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Demons #4
The Last Unforgiven: Cursed
Every villain has a backstory.
A millennium is a dreadfully long time to walk the Earth, and memories that last a lifetime are doubly cursed for Raim, the longest serving Grand Master.
Unlike the rest of the Incubi, he doesn’t get the oblivion of Deep Sleep. Instead, he lives through every day of each century, with vivid memories that torment him throughout the endless ages…
Of her, the only woman who ever stirred feelings in his heart.
Of him, the only Incubus who ever had his complete trust.
Of their betrayal, and the way he lost them both…
Every villain has a backstory.
This one is Raim’s.
Warning: The Last Unforgiven: Cursed is not a Romance. It’s the backstory of a villain. There is no HEA. He hasn’t earned it. Not yet.
Intended for mature readers.
A millennium is a dreadfully long time to walk the Earth, and memories that last a lifetime are doubly cursed for Raim, the longest serving Grand Master.
Unlike the rest of the Incubi, he doesn’t get the oblivion of Deep Sleep. Instead, he lives through every day of each century, with vivid memories that torment him throughout the endless ages…
Of her, the only woman who ever stirred feelings in his heart.
Of him, the only Incubus who ever had his complete trust.
Of their betrayal, and the way he lost them both…
Every villain has a backstory.
This one is Raim’s.
Warning: The Last Unforgiven: Cursed is not a Romance. It’s the backstory of a villain. There is no HEA. He hasn’t earned it. Not yet.
Intended for mature readers.
144 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 27, 2020
54 people are currently reading
133 people want to read
About the author
Marina Simcoe
55 books707 followersDeep, heartfelt romance with a generous sprinkle of spice and a tad of magic.
Newsletter Signup is on www.MarinaSimcoe.com
For illustrations of her books, early access ebooks, bonus stories, and signed paperbacks, please visit the author's Patreon: https://patreon.com/MarinaSimcoe
Newsletter Signup is on www.MarinaSimcoe.com
For illustrations of her books, early access ebooks, bonus stories, and signed paperbacks, please visit the author's Patreon: https://patreon.com/MarinaSimcoe
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
April 1, 2020
3.5 stars
February 27, 2020
If you haven't read the other books in this series I really don't recommend you start with this one. You need to have an understanding of the world that Marina Simcoe has created with her Demons series. This world is a world within our own, but hidden. In truth, after reading the first book in this series, Demon Mine, I wasn't quite sure what to think or how I felt. That's not saying I didn't like it, because I did.
If you've read the other books in this series then you will know who Raim is. This book will give you Raim's history, his very LONG history. You will get to know Raim on a personal level and understand why he has become the, well, Demon, that he is. The Grand Master. You will see what Raim gave up in order to become the longest serving Grand Master in existence and what he gave up in order to protect his Kind. Raim's book is not a happy story, but you will gain so much insight into his being. Their are depths to Raim, and some of those are secreted out in this book.
And although he has relinquished his position as Grand Master over the Demons, he is inexplicably thrust back into the future of their entire Kind by no actions of his own. What steps, if any, Raim will take to ensure the future of his Kind are not revealed in this book. We will have to wait for the conclusion to his story.
While reading this, I hurt for Raim. Raim, being a Demon, an Incubi, didn't understand what he was experiencing in the way of emotions. He definitely felt rage, but as to the finer emotions, not so much.
I really liked this book and hope that others will give this series a try.
I received a free copy of this book from the author via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. I also purchased this book so I could re-read it.
If you've read the other books in this series then you will know who Raim is. This book will give you Raim's history, his very LONG history. You will get to know Raim on a personal level and understand why he has become the, well, Demon, that he is. The Grand Master. You will see what Raim gave up in order to become the longest serving Grand Master in existence and what he gave up in order to protect his Kind. Raim's book is not a happy story, but you will gain so much insight into his being. Their are depths to Raim, and some of those are secreted out in this book.
And although he has relinquished his position as Grand Master over the Demons, he is inexplicably thrust back into the future of their entire Kind by no actions of his own. What steps, if any, Raim will take to ensure the future of his Kind are not revealed in this book. We will have to wait for the conclusion to his story.
