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Incubus
‘This is where all stories start, on the edge of a dark wood…’
Dr. Callie McFay travels to the small college town of Fairwick in New York State for a job interview. Despite it being her second choice she finds herself talked into accepting a job offer from the Folklore Department to teach a class on demons and vampires. She also finds herself drawn to an old house in the woods where Gothic novelist Dahlia LaMotte used to live and buys it on a whim, despite the seeming reluctance of the estate agent to sell it to her.
But on the night of her job interview, she had a very vivid erotic dream about a man made out of shadows and moonlight, and this dream becomes a regular occurrence when she moves into her new home. Callie starts to feel like a heroine in one of the gothic novels she teaches as slowly it dawns on her that things at the college – and in her home – are not what they seem. She learns that her house is supposed to be haunted by LaMotte’s former lover and her new – and rather strange – colleagues tell her an unfamiliar fairy tale about an incubus-demon with a human past who was enchanted by a fairy queen…
Dr. Callie McFay travels to the small college town of Fairwick in New York State for a job interview. Despite it being her second choice she finds herself talked into accepting a job offer from the Folklore Department to teach a class on demons and vampires. She also finds herself drawn to an old house in the woods where Gothic novelist Dahlia LaMotte used to live and buys it on a whim, despite the seeming reluctance of the estate agent to sell it to her.
But on the night of her job interview, she had a very vivid erotic dream about a man made out of shadows and moonlight, and this dream becomes a regular occurrence when she moves into her new home. Callie starts to feel like a heroine in one of the gothic novels she teaches as slowly it dawns on her that things at the college – and in her home – are not what they seem. She learns that her house is supposed to be haunted by LaMotte’s former lover and her new – and rather strange – colleagues tell her an unfamiliar fairy tale about an incubus-demon with a human past who was enchanted by a fairy queen…
466 pages, Paperback
Published July 21, 2011
22 people are currently reading
957 people want to read
About the author
Carol Goodman
35 books2,898 followersCarol Goodman is the author of The Lake of Dead Languages, The Seduction of Water, which won the Hammett Prize, The Widow's House, which won the Mary Higgins Clark Award and The Night Visitors, which won the Mary Higgins Clark Award. She is also the co-author, with her husband Lee Slonimsky, of the Watchtower fantasy trilogy. Her work has appeared in such journals as The Greensboro Review, Literal Latte, The Midwest Quarterly, and Other Voices. After graduation from Vassar College, where she majored in Latin, she taught Latin for several years in Austin, Texas. She then received an M.F.A. in fiction from the New School University. Goodman currently teaches literature and writing at The New School and SUNY New Paltz and lives with her family in the Hudson Valley.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews
April 13, 2020
*Rated 3.5/5 stars
Alright folks, here’s the deal. This isn’t my usual thing, and like a lot of paranormal romances it could be argued as being bad in a cringeworthy way...but sometimes you just need that, right?
I’ll openly admit this book made me cringe at times. It started off slow but then bombarded you with information, basically listing off all the supernatural elements in one big initiation conversation that quite frankly made it seem more than a little ridiculous. But I suspected that would be the case going into it, and so I didn’t really care? I was in the mood for something wildly improbable, something that had dark themes while somehow managing to feel light at the same time, and this did exactly that.
I loved the folklore ties throughout. The deep dives into history, the small community style folklore, and literature references on top?? Can I live this life?? I adored seeing how it all tied together, and was amazed to find it all felt equally as important as the other. Despite the huge array of plot lines and characters and supernatural plot twists all over the show, it all felt equally balanced with emphasis where it needed to be in relation to Callie. I’m surprised it managed to cram so much in without feeling too messy!
Overall, I’ll admit this book isn’t the best thing ever written. Yes it’s slightly cringe-y, a little bit wild and features many questionable sex scenes...but I enjoyed it! It’s fun, it’s engaging, and I love me some folklore. That combined with simply being in the mood for something like this - it won me over pretty well * shrugs *
Alright folks, here’s the deal. This isn’t my usual thing, and like a lot of paranormal romances it could be argued as being bad in a cringeworthy way...but sometimes you just need that, right?
I’ll openly admit this book made me cringe at times. It started off slow but then bombarded you with information, basically listing off all the supernatural elements in one big initiation conversation that quite frankly made it seem more than a little ridiculous. But I suspected that would be the case going into it, and so I didn’t really care? I was in the mood for something wildly improbable, something that had dark themes while somehow managing to feel light at the same time, and this did exactly that.
I loved the folklore ties throughout. The deep dives into history, the small community style folklore, and literature references on top?? Can I live this life?? I adored seeing how it all tied together, and was amazed to find it all felt equally as important as the other. Despite the huge array of plot lines and characters and supernatural plot twists all over the show, it all felt equally balanced with emphasis where it needed to be in relation to Callie. I’m surprised it managed to cram so much in without feeling too messy!
Overall, I’ll admit this book isn’t the best thing ever written. Yes it’s slightly cringe-y, a little bit wild and features many questionable sex scenes...but I enjoyed it! It’s fun, it’s engaging, and I love me some folklore. That combined with simply being in the mood for something like this - it won me over pretty well * shrugs *
September 14, 2019
'This is where all stories start, on the edge of a dark wood..."
When I read that sentence I knew I had to get this book, the cover looked creepy and the story on the back cover seemed promising. I haven't read it yet, but I can't wait.
I started this book finally and I'm shocked that I haven't started sooner! It's so good, gothic and has this mood I like in books. The funny thing is, I can't read until evening and this book isn't made for night, it will freak you out! Every sound and movement scares me, and yet I can't stop. I must order the other two books. This book shouldn't be compared with Twilight or True Blood, it's unique, beautifully written and extremely exciting!
Oh, and might I add, sexy as hell!!
