Angels and Demons, Part 7: Lucifer

The biggest bad of them all is Lucifer. Ahriman, in Zoroastrianism.  Called other things in other religions. He is the baddest of the bad, the head honcho, the Devil himself. 

But what if you want to use him in a novel?

It's more or less a given that the big bad is BAD. Can he be reformed? I encourage you to try, but while his underlings can be, I personally wouldn't mess with his malicious nature. I don't think I've ever read a romance where Lucifer was the hero. The bad guy? Certainly. Maybe one of his underlings or even his son or daughter was reformed. But not him.

Why is he untouchable? Because there always needs to be a big bad in Hell. If not, the whole order of nature disintegrates. How are you supposed to measure evil when the stick you normally measure it against has suddenly become softhearted? While I have seen him front and centre in some books -- in Christine Warren's short story,  Devil's Bargain, for instance -- his starring role has been limited to antagonist or overlord, never good guy. 

Resources:

-Lucifer: The Wikipedia page

-The  Fallen archangel: Lucifer

Now that I've come to the conclusion of my Angels and Demons miniseries, I'm going to talk to you about my own writing! Check back in the next couple weeks to read three free reads and choose which series you'd most enjoy reading! 

Clara.

Angels and Demons, Part 6: The Key of Solomon

One resource that explains a good chunk of demon lore is the Key of Solomon. Goetia, also known as the Lesser Key of Solomon, fully explains how to conjure and contain a demon. 

These texts state that each demon (and there are a host of names and their abilities available) is responsible for his own abilities. No two demons are alike. And in order to summon one, you need to be able to recite the proper incantations. 

Here is the diagram which needs to be drawn. The summoner stands in the centre of the circle, whereas the demon will appear in the triangle -- and will be unable to leave said triangle without the bidding of the summoner. 

To call the demon forth, the summoner uses a chant (I've been told to recite it in Latin, not in English as the translation here states it) and after a complex series of speeches to welcome the demon and request its aid, all found at the site, the summoner then recites another chant to dispel the demon back to its plane of existence. 

Whether or not you decide to base your demon lore on Solomon (as opposed to another religion or one of your own creation), it is an interesting read. 

Clara.

Angels and Demons, Part 5: Demon Lore

Same as almost every religion has angel lore, so too do they have demon lore. Demons are the embodiment of sin and evil, something to be feared and avoided. Christianity/Judaism has Lucifer's minions, Zoroastrianism has Ahriman's demons -- even Hindu has the Asuras, the demons who continually try to wrest the booze of immortality from the gods. 

Demons symbolize the ever-present something that needs to be fought against, but they also are the perfect "tortured soul" archetypes. If your hero or heroine needs a challenge, converting a demon to the side of good might just be the things. I know demons have featured in more than one of my works in progress. 

Resources:

-The Wikipedia page

-List of demons (wikipedia)

-Deliriums Realm - a must-see when researching demons

-Demons in Pop. Culture

-Mythical Creatures Guide - demons

-Myth Encyclopedia - demons

Paranormal romances featuring demons include:

Kresley Cole

Dark Desires After Dusk

Kiss of a Demon King

Demon From the Dark

Christine Warren 

The Demon You Know

What are some of your favorite paranormal romances featuring demons?

Clara.

Angels and Demons, Part 4: Fallen Angels

In Christianity/Judaism, while the angels were the subjects of God, one in particular thought he could do better. Lucifer, once an angel, engaged in a battle with the other angels, a rebellion to overthrow God and take command. Instead, he was defeated. He and his subjects were banished to the underworld, to Hell.

Fallen angels take many forms, depending on the religion they are from. Demons, succubi, incubi, and many more are considered angels who have fallen from favor. 

Because sin is exciting, these beings often make good fodder for paranormal romances. Do any of your favorites feature fallen angels?

Resources:

-Lucifer (the Wikipedia page)

-Fallen Angel mythology

-Mythology of Fallen Angels

-The Fallen Archangel: Lucifer

-Fallen Angels

Clara.

Angels and Demons, Part 3: Guardian Angels

A common belief in many religions is that angels are guarding us. In fact, the Catholic Church states that every soul has one, although this is not a matter of faith. 

Guardian angels are said to be many things. Sometimes they're invisible. Sometimes they come in corporeal form, as someone you know or in another human form. Sometimes they appear as a ball of light (rather like a benevolent ghost). Some say that guardian angels are the ghosts of the dead come back to watch over you -- although religion teaches that the angels are a separate entity altogether. 

