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The Shadowfae Chronicles #1
Shadowfae
Imagine a secret world veiled in fairy glamour and brimming with unearthly delights. A city swarming with half-mad fairies, where thieving spriggans rob you blind, beautiful banshees mesmerize you with their song, and big green trolls bust heads at nightclubs. And once you’re in, there’s no escape…
Enslaved by a demon lord, Jade is forced to spend her nights seducing vampire gangsters and shapeshifting thugs. After two hundred years as a succubus, she burns for freedom and longs to escape her brutal life as a trophy girl for hell’s minions. Then she meets Rajah, an incubus who touches her heart and intoxicates her senses. Rajah shares the same bleak fate as she, and yearns just as desperately for freedom. But the only way for Jade to break her bonds is to betray Rajah—and doom the only man she’s ever loved to a lifetime in hell.
288 pages, Paperback
First published October 13, 2009
22 people are currently reading
2439 people want to read
About the author
Erica Hayes
39 books274 followersErica Hayes was a law student, an air force officer, an editorial assistant and a musician, before finally landing her dream job: fantasy writer. She writes dark paranormal romance, urban fantasy and romantic science fiction, and her books feature tough, smart heroines and colorful heroes with dark secrets.
She hails from Australia, where she drifts from city to city, leaving a trail of chaos behind her. Currently, she’s terrorizing the wilds of Northern Virginia, USA.
She hails from Australia, where she drifts from city to city, leaving a trail of chaos behind her. Currently, she’s terrorizing the wilds of Northern Virginia, USA.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 145 reviews
September 27, 2010
HBO would love this series. Profanity, violence, sex, drugs, often all at once, but Shadowfae isn't generic in any category. Erica Hayes' fae are very elf and very punk, with human vices. Hayes completely reinvents the fae, vampires, and demons in a very human likeness so that they fit seamlessly into Melbourne's seedy side, where fae with claws and pretty, delicate wings also sell the most potent product and vampire mobsters war for territory. Hayes' prose is very well suited to this atmosphere, picking out the allure with beautiful words and describing its decay in frank detail.
These fae are complex and familiar so that it is almost like watching a dark drama starring the supernatural. We even see from the villains' points of view so that they are complete characters, rather than half-baked, mustachioed evil-doers. Their scenes are oddly compelling, especially when they come very close to winning.
Jade -fitting name for a succubus- herself has low self-esteem after 100+ years of unwillingly prostituting herself for the demon who won her soul in a high-stakes faro game. Then she meets Rajah, who's almost choirboy-good and they've "never felt like this for anyone before" and there are odious Misunderstandings and doubts due to insecurities typical to romance but out of place in this otherwise dark urban fantasy, unless one takes into account Jade's history.
All the same, the unique plot, villains and world keep me riveted-- as well as the writing style, which is far different from the norm. Don't expect to pick up an HQ novel here. Hayes' style is efficient and precise but decadent with artistic sensuousness very fitting to her sensuous characters. There is not a lot of superfluous language (notice the page count) and it's never missed because the pacing is relatively tight here.
On the other hand, even spare, organic, specific sex scenes can get exhausting after enough of them, especially if most of them are negative experiences enacted on the heroine, albeit she is aroused at the time. Put it this way: she has sex with four men in the novel, and three of them are bad, LOL. She is a succubus after all, and that is her power, the only one she has to fulfill her ultimate goal unless she gets help from others (she's pretty alone). So it doesn't really feel gratuitous. It may not have been necessary to run the gamut, but then again, the plot hinges on sex. Better make it interesting. They're centuries old, they've seen it all.
I would recommend it to readers of dark urban fantasy who don't mind a lot of sex and a weaker heroine, especially fans of the Maker's Song series by Adrian Phoenix. There's the same woebegone atmosphere and angst, the same artistic bent, and the hero is pretty much bisexual. The next book, Shadowglass, in April follows a different pair and I'm considering reading it for the edgy hero and the pretty style, as long there's less sex and it's not one long drug-induced high (you know those fae, they can't get enough of the stuff).
These fae are complex and familiar so that it is almost like watching a dark drama starring the supernatural. We even see from the villains' points of view so that they are complete characters, rather than half-baked, mustachioed evil-doers. Their scenes are oddly compelling, especially when they come very close to winning.
Jade -fitting name for a succubus- herself has low self-esteem after 100+ years of unwillingly prostituting herself for the demon who won her soul in a high-stakes faro game. Then she meets Rajah, who's almost choirboy-good and they've "never felt like this for anyone before" and there are odious Misunderstandings and doubts due to insecurities typical to romance but out of place in this otherwise dark urban fantasy, unless one takes into account Jade's history.
All the same, the unique plot, villains and world keep me riveted-- as well as the writing style, which is far different from the norm. Don't expect to pick up an HQ novel here. Hayes' style is efficient and precise but decadent with artistic sensuousness very fitting to her sensuous characters. There is not a lot of superfluous language (notice the page count) and it's never missed because the pacing is relatively tight here.
On the other hand, even spare, organic, specific sex scenes can get exhausting after enough of them, especially if most of them are negative experiences enacted on the heroine, albeit she is aroused at the time. Put it this way: she has sex with four men in the novel, and three of them are bad, LOL. She is a succubus after all, and that is her power, the only one she has to fulfill her ultimate goal unless she gets help from others (she's pretty alone). So it doesn't really feel gratuitous. It may not have been necessary to run the gamut, but then again, the plot hinges on sex. Better make it interesting. They're centuries old, they've seen it all.
I would recommend it to readers of dark urban fantasy who don't mind a lot of sex and a weaker heroine, especially fans of the Maker's Song series by Adrian Phoenix. There's the same woebegone atmosphere and angst, the same artistic bent, and the hero is pretty much bisexual. The next book, Shadowglass, in April follows a different pair and I'm considering reading it for the edgy hero and the pretty style, as long there's less sex and it's not one long drug-induced high (you know those fae, they can't get enough of the stuff).
May 23, 2017
I am a sucker for books featuring Fae characters and I was encouraged by the title to pick this one up at my public library. I should have read the blurb. I should have known better. I should have twigged that the main character is a succubus and I should just have set the book down and walked away.
There are a few interesting ideas in this novel, but the setting is just too dark for me. The author is trying too hard to be gritty and noir. With Jade, a succubus, as the main character and with the set-up that she must have sex with & capture the souls of four repellent men in order to escape from her bondage to her demon boss, the plot is mostly an excuse for sex scenes. Honestly, someone is leaking some body fluid on pretty much every page.
It became tiresome fast. And because so many of Jade’s encounters were with horrible men, it wasn’t even sexy. Not a book that I could recommend in good conscience.
There are a few interesting ideas in this novel, but the setting is just too dark for me. The author is trying too hard to be gritty and noir. With Jade, a succubus, as the main character and with the set-up that she must have sex with & capture the souls of four repellent men in order to escape from her bondage to her demon boss, the plot is mostly an excuse for sex scenes. Honestly, someone is leaking some body fluid on pretty much every page.
