Customer Reviews

Succubus Shadows (Georgina Kincaid, Book 5)

5 star:		(56)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Georgina doesn't seem to get a break. After dealing with numerous life threatening events--in not even a year--our favorite succubus has a new problem: planning a marriage. But this isn't just any marriage, mind you. This is a marriage that she secretly wishes would not transpire.

It doesn't end there, though. She's now being stalked by a mysterious "siren's song." This strange presence only seems to approach her when she's at her lowest, and provides a sense of escape from her depression with promises of warmth and support. Yet, even with this aura attempting to lure her through some sort of dimensional gate, Georgina's wary. For good reason.


Initially, I thought that Richelle was losing her touch because the start to Succubus Shadows was too slow for my tastes. It seemed as if it was the same issues we saw Georgina struggling with in the last book--Seth proposing to another woman coupled with her inability to cope--were being overdone. But once you get past the slow start, the new direction taken is redeemed in my eyes.

Powerful doesn't give this book justice. Georgina's struggles (emotional and moral) are not only believable but also moving. I even found myself empathizing with the the poor immortal suffering from depression. If you had to deal with all the paranormal issues she dealt with, and witness the person you were madly in love with parading around with their new significant other, I'm pretty sure you'd be feeling pretty bummed out too. I know I'd be ready to demand a vacation.

With that said, I may be the only one, but I'm not a huge fan of Seth anymore. I don't want to see Georgina's life keep going "in circles"--which is something readers are shown through a series of dreams from Georgie's past. I want to see her embrace her life, even if embracing said life means attempting a relationship with another immortal. Maybe someone like... Roman!

The cliffhanger Mead ends Succubus Shadows with made me want to scream. Not out of frustration, but simply because I want to know why. I have my suspicions now about Seth, but I think I'm looking too into the text, when in actuality, the answer could be simpler.

If you've read the first four Georgina Kincaid books, then you will not want to miss out on Succubus Shadows. You will not be disappointed--and if you're like me, you'll be dying for the next book.

That's what I said when this book ended: "What?! Nooooo, don't stop there!" I love this series and I love Richelle Mead - no one does heart-wrenching angst as well as she does. However, in spite of the fact that I read this book in one day because I couldn't put it down, I do have several criticisms.

I thought this book was going to be the one to finally reveal all, to confirm what we've suspected since book two with regard to who Seth is to Georgina - what they are to each other, really - and what really happened with this whole contract with Hell business. So, I was really disappointed when it didn't happen. I think that's why I went through it so fast... I was rushing to get to the big climax, only to be left unsatisfied.

The plot was really weak. The only real purpose of this book in terms of moving the story forward seems to be to fill in a little more of Georgina's back story (aka provide us with even more evidence of what I think we already know, right?)and *SPOILER ALERT* have a reason for Seth to get shaken out of his misguided engagement to Maddie so he and Georgina can get back together and finally figure things out. I'd also like to say that I'm beginning to feel some annoyance with the on again off again back and forth rehashing of reasons this relationship can't work but must work... we need resolution now, please.

So,what we have here is a transition book to make sure we are fully prepared for the next/final book - rumor has it there will only be one more and I think that's how it should be... well, actually I think this book and the next one should have been combined somehow, but I'm not going to complain about having a little more time with Georgina and the gang.

In spite of the flaws, I still really liked this book. There's something about this author's style that makes everything interesting... I could probably happily read her grocery lists. I can't quite put my finger on what it is she does, but whatever it is works. It will be torture waiting for the next book.

As an ongoing series these books must be read in order and book 5 continues where the previous left off.

Georgina is bombarded several new woes in her life. On top of having to learn to live without Seth, she now somehow gotten herself named a bridesmaid at his wedding, as well as dealing with a visiting Succubus who has made it her mission to conquer Seth, and a very odd relationship growing with Roman, oh and did I mention an unknown force that is out to kidnap her from this world?