Either way, these are great fodder for a paranormal romance! Have you read a romance where the main character was a guardian angel?

Resources:

-Guardian Angels (wikipedia)

-Guardian Angels in the Catholic Church

-Do You Have a Guardian Angel?

-Archangels and Guardian Angels

Clara.

Angels and Demons, Part 2: Angels in Other Religions

Many of the angels in Judaism/Christianity were influenced by Zoroastrianism. That religion describes an epic battle between Ahura Mazda (God) and his angels and his brother, Ahriman (the devil) and his demons. 

Islamic ideals also hold that God (Allah) has a contingent of angels at his command. 

In each of these religions and others, angels are the messengers of the gods. They provide and relay the services of God to humans on earth. Although they take different forms for different religions (or in some, are not described at all), they perform the same purpose. Angels are the embodiment of each religion's ideals (which, when pared down to the basics, are mostly similar).

Resources:

-Myth Encylopedia page

-Different Types of Angels

-Angels Explained

-Otherkin page

What are some of your favorite romances featuring angels?

Clara.

Angels and Demons, Part 1: Angels in Christianity/Judaism

In Christianity and Judaism, angels are the servants of God. They embody the ideals God hopes to invoke in his subjects (humans) and they act as messengers. 

There are several famous angels, many of which are archangels. They are:

Gabriel - an archangel, believed to be the leader of all angels.

Raphael - a healer, called on when someone is sick or terminally ill.

Barchiel - dubbed as the "bringer of hope". 

Michael - the warrior, who defends the heavens against demons. 

Uriel - the archangel of Salvation. 

Of course, different texts list different angels and their deeds. Have you seen any of these (or other famous angels) mentioned in paranormal romances?

Resources:

-Arch Angels

-Hierarchy of the Heavens

-Interesting things about angels

-Angels and the Angelic Realm

-All About Angels

-Myth Encyclopedia page

-Angels in Christianity

-Otherkin page

-Angels Explained

Clara.

Djinn (genie)

The Dictionary of Mythology by J. A. Coleman (Arcturus Publishing, 2007) lists a genie as:

genie

a spirit made of fire capable of taking on any shape [also djinn, djinni, jinnee, jinni].

The five orders of jinn, in descending order of power, are marid, efrit, shaitan, jinn, jann. 

They were created some 5,000 years ago and lived on Mount Qaf but were dispersed when they became disobedient. The survivors reassembled on an island in the Indian Ocean from where they now operate. 

They are said to have magic powers over humans and interbreed with them. 

In some accounts they are described as half hyaena, half wolf, with the power to take the form of any animal, serpent or giant invisible to humans. It is said that they ride abroad at night on such mounts as foxes or ostriches. 

We all know, from such tales as The Arabian Nights: Tales of the Thousand and One Nights that a genie is able to grant wishes to whatever human lucky enough to stumble across one. While not commonly seen in paranormal romance, I have stumbled across a book or two featuring them, such as Cindy Spencer Pape's Djinni and the Geek. 

Or my guest next week, Shona Husk, who wrote Boyfriend In A Bottle!

Resources:

-The Wikipedia page

-D for Djinn

-Exposing the Djinn/Genie myth

-The Monstropedia page

-Different Types of Djinn

-Djinn around the world

-History of the Djinn

-Arabian Nights: Tales of the Thousand and One Nights

-Jewish Fairy Tales and Legends by Gertrude Landa.

Clara.

Incubus/Succubus

According to the Dictionary of Mythology by J. A. Coleman (Arcturus Publishing, 2007), an incubus is:

incubus

a devil in male body: a spirit attacking women during the night

Early accounts regard the incubus as a fallen angel. In some accounts, the incubus rides his victim, sometimes even to the point of death from exhaustion. The offspring of such a union are monsters of all descriptions. 

Whereas in the same book, a succubus is:

succubus

a demon in the form of a female which attacks sleeping men and has intercourse with them.

I've read many accounts of incubi/succubi where these creatures are similar to vampires. But instead of feeding off of blood, they feed off of sexual desire and sexual energy. While this is undoubtedly good fodder for an erotic romance novel, most authors prefer to stick with traditional vampires. While certainly, there are books featuring these creatures, I have read none of them. 

Does anyone else know a book featuring these creatures that they would like to recommend?