It became tiresome fast. And because so many of Jade’s encounters were with horrible men, it wasn’t even sexy. Not a book that I could recommend in good conscience.
October 21, 2009
Peppered with Fae, demons and vampires, with Shadowfae sets the stage for a dark romantic new urban fantasy series
Both leading lady succubus Jade and leading man incubus Rajah are enslaved to a demon and both long for the end of their servitude, they are forced to seduce and sometimes kill unable to resist the compulsion of their master's orders. But Rajah has discovered the way to win his freedom, a secret he shares with Jade - to be free, four special souls must be harvested, the only catch is one of the key souls is the same for both Jade and Rajah which means that only one of them can be free.
Shadowfae was an interesting read, and Aussie writer Erica Hayes' tale blurs the line between good and evil. Almost all of the characters in Shadowfae are predators, and even the `good' characters are morally gray. Just as Jade falls under the control of one of the villains of the tale, who uses his vampiric thrall as sort of a date rape drug, eventually the predator falls prey to the sensual power which allows Jade and Rajah to enrapture their victims. And that blur allows for moments where it is possible to actually feel sympathy for the villians even as they pay the price for their misdeeds and also for moments where Haye's reminds us that the leads, though capable of sacrifice and love, are not classic hero/heroine material.
With an incubus and a succubus in the starring roles, it is not surprising that sex plays an important part in Shadowfae, making it somewhat erotic as well as dark. But the sensual language is not as in your face crude as most of the few erotic books I've attempted - I tend to stick to the steamy side of main stream paranormal romance - and not all of it is meant to titillate, much of it is almost setting and texture. But if you are not an erotic reader, you should be forewarned that the sexuality woven throughout Shadowfae comes in pretty much every flavor.
On the whole, I liked Shadowfae, it felt very original and actually had one very poignant scene that captured me. And since Haye's barely scratched the surface of this Fae inhabited alternate Melbourne, there is much left to explore when the Shadowfae Chronicles continues with [[ASIN:0312578016 Shadowglass: The Shadowfae Chronicles] ]in April 2010.
Both leading lady succubus Jade and leading man incubus Rajah are enslaved to a demon and both long for the end of their servitude, they are forced to seduce and sometimes kill unable to resist the compulsion of their master's orders. But Rajah has discovered the way to win his freedom, a secret he shares with Jade - to be free, four special souls must be harvested, the only catch is one of the key souls is the same for both Jade and Rajah which means that only one of them can be free.
Shadowfae was an interesting read, and Aussie writer Erica Hayes' tale blurs the line between good and evil. Almost all of the characters in Shadowfae are predators, and even the `good' characters are morally gray. Just as Jade falls under the control of one of the villains of the tale, who uses his vampiric thrall as sort of a date rape drug, eventually the predator falls prey to the sensual power which allows Jade and Rajah to enrapture their victims. And that blur allows for moments where it is possible to actually feel sympathy for the villians even as they pay the price for their misdeeds and also for moments where Haye's reminds us that the leads, though capable of sacrifice and love, are not classic hero/heroine material.
With an incubus and a succubus in the starring roles, it is not surprising that sex plays an important part in Shadowfae, making it somewhat erotic as well as dark. But the sensual language is not as in your face crude as most of the few erotic books I've attempted - I tend to stick to the steamy side of main stream paranormal romance - and not all of it is meant to titillate, much of it is almost setting and texture. But if you are not an erotic reader, you should be forewarned that the sexuality woven throughout Shadowfae comes in pretty much every flavor.
On the whole, I liked Shadowfae, it felt very original and actually had one very poignant scene that captured me. And since Haye's barely scratched the surface of this Fae inhabited alternate Melbourne, there is much left to explore when the Shadowfae Chronicles continues with [[ASIN:0312578016 Shadowglass: The Shadowfae Chronicles] ]in April 2010.
June 27, 2012
Jade is a succubus enslaved to a demon, Kane. Rajahni is an incubus enslaved to the same demon. He learns of a way to break the bond by stealing four souls that match some latin? words on his bracelet or bond. They steal the souls when the body reaches it's climax. Shares this info with Jade since he is in deep puppy love with her.
I read Hex Appeal which included a short, Cherry Kisses, from this series. Loved it so I picked this book up. Didn't even land in the same hemisphere as the short story.
It's a anemic list what I liked in this book. Let's start with that. The author has a brilliant handle on how to write the fire & brimstone demons. Unfortunately, we only get a small cameo of that at the end of the book. Kane was the only interesting character. Author failed to exploit that big time.
Not crazy about succubus stories to begin with. However, I'm willing to overlook certain things in a book if you give me a good story to focus on. This had very little back story, almost no world building and went from sex scene to sex scene. When the character, Jade, isn't having sex with someone she's thinking about it in great detail.
Maybe the sex slave situation isn't my thing, but this was just trashy. Don't even get me started on that ending. (end of the book spoiler)
May try the second book since it is a different cast of characters & doesn't revolve around succubi or incubi. It is a maybe the size of texas!
I read Hex Appeal which included a short, Cherry Kisses, from this series. Loved it so I picked this book up. Didn't even land in the same hemisphere as the short story.
It's a anemic list what I liked in this book. Let's start with that. The author has a brilliant handle on how to write the fire & brimstone demons. Unfortunately, we only get a small cameo of that at the end of the book. Kane was the only interesting character. Author failed to exploit that big time.
Not crazy about succubus stories to begin with. However, I'm willing to overlook certain things in a book if you give me a good story to focus on. This had very little back story, almost no world building and went from sex scene to sex scene. When the character, Jade, isn't having sex with someone she's thinking about it in great detail.
Maybe the sex slave situation isn't my thing, but this was just trashy. Don't even get me started on that ending. (end of the book spoiler)
May try the second book since it is a different cast of characters & doesn't revolve around succubi or incubi. It is a maybe the size of texas!
October 20, 2009
This book was not at all what i expected. I think over all it went beyond what i thought it was going to be, but it was quite the downer on the way. Really not a book to bring a smile to your face. It is described as dark, and there is no questioning it.
For a book about a succubus and and incubus i obviously expect a healthy dose of sex. This book is actually about 90 % sex and not once single scene of it is pleasant. Most of it is rape. There is blood rape, mental rape, and the blatant physically sexual rape. either i an obvious GHB type of way or a slave mystically forced to do as they are told. even in the two scenes where the characters actually wanted to be together it was after another traumatic round with someone they completely and totally despised. this made their coupling more cathartic than anything. i think if i had known this ahead of time i would have shelved the book for awhile. in hind sight i am glad i didn't because overall it was worth the read.
The female lead is Jade. A succubus full of self loathing. She has body image issues, zero self esteem, almost no confidence, and a laundry list of other issues. She belongs to a demon lord named Kane who basically uses her powers to suck souls to deal with the local mob like groups. One of which she is also forced to date. throughout the entire book she is called everything from a dirty whore to a useless filthy slut. at the same time everyone is trying to figure out how to use her and her powers to their advantage.