November 29, 2011
I should have known I wasn't going to enjoy this. The strapline of 'if you love Stephenie Meyer's books and Charlaine Harris's Sookie Stackhouse novels...' should have set off big enough alarm bells to dissuade me altogether. But it's Carol Goodman. She's by no means my favourite author of all time or anything, but I've read three very enjoyable books from her oeuvre of gothic mysteries, and have always found her work to be excellent comfort reading - well-written and packed with themes I relish: solitary protagonists, mysterious deaths/dark secrets, classical references, twists galore. I could see from the plot summary that this latest book, apparently the first in a series, had been given a 'paranormal romance' spin, and it's true that this wouldn't normally appeal to me. But I do like stories with spooky, magical underpinnings, and I was hopeful that Goodman's talent would elevate this and turn it into a successful blend of literary fiction, fantasy and romance.
So I really did try to like it. I honestly did my best. But it's DREADFUL. Right from the first few pages, I had misgivings - the book feels very rushed, and is full of spelling and grammar errors and frequent repetition (I was ready to scream if I had to read the phrase 'Queen Anne Victorian' one more time). Even the layout of the pages looks cheap and tacky. The character names are ridiculous (there is no way I'm ever going to take someone seriously if they're being referred to as 'Dean Book') and as for the utterly cringeworthy sex/dream scenes... the less said the better. By the time I reached chapter six, I couldn't bear to waste any more of my time on it.
NB: This book is to be published under the title The Demon Lover in the US, and under a pseudonym, Juliet Dark - which just goes to show exactly how much of a departure it is for Goodman, and how different the target market is. It will probably give greater enjoyment to readers who typically enjoy stories of this genre, but as far as I'm concerned, Goodman should stick to the aforementioned gothic mysteries.
So I really did try to like it. I honestly did my best. But it's DREADFUL. Right from the first few pages, I had misgivings - the book feels very rushed, and is full of spelling and grammar errors and frequent repetition (I was ready to scream if I had to read the phrase 'Queen Anne Victorian' one more time). Even the layout of the pages looks cheap and tacky. The character names are ridiculous (there is no way I'm ever going to take someone seriously if they're being referred to as 'Dean Book') and as for the utterly cringeworthy sex/dream scenes... the less said the better. By the time I reached chapter six, I couldn't bear to waste any more of my time on it.
NB: This book is to be published under the title The Demon Lover in the US, and under a pseudonym, Juliet Dark - which just goes to show exactly how much of a departure it is for Goodman, and how different the target market is. It will probably give greater enjoyment to readers who typically enjoy stories of this genre, but as far as I'm concerned, Goodman should stick to the aforementioned gothic mysteries.
May 21, 2012
I am a bit shocked that I really liked this book, I was certain for no apparent reason that it would be a let down, probably due to the fact that I have grown weary to pnr novels. But this one turned to lean more to the UF side and the romance, though it played an integral part to the plot wasn't its linchpin. So I was pleasantly surprised by the worldbuilding with the reach folkrore, the haunted imagery ( I have a thing for forests and magic passages eversince I was a kid and read the Cronicles of Narnia) the atmosphere and the heroine, who seemed a bit obnoxious and detached at the beginning (as I've said to a fellow Goodreader she sounded a bit like Blair Waldorf - and it's funny coming from me because deep down I like B.W.) but she grew on me eventually and I even ended up admiring her for her strong mind and resolve.
The story is in turns evocative, creepy, funny and bittersweet (I think I wanted to cry at some point) and I can't remember when was the last time I felt absorbed by a book and couldn't wait to find time to read the next pages. The mystery towards the end seemed quite if not totally obvious but still it was handled in a way that didn't bother me and I liked that not everything were tied up neatly in a beautiful red bow, instead we're left with a lot of questions and a feeling that this is just the beginning of a long journey for the heroine.
My only two complaints about this book would be first about the pace that seemed to stumble at some points and was as if the narration was loosing its focus and the second had to do with the writing which would be great if the writer hadn't used all these words like she's been researching in a thesaurus - I believe another reviewer made the thesaurus mention.
Nonetheless this was a story I thoroughly enjoyed and I'm quite intrigued about what might come next!
P.S. RALPH IS PURE AWSOMNESS!!!
September 30, 2018
Πολύ ιδιαίτερο βιβλίο! Εξαιρετικές περιγραφές και καταπληκτικός τρόπος γραφής με πολύ σωστό λεξιλόγιο... Είναι φανερό πως η συγγραφέας είναι πολύ διαβασμένη σε θέματα ιστορίας και παραδόσεων. Ο μόνος λόγος που βάζω 4 και όχι 5 αστέρια είναι ο αργός ρυθμός της ιστορίας... Το συστήνω σε όλους τους φίλους του είδους που ψάχνουν κάτι διαφορετικό!
March 4, 2013
An enchanting, magical and acutely dreamlike tale that is simply stunning and deliciously addictive!
As a fan of Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight saga, Charlaine Harris’ True Blood series and classic fairytales with a twist I was spellbound by this fantastic creation on a par with these works. As mystical as the book’s cover, this is a tale that makes dreams come to life and which delicately interweaves imaginative fantasy with young adult romance. Without a doubt ‘Ingubus’ has to be my guilty pleasure, for I was swept away into magical worlds shrouded in secrets and disguised with danger. Compelling and utterly original, Carol Goodman has produced something so supremely spectacular (like nothing I have encountered before) as to stand-out on the bookshelf and within this competitive genre.
