Book two opens around nine months after the events of book one came to a close; an immediate sense of dejavu being set off by the mentioning of winter solstice. Despite the instinctual ways in which Braedyn and Lucas stood in the face of danger and ran to the fight instead of from it, their inclinations to protect the innocent and those they love, have left their mark; most typically in the dreams that plague them. Lucky for Lucas, and Braedyn too, she has a power over the dreamscape, not that this is sufficient to forego all effects.
Royal and Cassie remain part of the school group. Royal is unchanged, his natural wit and personality bringing that slapstick humour to the storyline. His fierce doggedness to defend his friends still obvious. Cassie remains changed by the abuse experienced at Parker's malicious hands. Still severely impacted nearly a year later, she's a much reserved shadow of her former self.
Its not long before once again Braedyn and Lucas are embroiled, the new attack committed by a female in thrall does however, have significant potential ramifications. Given in book one we learned that becoming thrall was based on desire and that the local Guard could not recall a male lilitu, it logically follows that this new attack was either a thrall who is gay, or that there is such a thing as male lilitu; its just they're known by another name, this book's namesake, Incubus.
However, its not too long before we're reminded that some of the more hateful behaviours possible, are at the hands of humans. As Amber uses her friends to begin a tirade of harm against Braedyn, having stated at the end of book two that she knew the big secret, and would do all within her power to make Braedyn leave, its Braedyn's friends that will bare the brunt of this attention. Without the possibility of a repeat of last year's behaviours that resulted in Parker's near suicide, there's little Braedyn can think of to protect those dearest.
With Braedyn's dreamscape already showing signs of when she's crossed the line, and the angel Sensanoy's warning of only so much able to be overlooked, before Braedyn would no longer be eligible for heaven's boon, the lessons of the day could be more far reaching than she knows. Amber's vengeance on Braedyn's friends coupled with pressure applied from denizens, enough to bring to breaking point, both Braedyn's resolve and her relationships with those she loves.
The boon and ways by which Braedyn and Lucas might be able to see it to fruition become a central focal point for the two young teens. Having now shared the knowledge of its potential, the Puerto Escondido Guard start to see the ways in which Braedyn is used are never more important. Her father of course, as he's done all along, would be happy to see her monopolise the boon immediately. The other leaders however, seeing it as the loss of a weapon she was bred to be, are more than happy to go along with the plans to await some victory first. Lucas and Murphy continue to be Braedyn's staunchest allies.
With the introduction of a new archivist, the possibility of an incubus, and supporting evidence found of a ritual to close the veil between the lilitu army and their world, another young compatriot is introduced whom the teens can begin to trust. As these factors and the continued stress of Guard responsibilities require greater commitments, Braedyn finds it progressively more difficult to keep her human life and friendships alive.
As death visits the Guard again, temptations to break the accord and to further use her abilities strengthen, with only the hope of becoming human and Braedyn's ideals being the dam to keep the flow at bay. Signs of a being in the shadows and the return of Karayan all furthering the pressure Braedyn is under. Escaping to the dreamscape to have any kind of intimacy with Lucas starting to be perceived as muted and insufficient. Its only a matter of time before cracks appear and the dam looks to fall.
As the various aspects of the plot play out, the situations where Braedyn lengthens the lies, by omission if nothing more, climb in frequency. The remoteness brought about from hiding truths from those close to her work to create greater distances between her and her loved ones. That Braedyn believes the reasoning for doing so is sound, and that as her goals compliment other's desires and needs, inconsequential in the trusts that are broken.
Sometimes, being sorry and trying to do the right things aren't sufficient to forego the damages caused by actions. As Braedyn steps forth, believing her reasoning sound, despite the efforts by the many who love her to shield her from the things she might do, betrayal deepens. Readers will see perhaps what Braedyn sees, or perhaps what her loved ones see, but either way the costs will still be thick and their effects irredeemable; regardless of why they're there.
Jennifer's writing is captivating, deep and meaningful. Entertainment around every corner, the world fall of cracks and fissures, where knowledge and consequences run hand-in-hand. Cross genre storylines and a broad range of culture and lore all working well to make her stories an experience, more than just a story; the true tell of an exceptional writer, regardless of the genre. If you weren't hooked before, by Thrall alone, Incubus ensures you'll diarise the rest of the books to come.