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Lilitu: The Memoirs of a Succubus Kindle Edition

4.6 out of 5 stars 45 ratings

England, 1876. Twenty-year-old Maraina Blackwood has always struggled to adhere to the restrictive standards of Victorian society, denying the courage and desire that burn within her soul. But after a terrifying supernatural encounter, Maraina's instincts compel her to action.

Maraina soon discovers a plot to unleash a new world—one of demonic aristocrats, bloody rituals, and nightmarish monsters. Putting her upbringing aside, Maraina vows to fight the dark forces assuming control of England. But as her world transforms, Maraina finds that she too must transform...and what she becomes will bring out all that she once buried.

Lilitu: The Memoirs of a Succubus is the first chapter in an epic dark fantasy saga, proudly represented by Crystal Lake Publishing—Tales from the Darkest Depths


From the Publisher

Crystal Lake Publishing logo

Where Stories Come Alive

Since its founding in August 2012, Crystal Lake has quickly become one of the world’s leading publishers of Dark Fiction and Horror books. In 2023, Crystal Lake officially transitioned into an entertainment company, launching several other divisions, genres, and imprints, including Torrid Waters, Sinister Smile Press, Crystal Lake Comics, Crystal Lake Games, Crystal Lake Kids, Crystal Cove Press, and many more.

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Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars 3
3.8 out of 5 stars 21
5.0 out of 5 stars 2
4.6 out of 5 stars 7
Price $4.99 $3.99 $4.99 $3.99 $3.99 $4.99
Category Novel Novel Novella Anthology Novel Novella Novel
Blurb Drawn by a witch’s secret summons, the curious and the desperate are flocking to New Vineland, unaware of the doom that awaits them. Now the Wogslȗk have returned. They’re stronger, they’re smarter, and they’re determined to get inside your head. In 24 Frames Per Second, horror reaches beyond the screen and becomes part of the fabric of reality, where the true cost of creation is more horrifying than any fictional tale. If you’re a fan of stories where faith, terror, and humanity collide, The Devil Virus will leave you questioning everything you thought you knew about good, evil, and redemption. Dean Lockwood learned a terrifying truth at a very young age...that ghosts were real! Tucker Gibsen finds himself embroiled in a decades-old grudge between two modern-day witches, putting his life, and the lives of those he cares for most, in danger.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"An epic dark fantasy for the ages, Lilitu: The Memoirs of a Succubus solidifies Jonathan Fortin's place atop the Gothic throne."--Jess Landry

"Hauntingly seductive and beautifully terrifying."--Emerian Rich, author of Night's Knights Vampire Series

"An engaging and disturbing alternate history/reality tale spun from the clever mind of a talented new voice in horror."--R.L. Merrill

"This Steampunk Gothic, in the spirit of Anno Dracula, was so much fun!"--Loren Rhoads, co-author of Lost Angels

"Lilitu blends together alternate history, fantasy, and blasphemy in a delight fully dark tale."--E.M. Markoff, author of The Deadbringer

From the Author

Interview with the author:

What makes this Dark Fantasy novel so special?

Lilitu intends to do for succubi and incubi what Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles did for vampires: exploring the emotional implications of their folklore with unprecedented depth to tell an epic Gothic Horror story that spans years. Furthermore, it uses them to explore issues of class and gender in Victorian England, satirizing the hypocrisies of the elite and exploring how nightmares are normalized in oppressive societies.

Tell us more about Lilitu's protagonist, Maraina Blackwood?
Maraina is a rebellious young woman who becomes a succubus in the wake of a demonic uprising, leaving her torn between the teachings of her youth and her desire to survive. Determined to make things right, Maraina seeks to end the demonic rule over England, but learns that doing so will mean seducing one of Hell's most wicked demons—and embracing a side of herself she was always forced to repress.
Lilitu chronicles Maraina's emotional transformation from a frightened Victorian girl into a powerful succubus warrior, hell-bent on overthrowing an empire. Through her, Lilitu fashions a heroine from an archetype long demonized: that of the seductress who takes control of her own sexuality.

Who are some of Lilitu's other characters?
Lilitu's dynamic cast includes Salem, a ruthless (but inhumanly sexy) incubus lord; Loretta, a masochistic demon burlesque dancer; Alkin, a cunning musician with a secret; Sven, a tortured vampire assassin; and Queen Isabelle, England's deranged new monarch.

