Originally Human

World of the Lupi #1.5

by Eileen Wilks

Molly doesn't look her age. In fact, Molly never will, having already been around for centuries with no signs of wear. That's because Molly is a succubus—not demonic, but cursed. A victim rather than victimizer—and more than sympathetic to the gorgeous and naked man she finds hiding in the woods. Unlike Molly though, he has no memory of his past—only that he’s being hunted for reasons he can’t explain. Now they must both try and solve the riddle of his origin before his past—or even hers—reaches out of the darkness to destroy them.

Originally published in the anthology Cravings .

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal Romance, Magic, Novella

103 pages, ebook

First published August 7, 2012

About the author

Eileen Wilks’ first book, a Silhouette Desire published in 1996, hit the USA Today Bestseller List and was nominated for Romantic Times' Best First Short Contemporary award. Since then, her books have appeared consistently on national bestseller lists. With thirty two books in print and novellas in nine anthologies, she has been a finalist in the prestigious Rita Awards three times, as well as receiving several nominations from Romantic Times, including one for Career Achievement in Series Romantic Suspense.

Each book in her World of the Lupi series gains a larger audience. It was originally sold in the Romance section of bookstores, but more and more you will be able to find copies cross-shelved under Sci-Fi and Fantasy as the popularity of the series grows!

Eileen has lived in the West Texas town of Midland, TX for over 30 years--three years as a young teen, and the remaining years since she moved back here as an adult. When she first started writing over 10 years ago, it hit her like the first drink for an alcoholic . . . or the first kiss for Romeo and Juliet.

She came to writing romance in a roundabout way. Having read and loved science fiction for years, that’s where she first tried her hand when the writing bug bit. Somehow her stories always ended up having a strong romantic subplot, but she hadn’t read a romance since the early 80’s and didn’t think “those little books” were her kind of stories. But when a friend in her critique group began working on a romance novel, Wilks decided she needed to give the genre another try. She asked her friend to recommend some titles--and quicker than you can say “Jayne Ann Krentz,” she fell in love. The genre had been busy growing up while she wasn’t watching. These days, with romances comprising over 50% of the mass market books published in the U.S., there are romances to appeal to almost every taste--historicals, paranormals and contemporaries that range from romantic suspense to romantic comedy, from inspirational to sizzling.

Eileen covered a lot of territory before coming home to Midland, having lived in Canada and Venezuela as well as twelve U.S. cities in five states.

Profile taken from the author's site with her permission.

Reviews

[Jilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Usually I don't bother much with the "half books" in a series. It's like a cupcake wrapper, sure there's a little cake and frosting on it, but you toss it in the trash and move on to the cake. (Then, you hope your dog doesn't do a late-night dumpster dive to eat the wrapper. Am I right? Okay, my dog has a problem. She's eating a Taco Bell wrapper right now. Dammit!)

But, this book has a lot of cake in it. As a matter of fact, the second half of this story answers a lot of questions about the first book. It also shows us that these two assholes in this first book were the ones who started a lot of trouble for some of our favorite first book people. Jerks!

So, if you are reading the series, don't skip this one. Also, I think my Lab is part goat.

[edge of bubble · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now, that's a cover! We have a lovely chest and yummy abs illuminated by the magical lights of a book. It's like seeing the last unicorn!

This novella tells us what happened to Cullen in the first book when he woke up with his memory fuzzy. But I think it's main purpose is to help out the reader with the magic system and the world building.

Unlike Temting Danger, here we are given direct information and it's like what is magic and realms for dummies. But it does not feel like an info dump. Eileen Wilks weaves her magic in a way that makes the hand-holding turn into a beautiful story that feels natural.

Ending line of the book is awesome! So sweet...

[Montzalee Wittmann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally Human
By Eileen Wilks
It's a short story about a gal that finds a naked man along the beach at night. She is not a normal woman, and he is not a normal man, but she isn't sure what he is. It's a bit spicy too. Entertaining.

