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Half-Breed #2
Sins of the Flesh
The Hawaiian Islands in spring should be a romantic paradise, but along with rekindled passion Amber and Irix discover a magical spell gone horribly wrong.
Two sex demons could set Maui aflame with desire, but there’s another creature with a more lethal inferno planned. Defeating it and saving the island will take all of Amber’s new found powers, as well as the help of friends new and old. Especially since there’s more to this enemy than first meets the eye.
Two sex demons could set Maui aflame with desire, but there’s another creature with a more lethal inferno planned. Defeating it and saving the island will take all of Amber’s new found powers, as well as the help of friends new and old. Especially since there’s more to this enemy than first meets the eye.
269 pages, ebook
First published May 25, 2015
69 people are currently reading
347 people want to read
About the author
Debra Dunbar
96 books1,276 followersDebra lives in a little house in the woods in Maryland with three sons, and a Noah’s ark of four legged family members. She has a corporate job during the day, and writes novels at night, after the kids are tucked in bed.
She drives an Excursion affectionately called The Beast, couldn’t carry a tune if you duct taped it to her back, and enjoys an occasional cosmopolitan (heavy on the vodka). On a good day, she jogs and horseback rides, hopefully managing to keep the horse between herself and the ground.
Her only known super power is ‘Identify Roadkill’.
She drives an Excursion affectionately called The Beast, couldn’t carry a tune if you duct taped it to her back, and enjoys an occasional cosmopolitan (heavy on the vodka). On a good day, she jogs and horseback rides, hopefully managing to keep the horse between herself and the ground.
Her only known super power is ‘Identify Roadkill’.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
June 9, 2022
These "Imp World" books are a bit of a mixed bag. With this particular spinoff series, following Amber, I find myself gripping the table white knuckled, hoping that there will be a real plot and not just a series of sex scenes.
This installment does have a real plot, but it's a near thing. Amber, the half elf/half succubus, is visiting Hawaii. She has to solve the mystery of how all these supernatural fires keep breaking out, while simultaneously bitch-fighting a mysterious supernatural woman who keeps interfering with Amber's attempts to drain random men of their sexual energy. Along the way we hear Amber's conflicted thoughts about needing to live her life as a tramp for survival reasons, even though she was brought up to believe in simple monogamy.
The rules to Amber's succubus-hood are altered a bit here. In the previous book, we learned that Amber had some discretion about how strong or weak of a "tie" she could establish with her victims, making it so that any person she has sex with feeds her energy through sex forevermore. In this installment, suddenly we learn that it's possible for Amber to drain people of sexual energy without establishing a tie at all.
In the last book, Amber said that she was only attracted to "one woman in a hundred." In this installment, Amber says that she doesn't have sex with women at all, but she considers that the loosest of all her rules and she's willing to change her mind. Amber does have a female love interest in this book, and the author has to sell us on caring about this girl at the same time as we are already supposed to be invested in Irix, Amber's full-blooded incubus male love interest.
I'm more open-minded now than I used to be, so I could read this without feeling the need to retch or put the book down. I'm gay, so it's not the same-sex part that annoys me. It's the polyamory. Just because a person is queer doesn't mean that they automatically believe in polyamory. And even if you want to say that a character is polyamorous, I'm not sure that I want to endure an entire book of learning about polyamory right alongside Amber.
The pacing seems to be the most difficult part of these books. Amber constantly needs to find a person, even an anonymous random person, to have sex with for energy. Then we, the audience, watch as she is thwarted time and again. She keeps telling us about what she is comfortable with; sex with married guys is a no, but sex with an anonymous college dude-bro is fine; establishing a tie with an anonymous college dude-bro is a no, but with an older jerk of a player is fine.
I'm sick of it. I would rather skip all these sex scenes (or, near-miss sex scenes) altogether. I would be fine with just a quick summary that Amber had to perform 3 sex acts over a 5-hour period to get the energy she needed to fight a demon, and leave it at that.
Otherwise, Amber displays some alarming stupidity. There is a mystery about which god, demigod, or other supernatural being is causing the fires around the island. It takes Amber a stupid amount of time to realize that maybe the supernatural bitch she has been fighting periodically throughout the first half of the book might be involved. Never mind the fact her identity is kind of glaringly obvious.
This installment does have a real plot, but it's a near thing. Amber, the half elf/half succubus, is visiting Hawaii. She has to solve the mystery of how all these supernatural fires keep breaking out, while simultaneously bitch-fighting a mysterious supernatural woman who keeps interfering with Amber's attempts to drain random men of their sexual energy. Along the way we hear Amber's conflicted thoughts about needing to live her life as a tramp for survival reasons, even though she was brought up to believe in simple monogamy.