The male lead is Rajah. he is an incubus also enslaved to Kane. Outwardly he shows confidence and even a little arrogance. inwardly we see he is in the same boat loaded down with the same issues as Jade. no one could ever possibly love him because of the whore slave he is and no one ever should have to.
Kane the demon lord is just as much of a mess in his right. He seems completely in love with Jade in his own special demon kind of way. since he thinks nothing like the rest of the world he goes about it in odd ways. there is also the bouts of murder. he kills out of jealousy, out of loneliness, and maybe just because he is bored. still, i couldnt help but feel bad for him.
The world that was built shows Melbourne infested with the supernatural, though humans are completely unaware thanks to glamor. Fae drugs are the new hot thing. better highs than anything humans ever made. everything about the world is decadent and a display of over indulgence.
the story itself brings the succubus and incubus together to try to win their freedom by sucking out 4 specific souls. only problem is they share one of the four in common. with seemingly no way to be together if only one can be free and therefore live out a human life they both wonder if it is worth loving for even a short time. would either sacrifice everything to set the other free from a life of slavery ?
For a book about a succubus and and incubus i obviously expect a healthy dose of sex. This book is actually about 90 % sex and not once single scene of it is pleasant. Most of it is rape. There is blood rape, mental rape, and the blatant physically sexual rape. either i an obvious GHB type of way or a slave mystically forced to do as they are told. even in the two scenes where the characters actually wanted to be together it was after another traumatic round with someone they completely and totally despised. this made their coupling more cathartic than anything. i think if i had known this ahead of time i would have shelved the book for awhile. in hind sight i am glad i didn't because overall it was worth the read.
The female lead is Jade. A succubus full of self loathing. She has body image issues, zero self esteem, almost no confidence, and a laundry list of other issues. She belongs to a demon lord named Kane who basically uses her powers to suck souls to deal with the local mob like groups. One of which she is also forced to date. throughout the entire book she is called everything from a dirty whore to a useless filthy slut. at the same time everyone is trying to figure out how to use her and her powers to their advantage.
The male lead is Rajah. he is an incubus also enslaved to Kane. Outwardly he shows confidence and even a little arrogance. inwardly we see he is in the same boat loaded down with the same issues as Jade. no one could ever possibly love him because of the whore slave he is and no one ever should have to.
Kane the demon lord is just as much of a mess in his right. He seems completely in love with Jade in his own special demon kind of way. since he thinks nothing like the rest of the world he goes about it in odd ways. there is also the bouts of murder. he kills out of jealousy, out of loneliness, and maybe just because he is bored. still, i couldnt help but feel bad for him.
The world that was built shows Melbourne infested with the supernatural, though humans are completely unaware thanks to glamor. Fae drugs are the new hot thing. better highs than anything humans ever made. everything about the world is decadent and a display of over indulgence.
the story itself brings the succubus and incubus together to try to win their freedom by sucking out 4 specific souls. only problem is they share one of the four in common. with seemingly no way to be together if only one can be free and therefore live out a human life they both wonder if it is worth loving for even a short time. would either sacrifice everything to set the other free from a life of slavery ?
July 9, 2009
The goals of breaking shackles and finding freedom drive this colourful and disgusting vision of Melbourne, where fae and vampires live among humans.
Soul-sucking succubus Jade goes to steal a soul - only someone else has beat her to it. Incubus Rajah is also seeking emancipation, and the two need four particular souls each to score their freedom. But chasing the same soul, they can't both win, and when it comes to love, is it right to save yourself by damning your loved one?
I love my Melbourne as Shadowfae's setting! I don't often go into the city, but I've been to the Arts Centre, the gaslight bursts outside Crown Casino, and Swanston Walk's Starbucks, which all appear in the book. And even for the places I haven't been, I can extrapolate what I've seen to easily imagine those I haven't.
Erica Hayes has a psychedelic imagination that gives the Shadowfae world a vibrant splash, scenes and locations for which I'd love to see fan-art (I'm thinking oil paintings and digital works). The descriptions are inspired, and Chapter 4 in particular is beautifully written. Though it's sad, even icky and slimy death is richly colourful.
There's dark humour, but it fades as the characters fall in love and the stakes get higher. It's an intriguing enough plot, but for reasons unknown I couldn't quite connect with it and the characters. My distracting brain is probably to blame: Jade is predominantly, uh, wet, making me wonder if bacteria is blossoming, maybe some kind of fungus. Thoughts like that tend to spoil the mood, but the threesome scene is seriously sizzling and memorable. M/m and m/m/f action is hot!
And if you were wondering about the "disgusting" mention at the start of this review...Souls can come out in jizz, vomit and other bodily fluids. Jade has to drink those, then vomit them into soultraps. Yucky, but at least it's better than "beautiful souls" or other such purple prose ;-)
Soul-sucking succubus Jade goes to steal a soul - only someone else has beat her to it. Incubus Rajah is also seeking emancipation, and the two need four particular souls each to score their freedom. But chasing the same soul, they can't both win, and when it comes to love, is it right to save yourself by damning your loved one?
I love my Melbourne as Shadowfae's setting! I don't often go into the city, but I've been to the Arts Centre, the gaslight bursts outside Crown Casino, and Swanston Walk's Starbucks, which all appear in the book. And even for the places I haven't been, I can extrapolate what I've seen to easily imagine those I haven't.
Erica Hayes has a psychedelic imagination that gives the Shadowfae world a vibrant splash, scenes and locations for which I'd love to see fan-art (I'm thinking oil paintings and digital works). The descriptions are inspired, and Chapter 4 in particular is beautifully written. Though it's sad, even icky and slimy death is richly colourful.
There's dark humour, but it fades as the characters fall in love and the stakes get higher. It's an intriguing enough plot, but for reasons unknown I couldn't quite connect with it and the characters. My distracting brain is probably to blame: Jade is predominantly, uh, wet, making me wonder if bacteria is blossoming, maybe some kind of fungus. Thoughts like that tend to spoil the mood, but the threesome scene is seriously sizzling and memorable. M/m and m/m/f action is hot!
And if you were wondering about the "disgusting" mention at the start of this review...Souls can come out in jizz, vomit and other bodily fluids. Jade has to drink those, then vomit them into soultraps. Yucky, but at least it's better than "beautiful souls" or other such purple prose ;-)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 31, 2009
The idea for the plot was great, a succubus and incubus trying to free themselves of their "slavery" from the demon Kane but it fell short for me. There was sex on almost every page. If it wasn't the act itself it was of the characters fantasizing about it. I know that there will be sex from a book with a succubus as the main character but it was too much. I felt that the storyline was sacrificed in order to add more sexual content. Ms. Hayes did create an interesting world but it was also dirty and depressing. I did feel bad for Jade, poor thing had a sad life.
It does have a good ending that makes up for the rest of the book. The character I found most interesting was Kane. I think I would be interested in reading the next book in the series if he is in it more. But only if the library has it, I wouldn't spend money on this series.
