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Supernatural Fantasy

Supernatural fantasy is a genre where the ordinary world is infused with supernatural elements such as ghosts, demons, vampires, and other paranormal phenomena. Unlike traditional fantasy, which often creates entirely new worlds or mythologies, supernatural fantasy typically maintains a contemporary or historical setting, but with an added layer of the extraordinary. This genre explores how these supernatural elements interact with everyday life, often focusing on the impact of the supernatural on the characters’ lives and the world around them.

The supernatural elements in these stories can range from haunting spectres and malevolent spirits to benevolent entities and magical artifacts. Often, the protagonist is a regular person who encounters these supernatural occurrences, either by accident or through a hidden aspect of their identity. The plot usually revolves around uncovering the mysteries behind these phenomena, dealing with their consequences, or battling supernatural threats.

Supernatural fantasy can blend with other genres, such as mystery, horror, or romance, creating rich and diverse narratives. It delves into themes of fear, the unknown, and the boundary between reality and the otherworldly. The genre often explores existential questions and human emotions through the lens of supernatural events, providing both thrilling escapism and profound insights.

What is Supernatural Fantasy?

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History 

The roots of supernatural fantasy can be traced back to ancient folklore and mythological traditions, where stories of ghosts, demons, and other supernatural entities were part of cultural narratives across various societies. These tales often served as explanations for unexplained phenomena and were woven into the fabric of daily life and belief systems.

In Western literature, the genre began to take shape with the rise of Gothic fiction in the 18th and 19th centuries. Works like Horace Walpole’s The Castle of Otranto (1764) and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1818) introduced elements of the supernatural into narrative fiction, blending the eerie with the romantic and exploring themes of the unknown and the supernatural. These early works set the stage for a genre that would continue to evolve and expand.


The 20th century saw the development of supernatural fantasy alongside the growth of horror fiction. Writers like Shirley Jackson and Stephen King brought supernatural elements into contemporary settings, focusing on psychological and emotional aspects of fear and the paranormal. Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House (1959) and King’s The Shining (1977) are prime examples of how supernatural elements can be used to explore deep-seated human anxieties and existential questions.


The genre also expanded with the rise of urban fantasy in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, where supernatural beings and occurrences are integrated into modern-day settings. This subgenre blends the supernatural with the urban environment, often featuring protagonists who navigate a world where the paranormal is an everyday reality. Notable examples include Anne Rice’s The Vampire Chronicles (starting with Interview with the Vampire in 1976) and Charlaine Harris’s Sookie Stackhouse series (starting with Dead Until Dark in 2001), which introduce supernatural creatures and conflicts into familiar, contemporary settings.


The 21st century has continued to innovate within the supernatural fantasy genre, with authors like Neil Gaiman and Patricia Briggs expanding its boundaries. Gaiman’s American Gods (2001) explores the intersection of old gods with modern America, while Briggs’s Mercy Thompson series (starting with Moon Called in 2006) features a mechanic who is a werewolf in a world where the supernatural is part of the fabric of reality. These works demonstrate the genre’s capacity for combining the fantastical with contemporary themes and settings.


Supernatural fantasy remains a dynamic genre, continually evolving to reflect changing cultural attitudes towards the supernatural and the unknown. It provides a rich tapestry for exploring existential themes and human experiences through the lens of the paranormal.

Tropes

  • Ghosts and Hauntings: Spirits of the dead interacting with the living, often causing disturbances or seeking resolution.

  • Supernatural Beings: Entities such as vampires, werewolves, and demons that exist alongside or interact with humans.

  • Hidden Worlds: Secret or hidden dimensions where supernatural beings and events occur, often unknown to the general public.

  • Paranormal Investigations: Characters, often with special skills or knowledge, investigating supernatural occurrences and solving related mysteries.

  • Cursed Objects: Artifacts or items that possess supernatural properties or bring about misfortune to their owners.

  • Supernatural Powers: Characters with special abilities or magic, which are often central to the plot or conflict.

  • Occult Practices: Involvement with rituals, spells, or forbidden knowledge that connects to supernatural forces.

  • Mythical Creatures: Beings from folklore and mythology, such as fairies, dragons, or shapeshifters, incorporated into the story.

Key Reads

  • The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson (1959, Viking Press)
    A psychological ghost story about a group of people who investigate a supposedly haunted house with terrifying results.

  • The Shining by Stephen King (1977, Doubleday)
    A chilling tale of a haunted hotel and the supernatural influence it has on its caretaker and his family.

  • Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice (1976, Alfred A. Knopf)
    The first book in The Vampire Chronicles, focusing on a vampire recounting his life story and his experiences with other supernatural beings.

  • Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris (2001, Ace Books)
    The first book in the Sookie Stackhouse series, featuring a telepathic waitress in a world where vampires and other supernatural beings are openly known.

  • American Gods by Neil Gaiman (2001, William Morrow)
    A novel where ancient gods struggle for relevance in modern America, blending mythology with contemporary settings and themes.

Writing Prompts

  • A small town experiences a series of ghostly apparitions that seem to be linked to a historical event, and a local historian must unravel the mystery.

  • A young woman discovers she has the ability to see and communicate with spirits, leading her to investigate a series of unresolved supernatural phenomena.

  • An ancient book containing rituals to summon supernatural beings is accidentally discovered, unleashing chaos as the characters try to control the entities they’ve brought forth.

  • A detective with the ability to see the supernatural must solve a series of crimes committed by creatures from beyond the grave.

  • A cursed family heirloom grants its bearer supernatural powers, but with each use, it demands a dark price.

  • A group of friends finds an abandoned mansion that is a gateway to a hidden world filled with mythical creatures and dangerous magic.

  • A paranormal investigator teams up with a skeptic to explore a haunted location, only to find themselves facing real supernatural threats.

  • A character discovers their family has a secret history of magical abilities and must navigate the dangerous world of supernatural politics and conflicts.

  • A supernatural being living in hiding among humans must confront their past when an old enemy resurfaces, threatening their peaceful existence.

  • A local library holds a collection of magical books that grant wishes, but each wish comes with unforeseen and often troubling consequences.

  • A young person discovers they are the reincarnation of a powerful magical being, and must learn to control their abilities while being pursued by dark forces.

  • A mysterious fog envelops a city, bringing with it creatures from folklore and mythology that disrupt everyday life, and a group of unlikely heroes must restore order.

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