Succubus: A Love Story

by Kate Fox

Her touch kills, his saves the dying.
Are they fated, or forbidden?

Tempest Dunlap loves romance novels, but she knows she’ll never have her own happily-ever-after. She is a sweatpants-wearing doula who homeschools her seven-year-old niece in suburban New Jersey. Unfortunately, she’s also a succubus: Every man she’s ever kissed has died. But Tempest is a good person who never intended to be a murderer, so she’s sworn off love forever.

Then she meets Joel Tav, a gorgeous, gentle doctor who makes celibacy feel impossible. Tempest knows she can’t touch him—or tell him his brother was the last man she dated and accidentally killed.

Meanwhile, a vigilante is hunting people with dark powers, and Tempest is next. Should she keep hiding in her safe, lonely life, or should she embrace the darkness she fears and risk the ultimate forbidden love?

Maybe Tempest will get her love story after all . . . or maybe she’ll become its villain.

Genres: Romance, Paranormal, Fantasy, Paranormal Romance

352 pages, Paperback

Expected publication October 20, 2026

About the author

Kate Fox lives in an old house in an old town in the universally admired state of New Jersey with her husband, daughters, and two absurdly fluffy cats. Her favorite trope is enemies-to-lovers, as long as they're really enemies, and she is always looking for magic in mundane places.

Reviews

[Anwita Verma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of advance copy received from St. Martin's Press Group

😱❤️💀😡

Ended really well, good slow-burn (thought it wasn't going to be one at first but ended up being), and really recommend it to my fellow readers when the book comes out!

***SPOILERS FROM HERE AND DOWN***

I couldn't fit it all in the update so here it is (page numbers that were important to me and my feelings/comments):

21: Aww...so cute...but ew he's blonde!?
24: I'm hauling his shirt off his head, and his glasses come off with it, and I'm shoving him back onto the couch Damn that escalated quickly
26: If Jacks was a modern woman
28: Poor baby, Grub (suicidal since he was 7). But NOOO HE'S THE LOVABLE SIDE CHARACTER HE GONNA DIE
29: Girl is like the female version of the MMC from Haunting Adeline (but way less toxic and a much better person)
33: Of course Grub has eyeliner
42: ...imagine his hands on my shoulders, on my back, on my hips,kind and demanding on the same time.”
59: Maybe I didn’t kill Adam
Maybe I didn’t kill Adam
87: “Grub was right. He was so right.”
99: NOO WHY DO ALL THE BEST CHARACTERS ALWAYS DIE T-T…WHY GRUBS
99: I literally started crying in the exam room and my proctor was so concerned
100: HE DID NOT KILL HIMSELF HE’S BETTER THAN THATTTTT!!! HE WAS MURDERED
103: He killed Grub.
“I will kill you motherf[]cker,” I whisper
111: The demon hunter.
The familiar curls. The glasses catching the candlelight…He seems larger than I remember, even though I saw him so recently.
“Joel?” I whisper.
“Tempest,” he says. OF COURSE HE’S THE KILLER, THE MMC!!! Also, I mean, he had good motives and he made it even (Adam was Joel’s brother, and Tempest/the narrator/FMC killed Adam so I guess he made it even by killing Grub/Tempest’s brother, but TEMPEST DIDN’T KNOW!!! SHE DID IT BY ACCIDENT! IT’S A CURSE!)
121: Oh girl...yes, trauma dump to your sister that the man you were crushing on killed your brother and is trying to kill you but DRIVE FIRST
157: An actual enemies to lovers..?! WHERE! I WANT IT

After Grub died, I literally could not get my heart to read more. I needed a pause so I started reading a different book for the rest if that hour.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐

I picked up Succubus: a Love Story by Kate Fox on a whim expecting a light rom-com with a supernatural twist—and it completely won me over. By about 30% in I was hooked. This book is genuinely funny, clever about its tropes, and way more charming than I expected.

The premise is deliciously messy in the best way: a romance-novel-loving doula who homeschools her niece has sworn off relationships because she’s a succubus and every man she kisses eventually dies. It leans into the absurdity of that situation with a lot of humor and self-awareness, and the voice absolutely carries the story.

