According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the term supernatural refers to things that “appear to transcend the laws of nature.” That’s a fairly broad definition, one that overlaps with the “paranormal” category covered earlier. For the sake of simplicity, I’ve classified the ghost / demon / haunting types of horror novels into the “paranormal” subgenre. In the “supernatural” category, I would place books that deal with vampires, werewolves, monsters, and other entities that defy the laws of nature.


Interesting novels in this subgenre: My Soul to Keep, by Tananarive Due. Dracula, by Bram Stoker. Salem’s Lot, by Stephen King. The Wolfen, by Whitley Strieber. Interview with the Vampire, by Anne Rice.