Fans pick 52 books like Succubus Blues

By Richelle Mead,

Here are 52 books that Succubus Blues fans have personally recommended if you like Succubus Blues. Shepherd is a community of 12,000+ authors and super readers sharing their favorite books with the world.

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Book cover of Nice Werewolves Don't Bite Vampires

Alexa Sullivan Author Of I Dream of Demigods

From my list on upbeat paranormal romances.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’m a lifelong reader who cut my teeth on Narnia and Nancy Drew. Buffy the Vampire Slayer was a later-in-life revelation, combining the fantasy and mystery elements I’d loved in childhood with a butt-kicking heroine and plenty of romance. I’m always seeking that same blend of humor and action in the paranormal romances I read, as well as the ones I write. It can be tough to find paranormal romances that aren’t deeply intense and moody, so I hope this list will help you enjoy the lighter side of paranormal.

Alexa's book list on upbeat paranormal romances

Alexa Sullivan Why did Alexa love this book?

A fun, breezy read that freshens up one of the most common tropes in paranormal—opposites attract. The main character is struggling with independence from a very territorial pack of werewolves, and the themes of family and belonging tugged at my heartstrings. Nice Werewolves stands alone but is part of a series, so there’s plenty more snappy dialogue to be found in Half-Moon Hollow. Pairs well with a cup of your favorite tea and a cozy blanket.

By Molly Harper,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Nice Werewolves Don't Bite Vampires as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The “enchanting” (Publishers Weekly) Jane Jameson series is back with a new paranormal romantic comedy about a werewolf yearning to find her own place world, and the group of admittedly unique vampires who help her find love.

Tylene McClaine, black sheep of the McClaine Half-Moon Hollow werewolf pack, has spent a lifetime blocking out the criticisms of her boisterous pack. They say she’s too bookish, too obstinate, and worst of all, too picky when it comes to finding a nice werewolf boy and settling down.

But when she meets vampire and Half-Moon Hollow music teacher, Alex Bonfils, Tylene starts to…


Book cover of Wolf Gone Wild

Alexa Sullivan Author Of I Dream of Demigods

From my list on upbeat paranormal romances.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’m a lifelong reader who cut my teeth on Narnia and Nancy Drew. Buffy the Vampire Slayer was a later-in-life revelation, combining the fantasy and mystery elements I’d loved in childhood with a butt-kicking heroine and plenty of romance. I’m always seeking that same blend of humor and action in the paranormal romances I read, as well as the ones I write. It can be tough to find paranormal romances that aren’t deeply intense and moody, so I hope this list will help you enjoy the lighter side of paranormal.

Alexa's book list on upbeat paranormal romances

Alexa Sullivan Why did Alexa love this book?

Wolf Gone Wild is hands-down my favorite book in the author’s Stay a Spell Series. Set in New Orleans, this witch-werewolf love story delivers plenty of atmosphere and a feel-good ending. Evie is independent and powerful, and Mateo is your new Book Boyfriend. I love how this story flips the damsel-in-distress trope. Plus, Juliette Cross writes some of the hottest love scenes I’ve ever read. You’ll need a bourbon on ice to cool yourself off when reading this one.

By Juliette Cross,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Wolf Gone Wild as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

What's the worst thing that can happen to a werewolf?

Unable to shift for three months, Mateo Cruz knows all too well. His wolf has taken up residence in his head, taunting him night and day with vividly violent and carnal thoughts. Convinced he's cursed, he needs the help of a powerful witch before he literally goes insane.

Evie Savoie has always obeyed the house rules of her coven--no werewolves. They're known for being moody and volatile. So, when a distempered, dangerous werewolf strolls in the bar and almost strangles one of her late-night customers, she's ready to bounce him…


Book cover of Carpe Demon

Alexa Sullivan Author Of I Dream of Demigods

From my list on upbeat paranormal romances.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’m a lifelong reader who cut my teeth on Narnia and Nancy Drew. Buffy the Vampire Slayer was a later-in-life revelation, combining the fantasy and mystery elements I’d loved in childhood with a butt-kicking heroine and plenty of romance. I’m always seeking that same blend of humor and action in the paranormal romances I read, as well as the ones I write. It can be tough to find paranormal romances that aren’t deeply intense and moody, so I hope this list will help you enjoy the lighter side of paranormal.

