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Fairwick Chronicles #1
The Demon Lover
I gasped, or tried to. My mouth opened, but I couldn’t draw breath. His lips, pearly wet, parted and he blew into my mouth. My lungs expanded beneath his weight. When I exhaled he sucked my breath in and his weight turned from cold marble into warm living flesh. Since accepting a teaching position at remote Fairwick College in upstate New York, Callie McFay has experienced the same disturbingly sensual dream every A mist enters her bedroom, then takes the shape of a virile, seductive stranger who proceeds to ravish her in the most toe-curling, wholly satisfying ways possible. Perhaps these dreams are the result of her having written the bestselling book The Sex Lives of Demon Lovers. Callie’s lifelong passion is the intersection of lurid fairy tales and Gothic literature—which is why she’s found herself at Fairwick’s renowned folklore department, living in a once-stately Victorian house that, at first sight, seemed to call her name. But Callie soon realizes that her dreams are alarmingly real. She has a demon lover—an incubus—and he will seduce her, pleasure her, and eventually suck the very life from her. Then Callie makes another startling Her incubus is not the only mythical creature in Fairwick. As the tenured witches of the college and the resident fairies in the surrounding woods prepare to cast out the demon, Callie must accomplish something infinitely more difficult—banishing this supernatural lover from her heart.“Vivid and enchanting . . . Dark’s letter-perfect gothic style is a satisfying tribute to previous gothic novels, and the paranormal elements, including incubi, fae, vampires, and witches, make this a stellar romance.”—Booklist (Top 10 SF/Fantasy) “[Juliet] Dark develops a complex, detailed world where magic, reason, and gothic literature enjoyably intersect.”—Publishers Weekly
450 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2011
292 people are currently reading
7739 people want to read
About the author
Carol Goodman
35 books2,904 followersCarol Goodman is the author of The Lake of Dead Languages, The Seduction of Water, which won the Hammett Prize, The Widow's House, which won the Mary Higgins Clark Award and The Night Visitors, which won the Mary Higgins Clark Award. She is also the co-author, with her husband Lee Slonimsky, of the Watchtower fantasy trilogy. Her work has appeared in such journals as The Greensboro Review, Literal Latte, The Midwest Quarterly, and Other Voices. After graduation from Vassar College, where she majored in Latin, she taught Latin for several years in Austin, Texas. She then received an M.F.A. in fiction from the New School University. Goodman currently teaches literature and writing at The New School and SUNY New Paltz and lives with her family in the Hudson Valley.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 920 reviews
June 27, 2023
I wasn’t so excited to start this book, the title gave me the wrong impression. “Oh demon lover, typical romance story. *yawns* Boring stuff”. But the cover was pretty great and the summary made it sound pretty good. I'll be honest, this ended up a wonderful surprise. The story was amazing!
Demon Lover has a bit of a fairytale-ish feel to it. Fall in love, break the spell, get married, live happily ever after with your 5 kids, 2 dogs, three cats and a pet hamster. I’m a sucker for these stories, so I was having the time of my life, as you can imagine. This lasted for about 25% of the book, the rest ending up mediocre.
I’m so angry that the book didn’t continue on the Road of Awesomeness it walked on at the beginning. I can still see the scene in front of the house, heavy rain falling down and Callie seeing the beautiful demon’s face between the droplets. It got stuck to my mind. *sighs*
But back to reality. Why am I so disappointed? Good question. The book got into too many details. It made me feel like I’m watching Lost again (and I’m not happy about this, trust me). So many mysteries and very few answers. All this made me feel confused and close to getting a headache.
Callie was a normal heroine. Nothing much was standing out with her. I didn’t love nor hate her. I actually find it difficult to make an opinion on her, how strange is that? Liam (duh) and Ralph (yes, I’m talking about the mouse) are my favorite characters.
Thinking about it, I didn’t actually fall in love with any character in the book. I either liked them or was having neutral feelings towards them. I was excited about the incubus at the beginning but since the story morphed into something else he was gone.
Some characters were nice but some seemed like filler. Probably there will be more books to come and they will have an important part in them I imagine.
The ending made the book earn an extra star. It was too much of a tease but it made me want to read the next book. I guess I’ll be keeping an eye on this series.
Demon Lover has a bit of a fairytale-ish feel to it. Fall in love, break the spell, get married, live happily ever after with your 5 kids, 2 dogs, three cats and a pet hamster. I’m a sucker for these stories, so I was having the time of my life, as you can imagine. This lasted for about 25% of the book, the rest ending up mediocre.
I’m so angry that the book didn’t continue on the Road of Awesomeness it walked on at the beginning. I can still see the scene in front of the house, heavy rain falling down and Callie seeing the beautiful demon’s face between the droplets. It got stuck to my mind. *sighs*
But back to reality. Why am I so disappointed? Good question. The book got into too many details. It made me feel like I’m watching Lost again (and I’m not happy about this, trust me). So many mysteries and very few answers. All this made me feel confused and close to getting a headache.
Callie was a normal heroine. Nothing much was standing out with her. I didn’t love nor hate her. I actually find it difficult to make an opinion on her, how strange is that? Liam (duh) and Ralph (yes, I’m talking about the mouse) are my favorite characters.
Thinking about it, I didn’t actually fall in love with any character in the book. I either liked them or was having neutral feelings towards them. I was excited about the incubus at the beginning but since the story morphed into something else he was gone.
Some characters were nice but some seemed like filler. Probably there will be more books to come and they will have an important part in them I imagine.
The ending made the book earn an extra star. It was too much of a tease but it made me want to read the next book. I guess I’ll be keeping an eye on this series.
January 8, 2013
1,5 stars
I lost four days of my life with this story (I'm stubborn), so..excuse me some ramblings.
I'm sorry, but this was one of the most boring books i've ever read!!
What happened here?
Where was the story of the demon lover?
Where was the romance?
Where was the intensity?
Each night I woke—or thought I awoke—to a moonlit room. The shadows reached for me and swelled into the dark lover. I’d feel his weight on my chest and then, just when I thought I’d suffocate, he’d press his lips to mine and blow his breath into my lungs and we’d make love—long, deep, utterly spine-rocking, toe-curling sex that went until the first light of day.
Yeah, hot...not..
And Gothic? This? o.0 Where? In the salacious descriptions of Dalhia's books?
(That by the way, where not sexy..or erotic...but ugh..or meh..)
The title of this book....lol, well, that was really pushing it. Maybe if it had been called "My brief encounters with the tides and shadows of lips and fingers" i would have been okay with it....
but calling this: "The demon Lover", well that would've implied that this would have been the main focus of all the words that i read, until i got to the last page. In case, you're missing the point: It wasn't!
This could have been good. There the reason why i kept reading it. Because i wanted it to get better. I really did!!
I wanted to read about the incubus, and in the end i wanted to hear about Liam. The only interesting character in the god damn book!
Callie was a pretentious character, who in a blink of an eye took to being a magical being, with absolutely no problem whatsoever Hey i'm the gatekeeper! No problem! "Hey, the iron rat has just transformed itself into a living being!" No problem! "Hey, i may be falling in love with Liam, and i don't know if he's really the incubus, but since my good friends, the witches, say he is, then i'm going to hurt him, and sending to a bleak and dark place...and hey, since i'm not vain, or anything (Right!!), i have no problem in dying and transforming myself into shadows such as the demon lover." "Because i don't want him in the flesh and the bone (doesn't matter that the poor guy, has been trying to become human once and for all), What i do WANT is, this dark and misterious shadow creature...
Logic, please...
Then i have to say, that, just because one is making soup, it doesn't mean that one will have to use all the available ingredients in the world!
Because, then, the soup, that could have been tasty, becomes....not-eatable, at all.
Capice?
What was this?
A zoo of supernaturals?
Vampires (i'm sorry, they prefer to be called by nocturnals..), witches, demons (daimons), incubus, succubus, brownies, fairies, norse...whatever...rats (Hey, the rat can type in the computer! *facepalm*) and other animals that are the supernaturals familiars...this was just too much...and not interesting at all.
Even though, the writing was not that bad, and i would like to know what will happen with, you know who, i cannot force myself to read the second one.
I lost four days of my life with this story (I'm stubborn), so..excuse me some ramblings.
I'm sorry, but this was one of the most boring books i've ever read!!
What happened here?
Where was the story of the demon lover?
Where was the romance?
Where was the intensity?
Each night I woke—or thought I awoke—to a moonlit room. The shadows reached for me and swelled into the dark lover. I’d feel his weight on my chest and then, just when I thought I’d suffocate, he’d press his lips to mine and blow his breath into my lungs and we’d make love—long, deep, utterly spine-rocking, toe-curling sex that went until the first light of day.
Yeah, hot...not..
And Gothic? This? o.0 Where? In the salacious descriptions of Dalhia's books?
(That by the way, where not sexy..or erotic...but ugh..or meh..)
The title of this book....lol, well, that was really pushing it. Maybe if it had been called "My brief encounters with the tides and shadows of lips and fingers" i would have been okay with it....
but calling this: "The demon Lover", well that would've implied that this would have been the main focus of all the words that i read, until i got to the last page. In case, you're missing the point: It wasn't!
This could have been good. There the reason why i kept reading it. Because i wanted it to get better. I really did!!
I wanted to read about the incubus, and in the end i wanted to hear about Liam. The only interesting character in the god damn book!
Callie was a pretentious character, who in a blink of an eye took to being a magical being, with absolutely no problem whatsoever Hey i'm the gatekeeper! No problem! "Hey, the iron rat has just transformed itself into a living being!" No problem! "Hey, i may be falling in love with Liam, and i don't know if he's really the incubus, but since my good friends, the witches, say he is, then i'm going to hurt him, and sending to a bleak and dark place...and hey, since i'm not vain, or anything (Right!!), i have no problem in dying and transforming myself into shadows such as the demon lover." "Because i don't want him in the flesh and the bone (doesn't matter that the poor guy, has been trying to become human once and for all), What i do WANT is, this dark and misterious shadow creature...
Logic, please...
Then i have to say, that, just because one is making soup, it doesn't mean that one will have to use all the available ingredients in the world!
Because, then, the soup, that could have been tasty, becomes....not-eatable, at all.
Capice?
What was this?
A zoo of supernaturals?
Vampires (i'm sorry, they prefer to be called by nocturnals..), witches, demons (daimons), incubus, succubus, brownies, fairies, norse...whatever...rats (Hey, the rat can type in the computer! *facepalm*) and other animals that are the supernaturals familiars...this was just too much...and not interesting at all.
Even though, the writing was not that bad, and i would like to know what will happen with, you know who, i cannot force myself to read the second one.
June 22, 2017
Such a complicated book/rating. The Demon Lover takes a lover of Gothic fiction, books and old legends and lore and plants her in a small town where most of the residents and co-workers at the local college aren't what they seem. The slow-paced story lands Callie in interesting situations as she's drawn to a rambling, old house filled with the legend of an incubus, and by the end of the book the reader isn't sure who to trust. Truthfully Callie seems TOO trusting of some of the residents I don't particularly care, and not trusting enough of a particular incubus, but that aside - it's a unique story.
First, there's always instant kudos for main characters who are book lovers. Not only that, but she has her class watch gothic films like Rebecca, Dracula, and a few others. What a fun class that must be! There's some red herrings on who is who and what is what - I finally guessed one of them accurately, but it goes through my mind on several occasions that someone else may be a villain or friend in disguise. For example, hasn't she ever heard not to trust the fae? We shall see.
While the premise is strong and the plotline drew me in right away, the slow-paced story seemed to lose its direction a few times. The author could have combatted this by tying up some loose ends sooner, chopping down on small things that could have been left out of the story, or else adding in a little more steam. For a story that involves an incubus, it's disturbingly vague on intimate details, even if you do realize its going on quite a bit. But still...
