Robin Alvarez’s Paramour offers a refreshingly imaginative take on urban fantasy through the seldom-explored lens of banshees, and it succeeds on many fronts—especially in its emotional depth, character development, and the originality of its lore. Although I had never read an urban fantasy novel centered on banshees before, these eerie, mournful creatures were not completely foreign to me; what Alvarez does so well is retain the mythic core of the banshee while reimagining their role in contemporary society. The result is a story that feels both grounded and otherworldly, a blend that kept me engaged even through its slower moments.

Through NetGalley I received an advance review copy (ARC) for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Her banshee scream is a death sentence. His love might be hers.

“You know that feeling people get when something bad is about to happen to someone they love? Or how some seem to know it’s their time right before getting into a horrible accident? That’s me. I warn that death is coming.”

Sadie is a banshee on the run—from hunters, from her past, and from the terrifying truth that she’s killed before. As an empath, she’s learned to shut her emotions down, because if she feels too much, she could easily turn lethal again.

There are no highs. No lows. No chance of losing control.

But when Sadie falls sick from a hunter’s mysterious spell, she can no longer escape into the safety of other people’s emotions. Now in a new town with a new identity, she’s forced to feel everything. Grief. Rage. Longing. Fear. For the first time in her life, she makes friends, forging connections and breaking her careful rules for survival. And then there’s Nathan—the human boy she’s connected to by fate.

Falling for him may well be her undoing.

As hunters close in, Sadie must decide whether to let herself lose control—and risk everything that keeps her safe—all to protect those she never meant to love.

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Opinion

At the heart of the novel is Sadie, a young banshee whose fierce attachment to her mother forms the emotional backbone of the story. Their relationship is beautifully rendered—tender, desperate, and unwavering, even as they live in constant fear of being torn apart by parahunters (a chilling faction of hunters specializing in paranormal beings). That looming threat of separation, rather than an early estrangement, is what makes their bond and their shared flight so tense and heartbreaking. When that fear finally becomes reality later in the book, the despair that follows is often very palpable, and Alvarez excels at portraying the quiet, aching moments of grief and longing that accompany that loss, giving the narrative a powerful emotional urgency.

The plot’s structure—Sadie and her mother fleeing eastward from Texas, with Sadie suffering from a mysterious, debilitating sickness while they both constantly watch for danger—creates a compelling road-novel tension at the beginning of the book. The threat of parahunters looms throughout, lending the story a suspenseful undercurrent. But what surprised and delighted me most was what happens when Sadie arrives in a new town and begins to experience something she has never allowed herself before: connection. Watching her slowly form friendships and, later, alliances was one of the most rewarding aspects of the book. I found myself hoping early on that Sadie would eventually find people who accepted her, and Alvarez delivers this in a way that feels earned, never rushed.

The banshee mythology itself is one of the book’s standout features. By dealing with “Death Charges” and “Grieving Charges,” Sadie and her mother have responsibilities unlike any supernatural creatures I’ve seen in fiction. Alvarez’s explanation of how banshees warn of impending death—and how they comfort the bereaved afterward—adds a fascinating emotional and ethical layer to the narrative. It also reinforces why banshees are feared and often unwelcome among other paranormal beings, forcing them to relocate constantly. Yet in this new town, the dynamic becomes more complex, and the tension between their duty and their desire for stability pushes the story forward in interesting ways.

The romantic subplot, meanwhile, is handled with restraint and sensitivity. Sadie’s connection with Nathan fits naturally into the arc of her awakening emotional life. It never overshadows the central storyline, which makes it appropriate and satisfying for a young adult audience. Their growing bond serves to highlight Sadie’s struggle with vulnerability rather than turning into a standard YA romance trope.

Despite its many strengths, Paramour is not without flaws. A few sections lag in pacing, and several scenes feel nonessential to the overarching plot. I also came across some inconsistencies that temporarily pulled me out of the story—details that didn’t fully align with the world-building or character logic. Nevertheless, these issues didn’t overshadow the compelling writing style, rich character dynamics, and creative mythology that define the novel.

Conclusion

Overall, Paramour is an engaging start to what promises to be an intriguing series. With its unique concept, emotive storytelling, and memorable characters, it earns a solid four stars from me—and I look forward to seeing where Sadie’s journey leads next.

About Robin Alvarez

Robin Alvarez is the author of the #1 New Release YA Ethnic Fairy Tale When Oceans Rise. Strong female characters, mythological creatures, and a mixed-race perspective are staples of her work. While she's spent the majority of her life in beach towns, having almost drowned several times, she currently resides in a desert where the waters are less likely to kill her.

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