150+ Tropes Listed Alphabetically & by Theme

This is a fairly exhaustive paranormal romance trope list that contains 150 tropes. I’ve combined as many tropes sourced from genre databases and expert lists.

There are two lists on this page for you:

The first list is divided by alphabetical sections (A–G, H–N, O–Z) to break it up for easier discovery.
The second list is divided by paranormal romance themes (click here to jump/scroll down instantly).

woman in the dark with a list of tropes beside her

TROPES LISTED ALPHABETICALLY

A–G: Foundational Paranormal Romance Tropes and Classic Paranormal Dynamics

Accidental Summoning
Alpha Protector
Amnesia Romance (Supernatural Memory Loss)
Ancient Curse
Angel–Demon Love
Antihero Redeemed
Antihero Love-Interest
Apocalyptic Romance (End-of-world backdrop)
Arranged Mates
Astral Projection Romance
Bad Boy Vampire
Beauty and the Beast Reimagined
Beast Within (Struggling with inner supernatural urges)
Blood Bond
Blood Magic Romance
Bodyguard Lover
Bonded by Ritual
Bound by Magic
Brooding Hero
Brotherhood of Hunters
Bystander Turned Chosen One
Captive and Captor
Celestial Lovers
Chosen Mate
Cross Species Love
Cursed Bloodline
Cursed Object Romance
Curse-Breaking Kiss
Creature in the Shadows
Damned Immortala
Dangerous Attraction
Dark Academia Romance
Dark Prophecy
Dark Secret
Death and Rebirth
Demon Lover
Destined Soulmates
Doppelgänger Love
Double Life (Human by Day, Supernatural by Night)
Dream Linked Romance
Elemental Affinity Romance (Fire, Ice, etc.)
Enemies to Lovers (Supernatural Edition)
Eternal Bond
Evil Twin
Ex Hunter Falls for the Hunted
Experimental Supernatural Creation
Fallen Angel Redemption
Fated Mates
Forbidden Love
Forbidden Spell Romance
Found Family (of Monsters)
Fused Souls
Full Moon Transformation
Ghost Lover
God–Mortal Romance
Gothic Setting
Graveyard Meetings
Grumpy/Sunshine (Supernatural Twist)
Guardian Angel Romance

H–N: Unique Paranormal Pairings and Conflict Tropes

Haunted Mansion Love Story
Haunted Object Romance
Healer and Warrior Pairing
Hero Who Hates His Powers
Hidden Royalty
Human Familiar
Human Raised by Supernaturals
Hybrid Identity
Ill-Fated Lovers
Immortal Falls for a Mortal
Incubus/Succubus Temptation
Inter Realm Romance
Invisible Guardian
Jealous Spirit
Journey Through Realms
Keeper of Secrets
Kiss That Awakens Power
Knight and Witch
Love After Death
Love and Betrayal
Love Spell Gone Wrong
Love Triangle with Supernatural Twist
Lost Mate Reunited
Magic Academy Romance
Magical Contract
Magical Tattoo Bond
Marked by Destiny
Mind Link Lovers
Monster Who Hates Himself
Monster with a Heart
Moonlight Rendezvous
Mystical Heir Romance
Necromancer’s Love
Night Stalker
Nonhuman Royalty

O–Z: High-Stakes Relationships and Out-of-this-World Love

Opposites Attract (Light vs. Dark)
Oracle and Warrior
Outcast Finds Love
Otherworldly Protector
Paranormal Pregnancy
Paranormal Small Town
Past Life Lovers
Possessed Lover
Possession Romance
Power Imbalance Romance
Predator vs. Prey
Protector of the Realm
Psychic Connection
Queen of the Underworld
Quest Bound Lovers
Redemption Through Love
Reincarnated Lovers
Rescue and Redemption
Rival Supernatural Clans
Runaway Bride (to Escape a Curse)
Secret Identity Reveal
Secret Shifter
Shadow Realm Romance
Shunned Witch
Siren’s Song
Slow burn Immortals
Spirit Guardian
Star-crossed Lovers
Supernatural Detective Duo
Supernatural Mystery
Telepathic Bond
Time Loop Love
Time Travel Romance
Touched by Darkness
Tragic Immortal
Tragic Past
True Name Power
Undead Royalty
Unseen Protector
Unwilling Familiar
Vampire and Witch Pairing
Vengeful Ghost
Vision Linked Lovers
Werewolf Alpha Romance
Witch Hunter Romance
Witch’s Apprentice
World Ending Prophecy
Wounded Monster
X Marked by Fate
Yearning Across Dimensions
Zombie with a Heartbeat

More below…

This list now reflects a comprehensive catalog of the genre’s most beloved, emerging, and niche tropes.
However, if you need them organized by theme (e.g., “Forbidden Love,” “Supernatural Bonds,” “Dark Fantasy Settings”), please look below as I have compiled that for you.

image showing a tropes list and smoke swirling up around it

TROPES LISTED BY THEME

Here are the same 150 paranormal romance tropes listed and separated by themes.

