Shira Anthony’s Top 5 Favorite Fantasy/Paranormal Series 

Hi Dreamreaders! Today I’m sharing my Top 5 fantasy/paranormal series to celebrate the release of the final Blood Series book, Blood and Eternity, on July 31st. I’m definitely an omnivore when it comes to reading and writing, but my favorite series to read and write are high fantasy with a hint of the paranormal (shifters, vampires, spirits). The Blood Series features time-traveling vampires with magical abilities, and the story is definitely inspired by books I’ve read over the years. So, here goes:

#5 The Captive Prince Series, by C.S. Pacat. Gay romance set against a backdrop of intrigue and war, superbly executed and thoughtful. Oh, and did I mention they’re incredibly romantic and sexy? Loved this series! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00I3REIHI/

#4 Infected Series, by Andrea Speed. To be fair, this series is more paranormal, but it does have some fantasy elements that appear throughout. I love Andy Speed’s flawed but lovable characters and her take on shifters in general. If you haven’t read it, now’s the time to check it out! https://www.dsppublications.com/books/infected-series-94-s

#3 The Vampire Chronicles, by Anne Rice. Classic dark and sexy vampires. Skip the movie and read the books. They have heart and soul and explore the darkness in human (and vampire) souls. Beautifully written and timeless. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004AM5R20/

#2 The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, by J.R.R. Tolkien. What can I say? My dad read these to me and my sister when we were little, and I absolutely adore them (and the movies). Fabulous storytelling. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007978OY6/

#1 The Darkover Series, by Marion Zimmer Bradley. I love that this series, which tells the history of Darkover, a planet where humans have interbred with aliens and developed incredible psi abilities (teleportation, telepathy, telekinesis, etc.) over the centuries. The final trilogy compilation in the series, Heritage and Exile, features the first gay romance I ever read and that has continued to inspire my own stories. Each trilogy is set in a different age of the civilization’s development. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0031AI0TO/