Gothic vibes galore and paranormally rich, this would have been a four star had it not been for that ending. Depressing and slightly lackluster, it soured my enjoyment down a star, but I'm curious on the second and how much better I'm sure this series will keep getting.
And seriously, I want to be a literature professor of gothic literature! No Shakespeare needed for me, thanks. Is there even such a thing? Some fictional characters have all the luck.
First, there's always instant kudos for main characters who are book lovers. Not only that, but she has her class watch gothic films like Rebecca, Dracula, and a few others. What a fun class that must be! There's some red herrings on who is who and what is what - I finally guessed one of them accurately, but it goes through my mind on several occasions that someone else may be a villain or friend in disguise. For example, hasn't she ever heard not to trust the fae? We shall see.
While the premise is strong and the plotline drew me in right away, the slow-paced story seemed to lose its direction a few times. The author could have combatted this by tying up some loose ends sooner, chopping down on small things that could have been left out of the story, or else adding in a little more steam. For a story that involves an incubus, it's disturbingly vague on intimate details, even if you do realize its going on quite a bit. But still...
Gothic vibes galore and paranormally rich, this would have been a four star had it not been for that ending. Depressing and slightly lackluster, it soured my enjoyment down a star, but I'm curious on the second and how much better I'm sure this series will keep getting.
And seriously, I want to be a literature professor of gothic literature! No Shakespeare needed for me, thanks. Is there even such a thing? Some fictional characters have all the luck.
March 2, 2013
Really good premise (hot demon lover that comes to you every night? Yes, please!) but ultimately falls flat. Callie McFay is a little too unbelievable of a character to be true. She's 26, has a Ph.D, and is a successful author of a book on demon lovers. She's pretty knowledgeable since one has been visiting her since her parents' untimely demise when she was but 12 years old (12 years old? Ew, pedo incubus much?). Callie accepts a teaching position at a small, second-rate university in a sleepy little town mainly because she falls in love with a house and decides she wants to buy it on the spot. It turns out, the town, the faculty, the students, actually, pretty much everyone is not who they seem.
I didn't like this book much because there is just too much thrown at us. It's not a problem of information overload and confusing plot, I have the attention span of a gnat and I kept track of everything just fine, it's just too much at once, and not all of it relevant to the plot. It feels like a bunch of vignettes all thrown together, each with their own plot rather than a huge mystery leading to a climax (no pun intended).
Callie herself is rather colorless. She's smart, she is not TSTL, which is a definite plus, but it just doesn't seem like she is a well-developed character. There is no depth there, just someone to whom you'd be friendly, but by the end, I just feel like I'm not that attached to her. It's not a big problem, but I like being sympathetic to and actually liking the characters about whom I'm reading more. It's like I just got to know her on a superficial level.
I didn't like this book much because there is just too much thrown at us. It's not a problem of information overload and confusing plot, I have the attention span of a gnat and I kept track of everything just fine, it's just too much at once, and not all of it relevant to the plot. It feels like a bunch of vignettes all thrown together, each with their own plot rather than a huge mystery leading to a climax (no pun intended).
Callie herself is rather colorless. She's smart, she is not TSTL, which is a definite plus, but it just doesn't seem like she is a well-developed character. There is no depth there, just someone to whom you'd be friendly, but by the end, I just feel like I'm not that attached to her. It's not a big problem, but I like being sympathetic to and actually liking the characters about whom I'm reading more. It's like I just got to know her on a superficial level.
dnf
August 10, 2016It seems like a great book, just not really my style.
True, I only read about 20%, but I can't get into it. Don't get me wrong, it's great and pretty well written, but it's just too... not my type. Pretty slow paced, lots of descriptions and details that I don't really care about.
Worth giving it a try though, the plot is damn interesting and the characters seem to have potential.
True, I only read about 20%, but I can't get into it. Don't get me wrong, it's great and pretty well written, but it's just too... not my type. Pretty slow paced, lots of descriptions and details that I don't really care about.
Worth giving it a try though, the plot is damn interesting and the characters seem to have potential.
February 12, 2017
The Demon Lover
4.5 Stars
After writing a bestselling book on demon lovers in literature and folklore, Callie Macfay is offered a position at Fairwick College in a small remote town in the Catskill mountains. Despite her academic expertise, Callie does not believe in things that go bump in the night and dismisses the sensual and erotic dreams that she begins experiencing. That is until she realizes the dreams are dangerously real and Fairwick is a haven for more than one supernatural creature.
To begin with, it should be noted that this book is not YA. It is definitely an adult book with descriptive and explicit sex scenes. Now that that is out of the way …
Lovers of Deborah Harkness's All Souls Trilogy will no doubt enjoy and appreciate this book. While not as intricate in its world building or characterization as A Discovery of Witches, The Demon Lover is, nevertheless, rich in ambience, suspense and romance.
The gothic atmosphere, literary and folkloric references and charming small town setting and characters all work together to create an immersive and captivating reading experience.
Callie Macfay is an easy heroine to identify with. She is a smart, resourceful and personable woman who cares about her students and the townsfolk she has come to view as friends and even family. Her strength of character comes to the fore as she faces not only the knowledge that the lover of her dreams is not what he seems, but also the darkness of her deepest thoughts and desires.
The paranormal elements are the main focus of the story as readers are introduces to a host of supernatural creatures from witches and vampires to brownies and fairies. Each is fully fleshed out and adds to the compelling dynamics of both the world building and the mystery.
Although the mystery and attendant romance are quite good, they are still the weakest aspect of the story mainly due to the fact that the twists and turns are rather obvious. Moreover, Callie's relationship with her demon lover is by its very nature problematic as his actions and manipulations preclude him from being considered a true hero.
In sum, this is a beautifully written and well-researched story. However, readers expecting a happy ending may be disappointed at the way events turn out. Nevertheless, there is an ongoing storyline and it will be interesting to see how things develop following the revelations in this installment.
4.5 Stars
After writing a bestselling book on demon lovers in literature and folklore, Callie Macfay is offered a position at Fairwick College in a small remote town in the Catskill mountains. Despite her academic expertise, Callie does not believe in things that go bump in the night and dismisses the sensual and erotic dreams that she begins experiencing. That is until she realizes the dreams are dangerously real and Fairwick is a haven for more than one supernatural creature.
To begin with, it should be noted that this book is not YA. It is definitely an adult book with descriptive and explicit sex scenes. Now that that is out of the way …
Lovers of Deborah Harkness's All Souls Trilogy will no doubt enjoy and appreciate this book. While not as intricate in its world building or characterization as A Discovery of Witches, The Demon Lover is, nevertheless, rich in ambience, suspense and romance.
The gothic atmosphere, literary and folkloric references and charming small town setting and characters all work together to create an immersive and captivating reading experience.
Callie Macfay is an easy heroine to identify with. She is a smart, resourceful and personable woman who cares about her students and the townsfolk she has come to view as friends and even family. Her strength of character comes to the fore as she faces not only the knowledge that the lover of her dreams is not what he seems, but also the darkness of her deepest thoughts and desires.
The paranormal elements are the main focus of the story as readers are introduces to a host of supernatural creatures from witches and vampires to brownies and fairies. Each is fully fleshed out and adds to the compelling dynamics of both the world building and the mystery.
Although the mystery and attendant romance are quite good, they are still the weakest aspect of the story mainly due to the fact that the twists and turns are rather obvious. Moreover, Callie's relationship with her demon lover is by its very nature problematic as his actions and manipulations preclude him from being considered a true hero.
In sum, this is a beautifully written and well-researched story. However, readers expecting a happy ending may be disappointed at the way events turn out. Nevertheless, there is an ongoing storyline and it will be interesting to see how things develop following the revelations in this installment.
September 19, 2022
I try to express only my most honest opinion in a spoiler-free way. If you feel anything in my review is a spoiler and is not already hidden in spoiler brackets please let me know. Thank you.
This is my 3rd time reading this series, and for me it just never gets old. It's got a real Harry Potter vibe, only for adults, with romance and some erotica. But I love the story even outside of the romance and that's why this series is so amazing. Its witches, vampires, fairies, incubuses, succubuses, and even a fairy queen.
The first time I read it I didn't know who the villain was for sure. It really kept you guessing. I had a bit of an inkling but that was for a few of the different characters. So its definitely not predictable. And the break up in the story has got to be the easiest, drama-free break up that I have ever read about.
All three times now that I have read this book one thing stays the same. Fairwick feels like a fairyland. Especially around Christmas time, it feels like a winter wonderland. I am truly transported to a whole other world every time I read this book. If I could live anywhere, I would want to live there. Honeysuckle House sounds amazing and just as magical, makes me want to find my own Victorian-style house, especially one with a name.
There are a lot of other books referenced here, especially popular romance and vampire books. But you also get to learn about other folklore which I find highly fascinating. As for the romance in the book itself. I love it. Its everything a good romance should be. I like the points made about it as well. Such as how maybe some people can't find satisfaction in relationships because of the fairytale romance we read about in books. I don't know how true this might be for others, but for me in my life, I don't find this true at all. But still an interesting thought.
I will finish my reread of the series and will again, probably multiple times, through the years. I'm surprised at the lower rating that this book has, but oh well and to each there own I suppose. I think it fantastic and will continue to recommend it to romance, fantasy, and paranormal lovers.
This is my 3rd time reading this series, and for me it just never gets old. It's got a real Harry Potter vibe, only for adults, with romance and some erotica. But I love the story even outside of the romance and that's why this series is so amazing. Its witches, vampires, fairies, incubuses, succubuses, and even a fairy queen.
The first time I read it I didn't know who the villain was for sure. It really kept you guessing. I had a bit of an inkling but that was for a few of the different characters. So its definitely not predictable. And the break up in the story has got to be the easiest, drama-free break up that I have ever read about.
All three times now that I have read this book one thing stays the same. Fairwick feels like a fairyland. Especially around Christmas time, it feels like a winter wonderland. I am truly transported to a whole other world every time I read this book. If I could live anywhere, I would want to live there. Honeysuckle House sounds amazing and just as magical, makes me want to find my own Victorian-style house, especially one with a name.
There are a lot of other books referenced here, especially popular romance and vampire books. But you also get to learn about other folklore which I find highly fascinating. As for the romance in the book itself. I love it. Its everything a good romance should be. I like the points made about it as well. Such as how maybe some people can't find satisfaction in relationships because of the fairytale romance we read about in books. I don't know how true this might be for others, but for me in my life, I don't find this true at all. But still an interesting thought.
I will finish my reread of the series and will again, probably multiple times, through the years. I'm surprised at the lower rating that this book has, but oh well and to each there own I suppose. I think it fantastic and will continue to recommend it to romance, fantasy, and paranormal lovers.
How I choose my rating:
1* Hated it. I had to force myself to finish it.
2** Didn't really like it. I didn't hate it but not sure why I finished it other than for some closure.
3*** I liked it. I had some issues with it, but as a whole it was good. I probably won't reread ever, but there is a chance I might finish the series. (If part of one) But if not it's not a huge loss.
4**** I really liked this book. Maybe not a work of genius, but highly entertaining. I might reread this, and I will finish the series. (If part of one) I would recommend to those I know hold interest in this book's content.
5***** I loved this book. I found little to no issues with it at all. I will definitely be rereading this and probably more than once. I will finish the series and reread it multiple times. (If part of one) I will recommend this book to EVERYONE!!!!
June 21, 2015
Great news! If you're a fan of Deborah Harkness & her All Souls trilogy, THIS IS THE BOOK FOR YOU.
...Otherwise, don't bother.
I was going to give this the thorough snark treatment with snippets, gifs, eyerolling, etc -- but then I decided not to bother. There's nothing original, vibrant, or compelling about the book -- so why should I bother? I've got better things to do. Like work. Or grocery shopping. Or washing my hair.
Seriously, though. This book was really, really boring.