[Estara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hadn't discovered the series when this story came out in an anthology so it's nice to be able to get it singly. This is not a story within the main plot or even with the main heroine/hero pair, but if you wanted to know why Cullen has those amazing shields he has, you'll find out here.

Personally speaking, now I know the heroine and hero here, I'd like to meet them in the main plot again, maybe when the final confrontation with the evil old one comes up. It's amazing that Wilks can create fully breathing characters, there's even a well-developed side character apart from Cullen included, in the short span available in this short story.

Well worth reading for fans of the series

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I missed this novella when I first started reading the series so I was excited to come back and get this early story in the World of the Lupi universe.

I am guessing that chronologically it's either a prequel or just after book one in the series so either could be read first since it's completely separate from the first story.

The story begins with Molly walking along the beach in Galveston pondering the fact that once again she must leave her home because the local humans are starting to notice that she doesn't age. She was once human long before, but was then cursed to be a succubus.

Her meandering walk is interrupted when a naked man appears at her feet. He is terribly wounded, but she can tell by the magical trace on him that he is not human. When he rouses, they are both wary, but he shares that he has no memories prior to seeing her. He only knows that someone is after him.

Molly isn't sure why, but she wants to help and protect then man she dubs 'Michael' since he obviously struggles and is from another realm. But the hunters are close and she must help Michael evade them. Michael only seeks to protect her even if it's from the danger he brings with him.

The was a sweet story and full even if it was short. I enjoyed the mystery of Michael's origins and then the tender romance. The twists were good.

I listened to this one as an dramatic production audio freebie at Graphic Audio. The narrator and voices for the characters were really well done. And I would happily continue the series on audio with that quality of a group of narrator and voice actors.

All in all, this was a strong little installment in the series that I can recommend to Urban Fantasy fans.

[Jen Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first started this story, I thought it was a standalone, but I was quite excited when I realized the story intersected with events of Tempting Danger. In the first World of the Lupi book, one of the werewolves –Cullen– was captured by the bad guys after he was knocked out in a chain of events, off page. The story here is about the characters who he interacted with in those missing hours. But if you didn’t read that book, don’t worry. This holds up just fine as a standalone.

Molly is a succubus who stumbles upon a mysterious, injured man as he appears on the street near her home. She quickly finds that he has no idea who he is or how he got there, and despite her better judgement, she decides to help him. She calls on a Wiccan friend for help and although they learn some things, like the fact that he is from another world and understands magic, his true identity remains a mystery. So she reaches out to Cullen, hoping his sorcery gifts can help unravel the mystery of the man she decides to call Michael.

I really enjoyed this story. I appreciate how Molly really tried to do right by Michael and the people important to her in life. And I was intrigued by Michael. I liked how his story revealed gradually to eventually show an identity I never expected. There is good sexual tension and just enough of a tie to the first book in the series that it felt like part of something bigger.

You could enjoy the series without this story, I think, but it’s worth reading if you get the chance.

Rating: B

[Louisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved reading this story again, knowing what I know now, being familiar with this world! So great! Really hope these two will be in the series again (I think they make an appearance in Dragon Blood, but I'm not sure.)

*First read November 28th, 2014*
Great story, really funny, I enjoyed her voice, it was just awesome!

[Shelby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun little novella that I'm rounding up to 4 Stars for the quality of the writing. I would have really enjoyed this had it been just a little longer. I feel like we were just getting to really know Michael and Molly when things ended. Michael's amnesia and the unique nature of what he is keeps things moving as of course they're being tracked. I wonder if we'll see more of these two in later novels since the threat to them isn't really gone though they can disguise themselves easier. And well Michael truly is unique. :) They were great together and I liked both as characters. I just wanted a little more time for things to develop.