Whenever Georgina finds herself in the throes of depression(which is often) an odd force or entity appears in her dreams like a siren's song to rescue her from it all. Or is it to kidnap her from it all? This unknown entity forces Georgina to relive painful memories from both her mortal life and her immortal one in order to feed off her energy. But are all the memories they show her true?

As a reader you find yourself just as confused as the character while she is reliving these past memories and just as tortured. I found the book to be both exciting and heartbreaking. I loved that this book covers a lot of how Georgina became who she is today by reliving many memories from her very long life. I've always wanted to know so much more about her past and this book delivers exactly that. You get to see how Georgina became the uncharacteristically compassionate minion of hell that she is now.

"Succubus Shadows" is, I think, my least favorite Georgina Kincaid book to date. It's not really bad, but compared to previous installments it is rather dull.

Georgina is depressed and down most of the time. She is compelled to help her friend to plan a wedding with Seth, the man she loves. On top of it, a new visiting succubus in town is trying to seduce Seth and taint his soul even more. Even her surprisingly compassionate, albeit marginally psychotic, but oh so sexy roommate Roman can't cheer her up. Whenever Georgina is at her lowest, strange things start happening to her - she loses her memory, she sleepwalks, she is drawn to something, something unearthly, a realm of dreams. At some point Georgina is too weak and distraught to resist the pull and finally succumbs to this dream world, only to be tortured by the dreams of her sinful past.

My main qualm with "Succubus Shadow," as I've noted above, is its dullness. The previous book left me full of angst and hate for both Seth and Maddie, and with concern for Seth's darkened soul. This installment never builds upon this drama, it is kind of flat. The characters I despised in "Succubus Heat" are too easily redeemed, their discretions forgotten and difficulties smoothed out. I mean, very-very easily.

The first half of the story is on par with previous books. It is dynamic and funny wherever G's gang is involved. But the moment our succubus is consumed by the dream world, the story slows down. Georgina's dreams of the past are redundant, we've encountered her experience with good men before, and we already know that's it's the same vicious cycle. Her other trips into her present time and involving her friends are more of a plot device to show us, readers, how the search for her progresses.

And finally, the huge clues given in this book are VERY obvious. It seems only Georgina doesn't know how the things will turn out in the end.

Overall, "Succubus Shadows" is a decent book, if you compare it to others in urban fantasy genre. It is a must-read for Georgina fans and a good primer for the finale. But if compared to previous Georgina books, it lacks excitement and drama, it is a tad obvious and predictable.

Georgina Kincaid is in Hell.

You would think this wouldn't be such a bad place to be for the eternally damned, but not even the Arch Demons would be so cruel as to torment one of their own with the situation Georgina has found herself in with Richelle Mead's fifth outing into Supernatural Seattle, Succubus Shadows.

For those not familiar with Georgina Kincaid, she is a succubus, a female demon who sucks the life essence from the men she sleeps with. The purer the soul, the stronger the essence. She can shape-shift into any form she so desires, including her wardrobe, so you would think life wouldn't be bad, but after centuries of such existence, Georgina has become unhappy. She longs for love, she wants to settle down with one guy, get married, raise a family, what every red-blooded American girl should want. But by her very nature, this is impossible. Her immortality and fear for the safety of Seth Mortensen, the object of her affections, is one of contributing factors that lead to their breakup. For the full back story, you will need to check out Mead's previous novels.

When Succubus Shadows opens, Georgina is throwing a combination house-warming/Halloween party for her new apartment. After winning a drinking match with a coworker and still reeling from the effects of the alcohol, Georgina reluctantly agrees to help Maddie Sato, her best mortal friend and coworker, plan her wedding to Seth. Helping your best friend plan a wedding to the ex you still love would be enough to drive a mortal woman to slit her wrists, but being immortal, suicide is not an option for Georgina. Instead, she spirals into a depression, an almost constant state for her since breaking up with Seth.