I'm not kidding when I say The Demon Lover has the same pedantic, boring-as-fuck prose as the All Souls series. Every tiny action is described in excruciating detail (unpacking her boxes, JOGGING, eating breakfast, driving home...blah, blah, blah). It repeatedly bludgeons the reader with its air of entitled academic warbling & holier-than-thou attitude of progressive social amenities & relationships. It's narrated by a pedantic, haughty moo who still manages to be one of the most Wonderbread heroines I've encountered since A Discovery of Witches. (Truly, reading her voice was like watching paint dry.) It also manages to be one of the most unoriginal urban fantasy plots on the planet -- the Speshul Snowflake who doesn't know what powers she has or exactly how Speshul she is (let alone her potential), yet the experienced paranormal practitioners immediately gather 'round & include her in everything that everything else has been leading up to for hundreds of years because they can't live without her input on the fate of life, the universe, & everything. She's just that powerful & awesome. SQUEE!
...Spare me.
What else to expect? Well, there's a prophecy. There's a Destined Twu Wuv. There are more magical beings that you can shake a stick at, yet the Snowflake in question doesn't bat an eyelash because...she's a 26 year old prodigy professor of folktales & mythology? I can't. I WON'T.
Rarely have I seen such a self-congratulatory excuse for puerile urban fantasy dreck, & I resent the book repeatedly dragging Ann Radcliffe, Jane Eyre, Victoria Holt, Anne Rice, The Madwoman in the Attic, Dark Shadows, & 1960s pulp goffick nightgown-clad heroines everywhere into this unimpressive example of highly derivative urban fantasy. Aside from the mysterious mansion, this is not a gothic novel. And while it's true that gothic fiction (particularly in the Radcliffe/Byronic era) has ties to dark mythology & folktales, this book somehow manages to distill an awesomely diverse genre into dry academic warble. The name-dropping in this book was epic, & honestly? It embarrassed me. Granted, I'm not a professional. My gothic readings are a beloved hobby, not a career...but such an elitist attitude toward the genre made me cringe, & the gothic refs didn't mesh with urban fantasy plot. At all.
Goodbye, & good riddance.
...Otherwise, don't bother.
I was going to give this the thorough snark treatment with snippets, gifs, eyerolling, etc -- but then I decided not to bother. There's nothing original, vibrant, or compelling about the book -- so why should I bother? I've got better things to do. Like work. Or grocery shopping. Or washing my hair.
Seriously, though. This book was really, really boring.
I'm not kidding when I say The Demon Lover has the same pedantic, boring-as-fuck prose as the All Souls series. Every tiny action is described in excruciating detail (unpacking her boxes, JOGGING, eating breakfast, driving home...blah, blah, blah). It repeatedly bludgeons the reader with its air of entitled academic warbling & holier-than-thou attitude of progressive social amenities & relationships. It's narrated by a pedantic, haughty moo who still manages to be one of the most Wonderbread heroines I've encountered since A Discovery of Witches. (Truly, reading her voice was like watching paint dry.) It also manages to be one of the most unoriginal urban fantasy plots on the planet -- the Speshul Snowflake who doesn't know what powers she has or exactly how Speshul she is (let alone her potential), yet the experienced paranormal practitioners immediately gather 'round & include her in everything that everything else has been leading up to for hundreds of years because they can't live without her input on the fate of life, the universe, & everything. She's just that powerful & awesome. SQUEE!
...Spare me.
What else to expect? Well, there's a prophecy. There's a Destined Twu Wuv. There are more magical beings that you can shake a stick at, yet the Snowflake in question doesn't bat an eyelash because...she's a 26 year old prodigy professor of folktales & mythology? I can't. I WON'T.
Rarely have I seen such a self-congratulatory excuse for puerile urban fantasy dreck, & I resent the book repeatedly dragging Ann Radcliffe, Jane Eyre, Victoria Holt, Anne Rice, The Madwoman in the Attic, Dark Shadows, & 1960s pulp goffick nightgown-clad heroines everywhere into this unimpressive example of highly derivative urban fantasy. Aside from the mysterious mansion, this is not a gothic novel. And while it's true that gothic fiction (particularly in the Radcliffe/Byronic era) has ties to dark mythology & folktales, this book somehow manages to distill an awesomely diverse genre into dry academic warble. The name-dropping in this book was epic, & honestly? It embarrassed me. Granted, I'm not a professional. My gothic readings are a beloved hobby, not a career...but such an elitist attitude toward the genre made me cringe, & the gothic refs didn't mesh with urban fantasy plot. At all.
Goodbye, & good riddance.
November 30, 2011
This book had such promise for me after reading the summary. I thought it was going to be a paranormal romance with modern and gothic elements woven into the story, but this book was nothing like I expected.
The book starts out slow for me and doesn't pick up much after that. The character of Callie was hard to get attached to in the fact that I couldn't find myself really liking her. I am not sure if it was her personality or the overall writing of this character but Callie never evolved into a true character in my mind. I also felt the cover to be misleading as well. When you look at the cover before reading the summary, you expect it to be young adult. That cover just screams that genre to me. Then when you read the summary, you realize this is in no way a young adult book. The sex scenes involved in this book were poorly executed and just creepy at times. Also, unless you are a fan of heavy narrating, be prepared for quite a bit of story with very little dialogue. Predictability is very prominent in the story as you will have figured out the plot line very early on. So if you are looking for suspense and drama in that aspect, be prepared to be disappointed.
This was one of those books that I had to force myself to finish and it felt like a chore reading it instead of enjoyment. This is book is proof that you can't judge a book by its cover, but also by its summary.
The book starts out slow for me and doesn't pick up much after that. The character of Callie was hard to get attached to in the fact that I couldn't find myself really liking her. I am not sure if it was her personality or the overall writing of this character but Callie never evolved into a true character in my mind. I also felt the cover to be misleading as well. When you look at the cover before reading the summary, you expect it to be young adult. That cover just screams that genre to me. Then when you read the summary, you realize this is in no way a young adult book. The sex scenes involved in this book were poorly executed and just creepy at times. Also, unless you are a fan of heavy narrating, be prepared for quite a bit of story with very little dialogue. Predictability is very prominent in the story as you will have figured out the plot line very early on. So if you are looking for suspense and drama in that aspect, be prepared to be disappointed.
This was one of those books that I had to force myself to finish and it felt like a chore reading it instead of enjoyment. This is book is proof that you can't judge a book by its cover, but also by its summary.
August 28, 2011
Juliet Dark is a pseudonym for Carol Goodman. Goodman writes historical gothic fiction and literary mysteries. This is her first romantic paranormal fantasy and she succeeds beautifully. The imaginary she creates is vivid and her attention to detail has you immediately loving the small college town of Fairwick in upstate New York and the characters residing there. “The Demon Lover” is the type of book you want to savior, like that perfect cup of coffee on a cold fall morning. This book immediately made me think of “A Discovery of Witches” with its gothic, myth and folklore imagery. I found this aspect of the story as intriguing as the suspenseful mystery.
Dr. Cailleach (Callie) McFay is our young protagonist; she has recently graduated from college and published a book entitled “The Sex Lives of the Demon Lovers”. Callie arrives at Fairwick College to interview for a position teaching folklore at the campus. She isn’t sure about taking the job; her dream is to be in New York, but while visiting there, she comes across an old Victorian home called Honeysuckle House and learns its for sale. It was originally owned by historical romance writer Dahila LaMotte. The realtor informs her that all of LaMotte’s notes, journals and unpublished books come with the house, but that these books can never leave the home. Callie sees this as an opportunity for a new book. Callie accepts the teaching position and moves into Honeysuckle House. Every night she is visited by a man of shadow and moonlight, who seduces her and leaves her aching and satisfied in the morning. As Callie reads LaMotte’s journals and explores the college town she begins to realize there is a lot more going on here. Callie is a strong educated character and you can’t help but like her. She battles with her brain, and looks for solutions head on. She is flawed, but tries to do the right thing.
I would love to share so many details about the book, but do not want to spoil the story for you. For those of you who love to read, you will get a kick out of the references to authors, such as, Charlaine Harris. Dark made me laugh out loud with these references and some off handed comments to those who scorn paranormal /urban fantasy literature.
I know some of you will detest the ending, but although I can find no reference to it, this book has ended in such a way that I feel another book will be coming. This reader certainly hopes so.
You can see more of my reviews at http://kimbathecaffeinatedbookreviewe...
This book will be released December 2011. A special thank you to netGalley and Ballantine Books for this ARC.
Dr. Cailleach (Callie) McFay is our young protagonist; she has recently graduated from college and published a book entitled “The Sex Lives of the Demon Lovers”. Callie arrives at Fairwick College to interview for a position teaching folklore at the campus. She isn’t sure about taking the job; her dream is to be in New York, but while visiting there, she comes across an old Victorian home called Honeysuckle House and learns its for sale. It was originally owned by historical romance writer Dahila LaMotte. The realtor informs her that all of LaMotte’s notes, journals and unpublished books come with the house, but that these books can never leave the home. Callie sees this as an opportunity for a new book. Callie accepts the teaching position and moves into Honeysuckle House. Every night she is visited by a man of shadow and moonlight, who seduces her and leaves her aching and satisfied in the morning. As Callie reads LaMotte’s journals and explores the college town she begins to realize there is a lot more going on here. Callie is a strong educated character and you can’t help but like her. She battles with her brain, and looks for solutions head on. She is flawed, but tries to do the right thing.
I would love to share so many details about the book, but do not want to spoil the story for you. For those of you who love to read, you will get a kick out of the references to authors, such as, Charlaine Harris. Dark made me laugh out loud with these references and some off handed comments to those who scorn paranormal /urban fantasy literature.
I know some of you will detest the ending, but although I can find no reference to it, this book has ended in such a way that I feel another book will be coming. This reader certainly hopes so.
You can see more of my reviews at http://kimbathecaffeinatedbookreviewe...
This book will be released December 2011. A special thank you to netGalley and Ballantine Books for this ARC.
December 26, 2011
When I first started The Demon Lover I was really surprised that it was not a YA novel. Not In the least. I guess it's my fault for simply skimming the blurb and not taking in the "erotic dreams" part. Oops. Although it was fine by me since I was in need of an adult read soon. I seem to not be the only one surprised by this discovery as well. =) So this is my heads-up to you!
Even though I was never bored, once my surprise at it being an adult book wore off I started to wonder where the plot was heading. It takes quite a while for the plot to start moving along. However when it does, the multiple plot lines weaved together never ceases to captivate you. Although, it can get confusing at times, especially with the abundance of literary references which may even be overwhelming to some.
The Demon Lover brings out a really different paranormal being - the incubus. As my first book delving into this mythological creature, I was really intrigued by the legend of this peculiar demon. Consequently, the character both terrified and fascinated me. It was an entertaining plot brimming with great detail and obvious research, therefore giving us a wonderfully built world filled with all sorts of paranormal beings; The world building is by far the book's best aspect. The imagery used in the book is also excellent. It left my mind filled with detailed scenery so that I could clearly see the story taking place in.
As a protagonist, Callie was not my favorite. She never saw what was clearly in front of her. All the plot twists were obvious to me but Callie saw right through them. I realize the incubus had a strange effect on her which may have put her in denial, but it still stopped me from being able to connect with her personality. I found the Demon Lover to be the better and most interesting character in the book. I felt his emotions, sadness and longing, that I never got from Callie. Almost like I was cut off from her emotionally. However, this undoubtedly made the romance in the book quite engrossing. One second I had faith that Callie would and could exercise this demon, but the next second I deeply wanted her to fall under his spell no matter the consequences.
The Demon Lover is a mystery-filled adult novel with excellent world building and fascinating folklore. If you're looking for something different, make sure to give this one a try!
--
For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads
Even though I was never bored, once my surprise at it being an adult book wore off I started to wonder where the plot was heading. It takes quite a while for the plot to start moving along. However when it does, the multiple plot lines weaved together never ceases to captivate you. Although, it can get confusing at times, especially with the abundance of literary references which may even be overwhelming to some.