Why should readers give this book or your work a try?
A macabre tale of monsters and magic,
Lilitu reads like the unholy union of Charles Dickens and Clive Barker, with dashes of H.P. Lovecraft and Jules Verne for good measure. Lilitu has something for everyone—mysteries, epic action sequences, kinky eroticism, and blood-curdling terror. There are also elements of grimdark, steampunk, paranormal romance, and bildungsroman, all converging together to create an emotionally complex, female-fronted dark fantasy tale about how our desires, fears, and traumas can transform us forever.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B085BQWFJJ
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Crystal Lake Publishing
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 27, 2020
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.6 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 343 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars 45 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
45 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book to be a wild good read with great take on classic dark fantasy tropes. They appreciate the compelling characters, and one customer specifically mentions the strong female character Maraina Blackwood. Customers describe the story as easily imagined visually, with one review noting how the body image is woven into an enrapturing plot.

12 customers mention "Readability"12 positive0 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as a wild and entertaining read that draws readers to the end, with one customer noting it's a must-read for urban fantasy and horror fans.

"Awesome story, sends you a thrilling steampunk adventure full of succubi, vampires and other creatures of the night. Highly recommended" Read more

"...The character development avoided predictability while being very satisfying. I recommend this to anyone who is a fan of dark fantasy books." Read more

"...at times deeply grave and heart wrenching, but also downright nuts and bordering on hilarious here and there...." Read more

"...His characters are real, entertaining, and thought provoking. I look forward to the continuation of this series." Read more

10 customers mention "Writing style"10 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the writing style of the book, particularly its great take on classic dark fantasy tropes and enchanting story, with one customer noting its detailed dark fantasy elements and another describing it as a thrilling steampunk adventure.

"Awesome story, sends you a thrilling steampunk adventure full of succubi, vampires and other creatures of the night. Highly recommended" Read more

"...It's a great take on some classic dark fantasy tropes that feels fresh and interesting...." Read more

"...It is drenched in both the duality of finery and tragedy of Victorian England, and the same duality of the depravity and seduction of demons...." Read more

"I am a big fan of horror and gothic writing...." Read more

5 customers mention "Character development"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, with one highlighting the strong female character Maraina Blackwood.

"...The character development avoided predictability while being very satisfying. I recommend this to anyone who is a fan of dark fantasy books." Read more

"...Salem is insanely sexy. I love that there is such a strong female character Maraina Blackwood. Do yourself a favor and get this book." Read more

"...His characters are real, entertaining, and thought provoking. I look forward to the continuation of this series." Read more

"The story and characters were good. It felt a little like something from a Hellraiser story...." Read more

4 customers mention "Visual quality"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the visual quality of the book, with one mentioning how the body image is woven into an enrapturing plot.

"...abuse, sexual oppression/liberation, and body image woven into an enrapturing plot (with really good pacing) in a way that feels natural and..." Read more

"Outrageously imaginative, graphic in the best way (hellooooo body horror!),..." Read more

"...The horror parts were very well defined. It was easily imagined visually what was happening in those terrifying scenes...." Read more

"A book filled with vivid details and compelling characters" Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2025
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Awesome story, sends you a thrilling steampunk adventure full of succubi, vampires and other creatures of the night.
    Highly recommended
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 13, 2021
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    This is an excellent specimen of the dark fantasy genre. There are deeper issues around class consciousness, civil rights, relationship abuse, sexual oppression/liberation, and body image woven into an enrapturing plot (with really good pacing) in a way that feels natural and impactful. It's a great take on some classic dark fantasy tropes that feels fresh and interesting. The character development avoided predictability while being very satisfying. I recommend this to anyone who is a fan of dark fantasy books.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2020
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Outrageously imaginative, graphic in the best way (hellooooo body horror!), at times deeply grave and heart wrenching, but also downright nuts and bordering on hilarious here and there. I had some concerns about the themes in the beginning, but all was resolved in the end. My takeaway is really that this is a book about self-acceptance. It is drenched in both the duality of finery and tragedy of Victorian England, and the same duality of the depravity and seduction of demons. Lots to unravel and think about!
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 9, 2022
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    I am a big fan of horror and gothic writing. I loved how easy it was for me to fall into this world and the more I learned about how it worked, the more invested I became. Our protagonist is a timid young woman with passions of her own(stifled by society) and is forced to start making her own decisions when her world as she knows it ends. And she stumbles, makes poor choices based on what she has. But she also learns from those choices and uses that to her advantage. I'm excited for the second book to come out. I want to see where these characters and this world goes!
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 10, 2020
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    I just finished this last night. I'm a huge fan of dark, sexy horror types book and movies. Vampires were always my thing but I'm a pretty big fan of succubi now. I love the way it was written, beautiful language, very poetic at times. The horror parts were very well defined. It was easily imagined visually what was happening in those terrifying scenes. I honestly didn't want to put it down and felt sad when it was over. The characters, all of them, are very well thought out and you get to know them all very well. Salem is insanely sexy. I love that there is such a strong female character Maraina Blackwood. Do yourself a favor and get this book.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2021
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Want to know what would happen if Queen Victoria’s England was invaded by supernatural beings? This book delivers that and more.