[Maura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Molly was originally human...300 years ago. But then she was cursed by the bad goddess and became a succubus, feeding off the sexual energy of men. She's trying to keep a low profile and avoid people realizing she isn't aging in her home of Galveston, Tx, when a man appears out of nowhere at his feet. He has no memory of what was after him or who he was before he appeared, but she names him Michael. Being a succubus, Molly can't avoid her attraction to Michael, but he draws his energy from node magic, so his supplies of sexual energy are limitless - and it doesn't hurt that she's falling in love with him. It's soon pretty clear that Michael has a vast knowledge of magic and for that reason, the Aza are after him. Molly helps him get to Cullen, who may be able to find a way to hide their energies from those who would seek them.

I know this says this is 1.5 in the series, coming after Tempting Danger, but I feel like this would be better read before the first book. In that book where Cullen is remembering Molly and Michael's visit I had no idea what was going on...but now I do. This comes before Tempting Danger - just saying. The book itself is pretty good. There's a good feel for the romance and attraction between Molly and Michael, it doesn't happen on fast forward and it doesn't feel like insta-love. The story was fully developed and nothing felt short-cutted. I'm beginning to appreciate the authors who can pull that off...apparently it's not easy in 50 pages. Only thing I didn't care for was how confusing the description of the final ritual was - I still have no idea what happened to their energies to make them invisible to the Aza but whatever. The story was great.

[Ivy · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 🌟

Nice to see Molly and Michael in a story.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely little read from the Lupi universe, and the solution to a mystery that’s been around since book 1! I liked Molly and Michael a lot, and I would love it if they show up for the final novel in the series.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

THIS REVIEW SPECIFICALLY APPLIES TO THE DRAMATIZED AUDIO VERSION

Original Post: http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201...

I’m Listening: Eileen Wilks, ORIGINALLY HUMAN

A reader recommended this series recently and looking into it I discovered this novella was available for free as a DRAMATIZED AUDIO BOOK. Well, I needed something I could “read” while my hands were otherwise occupied and this was in the right place, at the right time and the price couldn’t be beat.

This was a great story: unusual, mysterious, very, very sexy/erotic, great world building too! My understanding of the characters was limited by the actors portraying them in the dramatized audio.

Dramatized audio must be similar to the radio drama of old. Only they didn’t have sex acts and orgasms being vocalized. I’m kind of new to audiobooks, and I’m not a devotee. But of this dramatic interpretation with actors reading the various parts, background noise and the moans, sighs and grunts of sex; of this I am most assuredly not a fan.

The voice of the main narrator was such that my husband asked me to listen to it with earphones because he found it annoying. The actors voice was clear, her sound was not nasal, but it reminded both of us of A Prairie Home Companion. And the sex, well, imagine if the actors on A Prairie Home Companion having dramatized sex. No, on second thought don’t – it will set your libido back.

Otherwise, I really want to read more of Wilkss WORLD OF THE LUPI BOOKS (reading order) books. I understand they need to be read in order but that this is introductory. I think I would really like this series, and even though this was a free intro, I think I would have been better off reading it than listening to it.

[Melindeeloo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this way back when in an anthology and liked it a lot.

Sept 2013 - Right now the audio dramatization is free here

The audio dramatization was odd - the voices for Michael and Cullen didn't fit my mental image (Cullen especially came off a just skeezy and not charmingly skeezy like he is in the book) and listening to the love scenes dramatized was really weird (I think I could have handled the description of the 'action' better than the moans and other such sounds dramatizing what was going on).

I was also surprised that I didn't pick up on the fact that the scene with Cullen in the cabin intersects with one of the full length books (in that one we see Michael and Molly leaving)when I read this way back when. It was sort of timely to 'read' this story again after reading Ritual Magic, because I was just wondering if it was about time for Michael to turn up in the series again and how close to the end of the series we are getting.

[Kerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, this is such a lovely little story. I first read it when it was in Cravings and when I saw it coming out as an ebook single, I immediately pre-ordered it.

