AimeeKay Review: Succubus Rising (Telepathic Clans #3) by B.R. Kingsolver

The Goddess has plans for Brenna and Rebecca, and the Goddess has a wicked sense of humor.

Rebecca Healy is a true wilder, growing up with no contact or knowledge of other telepaths. Discovered by a Clan member on the streets of San Francisco, she felt like she’d hit the jackpot. Finally, she knew what she was, or at least she thought she did. 

When Brenna O’Donnell, long-lost heir of the O’Donnell Clan, and the strongest telepath in history, is returned to her family, she and Rebecca form a tight bond. Brenna has it all, looks, money, power, and men falling all over her.

Rebecca isn’t jealous, but it would be nice to find someone who would really love her and stick around in the morning. She’s intrigued by a handsome South American general, but of course, he has his sights set on Brenna. Carlos de Vargas wants more than love. His Clan has its back to the wall, and they hope for an alliance with O’Donnell. An alliance that would lead to war. 

The story began in The Succubus Gift and continued in Succubus Unleashed. In Succubus Rising, questions are answered and new mysteries are revealed.

I really enjoyed the first two books of the Succubus series, so I am glad to say that I enjoyed this one as well. Before reading my review however be forewarned that there are some definite spoilers in here so please proceed knowing you have been warned.

I really love the characters, especially Brenna and Rebecca. I love watching their interactions and their friendship. One of the greatest underlying stories of the books is the stories of their friendship. I liked that this edition of the series really let Rebecca shine. Proving that, even though she IS Brenna’s ‘Shadow’, it doesn’t mean she was meant to live in it. I think this helped to really show that their friendship is one of equals. Brenna has also completely embraced her family and the succubus life style. She no longer has the moral issues that plagued her in previous books and is able to stand on her own without second guessing herself.

On that note I want to comment about the whole Succubus/Telepath life style. While Brenna has her ‘soul mate’, she is NOT monogamous. This is a very significant change from your typical ‘soul mate’ romance. But Kingsolver has really made the romance in their world work. I’m not saying that I would want an open relationship *shrug* not my thing. But Brenna’s love isn’t twisted or warped. What she feels for the ones she loves is pure and simple love. The sex that she has that isn’t love related, and more related to her job or to her powers, isn’t made to seem sluttish, it is just part of who she is and the author again is able to make it work. I never once feel that she is heartless or cruel, everything she does is because of her gifts or to benefit those she cares for and for that reason, at least I think, is why I don’t think I look at her any differently than I would heroines who only have sex with their chosen ones.

I will say that there are parts of the story that bothered me, and they weren’t sex related. The whole relationship between Rebecca and her mother is the issue. Considering how the clan has been portrayed up to this point in the stories I really wondered why her mom let her be raised and hurt as a child the way that she was. I would have thought that if her mom had known what was going on she would have stepped in with the full backing of the clan and rescued her long before she was found as a wilder.

Despite my issues with that I did really enjoy this one. There are so many possibilities opening up in Kingsolver’s world. I can’t wait to see how Rebecca and Brenna’s journey unfolds in future novels. Also, and I have to put this in, the first part of the book had me really cracking up. I literally forced my boyfriend to listen to me recap it to him. It was one of those ‘Oh my God’ perfect scenes. I say read the novel if only for the first scene alone. Again there is a list of the powers and their definitions at the end of the novel. I hope at one point in the future maybe a side book can be written to accompany the novels that explains all the powers and where exactly their names come from. Since most are obviously named after the clans where the gifts are most genetically prominent, but maybe something explaining who the first recorded users were?

I love this series. Overall I give it 5 out of 5 stars, and this book I give 5 out of 5 easy. I think that this novel can stand on its own even without reading the previous books, but I recommend reading them in order so you can truly appreciate how Brenna and Rebecca have grown and evolved from their humble roots.

Throwback Thursday: Geekomancy

Meme hosted by Melissa My World in Words and Pages. It's about books that are already on the shelves and are waiting to be read. Go to her website to join in!

