Sense and Succubus

Souls and Shadows #2

by Adrienne Blake

"The more I know of the world, the more I am convinced that I shall never see a goblin I can really love." Jane Austen. A bit.​

Everything Elinor Dashwood held dear is lost when her father blows his fortune at the casino tables then dies from the shame of it. Her half-brother and his grasping goblin wife have always despised their dryad half-sisters. They lose no time at all in kicking them out of their house.

Before they leave, Elinor meets Edward, a half-goblin who shares none of his sister's wickedness. His compassion wins Elinor over, and she soon falls in love. But her heart is broken when she learns Edward is secretly bonded to a sexy succubus and though her soul tells her he loves her, she knows he can never be hers.

Their fortune seems to change when the family's invited to live in a small cottage in Maine. Elinor's heartbreak lingers but her younger sister Marianne has more luck and is wooed by a handsome incubus. Driven by her desires, Marianne quickly falls for his quick wit and charm, ignoring all of Elinor's misgivings about the suspicious young man.

Despite all obstacles, the two sisters strive to find happiness — unaware there is a demon in the shadows, ready to make good on a bet to steal their hearts and make their suffering last forever.

250 pages, Paperback

First published September 3, 2021

About the author

Adrienne Blakes lives in the Mid-Atlantic surrounded by rarely-seen neighbors whose lives are shrouded in mystery. Forever peeping through the curtains, she dreams of catching one to learn of their covert ways and the secret behind their bizarre WiFi handles. Adrienne lives to read and write and is forever in search of that one character that makes sense of it all. You’ll find her stalking out her next adventure at her website AdrienneBlake.com, on Facebook, www.facebook.com/AuthorAdrienne/, or send her an email: authoradrienneblake@gmail.com.

Reviews

[InD'tale Magazine]

Inauspicious prologue aside, this reboot really has a lighthearted and tongue-in-cheek air to it.

Read full review in the 2021 November issue of InD'tale Magazine.

[Katheyer]

“Sense and Succubus” the second instalment in Adrienne Blake’s “Souls and Shadows” puts an entertaining, witty, and funny urban paranormal on Austen’s classical tale ‘Sense and Sensibility’. As well as its predecessor “Pride and Paranormal” (Book 1 in the series), the story mixes Austen’s storyline with highly enjoyable urban fantasy tropes into an entertaining story that follows Elinor Dashwood dealing with the aftermath of her father death, after he lost his whole fortune at the casino. To add insult to injury she has just been thrown out of her family house by her goblin sister-in-law. Things seems to be lighting up as Elinor meets Edward, who while a goblin, is nothing like the sister-in-law, and – obviously 😉 – falls deeply in love with him, only to have her heart broken right away as she realizes that Edward is bonded in secret to a succubus and can never be hers alone. While Elinor suffers, her own sister Marianne seems to have found love…. in an incubus 😉 and so the story develops.

Adrienne Blake has constructed a modern and interesting version of the classical story, that despite the ‘fantasy’ tropes, relies heavily in Marianne & Elinor’s relationship and their struggle to find happiness, and dodge the demon lurking in the shadows.

[Shannon]

I enjoyed this story, though it was a little slow on the uptake. After that, the story became quite fun! I like the new world where the Austen stories are set. They have nice details, without being too different that it detracts from the plot.

This story takes Sense and Sensibility and adds fun paranormal elements to it to make it more interesting (let's be real, S&S isn't the most interesting Austen story out there). We get to learn more about species dynamics and how they interact with each other, all while hoping the Dashwood sisters (and mom) can land on their feet! I quite liked Elinor and her interactions with others, especially Edward. She had a quiet air about her that leads her to keep her emotions to herself, rather than emote like her sister Marianne does. The dynamic between the two makes them enjoyable characters!!

All in all, it's a good story and an enjoyable read.

Note: It is not necessary to read Sense and Sensibility to understand this story. Also, reading Pride and Paranormal isn't necessary either. The books are stand alone.

[Paula lily]

Thanks Netgalley for the eArc of this book and I'm leaving the review voluntarily.

Well what to say if you enjoyed the first book of the series and adore sense and sensibility then go ahead and read this book. Oh and you don't need to read the first book to enjoy this one as they are standalones.

Did I like the book yes but I was more annoyed at Marieanne but oh well, in general it was a nice read and if you are not so keen on the classics but still want to read something with the same themes this is the perfect book.

Yeah sorry I don't have anything more to say as, keep calm and carry on reading.

[Cary]

I loved this retelling, I loved how faithful it was to the original and how the modern world was able to be etched into the story. I was glued to the book from page one but often found myself checking my copy of Sense and sensibility to find who was who and how things were same or different between each!! Can´t wait to read the next book!!!