It's really a piece entirely set up to finish with the pun at the end. Normally, that would drive me crazy, but it this case it works a treat and Wilks not only gets away with it, but makes it work a charm.

I don't know if it helps to have read any of Wilks' Lupi books before, but it's certainly not required.

So yes, a lovely story, lovely all over again on a reread.

[Angela James · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm such a fan of this series. I bought this, despite having read it in the anthology, so I could own it standalone. I recommend this whole series (with maybe a one or two book exception) to fans of urban fantasy/paranormal romance.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must-read for those interested in learning about Cullen's issues -mysterious memory loss and very strong shields- following a visit from his old friend, Molly and her companion.

Thanks to Daffodil for reminding me to read all of Wilks' WotL short stories.

[K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Since the events in this book happen concurrently with book 1, Tempting Danger , reading guides suggest that it be read as book 1.5. I strongly suggest that it be read after book 2, Mortal Danger. Explanations about Molly's abilities will make more sense.
(This story can be found by itself as an e-book or in the compilation Cravings.)

It looks like in 2012, around when book 9 was published, Wilks decided to go ahead & release many of the novellas she'd written over the years...stories that went with her novels, but for one reason or another couldn't be included. This is one of those.

In "Tempting Danger," Cullen (a werewolf/sorcerer) meets with a friend, Molly, and her mysterious accomplice, "Michael", to exchange illicit spells. Cullen is left unconscious with scrambled memories of the meeting & shortly afterward is kidnapped by the villain. This book contains the story of who Molly and Michael actually are.

Molly is a succubus who was cursed with her condition over 300 years ago. She had been chosen to be the avatar of the werewolves' enemy Goddess, but prior to the rite, 'sullied' herself by having sex. *sigh* Because evil goddesses really get a boner for having virgin avatars? Whatever. So, she's cursed with being part-demon: a succubus. Michael mysteriously appears in a wash of magic & no memory of who (or what) he is. They must escape the same villains that are in "Tempting Danger", as Michael is their first choice for their rites (but end up grabbing Cullen as a replacement). Michael is actually a physical construct that contains/IS the big "Magic Bible" that was lost over 300 years ago.

[Starfire · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this novella much more this time around than I did the first time - I can't find a review of it from earlier, so apparently I read it during a time I wasn't reviewing the books I read. But my memory of it is of a vaguely interesting story that took WAY too long to get to the point where I recognised a character in it.

Plus, I think last time I read it several years after I'd read the early World of the Lupi books, so the significance of the two character names - Molly and Michael (and yes, I can't help wondering if they're a subtle nod to the Dresden Files, although I suspect this predates much of the series... actually no, Mr Butcher had just released Cold Days when this came out, so the Carpenters were well-established in the urban fantasy world at this point) - didn't really register for me.

Perhaps the format is also a key part of the enjoyment this time around too. I'm now used to hearing... whoever it is they get to voice Cullen in the main books... as that character. So when he turns up around two thirds of the way through, it feels like I'm connecting with an old friend (and like I said in Night Season - the stories with him and Cynna in them are definitely my favourites)

And the pun at the end is... just perfect. Looking forward to diving back into Mortal Sins next.

[Trix · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit of an anticlimatic ending but I liked Molly and Michael. They make a good pair. It was also nice to have a clear picture of the moment when Molly and Michael met with Cullen. I was left quite curious about what went on at that moment in time. This made me even more eager to have a whole book dedicated to Cullen.

I'm a bit unnerved by all the arousing and sudden sex scenes thrown into the mix. I admit all the paranormal books I've read so far left the romantic bits pretty much faded in the background so it gets a little annoying when I'm pushed from the mystery and magic of the story. My nitpick.

Molly had some interesting succubus abilities: quite neat to go transparent; and age herself through starvation. And a nice surprise at the end to discover who (or better yet, what) Michael was. How fascinating to be the storage of knowledge come alive. Their happily ever after was a bit abrupt, much like in Tempting Danger. But I do hope we'll come across them later in the series.