The rules to Amber's succubus-hood are altered a bit here. In the previous book, we learned that Amber had some discretion about how strong or weak of a "tie" she could establish with her victims, making it so that any person she has sex with feeds her energy through sex forevermore. In this installment, suddenly we learn that it's possible for Amber to drain people of sexual energy without establishing a tie at all.
In the last book, Amber said that she was only attracted to "one woman in a hundred." In this installment, Amber says that she doesn't have sex with women at all, but she considers that the loosest of all her rules and she's willing to change her mind. Amber does have a female love interest in this book, and the author has to sell us on caring about this girl at the same time as we are already supposed to be invested in Irix, Amber's full-blooded incubus male love interest.
I'm more open-minded now than I used to be, so I could read this without feeling the need to retch or put the book down. I'm gay, so it's not the same-sex part that annoys me. It's the polyamory. Just because a person is queer doesn't mean that they automatically believe in polyamory. And even if you want to say that a character is polyamorous, I'm not sure that I want to endure an entire book of learning about polyamory right alongside Amber.
The pacing seems to be the most difficult part of these books. Amber constantly needs to find a person, even an anonymous random person, to have sex with for energy. Then we, the audience, watch as she is thwarted time and again. She keeps telling us about what she is comfortable with; sex with married guys is a no, but sex with an anonymous college dude-bro is fine; establishing a tie with an anonymous college dude-bro is a no, but with an older jerk of a player is fine.
I'm sick of it. I would rather skip all these sex scenes (or, near-miss sex scenes) altogether. I would be fine with just a quick summary that Amber had to perform 3 sex acts over a 5-hour period to get the energy she needed to fight a demon, and leave it at that.
Otherwise, Amber displays some alarming stupidity. There is a mystery about which god, demigod, or other supernatural being is causing the fires around the island. It takes Amber a stupid amount of time to realize that maybe the supernatural bitch she has been fighting periodically throughout the first half of the book might be involved. Never mind the fact her identity is kind of glaringly obvious.
May 30, 2015
As you may remember Demons of Desire (Half-Breed Series Book 1) ended with Irix fleeing to Hel. Luckily the incubus plans ahead & surprised Amber with a set plan to reunite.
After six months of having one night stands three times a week in an attempt to keep herself heathy. Amber has developed the unwanted reputation of a harlot. During these difficult months Amber has been pinning over Irix & envisioning a multitude of happy endings to come. In Sins of the Flesh (Half-Breed, #2) her 6 month wait is over & she'll finally meet Irix in the beautiful island of Maui.
Although Irix does a wonderful job of planning a fantastic vacation for Amber & the couple happily reunites not everything ensues according to plan. Irix & Amber's experience in Maui is not limited to the prerequisite sexual encounters. This couple finds themselves out of their comfort zone on a most unexpected dangerous & highly entertaining adventure. In an attempt to prevent any spoilers i'm going to skip pass this installments mystery & any new characters.
However, I will disclose Amber the eager to please pupil learns an extremely vital life long lesson regarding the consumption of fast-food meals & how it impacts her health as a succubus. She makes some headway in this area. Which may have caused her to break one of her never ending "rules". No worries the socks with sandals rule manages to stays intact.
My overall feelings:
The author did a fantastic job with this couple. Iris & Amber make an outstanding team. I love the way they react & feed (pun no pun) off one another their characters seem well thought out & executed perfectly.
The secondary characters in this installment also seem well rounded. The mystery was imo multifaceted. I successfully deduced who the "bag guy" but was but found myself at a loss as to its cause & was caught completely of guard on the "the case of mistaken identity". So i'll say it was sufficiently mysterious. I didn't notice any grammatical or spelling errors however I am not as particular as some.
Below i've included some random Sins of the Flesh (Half-Breed, #2) quotes:
“Irix, my beloved klepto.” -Amber
“I’ll question him tomorrow morning, once he’s slept off his insane masturbatory activity.” Irix gave me a stern look.” -Irix
“My trip. My rules. Now, drink. And strip. Slowly. Very, very slowly.” -Irix
[I] “launched a stream of pheromones at him like nothing I’d ever done before. The door handle stopped moving, and there was a loud thump. My concern for the man warred with my desire to hide. Concern won, and I looked out the window. Well, he was alive at least. The man had collapsed and was lying on the decking, moaning and squirming as he tried to dry-hump the two-by-four holding up one corner of the porch. Clearly I’d overdone that one.” -Amber
I rate this book 5 stars & I would recommend the series.
Disclaimer: The arc for Sins of the Flesh (Half-Breed, #2) was kindly provided to me by the author for an honest review. After reading it I liked it so much I purchased the ebook.
May 30, 2015
Being a succubus isn’t always easy…
Everyone wants a piece of you and some succubi deal better than others. But what if your elven half objects to the things she has to do to keep herself alive and healthy? This, ladies and gentlemen, is Amber’s dilemma.