This is where all stories start,
On the edge of
A dark wood…
Fairwick is a magical town like no other, separated from the world and which is as dazzling as ‘Stormhold’ (Stardust)…just waiting to be discovered by an inquisitive mind. Callie is an intriguing protagonist who suffers from peculiar dreams about a man made out of moonlight and shadows that are erotic and starkly vivid, and which haunt her waking hours as well. Her home, a Victorian cottage at the edge of the woods is haunted and she learns of a legend that cleverly connects the past with the future. It is said that there is an Ingubus demon with a human past who was enchanted by a Fairy Queen…
This is the first installment within the fairwick chronicles by highly acclaimed Young Adult author. This paranormal phenomenon is truly spectacular and which blew me away by the sublime storytelling, fascinating and highly distinctive plot that captured my imagination. Demons and fairy’s, magic and myth intermingle in this feast for the mind as the author beautifully blends together fantasy and paranormal elements with an archaic, historical ‘feel’ amid an atmospheric backdrop. Totally believable, I was drawn into this detailed saga wherein a likeable heroine is faced with mystery, shocking secrets and mystical mayhem. Leaving you sat in suspense with an ending that makes you want to read on and find out more, I was glued to the pages entirely mesmerized by this engrossing and unputdownable story.
I would highly recommend this outstanding, tantalizingly tempting read which is as mystifying as Black Swan Rising (Lee Carol) and as intoxicating as an intense YA romance.
As a fan of Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight saga, Charlaine Harris’ True Blood series and classic fairytales with a twist I was spellbound by this fantastic creation on a par with these works. As mystical as the book’s cover, this is a tale that makes dreams come to life and which delicately interweaves imaginative fantasy with young adult romance. Without a doubt ‘Ingubus’ has to be my guilty pleasure, for I was swept away into magical worlds shrouded in secrets and disguised with danger. Compelling and utterly original, Carol Goodman has produced something so supremely spectacular (like nothing I have encountered before) as to stand-out on the bookshelf and within this competitive genre.
This is where all stories start,
On the edge of
A dark wood…
Fairwick is a magical town like no other, separated from the world and which is as dazzling as ‘Stormhold’ (Stardust)…just waiting to be discovered by an inquisitive mind. Callie is an intriguing protagonist who suffers from peculiar dreams about a man made out of moonlight and shadows that are erotic and starkly vivid, and which haunt her waking hours as well. Her home, a Victorian cottage at the edge of the woods is haunted and she learns of a legend that cleverly connects the past with the future. It is said that there is an Ingubus demon with a human past who was enchanted by a Fairy Queen…
This is the first installment within the fairwick chronicles by highly acclaimed Young Adult author. This paranormal phenomenon is truly spectacular and which blew me away by the sublime storytelling, fascinating and highly distinctive plot that captured my imagination. Demons and fairy’s, magic and myth intermingle in this feast for the mind as the author beautifully blends together fantasy and paranormal elements with an archaic, historical ‘feel’ amid an atmospheric backdrop. Totally believable, I was drawn into this detailed saga wherein a likeable heroine is faced with mystery, shocking secrets and mystical mayhem. Leaving you sat in suspense with an ending that makes you want to read on and find out more, I was glued to the pages entirely mesmerized by this engrossing and unputdownable story.
I would highly recommend this outstanding, tantalizingly tempting read which is as mystifying as Black Swan Rising (Lee Carol) and as intoxicating as an intense YA romance.
July 2, 2017
This is definitely a guilty pleasure read but I really enjoyed it! It's very raunchy so if that's not your thing, I'd steer clear - it's not normally my thing either but this came highly recommended and I read it for the story more than the sexy bits! So many wave metaphors hehehe.
I really loved the setting and the Gothic vibes (though I did get worried when Stephenie Meyer was mentioned!); the woods, the house, and even the weather were like characters in themselves and it was all deliciously dark. I also really enjoyed the mythological backstory and the twists on faerie legends. If Goodman's other books are in a similar vein to this, then I definitely want to read them!
There were some things that felt a little too easy; for example, Callie was a little too accepting too quickly for my liking. She also reads as older than 26, in my opinion. I recommend just suspending disbelief for this story and going with the flow! Some of it is predictable but it's good fun and there are some really funky beasties to keep you entertained.
My final note is that I love Ralph. I think he's adorable and I want a Ralph of my own.
I really loved the setting and the Gothic vibes (though I did get worried when Stephenie Meyer was mentioned!); the woods, the house, and even the weather were like characters in themselves and it was all deliciously dark. I also really enjoyed the mythological backstory and the twists on faerie legends. If Goodman's other books are in a similar vein to this, then I definitely want to read them!
There were some things that felt a little too easy; for example, Callie was a little too accepting too quickly for my liking. She also reads as older than 26, in my opinion. I recommend just suspending disbelief for this story and going with the flow! Some of it is predictable but it's good fun and there are some really funky beasties to keep you entertained.
My final note is that I love Ralph. I think he's adorable and I want a Ralph of my own.
August 23, 2011
Sweet merciful crap, that was awful. As a rule I'm quite forgiving of my books. I expect a lot from them so when they let me down, I'm prepared to at least countenance the possibility that it's my fault for demanding so much. I've read several other Carol Goodmans, all orders of magnitude better than this train wreck of a thing.
Within a few pages it was apparent that either someone had leaned on her very heavily indeed to get her to cash in on the Twilight/Harry Potter juggernaut that seems to have been crashing its way through the world over the past few years flattening everything in its path, or she came to the realisation herself that she could make a fast buck by cobbling together various lame supernatural themes and sticking plenty of sex scenes in there.
Now I'm no snob. I'll read pretty much anything if there's a decent story in there. I have read the Twilight series to see what the fuss was about and although they were not really my 'thing', I could see the appeal. I like a book with a good supernatural bent. But Incubus was so shoddily done that I just couldn't see past the poor workmanship to any good points the book might have. It screamed 'rushed job'. Spelling and grammatical errors abound. The characters are wooden and the dialogue stilted. Several ideas are so derivative that I got to the point where I needn't have bothered reading the rest, I knew what was going to happen.