    Fortin’s dark fantasy writing is detailed, but not so removed as to be unrelatable. His characters are real, entertaining, and thought provoking. I look forward to the continuation of this series.
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2020
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    The premise of the story was very intriguing when I saw this book available for pre-order. The setting allows for vast creativity into what world Fortin could have developed. Of course, we are limited to the direct interactions held by the MC, Maraina, but it was nice to imagine what other relationships and story lines could exist in this setting. Around 7 or 8 chapters in, my reading experience felt forced when I noticed that the MC's monologues just didn't seem..insightful, introspective, or captive of her own actions and though processes. I kept thinking, "this novel must be targeted towards teenagers," and perhaps being a 25 year old female puts me out of the scope in which I can relate to the MC..or perhaps the author's writing made me feel alienated from a character whom I think I'd normally be able to sympathize with. It definitely felt like a man writing about a young woman, rather than being an immersive narrative of a tragedy-torn girl on the cusp of womanhood. Overall, the novel was a good balance between action, romance, and horror and can still draw the reader to the end. The pace and character backstories were greatly entertaining. It's unfortunate how the MC's internal dialogue gave me so much pause.
    3 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 10, 2020
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    This book pulls at my emotions between the many different characters and scenes that take place. It took my a while to read it but I enjoyed every second. Its tragic but also lovely and I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys the dark. Im really looking forward to the next one
    One person found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • Mz_Crow
    5.0 out of 5 stars An emotional rollercoaster from start to finish
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 21, 2020
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    A beautifully well written book tale that captures the emotional and physical trials of Maraina Blackwood in Victorian England.
    I’m not exactly sure how I stumbled upon this book but I’m glad I did. Fortin made the characters easily relatable. Allowing the reader to fall in love and experience heartbreak alongside the characters themselves. Many a tear had been shed by the time I’d reached the end of the book. Definitely recommend this book to anyone with a love of Victorian goth horror and strong female characters. Very well written, very detailed and very graphic scenes. What’s not to love?
    Customer image
    Mz_Crow
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    An emotional rollercoaster from start to finish

    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 21, 2020
    A beautifully well written book tale that captures the emotional and physical trials of Maraina Blackwood in Victorian England.
    I’m not exactly sure how I stumbled upon this book but I’m glad I did. Fortin made the characters easily relatable. Allowing the reader to fall in love and experience heartbreak alongside the characters themselves. Many a tear had been shed by the time I’d reached the end of the book. Definitely recommend this book to anyone with a love of Victorian goth horror and strong female characters. Very well written, very detailed and very graphic scenes. What’s not to love?
    Images in this review
    Customer image
  • Susannah French
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great start to a series!
    Reviewed in Australia on April 5, 2020
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Fantastic alternative history with all too relevant social commentary regarding gender, double standards, colonisation and exploitation.

    This first installment did well to build a very interesting and intricate world and it would be great to keep seeing Maraina grow and develop along with this new world.
  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Well worth the read.
    Reviewed in Canada on September 23, 2020
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    This was such a delightfully unexpected read. Constantly stepping away from where I expected it to go, only to end up somewhere better.
  • Adele Park
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Thrilling Adventure
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 28, 2020
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    It is rare to read a novel which takes a different approach to the Victorian era and especially to the genre of horror. I adored this novel, the characters were thrilling, the backstory was told really well and it is a page-turner of an adventure. I am looking forward to reading more by this author.
  • Kimberly G.
    2.0 out of 5 stars Dear oh dear.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 18, 2021
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Oh boy, this book was a total slog to get through. Started out fairly promising and rapidly descended into the fiery depths of hell. Where to begin. The book is set in the late 1800's yet a LOT of the language used by the characters is modern. The sexual imagery is clumsy and awkward. The back and forth of emotions the main character has for the main incubus character, who is mediocre and repetitive in his actions, reactions and responses is dull. This could've been a pretty decent book but, alas, the characters just weren't very likeable. And by the end I was hoping the main character would snuff it. Sorry, I really wanted to like this book but it just couldn't pull it off.

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