Alexa's book list on upbeat paranormal romances

Alexa Sullivan Why did Alexa love this book?

The jokey title and tagline, “adventures of a demon-hunting soccer mom,” pulled me in. I stayed for the heroine and her hilariously chaotic efforts to separate her demon-hunting life and her family life. This one is lighter on the romance, but the author adeptly explores the complexity of being in a happy second marriage while missing a loved one. The paranormal mystery was fun, but my favorite part involved Kate trying to hide a body. Enjoy this tale poolside with a glass of iced tea.

By Julie Kenner,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Carpe Demon as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Nobody slays demons like Kate Connor. At least that used to be true...

She gave up her supernatural past to settle into the role of devoted wife and stay-at-home mom, and never regretted it for a single second.

But now her past has come calling.

Out of practice and pushing forty, Kate knows she can’t go this alone. But who can she trust when she’s been out of the game for over a decade?

At the end of the day, this mom will do whatever it takes to keep her family safe … including skipping PTA meetings to go head-to-head…


Book cover of To be a Fae Queen

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Tricia Copeland Author Of To be a Fae Queen

New book alert!

Why am I passionate about this?

I’ve been obsessed with fantasy since my grandmother bought me the entire Dorothy and the Land of Oz series as a kid. I love discovering new types of fantasy characters, spins on characters, new lore in genres, and mythology woven in creative ways. For my fantasy group, I’ve researched many interpretations of fae, witches, elves, vampires, and shapeshifters. I’m always looking to add to my list, and I love finding Indie authors new to their niche. I feel so privileged to interview many authors like these and Jennifer L. Armentrout (squeal) for my podcast, The Finding the Magic Book Podcast. I hope you love these books as much as I did.

Tricia's book list on Indie Fantasy books with creative spins

What is my book about?

After losing her brothers, Titania studied and trained to rule Aubren. But she hadn’t planned on becoming Queen at fifteen. Now with her reign challenged from within the castle walls, she must decide what is best for her kingdom. Should another rule in her stead? Or has fate led her to this moment?

Only she can decide a path that becomes littered with choices. Will a marriage shore up her reign? Could naming a successor be enough? And what of the creatures of the deep and a tale of one who can end all evil? Faced with a choice to…

To be a Fae Queen

By Tricia Copeland, Jo Michaels (editor), Jennifer Oberth (editor)

What is this book about?

With an endearing yet fierce female protagonist, fans of Sarah J. Maas and Jenna Wolfhart will love this epic Fae fantasy.

The last of her line, a faerie princess prepares to take the throne. But multiple forces plot against her, some trusted friends…

After losing her brothers Titania trained and studied to rule Aubren. But she hadn’t planned on becoming Queen at fifteen. Now with her reign challenged from within the castle walls she must decide what is best for her country. Should another rule in her stead? Or has fate led her to this moment?

Only she can decide…


Book cover of Payback's a Witch

Alexa Sullivan Author Of I Dream of Demigods

From my list on upbeat paranormal romances.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’m a lifelong reader who cut my teeth on Narnia and Nancy Drew. Buffy the Vampire Slayer was a later-in-life revelation, combining the fantasy and mystery elements I’d loved in childhood with a butt-kicking heroine and plenty of romance. I’m always seeking that same blend of humor and action in the paranormal romances I read, as well as the ones I write. It can be tough to find paranormal romances that aren’t deeply intense and moody, so I hope this list will help you enjoy the lighter side of paranormal.

Alexa's book list on upbeat paranormal romances

Alexa Sullivan Why did Alexa love this book?