Resources:

-The Incubus Wikipedia page

-The Succubus Wikipedia page

-Incubus and Succubus mythology (an article)

-Famous Succubi 

-Incubus/Succubus ghosts

Next week, I'll be moving on to genie lore with some exciting guests!

Clara.

Ghosts and Poltergeists

We all know what a ghost is, and the Dictionary of Mythology by J. A. Coleman (Arcturus Publishing, 2007) states it perfectly:

ghost

an apparition: a spirit of the dead.

These beings appear in mythologies world-wide and take countless forms, sometimes benevolent, sometimes evil.

Similarly, they list a poltergeist as:

poltergeist

a mischievous, noisy spirit alleged to throw things or move them about.

Here are the links to the Wikipedia pages for Ghosts and for Poltergeists.

But when have we read these beings in paranormal romances? To be honest, these books are few and far between. I've seen many like Erin McCarthy's A Date With the Other Side or Lori Foster's short story Tangled Dreams, where ghosts exist in the novel to propel the main characters into a relationship, but rarely are the ghosts themselves the protagonists. Potentially, this could be because the death barrier is a steep one to overcome. However, in paranormals, anything is possible. 

In fact, one of my favorite books by Kresley Cole, Dark Needs at Night's Edge, features a ghost for a heroine. Do you have any favorite paranormal romances featuring ghosts?

Later this week, Larriane Wills will be speaking about ghosts in her works! 

Golems and Gargoyles

Most have heard of gargoyles, beings of animated stone. Much to my consternation, those weren't listed in my handy Dictionary of Mythology by J. A. Coleman (Arcturus Publishing, 2007). But this was:

Golem

an image brought to life: a servant automaton

A golem, in my mind, is only slightly different from a gargoyle. A gargoyle springs to life on its own -- that is the nature of a gargoyle. On the other hand, a golem must be created and brought to life by someone else. 

Check out these resources for interesting things about gargoyles and golems:

-The Gargoyle Wikipedia page

-The Golem Wikipedia page

-About Gargoyles

-Gargoyle Etymology and History

-The Golem myth in film and literature

-Background on Golem Legends

-The Jewish legend of the Golem

-Babylonian Talmud: Sanhedrin 65(b) (The earliest account of a golem)

-Jewish Magical and Mystical Traditions on the Artificial Anthropoid by Moshe Idel (golem tales from ancient times onward).

Coming up next: A 5-part special! Return next week to see my reviews of each of the four stories in Stone Heroes by Cindy Spencer Pape, now in paperback with Ellora's Cave! And to follow up, I'll be interviewing Cindy.

Clara.

Gorgons

The Dictionary of Mythology by J. A. Coleman (Arcturus Publishing, 2007) describes a gorgon as:

Gorgons

3 snake-haired, winged female monsters

A glance from these monsters [...] could turn a man to stone. Their names were Euryale, Medusa, and Stheno and only Medusa was mortal.

They lived in Cisthene and were depicted as having snakes for hair, tusks like a boar, hands of brass and the hindquarters of a mare.

Of course, over time that was weeded down to being snakes for hair and eyes that would petrify you where you stood. Needless to say, I've never read a paranormal romance containing one of these creatures, though it would be interesting, don't you think? Gorgons appear in Library by Apollodorus and in Metamorphoses by Ovid.

Resources:

-The Wikipedia Page

-Medousa and Gorgones

-Gorgons in Literature

Cherish D'Angelo will kick off October as she talks about her new release! Hope to see you there.

Clara.

 

Fairies and Pixies

Fairies, often called the Fae, Faeries, etc. are separated into two types of lore. One states that they are tiny winged creatures, no bigger than butterflies and with butterfly wings, but with humanoid bodies. Another type of lore, in which their size is comparable to that of humans, is the Sidhe. 

Pronounced SHEE, these beings were said to live in another world, parallel to Earth, which could be reached through gateways found in the Irish hills. Queen Mab (of the Seelie court, vs the Unseelie court) was considered the queen of the Sidhe, and Puck is a prominent figure in myths -- said to be a mischievous sidhe. The Sidhe were said to come out during the solstices (especially the summer solstice) and lure humans to come with them and become their slaves.

Another popular form of fairies are the Tuatha De Danann. These are winged beings, considered to be the inhabitants of Ireland before the first humans settled there. More information is cited in the links below.

Although the Banshee is technically a type of fairy, I will be speaking of that lore separately. 