As existing readers already know, Amber is an elf/succubus hybrid. To make matters worse, she was brought up thinking she was human. Can you say “identity crisis”?...
Amber’s got very un-demonic morals: No married men, no freaks, and certainly no bonding that leaves the poor human tied to her, thereby giving her a free sexual rush each time the bound human has sex. No wonder she’s feeling a little depleted. Having survived on the equivalent of greasy fastfood meals, not the quality nourishment her body requires, Amber is about to be reunited with her mentor/succubus boyfriend. Irix has been hiding from the angels in Hel, but now he’s back on vacation. And what is better place than Maui to reunite with his protégée for a week of sun, sex and seduction?
Unfortunately, their plans go awry thanks to a bungled ritual and one extremely jealous seductress, hell bent on claiming every man on the island – including Irix - as her own, thereby thwarting Amber's romantic escapades.
No matter the obstacles, Amber is more than ready to crank up the heat. And boy, does she make Irix’s body burn for her. Unfortunately not in the sexy kind of ways she had envisioned prior to the trip. Tough luck for him, of course (my beloved klepto!) but very entertaining for the readers. Instead, they have to tackle angry fire entities who have an unfortunate tendency to burn down everything in their path, including Kai’s (the human paddleboard instructor) shack. That’s right, for the first time, Amber falls for another woman. Yes, there is indeed some girl-on-girl action in this novel. Nothing dirty, mind you. Their story is actually rather sweet. Kai, having been hurt before, is not looking for one-night-stands, she wants a meaningful connection. Strangely enough, the relationship that develops between these two women finally is what it takes for Amber to understand that being a succubus doesn’t have to mean a never-ending loop of meaningless one-night-stands and walk of shames – a fact Irix has been trying to teach Amber from their very first encounter.
But, don’t worry, in many ways, Amber is still the hilariously clueless succubus who accidentally turns men into sex maniac porch-humpers or desperate masturbatory machines. You’re sure to have a few giggle fits whilst reading this book.
Irix- ah, he’s my favorite character in the Half-Blood series. He is proof that demons quite simply do it better! He’s a curious mix of seduction incarnate, devilish charm - but with a touch of angel-like wisdom... When he’s not wearing muumuus or resorting to grand auto theft. Love him to death. But then again, who doesn't?
On a side note, I noticed, whilst reading this book, that it’s not just sex pheromones that have a tendency to rub off on the readers. Thanks to Amber’s green thumb and tree hugging ways, I now have a freshly trimmed hedge and a garden pond filled with fresh water for once. My birds and I all wish to thank you for your half-breed series, Debra;-)
Don’t believe me, you say? Well, shame on you, I've got proof!
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fb...
So just to sum up: If you too are in the mood for a little titillating sin, or simply could need some gardening inspiration, I can very much recommend this series. And best of all; as of My 29th, the first book in the Half-Breed series is on sale for just 0.99. It’s worth every penny. Although I would recommend that you go back to the very beginning and pick up the book that started it all; A Demon Bound. If you are a fan of humorous UF you won’t be sorry, that I can pretty much guarantee.
•Many thanks to Debra Dunbar for gifting me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review*
Everyone wants a piece of you and some succubi deal better than others. But what if your elven half objects to the things she has to do to keep herself alive and healthy? This, ladies and gentlemen, is Amber’s dilemma.
As existing readers already know, Amber is an elf/succubus hybrid. To make matters worse, she was brought up thinking she was human. Can you say “identity crisis”?...
Amber’s got very un-demonic morals: No married men, no freaks, and certainly no bonding that leaves the poor human tied to her, thereby giving her a free sexual rush each time the bound human has sex. No wonder she’s feeling a little depleted. Having survived on the equivalent of greasy fastfood meals, not the quality nourishment her body requires, Amber is about to be reunited with her mentor/succubus boyfriend. Irix has been hiding from the angels in Hel, but now he’s back on vacation. And what is better place than Maui to reunite with his protégée for a week of sun, sex and seduction?
Unfortunately, their plans go awry thanks to a bungled ritual and one extremely jealous seductress, hell bent on claiming every man on the island – including Irix - as her own, thereby thwarting Amber's romantic escapades.
No matter the obstacles, Amber is more than ready to crank up the heat. And boy, does she make Irix’s body burn for her. Unfortunately not in the sexy kind of ways she had envisioned prior to the trip. Tough luck for him, of course (my beloved klepto!) but very entertaining for the readers. Instead, they have to tackle angry fire entities who have an unfortunate tendency to burn down everything in their path, including Kai’s (the human paddleboard instructor) shack. That’s right, for the first time, Amber falls for another woman. Yes, there is indeed some girl-on-girl action in this novel. Nothing dirty, mind you. Their story is actually rather sweet. Kai, having been hurt before, is not looking for one-night-stands, she wants a meaningful connection. Strangely enough, the relationship that develops between these two women finally is what it takes for Amber to understand that being a succubus doesn’t have to mean a never-ending loop of meaningless one-night-stands and walk of shames – a fact Irix has been trying to teach Amber from their very first encounter.