[Kayla]

Sense and Succubus is the second book in The Souls and Shadows books by Adrienne Blake. Book one and two are standalones that can be read individually as they focus on different characters. Just like the first book, this one had my attention from the very start and kept it throughout the whole book. If you are a Jane Austen fan and loved Sense and Sensibility, you'll love this paranormal alternate universe retelling of the story. Once again Adrienne Blake has done a great job keeping this Jane Austen tale alive while adding the modern twist or magic and paranormal creatures.
In this book we follow the story of the Dashwood family. Most of the story is focused on the love life of two of the Dashwood sisters, Elinor and Marianne. Both despite what they go through while trying to find love believe in finding happiness even if it is not in the form they expect or with the person they expected.

[Cat]

Thanks to NetGalley and City Owl Press for providing me with an eARC of this release in exchange for an honest review.

I was drawn to this title as a big Jane Austen fan and Sense and Sensibility is honestly one of my favorites. That and me being in a major Paranormal Romance/Monster Romance kick I had to look into Sense and Succubus.

This is a modern day retelling of Sense and Sensibility with an array of mystical creatures such as goblins, succubi, dryads, and even an incubi included. You can pretty much assume who is the incubus in this incarnation.

Since I was pretty excited about the story there were a few things that really ripped me from the element. This is a near faithful retelling of Sense and Sensibility, borderline re-imagining of it, but that paired with the modern day setting really pulled me from the story. It resembled the story so closely when it started picking up that the mention of ride shares, texting and pretty much any modern items would throw me a little bit. I don't know if it was just me not jiving with the choices or what, but I felt it could've worked as a historical paranormal a little more or the story could be tweaked to make it feel more modern.

Other than that it was fun and if you're looking for something a little more paranormal but still Austen-esque. I'd totally recommend it.

[Kelly]

Many thanks to NetGalley and City Owl Press for providing me with a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this modern day paranormal retelling of Sense and Sensibility. Elinor and Marianne take turns as the central figure of the narration, which keeps the story flowing. I’ve not read the original version but I imagine that, like the first book Pride and Paranormal, it will have stayed fairly true.

I did have some issues with the first, in particular the weird shoehorning of the magical world into the narration. This was a complete non issue here and it made reading it a much better experience! I also liked the two main characters, Elinor with her older sister caring vibe, and Marianne with her casual cruelty who learns a bit of a lesson. The story had a good pace, and I didn’t want to put it down. There is an element of slut shaming, and there is a duo of sisters that are frequently referred to as sluts, so that is something to watch out for if that’s an issue but overall I was super happy that I had the opportunity to read and review this book. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for book 3!

If the first book put you off a bit, I feel you should give it another try because it’s definitely worth it - I’m glad I did. If you loved the first book then you’ll REALLY love this one!

[Nicki Markus]

I had previously read this author's Pride and Paranormal, which I mostly enjoyed, so I was interested to see how she would approach a Sense and Sensibility retelling. Overall, I think it came together nicely, perhaps even more so than Pride and Paranormal did, since this second story avoided some of the additional 'magical plot point' dumping that had irked me a little in book one. Marianne was perhaps even more annoying in this version than in Austen's original, but Elinor came across well, and it was nice to see her feelings for Edward developing in her internal dialogue, even though she didn't express them to anyone. The story moved at a good pace, hitting all the key points of the original while allowing a little diversity for the paranormal and modern-day setting. I understand Northanger Abbey is next, and I am keen to see how Blake will tackle that one. Sense and Succubus gets four stars from me.

I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Beth]

This is the second book in a series. I hadn’t read the first book but this works as a stand alone. This is a retelling of Sense and Sensibility except in a paranormal world. While this is an interesting premise, it just didn’t quite work well. There was very little world building. We are introduced to all different species but their characteristics are never described or explained. There also was very little character development. None of their actions or motivations were explained making them very shallow characters. Subsequently, I didn’t care for any of them. The dialogue was adolescent at best. It is supposed to be a tale with two love stories but I didn’t really get the romance. It just wasn’t there; there was no spark. By adhering so closely to the story of Sense and Sensibility and not focusing on the paranormal aspects, the author missed a real opportunity to make this an innovative fun book. Overall, this story was not for me. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. ALL opinions expressed are my own.

[Jessica]

This is the second book in the Souls and Shadows series. It is supposed to feature two love stories. One featuring Elinor Dashwood and the other featuring Marianne Dashwood. What you end up getting is no romances. It was a very odd book and I understand that it is a remake of Sense and Sensibility, but I was really disappointed. You literally are supposed to believe that a modern day woman is pining away for a man that she has almost little or no contact with. We were never invested in the supposed relationship between Elinor and Edward. I really wanted to like this book because the premise is good. Plus, prior to reading this book I purchased and read Pride and Paranormal the first book in the series and greatly enjoyed it. I feel that the author did nothing to endear the characters to the readers or develop the relationships that she did want us to feel invested in. Unfortunately, I would not recommend this book.

I was provided a copy of this book by Netgalley for a honest review.

[Danielle]

First things first; I was gifted a copy of this book to read and these opinions are my own and honest.

