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Quick answer: If you like Christine Feehan, read J.R. Ward's Dark Lover, Nalini Singh's Slave to Sensation, Kresley Cole's The Warlord Wants Forever and Sherrilyn Kenyon's Fantasy Lover. They deliver brooding heroes, fated mates and richly built paranormal worlds.
Christine Feehan is known for her Dark series about the Carpathians, a vampire-like race searching for lifemates. Readers love the intense romance, the long series and the strong world-building. The books below offer more paranormal romance with fated love, powerful heroes and fast pacing. They are for adults and contain mature content.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Prince | Christine Feehan | Adult | the Carpathian start |
| Dark Lover | J.R. Ward | Adult | vampire warriors |
| Slave to Sensation | Nalini Singh | Adult | psychic worlds |
| The Warlord Wants Forever | Kresley Cole | Adult | immortal romances |
| Fantasy Lover | Sherrilyn Kenyon | Adult | cursed heroes |
| Halfway to the Grave | Jeaniene Frost | Adult | vampire hunters |
| Kiss of Midnight | Lara Adrian | Adult | warrior vampires |
| Pleasure Unbound | Larissa Ione | Adult | demon romance |
| Darkfever | Karen Marie Moning | Adult | fae and mystery |
| Dragon Bound | Thea Harrison | Adult | dragon shifters |
| Dead Until Dark | Charlaine Harris | Adult | vampire mysteries |
| The Darkest Night | Gena Showalter | Adult | demon-possessed heroes |
| Bitten | Kelley Armstrong | Adult | werewolf mysteries |
| Magic Bites | Ilona Andrews | Adult | urban fantasy romance |
| Moon Called | Patricia Briggs | Adult | shifter stories |
1. Dark Prince by Christine Feehan
The first Carpathian novel introduces Mikhail Dubrinsky and a human woman who becomes his lifemate. Start here if you have not yet read the series that made Feehan famous.
Best for: the Carpathian start.
2. Dark Lover by J.R. Ward
The first book of the Black Dagger Brotherhood follows a vampire warrior and a half-vampire woman. Steamy, tough and tightly plotted.
Best for: vampire warriors.
3. Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh
In a world where a ruling race has suppressed emotion, a woman and a changeling meet. Inventive and sensual.
Best for: psychic worlds.
4. The Warlord Wants Forever by Kresley Cole
A vampire warlord meets a Valkyrie in the Immortals After Dark series. Funny, wild and full of lore.
Best for: immortal romances.
5. Fantasy Lover by Sherrilyn Kenyon
A cursed Greek warrior is bound to serve women for a month. The start of the Dark-Hunter series.
Best for: cursed heroes.
6. Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost
Cat Crawfield hunts vampires and teams up with one. Sassy and sexy.
Best for: vampire hunters.
7. Kiss of Midnight by Lara Adrian
A vampire warrior protects a human woman in the Midnight Breed series. Dark and passionate.
Best for: warrior vampires.
8. Pleasure Unbound by Larissa Ione
A demon healer and a woman meet in the Demonica series. Hot and heartfelt.
Best for: demon romance.
9. Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning
MacKayla travels to Ireland to find her sister's killer and meets Jericho Barrons. Dark, funny and addictive.
Best for: fae and mystery.
10. Dragon Bound by Thea Harrison
A dragon lord claims a woman as his mate. Fast and fiery.
Best for: dragon shifters.
11. Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris
Sookie Stackhouse falls for a vampire in Louisiana. The start of the Southern Vampire Mysteries.
Best for: vampire mysteries.
12. The Darkest Night by Gena Showalter
A demon-possessed warrior meets a woman with a secret. The first Lords of the Underworld novel.
Best for: demon-possessed heroes.
13. Bitten by Kelley Armstrong
Elena, the only female werewolf, wants a normal life but must help her pack. Strong and fast.
Best for: werewolf mysteries.
14. Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews
Kate Daniels is a mercenary in a post-magic Atlanta. Action and romance.
Best for: urban fantasy romance.
15. Moon Called by Patricia Briggs
Mercy Thompson, a coyote shifter and mechanic, deals with werewolves. A good mix of romance and mystery.
Best for: shifter stories.
How to Choose
If you have not read the Carpathian series, start with Dark Prince. For other vampire romances, pick Dark Lover, Kiss of Midnight or Halfway to the Grave. For inventive worlds, choose Slave to Sensation or The Darkest Night. For shifters and dragons, try Dragon Bound, Bitten or Moon Called. Most of these books are spicy, and many are part of long series. If you are new to paranormal romance, try a book that is part of a large series and see whether you want to keep going. Many readers start with a couple of titles and then pick the series with the characters they like best. Read the content notes, since the genre often includes mature scenes and dark themes. Fans of long series can join online communities for reading order charts and recommendations.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Carpathian series?
It is Christine Feehan's Dark series about a vampire-like race searching for their lifemates.
What should I read first by Feehan?
Dark Prince is the first Carpathian book.
Is her work spicy?
Yes, it has strong romantic and sexual content.
Which series is closest?
Black Dagger Brotherhood and Midnight Breed are very close.
Are these books connected?
Most series are separate, but each has its own long reading order.
Are there audiobooks?
Yes, most of these series have audiobook editions.
How many Carpathian books are there?
More than thirty novels have been published in the Dark series.
What is a lifemate?
In Feehan's world it is the one person who completes a Carpathian, a destined partner.
Do I need to read the Dark series in order?
It helps, although many books focus on different couples.
What is paranormal romance?
A romance with vampires, shapeshifters, demons or other supernatural beings.
Can I read Feehan's books out of order?
Some can be read alone, but the series is best enjoyed in order because characters appear across several books.