Fated Mates & Destined Bonds

Arranged Mates
Blood Bond
Chosen Mate
Destined Soulmates
Eternal Bond
Fated Mates
Magical Contract
Marked by Destiny
Reincarnated Lovers
X Marked by Fate

Supernatural Bonds & Connections

Astral Projection Romance
Blood Magic Romance
Bonded by Ritual
Bound by Magic
Dream Linked Romance
Fused Souls
Magical Tattoo Bond
Mind Link Lovers
Psychic Connection
Supernatural Mystery
Telepathic Bond
Vision Linked Lovers

Curses, Prophecies & Dark Magic

Ancient Curse
Cursed Bloodline
Cursed Object Romance
Curse-Breaking Kiss
Dark Prophecy
Love Spell Gone Wrong
Possessed Lover
Possession Romance
True Name Power
World Ending Prophecy

Protector & Guardian Romance

Alpha Protector
Bodyguard Lover
Guardian Angel Romance
Invisible Guardian
Otherworldly Protector
Protector of the Realm
Spirit Guardian
Unseen Protector

Beauty & the Beast / Monster Romance

Antihero Love Interest
Antihero Redeemed
Bad Boy Vampire
Beauty and the Beast Reimagined
Beast Within (Struggling with inner supernatural urges)
Brooding Hero
Creature in the Shadows
Damned Immortal
Hero Who Hates His Powers
Monster Who Hates Himself
Monster with a Heart
Touched by Darkness
Tragic Immortal
Wounded Monster

Captivity & Power Dynamics

Captive and Captor
Human Familiar
Power Imbalance Romance
Runaway Bride (to Escape a Curse)
Unwilling Familiar

Death, Undead & Afterlife Romance

Death and Rebirth
Ghost Lover
Graveyard Meetings
Love After Death
Necromancer’s Love
Queen of the Underworld
Undead Royalty
Vengeful Ghost
Zombie with a Heartbeat

Shifters & Transformation

Double Life (Human by Day, Supernatural by Night)
Full Moon Transformation
Hybrid Identity
Secret Shifter
Werewolf Alpha Romance

Royalty & Hidden Heritage

Hidden Royalty
Mystical Heir Romance
Nonhuman Royalty
Queen of the Underworld
Undead Royalty

Magical Awakening & Discovery

Bystander Turned Chosen One
Experimental Supernatural Creation
Kiss That Awakens Power
Witch’s Apprentice

Memory, Identity & Transformation

Amnesia Romance (Supernatural Memory Loss)
Doppelgänger Love
Evil Twin
Past Life Lovers
Redemption Through Love
Reincarnated Lovers
Secret Identity Reveal
Tragic Past

Quest & Adventure Romance

Journey Through Realms
Oracle and Warrior
Quest Bound Lovers
Rescue and Redemption
Supernatural Detective Duo

Dark Academia & Magical Learning

Dark Academia Romance
Magic Academy Romance

Small Town & Community Settings

Found Family (of Monsters)
Outcast Finds Love
Paranormal Small Town
Shunned Witch

Summoning & Accidental Encounters

Accidental Summoning
Haunted Mansion Love Story
Haunted Object Romance
Moonlight Rendezvous

Temptation & Seduction

Incubus/Succubus Temptation
Siren’s Song

Elemental & Nature-Based Romance

Elemental Affinity Romance (Fire, Ice, etc.)

Time & Dimension-Bending Love

Past Life Lovers
Shadow Realm Romance
Time Loop Love
Time Travel Romance
Yearning Across Dimensions

Angelic & Celestial Romance

Angel–Demon Love
Celestial Lovers
Fallen Angel Redemption
God–Mortal Romance
Guardian Angel Romance

Healing & Caretaking Dynamics

Healer and Warrior Pairing
Human Raised by Supernaturals
Lost Mate Reunited

Rivalry & Competition

Brotherhood of Hunters
Jealous Spirit
Love Triangle with Supernatural Twist
Rival Supernatural Clans

Secrets & Hidden Truths

Dark Secret
Keeper of Secrets
Night Stalker
Secret Identity Reveal
Secret Shifter

Apocalyptic & End Times Romance

Apocalyptic Romance (End-of-world backdrop)
World Ending Prophecy

Contrasting Personalities

Grumpy/Sunshine (Supernatural Twist)
Opposites Attract (Light vs. Dark)

Slow-Burn & Patient Love

Slowburn Immortals

Pregnancy & Family

Paranormal Pregnancy

Pairing-Specific Tropes

Knight and Witch
Vampire and Witch Pairing

Final thoughts…

Some of these tropes are listed elsewhere on this website, but with more explanations. See Tropes A-Z or Tropes and other information.

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