It does have a good ending that makes up for the rest of the book. The character I found most interesting was Kane. I think I would be interested in reading the next book in the series if he is in it more. But only if the library has it, I wouldn't spend money on this series.
September 16, 2009
Jade was greedy as a human, craving for power, and got what she was looking for in a crazy twisted kind of way. She's a succubus. She got the power to enthrall men and suck their soul out of their body.
It wasn't what she was looking for, and after 140 years, she is blazée and depressed until she meets Rajah.Rajah, the incubus. She despise him and yet is drawn to him in a way she can't explain.She might not know yet, but he holds the key to her freedom. Will she be able to break her shackles?
First let's get a few facts straight.
This is NOT a young adult novel.
It should come with a warning "Please read carefully, you might be aroused".
Erica Hayes' debut novel is well written, and oh so steamy. The vocabulary is really diverse, my french-ness was challenged all the way. There are words in that book I didn't even know exist!The plot is well built, and the world is so special. Described to us clear as crystal, yet no humans knows what laying under their knows. Faeries, vampires, demons.
In the first half of the book I felt drowned in sex scenes. They are incredibly well written, so detailed, it turns you on not matter what. I would compare sex scenes in a book with Ice Cream: No matter how rich and exquisite it is, if you take to much it will make you sick. The was just to much sexuality in the first half for my personal taste, and it weighted down the story.
The second half though, WOW. The plot wrapped up, the intrigue unfolded and it was great! Yes there was still kinky encounters but they felt right. I think in that part of the book the steamy scenes were supporting the plot and not the other way around. It was hot, spicy, and well rounded.
The characters were awesome, I loved how Jade was still naive even though she is over 100 years old. Rajah is lovely in his own damned-soul kind of way, loves her but doesn't know how to handle it. I felt pity for Kane (the demon holding both Jade and Rajah in thrall), the guy is so lonely and depressed.
Overall it is a good book, I hope the second book will follow nicely to the second half of the book.
Great work Erica, I'm waiting for the next round!
It wasn't what she was looking for, and after 140 years, she is blazée and depressed until she meets Rajah.Rajah, the incubus. She despise him and yet is drawn to him in a way she can't explain.She might not know yet, but he holds the key to her freedom. Will she be able to break her shackles?
First let's get a few facts straight.
This is NOT a young adult novel.
It should come with a warning "Please read carefully, you might be aroused".
Erica Hayes' debut novel is well written, and oh so steamy. The vocabulary is really diverse, my french-ness was challenged all the way. There are words in that book I didn't even know exist!The plot is well built, and the world is so special. Described to us clear as crystal, yet no humans knows what laying under their knows. Faeries, vampires, demons.
In the first half of the book I felt drowned in sex scenes. They are incredibly well written, so detailed, it turns you on not matter what. I would compare sex scenes in a book with Ice Cream: No matter how rich and exquisite it is, if you take to much it will make you sick. The was just to much sexuality in the first half for my personal taste, and it weighted down the story.
The second half though, WOW. The plot wrapped up, the intrigue unfolded and it was great! Yes there was still kinky encounters but they felt right. I think in that part of the book the steamy scenes were supporting the plot and not the other way around. It was hot, spicy, and well rounded.
The characters were awesome, I loved how Jade was still naive even though she is over 100 years old. Rajah is lovely in his own damned-soul kind of way, loves her but doesn't know how to handle it. I felt pity for Kane (the demon holding both Jade and Rajah in thrall), the guy is so lonely and depressed.
Overall it is a good book, I hope the second book will follow nicely to the second half of the book.
Great work Erica, I'm waiting for the next round!
April 11, 2011
Here is what Amazon.co.uk says about Shadowfae:
In a world hidden behind shadowy fairy glamour, thieving spirits rob people blind, beautiful banshees mesmerise people with their song, big green trolls kick heads at nightclubs and sadistic vampire Mafiosi rule the streets. Jade, a succubus, is sick of a life spent seducing gangsters and murderers and simpering as a trophy girl for hell's minions. Her quest for freedom brings her face-to-face with Rajah - formidable adversary and irresistible lover. And when Jade discovers the key to breaking her bonds, she must face a terrible choice.
I loved loved loved this book. The characters were original and the world that the author built was spectacular. The thing I liked the most about this book and I have to give Hayes a lot of credit for is even though this book had a lot of sex in it. It was smart sex. It was placed correctly and every time our heroine or hero had sex it was for a purpose and it was plot driven and with these types of books you just don't see that very often. I also loved that it didn't have this fairy tale everyone is happy happy ending. Everyone had their own agenda and didn't care what they had to do or who they had to step on to get what they wanted. That to me is also very rare. When you typically read Paranormal romance these days, its all about the couple and they end up together and snog and screw and everyone ends up together in a happy little package in a house with 2.4 kids a dog and a white picket fence. I love that this book didn't end up like that. It was just more realistic. More cutthroat and it had wanting more. I will definitely be reading the other two books in the series and I personally can't wait.
In a world hidden behind shadowy fairy glamour, thieving spirits rob people blind, beautiful banshees mesmerise people with their song, big green trolls kick heads at nightclubs and sadistic vampire Mafiosi rule the streets. Jade, a succubus, is sick of a life spent seducing gangsters and murderers and simpering as a trophy girl for hell's minions. Her quest for freedom brings her face-to-face with Rajah - formidable adversary and irresistible lover. And when Jade discovers the key to breaking her bonds, she must face a terrible choice.
I loved loved loved this book. The characters were original and the world that the author built was spectacular. The thing I liked the most about this book and I have to give Hayes a lot of credit for is even though this book had a lot of sex in it. It was smart sex. It was placed correctly and every time our heroine or hero had sex it was for a purpose and it was plot driven and with these types of books you just don't see that very often. I also loved that it didn't have this fairy tale everyone is happy happy ending. Everyone had their own agenda and didn't care what they had to do or who they had to step on to get what they wanted. That to me is also very rare. When you typically read Paranormal romance these days, its all about the couple and they end up together and snog and screw and everyone ends up together in a happy little package in a house with 2.4 kids a dog and a white picket fence. I love that this book didn't end up like that. It was just more realistic. More cutthroat and it had wanting more. I will definitely be reading the other two books in the series and I personally can't wait.
February 3, 2017
Not 100% sure how I feel about this one. I finished it. So that's a plus. I have been abandoning a lot of books lately.
The good: I liked the general "plot" - (from Amazon) "Enslaved by a demon lord, Jade is forced to spend her nights seducing vampire gangsters and shapeshifting thugs. After two hundred years as a succubus, she burns for freedom and longs to escape her brutal life as a trophy girl for hell's minions. Then she meets Rajah, an incubus who touches her heart and intoxicates her senses. Rajah shares the same bleak fate as she, and yearns just as desperately for freedom. But the only way for Jade to break her bonds is to betray Rajah—and doom the only man she's ever loved to a lifetime in hell." There were some amazing characters, that if properly developed would have made this a 4-5 star read.
Sounds good, right?