My submission this week:

Geekomancy
by Michael R. Underwood

Clerks meets Buffy the Vampire the Slayer in this original urban fantasy eBook about Geekomancers—humans that derive supernatural powers from pop culture. Ree Reyes’s life was easier when all she had to worry about was scraping together tips from her gig as a barista and comicshop slave to pursue her ambitions as a screenwriter. 

When a scruffy-looking guy storms into the shop looking for a comic like his life depends on it, Ree writes it off as just another day in the land of the geeks. Until a gigantic “BOOM!” echoes from the alley a minute later, and Ree follows the rabbit hole down into her town’s magical flip-side. Here, astral cowboy hackers fight trolls, rubber-suited werewolves, and elegant Gothic Lolita witches while wielding nostalgia-powered props. 

Ree joins Eastwood (aka Scruffy Guy), investigating a mysterious string of teen suicides as she tries to recover from her own drag-your-heart-through-jagged-glass breakup. But as she digs deeper, Ree discovers Eastwood may not be the knight-in-cardboard armor she thought. Will Ree be able to stop the suicides, save Eastwood from himself, and somehow keep her job?

I got this one a while back when it was free. Can't wait to dive in.

So, what is on your list this week? 

Audio Review: This Side of the Grave by Jeaniene Frost

Half-vampire Cat Crawfield and her vampire husband Bones have fought for their lives, as well as for their relationship. But just when they've triumphed over the latest battle, Cat's new and unexpected abilities threaten to upset a long-standing balance...

With the mysterious disappearance of vampires, rumors abound that a species war is brewing. A zealot is inciting tensions between the vampires and ghouls, and if these two powerful groups clash, innocent mortals could become collateral damage. Now Cat and Bones are forced to seek help from a dangerous "ally" - the ghoul queen of New Orleans herself. But the price of her assistance may prove more treacherous than even the threat of a supernatural war...to say nothing of the repercussions Cat never imagined.

Well, I thought I'd try to get caught up with the series and although I have this in print, I thought I'd try it in audio. Luckily my library had it in the format I could use. Tavia Gilbert is the narrator and I have to honestly say that I did not like her pacing at all. It was too fast for most of the book, but that pacing was fine for the most intense action parts of the book. I also have to say that I did not like her Bones accent. Actually, the accent was "okay", but the voice for bones was just too wrong for me. Her voice actually seemed to raise a bit to do his parts. I was also not thrilled with the Mancheres voice either. It did distract me a bit from the book as a whole.

As for the book. I loved it. This one had quite a bit of humor and I LOL'd quite a bit. In fact I woke up my dog and got a dirty look for laughing too loudly. Yep, Cat had her snark on and even toward herself. Vlad also had a few really good one liners. Oh yea, can't wait to read his book. Yes, you can safely say I enjoyed the humor a lot.

We also get some good secondary characters involved in this book. Mencheres, Vlad, and even Marie Laveau. I have to admit, even though Marie has her own agenda and is on her own side, I like the ghoul. She is smart and quite devious. I hope there is more with her in further adventures with Cat.

I give this book 4 stars. It's possible I may rate it higher with a reread. I guess we will have to see. I didn't love the audio, but I did love the book and the adventure.

Alternate cover (I like much better):

Thrill Ride (Black Knights Inc. #4) by Julie Ann Walker

Ex-Navy SEAL Rock Babineaux’s job is to get information, and he’s one of the best in the business. Until something goes horribly wrong and he’s being hunted by his own government. Even his best friends at the covert special-ops organization Black Knights Inc. aren’t sure they can trust him. He thinks he can outrun them all, but his former partner—a curvy bombshell who knows just how to drive him wild—refuses to cut him loose. 

She Won't Back Down 

Vanessa Cordova hasn’t been the team’s communication specialist very long, but she knows how to read people—no way is Rock guilty of murder. And she’ll go to hell and back to help him prove it. Sure, the sexy Cajun has his secrets, but there’s no one in the world she’d rather have by her side in a tight spot. Which is good, because they’re about to get very tight…

I have to admit it took me a little longer to get into this one at first. Both Rock and Bill seemed to be laminating way too much about not falling in love with the girl they were obviously in love with. I mean, I get those guys were really trying to convince themselves but it got old after a bit. It did ruin a bit of the jungle adventure in the first half of the book for me.