But, don’t worry, in many ways, Amber is still the hilariously clueless succubus who accidentally turns men into sex maniac porch-humpers or desperate masturbatory machines. You’re sure to have a few giggle fits whilst reading this book.
Irix- ah, he’s my favorite character in the Half-Blood series. He is proof that demons quite simply do it better! He’s a curious mix of seduction incarnate, devilish charm - but with a touch of angel-like wisdom... When he’s not wearing muumuus or resorting to grand auto theft. Love him to death. But then again, who doesn't?
On a side note, I noticed, whilst reading this book, that it’s not just sex pheromones that have a tendency to rub off on the readers. Thanks to Amber’s green thumb and tree hugging ways, I now have a freshly trimmed hedge and a garden pond filled with fresh water for once. My birds and I all wish to thank you for your half-breed series, Debra;-)
Don’t believe me, you say? Well, shame on you, I've got proof!
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fb...
So just to sum up: If you too are in the mood for a little titillating sin, or simply could need some gardening inspiration, I can very much recommend this series. And best of all; as of My 29th, the first book in the Half-Breed series is on sale for just 0.99. It’s worth every penny. Although I would recommend that you go back to the very beginning and pick up the book that started it all; A Demon Bound. If you are a fan of humorous UF you won’t be sorry, that I can pretty much guarantee.
•Many thanks to Debra Dunbar for gifting me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review*
May 29, 2015
When readers left Amber in the last installment, Demons of Desire, she was still a (mostly) fumbling half-demon, trying to come to terms and failing with her succubus side. In Sins of the Flesh, Amber is trying and, most importantly, succeeding at gaining control of her succubus side while still balancing enough to please her elf side. Although in true Amber fashion, she still manages to bungle a few attempts at seduction.
In Sins of the Flesh, Debra Dunbar takes readers to the lush islands of Hawaii where Amber and Irix are finally reconnecting for a sexy getaway. As if the islands weren't hot enough, two sex demons running amok through Maui and unleashing their pheromones are a sure fire way to add even more heat. Which it totally and completely did. Not only were the scenes between Irix and Amber smokin' hot, but there was also some pretty steamy girl/girl action. That's not to say this relaxing vacation was all that relaxing, as nothing really is where it concerns demons. Someone or something is unleashing fires around the island and Amber and Irix have a pretty good idea that magic is involved. Amber, with her loving elf nature and her loyalty to humans, knows she has to to try and solve the puzzle, against Irix's wishes of course, as true demons care not for humans :) But being that he's a softie for Amber, naturally he gets involved too.
This installment really solidified why I've grown to adore Amber. Because of her half-breed status, with one side being "good" and the other "bad", she's a constant balancing act: too much demonic influence angers her elven side, too much elven influence really irritates the demon in her and makes her demon want to act out. I love her struggles and how she is slowly but surely learning to harness both sides equally and while the journey is often slow going, she's making great strides. And of course I want her demon side to win out, succubi are so much better than nature-loving elves.
Bottom line -- great installment in Debra Dunbar's spinoff, Half-Breed series. I really enjoyed getting to know these characters from her main Imp series and having them in their own series is really adding such depth to her secondary characters. While it's not necessary to read the main series prior to starting the Half-Breed series, it is a nice starting point to learn the secondary characters' beginnings. But this series can easily stand on its own, which is always a bonus. I recommend this for both urban fantasy and paranormal romance lovers, it's a bit steamier than the usual UF fare being that it's centered around delicious sex demons.
**Many thanks to the author for providing an advance copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
In Sins of the Flesh, Debra Dunbar takes readers to the lush islands of Hawaii where Amber and Irix are finally reconnecting for a sexy getaway. As if the islands weren't hot enough, two sex demons running amok through Maui and unleashing their pheromones are a sure fire way to add even more heat. Which it totally and completely did. Not only were the scenes between Irix and Amber smokin' hot, but there was also some pretty steamy girl/girl action. That's not to say this relaxing vacation was all that relaxing, as nothing really is where it concerns demons. Someone or something is unleashing fires around the island and Amber and Irix have a pretty good idea that magic is involved. Amber, with her loving elf nature and her loyalty to humans, knows she has to to try and solve the puzzle, against Irix's wishes of course, as true demons care not for humans :) But being that he's a softie for Amber, naturally he gets involved too.