A special hidden power of which the person themselves is totally unaware - seen it.
A special hidden heritage of which the person themselves is totally unaware - seen it.
A special hidden club or society - seen it.
A special hidden portal to another world - seen it.
A vampire of whom you are initially suspicious but is actually a nice vampire - seen it.
A furry protector or familiar - seen it.
An educational establishment operating in the real world but dealing in magic - seen it.
Witches and magical beings as college professors - seen it.
A nasty curse passed down through the years and the desperate search to break it - seen it.
The person you think is nice is really not nice and the person who is actually nice is the one you'd least expect - seen it.
Imagine the strength of sinking feeling I experienced upon learning that this is the first book in a SERIES!!! How is it that this kind of literary silage gets published without the bat of an eyelid, while so many infinitely more worthwhile works get rejected over and over again?
And to think this author wrote The Lake of Dead Languages. For shame!
Within a few pages it was apparent that either someone had leaned on her very heavily indeed to get her to cash in on the Twilight/Harry Potter juggernaut that seems to have been crashing its way through the world over the past few years flattening everything in its path, or she came to the realisation herself that she could make a fast buck by cobbling together various lame supernatural themes and sticking plenty of sex scenes in there.
Now I'm no snob. I'll read pretty much anything if there's a decent story in there. I have read the Twilight series to see what the fuss was about and although they were not really my 'thing', I could see the appeal. I like a book with a good supernatural bent. But Incubus was so shoddily done that I just couldn't see past the poor workmanship to any good points the book might have. It screamed 'rushed job'. Spelling and grammatical errors abound. The characters are wooden and the dialogue stilted. Several ideas are so derivative that I got to the point where I needn't have bothered reading the rest, I knew what was going to happen.
A special hidden power of which the person themselves is totally unaware - seen it.
A special hidden heritage of which the person themselves is totally unaware - seen it.
A special hidden club or society - seen it.
A special hidden portal to another world - seen it.
A vampire of whom you are initially suspicious but is actually a nice vampire - seen it.
A furry protector or familiar - seen it.
An educational establishment operating in the real world but dealing in magic - seen it.
Witches and magical beings as college professors - seen it.
A nasty curse passed down through the years and the desperate search to break it - seen it.
The person you think is nice is really not nice and the person who is actually nice is the one you'd least expect - seen it.
Imagine the strength of sinking feeling I experienced upon learning that this is the first book in a SERIES!!! How is it that this kind of literary silage gets published without the bat of an eyelid, while so many infinitely more worthwhile works get rejected over and over again?
And to think this author wrote The Lake of Dead Languages. For shame!
August 28, 2011
3.5/5
Won on Firstreads as Incubus by Carol Goodman UK edition, The Demon Lover requested as egalley from Random House through Netgalley.
Yes, my Dear Reader, the confusion is all mine. Would you know by looking at Incubus and The Demon Lover that the book is one and the same? I didn't. So what happened? I've won Incubus and then requested The Demon Lover from Netgalley. :))) Laugh now, I won't begrudge you.
Sometimes I really don't understand the publishers. Could they at least give any indication that this is the same book by not changing the authors name for the US cover?
Anyway, let's get back to the important bits which is what I thought of the book itself. And yes, I've read half of each book just to make sure.
It's not a particularly straightforward book. I was getting confused a lot with the main character. She is literally hot and cold. I don't think she knew what she wanted or what she was doing.
The supporting characters however were marvelous. Carol Goodman created this frozen in time, winter-ish fairytal-ish environment which I never get tired of. There are fairies, witches, and magical doors between worlds, old haunted houses, noir-ish writers, Bela Lugosi type of vampires and even Mediterranean magical creatures.
The evil is very predictable, but the whole Gothic spirit of the book I thought was marvelously done. I didn't really care about Callie and her incubus, but her familiar mouse Rolph was adorable!
So, if you like Gothic literature and its atmosphere it will be a comfort read for you, but if you want to read a paranormal romance, I wouldn't call this book one. This is something else entirely.
Won on Firstreads as Incubus by Carol Goodman UK edition, The Demon Lover requested as egalley from Random House through Netgalley.
Yes, my Dear Reader, the confusion is all mine. Would you know by looking at Incubus and The Demon Lover that the book is one and the same? I didn't. So what happened? I've won Incubus and then requested The Demon Lover from Netgalley. :))) Laugh now, I won't begrudge you.
Sometimes I really don't understand the publishers. Could they at least give any indication that this is the same book by not changing the authors name for the US cover?
Anyway, let's get back to the important bits which is what I thought of the book itself. And yes, I've read half of each book just to make sure.
It's not a particularly straightforward book. I was getting confused a lot with the main character. She is literally hot and cold. I don't think she knew what she wanted or what she was doing.
The supporting characters however were marvelous. Carol Goodman created this frozen in time, winter-ish fairytal-ish environment which I never get tired of. There are fairies, witches, and magical doors between worlds, old haunted houses, noir-ish writers, Bela Lugosi type of vampires and even Mediterranean magical creatures.
The evil is very predictable, but the whole Gothic spirit of the book I thought was marvelously done. I didn't really care about Callie and her incubus, but her familiar mouse Rolph was adorable!
So, if you like Gothic literature and its atmosphere it will be a comfort read for you, but if you want to read a paranormal romance, I wouldn't call this book one. This is something else entirely.
June 30, 2013
I was super exited to read this book, because I'm very fascinated with "incubuses" ?( hmm in singular?) I haven't read any other books about incubus but I have heard stories about them , a demon lover who pays you nightly visits and feeds on your.. orgasms :p just.. Wow! right?
It would make a very exiting story... all the ingredients for a great lust story is there. Love, sex, darkness, being consumed, etc I find incubus even more enthralling then vampires!
But the authors story didn't met my expectations. And the story just collapsed...
SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS!
Fist I thought ok.. so this "Callie" is gonna move in to haunted house and get nightly visitations by a demon so far so good. The author could have a very good story just by this simple plot but she just made a soup of it. She just had to throw in other "charterers" like witches and it all went so mundane.
Callie going to the school, Callie with the students etc.. it all ruined the atmosphere for me. Hell I think the short stories we get glimpses on that girl who moves in as a gouvernante was more interesting then Callie,s mundane boring life. At page 200 I had to just skim the pages right to page 300 because the story went so unbearably boring! And what about the incubus? He would be a very interesting character but no the author just had to concentrate on other very boring characters like dean Book, Soheila etc.
Nope this book was a huuuge disappointment and those who expects a dark, intriguing sex steaming and magical story is gonna feel very deceived. Don't say I didn't warn ya!
It would make a very exiting story... all the ingredients for a great lust story is there. Love, sex, darkness, being consumed, etc I find incubus even more enthralling then vampires!
But the authors story didn't met my expectations. And the story just collapsed...
SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS!
Fist I thought ok.. so this "Callie" is gonna move in to haunted house and get nightly visitations by a demon so far so good. The author could have a very good story just by this simple plot but she just made a soup of it. She just had to throw in other "charterers" like witches and it all went so mundane.
Callie going to the school, Callie with the students etc.. it all ruined the atmosphere for me. Hell I think the short stories we get glimpses on that girl who moves in as a gouvernante was more interesting then Callie,s mundane boring life. At page 200 I had to just skim the pages right to page 300 because the story went so unbearably boring! And what about the incubus? He would be a very interesting character but no the author just had to concentrate on other very boring characters like dean Book, Soheila etc.
Nope this book was a huuuge disappointment and those who expects a dark, intriguing sex steaming and magical story is gonna feel very deceived. Don't say I didn't warn ya!
April 23, 2017
This book started out so good! A world with faeries, demons and more unhuman creatures, a woman who is visited by a lovedemon who exists out of moonlight and shadow and a special school where you don't know who is what creature.
I have been spreading excitement all over the place when i started reading it. I loved it's mysteriousness, the fantasy and the lovescenes were just steamy enough. Unfortunately, getting more and more into the book, I noticed I could not really make a connection with the main character and there were certain things a bit weird/over the top. Callie, the main character, never knew about other worldly creatures and after she's been introduced there seemed to be nothing that really surprised her. It came off a bit unrealistic. It felt like everything happened so fast, I could barely keep up.... But that could also just be me, because i did have trouble focusing on the story at times.
But, the story did intrigue me enough to give it 3 stars and wanting to read what happens in the next book! The other world and the history behind Fairwick and the people living there are to interesting to stop reading this series!
I have been spreading excitement all over the place when i started reading it. I loved it's mysteriousness, the fantasy and the lovescenes were just steamy enough. Unfortunately, getting more and more into the book, I noticed I could not really make a connection with the main character and there were certain things a bit weird/over the top. Callie, the main character, never knew about other worldly creatures and after she's been introduced there seemed to be nothing that really surprised her. It came off a bit unrealistic. It felt like everything happened so fast, I could barely keep up.... But that could also just be me, because i did have trouble focusing on the story at times.
But, the story did intrigue me enough to give it 3 stars and wanting to read what happens in the next book! The other world and the history behind Fairwick and the people living there are to interesting to stop reading this series!
August 31, 2015
I came upon this book when I was looking into buying one of Deborah Harkness, All Souls Trilogy on Amazon.Up it came in the other readers enjoyed this/if you like that you will like this section.I thought, give it a go and purchased all three of the Fairwick chronicles over time.I don't do lovey dovey Mills and Boons/Twilight style teen romance books.I just don't want to read about teens or adults kissing and smooching-boring! However, I love magic, fantasy, witches, folklore and other worldly stories and this advertised just that and as with Deborah Harkness All Souls Trilogy that I was buying when I came across Carol Goodman's Incubus, I don't mind some intimacy as long as it is kept relevant and doesn't overtake the whole story.This book leant more to the urban fantasy market.The intimacy parts,integral to the plot wasn't the keystone of the whole book which infact had many key points.
Carol Goodman has written under the pseudonym Juliet Dark before but writes this under her real name.I do not know what her other books under Juliet Dark are like so can only assume they must be very different to use an alternative name as some authors do when they change style.I feel Carol succeeds beautifully with this book.She creates vivid imagery throughout this story and includes lots of attention to detail which introduces you to many endearing characters and mythical creatures.
I found, this book although very much an adult read, was written in a very YA style, being an easy, light read.
Callie McFey (Dr),arrives at Fairwick for an interview at the local college to teach folklore. Callie is also a writer. After some thinking time she decides to take on the post at detriment to her dream of teaching in New York and making a life with her boyfriend Paul.She comes across an old Victorian house that backs onto inviting woods whilst in Fairwick. The house is for sale and is called Honeysuckle House.Callie purchases Honeysuckle House that seems to suck her into it's charms before she even seals the deal.Soon she is visited by a presence that seems to be made of shadow and moonlight. This shadow has powers, powers that do not feel healthy but she can not reject it and it feels so right.How can something so wrong feel so right.
Callie soon comes to realise that there is a lot more going on in Fairwick than meets the eye.
If I am to pick any negative points, it would be that some pages (very few) seemed to waffle in places it need not.I found myself scanning over these sections and maybe in one or two places, the intimacy was just too much and began to bore, to be in the book.
I very much enjoyed reading this book with its gothic, myth and folklore imagery. I was very surprised that I enjoyed it so much with all the intimacy in it's pages.
I am looking forward to the next story in the chronicles, that is called Water Witch.
