Succubus Shadows: Georgina Kincaid Series, Book 5

To me, this book was a way to take up time and write about Georgina's past, instead of continuing the story.That's how I looked at it anyways.With that being said, you absolutely need to know all the the past. It's essential.There's a bigger picture here and whisperings of a bigger plan in action. It involves Carter.Out of the entire series, Carter has been my favorite character.He's not featured much and very mysterious. Rarely shows his true feelings, but when he does, it's extraordinary.In fact, I wish there was a series devoted to Carter. Something with all of the angels, but Carter as the MC.Carter is overlooked so much in these books, but his motives are so unclear.If there isn't a series featuring him and the angels, there should be.

This is the fifth installment of Richelle Mead's Succubus/Georgina Kincaid series. I still enjoyed this book, but at this point the sequels are showing their formula a little too clearly.We have some new immortals show up in town. This time it's Simone, a succubus from out of town visiting Seattle on "vacation". Surprise, surprise, she almost immediately starts pursuing Seth, much to Georgina's irritation.There are also more ups and downs with Georgina and Seth, namely that Seth is now engaged to their mutual friend Maddie and Maddie, still unaware of the Georgina/Seth history, is involving Georgina in all the wedding preparations.And, of course, there's a new mysterious happening. Georgina keeps having these weird blackout spells where she's hearing/seeing some kind of siren song that keeps drawing her in and all her usual sources don't have much help for her. In a turn of events from previous books, this time it's Georgina who ultimately ends up in trouble and has to be saved by her friends.I did enjoy this read, and as usual with this series, it was a very quick, popcorn like read. However, I do feel this is probably the weakest installment in the series, feeling a bit like a placeholder/set up for the following book.

Succubus Shadows is certainly the strangest of the series, but that didn’t make me love it any less! It picks up several months later with Georgina settled into her new condo, with her new roommate, and helping to plan Maddie’s wedding. Needless to say, she’s not too thrilled about that last one, but she puts on a happy face for her best friend. At least until something calls to her in her sleep and she suddenly vanishes. She’s trapped in the dream world with no hope of getting out, except maybe the man who owns her heart.Succubus Shadows is weird. The dream world is an interesting place, although it’s quite terrible for Georgina. She’s forced to witness her past and present, but she can’t always tell what’s true and what isn’t. Of course, her past is easier to decipher, but what’s happening in her absence? Is anyone even looking for her? Are they talking about her behind her back? But we all know that Georgina is a fighter. She’s never going to lose hope that someone cares about her and will come looking. But then, there’s the aftermath.The ending of Succubus Shadows still makes me antsy! Georgina is on the verge of a very big revelation. If you pay attention to the clues (which are much more noticeable upon this reread), you can easily figure it out. But that doesn’t change the fact that it’s big! It’s huge! It’s shocking! It makes my heart hurt just like the rest of this series has! And once Georgina knows for sure, there’s still the matter of what can she even do about it.

As with every book in this series, the end of Succubus Heat drove me absolutely bonkers (in a good way). It’s nearly impossible to NOT read the next book in the series. Each book is plot-driven, fast-paced and unputdownable. This book is no exception. Succubus Shadows is full of unexpected twists from beginning to end, setting the series up for the final book!In the last book, Georgie loses her humanity for a short time, which gave her the ability (if the situation would arise) to sleep with whomever she wanted without any energy loss. Finally, Georgie and Seth were able to be together intimately, but actions came with a price. Seth is now hell-bound.Succubus Shadows begins with a party. Georgie is in her new condo by the beach. With Maddie’s help, Georgie found the perfect house near the perfect location. Was anyone thinking, “A condo? But dream Georgie and dream daughter were in an house, not a condo. I do not approve of this move.”? No? Okay, just me. But Georgie is not living alone. She has a new roommate, her old friend Roman.Roman played a HUGE role in this book. After dealing with even more devastating news at the end of Succubus Heat, Georgie needs someone to be there for her. Roman was her person.Like I said, I’d rather see you leave and start a new life. Every time I see you now, it’s like…it’s like watching you die over and over.”I stood up wanting to sleep. “Yeah,” I said softly. “That’s kind of what it feels like.” I hesitated. “Thanks for listening. And understanding.”“Anytime,” he said.I know that several people would have been 100% okay with a Roman and Georgie hook-up. I am not one of those people. I was 200% in favor of Seth and Georgie and I don’t think my heart could see her be with someone else (outside of her succubus duties).Roman also takes on the role of protector in this book, which only strengthens their relationship and trust. Georgie is yet again being attacked by some paranormal creature. This creature attacks Georgie when she is at her weakest, when she is sad, or sleeping. It lures her with melodious sweet songs and beckons her with promises. But when she awakens and comes to, she doesn’t remember getting from point A to point B and is, most of the time, in great danger.“It was the same thing I’d felt earlier, an alluring, haunting pull that spoke to every part of me. Warm and bright and beautiful. It was everywhere and everything, and I longed to have more of it, to walk forward toward the light that shone with indescribable colors.”Just when I was getting used to awkward Tawny, another succubus shows up named Simone. She was just downright boring and so very awkward, often times bringing up useless trivia in the middle of conversation.Simone’s bland demeanor hadn’t lit up exactly, but she’d suddenly become 2 percent more interesting.What’s more is that she kept hitting on Carter and SETH. Girrrrl, you are messing with two of the most important men in Georgie’s life. I wanted to reach through my Kindle and strangle her.What I loved about this book was the fact that Mead kept the plot going even after Georgina had been taken out of the human world. She was no longer a part of her friends’ everyday lives and had essentially gone missing. After she succumbed to the Oneroi’s bait, she is placed in a state of constant dreaming. Nyx’s children take Georgie on a journey to her past, a painful place she’d rather not visit.“They showed me every nightmare I could have, ever fear made flesh. Some things they showed me had already happened—and were almost as bad as the nightmares. I couldn’t tell what was reality anymore.”My heart broke for her as life after life, you learn about all of her past lives. From the painter who Georgie seemingly betrays to Luc to took a bullet for her. All of these men Georgie loved and all of them Georgie lost. Can her life get any sadder?Despite the odds stacked against her, Georgie did not give up on Seth. She did not move on in this book at all. And even though Seth was in a relationship with Maddie, his feelings for Georgie were unwavering. I still felt their love burning for one another.If you haven’t read this series, you absolutely must. If you read and loved Richelle Mead’s Vampire Academy series, then you should give this series a try.