While reading this, I hurt for Raim. Raim, being a Demon, an Incubi, didn't understand what he was experiencing in the way of emotions. He definitely felt rage, but as to the finer emotions, not so much.
I really liked this book and hope that others will give this series a try.
I received a free copy of this book from the author via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. I also purchased this book so I could re-read it.
March 7, 2020
3.5
More of Raim's origin story then a romance- but it was interesting to find out more about the beginnings of the Grand Master.
I would consider this a novella, but considering the next book will probably be about Raim's love story I think this is an important read.
More of Raim's origin story then a romance- but it was interesting to find out more about the beginnings of the Grand Master.
I would consider this a novella, but considering the next book will probably be about Raim's love story I think this is an important read.
February 16, 2020
I received this book as an ARC, and am leaving a review voluntarily.
Fair warning: I have been anxiously awaiting Raim’s book ever since I met the enigmatic villain in Demon Mine. I desperately wanted a peek beneath the cruel exterior to see what makes him tick.
I should mention as well this only the first half of Raim’s story. You will not find an HEA here. That did not at all diminish my enjoyment! I loved every delicious minute of Raim’s story, even his rage and pain. Thank you Ms Simcoe for unleashing this beast into the world! I CANNOT WAIT for Part II!
“ ‘It’s not that hard to track Raim... One just needs to follow the trail of corpses and mutilated men.’ ”
Fair warning: I have been anxiously awaiting Raim’s book ever since I met the enigmatic villain in Demon Mine. I desperately wanted a peek beneath the cruel exterior to see what makes him tick.
I should mention as well this only the first half of Raim’s story. You will not find an HEA here. That did not at all diminish my enjoyment! I loved every delicious minute of Raim’s story, even his rage and pain. Thank you Ms Simcoe for unleashing this beast into the world! I CANNOT WAIT for Part II!
“ ‘It’s not that hard to track Raim... One just needs to follow the trail of corpses and mutilated men.’ ”
May 29, 2023
This was so good,but a little sad..it is about Raim,an incubus grand master and it gives you the insight to why he is,the way he is (bitter)
this story is of his memories through the centuries and it doesn’t yet have that happy ending as it carries onto the next story about him..I’ve loved this series 🥰
this story is of his memories through the centuries and it doesn’t yet have that happy ending as it carries onto the next story about him..I’ve loved this series 🥰
February 23, 2021
Wow. Who could imagine that I was going to like the character Raim? My favorite villain and best book of the series so far. I'm looking forward to reading the final book.
February 29, 2020
I wanted to give 4.5 stars. That said, I've hated Raim since the first book in the series, Demon Mine. I've wanted to see him suffer. As tidbits of his story unfolded throughout the series, you'd think that a woman had toyed with his love to make him such a hateful bastard. Learning the full story, we find that Raim had no one to blame but himself. And like mortals, he finds anger is much easier to deal with than pain and sadness.
Marina did the impossible in The Last Unforgiven- Cursed, she made me feel--somewhat-- for Raim. Remembering how he drained sources once he saw the bond between them and their incubi in Book 1 still leaves me bitter. However, all the torture I wanted him to suffer, I saw in TLU that he has experienced it continuously for thousands of years.
I will say that I've idealized incubi in each of Marina's books, they've always seemed like beings who just want or need love. Sign me up! But after seeing Raim's full nature disclosed, it made me wonder how many others were like him. This would certainly justify the council's fear and desire to destroy the incubi.
*******SPOILER ALERT*****
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Raim fights his natural evolution into loving through his ambition, fear, and stubbornness. I'm thankful that we got a tiny glimpse that he understood his hand in losing Olyena. When he realizes what he's done he externalizes like a boss, blames others, and turns the torture of his own making, into twisted ideals for protecting the incubi. I only wished that when he had his confrontation with Olyena, more was stated to him about how much and how long she suffered waiting for him; so we could have seen him with at least some pause in acting and thinking like a total brat. He likely would have behaved the same with his thick skull--he is a villain after all-- but still, I wanted more there.