This installment really solidified why I've grown to adore Amber. Because of her half-breed status, with one side being "good" and the other "bad", she's a constant balancing act: too much demonic influence angers her elven side, too much elven influence really irritates the demon in her and makes her demon want to act out. I love her struggles and how she is slowly but surely learning to harness both sides equally and while the journey is often slow going, she's making great strides. And of course I want her demon side to win out, succubi are so much better than nature-loving elves.
Bottom line -- great installment in Debra Dunbar's spinoff, Half-Breed series. I really enjoyed getting to know these characters from her main Imp series and having them in their own series is really adding such depth to her secondary characters. While it's not necessary to read the main series prior to starting the Half-Breed series, it is a nice starting point to learn the secondary characters' beginnings. But this series can easily stand on its own, which is always a bonus. I recommend this for both urban fantasy and paranormal romance lovers, it's a bit steamier than the usual UF fare being that it's centered around delicious sex demons.
**Many thanks to the author for providing an advance copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
September 30, 2022
3.5 stars
Although I did enjoy this novel, I wasn't a big fan of the whole friends with benefits plot that took over a lot of the story.
Although I did enjoy this novel, I wasn't a big fan of the whole friends with benefits plot that took over a lot of the story.
November 9, 2015
PINEAPPLES DO NOT GROW ON TREES. Your main character cannot be a biologist and not know this. Awful. Esp as it was a main plot point. Also, awful book.
January 21, 2020
3.5 stars Getting better than the first in the series. More character development. Have decided to cautiously proceed with the next in series.
July 14, 2018
55 points/100 (3 stars/5).
Half-succubus, half-elf Amber is finally going on a vacation with her lover, the succubus Irix. They decided that Maui would be the best place to get their fuck on. Then some unusual fires happen, and then there is this chick who thinks Amber is poaching..and things get complicated.
I didn't hate and want two stop midway through on this one. It was just.. kinda boring. There isn't much to this book except for how it is changing the world that has already been set up. This book was pretty predictable, overall.
The plot isn't nearly as bad as it was last time around. There is still the environmental element, but it is weaved in. It isn't Amber's raison d'être. More effort is placed in Amber's sexual interests than the plot. I just don't understand why Amber has to care so damn much. No, her having been raised by humans doesn't mean she has to care about everything. I'm tired of that argument. Every other human around doesn't care about anything in this story, other than as something to stare at.
Also, I must have missed where Amber came to terms with her succubus powers. I did a double take when I read that in the first chapter. Last thing I remembered, she was still having troubles, but was willing to start trying. Now, she is 100% okay with it. Don't get me wrong, I couldn't have taken another "woe is me" book from Amber. She just took a complete 180 when I wasn't paying attention. Now, in this book, she is also coming to terms with her lesbian side, too. At least she doesn't hate herself for that, this time around. It is actually kind of sweet how this plays out.
I spent a solid portion of this book trying to figure out where the heck the new worldbuilding fit in. Dunbar, up until this point, included things that fit in with things she had already established. Add in an elemental from another world? I can live with that, because that has already been established prior to this book. However, this goddess thing I just cannot reconcile in my head. There is no place for her. It isn't explained how she can fit in. It is kind of just ignored by the belief we'll just accept that this is alright. It isn't alright! What the heck is this??? I need answers.
I want to like this series, because it is in the same world as Imp, and I love Imp. I just cannot get into this story. There is too little for me to really care about here.
Half-succubus, half-elf Amber is finally going on a vacation with her lover, the succubus Irix. They decided that Maui would be the best place to get their fuck on. Then some unusual fires happen, and then there is this chick who thinks Amber is poaching..and things get complicated.
I didn't hate and want two stop midway through on this one. It was just.. kinda boring. There isn't much to this book except for how it is changing the world that has already been set up. This book was pretty predictable, overall.
The plot isn't nearly as bad as it was last time around. There is still the environmental element, but it is weaved in. It isn't Amber's raison d'être. More effort is placed in Amber's sexual interests than the plot. I just don't understand why Amber has to care so damn much. No, her having been raised by humans doesn't mean she has to care about everything. I'm tired of that argument. Every other human around doesn't care about anything in this story, other than as something to stare at.
Also, I must have missed where Amber came to terms with her succubus powers. I did a double take when I read that in the first chapter. Last thing I remembered, she was still having troubles, but was willing to start trying. Now, she is 100% okay with it. Don't get me wrong, I couldn't have taken another "woe is me" book from Amber. She just took a complete 180 when I wasn't paying attention. Now, in this book, she is also coming to terms with her lesbian side, too. At least she doesn't hate herself for that, this time around. It is actually kind of sweet how this plays out.
