terrified of what she might become when she gives into her own bloodlust. Far from home and surrounded by killer werewolves, Selene must find a way to regain her humanity, before her bloodlust turns her into a violent, mindless beast. And she has to do it soon, because someone – or something – is following her.
What do the readers say?
“The story is both exciting and complex which makes it a great read for all ages. I can’t wait to hear more about the sister as I believe their characters and story are just starting out. I am especially eager to see how these two might work as a pair. I’d recommend this to YA fans, as well as anyone looking for a story that isn’t driven by romance.” – Chealsea McQuitty, Amazon user. [Review from Amazon]
Connected by Kat Stiles
High school is hard enough, Em knows. Her freshman year introduced her to all the cliques, annoying teachers, and tough homework assignments. But discovering you have super powers and not knowing how to control them is a whole new level of complicated. Thankfully, Em isn’t alone. Her best friend Roz starts having unusual dreams that come true, and Tommy, Em’s secret crush, can hear the softest whispers in class. A romance blossoms with Tommy. But just as things are looking up, people start dropping like flies. A telepathic serial killer is on the loose and only Em and her friends have a hope of stopping him. Or do they? If they don’t figure out the killer’s identity soon, one of them could be next.
What do the readers say?
“Connected is an easy read, a must read, a page turner and highly recommended. It’s also completely unpredictable, something rare in contemporary literature. I’m definitely looking forward to book two. The descriptions are vivid, well-crafted, and set the scenes and moods well.” – John Winston, Amazon user. [Review from Amazon]
Faceless by Monica Millard
There isn’t a lot of excitement or drama to be had for a teenager in Wasilla, Alaska. This is especially true for students of the charter high school, Lakes Charter. That is until a jock is killed in a brutal attack on school property. The victim is the instigator of the school’s bullying ring and his biggest target, both literally at six and a half feet tall and in frequency, is Eli Markham, the lead suspect. The only problem with that story is at the time the murder took place, he was in the school parking lot installing a new battery with Mackenzie Carver. Me. I didn’t really know Eli before I gave him a ride. I don’t think anyone does know him. He’s kind of a loner, but we’ve been thrown together and the more time I spend with him, the more I want to learn. All of that will have to wait though, because something is after us, something that isn’t human, something that keeps trying to frame Eli for crimes he didn’t commit. The scheme might be more successful if I didn’t keep getting in the way of someone’s plans.
What do the readers say?
“Supernatural story that grabbed me early and just got better and better! The story built so well and the characters developed right along with it! Don’t want to spoil anything but it more than made up for the weak fragile character we started with! Loved it!!” – Kindle Customer, Amazon user. [Review from Amazon]
Endless Winter by J.A. Armitage
Trapped in an unfamiliar room with no way out, Anais has no idea just how much her life is just about to change. A locked door stands between her and freedom but as she is just about to find out, the door is the least of her problems. A story of first love, of adventure, and of a race to save the lives of everyone on the planet.
What do the readers say?
“I absolutely loved this book! The characters were all uniquely interesting, the plot was very attention grabbing. And the chemistry between the two females was perfect. Right after this review I’m buying the rest of the books in the series. I can’t wait to start reading the second book!” – Amazon Customer [Review from Amazon]
Heritage by Rebecca Walton
Meet Elle Bale, an average run of the mill college student. Or so it may seem. Her real name is Adabelle Gabriel and she is the daughter of an Angel King and a fallen Angel. Follow her life as she tries to control the evils of the world whilst battling her own demons and trying to finish college without getting anyone killed.
Demons are always one step ahead.
What do the readers say?
“I love the atmosphere of this novel. It really radiated with the young adult genre, but incorporated the fantasy aspect as well. Even those these kids were witches, a shapeshifter, and demons, you could still connect with them on a personal level. The plot line to this was pretty intense though. There was a lot going on so it kept your interest at peak, but then there were times where there was too much going on. The were stones, and then pendants, and the demons, and then vampires, oh my!” – Jordan Bates, Amazon user. [Review from Amazon]
Going Down in Flames by Chris Cannon
Since Bryn is the only crossbreed at the Institute for Excellence, all eyes are on her, but it’s a particular black dragon, Zavien, who catches her attention. Zavien is tired of the Directorate’s rules. Segregated clans, being told who to love, and close-minded leaders make freedom of choice almost impossible. The new girl with the striped hair is a breath of fresh air, and with Bryn’s help, they may be able to change the rules. At the Institute, old grudges, new crushes, and death threats are all part of a normal day for Bryn. She’ll need to learn to control her dragon powers if she wants to make it through her first year at school. But even focusing on staying alive is difficult when you’re falling for someone you can’t have.
What do the readers say?
“I was really drawn into the writing style, which made this book a real page-turner. The whole idea of the shape-shifting dragons and the world they lived in felt unique to me. While the counsel sounded a lot like the Volturi from Twilight, this book has a lot of unique attributes of its own and is something I really felt I could get into. This is definitely *my* kind of book.” – Customer [Review from Amazon]
The Wondrous and the Wicked by Page Morgan
Alone and defenceless, can the Waverly family survive the final battle for their city? Ingrid Waverly has never been more alone, or more frightened. Her sister has fled to London in fear for her life, and Luc, the one person she thought she could rely on more than anyone else in the world, has also disappeared. No one will tell Ingrid where he has gone, but rumours of a fierce leadership battle amongst the supernatural forces who protect Paris are swirling, and Ingrid fears he has been forced into a dangerous position. And it is a dangerous time to be a leader in this city – the number of demons flooding Paris’s streets are overwhelming, and Ingrid and her few allies cannot cope. All the signs point to some kind of final uprising from the Underworld – but how can it possibly be defeated when the only people who stand a chance of doing so are too busy fighting themselves? Once again, everything comes down to Luc and Ingrid, and whether they can draw on each other’s strength as well as their own. And this time, love really must conquer all.
What do the readers say?
“THE WONDROUS AND THE WICKED returns readers to this amazing and wonderful and fascinating and deadly world of gargoyles, angels and demons, hunters and protectors, dusters, seers and humans, set in turn of the twentieth century Paris, one last time. It delivers long-awaited answers, ties up loose ends, and brings this series to an ending that will more than satisfy.” – Fiktshun, Amazon user. [Review from Amazon]
The Prophecy of Arcadia by M.H. Soars
Samantha Munroe is a teenager who has everything she could want. She’s popular, she has money, and she’s with the hottest guy in school. But that’s all a big lie. She’s not even human. Samantha came from the planet Arcadia, and was deployed to Earth with a simple mission: to protect two humans prophesized to save the world. In order to succeed, she must learn to control her Arcadian powers and keep her true identity from the girl she’s sworn to protect – her best friend, Alexa. But things never go as planned. Dark forces are working to prevent the prophecy from taking place, and a new drug is circulating at her school, turning students into freakishly strong menaces. The problems might be related, and it’s something Samantha and her family need to find out, before it’s too late.
What do the readers say?
“The Prophecy of Arcadia was a great read. It’s a fast paced book that is different than any of the other Young Adult series I have read. It is from 3 different points of view which really gives it a unique perspective. Also the characters are aliens which is so refreshing after all the vampire and werewolf books you see on the shelves. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is into Young Adult book series. I can’t wait to read the next book when it comes out!” – Erin Moore, Amazon user. [Review from Amazon]
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