The Demon Lover brings out a really different paranormal being - the incubus. As my first book delving into this mythological creature, I was really intrigued by the legend of this peculiar demon. Consequently, the character both terrified and fascinated me. It was an entertaining plot brimming with great detail and obvious research, therefore giving us a wonderfully built world filled with all sorts of paranormal beings; The world building is by far the book's best aspect. The imagery used in the book is also excellent. It left my mind filled with detailed scenery so that I could clearly see the story taking place in.
As a protagonist, Callie was not my favorite. She never saw what was clearly in front of her. All the plot twists were obvious to me but Callie saw right through them. I realize the incubus had a strange effect on her which may have put her in denial, but it still stopped me from being able to connect with her personality. I found the Demon Lover to be the better and most interesting character in the book. I felt his emotions, sadness and longing, that I never got from Callie. Almost like I was cut off from her emotionally. However, this undoubtedly made the romance in the book quite engrossing. One second I had faith that Callie would and could exercise this demon, but the next second I deeply wanted her to fall under his spell no matter the consequences.
The Demon Lover is a mystery-filled adult novel with excellent world building and fascinating folklore. If you're looking for something different, make sure to give this one a try!
--
For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads
December 20, 2011
(4.5) Juliet Dark is a pseudonym for Carol Goodman, two of whose literary suspense novels I read years ago: The Lake of Dead Languages and The Drowning Tree. I enjoyed them, and what I remember most are the mythological themes, the academic settings, and the beauty of Goodman’s prose, especially when describing water, ice, and snow. Recently Goodman has entered the fantasy field, first with the Black Swan Rising novels (written with her husband Lee Slonimsky under the pen name Lee Carroll), which I’ve been meaning to read, and now with The Demon Lover.
I’ve had underwhelming results in the past with suspense authors crossing over into fantasy, but Goodman is a different kind of suspense author. She puts so much mythology into her mainstream books, and has such a talent for making the real world seem like a fairyland, that I always half expected the paranormal to show up anyway. In The Demon Lover, the paranormal does show up, and the novel does not disappoint.
Cailleach “Callie” McFay has always wanted to teach at NYU, so she’s not quite sure why she’s interviewing for a position at Fairwick College, way out in the boonies. But she is drawn toward the school and toward a vacant Victorian house near the Fairwick campus. It doesn’t hurt that the house once belonged to Callie’s favorite guilty-pleasure author, Gothic novelist Dahlia LaMotte (whether the name is a reference to A.S. Byatt’s Christabel LaMotte, I’m not sure, but what a cool touch if it is!) and the property includes the original manuscripts of LaMotte’s novels.
Callie takes the position, buys the house, and begins to have disturbing but sensual dreams. Even more strangely, as she reads through the manuscripts, she learns that LaMotte experienced the same visitations while living in the house, writing them into her books in spicy scenes that were left out of the published versions. Callie is being haunted by an incubus. Dark weaves the myths of the incubus and the ganconer (“love-talker”) together with the story of Tam Lin, and the question for Callie is, what kind of tale is she in? Is this the kind of demon that must be banished or, like Tam Lin, can he be redeemed from his demonic existence by the love of a human?
The Demon Lover has so much to sink one’s teeth into. Several types of supernatural beings. Academic politics. Witchcraft. A fairyland with hints of a rich, tragic history. Two troubled students, each with her own horrors to face. A scene-stealing, Jack-swilling memoirist. The cutest familiar imaginable. A type of demon that could only have been invented and named by a bibliophile. Lots of twists; the reader can predict some of them, but there are enough red herrings to keep you second-guessing yourself. The Demon Lover is the start of a trilogy, and I’m glad there are more books because I get the feeling there’s a story under every rock in Fairwick.
The prose is beautiful, especially when winter storms strike Fairwick (there’s that ice and snow again) and when Callie gets a glimpse inside the mysterious triptych in Briggs Hall.
There are a few minor issues one could nitpick about: a bit of too-expository dialogue near the beginning, a few ham-handedly symbolic character names, and a protagonist who sometimes seems older than her years (she’s part of that “self-esteem generation” she grumbles about, I think). It would seem petty to belabor them much, though, since the truth of the matter is that I read this book as though the pages were dusted with an addictive substance. The only issue that actually hampered my enjoyment was a decision Callie made at the very end. She asks a particular character for help with a situation. It’s clear to the reader that if that person can fix the situation, Callie is equally qualified to do so, perhaps with Elizabeth Book’s help with the technical aspects. But instead, Callie goes to this other character and strikes a deal. In return for information that seems intuitive anyway, Callie ends up owing a heavy favor. It does create a new conflict for book two, but it doesn’t quite seem to follow from what we’ve seen in book one.
In conclusion, though I didn’t quite understand one aspect of the ending, I loved The Demon Lover and am eagerly awaiting future Fairwick Chronicles novels. This is a spooky, sensual fantasy for literature geeks.
I’ve had underwhelming results in the past with suspense authors crossing over into fantasy, but Goodman is a different kind of suspense author. She puts so much mythology into her mainstream books, and has such a talent for making the real world seem like a fairyland, that I always half expected the paranormal to show up anyway. In The Demon Lover, the paranormal does show up, and the novel does not disappoint.
Cailleach “Callie” McFay has always wanted to teach at NYU, so she’s not quite sure why she’s interviewing for a position at Fairwick College, way out in the boonies. But she is drawn toward the school and toward a vacant Victorian house near the Fairwick campus. It doesn’t hurt that the house once belonged to Callie’s favorite guilty-pleasure author, Gothic novelist Dahlia LaMotte (whether the name is a reference to A.S. Byatt’s Christabel LaMotte, I’m not sure, but what a cool touch if it is!) and the property includes the original manuscripts of LaMotte’s novels.
Callie takes the position, buys the house, and begins to have disturbing but sensual dreams. Even more strangely, as she reads through the manuscripts, she learns that LaMotte experienced the same visitations while living in the house, writing them into her books in spicy scenes that were left out of the published versions. Callie is being haunted by an incubus. Dark weaves the myths of the incubus and the ganconer (“love-talker”) together with the story of Tam Lin, and the question for Callie is, what kind of tale is she in? Is this the kind of demon that must be banished or, like Tam Lin, can he be redeemed from his demonic existence by the love of a human?
The Demon Lover has so much to sink one’s teeth into. Several types of supernatural beings. Academic politics. Witchcraft. A fairyland with hints of a rich, tragic history. Two troubled students, each with her own horrors to face. A scene-stealing, Jack-swilling memoirist. The cutest familiar imaginable. A type of demon that could only have been invented and named by a bibliophile. Lots of twists; the reader can predict some of them, but there are enough red herrings to keep you second-guessing yourself. The Demon Lover is the start of a trilogy, and I’m glad there are more books because I get the feeling there’s a story under every rock in Fairwick.
The prose is beautiful, especially when winter storms strike Fairwick (there’s that ice and snow again) and when Callie gets a glimpse inside the mysterious triptych in Briggs Hall.
There are a few minor issues one could nitpick about: a bit of too-expository dialogue near the beginning, a few ham-handedly symbolic character names, and a protagonist who sometimes seems older than her years (she’s part of that “self-esteem generation” she grumbles about, I think). It would seem petty to belabor them much, though, since the truth of the matter is that I read this book as though the pages were dusted with an addictive substance. The only issue that actually hampered my enjoyment was a decision Callie made at the very end. She asks a particular character for help with a situation. It’s clear to the reader that if that person can fix the situation, Callie is equally qualified to do so, perhaps with Elizabeth Book’s help with the technical aspects. But instead, Callie goes to this other character and strikes a deal. In return for information that seems intuitive anyway, Callie ends up owing a heavy favor. It does create a new conflict for book two, but it doesn’t quite seem to follow from what we’ve seen in book one.
In conclusion, though I didn’t quite understand one aspect of the ending, I loved The Demon Lover and am eagerly awaiting future Fairwick Chronicles novels. This is a spooky, sensual fantasy for literature geeks.
December 7, 2011
I'm going to start this review by telling you what I wish I knew when I started this book. It's the first in a series and the ending is horrible. It's a cliffhanger; there is no HEA; and frankly, as annoyed as I am, I am having a hard time remembering the things I actually liked about this book. But I'm going to try, because I really was pretty into it, until the last 25 pages or so.
Callie is a published author and is something of an expert in the folklore surrounding demon lovers and gothic literature. As the story begins, she is offered a job in a quaint little New York town, with a small private college. She's hesitant to accept at first, thinking she'd hold out for an offer from NYU, but she is drawn to an amazing old house. A famous author named Dahlia lived there before her death... and that, coupled with an intangible attraction, compel Callie to buy the place.
It's revealed that in her childhood, Callie would often be visited by a shadowy prince in her dreams. Well, now he's back and he wants to do more than talk. He visits her every night in her dreams and sexes her up. She spends her days at the college --and going through old papers that Dahlia left in the house. Now, even though Callie is an expert on the study of the incubus and Dahlia's journals detail her encounters with the same being... it takes forever for Callie to realize exactly what she's dealing with.
Once she does, the book really reeled me in. We find out all manner of supernatural beings inhabit the town. Callie is exposed to an entirely different world and learns alot about herself as well. She gets a new love interest whose identity is pretty transparent, but I found myself really drawn to him anyway. I enjoyed watching Callie grow into her new identity and fall in love (whether she acknowledges that's what's happening or not.) There's even a mystery that pops up as several members of the community grow ill.
I could forgive the ease is which I saw through Liam; I could even forgive the thoroughly obvious nature of the villain. What I couldn't forgive was the ending. I need a happy ending. This was not that. Will I read the second book? Yes. Am I still pissed? Yes. Would a different ending have given this book a higher rating? (Say it with me:) Yes. Grrr. 3 1/2 stars.
*ARC Provided by NetGalley
Callie is a published author and is something of an expert in the folklore surrounding demon lovers and gothic literature. As the story begins, she is offered a job in a quaint little New York town, with a small private college. She's hesitant to accept at first, thinking she'd hold out for an offer from NYU, but she is drawn to an amazing old house. A famous author named Dahlia lived there before her death... and that, coupled with an intangible attraction, compel Callie to buy the place.
It's revealed that in her childhood, Callie would often be visited by a shadowy prince in her dreams. Well, now he's back and he wants to do more than talk. He visits her every night in her dreams and sexes her up. She spends her days at the college --and going through old papers that Dahlia left in the house. Now, even though Callie is an expert on the study of the incubus and Dahlia's journals detail her encounters with the same being... it takes forever for Callie to realize exactly what she's dealing with.
Once she does, the book really reeled me in. We find out all manner of supernatural beings inhabit the town. Callie is exposed to an entirely different world and learns alot about herself as well. She gets a new love interest whose identity is pretty transparent, but I found myself really drawn to him anyway. I enjoyed watching Callie grow into her new identity and fall in love (whether she acknowledges that's what's happening or not.) There's even a mystery that pops up as several members of the community grow ill.
I could forgive the ease is which I saw through Liam; I could even forgive the thoroughly obvious nature of the villain. What I couldn't forgive was the ending. I need a happy ending. This was not that. Will I read the second book? Yes. Am I still pissed? Yes. Would a different ending have given this book a higher rating? (Say it with me:) Yes. Grrr. 3 1/2 stars.
*ARC Provided by NetGalley
February 19, 2017
Lo siento pero LO DEJO! Lo estoy pasando fatal y me entra una paranoia impresionante. El miedo que me mete en el cuerpo es más allá de lo normal... quita quita
October 30, 2011
Reviewed for Wickedly Bookish Reviews
http://wickedlybookish.blogspot.com/
Callie McFay has taken a job teaching at Fairwick College that she wasn’t sure she wanted in the first place, and has bought an old Victorian house that her instincts are screaming for her to stay away from. Something has drawn her to become a part of the community that is not what it appears to be at first glance. Just when she feels she is settling in, Callie is visited by a demon lover that is determined to suck the life out of her. Night after night, the insatiable demon brings her to new heights of pleasure and ever closer to death. As time goes on, Callie becomes less and less sure she minds.