I spent a solid portion of this book trying to figure out where the heck the new worldbuilding fit in. Dunbar, up until this point, included things that fit in with things she had already established. Add in an elemental from another world? I can live with that, because that has already been established prior to this book. However, this goddess thing I just cannot reconcile in my head. There is no place for her. It isn't explained how she can fit in. It is kind of just ignored by the belief we'll just accept that this is alright. It isn't alright! What the heck is this??? I need answers.
I want to like this series, because it is in the same world as Imp, and I love Imp. I just cannot get into this story. There is too little for me to really care about here.
September 17, 2018
I really love the Imp series and I really wanted to like this spin-off series as well but I just don’t. I feel like instead of balancing Amber’s character development with an action filled plot we are just tossed into the plot. I was really looking forward to seeing Amber and Irix together and seeing that relationship grow, but instead the whole ‘vacation’ was filled with Amber again running off and making every dying tree her personal problem.
I can’t help but compare these books to the Imp series by Debra Dunbar and they really fall short. Amber is not as engaging a heroine as Sam is and her over the top righteousness can be annoying. I also understand that how the plants and trees function is part of the story, but I honestly skipped many pages that just explained various types of plants in Hawaii and the symptoms of tree viruses, etc. I picked up this book for a fun diversion from real life, not a botany lesson. Normally some information as to how real life works is welcome in an urban fantasy books (Diana Rowland’s “White Trash Zombie” series does a great job of explaining how the coroner’s office works), but in this book it was just too much.
The side characters weren’t really given much time to develop either and all I know is that Kai is beautiful and a good source of energy for Amber – oh and Amber also, for no good reason that I could see, is now somehow in love with a woman despite continuously lamenting in the last book and this one hat she is not attracted to women.
I wish we could spend more time with Irix who is actually interesting and I may actually start to like Amber if the author shows us more of their relationship instead of telling us they are now a couple and jumping straight into a succubus and an incubus having a serious relationship.
It really surprises me that I don’t like this series, especially given how much I like the Imp series, but this just doesn’t have the same magic.
I can’t help but compare these books to the Imp series by Debra Dunbar and they really fall short. Amber is not as engaging a heroine as Sam is and her over the top righteousness can be annoying. I also understand that how the plants and trees function is part of the story, but I honestly skipped many pages that just explained various types of plants in Hawaii and the symptoms of tree viruses, etc. I picked up this book for a fun diversion from real life, not a botany lesson. Normally some information as to how real life works is welcome in an urban fantasy books (Diana Rowland’s “White Trash Zombie” series does a great job of explaining how the coroner’s office works), but in this book it was just too much.
The side characters weren’t really given much time to develop either and all I know is that Kai is beautiful and a good source of energy for Amber – oh and Amber also, for no good reason that I could see, is now somehow in love with a woman despite continuously lamenting in the last book and this one hat she is not attracted to women.
I wish we could spend more time with Irix who is actually interesting and I may actually start to like Amber if the author shows us more of their relationship instead of telling us they are now a couple and jumping straight into a succubus and an incubus having a serious relationship.
It really surprises me that I don’t like this series, especially given how much I like the Imp series, but this just doesn’t have the same magic.
February 7, 2017
So this series is just not up to the Imp series in fun and interest. At the very end there were a few laughs but overall it was not a humorous novel. Amber is just not that interesting like Samantha is. She is a succubus/elf hiding from both factions but trying to control and use her powers with the help of her succubus boyfriend, a very old demon. Amber final accepts her succubus needs and learns that she doesn't have to own everyone she has sex with. This was good and... finally! There was the furthering of her connection with Irix and a romance with a female surfing instructor. There is a bit of sex in this one though I would call it lightly graphic rather than erotic. Mostly this is the story of fighting the fires and fire spirits and finding out who brought them and why in order to figure out how to send them back.
As another reviewer pointed out, pineapples do not grow on trees. So you have to ignore that she totally screwed that fact up. So saving the pineapple "trees" from the blight is a bit laughable. To be fair, I thought they were related to cactus plants. But at least I knew they were plants or bushes, then again, I'm originally from Miami and have seen them. Maybe I would have thought they come from trees if not. Still I would hope a writer would research the type of "tree", central to a story, that she is saving. Maybe she should stick to Maryland. Maybe it was a joke?
So ignoring the pineapple trees, It was overall a good story and furthered Amber's abilities. She just isn't that interesting of a character.
As another reviewer pointed out, pineapples do not grow on trees. So you have to ignore that she totally screwed that fact up. So saving the pineapple "trees" from the blight is a bit laughable. To be fair, I thought they were related to cactus plants. But at least I knew they were plants or bushes, then again, I'm originally from Miami and have seen them. Maybe I would have thought they come from trees if not. Still I would hope a writer would research the type of "tree", central to a story, that she is saving. Maybe she should stick to Maryland. Maybe it was a joke?
