We’re welcoming back Erica Hayes to ATUF today to talk about her newest release: POISON KISSED (Book 3 of the Shadowfae Chronicles). All the books in this series are standalones that take place in the same world. And they are steamy. Just how steamy? Check out Erica’s free short story Hellcursed to get an idea. I know a lot of UF fans, myself included, tend to shy away from the more erotic flavored paranormals, which is why I asked Erica to talk about steamy UF and even suggest some titles to help bridge the gap. There is also a giveaway below to win a copy of POISON KISSED (open internationally).
The Steamy Side of Urban Fantasy
by
Erica Hayes
When Abigail suggested I write my guest post about the steamy side of urban fantasy (yay! I love it when bloggers give me ideas on cool things to post about!) it got me thinking: why do the steamy and the paranormal go so well together? Why are paranormal heroes dark and naughty instead of just gorgeous and wholesome like other heroes? What's our fascination with the dark side of sexy, or the sexy side of darkness? With the recent shift into urban fantasy romance, the sexy side of UF is getting a lot more attention. And a dark, conflicted paranormal world is the perfect place for sexual tension. The way I see it, paranormal is the genre of save-the-world stakes and extreme danger. Sure, the scheming rake hero of a Regency romance is a threat to the heroine – he might ruin her socially or spoil her perfectly good betrothal to that eminently suitable but totally boring guy over there. But the rake isn't about to kill her or damn her soul to hell. The world won't end if she fails to resist. 
Supernatural heroes, on the other hand, are deadly. Urban fantasy heroines are tough, resourceful, been-there-done-him-got-the-t-shirt chicks. A normal guy doesn't even ping her threat radar. For the hero to be a danger to her, he has to threaten her on all levels: intellectually, physically, socially and sexually. Because sex equals danger. It's hard to concentrate on saving the world when the gorgeous vampire next to you is sending shivers down your spine. Arc up the sensuality, and the danger skyrockets. That's why we see so many kick-ass heroines who love to be dominated in bed – in her violent world, bed is the one place she can surrender to her vulnerability. Even if she does it kicking and screaming (oh, god!) and gives the guy the icy-glare-screw-you treatment for a week afterwards. 
And let's face it: a UF heroine isn't a wallflower. She monsters her enemies without mercy. These days, one mark of a strong woman is sexual freedom; for her to simper and blush when it comes to sex would be unrealistic. Personally I'd like to see less of the 'every guy in the book lusts after the heroine' thing, even though I've written it myself sometimes. But I totally get (and love!) that she's single (usually), on the market and scoping for hawt men who can measure up to her strength. Also, a lot of fantasy/paranormal tropes are inherently sensual. Sucking blood. Biting. Changing shape, all those stretching tendons and writhing muscles. A demon's temptation – he'll get you any way he can. And as writers, generally the darker we go, the deeper the point of view we use. More sensations, more burning skin and fluttering pulses and aching flesh. Darkness is visceral, and visceral is sexy. It's hard to write dark without writing sensual. 
Of course, not all dark UF is ultra-steamy. e.g. Jocelynn Drake's really cool Dark Days series, where I'm up to book three and the heroine still hasn't… well, never you mind. No spoilers here. (Note to Mira: Are you blind? Or insane? That boy is seriously hot stuff.) But there's some great UF out there that explores the sexy side of darkness. For instance:
- Keri Arthur's Riley Jenson series (Riley is a great example of a heroine who would never work in PR, but totally kicks ass in UF.)
- Jeaniene Frost's Night Huntress series (I don't care what it says on the spine, those books are UF, not PR. Vampire sex for the thinking woman.)
- Laurell K Hamilton's Merry Gentry series (very steamy fairies, sometimes more steam than plot… not that this is a bad thing!)
- Karen Marie Moning's Fever series (Not steamy in a multiple sex-scene sense – there's no lovin' for quite a few books – but the darkness has overtly sensual overtones throughout.)
- Nalini Singh's Guild Hunter series (Probably more romance than UF, with a gloriously over-the-top alpha hero and high levels of sensual tension no matter how many times they've already done it.)
So check them out, and revel in the dark sexy J and while you're there (cough) you might wish to check out my latest, POISON KISSED. It's UF – it has a kick-ass banshee heroine – but heavy on the sexy romance too!
Thanks so much to Abigail for having me here today!
