Succubus Blues - Book Review

Succubus Blues (Georgina Kincaid, Book 1)
by Richelle Mead
Kensington (March 1, 2007)


From the publisher: "Succubus (n.) An alluring, shape-shifting demon who seduces and pleasures mortal men. Pathetic (adj.) A succubus with great shoes and no social life. See: Georgina Kincaid.
When it comes to jobs in hell, being a succubus seems pretty glamorous. A girl can be anything she wants, the wardrobe is killer, and mortal men will do anything just for a touch. Granted, they often pay with their souls, but why get technical?


But Seattle succubus Georgina Kincaid's life is far less exotic. Her boss is a middle-management demon with a thing for John Cusack movies. Her immortal best friends haven't stopped teasing her about the time she shape-shifted into the Demon Goddess getup complete with whip and wings. And she can't have a decent date without sucking away part of the guy's life. At least there's her day job at a local bookstore--free books; all the white chocolate mochas she can drink; and easy access to bestselling, sexy writer, Seth Mortensen, aka He Whom She Would Give Anything to Touch but Can't.

But dreaming about Seth will have to wait. Something wicked is at work in Seattle's demon underground. And for once, all of her hot charms and drop-dead one-liners won't help because Georgina's about to discover there are some creatures out there that both heaven and hell want to deny.."

PVN: Georgina, a reluctant succubus, is a demon with a conscience.  Like others in the lower demon community she was once mortal, but now lives forever and never ages. Humans, male or female, feel drawn to her succubus charms, a trait which comes in handy as she works her day job as an assistant manager at the Emerald City Book Store and Cafe.

As a rule Georgina loathes vampires (although it turns out two of her best friends, Peter and Cody, are undead),  "Most vampires were arrogant, devoid of social skills, and obsessed with territoriality."  The sleezy Duane was an exceptional example. One night when she's had enough of him. She forms her hand into a claw and manages to scratch his face before his lightening reflex kick in. Her boss, the archdemon Jerome confronts her the next day.

Very bad manner on her part, striking another immortal, she's told. But things get really sticky when Duane turns up truly dead.  Someone has killed an immortal. Something not possible, or so it was thought. Now it's feared all are in peril.

The myriad creatures of earth, heaven and hell make their appearance. Each character, even the minor ones are so well drawn that Mead seems to have achieved the literary equivalent of 3D. The angel Carter, who, like Jerome, has been around from the beginning of time, is a brilliant addition by Mead. Why does an angel hang around with demons? The jaded Georgina doesn't trust him at first, but he has a moral strength she slowly comes to appreciate. And then there is Seth Mortensen, the shy, brilliant author whom she adores. They meet one day when he comes to the bookstore for a signing.

Some seriously bad things happen. We catch glimpses of a Biblical horror involving angels and human women. But Mead knows how to lighten the mood  with humorous scenes and plenty of witty repartee.

I found this book to be in the "I don't want this to end" category. Mead creates such an imaginative, captivating world. I had no desire to leave it.

Succubus Blues was recommended to me by a bookseller at Barnes and Noble. Bless her! After reading it I went out and bought the other three books in the series. A fifth will be published in 2010.
                                

The Succubus Books by Richelle Mead

     

Succubus Blues (Georgina Kincaid, Book 1)

Succubus on Top (Georgina Kincaid, Book 2)

Succubus Dreams (Georgina Kincaid, Book 3)

Succubus Heat (Georgina Kincaid, Book 4)

Succubus Shadows (Georgina Kincaid, Book 5) 

FJJEB5K444W6