BOOK REVIEW:
Gentlemen Prefer Succubi
After “umming” and “ahhing” over a selection of PNR titles,
I finally decided to choose Jill Myles’ Gentlemen
Prefer Succubi—and no, it wasn’t entirely because of that cool title (which
makes me think of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes), but more because the blurb at the
book hooked me!
Jackie Brighton, our heroine, is supposed to be
a wallflower. And she gets this supernatural makeover in lieu of being reborn
as a succubus, or as the novel endearingly calls this supernatural breed,
reborn as a baby Suck.
The proud fathers—not what you think!—are also the love
interests; thus our adventure begins!
But just in case the blurb can do it better, here it is:
Who Knew An Angel Could Get A Girl In So Much Devilish Trouble?
Jackie Brighton woke up in a Dumpster this morning, and her day has only gotten weirder. Her familiar B-cups have somehow become double Ds, her sex drive is insatiable, and apparently she had her first one-night stand ever... with a fallen angel. All she remembers is gorgeous Noah's oddly hypnotic blue eyes... and then a dark stranger whose bite transformed her into an immortal siren with a sexy itch. With help from Noah, Jackie begins to adapt to her new lifestyle; until she accidentally sends Noah into the deadly clutches of the vampire queen and lands herself in a fierce battle for an ancient halo with the queen's wickedly hot right-hand man. Who just happens to be the vampire who originally bit her. How's a girl supposed to save the world when the enemy's so hard to resist?
*
So Jackie’s supposed to be this quintessential “good girl”
and the plot supposed to have her sort of embracing the “bad girl” in her, but
I didn’t feel it and some of the characterization, at least on Jackie’s part,
was REALLY predictable.
Of course Jackie is risen as a sex demon and she’s sensitive
about sex which totally explains why she hasn’t had sex in 1 ½ years!
Naturally because we’re working at making Jackie “sympathetic”
we have to give her a shit menial job as a docent…yeah. That job title’s
explained in the book. And where said job’s superiors have passed her over a
promotion—though Jackie totally deserved it because she’s smart—due to her lack of fashion sense, and of course two hot
paranormal guys have to fight over her…
And it’s not her fault really, because she’s not used to all
of the attention and after a couple days she’s TOTALLY flipping guys off like
it’s not her business--
And that totally explains why Jackie can’t commit to one of
the love interests—yeah, let’s just throw character building out the window!
Listen.
I didn’t like Jackie. She’s a wish-washy character who doesn’t
really struggle with her morals even though that’s what the author seemed to be
trying to evoke in the novel. So I’ve come to a conclusion…this book would be
better without Jackie.
Sadly this story has A LOT of potential. Sex is a big deal
to some of us, and if Jackie had stuck to her guns and just…well, to be honest
I think the problem was because this was written as a humorous/light PNR when
it’s potential could have been fully explored as something darker…way, way darker
given the concept Ms. Myles had been working with.
Does the book promise light humor and sexy romp? Yes. Does
it provide the romp and humor? Yes.
So I can’t complain. And I did enjoy the read. Mostly
because the author had other characters I could laugh with and drool at…
"Oh, come on. How could you not notice? Did you see my DVD collection at home? I'm in half of them. And the name? Remy Summore? Ram-me-some-more? Get it?" (p. 96)
Remy is a succubus, too! She’s light-hearted and funny, kind
but also super bitchy (you know, if you’re not a friend …or a super hot male
with a great package) and I’m just glad that all succubi aren’t stupid and
shallow like a certain main character…
He was utterly gorgeous. His entire body was slightly tanned, as golden as his hair, and I was aroused to see no sign of a tan line anywhere. (p.169)
Noah Gideon. Angel. So immediately that explains the blond
hair and the pressed chinos and polo shirt, right? Cuz all angels look like
polished businessman.
He’s kind and sweet, super indulgent, and maybe WAY too kind
to Jackie, when the Good Lord knows I’d throw that beyotch to the curb. He’s
too damn angelic for a fallen angel really!
Joking aside though, I liked Noah. …err, just not as much as
I loved Zane!
Sorry Noah! I’m Team Zane. Of course the vampire bad boy
wins my heart. Even though I hated that he was the poster version of the trope.
Yes, dark-haired/dark-eyed Zane was a walking cliché if I ever saw a vampire.
But actually I think that author Jill Myles did a phenomenal job explaining why
this guy walks around in a black trench coat in the middle of an Egyptian
desert on a tomb hunt…
“Speaking of, it’s over eighty degrees out here and you’re
still wearing the trench coat. What gives?” - Jackie to Zane (p. 241)
Plot-wise the book isn’t bad… Definitely has a great pace,
and I think that—and reading about Zane!—forced me to the end. There was a bit
of a twist at the end. Not a huge one, but definitely a strand that makes this
book a cliff-hanger and leaves some conflict open to pick back up in Book 2.
The antagonists were laughable. ‘Nuff said there.
The world-building was sorta vague, but it makes sense
because we’re looking at the first book in what is a 4-book series, so there’s
more than enough time for Ms. Myles to build that world and flesh it out more
as Jackie (our sucky 1st-person narrator) learns these things along
the way.
All in all, I’d still recommend reading this book. If not
for Jackie, for the potentially awesome world-building, the sometimes super
funny banter and…the myriad sex scenes—and for your membership to team Zane
because we need to spread the love folks!
My verdict:
✮✮✮✮
(4 stars)
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