What I liked
• Genuinely funny narration—I laughed a lot while reading this.
• A 30-year-old protagonist with a real life (doula, homeschool aunt, chaotic love life).
• The book plays with romance tropes in a clever way, especially the enemies-to-lovers dynamic.
• Even though it’s about a succubus, it never felt like spice for spice’s sake. The humor and character work keep it grounded.
• The heroine reading romance novels to live vicariously was both relatable and hilarious.

I’m also someone who usually doesn’t love insta-love or heavy trope romance, and enemies-to-lovers can feel overdone to me—but here it was handled with enough humor and self-awareness that it actually worked.

What didn’t quite work for me
• Occasionally the formatting made it hard to tell when the protagonist was texting, chatting online, or in her internal monologue. It didn’t ruin the reading experience, but it did pull me out of the story a few times.


This isn’t my usual type of read, but it ended up being a really fun surprise. If you’re looking for a light, funny paranormal rom-com with tropey goodness and a lot of personality, this one is definitely worth picking up

[QuirkyTofurkey]

Ready to have the soul sucked out of me (but, like, happily).

[Nya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recieved e-Arc through Netgalley

4.5 Stars

What can I say besides that this book sucked me in! The writing style is so unique, and oh-so funny. It's quick and terse sometimes, but then a beautifully detailed description comes along. It reads like a conversation. The premise of this type of magic appearing in our reality is a very hard concept to do right, but Kate Fox manages to jump right into it by acknowledging the silliness of situation just as easily as she can address the incredible sadness that comes with being a succubus, and forcing yourself to avoid connection, love, and lust and the other cons of denying your body something so natually human (and succubi) to want. I love Tempest, and, again, the unique writing style really makes you understand her as we follow that stream of conciousness tone. What I found so incredibly fun is that Tempest can "lie" or omit from the reader, but she always comes back to it. It's that little action that really humanizes her, and makes her seem real. Don't we all try and keep some thoughts to ourselves, even from ourselves sometimes? T feels so real I could touch her, and was just a genuinely good person.

I do think the romance was the tiniest bit insta lovey, but it reminded me of the magical realism genre. That unquestionablly normal type of love that appears suddenly and both the characters lean into it really fast. I wish we got to know Joel just a miniscule bit more, but I still didn't mind him. I think he's perfect to Tempest. I also thought it was so funny how neither of them seem to actually work throughout the book, but I guess we needed them to have a open schedule for their shenanigans. I don't think I have ever seen a doctor and a doula have such an easy-going schedule.

I also think that this book could benefit from a trigger warnings blurb, as it does touch on some sensitive topics.

The story itself was pretty well thought-out, but keep in mind that we don't get a big reveal of why this type of magic is out in the world. We know who it comes from, but there are no official names or titles for any information on it. The romance truly takes the center stage, and the magic system is a step back. We just have to trust Tempest and the character's she encounters to give us enough information to follow her story.

I was so sad to end this book! I wish the ending could have been a little longer to wrap myself in it, but the ending itself is just so hopefully cozy that I don't mind it either.

I can't wait to read what Kate Fox does next.

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I flew through this super engaging, wholly original, hilarious-but-deep debut romantasy by Kate Fox. Beautifully written with literary-fiction level scene renderings and realistic dialogue, Fox (aptly) sucks the reader in to the story of the succubus.

Tender but raw, filled with truths about the drudgery and complexity of human life wrapped in a supernatural tale, Succubus will manage to speak to fans of all genres. I particularly appreciated Fox's treatment of parenting through the eyes of a non-parent character, and her depiction of the background murmur of everyday frustrations that gets massively amplified in times of stress. I also loved that even the child character has her own arc and is treated with dignity and humanity by the author.

Feeling trapped -- by circumstance, by our human bodies, by forces both within and beyond our control -- is universally relatable but, naturally, speaks particularly to women. Fox's treatment of this theme is delicate, asking us to think about where we have agency when it seems we have none, to recognize when we need to summon our powers in a given moment, and when, without shame, we must to turn to others for help. A feminist buzz underlies and inverts the trope of "evil man-trapping seductress," as Fox empowers her female protagonist while still allowing her her full range of flaws, vulnerabilities, and feelings. It turns out those might just be her superpowers after all.

And of course, there's something about the pull between good and evil that's ever-present and eternal, but still feels closer to the surface than usual in our current black-and-white, all-or-nothing, with-me-or-against-me world. Kate Fox manages to bring out the beauty of the healthy but messy middle: the balance and peacefulness in the ordinary, the sustaining life force of the truly terrifying endeavor to love, and the power in laying down soul-sucking defences.

