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Fated Mates
Have you heard of Fated Mates? Twinned souls or twinned flames? Fated Mates is one of my favourite paranormal romance tropes. It’s a delicious dynamic between lovers who are propelled together by fate, who may fight against their attraction, but eventually must succumb to the higher power of love.
It is often used in shifter stories, but it can occur in magic and vampire tales as well–any kind of paranormal/fantasy romance can use this trope to good effect.
Twinned Souls
Fated Mates has its roots in Renaissance beliefs of twinned souls, or star-crossed lovers, as Shakespeare put it. The Greek Philosopher Plato had theorized that humans were split into two parts (male and female) after the Gods were threatened by humanity’s power. These two flames would be united in love when they found each other. The story of Eros and Psyche represents this twinning as a supernatural love that unites heart and soul in an immortal connection. These soul mates have an everlasting bond that helps determine their fate, and the thrill of these stories is in finding out how and why the Fated Mates will fulfil their destiny.
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Fated Mates stories are older than Romeo and Juliet and Beauty and the Beast. Today, we find them in books, film, and tv – especially in the genres of fantasy romance, paranormal romance, and romantic fantasy, where readers and spectators escape into another world that allows for these unusual bonds to flourish.
Fated Mates can be any kind of creature, but they are usually vampires, shifters, fae, and now aliens. They often pair with a human, or their love is cross-species, as a symbol of peace or alliances. They can also be fated within their own creature kind in a story that delves deeply into the social interactions and alliances of one society or community.
Fated Mates come from several sources: they can be lovers whose bond transcends space and time, or star-crossed lovers who are meant to be together despite the obstacles that pull them apart, they can be connected through a supernatural bond that can’t be explained through reason or science, and they can be soulmates or twinned flames who complete each other.
Fated Mates struggle against the forces pulling them together, while they battle their inner demons to be worthy of each other. Their internal struggles are matched by the external conflicts around them.
You can find great recommendations for Fated Mates paranormal romance books on Goodreads:
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Bloggers’ Takes
One of my favourite blogs, Smart Bitches, Trashy Books, has a good list of Fated Mates books: Fated Mates.
Romance Rehab also discussed this trope: Twelve Fated Mates You’re Destined to Love.
Book Recommendations
If you are just starting out, try these bestselling authors:
J.R. Ward, Black Dagger Brotherhood
This very popular and expansive series follows a cast of vampire warriors as they find their chosen mates and fight the vampire slayers, called the Lessers. This series is steamy with an extra serving of spice and has amazing world building!
Nalini Singh, Psy-Changeling and Psy-Changeling Trinity
Strong female and male characters from a variety of cultural backgrounds find their mates within a dystopian world where shifters and humans share the world with a race with psychic abilities. These mates are often broken and wounded inside and heal each other through their love and acceptance. Slow burn romance, but worth it.
Christine Feehan, Dark
The supernatural race of Carpathians (similar to vampires and just as sexy!) is dying out – they have to find their fated mates, who will save them from becoming emotionless shells. This series is steamy and some readers may find the Alphas a little too tesosterone-driven. But, still a sexy, fun read!
Try her Leopard series, too!
Disclosure: Some of the links above are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.
In Part 2 of the Fated Mates blog series, we will discuss 4 Traits of the Fated Mates trope. Stay tuned!
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