The bad: way way way too much sex. I know she is a succubus and he is an incubus - but OMG. I was skipping through these parts, and that meant every other page! So much "fluid" talk. Bleh! So I muddled through all that, and the characters that you want to really sink your teeth into just disappeared "poof" (you'll see), so you hated them for 5 minutes. Develop the characters that stick around please. Also, the "fae" that you think the story must certainly be about are just annoying beings inhabiting the city all over the place (in glamour, of course). Blue and green and yellow and silver annoying beings hanging and flitting around.
This "world' has some potential, though. That's what kept me going. I was hoping that maybe a book two would fix some of these issues I had, but, honestly, I don't think I will be revisiting this world. That's too bad because I adore Urban Fantasy and would love to find a new series that grabs me.
The good: I liked the general "plot" - (from Amazon) "Enslaved by a demon lord, Jade is forced to spend her nights seducing vampire gangsters and shapeshifting thugs. After two hundred years as a succubus, she burns for freedom and longs to escape her brutal life as a trophy girl for hell's minions. Then she meets Rajah, an incubus who touches her heart and intoxicates her senses. Rajah shares the same bleak fate as she, and yearns just as desperately for freedom. But the only way for Jade to break her bonds is to betray Rajah—and doom the only man she's ever loved to a lifetime in hell." There were some amazing characters, that if properly developed would have made this a 4-5 star read.
Sounds good, right?
The bad: way way way too much sex. I know she is a succubus and he is an incubus - but OMG. I was skipping through these parts, and that meant every other page! So much "fluid" talk. Bleh! So I muddled through all that, and the characters that you want to really sink your teeth into just disappeared "poof" (you'll see), so you hated them for 5 minutes. Develop the characters that stick around please. Also, the "fae" that you think the story must certainly be about are just annoying beings inhabiting the city all over the place (in glamour, of course). Blue and green and yellow and silver annoying beings hanging and flitting around.
This "world' has some potential, though. That's what kept me going. I was hoping that maybe a book two would fix some of these issues I had, but, honestly, I don't think I will be revisiting this world. That's too bad because I adore Urban Fantasy and would love to find a new series that grabs me.
May 5, 2010
This is a very dark tale set in a seedy, drug infested Melbourne where mobster-like demons and vampires are power hungry and will stop at nothing to get what they want, the fae are peddling psychedelic drugs and succubus just want to have sex...wait, no, that's not right. The succubus, Jade is a somewhat innocent soul-stealer and is in love with Raj, an incubus and both are in thrall with Kane, a demon who is in love with Jade but he pimps her out for the souls he desires.
Although I did enjoy the unique storyline, I felt lost at times b/c of its uniqueness...world building was crucial as Hayes created her own world and tossed traditional ideas out the window regarding supernatural creatures. For instance, vampires are not romanticized and the sharing of blood does not bring erotic passion for the victims. One aspect I found particularly disappointing is the succubus and incubus' lack of comfort with their sexual prowess...in fact, they felt somewhat inexperienced at the art of seduction and all that being a sex demon entails.
The book held my attention but would have done better to capitalize on the sexual natures of the main characters, IMO.
✳✳ Reviewed on I ♥ Bookie Nookie Reviews
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Although I did enjoy the unique storyline, I felt lost at times b/c of its uniqueness...world building was crucial as Hayes created her own world and tossed traditional ideas out the window regarding supernatural creatures. For instance, vampires are not romanticized and the sharing of blood does not bring erotic passion for the victims. One aspect I found particularly disappointing is the succubus and incubus' lack of comfort with their sexual prowess...in fact, they felt somewhat inexperienced at the art of seduction and all that being a sex demon entails.
The book held my attention but would have done better to capitalize on the sexual natures of the main characters, IMO.
✳✳ Reviewed on I ♥ Bookie Nookie Reviews
___________________________________________________
If you like this type of book, you might enjoy one of these groups. Check us out!
Menage Readers
Erotic Enchants
Bookie Nookie's Erotic Lending Group
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 2, 2011
Erica's Melbourne isn't one any of us will ever see, and I think that's probably a good thing. The fae, demons, and vamps in this world aren't romantic and sweet. They're cruel, insatiable, and waiting to screw you over the first chance they get. They're all dangerous predators.
Jade is a succubus who belongs to a demon called Kane. She seduces men and steals their souls via some very gruesome ways. Then she vomits the souls into soultraps, but when she finds out that there's a way to break free, she's willing to give it a try. Anything to escape the bonds of slavery. But to do that she'll have to team up with an incubus that challenges her ideals of men, and also has to confront her horrid past.
This story is dark and very raw, definitely not for the fainthearted. There's also a lot of sex and sexual situations. In some places it feels like Jade is in a constant state of arousal, but I suppose that's expected when you're a succubus. ;)
I enjoyed this book - which happens to be the first in a series - but it made me uncomfortable in several places, which was probably the intention. Poor Jade gets caught up in a lot of horrible situations. Erica's writing style is lyrical, honest, and very easy to get swept away in. I think that if you enjoy your urban fantasy sexy, gritty and atmospheric, you'll definitely enjoy this one!
Jade is a succubus who belongs to a demon called Kane. She seduces men and steals their souls via some very gruesome ways. Then she vomits the souls into soultraps, but when she finds out that there's a way to break free, she's willing to give it a try. Anything to escape the bonds of slavery. But to do that she'll have to team up with an incubus that challenges her ideals of men, and also has to confront her horrid past.
This story is dark and very raw, definitely not for the fainthearted. There's also a lot of sex and sexual situations. In some places it feels like Jade is in a constant state of arousal, but I suppose that's expected when you're a succubus. ;)
I enjoyed this book - which happens to be the first in a series - but it made me uncomfortable in several places, which was probably the intention. Poor Jade gets caught up in a lot of horrible situations. Erica's writing style is lyrical, honest, and very easy to get swept away in. I think that if you enjoy your urban fantasy sexy, gritty and atmospheric, you'll definitely enjoy this one!
August 24, 2012
Four books. In my whole life I've only never finished four books.
This is one of them.
The summary is deceiving. It paints a gritty world full of mythical creatures living side-by-side with mortal humans. A succubus yearning to break free of her thrall to a demon overlord. Sounds interesting, right?
What you get is sex-sex-sex-drugs-faeries exploding-sex-vomiting-sex-sex-more vomiting-sex-drugs-alcohol-sex-more drugs and vomiting-blood-vomiting blood-sex-death-more sex-sex ... You get my drift.
There was no plot at all. Or, maybe there was, and I just missed it in the never-ending cycle of sex. (Apparently someone is killing faeries, but who knew?) I'm no prude; I've read plenty of novels where intimacy plays a role in the plot. But I've never read a book where I've had to put it down and not finish it because I was disgusted.
This is one of them.
The summary is deceiving. It paints a gritty world full of mythical creatures living side-by-side with mortal humans. A succubus yearning to break free of her thrall to a demon overlord. Sounds interesting, right?
What you get is sex-sex-sex-drugs-faeries exploding-sex-vomiting-sex-sex-more vomiting-sex-drugs-alcohol-sex-more drugs and vomiting-blood-vomiting blood-sex-death-more sex-sex ... You get my drift.
