#JustTheTipTuesday Horror Romance
Hey there, Wordmaker!
Welcome to #JustTheTipTuesday, where I share writing tips and tricks to help romance authors perfect their craft. Romance 101 series will cover the basics you need to get started. It’s an ongoing series. The cadence of this particular series will change to once a month after this entry to make room for other tips! Also, I’m eliminating some portions of the articles so that they focus on craft.
- Sci-Fi Romance
Horror romance is one of those subgenres that might catch you off guard at first—it seems like an unusual pairing, right?
If you think love and terror don’t seem like natural companions, you would be wrong, wordmaker. When you combine the heart-pounding excitement of falling in love with the spine-tingling fear of the unknown, you get a potent mix that is unmatched.
So, what exactly is horror romance? At its core, it’s a genre that blends the intensity of romantic relationships with the suspense and dread of horror. The stakes are high in both love and fear, and that’s what makes these stories so compelling. You get the butterflies from the romance while also feeling that creeping sense of danger lurking in the background.
What makes horror romance truly unique is how it balances two seemingly opposite emotions: desire and fear. This push-and-pull creates an intense, emotional, and unpredictable reading experience. You’re never quite sure if the love story will end with a happily-ever-after, a tragic twist, or even a showdown with a supernatural threat.
It’s one of my favorite subgenres, but why do people love it so much?
Horror romance often dabbles in forbidden or dangerous relationships, which gives the love story an extra layer of intrigue. Whether it’s a human falling for a vampire, a ghost, or even a werewolf, these relationships are usually built on tension and taboo. There’s an undeniable allure to a romance that feels risky, where the very nature of the love interest is a threat.
For many readers, horror romance is the ultimate form of escapism. These stories whisk you away from the ordinary and drop you into a world where the supernatural exists and anything can happen.
Personally, I feel there’s a real sense of catharsis in reading horror romance. You get to face your fears head-on, but in the safe space of a book, all while rooting for the characters to survive both the horror and their emotional baggage. You’re watching them fight off monsters and fight for each other, for their love, and for their futures. And when they come out on the other side, it’s like you’ve gone through the journey with them. It’s that combination of fear and hope—of rooting for love to win against all odds—that makes horror romance so deeply satisfying.
Let’s break down how horror romance manages to pull this off:
1. Love in the Midst of Fear: love and fear feed off one another, making both elements feel more intense. When you’re scared, emotions are heightened, and that vulnerability can lead to deep, unexpected connections. Think about it: when characters are thrown into terrifying situations—whether it’s battling supernatural creatures or surviving a haunted house—there’s something incredibly raw and real about the emotions that come out. The fear brings them closer, often forcing them to confront their feelings more honestly. The romantic tension builds right alongside the suspense, making for a deeply engaging story where you’re just as invested in the romance as you are in surviving whatever’s lurking in the shadows.
2. The Tension Between Desire and Danger: Horror romance thrives on the balance between the desire for love and the danger surrounding it. The stakes are raised because the characters aren’t just risking their hearts—they’re risking their lives. Maybe the love interest is the dark, mysterious type who might be a vampire, or maybe the couple has to fight off a malevolent force while their relationship deepens. This tension keeps readers on edge, wondering not only if the couple will end up together, but also if they’ll survive to have a future at all. It’s this dual tension that makes horror romance such a gripping read—you’re constantly switching between rooting for love and fearing what comes next.
3. Suspense and Dread Enhance the Romance: In horror romance, the suspense doesn’t detract from the romance—it enhances it. The fear of the unknown, the creeping dread, and the looming threats all make the romantic moments feel more precious. When characters share a quiet, intimate moment in the middle of chaos, it feels even more powerful because it’s fleeting—they could lose everything in an instant. This creates a sense of urgency in their relationship that you don’t always get in a standard romance. The external danger mirrors their internal emotional turmoil, and every touch, glance, or confession carries extra weight because the stakes are so high.
4. Characters Are Pushed to Their Limits: Both horror and romance are about vulnerability, and horror romance pushes characters to their emotional and physical limits. They’re often isolated or in extreme situations, which strips them down to their rawest selves. This makes their connection more intense because they’re seeing each other in the most vulnerable, often life-or-death moments. Whether they’re fighting off monsters or dealing with psychological terror, the characters bond over their shared experiences, which creates a deeper, more meaningful love story. They rely on each other for survival, not just emotionally but literally, which adds a layer of depth to their relationship.