So ignoring the pineapple trees, It was overall a good story and furthered Amber's abilities. She just isn't that interesting of a character.
May 28, 2015
A fabulous tale of sun, sand, sex and succubi! I found this novel to be a delightfully fun, light-hearted read. With a perfect blend of romance, humour, and action all slightly tinged by the paranormal; making this book fairly Impossible to put down.
The real strength of this novel comes from its characters; you will find yourself more and more drawn to Amber (the half elf/succubus protagonist with a heart of gold) after every page. Every scene between Amber and Kia (the charming but emotionally guarded surfer) was so endearing and touching that on more than one occasion I found myself with a stupidly large grin plastered on my face. The main story itself fit perfectly in the setting and was both interesting and well paced.
If you’re a fan of Debra Dunbar’s Imp Series, you`ll feel right at home with Sins of the Flesh.
The real strength of this novel comes from its characters; you will find yourself more and more drawn to Amber (the half elf/succubus protagonist with a heart of gold) after every page. Every scene between Amber and Kia (the charming but emotionally guarded surfer) was so endearing and touching that on more than one occasion I found myself with a stupidly large grin plastered on my face. The main story itself fit perfectly in the setting and was both interesting and well paced.
If you’re a fan of Debra Dunbar’s Imp Series, you`ll feel right at home with Sins of the Flesh.
March 5, 2017
I was disappointed with this one. I was looking forward to seeing Irix and Amber's relationship grow, but they didn't see each other much. The focus was mainly on the girl on girl romance. I'm not really not into f/f and would have appreciated a warning. Also, a little too much talk about "meaningful" one night stands. Yes, I got the author's point. Several times. So..... nuff said.
March 30, 2017
This was fun but just not as good as the Imp books- I still don't like Amber as much as Sam, I wasn't sure where the old gods thing came from.
December 10, 2016
Normally I can get into these type of stories but I just can't handle the lack of love between the characters. it just felt too forced!
September 8, 2019
Amber and her life as a half succubus and half elf started off on a rocky road. At the end of the first book, we were left with Amber still trying to figure out how to function with her succubus side. At the beginning of the second book, we see Amber has grown over the last six months, coming into her own and becoming semi okay with her needs. I did like to see the growth of Amber, but I am also happy to see that the author didn't right her to automatically be put together.
Irix and Amber's relationship has grown, they've learned how to function as a couple and also feed their sex demons. Irix in this book is refreshing, he shows his support of Amber and backs her every step of the way.
Although two of them are supposed to be on vacation in Maui, there are still issues that arise one being Amber dealing with a rule of hers and falling for a local female. Amber also has to solve the issues of the random fires that are breaking out across the island, and when she does it's a lot rue fight.
I enjoyed the second book, and I look forward to reading the next.
Irix and Amber's relationship has grown, they've learned how to function as a couple and also feed their sex demons. Irix in this book is refreshing, he shows his support of Amber and backs her every step of the way.
Although two of them are supposed to be on vacation in Maui, there are still issues that arise one being Amber dealing with a rule of hers and falling for a local female. Amber also has to solve the issues of the random fires that are breaking out across the island, and when she does it's a lot rue fight.
I enjoyed the second book, and I look forward to reading the next.
November 13, 2025
I'm once again forced to leave an Amber's book 5 stars! Yes, these books are smutty just like the title promises. No, I'm still not enjoying spicy books particularly much (they're more in the meh category for me).
However these are very well written with actual plot and lots of action! I feel like Debra is compensating because of the spicy scenes 😂 In any case I'm not complaining.
The story was riveting, I loved the side characters, and the author was obviously trying to make up for Kelly's book because we finally got some actual representation. So I'm overall very impressed even when I had to skip the spicy scenes lol
However these are very well written with actual plot and lots of action! I feel like Debra is compensating because of the spicy scenes 😂 In any case I'm not complaining.
The story was riveting, I loved the side characters, and the author was obviously trying to make up for Kelly's book because we finally got some actual representation. So I'm overall very impressed even when I had to skip the spicy scenes lol
June 22, 2017
Fun read!
If you're interested in a fun and sexy beach read, what could be better than a story about a half-elf/half-demon and an incubus on vacation in Maui? Amber is almost done with her senior year in college and Irix treats her to a spring break in Maui. What they intend as a week of frolicking on the beach is complicated by the awakening of an old god who isn't a morning person. Amber has to learn about herself and her abilities and rely on help from her friends to prevent the island from going up in flames.
If you're interested in a fun and sexy beach read, what could be better than a story about a half-elf/half-demon and an incubus on vacation in Maui? Amber is almost done with her senior year in college and Irix treats her to a spring break in Maui. What they intend as a week of frolicking on the beach is complicated by the awakening of an old god who isn't a morning person. Amber has to learn about herself and her abilities and rely on help from her friends to prevent the island from going up in flames.