There is really only one word that describes The Demon Lover accurately and that is lush. This book is filled with deliciously ripe detail that echoes my fondest memories of classic gothic literature while utilizing the trend of today’s popular paranormal fiction. The academic atmosphere of Fairwick College and Callie’s scholarly analysis of her situation are engrossing and give this novel the intelligent edge that a great deal of today’s paranormal fiction is missing. Juliet Dark’s attention to detail is truly what makes this story so breathtakingly beautiful and heart wrenchingly real.
The writing style and Callie’s character can be a bit frustrating, at times. She is constantly changing her opinion on her present situation and for the first half of the book she is in denial, coming up with a logical explanation for everything that happens to her. This frustrated me to no end until I hit a moment of clarity the same moment Callie did in the story. The writing style and content are meant to be confusing and frustrating at points to reflect Callie’s state of mind as it has been altered through her interactions with the incubus. Once I realized this I was completely enthralled. It was like a slap in the face and I had to admit to myself that the demon lover had hypnotized not just Callie, but me as well.
It is difficult to describe the romance of this book. Callie falls in love with many things through the course of its pages. She begins to feel at home in Fairwick and finds a mish mashed sort of family in the people that she interacts with on a daily basis. The magic and mystery of the town beckon to her deeply buried roots until she finds a piece of herself she didn’t know she had to begin with. Finally there is the incubus. I easily felt the same indecision towards him as Callie did. At first she thinks him a dream, but as he becomes more and more real to her, she can no longer deny his appeal. I will not spoil any of this story for you all, but eventually you will have to ask yourself, just as Callie does, “Is it possible that he could truly love her and become flesh?”
It was pointed out to me about half-way through this book that it was the same book as Incubus by Carol Goodman published by Ebury Press on July 21st, 2011. The only real reason I could come up with in my research for why two different publishers would publish the same book, under different titles, and authors six months apart from each other would be to maximize marketing. Incubus was published in the UK and therefore the publishers probably felt that particular title and its cover art would appeal to the European audience whereas the U.S. requires a bit more of a sexualized title and mysterious author pseudonym. Whatever the reason, it was a bit confusing, but did not divert from the overall appeal of the book itself.
These days, it has become excruciatingly popular for authors to end their books on a huge cliff-hanger, forcing you to read the next just to find out what happened, even if you didn’t really like it that much. The Demon Lover wraps up its loose ends nicely and all major plot points are developed so that the reader is satisfied. This book doesn’t need any cliffhangers to get its hooks in you; it’s just that good. I look forward to a sequel, which is all but promised by the subtext of the Incubus version declaring it as Fairwick Chronicles #1. Juliet Dark, and by extension Carol Goodman, has a new loyal fan in this Wickedly Bookish reader.
http://wickedlybookish.blogspot.com/
Callie McFay has taken a job teaching at Fairwick College that she wasn’t sure she wanted in the first place, and has bought an old Victorian house that her instincts are screaming for her to stay away from. Something has drawn her to become a part of the community that is not what it appears to be at first glance. Just when she feels she is settling in, Callie is visited by a demon lover that is determined to suck the life out of her. Night after night, the insatiable demon brings her to new heights of pleasure and ever closer to death. As time goes on, Callie becomes less and less sure she minds.
There is really only one word that describes The Demon Lover accurately and that is lush. This book is filled with deliciously ripe detail that echoes my fondest memories of classic gothic literature while utilizing the trend of today’s popular paranormal fiction. The academic atmosphere of Fairwick College and Callie’s scholarly analysis of her situation are engrossing and give this novel the intelligent edge that a great deal of today’s paranormal fiction is missing. Juliet Dark’s attention to detail is truly what makes this story so breathtakingly beautiful and heart wrenchingly real.
The writing style and Callie’s character can be a bit frustrating, at times. She is constantly changing her opinion on her present situation and for the first half of the book she is in denial, coming up with a logical explanation for everything that happens to her. This frustrated me to no end until I hit a moment of clarity the same moment Callie did in the story. The writing style and content are meant to be confusing and frustrating at points to reflect Callie’s state of mind as it has been altered through her interactions with the incubus. Once I realized this I was completely enthralled. It was like a slap in the face and I had to admit to myself that the demon lover had hypnotized not just Callie, but me as well.
It is difficult to describe the romance of this book. Callie falls in love with many things through the course of its pages. She begins to feel at home in Fairwick and finds a mish mashed sort of family in the people that she interacts with on a daily basis. The magic and mystery of the town beckon to her deeply buried roots until she finds a piece of herself she didn’t know she had to begin with. Finally there is the incubus. I easily felt the same indecision towards him as Callie did. At first she thinks him a dream, but as he becomes more and more real to her, she can no longer deny his appeal. I will not spoil any of this story for you all, but eventually you will have to ask yourself, just as Callie does, “Is it possible that he could truly love her and become flesh?”
It was pointed out to me about half-way through this book that it was the same book as Incubus by Carol Goodman published by Ebury Press on July 21st, 2011. The only real reason I could come up with in my research for why two different publishers would publish the same book, under different titles, and authors six months apart from each other would be to maximize marketing. Incubus was published in the UK and therefore the publishers probably felt that particular title and its cover art would appeal to the European audience whereas the U.S. requires a bit more of a sexualized title and mysterious author pseudonym. Whatever the reason, it was a bit confusing, but did not divert from the overall appeal of the book itself.
These days, it has become excruciatingly popular for authors to end their books on a huge cliff-hanger, forcing you to read the next just to find out what happened, even if you didn’t really like it that much. The Demon Lover wraps up its loose ends nicely and all major plot points are developed so that the reader is satisfied. This book doesn’t need any cliffhangers to get its hooks in you; it’s just that good. I look forward to a sequel, which is all but promised by the subtext of the Incubus version declaring it as Fairwick Chronicles #1. Juliet Dark, and by extension Carol Goodman, has a new loyal fan in this Wickedly Bookish reader.
December 11, 2011
3.5 stars
I’m not sure how to classify Demon Lover by Juliet Dark. It reads like a paranormal romance with all kinds of fae and creatures from both folklore and the paranormal. Yet, there is a gothic horror feel to it as well. Set in the small college town of Fairwick in upstate New York, Demon Lover is a mesmerizing read.
Callie McFay is offered a position as lecturer at Fairwick College. Are you seeing the clues yet? I loved how this book began. I pictured the drive from the city, into the hills, to the small town. I could see it as a movie, I could even hear the soundtrack in my mind. Subtle and not so subtle clues are dropped here and there. This is one special little town.
Callie moves into Honeysuckle House which was previously owned by the author Dahlia Lamotte. She finds Dahlia’s notes and journals in the attic and realizes that she has some great material for her research. Callie is surprised to find that the author had written erotica. At the same time, Callie begins to experience some very erotic dreams of her own.
The writing is beautiful. I did not want to put this book down. I did find that about halfway through the book, the story did slow down considerably, but the last few chapters flew by. I enjoyed how the author was able to take elements of mythology and folklore and use them to create an enchanting story.
I was surprised to find out that this book had been published previously under another name and author in the UK. This is the same book as Incubus by Carol Goodman. I’m not sure why they would be published under different names in North America.
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for a review copy of this book.
Review posted on Badass Book Reviews.
I’m not sure how to classify Demon Lover by Juliet Dark. It reads like a paranormal romance with all kinds of fae and creatures from both folklore and the paranormal. Yet, there is a gothic horror feel to it as well. Set in the small college town of Fairwick in upstate New York, Demon Lover is a mesmerizing read.
Callie McFay is offered a position as lecturer at Fairwick College. Are you seeing the clues yet? I loved how this book began. I pictured the drive from the city, into the hills, to the small town. I could see it as a movie, I could even hear the soundtrack in my mind. Subtle and not so subtle clues are dropped here and there. This is one special little town.
Callie moves into Honeysuckle House which was previously owned by the author Dahlia Lamotte. She finds Dahlia’s notes and journals in the attic and realizes that she has some great material for her research. Callie is surprised to find that the author had written erotica. At the same time, Callie begins to experience some very erotic dreams of her own.
The writing is beautiful. I did not want to put this book down. I did find that about halfway through the book, the story did slow down considerably, but the last few chapters flew by. I enjoyed how the author was able to take elements of mythology and folklore and use them to create an enchanting story.
I was surprised to find out that this book had been published previously under another name and author in the UK. This is the same book as Incubus by Carol Goodman. I’m not sure why they would be published under different names in North America.
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for a review copy of this book.
Review posted on Badass Book Reviews.
July 5, 2018
I've never been a fan of Justine Eyre so I don't know why I thought I could handle her narration here. But even if the narrator had been different, I'm certainI would have still disliked this story. The main character was so dumb, so wishy-washy, and I pretty much loathed her from the beginning. The other characters were all so one-sided and transparent, which made the story even more predictable. I'd had this book on my Kindle for years and never got to it, so I thought maybe the audio would be the best way to finally get to it. Now I just want my money back.
February 6, 2012
Callie McFay gets offered a teaching position at the college of Fairwick, 3-4 hours away from New York. She goes there for the interview not really planning on accepting, until she becomes enchanted by an old victorian house that used to belong to Dahlia LaMotte, a famous writer of gothic romances in the middle of the 20th century. After that, she buys the house, accepts the teaching position and moves into Fairwick.
It quickly becomes apparent to Callie and to the reader as well, that there are strange things happening at Fairwick and some very strange people are living there. But then, Callie is a little bit weird herself; she has been having visits from a demon prince, who has turned into a demon lover recently, since she was a child and her parents died. The weirdest thing though, is that by reading Dahlia LaMotte's manuscripts, she discovers that she was being visited by a demon lover as well. Is he the same one as Callie's? And if so, could he be real?
Juliet Dark creates an engaging atmosphere of an charming, quaint and also eerie village in Fairwick. Callie's house, the surrounding forest and the images of the village isolated by a snow storm that has frozen everything, are vivid and majestic and a little bit chilling. Though I never really felt scared, the story grabbed me and I found that I couldn't put the book down, even though I had another book I was dying to read, right at hand. I got a little bit frustrated near the end, when Callie -and everyone else- refused to see what was pretty obvious to the reader, but there were a couple of other twists that took me by surprise and so I didn't get as upset as I would otherwise be.
As for the ending, reading the book a month after its publication date, I'd already read enough reviews to know that the ending leaves many things open for the next book, so I was prepared for it. I'm very intrigued with the world that Dark has created and her heroine, and I will certainly be looking forward to the sequel.
PS: I read in another review that Dark wrote this book with a Thesaurus in hand. After reading the book, I can't help but agree with that reviewer; there's a rare word in every page or two. It's a little over the top IMO, as trying too much usually is.
ARC provided by NetGalley
It quickly becomes apparent to Callie and to the reader as well, that there are strange things happening at Fairwick and some very strange people are living there. But then, Callie is a little bit weird herself; she has been having visits from a demon prince, who has turned into a demon lover recently, since she was a child and her parents died. The weirdest thing though, is that by reading Dahlia LaMotte's manuscripts, she discovers that she was being visited by a demon lover as well. Is he the same one as Callie's? And if so, could he be real?
Juliet Dark creates an engaging atmosphere of an charming, quaint and also eerie village in Fairwick. Callie's house, the surrounding forest and the images of the village isolated by a snow storm that has frozen everything, are vivid and majestic and a little bit chilling. Though I never really felt scared, the story grabbed me and I found that I couldn't put the book down, even though I had another book I was dying to read, right at hand. I got a little bit frustrated near the end, when Callie -and everyone else- refused to see what was pretty obvious to the reader, but there were a couple of other twists that took me by surprise and so I didn't get as upset as I would otherwise be.