There was no plot at all. Or, maybe there was, and I just missed it in the never-ending cycle of sex. (Apparently someone is killing faeries, but who knew?) I'm no prude; I've read plenty of novels where intimacy plays a role in the plot. But I've never read a book where I've had to put it down and not finish it because I was disgusted.
September 27, 2010
Fairies on smack.It's brilliantly written but a tough read because the heroine is trapped in such a miserable world.
August 22, 2019
There were some really good and interesting ideas going on but the continuous sex fest became boring, really quick. I get it, succubus, but I've read succubus before and done right it's not just page after page of sex. Anyways, good ideas, interesting characters, dark and gritty but it missed the mark for me. I will continue the series though cause I think there's promise here
January 10, 2010
Dark, seductive and erotic are the perfect words to describe, Shadowfae, the debut release from Erica Hayes. Jade is a one-hundred forty year old succubus who is indentured to the demon lord Kane for a thousand years. She is forced to seduce and suck out the soul of the current victim she is with. She uses sex as a weapon, known as the rapture. Jade hates her immortal life but has no choice to do what Kane orders her to do. Kane loves Jade and wants her to love him, but because of his evil and somewhat degrading ways, she refuses to give him any piece of herself. And because of that, Jade suffers.
Jade is forced to go undercover and find out what one of Kane’s enemies has up his sleeve. If Jade has to use her body to do just that, she will, even if she continues to lose her own soul in the process. What she doesn’t know is that she has a possible way out. Rajahni Seth is an incubus also serving Kane who’s found a way to break away from Kane’s hold. Rajah wants to team up with Jade because he believes she can help him achieve his goal. Jade doesn’t trust Rajah because he can use his sex magic to enthrall her. But after Rajah explains that all they need is to harvest four special souls, Jade makes a pact with him.
Jade and Rajah enter a very dark world filled with dark erotic and sexual horrors. Vampires use their blood to conquer their victims sexually and one such vampire has Jade in his sights because he wants revenge against Rajah. As Jade slowly loses her own sanity because of the intense lust she has for Rajah and those supernatural creatures who tap into her desires, Rajah must make a decision where he can either manipulate Jade into giving him what he wants, or save her soul and find a small taste of happiness for them both.
Shadowfae is not comfortable reading. Sex and desire is used as a weapon and I couldn’t help cringe while reading certain scenes because of the almost violent undercurrent as Jade and Rajah use their powers as a means to and end. Everyone comes across as victim in Shadowfae and Jade suffers most of all. The sex scenes with Jade are almost forced acts even though Jade may seem to be in control. This is mainly how she uses her body, but in regards to her mind, she comes across as almost childlike; scarred and ruined. At least Rajah is there to give her compassion and the strength to go on.
I’m not sure what genre Shadowfae would be. There is a great mix of eroticism; paranormal elements as well as an almost gothic horror type feel that taps into the readers psyche. I can really see Erica Hayes going on to writing great erotic horror. I would have liked to see more interactions between Jade and her demon master Kane, who is underused and not written in a well-rounded way. Also, because sex is used as a violence act, I could find no real enjoyment in Jade and Rajah’s lovemaking.
Shadowfae is the type of read for those who are interested in reading about dark nightmares. Leave all thoughts of happy joyful romantic love to the side when reading this book.
Jade is forced to go undercover and find out what one of Kane’s enemies has up his sleeve. If Jade has to use her body to do just that, she will, even if she continues to lose her own soul in the process. What she doesn’t know is that she has a possible way out. Rajahni Seth is an incubus also serving Kane who’s found a way to break away from Kane’s hold. Rajah wants to team up with Jade because he believes she can help him achieve his goal. Jade doesn’t trust Rajah because he can use his sex magic to enthrall her. But after Rajah explains that all they need is to harvest four special souls, Jade makes a pact with him.
Jade and Rajah enter a very dark world filled with dark erotic and sexual horrors. Vampires use their blood to conquer their victims sexually and one such vampire has Jade in his sights because he wants revenge against Rajah. As Jade slowly loses her own sanity because of the intense lust she has for Rajah and those supernatural creatures who tap into her desires, Rajah must make a decision where he can either manipulate Jade into giving him what he wants, or save her soul and find a small taste of happiness for them both.
Shadowfae is not comfortable reading. Sex and desire is used as a weapon and I couldn’t help cringe while reading certain scenes because of the almost violent undercurrent as Jade and Rajah use their powers as a means to and end. Everyone comes across as victim in Shadowfae and Jade suffers most of all. The sex scenes with Jade are almost forced acts even though Jade may seem to be in control. This is mainly how she uses her body, but in regards to her mind, she comes across as almost childlike; scarred and ruined. At least Rajah is there to give her compassion and the strength to go on.
I’m not sure what genre Shadowfae would be. There is a great mix of eroticism; paranormal elements as well as an almost gothic horror type feel that taps into the readers psyche. I can really see Erica Hayes going on to writing great erotic horror. I would have liked to see more interactions between Jade and her demon master Kane, who is underused and not written in a well-rounded way. Also, because sex is used as a violence act, I could find no real enjoyment in Jade and Rajah’s lovemaking.
Shadowfae is the type of read for those who are interested in reading about dark nightmares. Leave all thoughts of happy joyful romantic love to the side when reading this book.
January 1, 2011
From Fantasticfiction.com:
Imagine a secret world veiled in fairy glamour and brimming with unearthly delights. A city swarming with half-mad fairies, where thieving spriggans rob you blind, beautiful banshees mesmerize you with their song, and big green trolls bust heads at nightclubs. And once you're in, there's no escape.
Enslaved by a demon lord, Jade is forced to spend her nights seducing vampire gangsters and shapeshifting thugs. After two hundred years as a succubus, she burns for freedom and longs to escape her brutal life as a trophy girl for hell's minions. Then she meets Rajah, an incubus who touches her heart and intoxicates her senses. Rajah shares the same bleak fate as she, and yearns just as desperately for freedom. But the only way for Jade to break her bonds is to betray Rajah - and doom the only man she's ever loved to a lifetime in hell.
The Review:
Shadowfae it the first novel of author Erica Hayes, and the first in the Shadowfae Chronicles. It pulled me into the seedy underground of Melbourne and into the dark realm of the fae. It was fast paced and well written and it had me reading until I couldn't keep my eyes open anymore.
The world that she creates is complex and diverse. It flows with a richness that draws me into their lives. It's not the usual fluff with the fae. Most of the time you can tell the good from the bad; here they flow together, indistinguishable from one another. The characters to some extent are all evil, making this not a realm of black and white but one of multiple shades of grey.
As a succubus Jade is complex and pitiable, I was swept away by the rapture of her sexual need and the shame it causes her. She has a serious case of bad self-esteem and emotional issues from over a hundred years of sexual abuse. She still comes out somehow as endearing. She desires to be wanted and loved, instead of looked down on as a whore. Rahjani Seth an Incubus, is charming and cunning and when he falls for Jade it's so heart warming. He is erverything she could ever desire, but doesn't feel she deserves.