Thanks Erica for stopping by again. I hope you’ll come back when the next Shadowfae book is out.
Visit Erica online:
Want to read more from Erica Hayes?
Shadowfae
1. Shadowfae
2. Shadowglass
3. Poison Kissed
Giveaway
Giveaway courtesy of Erica Hayes
One copy of POISON KISSED by Erica Hayes
Book 3 of the Shadowfae Chronicles
Description
Beyond the veil of magic, a fairy otherworld pulses with glamour and dark beauty. It's a place where passions run deep and dark — and death is just one kiss away...
Mina is a banshee whose greatest power lies in her siren song. She's beholden to her boss Joey, a snake-shifter who once saved her life and now employs her as a gang enforcer. She refuses to upset the fragile balance between them by admitting that she longs for him, that his embrace is the only thing she craves more than revenge for her mother's death...
When Mina learns that Joey may have been involved in her mother's murder, fury threatens to spill out of her, note by vicious note. She and Joey have always trusted each other to stay alive, but now she's not sure what to believe. The evidence stacked against him — or the one man who haunts her dreams and burns in her blood...
Click HERE to read an excerpt from POISON KISSED
Giveaway Guidelines
- Open Internationally (thanks Erica!)
- Leave a comment that includes:
- Your favorite fae book or what you think about steamy UF
- A way to contact you if you win
- Entries must be received by Midnight MST on October 15th
Interested in guest blogging on All Things Urban Fantasy? CONTACT ME
My favourite fae book would have to be KMM's Fever series (okay, that's not one book, but can't be helped :D) ... I wouldn't want to sleep with any of those fae, though, not even the sexy ones, but somehow evil fae hold more appeal to me ... when characters start falling in love with fae, I get confused, because I just see all fae - in all books - as inherently evil, somehow.
ReplyDeleteAh, sorry, forgot to add my e-mail: bella-on-toast@hotmail.com
ReplyDeletei guess my favourite book would be wicked lovely by melissa marr. i haven't read too many other fae books, so i don't have to much to choose from.
ReplyDeletethanks for the chance to win!
stampitchick at yahoo dot ca
Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr is my favorite!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the contest!
mishamary@gmail.com
My favorite Fae series is the Fever series by KMM. I normally read contemporary romance until I discovered Paranormal romance and fell in love with it. I'm new to Urban Fantasy and it has taken some getting used to the lack of romance between the protagonists. So if I happen to read a UF that's more on the steamy side, I'm a very happy camper.
ReplyDeletelovetoreadforfun@gmail.com
I like both Melissa Marr's work and Monig's series. I read the Gentry series too but really, love the sex in my books, there's got to be a story too in a full length novel and Hamilton's forgotten about that.
ReplyDeleteErioa is a new to me author so i'll be checking out her first two books in the series.
acm05atjuno.com
Definitely the Fever series by Moning for me as well, though I know there are others I have enjoyed.
ReplyDeleterobin [at] intensewhisper [dot] com
I guess I'd have to say my favorite fae are in the Meredith Gentry series. I'd definitely like to see more fae series.
ReplyDeleteb(dot)cardone(at)hotmail(dot)com
I would also have to go with KMM's Fever series. I am in love with Barrons..lol I love steamy UF it is my all time favorite genera.
ReplyDeleteakascrapaholic [at] gmail DOT com
I love Jory Strong's Ghostland Series. I don't mind the steam as long as theres a good story there.
ReplyDeletejnmt3@hotmail.com
My favorite Fae book is The Phoenix Charm.
ReplyDeletePlease enter me in the giveaway.
justpeachy36@yahoo.com
Like a few others on here, my favourite series is Karen Marie Moning's Fever series. I have always loved her books and adore Adam. Although he is a man in love now, I thought he was great when he was causing so much trouble for everyone else.
ReplyDeleteicewoman96 at gmail dot com
I haven't read any fae books yet. But would like to. I love reading urban fantasy books. They are very good and interesting. Please enter me in contest.
ReplyDeleteTore923@aol.com
My favorite is Melissa Marr's Wicked Lovely series. I also like Anya Bast new series Dark Magick.
ReplyDeleteelaing8(at)netscape(dot)net
Night Huntress series is definitely steamy done right!! As long as it's got plenty of plot, and action out side the bedroom, I love reading a little steamy in my UF.