5. Love as a Light in the Darkness: One of the most compelling aspects of horror romance is how love becomes a source of hope and strength. In the midst of all the fear and danger, the relationship between the characters serves as a beacon of light. It’s what keeps them going when everything else seems bleak. Love, in this genre, is not just about passion—it’s about survival, resilience, and finding something worth fighting for. This contrast between the darkness of the horror elements and the light of the romantic connection is what makes the genre so special. The scarier the world, the more powerful the love feels.
6. Building Suspense and Romance Side by Side: What makes horror romance so tricky—and so rewarding—is finding the balance between the creeping suspense of horror and the emotional development of a love story. The key is in pacing: giving readers just enough romantic tension to keep them hooked while slowly ramping up the suspense. The best horror romances know when to pull back on the scares and let the romance take center stage, and vice versa. By balancing moments of fear with moments of intimacy, the story keeps readers fully engaged in both the horror and the romance without one overshadowing the other.
Subgenre Conventions
Horror romance takes you on a journey where love is complicated, thrilling, and, at times, downright dangerous. It’s a genre that expertly weaves together the emotional highs of romance with the adrenaline-pumping tension of horror, creating a reading experience that’s as gripping as it is heartwarming. If you’re looking for a story that makes your heart race in more ways than one, horror romance might just be the perfect blend of love and fear for you. And like any other subgenre, there’s a set of subgenre conventions that make these stories as thrilling as they are emotionally charged. These standards work together to create that deliciously unsettling blend of love and fear that keeps readers hooked. Let’s break them down and dive into what makes this genre tick:
Atmospheric Settings that Heighten Tension
The setting is practically a character itself. The best stories drop you into a world that feels alive with tension, where every shadow seems to hide something sinister. Think crumbling mansions, fog-shrouded forests, or isolated locations that are cut off from the rest of the world. These settings are designed to heighten the sense of dread, creating an atmosphere where danger feels just around the corner. The darker and more mysterious the setting, the more it enhances the suspense and the romance that unfolds within it.
That doesn’t mean that all horror settings are dark and gloomy. Take Midsommar for example. The atmosphere in Midsommar is a chilling contrast between light and darkness, blending an unsettling eeriness with the deceptive beauty of an idyllic setting. Instead of relying on shadowy, nightmarish landscapes, it takes place almost entirely in broad daylight, bathed in the endless summer sun of rural Sweden. The sun never sets during the midsummer festival, which creates a strange, dreamlike quality that feels both inviting and disorienting.
The village where the story unfolds is picturesque—rolling green meadows, colorful flowers, and quaint wooden structures are scattered across the pristine countryside. It’s the kind of setting that seems like a peaceful escape from the world, with its bright white dresses, flower crowns, and constant sunlight. Yet, this overwhelming brightness and tranquility hide something deeply sinister. The isolation of the village—surrounded by vast fields and dense forests—creates a sense of inescapability. The remoteness feels comforting at first but quickly morphs into a claustrophobic trap as the characters realize how far they are from safety. This juxtaposition of horror in the daylight is what makes the atmosphere of Midsommar so unnerving and unforgettable.
Complex, Emotionally-Driven Characters
The characters in horror romance are often as layered as the plots they’re caught up in. They’re not just facing external threats like ghosts or monsters; they’re dealing with their own emotional baggage, too. Whether it’s past trauma, guilt, or fear of vulnerability, these internal struggles make the characters feel real and relatable, even in the midst of supernatural chaos. You’re not just rooting for them to survive the night—you’re rooting for them to overcome their personal demons, too. The love story is often tied to their emotional growth, which makes their connection feel deeper and more meaningful.
You don’t always have to dig that deep. The characters can be far more straightforward, serving as archetypes rather than complex individuals with deep emotional arcs. Archetypal characters tend to be driven more by external circumstances than by any internal struggles or emotional baggage. Rather than working through personal demons or past trauma, their motivations are often simple and reactive—survival, attraction, or revenge. This approach can create a narrative where the focus is more on the action and suspense rather than the internal growth or emotional depth of the characters.
In these stories, the romance is often fast-paced and surface-level, driven by physical attraction or immediate danger rather than a deeper emotional connection. Characters might fall in love quickly, with little exploration of their inner worlds, and their relationships serve more as a plot device than as a core part of their personal development. There’s little room for introspection or emotional evolution; instead, the romance is often tied to the thrill of the moment or the adrenaline rush of surviving the horror around them.