If all this makes this book sound unfunny, my apologies. I laughed out loud from beginning to end. The fact that Fox can wrap these heavy themes in a package that still feels so enjoyable is a wonderful thing.

Even though romantasy isn't my usual genre, I received the ARC of "Succubus" and am so glad I did. I am already looking forward to more from this author.

[Em (findingfantasy) · Rating 4 out of 5]

😈 FMC fighting her dark nature
💞 Succubus x demon hunter
🖤 Hate sex with the enemy

Every man that Tempest has ever been with died shortly after - with one exception. When she happens to meet the charming brother of the only man to survive her, Tempest has to fight the way she’s drawn to him to spare him her lethal touch, and also try to hunt the demon hunter who’s picking off her Discord community of other cursed people.

This is a great fantasy romcom with a writing style that makes it incredibly easy to fly through. It’s set in a world exactly like ours, so there’s very little worldbuilding to worry about, just a bit of demonic lore which provided a fun and interesting premise. The stakes aren’t super high, the magic isn’t complex, and it’s a character-driven story.

We get lots of amusing side characters to really add to the humour of this book - especially Al, who was truly an absolute joy to read. With the premise, I didn’t expect there to be moments that really hit me in the feels, but there were! I felt for Tempest, even when she did terrible things, and I was satisfied with the endings for all of the characters. Some were quite predictable (in a good way) and some weren’t.

If you love the enemies-to-lovers trope and want to genuinely wonder how on earth the FMCs can get past their shared history, I think you’ll really like Succubus!

Trigger warnings (spoilers): The FMC perpetrates sexual assault on the demon hunter in an effort to weaken him after he kills an innocent. The MMC doesn’t seem to see it as sexual assault from what he says later - he implies he wanted to give into her - but everything is told from her perspective. This evolves into regular consensual hate sex.

Thank you so much to Berkley for the opportunity to read an advanced digital copy of this book via NetGalley!

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m very grateful to have received an ARC from the publishers via NetGalley for this book. I was hooked on the description, but had no idea what kind of ride this book would take me on! I will be pre-ordering a physical copy as soon as I finish writing this, no lie!

The story follows Tempest, a homeschool aunt/ doula who suffers from a curse giving her powers like that of a succubus. She swears off men, until she meets Joel Tav. He’s the perfect man— loves animals, cares for kids and is a doctor. But there is more to him than meets the eye!

You can absolutely tell how connected Kate Fox was to Tempest. The way that this character is written is very personal and human, and all of her thoughts and feelings are explained in such a deeply metaphorical way that you can actually visualize them. Her writing style is very poetic and elegant, and I hope other books she writes in the future are done the same.

The sheer magnitude of what these powers do to her and affect her throughout her life is very raw and honest. And the scenes where she dips into her powers are SO well done! It’s like a completely different person took over narrating. And the reactions from her family and from Joel are realistic and downright slimy at times, leaving you feeling disappointed. (Some are kinda funny though, or shocking! The scene at the doctor’s office comes to mind!)

I gotta say that the tropes were well done too! I love enemies to lovers, and this fit that really well. It was also laugh-out-loud funny at times. 😁 The resolution, however, left me with a huge smile on my face. It was a slow-clap ending for sure!

“I don’t need three days, I think at him. You’ll be dead by tomorrow night. And I won’t shave my armpits. No f****ng way.”

[Rachel I · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable debut novel from Kate Fox!! As someone who is not a typical reader of fantasy/paranormal but loves romance, I thought this was a great blend of all of those genres. The writing was fast-paced, and I thought the concept of the story was great. I felt emotional highs and lows throughout the book, and the writing so closely reflected the mood of the scene that it felt like a very immersive reading experience. I found myself getting a little caught up in the demigod/demon/angel lingo and trying to understand the paranormal world of the associated characters, but I think this may have been reflective of some of my inexperience with the genre. I don't think that took away from my enjoyment of the story, but there were definitely times I found myself caring more about the romance and wanting to speed through some explanations of the powers/curses, etc.