Carol Goodman has written under the pseudonym Juliet Dark before but writes this under her real name.I do not know what her other books under Juliet Dark are like so can only assume they must be very different to use an alternative name as some authors do when they change style.I feel Carol succeeds beautifully with this book.She creates vivid imagery throughout this story and includes lots of attention to detail which introduces you to many endearing characters and mythical creatures.
I found, this book although very much an adult read, was written in a very YA style, being an easy, light read.
Callie McFey (Dr),arrives at Fairwick for an interview at the local college to teach folklore. Callie is also a writer. After some thinking time she decides to take on the post at detriment to her dream of teaching in New York and making a life with her boyfriend Paul.She comes across an old Victorian house that backs onto inviting woods whilst in Fairwick. The house is for sale and is called Honeysuckle House.Callie purchases Honeysuckle House that seems to suck her into it's charms before she even seals the deal.Soon she is visited by a presence that seems to be made of shadow and moonlight. This shadow has powers, powers that do not feel healthy but she can not reject it and it feels so right.How can something so wrong feel so right.
Callie soon comes to realise that there is a lot more going on in Fairwick than meets the eye.
If I am to pick any negative points, it would be that some pages (very few) seemed to waffle in places it need not.I found myself scanning over these sections and maybe in one or two places, the intimacy was just too much and began to bore, to be in the book.
I very much enjoyed reading this book with its gothic, myth and folklore imagery. I was very surprised that I enjoyed it so much with all the intimacy in it's pages.
I am looking forward to the next story in the chronicles, that is called Water Witch.
December 20, 2012
Review originally posted on The Oaken Bookcase on December 20, 2012.
Note: Incubus was published in the US as The Demon Lover, under Carol Goodman’s pseudonym, Juliet Dark. It is called Incubus in the UK and Australia.
I started reading this book thinking it was a YA paranormal romance (perhaps based on the look of the cover?) – but from the first chapter it certainly is not! There are some quite erotic scenes all the way through, so be warned!
Callie has had erotic dreams featuring a shadowy stranger since she was a teenager, but since coming to live in the town of Fairwick, a few hours drive from New York City, she’s been having more of them. Her supposedly haunted house is not all that it seems and the woods in the back yard are home to some strange and dangerous creatures. Then, Callie discovers there is also more to the staff and students at Fairwick College than meets the eye. Callie’s struggles now include a strange presence in her house plus fitting into supernatural society, not to mention the freezing weather.
The premise and folklore of this story are very well-designed and those who love Celtic mythology should enjoy the many references to fairies and other creatures. It reminded me somewhat of Deborah Harkness’ A Discovery of Witches in its paranormal society and academia, and the sexy parts were quite True Blood. The writing was lovely to read and contains plenty of references not just to literary classics but also to modern pop culture.
Unfortunately, the plot did not flow well. Callie seems to flit here and there, does this thing, then she does that. There are a series of exciting events that happen every now and then, but the rest is filled with rather drab day-to-day college happenings. I felt that quite a lot could have been removed without damaging the story, especially in the first half of the book. I was slightly baffled when Liam turned up, but it didn’t take me long to work out what was happening and after that the rest was quite predictable.
Callie didn’t seem like such a strong heroine and she doesn’t get much of a chance to try out her magical abilities, but I actually really liked Liam and I hope that the second book will bring more from him! I also enjoyed reading about the town of Fairwick and the staff and students of the college – the extra characters were the saving grace of this story, especially Ralph!
Despite the things I didn’t like about the story, I’ll read the second book in the series, The Water Witch – I’m very curious to find out what happens next.
Note: Incubus was published in the US as The Demon Lover, under Carol Goodman’s pseudonym, Juliet Dark. It is called Incubus in the UK and Australia.
I started reading this book thinking it was a YA paranormal romance (perhaps based on the look of the cover?) – but from the first chapter it certainly is not! There are some quite erotic scenes all the way through, so be warned!
Callie has had erotic dreams featuring a shadowy stranger since she was a teenager, but since coming to live in the town of Fairwick, a few hours drive from New York City, she’s been having more of them. Her supposedly haunted house is not all that it seems and the woods in the back yard are home to some strange and dangerous creatures. Then, Callie discovers there is also more to the staff and students at Fairwick College than meets the eye. Callie’s struggles now include a strange presence in her house plus fitting into supernatural society, not to mention the freezing weather.
The premise and folklore of this story are very well-designed and those who love Celtic mythology should enjoy the many references to fairies and other creatures. It reminded me somewhat of Deborah Harkness’ A Discovery of Witches in its paranormal society and academia, and the sexy parts were quite True Blood. The writing was lovely to read and contains plenty of references not just to literary classics but also to modern pop culture.
Unfortunately, the plot did not flow well. Callie seems to flit here and there, does this thing, then she does that. There are a series of exciting events that happen every now and then, but the rest is filled with rather drab day-to-day college happenings. I felt that quite a lot could have been removed without damaging the story, especially in the first half of the book. I was slightly baffled when Liam turned up, but it didn’t take me long to work out what was happening and after that the rest was quite predictable.
Callie didn’t seem like such a strong heroine and she doesn’t get much of a chance to try out her magical abilities, but I actually really liked Liam and I hope that the second book will bring more from him! I also enjoyed reading about the town of Fairwick and the staff and students of the college – the extra characters were the saving grace of this story, especially Ralph!
Despite the things I didn’t like about the story, I’ll read the second book in the series, The Water Witch – I’m very curious to find out what happens next.
July 18, 2012
There were some very believeable parts of this story, young PhD student Cailleach (Cally) McFay looks for job in a small college, would like something bigger but something attracts her to this one. When she discovers that her favourite guilty secret of her youth author's house is available to buy, with a lot of her papers there for her to research, the conclusion was foregone. Then she discovers that in fact her house is haunted, by an Incubus, and that there are more supernatural creatures around her, including herself.
