Reviews

Succubus on Top by Richelle Mead

mandyist's review against another edition

4.0

I've not had much luck with the libraries in Bexley, which is the area I live in. I used to go to the library next door to where I work but it is closed for a year for refurbishments. Anyway, I wasn't able to find the next Horowitz or Nix books at the library and decided to check out Richelle Mead, author of the Vampire Academy series. All I could find, though, was Succubus Nights which is the second book in Mead’s Georgina Kincaid series.

I decided to give it a try but I didn’t really hold any hopes of it being any good.  I have figured out that I’m not really into vampire stories (strange that, given that I have a blood phobia) and it did seem a bit… trashy. 

Well, I am happy to say that I was definitely wrong.  I had only read twenty pages in when I felt invested enough in the story and the characters to want to read the first book, Succubus Blues and so I ordered it through eBay.

Part of the reason that I enjoyed this series so much is that it is not a simple vampire story.  In fact, while there are vampires in the story, their nature plays a very small part in the storylines of both books.  The world of the Georgina Kincaid books is one where creatures of darkness, such as vampires, incubi, succubi, imps and other lessor immortals are all managed in a great bureaucracy by demons or greater immortals.  Georgina’s particular ‘coven’ is joined by a sardonic, self-righteous angel although thankfully, they are not joined by any of the other creatures of good.

The books are funny and the characters are really well-written and totally likeable.  These are not children’s books so keep that in mind; in fact, a succubus is a creature of the night that seduces men in order to steal their souls.  There is a lot of sex in these books but I must say, I really enjoyed the scenes and thought they were well done.

Both books have a murder-mystery feel to them.  Succubus Blues revolves around the murder of several lesser-immortals and Georgina has to figure out who is doing the killing and Succubus Nights has Georgina trying to figure out where her mortal friends suddenly got their superhuman abilities from.

One of my favourite parts of the books is that Georgina works in a bookstore and much of the story takes place in the store.  A major character is Seth Mortensen, a famous writer and it is great to see Mead’s insight into the writing process and the life of a writer as she describes what Seth goes through to get a book finished.  I imagine she is describing her own process and it is fascinating to read – in fact, it reminds me of what I was like when I used to write essays at university.

Richelle Mead has a website and a LiveJournal and she seems so down to earth and accessible.  It is a huge contrast to how full of crap JK Rowling and Stephenie Meyer are, that’s for sure.  I’m probably going to finish this series of hers and then I’ll move on to her Vampire Academy and Dark Swan series.

 

I give both books four out of five stars.  They are not high literature and definitely have a chick-lit, trashy feel to them but I really enjoyed them.  These are also the first ‘urban fantasy’ books I have read and I might expand on the genre.

ellenpenleysmith's review

4.0

This was a little dissapointing. I missed Georgina and the crew so I read this in one day. Although I love the characters and Mead's writing style- I didn't like this book as much as her others that I have read to date.
I just want Seth to die.

Anywho, I will most likely read the next one because she IS my fav author. I just hope the next one won't be as dissapponting.

joliendelandsheer's review

4.0

Review on my blog The Fictional Reader

Again, I can start by saying that this book was highly entertaining. I just really enjoy them! Often, urban fantasy doesn’t really speak to me and most times, I’d choose epic fantasy over it. But these are just fun. I absolutely flew through them.

As for the second book in particular, I liked the mystery a tad less. It just felt less important and present than in the first book. I did like seeing more of the characters though! Especially the introduction of Bastien, Georgina’s incubus friend. Their dynamics were really interesting.

arcania's review

5.0

J'avais pas trop aimé le premier tome alors c'est avec méfiance que j'ai entamé celui-ci!

Mais comme j'ai bien fait! Moins d'une journée pour le lire! Je suis fan! Je l'ai littéralement dévoré!

Je suis tombé amoureuse de la relation Georgina/Seth! Vraiment ce Seth Charmant et sa princesse! Et non, pas de sexe entre eux pour ne pas lui faire de mal. Et là est tout l’intérêt en fait. Parce que comme tout est dans la retenue, le moindre contact devient érotique. Comme quand Seth, à un concert, lui caresse le dos. Elle dit que c'était bien plus fort que le cunni que lui a fait un inconnu la vieille! (heu... ben moi je suis preneuse hein!^^)

J'ai éprouvé beaucoup de compassion pour Georgina, surtout page304 lorsqu'elle parle de tous ces sentiments qu'elle ressent en même temps: amour/colère/haine/jalousie/désespoir/culpabilité. J'étais très touchée de la sentir fragile elle d'habitude si.... succube!

J'ai couru acheté la suite! Je me réjouis!

mallaidhsomo's review

3.0

I'm not crazy about this series, but it's good enough to keep me interested. Like with Succubus Blues, I find it hard to really get behind Georgina. After all, she is a demon and is corrupting the souls of innocent people (at least in this book). The relationship between her and Seth okay; at best I would describe it as "cute". Overall, I like the idea of the "reluctant" succubus, but I'm not really convinced how reluctant Georgina really is.

fictionalkate's review against another edition

4.0

I love Georgina as the heroine of this series. She's modern and yet is centuries old. She's mostly practical but still manages to be selfish. Her relationship with Seth amuses me. I can't help but think that their relationship is living on borrowed time. But their love for each other is evident. I like the complexities of it. Yes they ended up together after the end of Succubus Blues but they are not having an easy time of being together. I also love that just because they are in love and currently together doesn't mean and that everything is going to be okay. Georgina could still kill Seth with just a kiss and they both have to deal with their jealousy issues - him with her still being a succubus and having to have sex with men to supply her with the energy she needs to survive and her with his first love, writing, and him getting too involved with the world that lives inside his head.

The supporting cast are also a highlight of this series - and this book. Carter, the angel who's best friend is an archdemon, the Vampires, Georgina's co-workers and Bastien - they're interesting and entertaining. Even Seth's family bring a lot to the book. I love how they show the many sides of Georgina. Friend, co-worker, potential sister-in-law, demon. But they're great characters in their own right too. Bastien was a great addition to the story. He is everything that Georgina is not in terms of a sex demon. He takes pride in what he does and does it well. I really hope he comes back later in the series.

I can't wait to start reading Succubus Dreams (Georgina Kincaid #3). I'm really glad that I "discovered" this series.

rbradley923's review against another edition

funny mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Drug use, Alcohol, and Infidelity

Minor: Suicide attempt, Abortion, Homophobia, Religious bigotry, and Sexual assault

batkat08's review

I dnf at 22%. I could forgive Georgina's preference for blissful ignorance for one book. That's it. Reading her constant train of thought of: "Wow that's so weird and suspicious, better forget completely about it and go back to BOYYYS" is annoying. I thought maybe after all that went down in book one she'd FOCUS and notice when things are obviously not right, especially when it involves her friends. She's so self absorbed in this book and it's just irritating. She was pretty self involved in the last book but the fact that she has not grown at all or learned from the events in book one is just a whole new level of annoying. Very disappointing because I thought this series might have potential.

Grow up, succubus.

aknas22's review

3.0

This was my second try at this book and series, I guess the last time I wasn't in the right mood because I only got through the first book and half of the second.

This go around I enjoyed the first and second book much more and will continue the series. The characters are interesting and likable as is the premise of the story.

elusivity's review

3.0

Fun, but fluffy.

The heroine does not act like she has had centuries of experience doing evil deeds while hiding a heart of gold. Instead, she gets giggly over her mortal boyfriend.

I re-iterate: fluffy.