I picked this one up on the recommendation of a friend, and was she ever spot-on. I loved the empathetic narrator and her distinctive voice, as well as the heartfelt relationship between the two witches. But there was also something eminently cozy about the reading experience. Maybe it was the small-town setting, maybe it was the Happily Ever After. It read like a spicy chai—and that’s the perfect beverage to sip on while spending a few rainy afternoons with Emmy and Talia. 

By Lana Harper,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Payback's a Witch as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina meets The L Word in this fresh, sizzling New York Times bestselling rom-com by Lana Harper.

Emmy Harlow is a witch but not a very powerful one—in part because she hasn't been home to the magical town of Thistle Grove in years. Her self-imposed exile has a lot to do with a complicated family history and a desire to forge her own way in the world, and only the very tiniest bit to do with Gareth Blackmoore, heir to the most powerful magical family in town and casual breaker of hearts and destroyer of dreams.

But…


Book cover of The Last Bookshop in London: A Novel of World War II

Linda Stewart Henley Author Of Kate's War

From my list on young women in WW II in the UK.

Why am I passionate about this?

Two of my three novels have young women protagonists. I find young adulthood a fascinating time in women’s lives and I enjoy creating a character and putting her in a historical setting. The Second World War offers fertile ground for storytelling, and I grew up south of London after the war. My father’s unpublished memoir, in which he describes an event that he experienced in the war, inspired me to write about it, but I told the story through the eyes of the protagonist, Kate. 

Linda's book list on young women in WW II in the UK

Linda Stewart Henley Why did Linda love this book?

I loved this book because Grace, the young woman in the story, was able to find meaning even in the face of war. She discovered the power of storytelling and used it to raise morale when bombs were falling on London. I found the book easy to read, and I felt sympathy for Grace and other ordinary people whose lives were upended by the war.  

By Madeline Martin,

Why should I read it?

4 authors picked The Last Bookshop in London as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

“An irresistible tale which showcases the transformative power of literacy, reminding us of the hope and sanctuary our neighborhood bookstores offer during the perilous trials of war and unrest.”

—KIM MICHELE RICHARDSON, author of The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek

August 1939: London prepares for war as Hitler’s forces sweep across Europe. Grace Bennett has always dreamed of moving to the city, but the bunkers and drawn curtains that she finds on her arrival are not what she expected. And she certainly never imagined she’d wind up working at Primrose Hill, a dusty old bookshop…


Book cover of Diary Of A Bookseller

Phaedra Patrick Author Of The Messy Lives of Book People

From my list on the power of books and reading.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’ve always been fascinated by books since a young age. Not just reading the stories but also how they’re written, the cover design, literary agents, and the publishing industry in general. I’ve written five novels (four of which are USA Today bestsellers) and my work has been translated into twenty-five languages worldwide. My second novel, Rise & Shine, Benedict Stone, was made into a Hallmark movie in 2021. I still get excited about generating ideas for characters to take on unusual and joyous journeys of discovery. I’m a huge fan of reading books about the craft of writing, and I especially love novels about bookshops and libraries.

Phaedra's book list on the power of books and reading

Phaedra Patrick Why did Phaedra love this book?

This non-fiction book is uplifting, funny, and heartbreaking in equal measure as Shaun Bythell shares his diary of owning Scotland’s biggest second-hand book store. We get to meet the eccentric readers who frequent his bookshop and learn first-hand about the struggles of owning a small business, and the importance of books and the community.

By Sean Bythell,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Diary Of A Bookseller as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Love, Nina meets Black Books: a wry and hilarious account of life in Scotland's biggest second-hand bookshop and the band of eccentrics and book-obsessives who work there

'The Diary Of A Bookseller is warm (unlike Bythell's freezing-cold shop) and funny, and deserves to become one of those bestsellers that irritate him so much.' (Mail on Sunday)

'Utterly compelling and Bythell has a Bennett-like eye for the amusing eccentricities of ordinary people ... I urge you to buy this book and please, even at the risk of being insulted or moaned at, buy it from a real live bookseller.' (Charlotte Heathcote…


Book cover of In Praise of Good Bookstores

Evan Friss Author Of The Bookshop: A History of the American Bookstore

From my list on about bookstores.