There were also some bad moments, the supernatural creatures were pretty paranoid but not paranoid enough, nor did they really notice when someone started feeding on staff and students, or start making a list of possible suspects. One minute people are typical researchers and in the next they're behaving against character. Oh and Cailleach McFey, seriously, the fact that she has abilities was in her name, it's more than a little obvious.
It's not a paranormal romance, it's a paranormal story with some romantic elements, leaning more towards the urban fantasy realm of story. The main character needs to grow a little more backbone and learn a bit more about herself before long. Faerie could spit her out in pieces. If I was faerie I'd be inclined to put her in a safe place and ensure she doesn't put herself in harms way, and possibly find her a nice person to have babies with so her abilities could possibly be passed on to a few others.
Not a bad read, lacked a certain something to bring it out of the ordinary.
There were also some bad moments, the supernatural creatures were pretty paranoid but not paranoid enough, nor did they really notice when someone started feeding on staff and students, or start making a list of possible suspects. One minute people are typical researchers and in the next they're behaving against character. Oh and Cailleach McFey, seriously, the fact that she has abilities was in her name, it's more than a little obvious.
It's not a paranormal romance, it's a paranormal story with some romantic elements, leaning more towards the urban fantasy realm of story. The main character needs to grow a little more backbone and learn a bit more about herself before long. Faerie could spit her out in pieces. If I was faerie I'd be inclined to put her in a safe place and ensure she doesn't put herself in harms way, and possibly find her a nice person to have babies with so her abilities could possibly be passed on to a few others.
Not a bad read, lacked a certain something to bring it out of the ordinary.
August 2, 2011
4.5*s
Im not going to write all about the book because the synopsis is there so read it first ;)
I will write about my thoughts on the book so here goes . . .
I really enjoyed it ! there was a LOT going on in this book especially considering it was a first book of a series which to me are usually slow, getting to know you books and although this was definately a get to know you book it was by no means slow and pulled me in after a couple of chapters. To be honest i think the author could of gotten two books out of this one.
I enjoyed the strong independant main character Callie, she'd had a lot to deal with in her life and didnt compromise herself to the expectations of others. She was caring and willing to believe in people, give people a chance which was to her disadvantage most times as she finds that people in Fairwick are usually not what they seem and finds that for all of her knowledge in Fey and folklore and although she tries to do things for herself, she is out of her depth and has to turn to others who might just be as wrong as her. I sort of knew where things were going plotwise but not the finer points, it didnt make it any less enjoyable though and i will definately be buying the sequel because i definatewly want to know what happens next :)
Im not going to write all about the book because the synopsis is there so read it first ;)
I will write about my thoughts on the book so here goes . . .
I really enjoyed it ! there was a LOT going on in this book especially considering it was a first book of a series which to me are usually slow, getting to know you books and although this was definately a get to know you book it was by no means slow and pulled me in after a couple of chapters. To be honest i think the author could of gotten two books out of this one.
I enjoyed the strong independant main character Callie, she'd had a lot to deal with in her life and didnt compromise herself to the expectations of others. She was caring and willing to believe in people, give people a chance which was to her disadvantage most times as she finds that people in Fairwick are usually not what they seem and finds that for all of her knowledge in Fey and folklore and although she tries to do things for herself, she is out of her depth and has to turn to others who might just be as wrong as her. I sort of knew where things were going plotwise but not the finer points, it didnt make it any less enjoyable though and i will definately be buying the sequel because i definatewly want to know what happens next :)
October 1, 2013
I very mcuh enjoyed this book, and cannot understand why this is classified as young adult. The writing was very good and enthrawling (although the editing was poor as there were a lot of spelling mistakes, gramatical errors, and publishing errors as well). Callie was a well written character, and it was an interesting experience to watch her become who she was by the end. I didn't know that this was a series, and by the end I was expecting there to be another book, as there was so much left unanswered. The underlying storyline about Callie tring to solve the curse of one of her students, I felt, was not entirely necessary, and in the end had to be so quickly wrapped up I wondered if the only reason it was written in the first place was because the main plot line was a bit thin. There were some obvious story elements to the book as well, things that I could easily see coming, but were treated like some dramatic revelation. All in all, I enjoyed the book and will pick up the next one to see where Callie goes next.
October 3, 2012
Every time I finish reading one of Carol Goodman's delicious gothics, I immediately want to go back and re-read it, just so I can stay inside one of her worlds. Incubus is a refreshing step away from Goodman's realistic storylines (which, albeit, still intertwine an ample amount of myth, fairy tales, and gothic atmosphere). This novel is also much more sexualized than her previous tales, which always hinted at but never divulged the romantic entanglements of its characters. I rather enjoyed this aspect of it, especially since our antagonist is a demon who traditionally takes women against their will- constant cutaways would have diminshed the credibility of the character. I did find the mid-plot reveal that EVERY main character was a fantastical creature a bit immature, but nevertheless it was an awesome read and I can't wait for #2 in the series!
September 9, 2016
''Aparté la vista de mi amante terrenal y observé a mi amante demonio que se
alzaba entre la bruma, más allá de los árboles. Vislumbré el deseo en su rostro, un
anhelo correspondido en mis propias venas y tendones. Estaba hecho de una
oscuridad que se comunicaba con la oscuridad que había en mi interior. Si me
llamaba, lo seguiría. Pero no lo hizo, sino que levantó la mano para despedirse o
bendecirme, nunca lo sabré, y se desvaneció entre las sombras de las que había
venido.''
