 Author Bio SM Reine is an author of dark fantasy for teen and adult audiences. Her most widely known work is Six Moon Summer, which has been hailed as “fresh and fast-paced” and “captivating.” She lives in Nevada with her husband, the Helpful Baby, and too many black animals to count. |
Even though I usually write fantasy, I’m a horror girl at heart. Sure, I love Rachel Vincent and Ilona Andrews, and I dig the “classics” like Anne Rice, but when it boils down to it, my soul sings for the works of Edgar Allan Poe, HP Lovecraft, and Stephen King. My mom used to read “The Telltale Heart” to me before I went to bed, and I dreamed of hearts beating in dark places underground instead of whatever it is most girls dream about—unicorns and fairies or whatever, I guess.
So it’s no surprise that Death’s Hand (which is urban fantasy) has a strong horror slant. My heroine, Elise Kavanagh, has retired from the rough and tumble life of being a traveling exorcist, and she’s settled into a cushy office job. The usual fantasy route would probably be to introduce a hot paranormal guy for drama’s sake (which is also awesome), but I can’t resist making things ugly—so a harmless five year old girl gets possessed by a powerful demon, bodies rise from their graves, and there are horrible, horrible deaths.
I guess that’s the horror side of me coming out. Sure, there’s hot guys too—I mean, you have to have hot guys—but horrible things happen to them. I can’t seem to resist the urge.
For instance, the hottest guy in the book (not that I would ever pick favorites!) ends up getting kidnapped by demons and carved up with a knife. And I really like that character! The things I do to the characters I hate are even worse—like horrible, undignified methods of death, followed by total desecration of their bodies.
For the record, I am as terrible an ex-girlfriend as you think I would be.
One of the coolest things about the modern fantasy genre is that it’s forgiving to crossover writers like me. Urban fantasy was birthed as a mash-up of detective noir and horror, after all, so it’s kind of the Frankenstein’s monster of literature.
Everything is fair game, whether it’s sexy vampires, beautiful faeries, or terrifying creatures from Hell. You can have the hot paranormal guys mixed in with horror that doesn’t hold back. You can get the creepy prickles at the back of your neck with heart-pounding action and the kind of steamy scenes that make me embarrassed to read the book around my family.
That’s why I love urban fantasy even though I’m loyal to horror, too. You can have it all!
Sometimes I wonder what Edgar Allan Poe would think of modern books. He pioneered the detective genre and revolutionized horror, so urban fantasy could really be considered his baby. I think he would be proud of it—and hopefully he would appreciate all the awful things I do to my characters in Death’s Hand.
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Giveaway
S.M. Reine is offering up a swag pack of signed bookmarks and charms to one winner. Open internationally, ends November 11th at 11:59 PM EST. Please read my Giveaway Policy before entering.
To enter: leave a comment with your e-mail address and answer the following question:
What do you like about Urban Fantasy?
Good luck!
About the Blogger
I review Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance books with a focus all things werewolf. Based out of Ottawa, Canada
Owner, designer and main blogger behind Rabid Reads. Avid book reader, snowboard bunny, video gamer and Supernatural fan. I love all things paranormal, werewolves especially. Oh, and I’m Canadian, eh!
The prize is so cool! I love the cover of your book, can’t wait to read it and will add the book to my evergrowing pile -.- edysicecreamlover18@gmailDOTcom
Urban Fantasy gives me a whole new world for my mind to explore. Sometimes it is the world as I wish it were and sometimes it is the word I am grateful not to inhabit. Fangs, Wands and Fairy Dust
email: steph@fangswandsandfairydust.com
Twitter: @fangswandsfairy
Scratch “word” in prev. comment and write “world”
Hi!
I love Urban fantasy for everything fantasy, paranormal, weirdo and creepy that can happens! Love the fact that its cool to read it but not live it! (well for some part!) Thanks for the giveaway!
proserpinecravedfor(at)hotmail(dot)com
I love the different take on the world we live in. When there is still quite a bit of “our world” mixed in is my favorite. Of course I love the paranormal aspects as well.
vsloboda(at)gmail(dot)com
Thanks for your giveaway. I enjoy Urban Fantasy because it is what is says, a fantasy!! So much going on the world anymore, I like to take my mind to a different place and let the author entertain, shock, or whatever. When I am through, it was an enjoyable experience, partly because it was not real.
Judy
magnolias_1[at]msn[dot]com
This give a whole new world to submerge yourself into. Weather it’s a great place to be or somewhere scary it’s always an adventure!
supagurlheather@gmail.com
Blurb sounds pretty cool, and I have heard good stuff about your other works. Thanks for the giveaway. :o)
jbherbal at hotmail dot co dot uk
I like urban fantasy because it takes the supernatural and paranormal type of stories I love and places them in a modern type everyday setting so it’s like you’re living in the now with all these super cool beings. =)
Awesome giveaway! Thanks for the opportunity to enter! Good luck everyone! =)
Valerie Long
just.val.1974(at)gmail(dot)com
Jewelry Creations by V.S. Long – https://www.facebook.com/vsl1974
I don’t really have a great reason to why I like it. I just do. <3 Hih (A)
Thank you for this contest 🙂 <33
Love, Carina ~ carina-olsen@hotmail.com
i like it because the fantasy and the paranormal
thanks for the giveaway..
darksiry(at)gmail(dot)com
I love the action in urban fantasy. It’s a quicker pace and it is a nice change from more of a romance theme.