A good example of this type of characterization is the 2003 remake of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. In this movie, the characters are relatively flat, fitting into typical horror movie roles: the final girl, the bad boy, the jock, the innocent one. While the movie succeeds in building tension and delivering scares, the characters are largely defined by their reactions to the immediate danger of Leatherface and his family. There’s minimal emotional development—romantic or otherwise. The relationships between the characters, including any budding romances, are secondary to the terror they’re experiencing. Rather than overcoming personal demons, they’re simply trying to survive the night, and the horror leaves little room for emotional complexity or meaningful character growth.
This type of characterization works well when the focus is on the visceral experience of fear and suspense, where characters are primarily there to move the plot forward and heighten the stakes rather than offer deeper emotional resonance. It’s a stark contrast to more complex, emotionally driven horror romance stories, where the love story and character growth are integral to the narrative.
Supernatural or Monstrous Elements
This is where the horror side of the subgenre really comes into play. In horror romance, you’re likely to encounter ghosts, vampires, werewolves, or even cursed beings who are as mysterious as they are dangerous. These supernatural elements add a layer of the unknown, where the rules of the natural world don’t quite apply. But what makes it special is how these monstrous elements are intertwined with the romance.
Sometimes, in some stories, the love interest is the monster, or the couple’s bond is what keeps them alive in the face of something terrifying. When the love interest is the monster or when the couple’s bond is the key to their survival, the stakes become dramatically higher. The supernatural element doesn’t just add intrigue—it amplifies the emotional tension and creates a much deeper sense of risk. This dynamic can create a relationship where the characters are drawn together not only by attraction or love but also by the very real need to rely on each other for survival. It’s a dance between trust and danger, where the characters must constantly question whether the love they feel is enough to overcome the darkness surrounding them.
When the love interest is a literal monster the relationship is inherently dangerous. There’s a constant push-pull between desire and fear, where the human character is forced to confront the fact that their lover may also be their greatest threat. This not only heightens the romance but also creates a fascinating exploration of trust, power dynamics, and vulnerability. The couple must navigate an emotional landscape where betrayal could mean death, and love may be the only thing strong enough to tame the monstrous side.
A great example of this dynamic is Crimson Peak (2015), directed by Guillermo del Toro. In this film, Edith falls in love with the mysterious and charming Thomas Sharpe, only to discover that their relationship is overshadowed by dark secrets and the haunted mansion where they live. Thomas, though not a traditional monster, embodies the idea of a love interest with a dark, monstrous past. The ghosts that haunt Crimson Peak are tied to Thomas’ actions and the sinister history of his family, adding a supernatural layer to the romance.
The couple's bond becomes crucial for Edith’s survival. As the truth unravels, it’s their connection that keeps Edith grounded and helps her navigate the terrifying events unfolding around her. The supernatural elements—the ghosts, the eerie mansion—serve to heighten the emotional stakes, making their love feel more intense because the danger is so real. It’s not just about whether they’ll stay together; it’s about whether Edith will survive at all.
This dynamic is what makes horror romance so compelling: the love isn’t just happening in the midst of the horror—the love is part of the horror. The supernatural threat and the emotional stakes are inseparable, creating a narrative where survival depends as much on the strength of the relationship as it does on facing the monsters lurking in the dark. Either way, the supernatural heightens the stakes for the relationship, making the romance feel all the more intense.
Strong Themes of Obsession, Sacrifice, and Survival
The horror in a horror romance often gives an author room to dig deep into intense emotional territory. Love in this genre isn’t just about sweet moments or casual flirting; it’s often about obsession, sacrifice, and survival. Characters are willing to go to extreme lengths for the ones they love, whether it’s risking their lives or even their humanity. These stories explore the darker side of love, where desire can sometimes blur into obsession and where the lines between right and wrong are often unclear. At the heart of it all is a theme of survival—not just physically, but emotionally, as the characters fight to hold on to their love in a world filled with fear.
This touches on why you might have heard me say that some dark romance fits more neatly in the horror romance subgenre.
When you think about dark romance, it’s easy to see how themes of obsession, sacrifice, and survival fit perfectly within the genre. Dark romance often delves into morally gray relationships, where power dynamics, control, and emotional intensity fuel the story. Like horror romance, dark romance explores the darker side of love—where desire can blur into obsession and where love itself feels dangerous. The characters in these stories frequently find themselves in relationships that are as perilous as they are passionate, making survival—both emotional and physical—a constant theme.
