Book Review: The Demon Lover - Juliet Dark

Title: The Demon Lover (Fairwick Chronicles #1)

Author: Juliet Dark

Release Date: December 27th 2011

Publisher: Ballantine Books

Pages: 448 (paperback)

Source: NetGalley

Since accepting a teaching position at remote Fairwick College in upstate New York, Callie McFay has experienced the same disturbingly erotic dream every night: A mist enters her bedroom, then takes the shape of a virile, seductive stranger who proceeds to ravish her in the most toe-curling, wholly satisfying ways possible. Perhaps these dreams are the result of her having written the bestselling book The Sex Lives of Demon Lovers. Callie’s lifelong passion is the intersection of lurid fairy tales and Gothic literature—which is why she’s found herself at Fairwick’s renowned folklore department, living in a once-stately Victorian house that, at first sight, seemed to call her name.

But Callie soon realizes that her dreams are alarmingly real. She has a demon lover—an incubus—and he will seduce her, pleasure her, and eventually suck the very life from her. Then Callie makes another startling discovery: Her incubus is not the only mythical creature in Fairwick. As the tenured witches of the college and the resident fairies in the surrounding woods prepare to cast out the demon, Callie must accomplish something infinitely more difficult—banishing this supernatural lover from her heart.

I've always had an interest towards incubi and succubi - yes, whatever that may say about me - so I don't know why it's only now that I read fiction about them. But I'm thankful that The Demon Lover is my first foray into it, because it sated my interest for the subject matter and more.

Cailleach (pronounced Kay-lex) McFay hadn't planned on staying in Fairwick - the town held nothing but the opposite of the city life she wanted - but one look at the Honeysuckle House, which stood almost dead yet still beautiful, was enough to change her mind. Unfortunately, the house and a job at the local college weren't the only new things in Callie's life - she also had a new suitor in the mist that was visiting her every night.

I read the synopsis and all before I requested this from NetGalley, and I knew that this wasn't YA (although the stunning cover would pass for a YA novel) so I really don't know why I was surprised when I got to the first steamy scene - I'm not being a prude here, though, because I have read books of this nature before. Anyway, those scenes were so lyrically-written, they actually didn't seem like the scenes they were. Think of the difference between having sex - there, I said it - and making love.

Moving on. I think it's safe to say that this book was character-driven. One different decision from Callie and the story would have taken an entirely different path. Probably one that wouldn't have broken my heart. Anyway, Callie - strong and independent - was a very likable character.  

But perhaps what made this a page-turner was the mystery. If only it were just about the incubus, the story would've progressed and ended faster, but no; I was surprised to encounter a whole assortment of paranormal and magical creatures, and they were all well-developed instead of being there just for the benefit of the plot.

Overall, The Demon Lover was a really good urban fantasy read. It was one of those rare books that made me question the line between right and wrong. Although definitely not for children, it should be good for those 16 years old and up, or just anyone looking for a great, unpredictable read. I'll definitely check out the sequel, The Water Witch.

MY FAVORITE PARTS were these heartbreaking lines: 

"Why?" I screamed.

"I couldn't let you destroy yourself for me."

 Just kill me now.

RATING:

(photo and summary from Goodreads.com)