As with all of Marina's books, I'm left wanting more of the story. I'm hoping we get to see incubi descendants in the final book for an awesomely powerful showdown with the council. And some much-deserved torture for the elder.
Marina did the impossible in The Last Unforgiven- Cursed, she made me feel--somewhat-- for Raim. Remembering how he drained sources once he saw the bond between them and their incubi in Book 1 still leaves me bitter. However, all the torture I wanted him to suffer, I saw in TLU that he has experienced it continuously for thousands of years.
I will say that I've idealized incubi in each of Marina's books, they've always seemed like beings who just want or need love. Sign me up! But after seeing Raim's full nature disclosed, it made me wonder how many others were like him. This would certainly justify the council's fear and desire to destroy the incubi.
*******SPOILER ALERT*****
*
*
*
*
Raim fights his natural evolution into loving through his ambition, fear, and stubbornness. I'm thankful that we got a tiny glimpse that he understood his hand in losing Olyena. When he realizes what he's done he externalizes like a boss, blames others, and turns the torture of his own making, into twisted ideals for protecting the incubi. I only wished that when he had his confrontation with Olyena, more was stated to him about how much and how long she suffered waiting for him; so we could have seen him with at least some pause in acting and thinking like a total brat. He likely would have behaved the same with his thick skull--he is a villain after all-- but still, I wanted more there.
As with all of Marina's books, I'm left wanting more of the story. I'm hoping we get to see incubi descendants in the final book for an awesomely powerful showdown with the council. And some much-deserved torture for the elder.
June 2, 2020
I was hoping that one of the books will cover Raim, an official villain of the first three books in the Demon series, and this wish is not simply an accident. It was in fact very well designed foreshadowing by the author herself. In one of the scenes in the second book (Forgotten) there is a single scene - extremely well crafted - which plants a seed in readers mind. And exactly this concept comes back in the book 4. A good villain is not being bad just for the sake of it. Good villain need to have a back story, and the better that back story is, the better this villain becomes. Raim has that back-story, and this mystery gets revealed throughout this fourth book. What I really, really love in a series like this, is that small parts of the plot spread-out throughout the squeals, all of a sudden get connected in a whole, and the overall series arc is building up to become an epic overall story.
I am so looking forward to the finale – book number 5!!!
I am so looking forward to the finale – book number 5!!!
February 14, 2020
This book was very intelligently written and kept me engaged despite the fact that it wasn’t a romance. Ms. Simcoe does a masterful job of detailing how the Council and the Incubi got to their current state of existence while also telling the beginning of Raim’s story. And while I still see Raim as a villain at the end of this book, I understand more of what made him the way he is. I have a feeling that Ms. Simcoe will be able to convincingly and creatively get me to fall in love with Raim myself in the next book. This is a great series with a fascinating overall storyline. Reminds me a bit of Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code. I cannot wait for the next book based on this one!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 27, 2020
This prequel novella was masterfully written and well edited. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this setup to the novel Freed. I will warn other readers that this is not a romance novel with a Happy Ever After, or even a Happy For Now ending. This novella gives the backstory on the hero of the upcoming novel Freed and his deep personal trauma. I don't necessarily recommend reading this novella if you are having an emotionally trying week. However, it was masterfully paced and written, with excellent characterization and vibrant world building. It will be interesting to see if the upcoming romance novel Freed will make much sense to readers who have not read this prequel novella. I cannot wait!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 27, 2020
Phenomenal Story!
Once again Marina Simcoe dazzles us with her brilliant writing skills and her phenomenal story telling. Raim's story is not a happy one to read. He is darkness personified! But I am happy that Marina wrote his story so that we could finally get a snip-it of Raim's history and where his darkness comes from. Raim's story had me hooked right from the start. I was on the edge of my seat fully captivated. After reading this story I now understand a little more about Raim and why he's the way he is. Even though Raim is portrayed as a bad guy (okay he's a bad guy), I am already starting to fall in love with him and I can't wait for the next book.
This is a fantastic series and I highly recommend it.