As for the ending, reading the book a month after its publication date, I'd already read enough reviews to know that the ending leaves many things open for the next book, so I was prepared for it. I'm very intrigued with the world that Dark has created and her heroine, and I will certainly be looking forward to the sequel.
PS: I read in another review that Dark wrote this book with a Thesaurus in hand. After reading the book, I can't help but agree with that reviewer; there's a rare word in every page or two. It's a little over the top IMO, as trying too much usually is.
ARC provided by NetGalley
March 19, 2016
Reseña completa en La Coneja de Papel
Me empecé El amante demonio con una idea equivocada, supongo que eso ayudó a que me gustara. La sinopsis me había llamado la atención, sí, pero tenía la sensación de que iba a ser el típico libro que te saca del bloqueo del lector y acaba cayendo en el olvido. Y no, ¡error! Evidentemente, cambiaría muchas cosas de la historia (a veces la autora se pasa de azúcar), pero en conjunto me ha gustado bastante.
Me empecé El amante demonio con una idea equivocada, supongo que eso ayudó a que me gustara. La sinopsis me había llamado la atención, sí, pero tenía la sensación de que iba a ser el típico libro que te saca del bloqueo del lector y acaba cayendo en el olvido. Y no, ¡error! Evidentemente, cambiaría muchas cosas de la historia (a veces la autora se pasa de azúcar), pero en conjunto me ha gustado bastante.
December 22, 2017
Leaving your pet mouse in a blizzard cause you wanna be with some guy you’ve spoken to twice? Can’t relate.
June 8, 2017
Very enjoyable First Reads Paranormal Romance novel I got from GoodReads recently, and read over the past few days.
Callie McFay has acquired a demon lover haunting her dreams since going to isolated Fairwick college to teach...and not by choice. She has a long distance boyfriend finishing his degree, and hopes they'll end up together once he's done. Things get even more interesting as she gets to know the characters inhabiting Fairwick and its environs, moves into her wonderful Victorian house, and deals with what ensues.
Callie McFay has acquired a demon lover haunting her dreams since going to isolated Fairwick college to teach...and not by choice. She has a long distance boyfriend finishing his degree, and hopes they'll end up together once he's done. Things get even more interesting as she gets to know the characters inhabiting Fairwick and its environs, moves into her wonderful Victorian house, and deals with what ensues.
August 21, 2011
really loved this! was a great break from all my ya! although i did have a few things figured out, still an awesome story!
March 11, 2012
Originally posted on: http://readingandwritingurbanfantasy....
The Good
I don't think anyone can deny how beautifully written this book was. It had a very poetic and lyrical vibe to it. As I read The Demon Lover, I felt like I was being lulled into a magical world where anything was possible. And the rich history and stories of mythical creatures was quite fascinating to read about.
Death by Sex, Not the Worst Way to Go...
Even as a child, Callie McFay can remember her shadow man and the wonderful fairy tales he told her during the difficult times of her life. But now that Callie is a grown woman, her shadow man has become much, much more. And his true identity as a demon lover leaves Callie unsure of what to do. But once she moves to Fairwick to teach at their college, she finds she has friends who not only know how to help her with the demon lover who is sucking the life out of her, but they too are mythical creatures. Callie never knew witches, fae, vampires, and other paranormal creatures really existed, but now that she does, her life starts to take very unexpected turns. Who can she trust? Will her life ever be the same? Can she love a demon, even if it kills her?
Callie has My Dream Job...No Fair!!!
Callie was an interesting character. Her field of study was pretty much the most awesome thing about her. She's made a career out of studying and writing about paranormal romance and gothic literature. Lucky wench. So reading about her knowledge and the many folklore stories that drenched this novel was pretty fun. I loved the references to modern novels and old literature/entertainment. We get mentions of Bella Lugosi, Dracula, Jane Eyre, Charlaine Harris and her Sookie Stackhouse series, Victoria Holt, and the list goes on. I also liked Callie's independent attitude. She's not afraid of a little adventure and really doesn't need a man to make her happy. And her willingness to accept her new world of magic was admirable. I find it tiresome when main characters spend too much time whining when their perceptions of the world change. Callie is a tough gal though, she just accepted it and moved on.
The Phoenix...
All the side characters were very interesting as well. I loved how we slowly got to learn about them and their true identities. We get odd students and secretive faculty and staff that added great spice to this book. Liam was a great character that I wish we got to see more of. I LOVED Phoenix, another teacher at the college. I wasn't sure where her character was going but was pleasantly surprised to see how the author handled her. It made for some juicy drama.
Horridly Fascinating Tales...
Some parts of this book were downright enthralling. The writing was superb. I almost felt like I was reading a rhythmical poem that never ended. The lush description helped me feel like the pages were coming to life. The Demon Lover actually made me want to pick up some mythical folklore books so I could experience some more horridly fascinating tales.
The Bad
Let me start off by saying that the first 100 pages, maybe even 150 pages, were so sloooooow. It was very hard to get through, and I almost didn't finish it because it took me days to get to an exciting part of the story since I kept putting the book down.
A Day in the Life of...
The biggest problem with this book is that it wasn't what I expected. I pictured something quite different from the summary. The Demon Lover is pretty much a "history" lesson on mythical creatures, like the fae and demons, which is fun and all, but it became too much. I just wanted to get back to the story. Oh yeah, that's another problem. The story and plot. It was way too sporadic for my tastes. I also don't like books that read like "A Day in the Life of..." Callie was not interesting enough for me to enjoy reading about every part of her life. When she wakes up, how she gets to the college, what she taught in class, when she went to sleep. Come on!!! I don't care.
In Need of a Compass...
Then we have these most random events and stories told to us that just confused me more. This book was in sore need of direction. I had no idea where it was all going until the end. Wait, even at the end I still didn't know what the point was. Sure, some--and I stress the word some--things were wrapped up but most weren't. Then we have Callie working on this side project. She's trying to help this student with, well, I'm going to keep that secret so I wont ruin anything for those of you who still want to read this book, so let's just say she was helping this student out with some problems. We spend a good portion of the book leading up to how Callie can help this student. And in the end, the solution was so freakin' dull I wanted to roll my eyes, come to think of it, I did roll my eyes.
Also, if you don't like a lot of description, this book is not for you.
The Snuggly
We get a lot of sexual type situations but most of them are from excerpts that Callie is reading or dream sex. The actual real life sex is quite short or cut off. I didn't feel anything went too far and it was all tasteful. It matched the books theme.
The romance is another thing. I say this book was maybe only 25% romantic. It was all very odd. So much was going on in this book that the focus on the "main couple" was very minimal. It was hard to label this novel as paranormal romance because there wasn't much romance in my opinion, but I have no idea what else to categorize it as, so I went with its most common label.
Overall
It took me forever to get into this book. I like vivid description and fairytale mythology as much as the next person, but this does not make a novel. The Demon Lover really has no direction and the romance could have been so much more interesting. I did like a lot of the characters, which helped me get through the book. But I don't think I will be continuing the series. This book is recommended for those who don't mind an aimless plot and little direction, but love fairy tales, paranormal mythology, and a rich writing style.
Excerpt
"I don't see what despising commercial vampire dreck has to do with anything--"
"Dreck? What a snob! Have you ever heard of Anne Rice?
"No."
"Stephenie Meyer?"
"God, no!"
"Charlaine Harris?"
"Who?"
We continued arguing as he helped me bring up all my books and files. It took three trips, at the end of which we were both breathing hard and drenched with sweat.
"Sheesh, it's hot," he said, wiping the sweat off his brow with a red bandanna. "Would you like a beer?"
"At ten in the morning?' I asked.
"Now who's the snob?" he asked, throwing his hands up and walking out of my office.
The Good
I don't think anyone can deny how beautifully written this book was. It had a very poetic and lyrical vibe to it. As I read The Demon Lover, I felt like I was being lulled into a magical world where anything was possible. And the rich history and stories of mythical creatures was quite fascinating to read about.
Death by Sex, Not the Worst Way to Go...
Even as a child, Callie McFay can remember her shadow man and the wonderful fairy tales he told her during the difficult times of her life. But now that Callie is a grown woman, her shadow man has become much, much more. And his true identity as a demon lover leaves Callie unsure of what to do. But once she moves to Fairwick to teach at their college, she finds she has friends who not only know how to help her with the demon lover who is sucking the life out of her, but they too are mythical creatures. Callie never knew witches, fae, vampires, and other paranormal creatures really existed, but now that she does, her life starts to take very unexpected turns. Who can she trust? Will her life ever be the same? Can she love a demon, even if it kills her?
Callie has My Dream Job...No Fair!!!
Callie was an interesting character. Her field of study was pretty much the most awesome thing about her. She's made a career out of studying and writing about paranormal romance and gothic literature. Lucky wench. So reading about her knowledge and the many folklore stories that drenched this novel was pretty fun. I loved the references to modern novels and old literature/entertainment. We get mentions of Bella Lugosi, Dracula, Jane Eyre, Charlaine Harris and her Sookie Stackhouse series, Victoria Holt, and the list goes on. I also liked Callie's independent attitude. She's not afraid of a little adventure and really doesn't need a man to make her happy. And her willingness to accept her new world of magic was admirable. I find it tiresome when main characters spend too much time whining when their perceptions of the world change. Callie is a tough gal though, she just accepted it and moved on.
The Phoenix...
All the side characters were very interesting as well. I loved how we slowly got to learn about them and their true identities. We get odd students and secretive faculty and staff that added great spice to this book. Liam was a great character that I wish we got to see more of. I LOVED Phoenix, another teacher at the college. I wasn't sure where her character was going but was pleasantly surprised to see how the author handled her. It made for some juicy drama.
Horridly Fascinating Tales...
Some parts of this book were downright enthralling. The writing was superb. I almost felt like I was reading a rhythmical poem that never ended. The lush description helped me feel like the pages were coming to life. The Demon Lover actually made me want to pick up some mythical folklore books so I could experience some more horridly fascinating tales.
The Bad
Let me start off by saying that the first 100 pages, maybe even 150 pages, were so sloooooow. It was very hard to get through, and I almost didn't finish it because it took me days to get to an exciting part of the story since I kept putting the book down.
A Day in the Life of...
The biggest problem with this book is that it wasn't what I expected. I pictured something quite different from the summary. The Demon Lover is pretty much a "history" lesson on mythical creatures, like the fae and demons, which is fun and all, but it became too much. I just wanted to get back to the story. Oh yeah, that's another problem. The story and plot. It was way too sporadic for my tastes. I also don't like books that read like "A Day in the Life of..." Callie was not interesting enough for me to enjoy reading about every part of her life. When she wakes up, how she gets to the college, what she taught in class, when she went to sleep. Come on!!! I don't care.
In Need of a Compass...
Then we have these most random events and stories told to us that just confused me more. This book was in sore need of direction. I had no idea where it was all going until the end. Wait, even at the end I still didn't know what the point was. Sure, some--and I stress the word some--things were wrapped up but most weren't. Then we have Callie working on this side project. She's trying to help this student with, well, I'm going to keep that secret so I wont ruin anything for those of you who still want to read this book, so let's just say she was helping this student out with some problems. We spend a good portion of the book leading up to how Callie can help this student. And in the end, the solution was so freakin' dull I wanted to roll my eyes, come to think of it, I did roll my eyes.
Also, if you don't like a lot of description, this book is not for you.
The Snuggly
We get a lot of sexual type situations but most of them are from excerpts that Callie is reading or dream sex. The actual real life sex is quite short or cut off. I didn't feel anything went too far and it was all tasteful. It matched the books theme.
The romance is another thing. I say this book was maybe only 25% romantic. It was all very odd. So much was going on in this book that the focus on the "main couple" was very minimal. It was hard to label this novel as paranormal romance because there wasn't much romance in my opinion, but I have no idea what else to categorize it as, so I went with its most common label.