Wow. I read the first book in the Souls and Shadows series and wasn't impressed with how it didn't follow the plot of the classic book it was named after. This one though? Superb. Brilliant. Amazing. I loved how it didn't stray too far from the story we all know, but allowed the author to tell her version with her own unique world.

You fall in love with the characters like the classic story - even though they are different. I love the paranormal twist to this. And honestly, I'm even more excited to read the next book in the series. I'd even love to have all of Austen's books rewritten with the paranormal twist by this author. ( as long as the plot doesn't stray )

[Destiny Bridwell]

I received a copy of this book for a fair and honest review. This is a modern AU and paranormal retelling of Sense and Sensibility. It has been along time since I have read this classic, but I am not sure you have to have read it to enjoy the story that was presented. There is a lot going on in this book. Elinor is thrown out of her home by her sister-in-law. That is how she meets Edward. She is starting to fall in love with him, but something is just not right. That is when she find out that he is tied to a succubus and he will never completely be hers. This does follow that classic very closely and sometimes when the modern world is talked about I have to remember it is not the classic version.

[Jacqueline]

Firstly thanks to @netgalley, @authoradrienneblake & @cityowlbooks for the eBook ARC of #SenseAndSuccubus

Austin’s "sense and sensibility" has had a revamp! Succubi, Goblins, Inncubi, Satyrs and Dryads all grace this story!

This can be read as a stand alone or the there is a book one in the series "Pride and Paranormal".

Our story is centred around the Dasheood girls, Dryads, and their love lives.

Marianne is a total loose cannon and to be honest a pain in the neck.

Elinor is probably the character that I can relate to the most.

That Willoughby though!!! What a bas$$*#d

It’s a lovely story with a modern twist.

4⭐️

[Patty]

A modern day retelling of this classic story with so many mythical characters and magical elements was wonderful. I had to smile at the fun things that complemented the story so well- the rhyming couplet thoughts, Magic-Con and even mud fights. All the very satisfying elements of the original story were presented in unique and somewhat modern ways with a pleasing magical twist. What can I say- I thoroughly enjoyed this paranormal variation!
I received ARC and am voluntarily sharing my honest review.

[Buturot]

I am only slightly familiar with the original sense and sensibility but I feel the author did great blending the paranormal with this classic. Amazing how she made the twist in this story. This was an enchanting, light-hearted read, with of course some comical moments. I was particularly captivated by the strength of the family especially the sisterly love between the Dashwoods, Elinor's spirit and the love of Chris for Marianne.

This is my second book to read from this author and it was worth it.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout in exchange for an honest review.

[Ken Thompson]

This being the first time reading this author I am pleasantly surprised to find it a very nice story in these pages. It was nice to snuggle down and begin this series. Can’t wait to see what’s next.

[Christine Galletly]

I did enjoy this book but I did find that the storyline was a little slow for me.
I thought that there was good attention to detail but the plot took me a little while to get in too and I did feel in part that I had to force myself to finish reading.
It is 3 stars from me for this one

[fred jones]

An entertaining, fun retelling of the Jane Austen classic, with added demons, dryads and succubi. The paranormal additions fit seamlessly into the original story as if they were always there. A real pleasure. I received a complimentary copy from Storyorigin and am leaving a honest voluntary q

[Reader03]

Well written classic story with a paranormal twist, magic and more in a good followup to this series. I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[abookybrunette]

Sense and Succubus started out great! I was sucked into this cool new world of supernatural beings. We meet Elinor, who is a no-nonsense dryad, and Marianne, Elinor's carefree middle sister. They are being kicked out of their satyr brother John's house to make room for his self-absorbed goblin wife Fanny and their baby on the way. In the process, Elinor meets Fanny's brother Edward, and Marianne meets incubus Willoughby. However, this awesome world was destroyed within a few chapters.

I understand that Sense and Succubus was a play off of Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen. However, any cute moments, interesting scenes, and cool plot points were immediately undermined by poor character development and explanation. Marianne comes off as extremely childish and her tantrums don't make much sense to the reader. Elinor's motivations and quick emotions for Edward are unclear, which makes it hard to relate to the character. The reader never has a chance to be invested in any point of the story. Basing a book off of a classic doesn't mean you need to follow the plot exactly; making this a modern-day retelling made the emotions and plot points fall flat. What works in 1800s Britain doesn't work in modern-day Maine. The characters used a mix of British and American dialogue, which was jarring and inappropriate. There did not seem to be any emotional depth; the relationships felt flat and underdeveloped.

After all of this, my main complaint was the blatant slut-shaming, sex-negative behavior, anti-Semitism, and slight racist vibes. Multiple times, succubus characters were called sluts. Sexual behavior was deemed to "ruin" a character. The goblins were bankers, obsessed with money, "screechy," cold, cruel, and extremely elitist, falling into the old trope of anti-Semitism perpetuated throughout literature and film. Then there's the slight problem of racist undertones. The green skin of the goblins was described in a more negative light than the half-goblins or other characters, and many times it was "good for a goblin" or "he's an incubus, his kind is all the same." The entire book left a disgusting taste in my mouth.