[Karin · Rating 4 out of 5]

World of the Lupi Book One.Five.

When Molly finds a naked man without a memory near her home, she takes him under her wing. Calling on a friend, Molly and Erin try to help the newly named Michael to find his memory. When Erin is forcefully ejected from Michael's mind, she loses the memory of their encounter and Molly must face the law enforcement officer at her door. Now Molly and Michael are travelling to meet with another friend, Cullen, who might be able to help them.

If you're looking for some backstory to the world of the lupi, this is the book for you. It gives information without an info dump.

GraphicAudio Review:
This is basically an audio play as opposed to an audiobook. The narrators speak the words on the page, but music, sound effects, and actors "playing" the roles in the background as well. Think of a movie with a narrator's thoughts overhead.

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I came across World of the Lupi on Audible while looking for Graphic Audio titles to add to my wishlist. I was VERY pleasantly surprised when the entire Graphic Audio World of the Lupi series was available with my membership.

The way World of the Lupi is listed on Graphic Audio, Originally Human was supposed to be a prequel. A prequel I enjoyed quite a bit and was later bummed to find out the series wasn't about Molly and Michael and that it isn't exactly a prequel.

Novella length stories are very hit or miss for me, but I was drawn into this world very quickly and loved the uniqueness of it. Would I like more of Molly and Michael and to see how all of that ties into the series? Yes, yes I would.

[Hulda · Rating 2 out of 5]

The audiobook service I use listed this book as the first in the series. It's clearly written as an extra material for people who are already in love with the series and it cannot stand on its own. I'm going to give Tempting Danger a chance, but I did not enjoy this. It was just confusing from beginning to the end and then there was the worst type of insta-love imaginable. No build-up really. It came as a total surprise to me. The backstory didn't make sense either. and I didn't understand the ending at all. Why all the back and forth and having to leave only to end up where you began? Maybe Tempting Danger will make sense of it.

[E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally part of the "Cravings" anthology. I love stories that explore the idea of sentience developing from an unexpected conglomeration and this is a delicious example of that. Truly an example of finding the perfect mate, with a glimpse of Nicolas Cullen before some of his sharper edges are blunted. I had forgotten about this story, but it certainly helps explain some of his future obsessions! A fun trip to the world of the Lupi, reminding one that there are plenty of other beings affected by the shifts in magic in the world.

[M · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listed to Graphic Audio books while I am working and I bought this one because the world sounded interesting and it was only a couple hours long.

It took me a little bit but I did end up liking it. I enjoyed Molly and Michael and their relationship. It was very cute and I liked that they were happy together.

While this story was an enjoyable listen ultimately I do not think I am going to start reading the whole series since it focuses on different characters.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good novella that hit all the right buttons. It had interesting, likeable characters, strong world building, action, some mystery, good sex scenes and a logical plot. This is the prequal to a 13 book series and I am going to see what happens next. I had fun reading this and am looking forward to seeing what the author does when she has a whole book's worth of space to work with.

[Meggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally Human is an enjoyable novella, but from the plotted side way to short, but also sweetly sexy. We got to meet Molly and Michael, how they met and bonded. We got to know Collin, too. So in overall good short romance.

[Marsha Wilde]

I think this should be a prequel (World of Lupi 0.5), as it happens before Tempting Danger (book 1), and contains no spoiler for same.

[MELISSA · Rating 4 out of 5]

Introduction to the world of the lupi. I read this after reading the entire series. I see how the series progressed from this . Always interesting to see how things begin. GraphicAudio did a great job presenting as usual.

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

There’s just too much stuffed into the first few pages that it put me off and how fast everything she felt for him at a neck break speed, it was too rushed and I felt no connection with the characters… too many questions around the story…. Not for me.

[Susana Olmedo Delgado · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to the audio book, which is free, and it was amazing how the story absorbs you