Many dark romances tread the line between romance and psychological horror. The emotional stakes are incredibly high, and the characters are often trapped in relationships that demand sacrifice, loyalty, or even survival at any cost. Much like horror romance, dark romance thrives on power imbalances, manipulation, and the ever-present threat of emotional harm. The key difference often lies in the source of the danger. In dark romance, the threat is usually internal—the danger comes from within the relationship, while in horror romance, external supernatural or terrifying forces play a larger role.
A strong example of a dark romance that walks this fine line is The Phantom of the Opera (2004). The relationship between Christine and the Phantom is steeped in obsession, control, and emotional manipulation, perfectly illustrating the themes of dark romance. The Phantom, a mysterious figure who hides in the shadows of the opera house, becomes infatuated with Christine and exerts psychological control over her, hoping to win her love. The dynamic between them is far from a healthy romance—it’s fraught with power imbalances, fear, and an underlying sense of danger. Christine caught between the Phantom's obsessive affection and her fear of him, is forced into a relationship where survival and emotional protection become critical. The love here is dark, twisted, and complicated, far removed from typical romantic tropes.
In both dark romance and horror romance, the love story is intense, often teetering on the edge of obsession. Characters are frequently pushed to extreme lengths for love, and the moral lines between right and wrong become blurry. This is where dark romance excels—the ambiguity of whether the characters' actions are justified or harmful. It makes for a deeply compelling narrative, where love is not just a feeling but a force that drives characters to extreme behaviors. Similarly, in horror romance, love can often feel as dangerous as the external threats the characters face.
Survival is another essential theme that ties dark romance to horror romance. In dark romance, characters are often trying to navigate toxic, emotionally intense relationships where their psychological survival is at stake. They may have to sacrifice parts of themselves or their moral compass to keep the relationship going. In horror romance, survival is often more literal, with characters battling external supernatural forces that threaten their physical lives. But in both cases, love is something that demands sacrifice and perseverance—something the characters must fight for, even when the cost is high.
Both subgenres explore the raw, intense extremes of love. Whether characters are navigating perilous relationships or fighting off supernatural threats, both genres force them to confront love in its most primal, often unsettling, form. It’s that powerful blend of love, obsession, sacrifice, and survival that makes these stories so intoxicating, keeping readers and viewers drawn to their intensity time and again.
The Possibility of Tragic or Unsettling Endings
While many romance genres promise a happily-ever-after, horror romance isn’t always so predictable. The genre often flirts with the possibility of tragic or unsettling endings. Maybe the couple doesn’t survive, or maybe they do but are forever changed by the horrors they’ve faced. This doesn’t mean every story is doomed, though—some do end on a hopeful note, but it’s rarely a simple, easy conclusion. The best horror romances leave you with a sense of bittersweet satisfaction, where love may have triumphed, but not without a price.
At the beginning of this series, I talked about how important the concept of HEA (Happily Ever After) or HFN (Happy For Now) is in romance—those endings where the couple either rides off into the sunset or at least seems like they’re in a good place for the time being. But in horror romance, the path to that "happy" ending can be a little trickier, and how you navigate it depends on how dark the story gets.
For instance, in a more romance-leaning horror story, you might still aim for a classic HEA. Maybe the characters battle the monster, survive the haunted house, or defeat the big bad and are left with a sense of victory and emotional closure. The characters have grown together through all the terrifying challenges and, by the end, their love is solid—think of it as surviving the nightmare and coming out stronger on the other side. It’s like saying, “Yes, we faced death, but love conquers all, right?” These endings tend to feel triumphant because, despite the fear and danger, the romance wins in the end.
On the other hand, if the story leans more heavily into the horror, a Happy For Now (HFN) ending might be more fitting. Horror often thrives on ambiguity and lingering dread, so while your characters may have survived and found each other, there might still be a sense that things aren’t fully resolved. Maybe the ghost hasn’t been completely exorcised, or the threat hasn’t been totally neutralized—there’s that feeling of “We’re okay for now, but who knows what’s next?” These endings can feel realistic and satisfying for readers who appreciate a bit of unresolved tension, especially in horror. The couple might not have their perfect fairy-tale ending, but they’ve made it through *this* ordeal, and sometimes, that’s enough.
What’s important to remember is that regardless of whether you lean toward a more conclusive HEA or an open-ended HFN, the resolution should feel earned. Horror romance, at its core, is about putting love through the wringer. Characters face not only external horrors but internal ones, too—fear, trauma, vulnerability—and the ending needs to reflect that journey. The deeper the horror element, the more complex that resolution might be.
