Is it Spring yet?
Is the snow gone for good? In Michigan, who knows?! I’ve seen snow on May 2 and frost well into late May. :(
Until Spring is definitely here I’ll keep my head buried in books.
Last month we talked about tropes in PNR.
This month let’s talk about a theme we often see in PNR and UF.
One of the common themes has to do with mystery parentage. The hero or heroine of the story is often “special”. They are unique in some way that makes them stand out from the crowd. They might have special powers or abilities no one else has.
This special thing that makes the character so unique often has to do with their parentage, which is sometimes a mystery itself. Some characters are orphans, some adopted, some just live with one parent and mom either doesn’t know or won’t say who daddy is. Sometimes mommy dearest doesn’t even have a clue who the daddy “really” is. She just thinks he’s a deadbeat human that ran off. Not a vampire, shapeshifter, or god.
This mystery parent theme is nothing new. It goes back to ancient mythology. Think of all the stories about half breeds and demi gods with special powers. Hercules ring a bell?
Think of the characters in modern PNR and UF that have mystery parents that play a huge part in why they have powers or special abilities for instance Mercy Thompson (Mercy Thompson Series by Patricia Briggs), Cat Crawfield (Night Huntress Series by Jeaniene Frost) and Anya Kalinczyk (Anya Kalinczyk Series by Laura Bickle).
Any of this month’s new releases have a character that fits with the mystery parent theme?
The Thief (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 16) by J R Ward
A Snare of Vengeance (A Shade of Vampire, Book 58) by Bella Forrest
Midnight Wolf (Shifters Unbound, Book 11) by Jennifer Ashley
Hot and Badgered (Honey Badgers, Book 1) by Shelly Laurenston
Deadmen Walking (Deadman’s Cross) by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Twice Bitten (Argeneau, Book 27) by Lynsay Sands
Hold Back the Dark (Bishop Special Crimes Unit, Book 6) by Kay Hooper
Veiled Enchantments (Veiled Magic, Book 3) by Deborah Blake
A Vampire's Tale by Maya Tyler
Fearless Mating (A.L.F.A. Book 4) by Milly Taiden
Her Guardian Angel a Novella by Larissa Ione
X-Ops Exposed (X-OPS, Book 8) by Paige Tyler
Edge of Insanity (Alliance, Book 6) by S E Smith
Twin Dragons' Destiny (Dragon Lords of Valdier, Book 11) by S E Smith
Everwylde (Kindred, Book 2) by Donna Grant
My One and Only (Bewitched and Bewildered, Book 10) by Alanea Alder
Columnist Roxanne Rhoads: Story strumpet and tome loving tart...Roxanne Rhoads is a paranormal romance author, book publicist and owner of Bewitching Book Tours. Visit her at Roxanne's Realm and Bewitching Book Tours.