Character-wise, I loved the meaning behind Tempest being a doula + succubus, and I thought the first-person perspective from her point of view was extremely well done. With the ups and downs of the character, it was conveyed how the world around her was changing in a subtle, yet meaningful way. I don't have that much to say about Joel; I think his character made sense despite the mixed feelings I had on some of his actions, but I believe that dichotomy was done skillfully by Fox. I really wanted to feel more connection to Grub's character, and I think it maybe happened more after information became clear to T in Florida. Al was a surprising character for me whom I did not expect to like when he was first introduced, but his quirkiness really grew on me.


Thanks Goodreads giveaways & St. Martin's for this ARC!

[vlm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Succubus was such a fun surprise. It balances paranormal romance, humor, danger, and emotional depth in a way that made it incredibly easy to binge. Kate Fox takes the classic succubus concept and gives it a fresh, heartfelt spin with a heroine who is equal parts relatable, awkward, and genuinely lovable.

Tempest was my favorite part of the book. She’s a romance reader who has completely sworn off romance for very understandable reasons, and I loved how grounded she felt despite the supernatural premise. Her life as a doula and guardian to her niece added so much warmth to the story, and it made her fear of hurting people feel even more heartbreaking. Watching her try to resist her connection with Joel had me fully invested from the start.

Joel was also refreshing as a love interest. He’s kind, patient, and actually communicates, which made the romance feel sweet even when the stakes became darker and more dangerous. The chemistry between them was fantastic, and the tension worked so well because Tempest truly believed getting close to him could destroy everything.

The story also does a great job balancing cozy moments with real danger. The vigilante plot added suspense without taking away from the emotional core of the book, and I appreciated how the novel explored shame, loneliness, and self-acceptance beneath all the paranormal elements.

Funny, romantic, and surprisingly emotional, Succubus felt like the perfect mix of supernatural romance and cozy horror vibes. I’ll definitely be looking forward to more from Kate Fox.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[hannah_oac · Rating 4 out of 5]

🖤Succubus: A Love Story🖤
By Kate Fox

4 ⭐

“He is so mouthwatering, so horrible and beautiful, I want to tear something apart. Maybe him.”

~~

What a fun surprise! After stumbling upon the blurb of this hilarious paranormal tale of forbidden love, I couldn’t wait to give this new-to-me author a go. Kate’s writing style is unlike any I’ve read before. It’s artsy and playful, with oddly specific, highly relatable descriptions and comparisons that I couldn’t get enough of. Yet she also utilizes these short, choppy sentences that sort of mimic the way my own inner thoughts sound in my head. I found it all really entertaining.

The story itself was cheeky and a super clever concept. Packed with the most charmingly unique brand of humor, there were multiple instances where I couldn’t help but chuckle to myself. The pace was a smidge slow to start but once things picked up around Part II, I couldn’t put the book down.

Though the FMC is a succubus, the spicy scenes felt rather tame. Don’t get me wrong, there was some heat. And I think I can see a connection as to how those acts were more her “DP” as opposed to her most sincere desires, but I still felt this selfish need for more.

Overall, I enjoyed this one and I’m glad I took a chance on it! I'm eager to see what else Kate comes up with 🤗

~~

Big thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin/St. Martin's Press for sharing an early copy. These are my honest thoughts ✨

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

What a surprise! Though this was darker and more angsty than the cover and description led me to think it would be, I felt like it was strong fantasy romance.

I thought the writing was great, kind of a mix between the Harbinger series by Jennifer Armentrout but with Sally Thorne’s quirky, stream-of-consciousness tone. I was interested in the story within the first few chapters and was totally into it by about 30%. If you are looking for a fluffy love story, that is not this book. I was stressed as heck while reading it. My jaw dropped twice because of the plot twists. The author did not hold back, y’all. The romantic relationship is a piece of the story, but I felt like it was more about the tension of who Joel and Tempest are - angel versus demon - and how they deal with that reality.

If I had one suggestion before publication, it would be changing how text messages and digital communication are formatted. It was often difficult to differentiate them from Tempest’s internal thoughts or the general narration. Italics or another visual cue might make those moments clearer.

If you like fantasy romance and an altruistic succubus who resists her powers and longs to fall in love sounds interesting to you - you should definitely pick this up!