Why am I passionate about this?

My life is, in many ways, centered around bookstores. It all began at Three Lives & Co., a magical indie in the West Village of Manhattan. My girlfriend, now wife, worked there as a bookseller, and it was through her experience (and me hanging around the shop) that I developed an appreciation for how vital and wondrous bookstores can be. I was so enamored that I spent years researching the history of bookstores, visiting as many bookstores as I could, and talking to as many booksellers as possible. The result is my book.

Evan's book list on about bookstores

Evan Friss Why did Evan love this book?

I delighted in Deutsch’s meditation on bookstores. His unique perspective, gained from years of running the Seminary Co-Op in Chicago, shines through the pages of this book. I especially loved his insights about why we so enjoy a good browse. I also appreciated the book's frankness—an honest assessment of just how hard running a bookstore can be.

By Jeff Deutsch,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked In Praise of Good Bookstores as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

From a devoted reader and lifelong bookseller, an eloquent and charming reflection on the singular importance of bookstores

Do we need bookstores in the twenty-first century? If so, what makes a good one? In this beautifully written book, Jeff Deutsch-the former director of Chicago's Seminary Co-op Bookstores, one of the finest bookstores in the world-pays loving tribute to one of our most important and endangered civic institutions. He considers how qualities like space, time, abundance, and community find expression in a good bookstore. Along the way, he also predicts-perhaps audaciously-a future in which the bookstore not only endures, but realizes…


Book cover of The Bookseller of Florence: The Story of the Manuscripts That Illuminated the Renaissance

Francesca Fiorani Author Of The Shadow Drawing: How Science Taught Leonardo How to Paint

From my list on the art and culture of Renaissance Florence.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am an art historian from Rome and a professor at the University of Virginia, where I also served as associate dean for the arts and humanities and chair of the art department. Ever since as an undergraduate I heard a lecture from a professor on how important science was for Renaissance artists, I have been fascinated with this topic. I look at scientific images, such as maps and diagrams, as works of art, and interpret famous paintings, such as Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, as scientific experiments. Among my books are The Marvel of Maps: Art, Cartography and Politics in the Renaissance, The Shadow Drawing. How Science Taught Leonardo How to Paint, and the digital publication Leonardo da Vinci and His Treatise on Painting.

Francesca's book list on the art and culture of Renaissance Florence

Francesca Fiorani Why did Francesca love this book?

After you read about the chase of lost ancient manuscripts, you’ll want to know the story of this Florentine man of humble origins but great intellect who played a crucial role in disseminating these newly discovered texts in Europe and beyond. Along the way you’ll learn how books were made before the invention of the printing press, including a myriad of fascinating details about the production of parchment and paper, the manufacturing of inks and bindings, the creation of figures and illuminations, and the use of movable types.

You’ll step into the life of a famous Florentine bookshop, where humanists, political figures, and church people gathered and where, above all, magnificent books were made for royals and popes, books that were works of art in their own rights.

By Ross King,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Bookseller of Florence as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The Renaissance in Florence conjures images of beautiful frescoes and elegant buildings—the dazzling handiwork of the city’s skilled artists and architects. But equally important for the centuries to follow were geniuses of a different sort: Florence’s manuscript hunters, scribes, scholars, and booksellers, who blew the dust off a thousand years of history and, through the discovery and diffusion of ancient knowledge, imagined a new and enlightened world.

At the heart of this activity, which bestselling author Ross King relates in his exhilarating new book, was a remarkable man: Vespasiano da Bisticci. Born in 1422, he became what a friend called…


Book cover of The Little Paris Bookshop

Janet Hubbard Author Of Champagne

From my list on modern day France containing food and wine.

