England, 1876. Twenty-year-old Maraina Blackwood has always struggled to adhere to the restrictive standards of Victorian society, denying the courage and desire that burn within her soul. But after a terrifying supernatural encounter, Maraina's instincts compel her to action.
Maraina soon discovers a plot to unleash a new world—one of demonic aristocrats, bloody rituals, and nightmarish monsters. Putting her upbringing aside, Maraina vows to fight the dark forces assuming control of England. But as her world transforms, Maraina finds that she too must transform...and what she becomes will bring out all that she once buried.
Lilitu: The Memoirs of a Succubus is the first chapter in an epic dark fantasy saga, proudly represented by Crystal Lake Publishing—Tales from the Darkest Depths.
Fortin has created a dark and forbidding world where creatures have thrown off their shackles and brought on eternal night. This book is a brilliant look at what happens when the things that go bump in the night take control. And Maraina is stuck between revenge and survival. A must read for urban fantasy and horror fans!
This was so much outside the usual genres I read that I feel unable to review it - having no idea of the genre traditions. Personally, I prefer my supernatural beings living in the shadows of human civilisation, rather than vice versa. However, to an outsider like myself, this was a wild, imaginative ride with sights and visions that verge on the unpleasant side of fantastical (as intended).
A rip-roaring journey which takes the reader all the way from a graceful country estate to the horror of a life which has been shattered. The main character has to find her feet in a world set on fire by betrayals, supernatural creatures and an unquenchable passion which her supernatural lover has gifted her with. Nothing is ever as it seems in this world and she must learn to flow with the tide or else be drowned and lost forever. I loved this novel, the characters, the writing, the way the plot flowed over you and it is different from others out there. A genre breaker. A fantastic read.
LILITU is the story of Maraina Blackwood, a woman in Victorian England struggling to navigate its rigid gender norms. Which, let's be real, is stressful enough.
But then demons take over!
Maraina is given a choice: join their wicked ranks by becoming a succubus, or be enslaved with the other mortals. Seems pretty clear-cut, right?
Especially since the person offering her this deal is a sexy, but probably evil, incubus aristocrat...
So Maraina decides to use her new powers to fight the hellish monsters that have taken over England...
...In the process realizing that maybe some of the ideas she grew up with about gender and sexuality might be worth calling into question.
It's basically really gothic...
Full of nightmarish action...
And quite a bit of naughtiness, too.
It's perfect for people who dig things like Vampire Chronicles, Penny Dreadful, Crimson Peak, Underworld, Tim Burton's older movies, or any other Dark Fantasy/Horror that's Goth For Goth's Sake.
I cannot recommend this book enough, the world building is amazing as is the growth of the main character. I absolutely adore the amount of imagination and thought that obviously went into this book. There were parts of this book especially towards the end that had me bawling.
This is an excellent specimen of the dark fantasy genre. There are deeper issues around class consciousness, civil rights, relationship abuse, sexual oppression/liberation, and body image woven into an enrapturing plot (with really good pacing) in a way that feels natural and impactful. It's a great take on some classic dark fantasy tropes that feels fresh and interesting. The character development avoided predictability while being very satisfying. I recommend this to anyone who is a fan of dark fantasy books.
Captivating tale that keeps you turning pages. Descriptions of worlds and creatures were evocative and creative. I’m not much a fan of a “Victorian” style of prose and speech, so that worked less well for me.