[Carrie McConn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute, fun read! I did not expect this to be as charming as it was. A seemingly random workplace meet-up turns into a stormy paranormal relationship. For Tempest (doula) and Dr. Joel Tav (doctor), it's an instant connection. Too bad their paranormal selves are in conflict.
Girl power, secrets, homeschooling, higher calling to medical fields due to past experiences. Found family in an odd way, without giving away spoilers.
I have a pet peeve about workplace romances that ignore the workplace, after the meet-cute. Do these people have unlimited time off, now that they are in love? For two main characters who dedicated their lives to helping people, building up their medical practices, now all of the sudden they are constantly home, moping around?
The niece Ella's frequent bratty tantrums just got to me after awhile. It wasn't cute, and was unnecessary to the storyline. We get it. She's 7 and homeschooled.

I did have some annoyances regarding the text messages used throughout. I'm guessing since I had an eBook ARC that the final edition will remedy that. (It was hard to follow when the texts were not in a bold/italic/separate sentence, especially when the texter was thinking about the messages).
I received an ARC from NetGalley and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[bigsissyreads · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m so sorry, this was awful..

DNF at 24%, I thought I would be able to read until at least the end of part one but it’s no use.

It’s a debut novel and all my respect to the author but definitely not my type, I had a really painful time to try to get into it and eventually failed.

What I loved 🩷:
- I’m a sucker for paranormal romance and I wanted to love this book so bad
- the cover is BEAUTIFUL
- Whimsical atmosphere, hell yeah give me more
- the promise of the plot, very original and refreshing

What I didn’t love 💔:
- Insta love based on nothing, no emotional connection, nothing
- scenery descriptions were absent, it was really hard to picture her home, his, the neighborhood
- the dialogues were null, childish and 5-word sentences most of the time
- I genuinely didn’t understand much of her interactions with Grub, so frustrating
- there was too much conversations recounted instead of really happening on page
- overall writing was awful

Thank you NetGalley and Kate Fox for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for any love story, and I enjoyed the supernatural elements of this one. Tempest is a succubus, carrying the curse of her father. Tempest's recognition of her powers and her determination to not let them bring harm to anyone makes her an easy-to-root for protagonist. Joel was a charming love interest, and their chemistry and attraction was palpable. I thought the book fell flat with the demon side of things and really fleshing out that universe. So much was glossed over or just accepted without question that I thought was not believable. Tempest shows up on her dad's doorstep, having never met him, says I'm your daughter, and he goes with it without question. Her siblings have different powers, but it's not explained why. Why does one person have one ability and another have another? I thought the entire plot could have been enriched with more explanation of how it all worked, rather than throwing out blanket statements that all the characters accepted as fact.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy of Succubus: A Love Story.

[☆Laura☆]

Tempest siempre ha tenido una maldición, cada vez que se involucra con un hombre, algo terrible termina pasando. Los chicos con los que se besa o se acuesta terminan muriendo y durante años ha intentado de convencerse de que no es su culpa.

Ahora tiene treinta y tantos, vive con su hermana y ayuda a cuidar a su sobrina mientras trabaja como partera. Su vida es tranquila y solitaria, lo cual es exactamente lo que necesita para no volver a lastimar a nadie. Pero todo se complica cuando conoce a Joel, un médico que parece tener el efecto contrario al suyo. Mientras ella trae muerte sin querer, él parece salvar a personas, incluso aquellas que están a un paso de la muerte.


__

La idea se me hizo interesante, solo que hay demasiado diálogo donde no ocurre nada, se repite lo mismo una y otra vez.


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks for the ARC NetGalley.

Friendly to enemies to lovers? If you can call it that. I genuinely didn't know which outcome I was rooting for at the end of this one.
T is a succubus that hates what she is and is working with Grub (virtually) to figure out if they're demons and if they're being hunted. Then she meets her father who is apparently the father of all the demons and (shocker) just a bad bad person. Things go downhill then uphill then downhill again, they kind of level out at the end.

When I started this one I wasn't to sure that the writing style and I would click - felt like the character was having a conversation with you at times, but after a few chapters it flowed better for me. I won't say I totally understood everything, the first touch/love exception rules were quite confusing, but I enjoyed it.

[Del Rey · Rating 4 out of 5]

read advance Reader Copy with netgalley

Had some Spice.

Overall a decent book with a main character type I've not read on before. So that was nice. I enjoy reading fantacy type books and this had a new perspective.