ReplyDeletegoldeneyeddragon@gmail.com
{waves} thanks so much for coming by, everyone! There are so many good fae books out there... recently I've enjoyed Yasmine Galenorn's Night Myst (her new Indigo Court series) and Anya Bast's Dark Magick paranormal romance series, both of which are pretty steamy.
ReplyDeleteI love Wicked Lovely... but I would have loved to read it as an adult series instead of YA! Holly Black's fae books (Tithe, Valiant and Ironside) are wonderful also, YA but very gritty and dirty.
My favorite fae series is Seanan McGuire's October Daye series.
ReplyDeletemusmekipi at gmail dot com
The fever series by Karen Marie Moning are my favorite fae books.
ReplyDeleteSkk25@aol.com
Karen Marie Moning's Fever series and SUNNY's Monére, Children of the Moon Series!!
ReplyDeletenatashajennex(at)gmail(dot)com
I'm a romance novel junkie...historical, contemporary or paranormal. If I happen to read a steamy UF then all the better. :)
ReplyDeleteLooove the Night Huntress series too. I need to Erica's series on my TBR list now. Sounds great!
nalynboni AT gmail DOT com
Hi Erica - Thanks again for the steamy blog post. I have to agree with everyone and say The Fever series and Anya Bast's Dark Magick books are two fae series (with steamier elements) that have blown me away recently.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite fae books are the Fever series. They are awesome, I only wish it wasnt just over a year between books and we can find out what happens already.
ReplyDeletebacchus76 at myself dot com
Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite fae books are Melissa Marr Series. I love it.
itzel_library@hotmail.com
~Yelania
KMM's Fever series. Barrons and V'lane, 'nuf said.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway!
chichai_hana at hotmail dot com
Hello and thanks for hosting this interview and for the giveaway!!
ReplyDeleteOh wow...we could go on forever on this subject. I think Urban Fantasy just lends itself (in a way)better for Romance ans steamy scenes, because there usually is more tension and danger and the creepiness factor, which have to be balanced with the equal amounts of tension but of the "nice kind", sexual tension!
The Riley Jensen series of books is among my fave ever and I just finished Nalini Singh's Angels' Blood and I loved it. And you are right, it is a bit more on the Romance side, but I really, really,really don't mind when Raphael is so hot and he turned Elena into a...! :P
yvantis@hotmail.com
Definitely the Fever series by Karen Marie Moning.
ReplyDeletehella.hydeist at gmail dot com
The October Daye books are great fae books - but I also like it when the fae mix things up in other series - Karen Chance's Dorina Barasab is a good example of the fae mingling with vamps!
ReplyDeletenotanotherbookblog(at)hotmail(dot)co(dot)uk
To this point I have to say my favorites one's are Marr's. Really love them.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance :)
fairy dot morgaine at gmail dot com
My favorite Fae Books would have to be Laurell K. Hamilton's Merry Gentry Series. Hamilton skillfully blends the old myths and legends and incorporates them into her books. I always felt like the Fae wouldn't be all giggles and sunshine. There is a certain darkness to the old faerie tales that got left out when they were re-written for the little kiddies. Hamilton brought that back for me.
ReplyDeletepreternaturalprimer@hotmail.com
If you consider Keri Arthur's Riley Jenson and Jeaniene Frost's Night Huntress series steamy UF, then I'm all for it. Those two series are at the top of my favorites list. For some reason, the term "erotica" turns me off, but there's nothing wrong with some hot, sexy lovin' mixed in with the ass kicking.
ReplyDeleteBarbed1951(at)aol(dot)com
I love so many UF authors including Patricia Briggs, Ilona Andrews, Keri Arthur, Jeaniene Frost, Laurell K. Hamilton, and Anya Bast.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway.
smccar1 at hotmail dot com
I really enjoyed Karen Marie Moning's Fever series, Laurell Hamilton's Mercy Gentry series, and Melissa Marr's Wickedly Lovely series are all great because they all are a little different.
ReplyDeleteusignolc(at)yahooDOTcom
My favorite Fae series is probably a toss up between Seanan McGuire's October Daye Series or C.L. Wilson's Tairen Soul Series.
ReplyDeleteThe series out of all those Erica mentioned, LKH Merry Gentry, is the only one I just couldn't get into. I LOVED KMM Fever series. Barrons is just hot. So I guess maybe KMM Fever series is my fave. Of course, I also really enjoy Erica's books.
ReplyDeleteOpps email: strangecandyreviews @ gmail dot com
ReplyDeleteI'm definitely up for steamier UF, but the world building has to be solid and I don't like it when the action just stops for an unrealistic sex scene. That said, Merry Gentry was the first Fae based series that I read and I got totally hooked on it, even though the sex is completely unrealistic and over the top. Prior to reading that, I would have said that I didn't like Fae stories, now I'd say that I love them
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite fae books was Ash by Malinda Lo. I LOVE urban fantasy books!
ReplyDeleteapageturner4u@gmail.com
I have to say that fae is one UF area I haven't jumped into yet. Although, LKH's other series, ANita Blake, is on the ultra steamy side.
ReplyDeleteFor me, the steamy comes from the biting vamps...very intimate with the danger of if you are going to live past this experience.
heatwave96(at)hotmail.com
I actually don't have a favorite UF book because I am new to this sub genre. I have spent the last year reading everything Charlaine Harris and am now ready to branch off into something new and different. Thanks for the chance!
ReplyDeleterubymoonstone at gmail ot com
I can really "take it or leave it" when it comes to steamy UF. The reason is that very often it doesn't seems to add anything to the book and sometimes even seems out of place. If it is done expertly, that is different.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway.
Carol T
buddytho {at} gmail DOT com
Karen Marie Moning's Fever series is my fave!
ReplyDeleteelizabethjhoskins@gmail.com
My UF has got to be steamy - what is a sass kickin' heroine to do without some steamy luvin'.
ReplyDeleteaudie@wickerness.com
What do I think about steamy UF? Is there any other kind;)
ReplyDeleteHm.. My fav fae book is Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning. It's FANTASTIC!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for making this international! You can reach me at luvpinkpanther@gmail.com
I haven't really read a lot of books with Fae. I have a ton on my wishlist, but my wishlist is a little out of control right now :) The only thing that crosses my mind is The southern vampire series by Charlaine Harris. That was my first forray into Fae and I loved all the Fae characters that were introduced and it gave the books a whole new dynamic. I love UF, and the few that I have read have some amazing smoking hot between the sheets scenes. Keep em coming, I'm a stay at home mom of three, I need those hot scenes :)
ReplyDeletejune111@att.net
I love the Melissa Marr series and the Karen Marie Moning Fever series.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway!
spettolij At gmail DOT com
You mean besides Erica's own Shadowfae Chronicles right? :P
ReplyDeletei'd have to say Melissa Marr's Wicked Lovely series.
ellen_cullen AT live DOT com DOT au
Aside from the popularly mentioned Karen's Fever series :), I liked Erin Kellison's Shadow Bound and Jim Butcher's Dresiden Novels which have fae. Tithe by Holly Black was also pretty good.
ReplyDeletePam S
pams00 @ aol.com
I love the Wicked Lovely series by Melissa Marr. She's the one who started my love for books about the fae.
ReplyDeleteangeldream3(at)gmail(dot)com
love Karen Marie Morning's Fever series. Though her fae scares the bejesus out of me. lol.
ReplyDeleteI also liked Wicked lovely too. And for some sexy fae A Touch of fae by Lauren Dane was great.
scrtsbpal at yahoo dot com
I love steamy UF! I just finished reading "Shadow Marked" by Anna Evans and it was smokin' hot :-)
ReplyDeletesmaccall@comcast.net
Night huntress series all the way I love Ian!!!!!
ReplyDeleteelizabethcerna2011@gmail.com
I love steamy UF because of the irrepressible nature of the hero's and heroines that star in them. One of my favs is the Archangel series by Ms, Singh and I have enjoyed both books from Ms. Hayes series as well. Thanks for the giveaway
ReplyDeletejbax90@gmail.com
I need to say I love steamy UF. I couldn't live without it =) The latest Fae book I've read is The Guardians of light series by Renee Wildes. It was pretty good. Not as steamy as I like but good...lol. Thanks for the contest.
ReplyDeleteTanyaw1224@yahoo.com
Steamy Urban Fantasy is becoming my favorite type of book! I love it!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
fineinsanity {at} live {dot} com
I'd say Wings by Aprilynne Pike. It's short but amazing. It's new, it's cool (I hear they just started filming a movie out of it?? YAY)
ReplyDeleteAnyways, contact info: anaavu@gmail.com