Monday 17 October 2011

Incubus by Carol Goodman **Review**


Incubus by Carol Goodman (aka The Demon Lover by Juliet Dark - US title)
Series: Fairwick Chronicles #1
Pages: 480
Publisher: Ebury Press
Release date: 21st July 2011
Buy: Book Depository | Amazon UK | Amazon US | Waterstones

Goodreads synopsis:
I gasped . . . or tried to. My mouth opened, but I couldn’t draw breath. . . . His lips, pearly wet, parted and he blew into my mouth. My lungs expanded beneath his weight. When I exhaled he sucked in my breath and his weight turned from cold marble into warm living flesh.

Since accepting a teaching position at remote Fairwick College in upstate New York, Callie McFay has experienced the same disturbingly erotic dream every night: A mist enters her bedroom, then takes the shape of a virile, seductive stranger who proceeds to ravish her in the most toe-curling, wholly satisfying ways possible. Perhaps these dreams are the result of writing her bestselling book, The Sex Lives of Demon Lovers. After all, Callie’s lifelong passion is the intersection of lurid fairy tales and Gothic literature—which is why she finds herself at Fairwick’s renowned folklore department, living in a once-stately Victorian house that, at first sight, seemed to call her name.


But Callie soon realizes that her dreams are alarmingly real. She has a demon lover—an incubus—and he will seduce her, pleasure her, and eventually suck the very life from her. Then Callie makes another startling discovery: He’s not the only mythical creature in Fairwick. As the tenured witches of the college and the resident fairies in the surrounding woods prepare to cast out the incubus, Callie must accomplish something infinitely more difficult—banishing this demon lover from her heart.


I really enjoyed Incubus (The Demon Lover). I found that the beginning of the novel was a little difficult to get into, so I did initially struggle, but once I found myself getting more deeply involved with the story, I was hooked.

I really enjoyed the setting for the novel. I tend to enjoy stories set in small American towns because coming from the UK, we don't have anything quite like that in our country, so it's something unfamiliar to me, something that's quite quaint but at the same time holds a fair amount of mystery for me; and that's before the mystery of plot gets mixed in with the setting. Honeysuckle house is a particularly fabulous setting in the novel. I love the way the author draws comparisons throughout between the house and classic Gothic fiction, in which the house often takes on the role of a character in its own right. Honeysuckle House definitely does this - the author almost personifies the house, particularly toward the beginning of the novel when Callie is considering buying it; the windows look like eyes and the image of the somehow-familiar pagan God inexplicably call her to it, causing her to end up on the doorstep before she knows what she's doing.

The novel also has a fantastic variety of different characters - not only in personality, but in species, as the novel takes a giant leap from the reality of a folklore specialist, into the very real world of the supernatural. I don't think I have ever encountered a novel with quite so many different supernatural beings all in one place. It was truly thrilling reading the author's own interpretations of some of the more well-known beings, but also reading more about some of the lesser-known in this genre, particularly about the Demon Lover himself, the Incubus.

Although what could be referred to as the 'main ending' of the novel was predictable, some of the other sub-plot endings were less so, which I found to be a really interesting blend. The main plot ending being predictable did not particularly detract from my enjoyment of the novel, because although I'd guessed what was coming, it was enjoyable enough to keep me gripped and engrossed all the same. The 'sub-plot' endings were not something I expected at all, which was really refreshing, and left the novel open at the end for the next in the series, which is something I will impatiently await now this one is finished.

I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in Paranormal romance, general fantasy and even fairy tale and Folklore. It's a really fantastic blend that I think would appeal to a wide range of reading tastes.
A fantastic 4.5 stars from me!


28 comments:

Chocolate Chunky Munkie said...

Great review Dani. I really look forward to reading this :D

Jen x

Amber Elise said...

I was really curious about this book, thanks for reviewing!

Oh! Paper Pages said...

Great review! When I initially read the synopsis of this title, I thought it was a little strange, but your review encouraged me to read it. Thanks!

Unknown said...

Thanks for the review, I had picked this book up at the library but decided not to read it. After reading your review I am thinking of reading it now.

Anonymous said...

Great review. The book sounds really good. I'm very curious about it now!

Christina Fiorelli said...

Thanks for the great review! You sold me on it:))

Farah said...

Cool. This is a great review. I always wanted this but everytime I saw it on a bookstore shelf my budget's already out. I should definitely buy this book next time:)

Kristen said...

Thanks for the awesome review! I'm looking forward to reading this book! ♥

Jolene and Family said...

Great review, I'm intrigued and will look into this a little more. Sounds interesting

Anonymous said...

Awesome review! I can't wait to read this one. Carol Goodman is a great author.

SacredmOOn said...

I have this book. I haven't had a chance to read it yet. I'm working on it though.
Great review thanks for posting!
DeAnna Schultz

Maritza Robinson said...

I just checked this book and a few others from library. I am barely in the second chapter and was about to stop and read another book but I think I will keep reading. Thanks for this great review.

The Avid Reader said...

I like reading reviews of books to see if it is something I would like to read or not. To find out more of what the book is about and to see some one else opinion of the book before I read it. Oh and btw your review of The Demon Lover is great. Think I will check it out now, thanks.

Stacey said...

Been dying to read this book. Thanks for the great review, now I MUST get this book and read it. :)

FireStarBooks said...

wow! This book sounds so good!! You are the one I go to for good UK books :3

Sam said...

This is on my TBR list! It sounds really interesting.

Fall Into Books said...

This book has been on my TBR list for awhile. I may just have to read it now! I generally enjoy small town USA books too, which is funny because I grew up in a small town in America and didn't like it at all, haha. I like living in cities, but books in small towns just, as you said, seem quaint. :) Great review.

GFC Amber Lane

Lizz said...

Awesome Review

Unknown said...

Whoa...the cover is totally awesome! Loved it. And the story sounds great, I love paranormal romance. Have to be in my wish list asap.

Thanks for the review :)

Imel Cullen said...

great review :D I Love book cover and I really want to read :D

Unknown said...

Thanks for the review... This is the first time I heard its original title... Thanks for the info!!!

Debdatta Dasgupta said...

As usual - Great Review! - topped by the awesome cover -- definitely going to my TBR file!

Nika (Dominika Murníková) said...

I love this book, but I don't understand all post (I am from Slovak rep.) :) so lovely post :)

Sheena-kay Graham said...

This book is creepy. I still like it but I'll be reading with the light on. Callie definitely stepped in it. She needs to get rid of that Incubus or it needs a new way to feed. Your review definitely got me interested.

Filia Oktarina said...

Great review!! I looking forward to reading this one. Thanks for sharing:)

Kim said...

Thanks for this review! I hope to read it soon. I guess it's a good thing I read this so at least I know that it will get better. I always find it so hard to get through the first few chapters of books where nothing much happens! I barely ever get through... I'm changing that though! Lol.

Unknown said...

great riview,,cant wait to reading this book..
thanks dani..

Uncorked Thoughts said...

This book has been sat on my shelf waiting to be read for awhile now - I think after reading your review it will be my next book to pick up :).

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