Paranormal romance book cover design: 10 inspiring examples

You are an author of paranormal romance, and your new story is about to get published. However, you are stuck on choosing a book cover design. After all, it should hint at its genre at first glance and catch readers’ eyes.

A paranormal novel has its characteristics not only in the plot but also in the book cover design, which assumes the presence of certain elements. That’s why we have prepared ten examples of stunning book covers to inspire you and help to avoid confusion. So let’s take a closer look at them.

1. Emphasis on the descent from different worlds

Typical hallmarks of this genre are romantic relationships between humans, vampires, werewolves, shapeshifters, demons, witches, ghosts, and other entities of a supernatural nature. That’s why it’s essential to focus the readers’ attention that lovers descend from different worlds. We can achieve this effect by using contrasting colors showing the main characters, for example, a classic purple for the heroine and a deep blue for the hero.

However, contrasting colors are not mandatory. You can emphasize the origin from different worlds even in a monochrome book cover. To do this, you should use elements associated with mysticism and the paranormal, for example, fog or phosphor light. Look at the example below, where you can feel that the hero represents the afterlife: his cold skin glows with a ghostly light. It is especially noticeable against the background of the earthly heroine with pink skin.

2. Imaginary from past centuries

Belief in the afterlife has been true for past centuries. After all, science rules modernity, and the existence of vampires, werewolves, or ghosts is easy to disprove today. Therefore, it is unsurprising that images from the Middle Ages or the Renaissance are widespread in the design of paranormal romance book covers.

Ancient castles and fortresses, richly decorated dance halls, lush ball gowns, men’s suits decorated with precious stones – this is what you can see on book covers. In the center, you can see a couple of lovers contrasting with each other in the color of their skin and clothing. Add a frame of gold ornaments or a wild rose to make readers concentrate on the protagonists.

3. Saving love from death

Paranormal love always causes many complications, obstacles, and dangers. The universe is against lovers from different worlds being together. People who have fallen in love with paranormal beings often find themselves on the verge of life and death.

An antagonist of supernatural origin tries to destroy a person or the main character’s family against their relationship with a mortal significant other. However, the protagonist always saves their love. And we can often see this motif on paranormal romance book covers.

4. Unbreakable bond

The universe, family, friends, dark forces, and everyone else may be against the relationship between mortals and immortals, but there is no escaping fate. Unbreakable ties connect lovers from different worlds. And even if they try to run away from each other to avoid danger, sooner or later, they still meet again.

In the example below, you can see how a magical glow, symbolizing an unbreakable bond, flies around a couple in love. Yet, despite everything, lovers cannot exist separately from each other.

5. The paranormal protagonist in the center

Paranormal romance book covers do not only depict couples in love. In some cases, the presence of a protagonist with attributes hinting at an otherworldly or supernatural origin is sufficient. For example, red and purple colors are ideal for vampire stories because they are associated with blood. Also, this color perfectly attracts the attention of readers.

The second example shows a noticeable influence of magic and dark forces. And it’s not just about the heroine who casts spells. Black colors and crows, an ancient symbol of magic and mysterious knowledge, also played a role here. 

6. Mystical and scary ornamentation

Sometimes you can do without the image of the heroes at all. It is enough to add elements that hint at the afterlife and the supernatural, but at the same time, do not forget about things related to love. In this example, the skull, snake, and dark colors represent belonging to the afterlife. However, we can also see red roses, which refer to living nature and symbolize love.

Altogether, these elements form a mystical and frightening ornament that draws the readers’ attention to the book’s title.

Summing up

As you have already seen, paranormal romance book covers are diverse, vivid, eye-catching, and mystical. They include elements that hint at the afterlife and supernatural forces. Dark colors dominate the hue scheme, including black, gray, blue, violet, purple, and brown. 

We can often see couples in love belonging to different worlds. Lovers differ in skin and hair colors and clothing. But they are bound with magical light, save each other’s lives, and can’t escape the destiny to be together.

What paranormal romance book cover do you like the most? Tell us in the comments.