Once again Marina Simcoe dazzles us with her brilliant writing skills and her phenomenal story telling. Raim's story is not a happy one to read. He is darkness personified! But I am happy that Marina wrote his story so that we could finally get a snip-it of Raim's history and where his darkness comes from. Raim's story had me hooked right from the start. I was on the edge of my seat fully captivated. After reading this story I now understand a little more about Raim and why he's the way he is. Even though Raim is portrayed as a bad guy (okay he's a bad guy), I am already starting to fall in love with him and I can't wait for the next book.
This is a fantastic series and I highly recommend it.
March 1, 2020
★ Cursed with eternity ★
—>>> Review Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars - This book illustrates the results of Raim’s major life choices, which render him the type of Demon he is today, no longer happy to remain as Grand Master of the Western Council of Incubi. Having met the witch Olyena who had nurses him back to health after being attacked by humans, he chooses instead to leave her and pursue his goal of becoming Grand Master over his kind instead of staying with her, cementing his fate. Now, several hundred years later, word of the teardrop necklace he had gifted to Olyena has resurfaced on another, and hope now fills his heart because it is a clue he can follow for answers he needs, now that his future is uncertain, and he is at loose ends.
—>>> Review Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars - This book illustrates the results of Raim’s major life choices, which render him the type of Demon he is today, no longer happy to remain as Grand Master of the Western Council of Incubi. Having met the witch Olyena who had nurses him back to health after being attacked by humans, he chooses instead to leave her and pursue his goal of becoming Grand Master over his kind instead of staying with her, cementing his fate. Now, several hundred years later, word of the teardrop necklace he had gifted to Olyena has resurfaced on another, and hope now fills his heart because it is a clue he can follow for answers he needs, now that his future is uncertain, and he is at loose ends.
February 27, 2020
Stunning story!
I am fascinated with Raim’s obsession with that which he threw away. He never lets it go. He is relentless in his pursuit of those who ‘betrayed’ him. In my eyes, Raim is the one who has fallen short. His own actions created the situation in which he finds himself. I do hope he will soon find redemption. He’s certainly in need of it. I love the story, though it is harsh at times. Excellent storytelling!
I am fascinated with Raim’s obsession with that which he threw away. He never lets it go. He is relentless in his pursuit of those who ‘betrayed’ him. In my eyes, Raim is the one who has fallen short. His own actions created the situation in which he finds himself. I do hope he will soon find redemption. He’s certainly in need of it. I love the story, though it is harsh at times. Excellent storytelling!
March 25, 2020
As always Marina Simcoe doesn’t let us down! Once again compelling characters, with complicated backgrounds that leave us wanting to know more. As we know not all characters deserve a happily ever after and this is definitely one of them. Read and immerse yourself in the life of a heroic villain and the happily ever after he never gets.
January 31, 2024
all the stars!!! all the feels!
oh man, I didn't think I would be able to stomach a book about Raim, but not only did I enjoy this glimpse into what made him the way he is- I felt sorry for this demon. Talk about an excellent author who can pull that off!
I cried for Raim! Reading the last book now and cannot wait for his full redemption!
oh man, I didn't think I would be able to stomach a book about Raim, but not only did I enjoy this glimpse into what made him the way he is- I felt sorry for this demon. Talk about an excellent author who can pull that off!
I cried for Raim! Reading the last book now and cannot wait for his full redemption!
September 6, 2025
I enjoyed the book. This was a fantasy read about demons and humans. I thought there was enough fantasy background that you won't get lost inside this fantasy world. I did wish to read more into their relationship as I felt it was very plot and sex driven sometimes. Other than that, it is a light fantasy read.
February 14, 2020
I've been curious about Raim since Book 1, and I really appreciate the chance to get a look at his background story - I absolutely cannot wait for Book 5!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 2, 2020
Explains much of the mystery behind masters behavior.
January 19, 2021
Wow
Wow, this series is amazing. The depth of emotion and thought that went into it ...leaves me wishing for my very own demon.
Wow, this series is amazing. The depth of emotion and thought that went into it ...leaves me wishing for my very own demon.
April 2, 2022
Very much a prequel novella for the next book. Why not combine them?
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews