After reading the first book in the Incubus Saga I quickly counted down the days until I could read the next installment as this is a series full of edge of your seat action and sensual m/m interludes. Keep reading to get an in-depth look at book two in this series, Changeling by Amanda Meuwissen, through my impressions of it and by visiting the other blogs hosting this tour. You'll also get Ms. Meuwissen's thoughts on why readers continue to be drawn to the paranormal genre. Make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win a digital copy of both books in the Incubus Saga too!
Paranormal fiction, particularly paranormal romance, seems to be the hot ticket these days, and I’m no exception writing my trilogy: The Incubus Saga. We all know the genre is popular; it’s everywhere. But why?
Personally, I think it’s because the paranormal genre is largely set in our modern world but with a touch of fantasy, of otherworldliness that is exciting but also still somewhat believable. Those characters live in a normal, modern town, go to high school or have jobs, and drop the occasional familiar pop culture reference—their story could be real! Even if they’re also dealing with fairies, demons, and vampires on occasion.
And that’s what we want in our fiction. We crave something we can lose ourselves in, something fantastical and unique from our own world but that still feels possible.
Not to say we don’t love high fantasy like Game of Thrones, or intense sci-fi like Star Wars, but there is a unique pull to a modern but still paranormal story. It also allows us to make easier parallels with life issues.
For example, we all know the idea of the Other in fiction and in life. Someone who is different and therefore ostracized because they aren’t the norm. Like someone who identifies as GLBT. This is a serious issue, that society often seen such people as an Other, and it’s an important topic to discuss and to write about.
In Incubus, Changeling, and the eventual third installment of my series, Sidhe, I’m able to shed light on how people with non-heterosexual orientations are often seen as an Other, but I also mirror that with paranormal examples.
Sasha Kelly as an incubus is an Other who expresses throughout the story how sometimes he just wishes he was human, that he was normal, because of how others see him and how he often negatively sees himself. Jim Grier, the protagonist’s brother, also experiences this as a changeling. Nathan Grier is the Control, as it were, the Normal to counter their Other, and yet he experiences the exact same doubts in himself and challenges, showing readers that there is no Other. We’re all people, who feel and share a lot of the same things in our lives regardless of our differences.
It’s an exciting world to write in, and therefore an exciting place to read about. I don’t think the paranormal genre will lose its momentum any time soon.
Personally, I think it’s because the paranormal genre is largely set in our modern world but with a touch of fantasy, of otherworldliness that is exciting but also still somewhat believable. Those characters live in a normal, modern town, go to high school or have jobs, and drop the occasional familiar pop culture reference—their story could be real! Even if they’re also dealing with fairies, demons, and vampires on occasion.
And that’s what we want in our fiction. We crave something we can lose ourselves in, something fantastical and unique from our own world but that still feels possible.
Not to say we don’t love high fantasy like Game of Thrones, or intense sci-fi like Star Wars, but there is a unique pull to a modern but still paranormal story. It also allows us to make easier parallels with life issues.
For example, we all know the idea of the Other in fiction and in life. Someone who is different and therefore ostracized because they aren’t the norm. Like someone who identifies as GLBT. This is a serious issue, that society often seen such people as an Other, and it’s an important topic to discuss and to write about.
In Incubus, Changeling, and the eventual third installment of my series, Sidhe, I’m able to shed light on how people with non-heterosexual orientations are often seen as an Other, but I also mirror that with paranormal examples.
Sasha Kelly as an incubus is an Other who expresses throughout the story how sometimes he just wishes he was human, that he was normal, because of how others see him and how he often negatively sees himself. Jim Grier, the protagonist’s brother, also experiences this as a changeling. Nathan Grier is the Control, as it were, the Normal to counter their Other, and yet he experiences the exact same doubts in himself and challenges, showing readers that there is no Other. We’re all people, who feel and share a lot of the same things in our lives regardless of our differences.
It’s an exciting world to write in, and therefore an exciting place to read about. I don’t think the paranormal genre will lose its momentum any time soon.
On the other side of the Veil, dark and light fae exist outside the knowledge of most humans. Nathan Grier was born human, but his twin brother Jim is a changeling. On the run since they were children, time for both of them is running out. Turning to fae hunter Sasha Kelly for help, Nathan must soon face his growing feelings for the other man while trying to save himself and his brother from a fate worse than death.
BUY LINKS: BIG WORLD NETWORK | AMAZON
MY PREVIOUS REVIEW FOR INCUBUS here.
Fae hunter and incubus, Sasha Kelly, is prophesized to save Nathan, but while Nathan has embraced his feelings for the other man, he fears their time together will be cut short—either from his impending fate…or Jim’s.
EXCERPT:
“All joking and carnal intentions aside…you have been a good friend,” Sasha said soft and breathy, “and I’ve really needed that. Like you wouldn’t believe, I’ve needed that. So…whatever else might happen…I’m just thankful for you.”
The intensity of the moment—physically and deeper—struck Nathan right at the curve of his neck as his face flushed. He felt that maybe this was one of those moments where a reaffirmation of ‘I love you’ was appropriate, but something else formed on his lips instead.
“Damn you’re heavy,” Nathan breathed through a smile, gasping again when Sasha bucked his hips forward with a little more force.
“Shut up,” the incubus smirked back. He leaned in, his legs wrapping around the chair, his chest slick and smooth as Nathan pressed his palms there and slid his hands along Sasha’s skin to his back.
Sasha made Nathan’s whole mouth tingle when they kissed, that skilled tongue caressing his own so deeply, lips soft and demanding but somehow giving too. No one kissed that good, so completely and in need that Nathan felt himself drawn right into the incubus like a willing victim. He almost laughed to think that that was exactly what he was.
Nathan’s hands moved up to Sasha’s shoulder blades and down again, feeling the dip of Sasha’s lower back, and then straying lower right into the folds of the towel to caress down the smooth bare skin of Sasha’s backside. Nathan stayed only long enough to tug Sasha closer before sliding his hands up again, to which the incubus whined against Nathan’s lips.
The intensity of the moment—physically and deeper—struck Nathan right at the curve of his neck as his face flushed. He felt that maybe this was one of those moments where a reaffirmation of ‘I love you’ was appropriate, but something else formed on his lips instead.
“Damn you’re heavy,” Nathan breathed through a smile, gasping again when Sasha bucked his hips forward with a little more force.
“Shut up,” the incubus smirked back. He leaned in, his legs wrapping around the chair, his chest slick and smooth as Nathan pressed his palms there and slid his hands along Sasha’s skin to his back.
Sasha made Nathan’s whole mouth tingle when they kissed, that skilled tongue caressing his own so deeply, lips soft and demanding but somehow giving too. No one kissed that good, so completely and in need that Nathan felt himself drawn right into the incubus like a willing victim. He almost laughed to think that that was exactly what he was.
Nathan’s hands moved up to Sasha’s shoulder blades and down again, feeling the dip of Sasha’s lower back, and then straying lower right into the folds of the towel to caress down the smooth bare skin of Sasha’s backside. Nathan stayed only long enough to tug Sasha closer before sliding his hands up again, to which the incubus whined against Nathan’s lips.
BUY LINKS: BIG WORLD NETWORK | AMAZON
MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:
Picking up very soon after the conclusion of the previous story Ms. Meuwissen continues to keep readers on the edge of their seats as the clock is still ticking for brothers Jim and Nathan and the corruption of their souls. Along for the ride into danger is the sexy and supportive succubus Sasha who it's foretold with be the savior of Nathan. This trio is not only entertaining but the epitome of close-knit as each would die for the other and it's this closeness that put Jim and Nathan in this fight to keep their souls to begin with.
Throughout the previous story Nathan and Jim tried to portray a brave face not letting the other know their fears. In this story with the end feeling closer than ever they finally open up and express their fears of themselves and each other with these feelings of fear palpable. Their brotherly love was heartwarming and heartbreaking to see as they desperately tried to stay away from the darkness slowly overtaking them. Along with brotherly love we have the growing affection between Nathan and Sasha that had quite a rocky start. Things start off much calmer here which allows Nathan to slowly become accepting of his feelings for Sasha which made for numerous sweet and sexy encounters between these two strong-willed men. Nathan is grateful for the unconditional support and sense of safety Sasha brings him and gets closer to the L-word that flows so easily off Sasha's tongue. Sasha is utterly charming and a breath of fresh air that brings strength and optimism to two men struggling to stay true to themselves and the multi-layered relationship between friend and lover guides this story through an action-packed tale full of twists and turns.
Once again the worldbuilding is vivid, intriguing, and impeccable with creatures both fascinating and frightening. There's unrelenting tension from start to finish as the future of Jim and Nathan hangs in the balance tempered with an intense and flirty romance between Sasha and Nathan. Ms. Meuwissen has once again left me breathless with her dark paranormal tale imbued with flashes of sexiness and lightness and I'm greatly anticipating what comes next in this masterful series.
My rating for this is an A+
*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
Amanda Meuwissen is the author of The Incubus Saga and the novelette The Collector. She has a Bachelor of Arts in a personally designed major from St. Olaf College in Creative Writing, and has been writing and posting online for many years, including maintaining the blog for the customer engagement company Outsell. She spent a summer writing screenplay script coverages for a company in L.A., and is an avid writer and consumer of fiction through film, prose, and video games.
Amanda also serves as COO and Managing Editor for BigWorldNetwork.com. She oversees editing and series selection, as well as being involved in marketing and promotion, and is featured as a narrator for several BWN series.
Amanda lives in Minneapolis, MN, with her husband, John, and their cats, Helga and Sasha (no connection to the incubus of the same name).
WEBITE: https://bigworldnetwork.com/
GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/
Amanda also serves as COO and Managing Editor for BigWorldNetwork.com. She oversees editing and series selection, as well as being involved in marketing and promotion, and is featured as a narrator for several BWN series.
Amanda lives in Minneapolis, MN, with her husband, John, and their cats, Helga and Sasha (no connection to the incubus of the same name).
WEBITE: https://bigworldnetwork.com/
GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/
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Thank you for hosting
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for once again being a part of spreading the word about The Incubus Saga. Your original review of Incubus was just wonderful, and to see such great comments for Changeling as you continue the story really makes me proud. It's an honor to get to stop here along this tour, with the chance to discuss my views on the paranormal romance genre, give an excerpt, AND get the honor of knowing your thoughts on these stories makes this just a grade A place to stop, and I am truly thankful. Good luck to everyone entering for a chance to win a copy of these books, and happy reading!
ReplyDeleteThank YOU for your kind comments and for letting me host you again! I'm honored to spread the word about this compelling series as I adore this series! I was wondering when the next installment will be out (which is the final one, correct?)?
DeleteThe Scarf Princess
Correct, book 3 is the last one, Sidhe, which as of now is scheduled for release next July/August. I know, seems so far away, since it's almost a year, but that was the same gap from book 1 to book 2. I only have one more arc to write, as I finished writing what will be season 11 at BigWorldNetwork.com just this weekend, and season 12 leads to the end. But don't worry, after The Incubus Saga, I'm moving right on to my next book idea, a YA GLBT paranormal romance, back to my roots with vampires. I'm crazy excited to get to it!
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