This question comes up quite a bit. Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance have a lot of similarities since they both involve many of the same creatures, plot tropes, and complicated world building. Many popular series blend both - standing out as Urban Fantasy where the plot is the most important, but romance is still a heavy consideration and focus.
Urban Fantasy
- While Urban Fantasy can be written in third person point of view, it's usually in first-person
- Usually series have the same main character leading each novel
- Romance is usually not the focus of the story. Sometimes it is not a focus at all.
- Sex scenes are not usually as frequent
- Urban fantasy is usually more action orientated because of the plot focus instead of the relationship
- Can be darker in tone and heavier on mystery sub-genre.
- Fantasy elements may combine romance, but some UF never has any romantic involvement.
- While Paranormal Romance can be written in first person, it's more commonly used in multiple point of view
- Some Paranormal Romance series have different couples as the main focus of each book
- Romance is the main point of the story
- Usually there are more sex scenes
- Since the main point is the romantic relationship, it may not be as active with action scenes.
- Can be more emotional and/or melodramatic.
- Basically it's primarily a romance with fantasy elements - HEA is almost always guaranteed.