Resources:

-The Wikipedia page for Fairies and for the Sidhe

-Mythical Creatures Guide: Fairy

-Fairy Myth and Lore

-Tuatha De Danann

-Brief History of the Sidhe

-The Monstropedia page

-Different Types of Irish Fairies

-Classification of Fairies

-Seelie and Unseelie Courts

-British Goblins: Welsh Folk-lore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and Traditions by Wirt Sikes

My favourite paranormal romances featuring fairies are:

Lois Greiman

Pixie Lust

Cheyenne McCray Magic series

Forbidden Magic

Seduced by Magic

Wicked Magic

Breath of Magic (in No Rest For the Witches)

Shadow Magic

Dark Magic

Christine Warren

She's No Faerie Princess

Prince Charming Doesn't Live Here (forthcoming)

What are your favourite books featuring fairies?

Clara.

Ghouls

According to the Dictionary of Mythology by J. A. Coleman (Arcturus Publishing, 2007), a ghoul is:

ghoul

a demon preying on the dead: a fiend.

But that doesn't tell us a whole lot about ghouls. What are they, really? What do they look like?

Sources seem to be divided on this. Half state that a ghoul is a monster similar to a zombie (as they are seen as secondary characters in Kresley Cole's Immortals After Dark series). They are mindless monsters intent on infecting others with their highly contagious disease. 

Clearly not the subject of many paranormal romances. 

The second source states them as defilers of the dead. In other words they prey on the dead to eat (and because the you-are-what-you-eat analogy, they become the Undead). Some sources state they are solely female, others that they can be of either gender. Some sources state that they are able to transform into the guise of animals. 

Sources:

-The Wikipedia page

-Ghouls

-The Vampire by Montague Summers, pages 231-237.

Unfortunately, I cannot name any paranormal romances featuring ghouls as the protagonist(s). Does anyone out there have one to recommend?

Clara.

Mermaids

The mermaid is often confused with the selkie (a magician who can change into the form of a seal by donning a magical skin) and a siren (a water being who lures sailors into rocks with its voice). According to the Dictionary of Mythology by J. A. Coleman (Arcturus Publishing, 2007), a mermaid is:

mermaid

a monster, part woman, part fish

These beings are said to sit on rocks, combing their long hair, and lure sailors to their death. In some versions, they are said to be able to grant three wishes. Some say that they cannot survive on land while others say that some of them married mortals and lived ashore. 

In early versions, mermaids had many birdlike features, including wings.

In Irish lore they are regarded as pagans banished by St. Patrick. Some Greek stories say that the burning timbers of Trojan ships turned into mermaids.

merman

a monster, part man, part fish

the male version of a mermaid.

Generally, a mermaid is an aquatic creature with the head and torso of a human but the tail of a fish. 

Resources:

-The Wikipedia page

-Mermaid Folklore and Mythology

-Mermaids in Mythology and Literature

-The Natural History of Norway, Vol. 2 by Erich Pontoppidan

My favourite paranormal romance books about mermaids include: Sleeping with the Fishes (The Mermaid series, book 1), Swimming Without a Net (The Mermaid series, book 2) and Fish Out of Water (The Mermaid series, book 3) by MaryJanice Davidson. 

And, of course, my guest coming later on this week, Vivian Arend!

What are your favourite paranormal romances featuring mermaids?

Clara.

Sirens

In Greek mythology, the siren is a bird-woman of the water whose song is said to lure men. Their songs would wipe men's minds so the sailors would no longer be able to steer the ship, upon which time, it would crash into the rocky shores of the sirens' den. They are featured in several pieces of Greek literature including: The Odessey by Homer, Epitome by Apollodorus, and Argonautica by Apollonius of Rhodes.

The Dictionary of Mythology by J. A. Coleman (Arcturus Publishing, 2007) lists them as:

Siren

a monster, part woman, part seabird. 

They were originally winged beings but, when they were defeated by the Muses in a music competition, they lost their wings and took to the sea, living on the island of Anthemoessa, where their songs charmed the crews of passing ships and lured them into the rocks. 

Others say they were originally maidens attendant on Core who were changed into the form of sirens for failing to prevent Core's abduction by Hades. 

[...] They are usually depicted as birds with human faces.

Resources:

-The Wikipedia page

-Sirens in Greek Mythology

-Crystalinks: Sirens

-Sirens: A symbol of passion

Here is a fairly common myth that I, for one, haven't seen a lot of in paranormal romance. But perhaps I haven't been looking in the right places. Does anyone out there have any recommendations for reading about sirens in paranormal romance?