The villians in this story are all so wonderfully complex. While most are so vile and deserve the deaths that are coming for them. I sometimes found myself sympathizing with some of them. Kane is a demon, that intrigues me. We dont get to see him much in this story, the brief glimpses at him leave me wanting to learn more about him.
This novel was wonderfully written with a concise descriptive tone that I like. This novel won't appeal to everyone because of it's graphic nature, I couldn't help but enjoy the ride. With only the tip of the fae realm Erica Hayes created being revealed, I can't wait to read more of this wonderfully grim series.
Imagine a secret world veiled in fairy glamour and brimming with unearthly delights. A city swarming with half-mad fairies, where thieving spriggans rob you blind, beautiful banshees mesmerize you with their song, and big green trolls bust heads at nightclubs. And once you're in, there's no escape.
Enslaved by a demon lord, Jade is forced to spend her nights seducing vampire gangsters and shapeshifting thugs. After two hundred years as a succubus, she burns for freedom and longs to escape her brutal life as a trophy girl for hell's minions. Then she meets Rajah, an incubus who touches her heart and intoxicates her senses. Rajah shares the same bleak fate as she, and yearns just as desperately for freedom. But the only way for Jade to break her bonds is to betray Rajah - and doom the only man she's ever loved to a lifetime in hell.
The Review:
Shadowfae it the first novel of author Erica Hayes, and the first in the Shadowfae Chronicles. It pulled me into the seedy underground of Melbourne and into the dark realm of the fae. It was fast paced and well written and it had me reading until I couldn't keep my eyes open anymore.
The world that she creates is complex and diverse. It flows with a richness that draws me into their lives. It's not the usual fluff with the fae. Most of the time you can tell the good from the bad; here they flow together, indistinguishable from one another. The characters to some extent are all evil, making this not a realm of black and white but one of multiple shades of grey.
As a succubus Jade is complex and pitiable, I was swept away by the rapture of her sexual need and the shame it causes her. She has a serious case of bad self-esteem and emotional issues from over a hundred years of sexual abuse. She still comes out somehow as endearing. She desires to be wanted and loved, instead of looked down on as a whore. Rahjani Seth an Incubus, is charming and cunning and when he falls for Jade it's so heart warming. He is erverything she could ever desire, but doesn't feel she deserves.
The villians in this story are all so wonderfully complex. While most are so vile and deserve the deaths that are coming for them. I sometimes found myself sympathizing with some of them. Kane is a demon, that intrigues me. We dont get to see him much in this story, the brief glimpses at him leave me wanting to learn more about him.
This novel was wonderfully written with a concise descriptive tone that I like. This novel won't appeal to everyone because of it's graphic nature, I couldn't help but enjoy the ride. With only the tip of the fae realm Erica Hayes created being revealed, I can't wait to read more of this wonderfully grim series.
January 6, 2010
Ever since I read the prequel Hellcursed a few months back, Shadowfae has been a book I've been looking forward to reading. I found Shadowfae to be a very intense, dark, erotic story that was at times disturbing, in a fascinating way. With Jade being a succubus, I was expecting a sensually charged read, which I did get but I also got a look at the unsavory, darker side of being a succubus enthralled to a demon lord's every command. This gave Shadowfae a very gritty and raw edge.
As far as the characters go, I found Jade and Rajah to be mirror opposites of each other. Jade isn't your typical tough, self-confident heroine usual found in urban fantasy. She is very insecure about herself and her sexuality; which can be tough on your psyche when your a succubus. But Rajah is very confident about his sexuality and uses it to his every advantage without any qualms. The character that fascinated me the most was actually Kane, the demon lord who enslaved both Jade and Rajah. He had an enigmatic air about him that made me want to get know him better. I hope there is more about Kane in this series' future books.
The story itself is unique and well written with plenty of enticing twists, told from the main characters' point of views. One of the highlights reading this book was Ms. Hayes’s rich style of writing. She was able to transport me to the oppressive heat, sights and sounds of Melbourne; and made it very easy to imagine the slew of supernatural characters from fairies to vampires with charismatic and sinister personalities. I would absolutely recommend Shadowfae to anyone looking for a gritty urban fantasy that is heavy with dark, erotic paranormal romance elements.
3-1/2 Stars
January 20, 2010
In Shadowfae, Hayes brings to life a sensory feast of glittering and dangerous creatures, an urban fantasy realm existing side by side with humans in the magnificent shadow of Melbourne. In the luminous underbelly of that cosmopolitan city breathes a current of life filled with incubi, demon lords, banshees, vampire syndicates, spriggans, fairies..the Shadowfae.
The lives of two entities take center stage in Hayes’ dark treat: Jade a succubus, and Rajah, and incubus form an unlikely partnership to free themselves of the mystical bonds enslaving them to a demon lord. According to legend, if the enslaved capture and devour four souls, four particular souls, then the bonds that hold them prisoner will disintegrate. Jade, who has been enslaved for over 140 years, and Rajah just over 300 years, the possibility of freedom is too much to ignore. Even if it means that one will have to brutally betray the other.
As Jade and Rajah hunt down the four souls at great personal cost, and fight those who would keep them apart, each has to examine what immortality means. Greater yet, to learn the sacrifice of love, happiness, and its boundless capacity when sorrow shadows it’s every move.
Breathless and exquisite imagery are illuminated by Hayes’ sure hand as Shadowfae captures readers in its edgy, twisted fairy tale and never lets go. Hayes shatters the dreamy shallow urban fantasy romance with a stygian tale that examines the heart-wrenching journey of two beings who will never capitulate, and never stop until they are free and their souls are joined…
©Nicola Mattos www.fiendishlybookish.com
The lives of two entities take center stage in Hayes’ dark treat: Jade a succubus, and Rajah, and incubus form an unlikely partnership to free themselves of the mystical bonds enslaving them to a demon lord. According to legend, if the enslaved capture and devour four souls, four particular souls, then the bonds that hold them prisoner will disintegrate. Jade, who has been enslaved for over 140 years, and Rajah just over 300 years, the possibility of freedom is too much to ignore. Even if it means that one will have to brutally betray the other.
As Jade and Rajah hunt down the four souls at great personal cost, and fight those who would keep them apart, each has to examine what immortality means. Greater yet, to learn the sacrifice of love, happiness, and its boundless capacity when sorrow shadows it’s every move.
Breathless and exquisite imagery are illuminated by Hayes’ sure hand as Shadowfae captures readers in its edgy, twisted fairy tale and never lets go. Hayes shatters the dreamy shallow urban fantasy romance with a stygian tale that examines the heart-wrenching journey of two beings who will never capitulate, and never stop until they are free and their souls are joined…
©Nicola Mattos www.fiendishlybookish.com
February 27, 2011
Very dark with a kind of psychotic happy ever after. The next book doesn't seem to be about the same characters, so I'll put it on my eventual read list.