However, I really got into the second half. Even though they were still professing their non-love it was lessened by the action and twists on trying to figure out who was the bad guy and how to clear Rock's name. The book really took off for me then. Oh and Rock! Sorry, but I kept getting Gambit in my head from X-men. It was the accent that did me in. I can see why Vanessa fell for his accent.

I will say though that I really enjoyed Vanessa throughout the whole book. I liked how she threw herself into situations in which she knew she had fear. I also liked Eve (Bill's intended). Still a bit flighty but yet trying to conquer her fears. Somehow I find that more brave than facing down a bullet with the guys. Even so, it was nice to be surrounded by hot men at all times. :D

I give this book 4 stars. Despite the slow beginning, I did have some fun with the crew. I can't wait for Bill's arse to be kicked most likely in the next book. :)

I received this eARC from Sourcebooks and NetGalley and no compensation for my review was given.

I'm also nominating this cover for:

I have been enjoying this meme on Felicia's The Geeky Blogger's blog and have finally found some time to join in. The other players are Amanda from On a Book Bender, Christi from Smitten with Reading. Button made by Missie at The Unread Reader

So, any thrills in your ToT?

Edge of Dawn (Midnight Breed #11) by Lara Adrian

In this pulse-pounding and thrillingly sensual novel, New York Timesbestselling author Lara Adrian returns to the mesmerizing world of the Midnight Breed, following new characters into a dark future where an uneasy peace can unravel into war—and a great betrayal can mask an all-consuming love. 

Twenty years after the terror of First Dawn—when mankind learned that vampires lived secretly among them—the threat of violence reigns as the two species struggle to coexist. The only group preserving the fragile harmony is the Order, an elite cadre of Breed warriors dedicated to protecting humans and vampires alike. And in this precarious world of torn loyalties and shattered trust, Mira, a fiery squad captain, finds that every fight bears an intensely personal cost.

Raised among the Order, Mira has always believed in the warrior’s code of swift—and even lethal—justice. But the one thing she desires more than the Order’s hard-won acceptance is Kellan Archer, a sexy but troubled Breed fighter. In love with him since childhood, Mira once broke through his tough exterior during an unexpected night of rapture, but the next day he mysteriously disappeared, never to return. 

Kellan didn’t think he would ever see Mira again—or have to confront the truth of why he left. After abandoning the Order years ago, he now leads a band of human rebels intent on carrying out their own vigilante rule of law. Yet a high-profile kidnapping assignment brings him face-to-face with the past he sought to avoid, and the striking woman he has tried desperately to forget. And as tensions mount and the risk of bloodshed grows, Kellan and Mira must take sides—between the competing missions that dominate their lives, and the electrifying passion that claims their hearts.

Yep, you guessed it. I haven't read the other 10 books in this series, but have them all on my wishlist. However, I got a chance to read this one and took the dive. It can be read as a stand alone, but I warn you, you will want to go back to book one to see what you have missed in this world. You will not be lost if you didn't, so be assured. These are the start of the stories for the kids all grown up introduced in the previous novels, so it is a good place to start if you want to start later (thanks to Felicia for that tidbit!)

The characters in this book are somewhat typical for a PNR. Alpha male who you'd like to kick in the arse for being stubborn and making bad decisions for everyone around him. A female who can kick arse and doesn't take crap from anyone, even the one she loves. It might be a bit familiar, but I do like the way these characters are drawn out. I really rooted for both and couldn't wait for them to come together.

I give this book 4 stars. The action and the world in general held my interest. I do want to know more about their origins and what had happened before this book. It wasn't necessary, but I knew things were revealed as well have been unfolded slowly throughout this series as to those origins. This book, itself also revealed an important tidbit. One that I know will play center stage, if not the next book, but in books to come. I can't wait to get fully into this series.

I received this book from the publisher and the Early Reviewers Program on Library Thing. No compensation for my review was given.