Succubus Heat [Paperback]

This is the fourth in the Georgina Kincaid series. She is a succubus, prowling the streets of Seattle, sucking the life out of men with her intimacies with them. This story builds on the three prior novels, reintroducing characters like Roman (her relationship with him in an earlier work ended badly, to put it mildly).

The major plot twist here is that the boss (a demon, Jerome) in the Seattle region disappears. The power of immortals (vampires, imps, and succubae) also disappears. They are immortal, but do not have their powers. If Jerome can't be found, then a new boss will need to be selected. Part of the driving force of this book is the dynamics of those who want to take over; indeed, ambition has led to something of a coup d'état.

Georgina, in an improbable alliance with her former boyfriend, Seth Mortenson (the dilemma that they faced--they could not be intimate without her slowly draining him of his life force), sets out to find Jerome. Adding to the dynamics of the work is that after their breakup, Seth began dating one of Georgina's best friends, Maddie (you need a scorecard to keep the players straight if you haven't read earlier works in this series; one piece of advice--read some of the earlier volumes to understand context).

There are the poignant moments between Seth and Georgina; now, they can be intimate without damage to him as she has lost her powers. But--there is also the knowledge that this is only for the short term and that they are both betraying Maddie.

The book ends with some unresolved tensions that promise to animate future volumes in this series. All in all, another fine entry in the series by Richelle Mead.

In Georgina's fourth outing Mead continues the heartrending tone that initiated by it's predecessor, Succubus Dreams. Our heroine is deep in a funk and from page one it seems like the hits just keep coming for her. Don't take that as a negative though. This installment provides everything that readers have come to expect and love from Mead, and some. Heat doesn't lack for any of the love, passion, mystery and action that made the first three novels so gripping. But for each bit of those elements, the pain is ratcheted up about three times more.

With the brief reprieve from her soul-sucking abilities, Georgina is faced with the opportunity to partake of everything we've seen her long for - only it may be too little, too late. Bittersweet the novel may be, it's pervasive sadness only lends to make the story that much more beautiful.

The mystery part of the plot blends in well with the romance here too. It's evenly paced and well thought out. It also serves as mechanism to better illustrate the complexity of each player involved in the story. Major characters and bit players alike are all very nuanced and add to the impression that, despite this being a story about the preternatural, this is all very real. I know it sounds cliche but I laughed, I cried. I definitely cried.

Consequences seems to be the theme of this one. Almost every party involved is faced with a decision of their own to make, and for each one the outcome is felt by all. There are a few surprises in-store and, for those concerned, the issues of Georgina's contract and her prophetic dreams from Nyx are each addressed.

Fans, you won't be disappointed. Heartbroken sure, but in that respect you're no better off than Georgina.

What is it about the way Richelle Mead writes, that she is able to perfectly capture the pain of a romantic break-up? She somehow is able to make me relive the pain of feeling cut-off from a loved one, abandoned and dejected - it ain't good! Thank goodness there is an interesting story woven in through this pain. Fans of Mead and Georgina, if you have stuck through this series for the first three books, you will want to read Succubus Heat. There is a payoff to the series and it is done quite well - readers have to pay for the little reward dishes out, but it is worth it. Readers are also additionally rewarded -- without spoiling too much, I will say that characters from previous books return.

I don't remember Vampire Academy being this funny, maybe I didn't get the humor in that series but the Georgina Kincaid series is damn funny. I started marking quotes, but there were just too many of them. I think one of the appeals of this series is that because of Georgina's role as a succubus, readers are able to suspend their judgment of her intimate activity - after all, Georgina has to fulfill certain requirements or she will suffer in Hell. Rarely in mainstream urban fantasy books are female characters having so much physical relations with so many different men in such an unabashed way -this suspension of judgment is appealing. But of course it only exists within the confines of this series. And I guess there is judgment in the end, Georgina judges herself.

Questions continue to be not answered. Who is the guy in the dream? Will the dream come true? Does Georgina deserve better? Why the heck does Carter care so much? How can someone who is working for demons and hell be so good? How can she be good if in the end she is shortening thousands of mens lives? Why is Georgina reliving the same romance over and over again throughout the ages? Why is she attracted to the good ones? And what I am dying to know - when will she reveal her true form to Seth and what will he think?

At the close of Heat, Georgina makes several changes in her life. This book is a worthwhile read. The narration continues to be fabulous, I highly recommend listening to this series.