Jade and Rajah are enslaved succubus/incubus by a demon lord who just wants to be loved. That's the part I didn't get, why would he be so fixated with Jade? There's a lot of soul sucking going on with throwing up afterward. Do not read this book if you are eating or have just ate.
Jade and Rajah are enslaved succubus/incubus by a demon lord who just wants to be loved. That's the part I didn't get, why would he be so fixated with Jade? There's a lot of soul sucking going on with throwing up afterward. Do not read this book if you are eating or have just ate.
December 1, 2011
**Couldn't finish
Shadowfae started out having potential to be a good read. However, it failed. I like a bit of sexiness in the books I read, but this was taken way overboard, to the point of ridiculousness. An easy comparison to this book is Ramen noodles... all substance, no nutrition.
Shadowfae started out having potential to be a good read. However, it failed. I like a bit of sexiness in the books I read, but this was taken way overboard, to the point of ridiculousness. An easy comparison to this book is Ramen noodles... all substance, no nutrition.
May 10, 2010
Honestly, don't quite remember it because I read it so long ago but I did just get really excited that there are other books in the series
April 4, 2013
Quite possibly one of the richest prose styles I have ever read. Well worth a read for anyone looking for urban fantasy with sexy overtures.
August 2, 2019
I got to chase the Future!Melbourne of Sally Rogers-Davidson's "Spare Parts" with Fae!Melbourne - a place where banshees doze on the pigeon crispers down by the casino, feral faeries play in the clubs and Italian vampires hold court in Lygon St cafes. It's a well-written version of a city I love, and I forgave a lot for it.
Unfortunately, I had to.
Hayes' protagonist, the ironically named "Jade," is a 150+ year-old succubus with the character of an insecure teenage babygoth. In between whining about how no-one could ever love her given her good looks, seductive glamour and bedroom prowess, she's getting herself into all sorts of fixes about which she really should know better if she's managed to survive a hundred years in thrall to a demon, and being startlingly ignorant about the world in which she has lived all her unnaturally prolonged life.
Of course, when Hayes isn't jarringly switching out of Jade's first-person angstular narrative for a random paragraph or few, she's also exoticising the Indian incubus in a way that makes my teeth clench - "exotic Hindi Accent" and magical cardamom aroma-cloud and all. The pacing is kinda crap, the resolutions of most of the plot threads are baffling, and while with a succubus as protagonist the sex was to be expected, for the most part it was just tedious.
I'd like to read more of this take on Melbourne, but I'm not sure I can stomach an author who can actually write things like "Vampire blood, the date-rape drug from hell" without irony, or who expects "My flesh ached, lumpy with overworked glands and swollen tight from fucking, but having him inside me felt so good..." to add to the eroticism of the single "romantic" sex scene in the piece.
Though it was entertaining coming across a review on the Web that cheerfully stated: "Our story is set in Melbourne, Australia. Melbourne is infamous for it’s[sic] dangerous night life and gang land wars." Er, it is? Obviously I haven't been paying attention... although I suspect what I haven't been paying attention to is the successfully exported, and fictitious, TV series being produced there...
(Is it really?)
Unfortunately, I had to.
Hayes' protagonist, the ironically named "Jade," is a 150+ year-old succubus with the character of an insecure teenage babygoth. In between whining about how no-one could ever love her given her good looks, seductive glamour and bedroom prowess, she's getting herself into all sorts of fixes about which she really should know better if she's managed to survive a hundred years in thrall to a demon, and being startlingly ignorant about the world in which she has lived all her unnaturally prolonged life.
Of course, when Hayes isn't jarringly switching out of Jade's first-person angstular narrative for a random paragraph or few, she's also exoticising the Indian incubus in a way that makes my teeth clench - "exotic Hindi Accent" and magical cardamom aroma-cloud and all. The pacing is kinda crap, the resolutions of most of the plot threads are baffling, and while with a succubus as protagonist the sex was to be expected, for the most part it was just tedious.
I'd like to read more of this take on Melbourne, but I'm not sure I can stomach an author who can actually write things like "Vampire blood, the date-rape drug from hell" without irony, or who expects "My flesh ached, lumpy with overworked glands and swollen tight from fucking, but having him inside me felt so good..." to add to the eroticism of the single "romantic" sex scene in the piece.
Though it was entertaining coming across a review on the Web that cheerfully stated: "Our story is set in Melbourne, Australia. Melbourne is infamous for it’s[sic] dangerous night life and gang land wars." Er, it is? Obviously I haven't been paying attention... although I suspect what I haven't been paying attention to is the successfully exported, and fictitious, TV series being produced there...
(Is it really?)
May 6, 2017
If you were someone who really wanted to write about sex, then you might imagine a world in which sex is less of a taboo. A world in which creatures exist that need sex on a frequent basis for sustenance, perhaps. Hello 'Shadowfae'.
Filled with sex, sex and more sex, there is actually also a story somewhere in there. It can be found in between the abundance of descriptions of fluids (ick), smells (ew) and sensations (okaaaay). And really, there is a lot. And it's detailed, and graphic. In fact there is so much focus on this that I seriously got as bit grossed out at times.
It actually comes as a suprise, then, that the story isn't actually half bad. And I guess if you're into erotica there's a good chance you might actually like this book.
Filled with sex, sex and more sex, there is actually also a story somewhere in there. It can be found in between the abundance of descriptions of fluids (ick), smells (ew) and sensations (okaaaay). And really, there is a lot. And it's detailed, and graphic. In fact there is so much focus on this that I seriously got as bit grossed out at times.
It actually comes as a suprise, then, that the story isn't actually half bad. And I guess if you're into erotica there's a good chance you might actually like this book.
February 16, 2020
Not exactly what I was expecting, good story, a romantic 'undertone'; confusing at times, a bit gory, threesomes and well some pretty interesting paranormals. Overall though I did enjoy it, the writing is great and the world/descriptions/character development is very good. I would have definitely rated this book at 3.5, I liked it, just not enough.
June 17, 2020
Pretty full on. Trying to be too many things at once and not succeeding. Really awkward, weird scene with a fairy called Nyx who seemed to be childlike. I get the feeling the author didn't want to write a 'typical' fae erotica book, so she made the erotica gritty. Problem being that no one likes sand in their butt crack. It was just very uncomfortable. Also it's been done before.
September 14, 2022
This had an interesting premise, and the sexy scenes were really hot. But the plot was... hard to follow? There were several bad guys who were basically interchangeable jerks, some of whom even had similar names (DiLuca vs Luna). I did appreciate that the male protagonist was Indian, and the setting being in Australia was fun for a change. Overall, though, I doubt I'll continue with this series.
January 28, 2022
2.5 stars. It wasn’t bad actually, it was dark and gritty in some ways which I like. I didn’t like the main characters low self esteem and self slut shaming though. That along with some instalove kind of ruined it for me.
April 8, 2024
Left much to be desired. There really wasn’t much of a plot and the characters didn’t have substance. By the time I was half way through I was skimming to see what the end would be just to finish the book.
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