So, when you’re thinking about how to wrap up your horror romance, ask yourself how much weight the horror holds in your story. If the romance shines through the darkness, maybe your characters earn that full HEA. But if the shadows linger, an HFN might feel more true to the tone you’ve set. Either way, a satisfying resolution doesn’t necessarily mean a “perfect” one—it just means that your readers feel like they’ve been taken on an emotional journey where love, in whatever form it takes, is at the heart of it.
Current Trends in Horror Romance
Horror romance is having a moment, and it's a genre that’s really taking off in indie and self-publishing in niche markets. I’ve seen a growing appetite for stories that blend the thrill of horror with the emotional punch of romance, and indie authors are leading the charge. Without the constraints of traditional publishing, indie authors have more room to experiment and push boundaries, giving us some truly unique horror romance that’s equal parts spine-tingling and swoon-worthy. It could be a slow-burn romance in the middle of a terrifying ghost story or a high-stakes love affair with supernatural threats looming, either way, indie horror romance is capturing the attention of readers in a big way.
One of the coolest trends right now is the way horror romance is blending with other subgenres like paranormal romance, rom- com, dark fantasy, and even psychological horror. This cross-genre mixing gives readers a bit of everything—the eerie atmosphere and thrills of horror, combined with the rich world-building of fantasy or the steamy intensity of paranormal love stories. It’s like having the best of both worlds! These stories are becoming increasingly popular because they give readers the excitement of subgenre mash-ups while keeping the romance front and center.
Inclusion of Diverse Voices and Fresh Perspectives
Another fantastic trend we’re seeing is the inclusion of more diverse voices, cultural backgrounds, and settings. Horror romance is no longer confined to European Gothic manors or small American towns—authors are drawing from a wide range of cultural traditions and settings to create fresh, original stories. These diverse perspectives breathe new life into the genre, whether it's horror romances rooted in African folklore, set in Mexican villages, or featuring characters with LGBTQIA+ identities. This shift is expanding the genre’s reach and offering readers stories that feel fresh, relevant, and reflective of the world we live in today. It’s not just about scaring readers—it’s about telling stories that resonate emotionally, and diversity is playing a huge role in that.
Exploring Modern Themes Like Mental Health and Trauma
In a lot of contemporary horror romances, we’re seeing a deeper exploration of modern themes like mental health, trauma, and survival in extreme circumstances. Horror has always been a great genre for digging into the darker sides of human nature, but now, authors are using it to explore the complexities of the human mind and emotional well-being. Whether the horror elements symbolize a character’s inner demons or represent real-world fears like isolation or grief, these themes are adding an emotional depth to horror romance that readers really connect with. Plus, the inclusion of trauma or mental health struggles in a relationship brings an additional layer of intensity to the romance, making it feel more raw and real.
Popularity of Dark and Twisted Love Stories
And let’s not forget about the rise of dark and twisted love stories—romances that dive into morally gray areas and force characters to confront difficult, sometimes dangerous choices. There’s something undeniably compelling about a story where the love interest might not be a hero, or where the romance itself has dangerous consequences. In these stories, characters often face intense moral dilemmas: Do they stay with the person they love, even if it means giving up something important? Do they have a negative character arc where they devolve into a partner that pairs well with a dark and cruel protagonist? Or do they make sacrifices that blur the line between right and wrong? These kinds of romances play with our sense of morality and make us question what we would do in the character’s shoes, which is probably why they’re so popular right now.
This subgenre is evolving in exciting ways. Whether it's blending genres, amplifying diverse voices, or exploring complex themes, the genre is pushing boundaries and offering readers something unique.
Whew! This article is much longer than I intended it to be!
I guess you can attribute that to the fact that I really dig this subgenre! Whether it’s a love story playing out in a haunted house or two (or more!) people falling for each other while facing supernatural threats, horror romance strikes a unique balance. It’s not just about the scares or the romance alone—it’s how these two elements feed off each other. The stakes are higher, the emotions are more intense, and you’re left turning pages, desperate to see if love can survive the darkness.
For those of you who haven’t dipped into the genre yet, it’s time to give it a shot!
And for all you authors out there, horror romance is such a rich genre to play with. There’s so much room to innovate and bring fresh perspectives to the table. Whether you want to explore a new kind of supernatural creature, set your story in an unfamiliar cultural setting, or dive deep into emotional themes like trauma and healing, the possibilities are endless. The beauty of horror romance is that it thrives on tension and unpredictability, so don’t be afraid to take risks. Readers are craving stories that blend fear and passion in new and exciting ways, and your voice could be exactly what the genre needs.
xo, Tasha