Overall
It took me forever to get into this book. I like vivid description and fairytale mythology as much as the next person, but this does not make a novel. The Demon Lover really has no direction and the romance could have been so much more interesting. I did like a lot of the characters, which helped me get through the book. But I don't think I will be continuing the series. This book is recommended for those who don't mind an aimless plot and little direction, but love fairy tales, paranormal mythology, and a rich writing style.
Excerpt
"I don't see what despising commercial vampire dreck has to do with anything--"
"Dreck? What a snob! Have you ever heard of Anne Rice?
"No."
"Stephenie Meyer?"
"God, no!"
"Charlaine Harris?"
"Who?"
We continued arguing as he helped me bring up all my books and files. It took three trips, at the end of which we were both breathing hard and drenched with sweat.
"Sheesh, it's hot," he said, wiping the sweat off his brow with a red bandanna. "Would you like a beer?"
"At ten in the morning?' I asked.
"Now who's the snob?" he asked, throwing his hands up and walking out of my office.
March 7, 2012
Review Courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: As a dark, gothic novel The Demon Lover is a fairly good read, but since it is marketed as a paranormal romance, it was a bit disappointing.
Opening Sentence: Best keep your door locked, Miss.
Review:
The Demon Lover was not what I expected. The book is labeled as a paranormal romance. Yes, it is paranormal but it is not a romance, at least in the general sense of romances.
Callie McFay has lived her life hearing of fairytales from her parents but never actually believed they were true. Her parents died when she was twelve and ever since then she has dreamed of a dark male figure, a figure that never truly shows his face. He watches over her during the night and sometimes recites more fairytales to her when she is upset. Then life moves on for Callie, she would go on to college, graduate with a Ph.D., writes a best-selling book and has a long term, long distance relationship with her boyfriend Paul.
Callie has plans for her future and when she interviews with Fairwick College she plans to turn down the job offer but then she sees a beautiful house hidden in the woods. The house was once owned by a gothic, romance writer. Callie is a fan of the writer, Dahlia LaMotte, whom helped influence her own work. The house also comes with Miss LaMotte’s hand-written manuscripts. Callie kicks her plans out the door and impulsively buys the house. The night Callie moves in she is visited by an incubus. At first she believes that it is just a dream but it doesn’t take long for her to realize that her dreams are all too real.
Callie learns pretty early on that she is special and that her co-workers are also more then they appear to be. The town of Fairwick is a melting pot of fae, witches and demons. Of course, there are a few humans who don’t know about the supernatural around them, so they must still hide their powers.
The Demon Lover is plagued with a slow-moving and unclear plot. The incubus is banished fairly early on in the book, Callie’s roommate goes insane, a good-looking teacher comes to town, the college is also afflicted with a sickness that makes quite a few people ill. Callie is also looking into lifting a curse on one of her students, and even more strange things happen in Callie’s personal life with her boyfriend, most of which were predicable so I won’t go into that.
Callie inevitably ends up in a relationship with the new teacher. The relationship moves really fast. The only buildup is the one time that she thought he might kiss her, and then of course the actual kiss. She does pretend to hate him for a while but it doesn’t last long, when she gives in they spend several weeks in bed together (which just happens to be winter break at college). I realize that for Callie this is a relationship that had been forming since she was a little girl so it may not move fast for her but it is hard to feel the love between these characters when they are just having sex and he is crazy obsessed with her.
I did like the world-building in The Demon Lover. The world that Ms. Dark (aka Carol Goodman) created with all the different fae and other creatures living together was enjoyable. It is really nice how the town comes together to protect each other. The atmosphere was dark and gothic, it reminded me of the Victoria Holt novels that I read when I was much younger (just with a lot more sex), which is appropriate since she is mentioned several times in The Demon Lover. I am guessing she was a huge influence. The Demon Lover is strictly told from Callie’s point of view, minus a few manuscripts that would be from Dahlia LaMotte’s view.
Overall, I would recommend The Demon Lover more for its’ world building and dark, gothic atmosphere. I would not recommend this book as a paranormal romance. There is no HEA in this book. I would have thought this to be a self-contained novel but I did see a sneak preview for The Water Witch and it looks like it is narrated by Callie which makes me thrilled to know that her story isn’t over. All reservations aside, I really do want to know what is going to happen next for Callie and her incubus.
Notable Scene:
I shook my head. “No,” I said. “You’re a phantom, an incubus. You’d suck me dry and leave me dead . . .”
“Not if you loved me,” he whispered, his voice a warm wave that lapped at my ear and filled me with longing.
“That’s a big if,” I replied. “Love comes and goes in my experience. I wouldn’t bet my life on it.” Images of my parents appeared in my mind—of my mother caressing the love letters my father had sent her, of my father’s face as he lovingly gazed at my mother—but I quickly banished them.
The coil that had been wrapping itself around me paused. I felt his . . . it’s . . . hesitation. When he spoke again his voice sounded different—less silky, more real . . . and laden with the soft burr of a Scottish accent. It made me realize he’d been acting up until now. “That’s been your experience?” he asked. “Poor lass . . .” And then the silky voice was back. “Perhaps that’s how you feel with your human lover because you’ve been waiting for me. Have no doubt. Your experience with me will be vastly different.”
Maybe it was my loyalty to Paul (I still had some, didn’t I?) or maybe it was the disdain in his voice when he said human, or maybe it was just the cocky attitude that he knew what I wanted, but I was suddenly disenchanted with this creature.
“You’ve got a lot to learn about women, pal. There’s more to love than being good in the sack,” I said, tensing my muscles and trying hard not to think about how good he was in bed. “Or maybe it’s been too long since you were human to know that.”
The Fairwick Chronicles Series:
1. The Demon Lover
2. The Water Witch
FTC Advisory: Random House/Ballantine Books provided me with a copy of The Demon Lover. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: As a dark, gothic novel The Demon Lover is a fairly good read, but since it is marketed as a paranormal romance, it was a bit disappointing.
Opening Sentence: Best keep your door locked, Miss.
Review:
The Demon Lover was not what I expected. The book is labeled as a paranormal romance. Yes, it is paranormal but it is not a romance, at least in the general sense of romances.
Callie McFay has lived her life hearing of fairytales from her parents but never actually believed they were true. Her parents died when she was twelve and ever since then she has dreamed of a dark male figure, a figure that never truly shows his face. He watches over her during the night and sometimes recites more fairytales to her when she is upset. Then life moves on for Callie, she would go on to college, graduate with a Ph.D., writes a best-selling book and has a long term, long distance relationship with her boyfriend Paul.
Callie has plans for her future and when she interviews with Fairwick College she plans to turn down the job offer but then she sees a beautiful house hidden in the woods. The house was once owned by a gothic, romance writer. Callie is a fan of the writer, Dahlia LaMotte, whom helped influence her own work. The house also comes with Miss LaMotte’s hand-written manuscripts. Callie kicks her plans out the door and impulsively buys the house. The night Callie moves in she is visited by an incubus. At first she believes that it is just a dream but it doesn’t take long for her to realize that her dreams are all too real.
Callie learns pretty early on that she is special and that her co-workers are also more then they appear to be. The town of Fairwick is a melting pot of fae, witches and demons. Of course, there are a few humans who don’t know about the supernatural around them, so they must still hide their powers.
The Demon Lover is plagued with a slow-moving and unclear plot. The incubus is banished fairly early on in the book, Callie’s roommate goes insane, a good-looking teacher comes to town, the college is also afflicted with a sickness that makes quite a few people ill. Callie is also looking into lifting a curse on one of her students, and even more strange things happen in Callie’s personal life with her boyfriend, most of which were predicable so I won’t go into that.
Callie inevitably ends up in a relationship with the new teacher. The relationship moves really fast. The only buildup is the one time that she thought he might kiss her, and then of course the actual kiss. She does pretend to hate him for a while but it doesn’t last long, when she gives in they spend several weeks in bed together (which just happens to be winter break at college). I realize that for Callie this is a relationship that had been forming since she was a little girl so it may not move fast for her but it is hard to feel the love between these characters when they are just having sex and he is crazy obsessed with her.
I did like the world-building in The Demon Lover. The world that Ms. Dark (aka Carol Goodman) created with all the different fae and other creatures living together was enjoyable. It is really nice how the town comes together to protect each other. The atmosphere was dark and gothic, it reminded me of the Victoria Holt novels that I read when I was much younger (just with a lot more sex), which is appropriate since she is mentioned several times in The Demon Lover. I am guessing she was a huge influence. The Demon Lover is strictly told from Callie’s point of view, minus a few manuscripts that would be from Dahlia LaMotte’s view.
Overall, I would recommend The Demon Lover more for its’ world building and dark, gothic atmosphere. I would not recommend this book as a paranormal romance. There is no HEA in this book. I would have thought this to be a self-contained novel but I did see a sneak preview for The Water Witch and it looks like it is narrated by Callie which makes me thrilled to know that her story isn’t over. All reservations aside, I really do want to know what is going to happen next for Callie and her incubus.
Notable Scene:
I shook my head. “No,” I said. “You’re a phantom, an incubus. You’d suck me dry and leave me dead . . .”
“Not if you loved me,” he whispered, his voice a warm wave that lapped at my ear and filled me with longing.
“That’s a big if,” I replied. “Love comes and goes in my experience. I wouldn’t bet my life on it.” Images of my parents appeared in my mind—of my mother caressing the love letters my father had sent her, of my father’s face as he lovingly gazed at my mother—but I quickly banished them.
The coil that had been wrapping itself around me paused. I felt his . . . it’s . . . hesitation. When he spoke again his voice sounded different—less silky, more real . . . and laden with the soft burr of a Scottish accent. It made me realize he’d been acting up until now. “That’s been your experience?” he asked. “Poor lass . . .” And then the silky voice was back. “Perhaps that’s how you feel with your human lover because you’ve been waiting for me. Have no doubt. Your experience with me will be vastly different.”
Maybe it was my loyalty to Paul (I still had some, didn’t I?) or maybe it was the disdain in his voice when he said human, or maybe it was just the cocky attitude that he knew what I wanted, but I was suddenly disenchanted with this creature.
“You’ve got a lot to learn about women, pal. There’s more to love than being good in the sack,” I said, tensing my muscles and trying hard not to think about how good he was in bed. “Or maybe it’s been too long since you were human to know that.”
The Fairwick Chronicles Series:
1. The Demon Lover
2. The Water Witch
FTC Advisory: Random House/Ballantine Books provided me with a copy of The Demon Lover. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
April 4, 2012
This book is not a romance. It's definitely not an erotic novel and it's not horror. Having read the thing cover-to-cover, I can now honestly say, I have no idea what it's supposed to be. I do try not to give spoilers when I write reviews, however, there might be a few in this. Callie McFay moves into a house near her new teaching job and begins to have her nights haunted by an incubus. Now, for the duration of the book, Callie bounces from one would-be lover to another without any conscience or qualms. There's Paul, there's the incubus, there's a couple guys from the college--and there's no steaminess to be had anywhere in any of those relationships. The author makes the attempt, but like the plot, it falls flat. Callie also has a book written by another author who was, apparently, haunted by the same incubus and this book seems to exist for no other reason than to add more flat 'steaminess' to the story. Lastly, nearly every mythical creature known to man makes a cameo appearance at one point or another in this story, but if these are supposed to be subplots, they don't go anywhere either.
The author had no idea what she was supposed to do with this story, and it shows. She also has no idea how to write a sex scene. Here's a helpful hint: it should involve more than fingers and mouths. I don't believe there was one mention of the, er, gentlemen's favorite aspect. Not that lovely four-lettered 'c' word, not a somewhat clinical 'p' word. Ladies, in this book you won't even get a grossly comical 'manly meat missile'. There is just virtually no reference to it at all. Either the sex scenes were written by a teenager or the author's never had sex. What scenes there are do offer some steam, but it's the same steam for every scene.