August 17, 2018
A Very Creative Plot With Fiery Passions Abounding
I love Debra Dunbar, she is so very full of imagination and manages to have great characters, while also providing real poignancy in her creations. This one is not just a romance novel, it is so much more. There is action, depth of storylines, and some very interesting twists that really make one think. Five stars are, once again, completely deserved.
Read it, I think you will likely be as pleased as I with this paranormal romance/action novel as I.
As Always, I Wish Happy Reads to All from the Unapologetic Book Junkie 😉!
I love Debra Dunbar, she is so very full of imagination and manages to have great characters, while also providing real poignancy in her creations. This one is not just a romance novel, it is so much more. There is action, depth of storylines, and some very interesting twists that really make one think. Five stars are, once again, completely deserved.
Read it, I think you will likely be as pleased as I with this paranormal romance/action novel as I.
As Always, I Wish Happy Reads to All from the Unapologetic Book Junkie 😉!
July 29, 2021
But, so far this has been my least favorite Imp world book. It takes a long time to get to any real action. And not the second action. There is an overload of that in this book. I’m not against sex in books, but I feel like this took away from the actual story line. I want to hear more about Amber and staying away from angels. I want read more about her powers and learning to use them more. But overall I liked the book, it just wasn’t the same feeling as the rest of the Imp World Series.
April 11, 2021
This book was pretty bad. The clues about who the bad guy is are pretty in your face right from the start. If it weren’t for the very sexy and fierce Kai and my love of Hawaiian lore this would have been unreadable. And if it weren’t for Amber and Irix bring a big part of Imp # 11 I’d give up on this spin off.
May 1, 2018
Fire up your interest in more of Debra Dunbar...
Amber and Inix's holiday together was never going to be dull..
Get to know these characters plus some new one's in this next addition to the series
Amber and Inix's holiday together was never going to be dull..
Get to know these characters plus some new one's in this next addition to the series
September 22, 2019
Love these books and this series!!
Great characters, love the compassion the main character has and she's half demon! Humans could learn a lot from her. Excited to see how the imp is doing, on to the next book!
Great characters, love the compassion the main character has and she's half demon! Humans could learn a lot from her. Excited to see how the imp is doing, on to the next book!
January 21, 2021
This is a great offshoot of the Imp series. This world is a challenge and this book takes place on Maui so there is the tropical paradise aspect as well as the sexiness of a Succubus working to keep her energy up.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 5, 2019
Amber goes to Hawaii
Amber gets to go to Hawaii but things get hot in a hurry! Read to see what I mean about hot!!
Amber gets to go to Hawaii but things get hot in a hurry! Read to see what I mean about hot!!
February 18, 2021
Hooked!
Just finished book two of the half breed series, and already I'm suffering from withdrawal symptoms! Darn it, Debra, you're just too addictive!
Just finished book two of the half breed series, and already I'm suffering from withdrawal symptoms! Darn it, Debra, you're just too addictive!
December 12, 2021
It's weird how tye angels can't see her demon-self, but L did put self-preservation, demon-hiding skills into her making. ;)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 18, 2015
Fantastic paranormal romance from Debra Dunbar. This story is well balanced and written, which has become almost a signature of Debra Dunbar's work. I love how this series shows the growth of the main characters and how their relationships develop. This book shows Amber growing into her powers, learning to weild her succubus powers with finesse. I can't wait to see what happens next for these characters.
XoxoxoxoxoX
Alia
XoxoxoxoxoX
Alia
April 18, 2016
Amber is half elf and half demon succubus who is finally embracing her need for sexual energy. Meeting Irix her demon mentor for a holiday seems like a dream vacation. However mysterious fires are breaking out all over the island and another succubus seems to show up every time she tries to pick someone up calming every man in the island is hers. Funny and a bit sexier than the first book as Amber grows in her abilities. Great series.
June 1, 2015
Another fun book from the Imp World. I liked this second installment of Ambers story better than the first. In this book there is more growth to the relationship of Amber and Irix. Also, Amber grows and matures in her views and relationships of the people she encounters. I loved the unexpected humor of finding our who the great mage who summoned the goddess was (no spoilers here).
July 21, 2015
3.5
Not as entertaining as the imp series, but it's always fun to revisit the demon world. In this installment, Amber still struggles with her succubus/elf nature and decides to spend some quality time in Hawaii with her incubus boyfriend, Irix. Things are going well until unnatural fires are spotted across the island and Amber feels compelled to help.
Not as entertaining as the imp series, but it's always fun to revisit the demon world. In this installment, Amber still struggles with her succubus/elf nature and decides to spend some quality time in Hawaii with her incubus boyfriend, Irix. Things are going well until unnatural fires are spotted across the island and Amber feels compelled to help.
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