Was over all an ok book. Was a little slow and lulled around part 2. Which made me take a while to finish the book. (Some of that was also because I ended up sick in the midst of reading it so not entirely the books fault.)

The main characters had good chemistry. I would have liked to see more interactions. With some of the side characters.

I did not like that we did not learn the dads actual name and used a nickname throughout the whole book. Even though he was evil he could have come around better when she didn't understand her power.

I did like the end it was good although I could have seen it going a little differently.

[Selena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I felt so bad for Tempest, she feels she can never fall in love because every time she has tried, he has died. She has decided she will never be in love. Tempest makes this final decision when the man she truly loves ends up dying. Now she's a little older and has met Joel, a man who makes her want to fall in love again. . .

She's still unsure, and soon finds things out about herself and Joel. Is there a way to make this work? Is it worth it, knowing that if she kisses him he may not live. I really loved Tempest. She is "human." She is scared. She wants to be loved. She doesn't let too much of herself known until she feels she can let herself show without hurting someone, or being hurt.

I recommend this to anyone interested in a romance, with a little supernatural mixed in.

I was given the opportunity to read this title by NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

[Ashlee Newton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review of advance copy received.
“I can feel his warmth, the weight of him, his substance.” I am very grateful for the opportunity to read this advance copy! This was a sweet story of a friends turned enemies to lovers roller coaster of emotions. While predictable at times, this was a sweet, lighthearted story. As she struggles to assist her sister in raising her niece- and really her mom- Tempest is weighed down by a self- imposed isolation from romantic relationships. Through failed, with devastating consequences, previous relationships she has discovered she has a curse inherited from her estranged father. A chance encounter with a hot doctor could change it all!
I would have enjoyed a bit more depth to the main characters and plot lines and to lose some of the ancillary characters/ events. Congratulations on publishing!

[Mariana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tempest has always yearned for love, yet she holds a terrible secret - every boy she has kissed and/or slept with has come to an untimely demise. She’s known as a succubus - a female “demon” that seduces men. Then one day she runs into one of her dead exes’ brother - the very handsome and charming Dr. Joel Tav. Rumors around say that none of Dr. Tavs’ patients have ever expired, and he is in fact known for healing those on the brink of death. So what will Tempest do about her instant attraction to him?

***Magic/dark power
***Single POV
***Enemies(ish) to lovers

This was very different than what I expected but I enjoyed it! It definitely felt fresh and unique in the romance genre. Will definitely be looking to read future works by this author!

Thank you to St Martin’s Press and Netgalley for the ARC of this novel ; all opinions expressed are my own

[Josephine Bercegeay · Rating 4 out of 5]

*May contain spoilers*

thanks @netgalley for the ARC and Thanks Kate Fox for approving the ARC

reading review coming soon....
I had so much fun reading this book thank you at @netgalley.com for approving me the ARC and giving it a review I also would like to thank Kate Fox for approving my @netgalley ARC of this book Umm what's better than a succubus and her monster that's supposed to kill her falling in love Well if she touches him he dies if he touches her she dies slowly You have to read the book to find out what's going to go on with these two if they're going to end up with their happily ever after or kill each other I had so much fun reading this I laughed I shed a few tears I kicked my feet It was so so so so much fun

[Emerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

🌺Review of advanced reader copy received from NetGalley🌺

⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Succubus was an interesting read, with a strong premise. Not once did I know what was going to happen next, and the plot twist at the end of part one threw me in for a loop, to the point I had to set the kindle down and stare at a blank wall for a good two minutes.

I will say, however, that it took me a while to feel it click while reading, sort of get into the flow of things. I don’t think I did until part two. The ending was saddening but satisfying, with a chance for redemption for both Tempest and Joel. Their relationship was… chaotic, to say the least.

It’s a good quick read, really, but it does take a second for things to sort of click together.

[Zoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Succubus: A Love Story by Succubus: A Love Story really drew me in. With a succubus named Tempest, you can't really go wrong, even if the name is a little on the nose. The blurb led me to expect a more fantasy-driven storyline, but I would describe this as a conventional story with a sprinkle of fantasy rather than a full fantasy novel. Tempest experiences her succubus traits more like a disease or disorder than as the lustful monster often associated with the trope, which gives the story a very different feel.