Next week: Mermaids, and an interview with Vivian Arend!

Clara. 

Shifters, Part 5: Human Shifters

This last subtopic of shapeshifters, I must admit, I have never read in paranormal romance, though I would be eager to get my hands on a book if one does exist. I'm talking about shifters who can change their appearance to that of any human. I'm talking about changelings, doppelgangers, if you will. 

I've read about this once in the classic science fiction series Dune by Frank Herbert. In this series, he wrote about Face Dancers which were able to shift their facial features to resemble any person they liked. 

Similarly if you've watched the popular TV series Supernatural, you might have seen a shapeshifter change its appearance by morphing the top layer of its skin to resemble the person it wishes, and later shedding its skin. 

A Doppelganger is considered in mythology to be an apparition or double of a person. It has its own mythology surrounding it, claiming that every person has a ghost-like counterpart, and this counterpart is considered to be evil. Here, I used the term in the common urban disambiguation, meaning that it is literally a person's look-alike. If you want to learn more about the original myth surrounding the doppelganger, take a look at the Wikipedia page, this website, or this Fact or Fiction? website.

A Changeling in mythology refers to a fairy spirit who, at birth, was switched with a living child. This spirit can take on the physical appearance of the child and is considered to be evil. More information about changelings can be found at the Wikipedia page, this website, or this website about German Changeling legends. 

Visit the Wikipedia page about shapeshifting to learn more about it in general.

Don't forget to stop by this Wednesday to read a review of Mary Winter's Twin Spirits!

Clara.

Shifters, Part 4: Unusual Animal Shifters

Now, having talked about werewolves and shapeshifters that shift as a part of their natural physiology, and shapeshifters that shift through the use of magic, I'm going to move on to the animals you don't usually see as shifters. The first, dragons, I have seen in several different books, but the others I have never read. They might be out there, but if so, they haven't yet crossed my path. Let me give you a bit of information on these lovely creatures, anyway.

Dragons

These creatures of legend were said to be monstrous beasts, which would eat the flesh of virgin maidens. These maidens were sometimes offered up to them as sacrifices to prevent the dragons from attacking their villages. Some legends state that the dragons were guardians of great treasures. Most legends depict brave knights riding out to slay them, such as the Knights of the Round Table.

Books with these unusual shifters include Dragonswan by Sherrilyn Kenyon, Master of Dragons by Angela Knight, Fiery Magic by Raine Delight, and Light My Fire by Jodi Redford.

Sources for more information about dragons include:

• The Wikipedia page
• History of Dragons
• Dragon: Myth or Fact
• The Celtic Dragon Myth
• Chinese Dragon Myth
• Greek Dragon Myth
  
• Notes on the Folk-Lore of the Northern counties of England and the Borders by William Henderson
  

Griffins

Griffins are creatures with the body of a cat, but the wings, beak, and talons of an eagle. Depending on the myth they are either violent or benign. Some myths list their feathers as sources of luck; others say that you cannot tell a lie while around them.

Sources for more information about griffins include:

• The Wikipedia page
• Griffin Mythology
• History of Griffins
  
• De Natura Animalium by Aelian
• Italian Popular Tales by Thomas Frederick Crane
  

Centaurs

Centaurs are creatures with the body of a horse but the torso of a (wo)man. They are said to be excellent archers and stalwart fighters. Some sources list them as good diviners.

More sources about centaurs include:

• The Wikipedia page
• The Centaur
• The Myth Encyclopedia
• Centaurs in Greek Mythology
  

Unicorns

Unicorns are horse-like creatures with large horns, similar to those of narwhals, protruding from their foreheads. Some sources say that it is bad luck to kill one.

More sources about unicorns include:

• The Wikipedia page
• The Unicorn
• History of the Unicorn
• The Lore of the Unicorn by Odell Shepard (read it here)
  

Phoenixes

Phoenixes are immortal birds. They go through life cycles but at the end of which, instead of dying, they burst into flame and are reborn from the ashes.

More sources about phoenixes include:

• The Wikipedia page
• Phoenix mythology in different cultures
• Encyclopedia
• In Greek Mythology

Thanks for joining me! Next week I'll be moving on to my final post regarding shifters. A review of Mary Winter's Twin Spirits is still forthcoming!

Clara.

• 
  

Shifters, Part 3: Using Magic to Shapeshift

In The Dictionary of Mythology by J. A. Coleman (Arcturus Publishing Ltd., 2007) the description of a werewolf included:

werewolf

It is said that those who can become werewolves also practice witchcraft when in their normal human shape.