As if that wasn't enough, a mysterious force is preying on Georgina, using her darkened mood to try to seduce her. It calls to her with a siren-like song, promising her freedom from the pain she is feeling, and while Roman, senses the presence of this otherworldly power, he is unable to recognize the signature, which troubles him. He warns Georgina not to listen to the tempting voice, but eventually, worn down by her own dark thoughts, she succumbs to the seduction and disappears off the supernatural radar. Jerome, the Arch Demon of Seattle and Georgina's boss, can no longer sense her. It's like she no longer exists, which means her supernatural signature is being masked, or she is no longer in this realm of existence. They know she is still alive because if somebody has succeeded in killing her, she would have shown up in Hell. The search is own. Jerome MUST find Georgina before word of her disappearance reaches the inner circles of Hell. Jerome is in enough trouble with the demonic Powers That Be because he had allowed himself summoned and held captive be a dark sorcerer. If word gets out that he has lost one of his charges, well. . . there would be hell to pay.

Meanwhile, Georgina finds herself being held captive by the Oneroi, twin creatures of the Dream Realm who are seeking revenge for Georgina's part in the re-capture and imprisonment of their mother by the Angels. As their captive, Georgina is forced to dream. Some of the dreams are true, some are false, and some are a combination of both, but the endless stream of images leaves her questioning what is and isn't true. With each dream, the Oneroi feed, weakening Georgina to the point where she fears for her sanity.

Can she manage to reserve enough energy to escape the Dream Realm, or must she pin her flagging hopes on her friends and their ability to find her? Does this spell the end for our favorite shape-shifting demon from Hell?

First off, let me say that I love this series. Yeah, it's Chick Lit, but I look forward to each installment with all the anxiety of an expectant father. Each book in the series gets progressively better, and Succubus Shadows is, in my opinion, the best so far. Granted, not much happens in the way of action, but we are given further insight into Georgina's character through the dreams the Oneroi force her to experience and we learn more about her past.

In my previous review of Succubus Heat (available at [...]), I discussed my feelings about Seth and Georgina's relationship, as well as her relationship with Roman. Both men are present in Succubus Shadows, and despite having tried to kill Georgina in the past, we see Roman's feelings for Georgina growing, and while Georgina reflects on their past relationship and wonders if there could be a future for her and Roman, she is still unable to let go of Seth. The more Seth and Georgina try to keep away from each other, the more they find themselves in situations that only strengthen their ties to each other. The idea behind the series is formulaic in that I have a feeling we are seeing a Boy meets Girl, Boy Loses Girl, Boy gets Girl situation, but it is a story that has lasted centuries. Through Georgina's dreams we have learned that in her lifetime, she has developed emotional bonds to a few men who were of strong moral fiber, only to lose them. I find myself wondering if these men are all the same man. I'm not implying that Seth is by any mean a supernatural creature, but certain revelations within Succubus Shadows have me wondering if Seth, as well as the other men that Georgina has fallen for during her long life, are the reincarnation of Kyriakos, the husband she had betrayed while in her mortal existence, who is trying to reconnect with his soul mate. The fact that Carter, an Angel who likes to pal around with the Demons, seems particularly interested in Georgina's relationship with Seth, adds to the intrigue. Is it possible that if Georgina is able to reconnect with her long-lost soul mate she might be able to be redeemed and regain her soul, thereby regaining her mortal existence? This may seem a predictable story line if this is the direction Richelle Mead is choosing to take, but the ride we are on getting there is one never to be forgotten.

If you have not yet made Georgina's acquaintance, I strongly urge you to pick up Succubus Blues, the first in the series, and introduce yourself. Guaranteed, you won't be disappointed.

I'm a huge fan of Georgie's but I am so over the her and Seth back and forth! Roman's the one for her!

I find this book disappointing and repetitive. When Georgina was caught in the dream world, the book recounted the previous men she had been with. During those chapters, it seemed like the same story being told over and over again. They are different places, different characters, and different times, but same old story. I also find in those chapters, there are way to many romantic scenes. I felt they were placed in there because the story had trouble standing on its own. While once a while, a steamy romantic scene is enjoyable, too many just scream cheesiness. I felt like skipping over some parts, because it was getting so old.

I have read every book of Richelle Mead. This one definitely go toward the bottom of the list.