Jen
Lratrandom@gmail.com
What’s not to like about urban fantasy? I love to read urban fantasy and paranormal because it is like every other story you read but soo much more! The male character is usually more dominant and possessive. (which I love) The story is almost impossible to find boring because there is that extra element involved whether it’s a vampire, werewolf, or other supernatural being. It gives it a whole other parameter to explore! Everyday life can be so hum drum. The same can not be said for paranormal or urban fantasy books. Thanks for the giveaway! brendem7@comcast.net
I love paranormal romance and fantasy because I can let my imagination run wild.
Urban fantasy is grittier and sexier than regular paranormal romances are! That’s why I love them:)
jwitt33 at live dot com
What an awesome giveaway! So glad I found this blog. I think it has to do with reading something that takes us to another world of possibilities.
miztik_rose@yahoo.com
Urban fantasy allows me to meet very unusual folks that are so far away from my norm and I enjoy my favorite characters becoming my imaginary friends. There is always a little kick ### going on and the majority of the time my favorite character will win the day. Thank you for sharing with us. I have Deaths Hand and look forward to reading it. Swag treats are just that wonderful treats that make you smile when they come in the mail and have a happy happy day. Thanks for the lovely giveaway opportunity and invitation to the fun today Carmel.
dz59001[at]gmail[dot]com
Urban Fantasy has always felt like the right place for me if that makes sense. I was never a normal child. I liked the cemetery behind my gramma’s house and was far more interested in the sword fighting in The Princess Bride than doing all the boring stuff Buttercup did.
Women in UF tend to be equal to their male counterparts more than any other genre. They have it all! Adventures, great clothes, wicked weapons, hot boyfriends, magic, monsters that can be the best friend or worst enemy.
Yep. It has everything my real life lacks and lets me have all the dangerous stuff without actually getting hurt. 😉
Great post S.M.! I’ve been kinda watching your work, even bought Six Moon Summer but haven’t had time to read it yet.
— Rhianna
always.and.never AT gmail DOT com
What I love about urban fantasy is that it is easily relateable because it has settings that are more modern and they are more interesting so you don’t easily get bored =) and the fact that I love that it is an outlet to explore the unnatural. I heart me some supernatural and fantastical creatures!
GFC Follower: SpadesHighReads
TValeros18 AT gmail DOT com
thanks you for this original prize and opening it to international readers too.
what i like about urban fantasy is that you can imagine easily something like the story to happen to you since it’s the world you know ^^. Tomorrow vampire could announce they existed and live together with us,^^;;( just an example)
isabelle(dot)frisch(at)gmail(dot)com
I love everything. The fantasy, supernatural elements, the mythological creatures, the romance, history. I love the characters who usually have issues or tragic pasts. Above all the world of urban fantasy because sometimes is nice to be able to escape for reality.
Thank you for the giveaway!
artgiote at gmail dot com
Thank you for the giveaway! I love urban fantasy, because the boys are just swoon-worthy!
Chel
toprocrastinate at hotmail dot com
I love that it takes place in the real world. It has magic and supernatural elements in the real world. In other words it makes the world seem magical.
Christina Madison
shadowhunters_jace_clary@hotmail.com
I love Urban Fantasy for so many reasons! Mainly the worlds it takes me too and all the amazingly hot boys/men I get to meet!! Okay maybe not really meet but I for sure imagine them being drool worthy :). Thank you for the giveaway!! Think I just made it in lol
t.mahaffy25@gmail.com
Mary DeBorde
zenrei57 (at) hotmail dot com
I love Urban Fantasy because it’s that exciting mix of contemporary & paranormal! Anything and everything can happen [and usually DOES lol], plus characters are typically strong badazz, no wimps allowed ;D
I love reading the urban fantasy and/or paranormal because it isn’t normal. When I read, I like to disappear basically I guess. I don’t want to read (usually) about things I hear and see all time. Different and unusual, that’s what I like. 🙂
Thanks for the chance at this giveaway.
GFC: Sebrina C
Sebrina_Cassity(at)yahoo(dot)com
I like the idea that the impossible can happen today, at anytime and anywhere!
sayomay
tirnanog77@gmail.com
Urban Fantasy is about pushing the limits on the paranormal. You see new worlds, new rules, new species. There is less romantic based plots and more action and adventure. Its a genre all its own and yet touches on a bit of everything. Love everything about it.
LadyVampire2u AT gmail DOT com