So today, that is what I am going to talk about. Shapeshifting using magic.

This isn't commonly featured in paranormal romance novels, however I have read it before: both instances involved one of my favourite writers, Christine Warren. The first was in Wolf At The Door. In this book, Sullivan Quinn, a werewolf, meets an intoxicating fox woman, Cassidy Poe. Fox women, in Christine Warren's Other series, are able to shift into foxes, but only through the use of a specific kind of magic.

Likewise, in her tale Heart of the Sea, offered on her website or here for free, selkies are witches who are able to transform into seals by a combination of witchcraft and their magical seal skins.

So let me dive in a bit about selkies, which are more commonly seen in literature than fox women. If you're wondering about the folklore behind fox women, while I am not entirely certain about Warren's thinking on the matter, the Japanese have a myth treating foxes rather like fairies, where they are able to transform into humans. Read more about the kitsune myth here.

The selkie myth originated along the Atlantic Ocean, in places like Scotland, Wales, etc. They can be males or females, and it is said that if you steal their skin they are unable to turn back into seals. Warren's short story, in my opinion, is a very interesting depiction of selkies.

More resources include:

• The Wikipedia page
  
• The Monstropedia page
• This website on the heritage of the Orkney Islands

Does anyone else have some examples of paranormal romances in which magic is used in order to shift?

Clara.

• 
  

Shifters, Part 2: Inborn Abilities

We've all read books like this. This is the books featuring werewolves (or werecougars, werelions, werejaguars—you get the picture). I classify these books as "inborn abilities" because in these books, these creatures are all born with the ability to shapeshift (which usually manifests for the first time at puberty).

But for a moment, I'm going to sidetrack to werewolves. In the original myth, this is a disease, one which causes the person to shift into a wolf-like monster upon the full moon. This disease is spread through the werewolf's bite at this time. The Dictionary of Mythology by J. A. Coleman (Arcturus Publishing Ltd., 2007) describes a werewolf as:

werewolf

a human said to be able to change into a wolf

In those cases where men were turned into wolves by others, it was said that, if they refrained from eating human flesh for eight years, they would be restored to their human form.

Other animals take the place of wolves in those places where the wolf is not feared. Examples include the bear (North America), boar (Greece/Turkey), crocodile (Africa), fox (China/Japan), hyaena (Africa), jaguar (South America), leopard (Africa), lion (Africa) and tiger (Borneo/China/Japan).

In European belief, a werewolf removes his skin and resumes his human shape at daybreak and will die if the skin is found and destroyed.

A German story says that a person wearing a belt from the skin of a wolf or a man who has been hanged will become a werewolf.

In the lore of some North American Indians, werewolves can be either men or women. It is said that those who can become werewolves also practice witchcraft when in their normal human shape.

I'll come back to that last bit in the next post. But this, the stuff of horror films, is rarely used in romance. Nonetheless, let me give you some good references to look into:

• The Wikipedia page
  
• The legend
• Lore vs Science for Lycanthropy
• Different mythologies for werewolves
• The Werewolf in Lore and Legend by Montague Summers
• The Werewolf Book: The Encyclopedia of Shape-shifting Beings by Brad Steiger
• The Book of Werewolves by Sabine Baring-Gould

But, as I mentioned, rarely do paranormal romances follow this example. More likely, being a werewolf is hereditary—and the werewolf gene is dominant in half-breeds. Depending on who you read, the werewolf lore can be the "inner beast" which grants the bearer strength; the werewolf is able to shift into a wolf form either on the full moon or at will (although in almost all cases, the full moon still pulls at the beast inside them); the werewolf is able to shift into a half man, half wolf form.

Some of my favourite authors who write books with these kind of shifters are:


L. K. Below

His Familiar Touch (in Paramourtal)



Kresley Cole

A Hunger Like No Other

Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night

Pleasure of a Dark Prince



Lauren Dane The Cascadia Wolves series



MaryJanice Davidson The Wyndham Werewolf series



Sherrilyn Kenyon

Night Play

Unleash the Night

Dark Side of the Moon

Bad Moon Rising

No Mercy



Christine Warren

Big, Bad Wolf

Wolf At the Door

She's No Faerie Princess

Howl At the Moon

Walk on the Wild Side

Born to be Wild



Next week, I'll be talking about shifting as a part of witchcraft, but for now:

What are your favourite shifter romances?


Clara.