The Temptation Project

by L.K. White

Tarantula, a crafty demon in Hell, is plagued by a dark secret. When a lapse in concentration lands her in deep trouble with Lucifer, she distracts him by pitching a new idea. The Temptation Project, she promises, will deliver even greater numbers of teenage souls to Hell. Impressed by her endorsement by the high demon, Beelzebub, Lucifer grants the Temptation Project a trial. Armed only with her disguise and her wits, Tarantula travels with Beelzebub to The Surface to hunt her prey. But the Temptation Project is more complicated than Tarantula had anticipated. Not only does she have to lure her subjects to commit sins worthy of damnation, she must also engineer their deaths before her time runs out. Just as she tightens her web around two victims, unanticipated events, ill-considered choices, and her dangerous flaw threaten her plans. Tarantula's fate is tied to the Temptation Project-will it succeed? **Trigger Eating disorders, attempted suicide

246 pages, Paperback

Published April 18, 2023

About the author

Please see my author website at https://lkwhiteauthor.com for more information!

I was born in New Jersey and majored in English at Amherst College. After attending Harvard Medical School, I spent twelve years as a general internist and eight years as an adolescent medicine specialist before making the leap to serving as an teacher, advisor, and dean for undergraduates. It was my privilege to engage with students at Washington University in St. Louis, Duke University, and Wellesley College. In addition, for two years I was a member of the staff of the Arnold P. Gold Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that promotes humanism in medicine around the world. As the director of the Gold Humanism Honor Society, I partnered with health professionals to uphold the importance of compassion in every aspect of medical care.

Throughout my career I worked to encourage and support teens and young adults. Now I enjoy the adventure of writing fiction that showcases their courage and resilience. I live in Boston with my wonderful husband and our two dogs.

Reviews

[Lucy Graves · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished The Temptation Project in one sitting and thoroughly enjoyed it. I liked the sly humor, the sarcasm, Tula's interior monologue and the way she is surprised by the good humans are capable of, as well as by her own sometimes irrepressible compassion.  My only complaint is the book ended too soon! The writing is clever and insightful and it's clear White understands and respects both her characters and her readers. There is a line early in the book when Tarantula is surveying herself after Beelzebub's assistants have finished preparing her for the Surface.  "I look amazing but almost everything about me is completely fake". L.K. White's characters confront current issues like anorexia, bulemia, gender identity.  There is so much here for young and older adults alike. I am looking forward to the next book in this sequel!

[Barrett Rollins · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliantly inventive fantasy populated by well-drawn and unforgettable characters. Written in a compulsively readable style, The Temptation Project propels its readers along its twisty, surprise-filled plot. You find yourself rooting for the main character, a demon (of all things) with that special mixture of brimming self-confidence, uncertainty, bravado, and shyness shared by all adolescents.

[Lorraine Egan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly clever tale of a demon from Hell seeking to recruit adolescents to damnation. The protagonist is proud of her evil heritage, but struggles as she connects with her peers on earth. Will she be able to tempt them? Are humans as stupid and gullible as she thinks? Very funny and insightful about today’s youth.