Why am I passionate about this?

I went to Paris the first time when I was nineteen. I was sitting in a cheap restaurant when a man entered carrying a burlap sack filled with escargots, and put some on my plate (all very unsanitary) for me to taste. Delicious! I was in France in the 1970s when Robert Parker was discovering French wine. (We didn’t meet then, but did after my series was published many years later.)  Subsequent stays in Paris and other areas of France (Champagne, Bordeaux, Burgundy) afforded me a food and wine sensibility that over decades has permeated my lifestyle, my friendships—and my writing.

Janet's book list on modern day France containing food and wine

Janet Hubbard Why did Janet love this book?

This is a novel that I read in one day, warming to the grieving protagonists who have found each other, and particularly struck by their first meal together—fish poached in cream and white wine, new potatoes roasted in garlic and rosemary, pears and cheese, and with a beautiful French wine to accompany it. In my mind romance can’t exist without meals prepared from scratch and wine to go with it. The other secret ingredient in the novel is books, and the combination of food and wine, a romance, and a love of books gives this book a permanent place in my library. In fact, I am rereading it.

By Nina George,

Why should I read it?

4 authors picked The Little Paris Bookshop as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The international bestseller, translated from the German by Simon Pare.

On a beautifully restored barge on the Seine, Jean Perdu runs a bookshop; or rather a 'literary apothecary', for this bookseller possesses a rare gift for sensing which books will soothe the troubled souls of his customers.

The only person he is unable to cure, it seems, is himself. He has nursed a broken heart ever since the night, twenty-one years ago, when the love of his life fled Paris, leaving behind a handwritten letter that he has never dared read. His memories and his love have been gathering dust…


Book cover of The Bookseller of Kabul

Sayed H. Rohani Author Of Wedding in the Sandcastle

From my list on exploring emotional conspiracies and the heavy toll they take on relationships.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am a man of principles. I have suffered from life's hardships and enjoyed its beauty. I have always been patient, modest, peaceful, and conscientious. I have written seventeen books, including fiction and nonfiction. My writings reflect social injustice, political corruption, and psychological dilemmas, focusing on aesthetic phenomena and universal qualities such as truth, justice, humanity, morality, freedom, beauty, and more. With this background, I am recommending the following five books because they display conspiratorial relationships between individuals, resulting in a heavy toll that impacts the relationships.

Sayed's book list on exploring emotional conspiracies and the heavy toll they take on relationships

Sayed H. Rohani Why did Sayed love this book?

This book explores the universal themes of ignorance and political dictatorship. It shows how the Taliban conspired against the protagonist to harm him and destroy books. The Sultan, the protagonist, who stands for knowledge, is crushed by the Taliban and imprisoned because he is a distributor of books. 

The Sultan embodies the pursuit and dissemination of knowledge, perhaps as a teacher, librarian, or simply someone who believes in the power of education and free thought. His imprisonment by the Taliban underscores the conflict between enlightenment and oppression, as the Taliban seeks to suppress ideas and control the population through fear and ignorance.

My love for the book likely stems from the emotional impact of Sultan's plight, as I witness the injustice of a man being punished for his commitment to something as fundamental and noble as sharing knowledge. The narrative explores themes of resistance, resilience, and the enduring power of…

By Åsne Seierstad,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked The Bookseller of Kabul as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

This mesmerizing portrait of a proud man who, through three decades and successive repressive regimes, heroically braved persecution to bring books to the people of Kabul has elicited extraordinary praise throughout the world and become a phenomenal international bestseller. The Bookseller of Kabul is startling in its intimacy and its details - a revelation of the plight of Afghan women and a window into the surprising realities of daily life in today's Afghanistan.


Book cover of Nice Werewolves Don't Bite Vampires
Book cover of Wolf Gone Wild
Book cover of Carpe Demon

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