Reviewed by True

TITLE: A Human’s Guide to Wooing an Asexual Incubi

SERIES: Against the Grain #2

AUTHOR: Nikole Knight

PUBLISHER: Self-Published

LENGTH: 194 pages

RELEASE DATE: July 23, 2021

BLURB:

The first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem.

Ellian has a problem, and his name is Felix Masters. When Ellie, a high society male succubus, joins Against the Grain, he has a foolproof plan: attend the support group for supernatural misfits, figure out how to correct his… abnormality, and then return to the Incubi compound to join his betrothed. For once in Ellie’s suffocatingly controlled existence, he will bring honor to his family name, regardless of the personal cost. As long as a certain awkwardly sweet human does not ruin his carefully laid plans.

Felix Masters has a problem, and his name is Ellian. Felix never meant to crash into a therapy group for magical oddballs, but that single stumble changes his world forever. Magic, glamour, and succubus tails are only the beginning, and when faced with a skittish Incubi dead set on self-destruction, Felix is determined to change Ellie’s mind and, with a little bit of luck, capture his heart as well.

An asexual succubus trapped by fate and expectation. An insecure human desperate to set him free. Join Felix and Ellie as they find acceptance, courage, and unconditional love in the one place they never expected: each other.

Against the Grain is a shared world trilogy full of awkward characters, hilarious meet-cutes, and hard-fought happily ever afters. Each book in this urban fantasy rom-com can be read as a standalone.

Possible triggering material includes: Supernatural culture “norms” that border on child abuse (past), emotional abuse, and dubious consent (non-graphic/off-page). One character struggles with a form of gender dysphoria and self-harm manifesting in a type of eating disorder. There is one instance of on-page marijuana use. Side note: mpreg exists in this magical race/universe, but it is not featured on page or experienced by the main characters.

REVIEW:

*Applause* What a marvelous read! And what a glorious start, full of energy, fun. Every page was awesomeness and made me cry, smile, snort or spray drinks over my iPad.
There are not many books that do this for me, what I said: awesomeness!

As an Incubi Ellie/Ellian is irresistible, humans are drawn to him, Incubi are fueled by a combination of sexual energy and physical food, he can’t help it. Ellie got a few months to be free and then he’ll have to give himself to his Matched.

“I was not an acceptable Incubi. I was a failure of a succubus.”

On one of his meetings at the Against the Grain, the supernatural therapy support group for creatures who don’t fit, a human crashes through the door into the session.

After Felix crashes into his therapy group, for queer people with anxiety, it’s with a lot of noise. He introduces himself and at some point, the chaos is complete, just like Felix’s panic attack.

Ellian and Felix are quite different, physically and mentally, they just go in opposite directions.
Ellian tries to perform like a human, offering a smile maybe to comfort the human?

“Humans might have been inappropriate and touchy and too smiley, but they were entertaining creatures.”

Felix has a different view of himself than Ellie sees him, Felix sees himself as chubby, with freckles and anxiety, Ellie sees something else.
They talk and talk, and Felix understands Ellian is asexual but required by law to reproduce. It seems like a burden to Ellian. He wants to learn more and more about Ellian and what parts are exactly Ellian or which are Incubi.

Kelar is Ellian’s Matched, and Ellian tries to avoid him as much as possible. It’s his maman’s choice, not his. He’s quite distressed by her demands but he’s dutiful.
Kelar’s incubus sexual strength is overwhelmingly strong and irresistible.

Sweet darling Ellian is stuck with a mate, he’s struggling with his future and is indoctrinated by his Maman.
Felix is the most precious partner to sexually explore with.
Only, time is ticking.

I got goosebumps reading, especially when they got intimate, intimate in a very special way, I LOVED it.
It was all amazingly written. So very tender, considerate, gosh I was floating while reading!
They learned together what pleasure they can get from being together.
The author has an immensely passionate way of writing, full of snark and humor, full of adorableness, full of warm fluffy vibes.
The story was one mesmerizing lyrical poem, sky-high intense. The author created engaging characters, intriguing environments, and a beautiful, heartwarming, emotional romance. It was all so precious.

Be still my heart!

This is a winner! Highly recommended.

RATING:

BUY LINKS: 

Amazon