This book was far more heartfelt—and far more heartbreaking—than I anticipated. I wish someone had told me this before I picked it up, so I'll pass along a very mild spoiler: Tempest does get a satisfying happy ending, and honestly, she deserves every bit of it.

[Jess Manners · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly a delight!
Okay, full disclosure: yes, Kate is in my writing group, and yes, I am VERY invested in the success of this book, but I'm also a TERRIBLE liar, so you have to trust me! Kate is a beautiful writer, and she manages to turn a book that has the highest of concepts into something that is lovely and moving while still being super, super fun and legitimately compelling. The writing is confident and funny and charming, and the characters, while not quite so confident, are also super funny and charming, and I'm a little jealous of all the people who get to read this for the first time!

[April Haas · Rating 4 out of 5]

😈 Thank you, St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy of this ebook! 😈

It's paranormal. It's contemporary. It's chaotic.

Succubus reads like you're on a road trip with a friend who is excitedly telling you about the crazy things that have happened to them since you last caught up. It's sharp and decidedly unfiltered.

It's a wild ride, complete with a demigod only referred to as Dick Face, a pain demon known as Al, and a pair of cursed humans who can't help the magnetic tug between them.

An enjoyable read that doesn't take itself too seriously, even when there's deadly consequences.

3.5/5 ⭐️, rounded up.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the stars for Kate Fox's riveting debut! I couldn't put Succubus down. Tempest (adore her name) is such a quirky, lovable character, and I absolutely fell in love with Joel. This story was so much more than I expected... It's a love story, family drama, fantasy, and thriller all rolled into one, and kept me on the edge of my seat from the very first page until the last. And I would be remiss not to mention Fox's absolutely gorgeous prose and singular voice! For a book that had me whipping though the pages, there was a lot to savor in Fox's beautiful language and interesting turn of phrase. Run to pre-order this one!

[Heather LaRowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

To be completely honest it took me a while to actually get into this book, but once I did wow not what I was expecting. It was an emotional roller coaster. Just when I thought I figured out where the book was going Kate Fox threw a twist. By the end of part 2 I was so wrecked that I was ready to speed read part 3 cause I had to know what was going to happen. I couldn't put it down. I do feel like it should've had trigger warnings for the softer reader. Also as a fan of spicy the more intimate scenes left me wanting more details but if you like less spicy its perfect. I would recommend this book the story line is great.

[maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.9 stars ⭐️

Thank you NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for giving me an arc in exchange for my honest review!

Honestly, the plot is great in retrospect; it’s a quick, fun, light read with a solid core concept. My issue was with the execution. The prose felt like a chaotic stream of consciousness where the story moves way too fast, spending just a line or two on something before rushing to the next. Plus, there were too many random character drops without any real clarity. But my biggest headache was the fact that there was zero visual distinction between dialogue, texts, and regular narration.

[Tee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tempest is a 30 something doula who homeschools her niece, loves romances novels, and likes to bake gluten free snacks. She also has what could be considered the worlds worst super power: everyone she kisses dies. Once Tempest figures out she is the reason that everyone she’s kissed has died, she curates a quiet life for herself sans romance. This is challenged when she meets and starts to fall for Dr. Joel Tav, the brother of the last man she killed. As Tempest struggles with her growing feelings for the doctor, people with other just as terrible powers start dying; Tempest realizes that because of her past she is probably on the killers list.
Everything about this book (cover, title, blurb and description) on first impression screamed light, fluffy rom-com. However, the story is incongruent with its initial impressions, and while there are many humorous or lighter moments it reads as a darker romance. I truly did enjoy the story and still would have chosen to read this book, but I believe I would’ve appreciated it more if I had a better idea of what I was heading into. I also believe this novel could benefit from a trigger warning blurb, as it does touch on many heavy topics.
I would recommend this book to fans of the Heartless Hunter books.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Dana Trevino · Rating 3 out of 5]

Succubus was an interesting premise, and I really was excited about the concept of this book. There's a lot of potential in the world that Kate Fox builds, and the set up was intriguing. That said, it took me about 30% of the book to start being invested since I didn't really connect with the characters. Once I got into the book, I couldn't stop. I enjoyed the enemies to lovers and the way the author talked about Tempest's dad. Overall, an entertaining book and a solid three star for me.
Thank you St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for the ARC.