My last gripe, there was no HEA at the end of this story, but by the time I got to that point, I was just ready for the whole thing to be done. The characters offered no emotional involvement. They offered no rationale for why the 'villain' should be killed/banished other than all night sex-bouts made Callie tired and there was some question about whether or not the incubus was harming students in the school. As a plot point, that was never fleshed out. I really, really don't like leaving bad reviews, but this book actually annoyed me. And that's too bad, because the author does seem to know how to write (or she's got one whale of a good editor). She just doesn't seem to understand how to write moving plots or how to emotionally involve a reader in the work.
The author had no idea what she was supposed to do with this story, and it shows. She also has no idea how to write a sex scene. Here's a helpful hint: it should involve more than fingers and mouths. I don't believe there was one mention of the, er, gentlemen's favorite aspect. Not that lovely four-lettered 'c' word, not a somewhat clinical 'p' word. Ladies, in this book you won't even get a grossly comical 'manly meat missile'. There is just virtually no reference to it at all. Either the sex scenes were written by a teenager or the author's never had sex. What scenes there are do offer some steam, but it's the same steam for every scene.
My last gripe, there was no HEA at the end of this story, but by the time I got to that point, I was just ready for the whole thing to be done. The characters offered no emotional involvement. They offered no rationale for why the 'villain' should be killed/banished other than all night sex-bouts made Callie tired and there was some question about whether or not the incubus was harming students in the school. As a plot point, that was never fleshed out. I really, really don't like leaving bad reviews, but this book actually annoyed me. And that's too bad, because the author does seem to know how to write (or she's got one whale of a good editor). She just doesn't seem to understand how to write moving plots or how to emotionally involve a reader in the work.
November 19, 2011
4.5 stars
Wow! I really, really liked this book and would have given it the full 5 stars except for the fact that I felt it was just a little bit long and there was a good chunk of the book where I wondered what happened to the incubus.
I thought the story was very different - in a good way - and I was very impressed that Dark wrote it so well. I thought she did a great job with character development and plot progression. The introduction gets you hooked with a hot sex scene, and I thought it was clever that Dahlia's sex scenes were so graphic whereas Callie's sex scenes were more modestly described - almost as if they are reflections of the two characters themselves.
Both the incubus and Liam had me very intrigued, and I just loved the way Liam was written (yes he was a bit possessive but hey no one's perfect and we understand why later on). I felt my heart breaking at the end. I also thought Frank and Brock were well written, though their roles were fairly small. I thought the supporting characters in this book was what made it so strong.
Like I mentioned earlier, it lacked a half star for its length (though it wasn't draggingly long - I just felt there were a bunch of unnecessary scenes or maybe because I was just so eager to turn the page). And for a long time as I was reading, i thought the plot kind of lost its course because I was left wondering about the incubus.
Overall, it was an awesome read, and even though my heart was in pain, I thought it ended well. I can't wait for the sequel and to see more of the incubus and Liam.
Wow! I really, really liked this book and would have given it the full 5 stars except for the fact that I felt it was just a little bit long and there was a good chunk of the book where I wondered what happened to the incubus.
I thought the story was very different - in a good way - and I was very impressed that Dark wrote it so well. I thought she did a great job with character development and plot progression. The introduction gets you hooked with a hot sex scene, and I thought it was clever that Dahlia's sex scenes were so graphic whereas Callie's sex scenes were more modestly described - almost as if they are reflections of the two characters themselves.
Both the incubus and Liam had me very intrigued, and I just loved the way Liam was written (yes he was a bit possessive but hey no one's perfect and we understand why later on). I felt my heart breaking at the end. I also thought Frank and Brock were well written, though their roles were fairly small. I thought the supporting characters in this book was what made it so strong.
Like I mentioned earlier, it lacked a half star for its length (though it wasn't draggingly long - I just felt there were a bunch of unnecessary scenes or maybe because I was just so eager to turn the page). And for a long time as I was reading, i thought the plot kind of lost its course because I was left wondering about the incubus.
Overall, it was an awesome read, and even though my heart was in pain, I thought it ended well. I can't wait for the sequel and to see more of the incubus and Liam.
November 30, 2011
Wow, I am in love with this book. The reason I decided to read it was all about the cover it is so pretty and the story inside totally lived up to that pretty cover.
So like I said I really had no idea what kind of book I was getting into and I was amazed at the story. We go to a small college town were Callie our heroine is offered a job. This town in layered with secrets. There are witches and fairies and sexy incubus and Callie herself is nothing near normal.
Callie grew up listening to her parents fairy tales but when they died when she was only 12 and in walked a shadowy figure in her dreams to tell her stories. After she starts her career path towards studying gothic literature and fairy tales the man in her dreams disappears. But when she goes to Fairwick he returns to her dreams but not to read fairy tales! And thank goodness for that!
There are so many things to tell you to make you read this. Upon arriving in Fairwick Callie is drawn to this abandon house that rests at the edge of these spooky woods. This is where she finds out her sexy toe curling dreams might not be dreams but actually an incubus. She also starts discovering the secrets of the town and reading the person who owned the house old stories. Now these stories she reads are crazy similar to Callies experience with the incubus and man are they hot!
Okay lets summarize the awesomeness of this book. Old house with some mystery and an attic filled with erotic untold stories from a well known author. Sexy incubus who visits Callie and has mind blowing sex. The town filled with so many different supernatural creatures there is no telling who is human. The spooky woods with hidden secrets. Callies role in it all. The new mystery man who walks into Fairwick. Theres a sickness draining the students and faculty.
Its just an awesome book. Some things I figured out early on but even when its revealed there was some nice added twists. The book is so well written it just has these vibe that pulls you in and doesn't let go. Its a must read.
So like I said I really had no idea what kind of book I was getting into and I was amazed at the story. We go to a small college town were Callie our heroine is offered a job. This town in layered with secrets. There are witches and fairies and sexy incubus and Callie herself is nothing near normal.
Callie grew up listening to her parents fairy tales but when they died when she was only 12 and in walked a shadowy figure in her dreams to tell her stories. After she starts her career path towards studying gothic literature and fairy tales the man in her dreams disappears. But when she goes to Fairwick he returns to her dreams but not to read fairy tales! And thank goodness for that!
There are so many things to tell you to make you read this. Upon arriving in Fairwick Callie is drawn to this abandon house that rests at the edge of these spooky woods. This is where she finds out her sexy toe curling dreams might not be dreams but actually an incubus. She also starts discovering the secrets of the town and reading the person who owned the house old stories. Now these stories she reads are crazy similar to Callies experience with the incubus and man are they hot!
Okay lets summarize the awesomeness of this book. Old house with some mystery and an attic filled with erotic untold stories from a well known author. Sexy incubus who visits Callie and has mind blowing sex. The town filled with so many different supernatural creatures there is no telling who is human. The spooky woods with hidden secrets. Callies role in it all. The new mystery man who walks into Fairwick. Theres a sickness draining the students and faculty.
Its just an awesome book. Some things I figured out early on but even when its revealed there was some nice added twists. The book is so well written it just has these vibe that pulls you in and doesn't let go. Its a must read.
September 10, 2011
First let’s say this book was not what I expected. When I received Demon Lover from Net Gallery I thought oh this looks good and it did not disappoint. The beginning the book started off a bit slow but do not get discouraged it moves along pretty fast and before you know it your half way done. There are some twists and turns in the novel which kept me very intrigued.
Juliet Dare writes this story in the first person; it flows nicely, easy to read and is well written. This seems to be her first book published under the name Juliet Dare, but she also writes under the name of Carol Goodman. Her writing style is good and I will check out both names to see what else is published out there.
So the story begins with us meeting Callie McFay, she is in the small town of Fairwick for an interview for a teaching position at the local college. As we get to know Callie we learn about the loss of her parents and her childhood spirit/shadow that comforted her at night by telling her stories like her parents used to.
As she is trying to settle in to her new home and job her spirit/ shadow returns to her at night and takes the form of a handsome and seductive man. Now her dreams have changed into him taking her body and ravishing her in the most satisfying ways. Callie soon figures out that these may not be dreams at all and things are starting to feel very real. She does not realize that she is being possessed by an incubus.
As Callie learns more about the town of Fairwich and figures out her dream lover is a demon who was banished to live in the shadow world and gains human form by feeding off his prey.
Everyone seems to be working together to cast out the demon/incubus, Callie is now very torn how will she be able to help banish her demon lover?
Juliet Dare writes this story in the first person; it flows nicely, easy to read and is well written. This seems to be her first book published under the name Juliet Dare, but she also writes under the name of Carol Goodman. Her writing style is good and I will check out both names to see what else is published out there.
So the story begins with us meeting Callie McFay, she is in the small town of Fairwick for an interview for a teaching position at the local college. As we get to know Callie we learn about the loss of her parents and her childhood spirit/shadow that comforted her at night by telling her stories like her parents used to.
As she is trying to settle in to her new home and job her spirit/ shadow returns to her at night and takes the form of a handsome and seductive man. Now her dreams have changed into him taking her body and ravishing her in the most satisfying ways. Callie soon figures out that these may not be dreams at all and things are starting to feel very real. She does not realize that she is being possessed by an incubus.
As Callie learns more about the town of Fairwich and figures out her dream lover is a demon who was banished to live in the shadow world and gains human form by feeding off his prey.
Everyone seems to be working together to cast out the demon/incubus, Callie is now very torn how will she be able to help banish her demon lover?
November 19, 2012
This book took a while to settle into for me, there is an immediate 'darkness' and an almost dreamlike state of living for the main character, Callie McFay. She seems to be a little lost and doesn't begin to feel alive until she has taken up residence in a small town, purchasing a house that seems to be calling to her. It happens that the house was once owned by one of her favorite authors, a reclusive and mysterious woman who left behind volumes of her experiences with a 'shadow' man, remarkably similar to the one who has haunted Callie's dreams for years. Add to this, the fact that Callie is finding out that many of the townfolk are supernaturals, from demons to witches to fairies and that she, too has special abilities and the plot branches out from there!
Could her 'shadow' man be sucking the life out of her when they make love? Is he real? Is he truly a danger, or does he really love her?
The author introduced many characters who were not what they originally seemed to be, some good, some evil and managed to juggle all of this pretty well. Once the reader gets into the rhythm of this original story, its an intense tale!
This copy of The Demon Lover was given to me by Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review.
Could her 'shadow' man be sucking the life out of her when they make love? Is he real? Is he truly a danger, or does he really love her?
The author introduced many characters who were not what they originally seemed to be, some good, some evil and managed to juggle all of this pretty well. Once the reader gets into the rhythm of this original story, its an intense tale!
This copy of The Demon Lover was given to me by Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review.
December 1, 2017
¿Por dónde empiezo?
Cuando empecé a leer este libro, me imaginaba cosas muy distintas a los que me depararía.
He de decir que la autora se excedió en descripciones en este libro, tanto que llega a ser aburrida y monótona en cierto momento.
En momentos tuve que leer en diagonal, hasta encontrar algo que llamara mi atención, y es que sentí que se desviaba mucho del tema principal, hubo de todo!!!
Cuando creí que ya estaba terminándose todo, resulta que no....
La verdad no me dan ganas de leer la segunda parte de esta historia; sentí que me faltó un poco de romanticismo.
Cuando empecé a leer este libro, me imaginaba cosas muy distintas a los que me depararía.
He de decir que la autora se excedió en descripciones en este libro, tanto que llega a ser aburrida y monótona en cierto momento.
En momentos tuve que leer en diagonal, hasta encontrar algo que llamara mi atención, y es que sentí que se desviaba mucho del tema principal, hubo de todo!!!
Cuando creí que ya estaba terminándose todo, resulta que no....
La verdad no me dan ganas de leer la segunda parte de esta historia; sentí que me faltó un poco de romanticismo.
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