OwO Ah sido tan apasionante, dulce y ridículamente romántico que eh leído en mucho tiempo. Al principio la relación entre personajes es guiado por el deseo y conforme evoluciona ... pues el deseo igual sigue ewe/, más sus ansias por el otro trascienden a su ser completo. Ahhhh! :3 me siento ridicula .... ridículamente motivada jjj
alzaba entre la bruma, más allá de los árboles. Vislumbré el deseo en su rostro, un
anhelo correspondido en mis propias venas y tendones. Estaba hecho de una
oscuridad que se comunicaba con la oscuridad que había en mi interior. Si me
llamaba, lo seguiría. Pero no lo hizo, sino que levantó la mano para despedirse o
bendecirme, nunca lo sabré, y se desvaneció entre las sombras de las que había
venido.''
OwO Ah sido tan apasionante, dulce y ridículamente romántico que eh leído en mucho tiempo. Al principio la relación entre personajes es guiado por el deseo y conforme evoluciona ... pues el deseo igual sigue ewe/, más sus ansias por el otro trascienden a su ser completo. Ahhhh! :3 me siento ridicula .... ridículamente motivada jjj
December 13, 2020
Objectively this is a bad book - some passages I had to reread just to check I hadn’t missed a line out because they felt so dislocated. The pacing was poor; far too much was crammed into some paragraphs, and I was staggered by the rushed final chapters.
It also felt at times that the book didn’t know what it wanted to be. It tried to get a lot in and in doing so lost it’s way. A treatise on love, a fairy tale, a bodice-ripper, an examination of writing craft and fiction, an homage to gothic literature, and a modern romance!? No wonder it felt rushed.
And yet somehow it wasn’t a chore to read. I looked forward to picking it up of an evening and just groaning at the predictability and artless-ness. I had fun (and I’ve obviously ordered the next instalment.)
It also felt at times that the book didn’t know what it wanted to be. It tried to get a lot in and in doing so lost it’s way. A treatise on love, a fairy tale, a bodice-ripper, an examination of writing craft and fiction, an homage to gothic literature, and a modern romance!? No wonder it felt rushed.
And yet somehow it wasn’t a chore to read. I looked forward to picking it up of an evening and just groaning at the predictability and artless-ness. I had fun (and I’ve obviously ordered the next instalment.)
December 27, 2022
The book started really good and I enjoyed the plot line and ideas however all the things being revealed at once and in such a dismissive way during one chapter in the middle put me off. Looking past that the ending really pulled my hearts strings and i will definitely be reading the following books to resolve the biggest want i have for this book.. hopefully it does. The way it played out was like no other romance book i have read and I enjoyed the different perspective, although half way through i was screaming at the way I thought the book was heading before learning the truth, it was done meticulously. Well done Carol you bamboozled me! Side note i was really upset that the ending of Jane eyre was spoiled as i still want to read it … shame on you Carol Goodman!
October 29, 2014
I won this in a giveaway with Goodreads First Reads. Although I enjoyed Twilight and Fallen, I wasn't initially sure about this book. But after a few chapters, I was drawn in. I enjoyed the blending of ordinary life with the magical inhabitants of the town, but I think Callie would have been a little bit more surprised when she found out! Everything was wrapped up a bit too neatly at the end, but it set the scene for a sequel. I would definitely recommend this to adult readers who enjoy fantasy stories (I can't recommend it to young adult readers because of the sexual nature of some of the scenes).
June 9, 2012
It took me a loooong time to get into this book. It's really slow going and nothing really exciting happens until near the end. And even then, it's not really that exciting.
Huge periods of time pass between chapters and breaks and they're never really discussed. The story itself, is vaguely interesting but not overly so. And the characters aren't enough to hold your interest. Callie isn't strong enough for a lead character, in my opinion. She's sort of boring, a bit self obsessed and not very interesting.
This isn't really a book I'd recommend to someone, I bought it as an impulse buy but I wish I'd just left it on the shelf.
Huge periods of time pass between chapters and breaks and they're never really discussed. The story itself, is vaguely interesting but not overly so. And the characters aren't enough to hold your interest. Callie isn't strong enough for a lead character, in my opinion. She's sort of boring, a bit self obsessed and not very interesting.
This isn't really a book I'd recommend to someone, I bought it as an impulse buy but I wish I'd just left it on the shelf.
April 10, 2020
I was very excited to read this book and thoroughly enjoyed the first 100 pages. I like the mystery around the small town, the house and all the town`s people but it then transformed into a copy of Dracula with some romance here and there.
I did not care for the characters and did not enjoy the ending. I don`t think there was a need for a second book, and the cliffhanger did absolutely nothing to spark my interest.
I did not care for the characters and did not enjoy the ending. I don`t think there was a need for a second book, and the cliffhanger did absolutely nothing to spark my interest.
August 17, 2011
Really enjoyed it. Glad to hear its the first of a new series as I found the ending a wee bit. hmm hmm hmm hmmmm (what I actually said at the time was Gaaa!) so very glad to hear its the first of a new series. Yes, I admit it, I am a died in the wool romantic and anything other than a decent HEA/HFN really gets me riled lol!
July 27, 2024
So.... This is an interesting read, little bit saucy in parts, laced with the otherworldly creatures that could live among us.... Had a Sookie Stackhouse/Tru blood feel with a little bit of Practical Magic thrown in for good measure. Could've done with more of a description of the house, interior and garden, all in all a pleasant read.
August 31, 2011
Bought it for a friend then bought another for myself. If you like Harry Potter and Twilight this is a book for you, with a bit of erotica !! Happy to find out it's part 1 of a series. 100 pages left and I don't want to get to the end without part 2 ready to start !!
June 17, 2012
The eerie atmosphere of this novel is delightful!
July 2, 2012
Released elsewhere as 'The Demon Lover' by Juliet Dark.
January 18, 2021
Enjoyable light read
July 27, 2023
Quite predictable, I enjoyed parts of it but not as raunchy as I thought it would be. A little underwhelmed. Some nice quotes and I love fantasy, Ralph was a cute character.
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