The author Rachel Mead is generally considered a fine writer and I have fallen in love with her character Georgina Kincaid since the very first novel was published, however, with this latest addition I feel like the readers are being punished for something or that the author simply has stopped trying to come up with passable plots and really doesn't want to resolve anything within the confines of the story arc, because for several books now in this series the author seems to be going over the same concepts over and over again, without any conclusions.

For starters, we all know that Georgina originally was a girl name Letha and that she made a deal with an imp from Hell to have everyone in her village forget who she was and in return she sold her soul forever and became a succubus. Then in the present time, the main character has continued to have bouts of depression and warring with herself over the nature of who and what she is, not to mention how she's bringing down the soul of Seth the male she seems to have real affection for, but left her to become engaged with Maddie. Truly if Georgina really cared for Seth she would have left him long ago and not kept coming back for more or letting him come back for more either.

Then there is the concept with the original contract. Okay, I know that the so called "demons" and "angels" are in this epic battle for the souls of earth and to maintain the balance they can't really interfere with one another, but this reader feels that is just a cope out for the author who really doesn't want to put any real thought into how real angels would react to someone like Georgina, because angels are in the business of saving souls and if Carter could do that by telling our heroine what she needs to know to redeem her soul and get out of the contract, then by all that is what Carter would have done.

Succubus are evil and bad and we have gotten all that, but it is time to move on. Finish one story arc here and move on. And it appears that the character wants redemption so she needs to earn it and then there could be a story arc with Georgina now on the side of good, becoming an agent for Heaven now instead of Hell. Come on Rachel Mead put some thought into what you are doing and develop your character beyond the shallow sexuality nonsense so many authors are getting involved with.

The fourth book in the Georgina Kincaid series, "Succubus Heat," was quite a downer. The fifth volume opens new possibilities--but is also poignant, with a number of familiar characters facing death.

Georgina is a succubus, a lesser immortal who sucks the life out of lovers through various intimacies (including passionate kisses). Her improbable love of a mortal, the author Seth Mortensen, has gone badly. Seth is now engaged to one of Georgina's best friends, Maddie. Sounds like a soap opera. But the events in this book rapidly become compelling.

Something is calling for Georgina. Her roommate, Roman, tries to make sure nothing evil happens, but one night some force "sucks her" into a limbo-like place. Here, the book becomes fascinating as the creatures who captured her, minions of another powerful supernatural force whom Georgina helped "imprison" earlier, take their vengeance on her. What makes this interesting is the dreams: current episodes in the "real world," such as her friends, including vampires, humans, imps, an angel, etc., try to figure out what has happened to her and how to "rescue" her). Or a retelling of her early life, where she made choices that led her to sell her soul, and some of the consequences of that. Or episodes with men over time whom she cared about and the problems her succubusean lifestyle caused them. Some of the dreams were false. Some true. After awhile, she could no longer be clear what was true or what might be false in those dreams. And the reader gets a better sense of her life and the challenges she has faced.

Then the unlikely rescue effort, with Seth--of all people--being able to find her in the dreamy world in which she is shackled and then bring her back. . . After that the denouement is filled with revenge and death, with flight from facing events, with dramatic breakups and dramatic rapprochements. And the novel ends with a curious statement when her man (readers will not get a spoiler from me here) calls her by her original human name--which she has not shared since signing her contract for her soul. There is also a hint that the contract situation is not yet cleared up. What next?

I would like to see the next novel bring some closure. There is always a risk that adding new stories to a series can lead to some degree of stagnation. This volume is surely not stagnant, and leaves the reader wondering what lies ahead. . . .

I would definitely recommend this series! I was given the first 4 of the Succubus series as a gift because I like paranormal type books. This is by far one of my FAVORITE series out there! I read the first 4 books in a week and then ordered this one and read it in 2 days! I can't wait for book 6 to come out next year! If you liked reading the Twilight series, or the House of Night series, you'll love this! I can also recommend the Vampire Academy series written by the same author as the Succubus series. Also, if you like these books, check out author Cheyenne McCray and Sherrilyn Kenyon.