Review: SUCCUBUS DREAMS by Richelle Mead

If I loved this series before, this book proves that I am completely and utterly addicted. I wasted a good hour this morning finishing up this book. I say waste because, er… I should have been writing an essay for my film theory class. But frankly? This book is worth it.

Buy It Now: On Amazon.com
Description: Some days, a girl just can’t catch a break … especially when the girl in question is Georgina Kincaid, a shape-shifting succubus who gets her energy from seducing men. First there’s her relationship with gorgeous bestselling writer Seth Mortensen, which is unsatisfying on a number of levels. It’s not just that they can’t have sex in case Georgina inadvertently kills him (generally a turn-off for most guys). Lately, even spending time together is a challenge. Seth’s obsessed with finishing his latest novel, and Georgina’s under demonic orders to mentor the new (and surprisingly inept) succubus on the block.

Then there are the dreams. Someone, or something, is preying on Georgina at night, draining her energy, and supplying eerie visions of her future. Georgina seeks answers from Dante, a dream interpreter with ties to the underworld, but his flirtatious charm only leaves her more confused-especially as the situation with Seth reaches crisis point. Now Georgina faces a double challenge-rein in her out-of-control love life, and go toe-to-toe with an enemy capable of wreaking serious havoc among mankind. Otherwise, Georgina, and the entire mortal world, may never sleep easy again. (from barnesandnoble.com)
Other Reviews:

• The Book Smugglers (9/10)
• Mrs. Giggles (85/100)
• Samantha Hunter @ writersarereaders.com (positive)
• Love Vampires (4/5 stars)

(Have you reviewed Succubus Dreams? Drop the URL in the comments, and I’ll add your link!)

The Fangirl’s Review: A

Wow. I… just, wow. The novel’s plot itself is engaging, the mystery is interesting (if a bit easy to solve, once a few pieces fall together), and Richelle Mead’s writing is (as always) funny and engrossing.

But what really got me about Succubus Dreams is the emotion. Near the end of the novel, I felt like the book had magically grown arms and punched me right in the gut. For me, the sign of a really good book isn’t necessarily a great plot or a shocker mystery. It’s when I identify emotionally so much with the main character that when something bad happens to her, I feel it too. And BOY, did I feel with Georgina.

Beware HUGE spoilers after the jump. I can’t help myself, I have to talk about it. It’s like a book counseling session.

I’ve got to admit, I’ve never been a huge fan of Seth Mortensen. Sure, he’s a nice guy, but that’s just it. He’s nice, and aside from his relationship with Georgie, there’s absolutely no conflict inherent in his character. He was kinda boring. So, by that token, I should have been happy when he and Georgie broke up.

I wasn’t. I wanted to reach into the pages of that book and punch him right in his nice guy nose. See, if he had actually broken up with Georgie after their fight, I wouldn’t have been so mad at him. I’d have been a bit pissed, because the timing of that deal-breaker fight pretty much confirmed to me that he couldn’t deal with the no sex thing. Actually, what he did right after the fight DID confirm it. He walked out of Georgie’s apartment, ran into Maddie, and then slept with her.

What an asshole.

And then letting Georgie find out the way she did? Double asshole. He should have told her that it was over LONG before that point, especially if he’d been thinking about it for a while. What a tool.

I’d love it if he didn’t show up again in the books, but unfortunately he will be in Succubus Heat. I just hope that he and Georgie won’t get back together. I think they’re wrong for each other in the long run, and… here’s the emotional attachment part… I think Georgie can do so much better.

But as pissed off as I am at Seth, I also think this is by far the best direction for Mead to take the series. Georgina was stuck when she was with Seth. She was clinging to a life that she, by her own admission, can never have, and when that started to fall apart, she easily put on the mantle of Martyr for Love. She can’t keep that up forever. Aside from the fact that it’s not healthy for her, it will also get really boring really quickly for the readers. I want to see Angry Georgina in the next book, not Mopey Georgina. She’s been suppressing feelings about her own fate for way too long. It’s time for her to get pissed off and figure out a way to come to terms with herself.