Succubus on Top
Richelle Mead
Reviewed by Samantha Hunter
Richelle Mead has done it again – I wasn’t surprised to enjoy finding myself flipping through the pages of succubus Georgina Kincaid’s adventures in SUCCUBUS ON TOP, including a hysterical opening scene that anyone who has ever worked retail will appreciate.
This book pushes us father into several areas of Georgina’s life, including her nonsexual but romantic relationship with Seth, and her past relationships with other demons she’s known from her existence, particularly Bastien, a sexy, mischievous incubus who is one of her best friends, and who is in deep trouble and needs Georgina’s help. The writing is sharp and witty, and there’s plenty of plot as Georgina makes her way through the world.
The main subplot involves Bastien, who needs to bring down a heavy-duty female soul to get himself out of hot water, and Georgina helps him in whatever way she can, but is also caught up in a drug ring that’s lured in a good friend, and her work at the bookstore which both puts pressure on her life and allows her to shine, showing her that she’s more than just a soul-sucking demon. Bastien also offers her a momentary solution to her problem with Seth that triggers some wonderful soul-searching and conflict, not to mention a fantastic confrontation with Seth where the emotions really fly. Georgina is a character who’s learning and growing, and it’s a lot of fun to watch.
Most interesting to me is Georgina’s relationship with archangel Carter, who is intriguing in his own right, though I’m never one hundred percent sure if he’s a good guy or a bad guy. Can’t wait to find out. He has great chemistry with Georgina, though, and he’s compelling in every scene he’s in, so I hope we’ll see more of him in future books.
If I had any critique, it was that there was a bit more “choppiness” to this book than the first one as all the threads were woven, and some of the secondary plot elements I could have lived without, as they pulled my attention from the other more interesting relationships and action (such as some scenes with Seth’s family and others with the women involved in a religious group, the head of which was Bastien’s target, and their conversations, meetings, etc).
All threads tie up well at the end, but this mystery was a tad more predictable, and not quite as fun as the one in SUCCUBUS BLUES. Still, Georgina’s character picked up considerable depth in this book, and her foibles, accomplishments, wants, and the ever possible bid for redemption keeps me hooked. Her relationships with Seth and her friends ranges from humorous to touching, and even tragic in moments, which is more than enough to make up for any shortcomings in plot. I’m a fan, and will be ordering the third book, SUCCUBUS DREAMS, due for release in Sept ’08.
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About the Reviewer:
Samantha Hunter lives in Syracuse, New York with her handsome devil of a husband and their numerous pets. She's been writing for Harlequin Blaze since 2004, when she sold her first book, VIRTUALLY PERFECT, and in 2008 will see her tenth book arrive on the shelf. Her 2007 novel, UNTOUCHED, is a finalist for the prestigious 2008 RITA awards.
Sam participates in and manages the blog Love Is An Exploding Cigar (www.loveisanexplodingcigar.com) and is an avid reader, quilter, animal lover, and television addict.
She invites you to visit her online at www.samanthahunter.com
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