Ok so the story is pretty much set out where you know what is going to happen next - just have to wait for Georgina and Seth to catch up with what everyone else has known for a while now.So you have Georgina planning her best friends wedding to her ex Seth that she is still completely in love with - queue depressive nature. Another Succubus comes onto the seen to try to seduce Seth away to darken his soul even more - Hell has a reason for everything. Roman is on the seen to create some sexual tension, which only freaks Georgina out so she follows the sounds of the sirens and ends up in dreamland (but the twisted one that is). Once there we just have to wait for Georginas friends to find a way to get to her. Queue another light bulb moment where only Seth can help bring Georgina back from the dreamland - even though everyone is saying that it shouldn't work. But then i think Seth could find Georginas soul blindfolded.So Georgina gets her man in the end but has a bit of a shock when he calls her by her 'real' name Letha. What could that possibly mean?!? Well i think we already know that by now but its still an enjoyable read and i'm just going along for the ride. Bring on the final one :)

One of my all time favourite series. I have re-read the entire series when I need to just immerse myself into a world of sassy supernatural beings, love triangles, meddling demons and angels. The characters are all well written and I have found myself laughing out loud, felt my heart twinge when Georgina goes through heartache and swooned at the alpha male characters- and there are a few! So if you haven't already read any of the books in this series, then I highly recommend!

A new and suspicious Succubus arrives just as Sirens trap Georgina in a dream state from which she cannot escape.As the bond between Seth and Georgian is becoming stronger, others are starting to notice, this is not liked by many in her circle, lest of all her best friend Maddie who she is supposed to be helping to marry Seth!Whilst the gang, including human Eric, try to save Georgina she continues to be stuck in a different dimension where she is shown truth, possible futures, tainted truths and outright lies, in horrible torturous semi dreams. This is horrific to read as I have come too really like GeorginaOnly an American would suggest that Guinness goes with shepherd’s pie!! Seriously, NO!RM does well to keep this book from becoming too dark and utilises Georgina’s more light hearted friends to accomplish this; Peter and his soirées really make me want to be an immortal!

This book just about killed me. It's brilliant. I felt like this book was almost one big crescendo. I cannot even believe we have to wait another year. GAH!I am going to talk a bit about it below and I won't give spoilers. However- you may not want to read b'c I may hype it too much for you & then set your expectations too high. Although I think that's near impossible b'c if you're in love with this series, then it should just be another gold star but still....fair warned is forearmed.Mead pulled off another gut-wrencher. We learn so, so much more about Georgie. Why she is the way she is, how she thinks, how she has evolved, what her motivations are, her expectations, the toll being an immortal has had on her, what keeps her going. Dare I say it was profound? Maybe or maybe not but the way it was all delivered to us had such poignancy, I was a goner. Mead freakin' nailed this. Her best work by far. This whole series is blows her other two out the water. Her best quality writing & thought goes into it.For the 1st time in the series as well, I had no idea what Mead was doing, where she was going or what the outcome was going to be. I was on the edge of my seat nearly the whole time.It was a heavy emotional roller coaster but Mead pulled it off so deftly & with such precise words, I couldn't believe the book wasn't longer.I really, really fell in love with Georgie this book. My heart she aches for her. I want her character to be happy so badly. Mead really fleshed her out in a much needed way in this book to allow you to have such a deeper understanding. It allowed me to empathize & feel compassion every step of the way.I was completely impressed with the overall plot & the creativity of the concept & the way Mead delivered it. It could have been incredibly confusing in less competent hands and Mead handles it so gracefully that - if you didn't know great writing, you could almost take the talent it takes to do this, for granted.This was also one of those books where as I was reading certain parts & thinking; "Yes! yes! Finally!" Mead addressed exact concerns/issues I was having w/certain characters. She also had some choice descriptive words that were pretty synonymous w/my own & I felt so frickin' relieved b'c not only did she address them, but also b'c it showed she wasn't acting ignorant of her own creation.It really proved to me that she crafted this series & that the ramifications are going to happen & if they were ignored? Well, she shows that she even has an answer for that too. So yeah - she even addresses the power of ignorance. BIG time. Ugh! Sounds so cryptic but that's all I can say w/out giving too much away.I can't recommend this series enough. It's hilarious, poignant, witty, sexy, sly and emotionally intelligent.

The next instalment of Georgina Kincaid had me swooning. As Georgina copes with super hot writer ex, Seth, and his marriage to her friend, Maddy, Georgina finds herself in another pickle. This time a really serious one.With super hot sex scenes and plenty of loaded sentences, this book falls nothing short of awesome. We see Georgina grow within herself and venture further down the path of her destiny. The group of characters within Georgina's world all offer something to the reader. What I most enjoyed about his instalment of Georgina's story, was the re-introduction of Roman. Yeah, he came back in the previous book, but in Succubus Shadows we see more of his character and his infatuation with Georgina. (I'm secretly rooting for him - I'm a sucker for the underdog.)Needless to say, it's gonna be a hell of a long wait till the next book.