Masked Temptation

Temptation Chronicles #1

by Diana Noire

She is a wicked demoness hidden inside a fae body.
He is a charming prince masked as a sinful devil.
Together, they are perfectly imperfect.

When Willa returns to Hell after years in the service of werewolves, she faces immediate judgment. Once a powerful demoness destined for great chaos, she is now being prosecuted as a traitor to her own kind. Determined to save herself from eternal damnation, she embarks on a dangerous mission to please the king of to go undercover in a magical land and possess the purest and most valuable soul of all. Disguised as an innocent fairy, she manages to infiltrate the Fae Kingdom. However, there are a few things she hadn't taken into

~ She knows very little about faes in general.
~ Others are already suspicious of her.
~ Resisting the allure of the forbidden fruit, the handsome fae prince, proves to be incredibly challenging.

Forbidden Desires, Otherworldly Secrets, and a Love that Defies Destiny.

This story is suitable for readers aged 18 and older. Check the TWs before reading.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Fantasy Romance, Romance, Spicy, Forbidden Romance, Fae

346 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 27, 2023

About the author

Who am I?
I am an ordinary person who loves escaping the reality and getting lost in a great book!
An avid reader, hiking freak, doggie mom, and a coffee addict.
I have a master degree in finance and economics, but my true passion is writing fantasy.

I am a romance writer, crafting stories that span from sweet tenderness to dark steaminess.
I am a creator of strong heroines who kick butts and refuse to bow to submission.
I am an explorer of diverse tropes, avoiding pitfalls of repetition and cliches.
I am a storyteller, drawn to the allure of morally grey characters, forbidden love, or enemies-to-lovers dynamics.

I am Diana Noire and my mission is simple:
To touch your hearts through my tales and sweep you off your feet with the magical realms I create.

Reviews

[Yves V.H. [Slow reading] · Rating 4 out of 5]

The ending is not what I expected it to be. Such a bittersweet ending to a beautiful story 😭

Although I really like the story, there are some parts where it could be improved. I also find the part where Willa references Barney or Sherlock and even Thor in some part of the story a bit out of place although the reason behind that was explained in the book, it's just a bit weird to read a fantasy book where they are not supposed to be in the human world and yet human world things are occasionally mentioned.

Other than that, I really enjoyed reading the story. I think it is very unique the idea of a demon falling in love with a fae. It has a twist within a twist. But really that ending is not what I predicted; very different from the usual ending I am used to. I am not sure if I am heartbroken for them or happy for them 😭 but I guess they really got the happy ever after they really wanted so maybe I should be happy for them? Idk. 😭💚

This paragraph hit me the most and I want to keep it here 💚

My longing consisted of the wish to experience the kind of love that only mortals could feel, the kind of love that would make me forget about eternity. I wanted to belong to someone, to feel the warmth of a loving embrace, to know that they loved me back and unconditionally.

🌸 Received a copy of the book but all thoughts and opinions are my own

[bookishescape · Rating 5 out of 5]

What the eff did I just read.

This book is… oh my God, I have no words for this story, I'm speechless…

The plot, the twists, holly hell (as Willa would say), this was a ride. The plot just keeps twisting and coming, and twisting, and coming. And that ending, the hell was that?

I was crying last 15-20% of the book, and then I was left on that cliffhanger?

The writing? Chef's kisses.
Steam? There.
Spice? There.
Heartbreak? There.

"Your heart will hurt." — it did, oh trust me it DID.

Only thing that I didn't like were "human terms?" (English is not my first language so I'm sorry if that's not the correct word to use) There are scenes where Rayan and Harlan call eachother bro, or the scene where Harlan and Willa are entering club and other faes are calling him boss, like??? Make it more fae-ish.

Othere than that - everything was great.

I can't wait next part. Let me rephrase that I need next part. Because- f**k… I'm not trying to be dramatic but— the chokehold this book had me in. And left me hanging like that??

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Brianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book was different than what I expected with demons and Fae, but it was really good. The spice, the forbidden romance, and the twists and turns kept me intrigued through the book. Some fantasy books it’s hard to start bc all the world building, but this book was really easy to start. It captivated me from the beginning.

I would say some parts were a little cringy with the human terms but overall the book was really great. I leave a 4 star rating especially for that ending 😳


I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Sara Ouellet]

I really liked this book. The story moves fast with no dull moments. I was completely hooked and had no idea where it was going. The ending was a little heartbreaking, but I won't say more to avoid spoilers.

It has a very unique story and complex characters, just wish there had been a bit more focus on world building.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Shelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

***3.25 stars***

This book is like fantastic reality tv - entertaining while you are in the moment but the depth and emotional attachment to the characters just isn't there. And there was a bit too much instalove for my personal taste and some spots were a little cheesy. The spice level was excellent and definitely not a slow burn - you only have to wait until 11% in.

I liked the sassy FMC but I found the odd references to the "human world" (Oscar winning, Barney, Sherlock…) to be superfluous and distracting, pulling me out of the fantasy zone. I did like the unique combo of demons and fae, with references to werewolves - that isn't the run of the mill fantasy or romantasy.

The intent is to make this into a series, but I'm not sure how invested I am in continuing it with the mountain of other options out there. This first story neatly wraps up but leaves the door open for more, so if you read book 1 and love it - you'll get more!! - but if you didn't love it, at least it isn't a frustrating cliffhanger.

Thank you to BookSirens and Diana Noire for this e-ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Amber Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arc Review
It's hard to believe this was a debut novel for the writer.
The story and spice were an absolute banger. I loved the combination of mortals, demons, and fae. With that being said, I thought this was an older style fae setting until there was mention of Oscar awards and iPads, which left me slightly confused. I think a little more world building could have solved that. Overall really impressed and that ending... I need more 😩

[Inkheartedgirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Masked Temptation" was an emotional rollercoaster that left a lasting impression.

Willa (FMC) is strong, fierce, wicked, yet kind. I love her.

The author's writing style was Flawless. At the halfway point, I contemplated not finishing the book, but I found myself unable to resist and completed it in just a few hours.

The ending was unexpected yet perfect.I had hoped for a different outcome for Willa and Prince Rayan, and I was upset about it for some time, but the last page made me so happy; it was worth it.

I love Willa so much. I can't wait for Willa's book. I'm so excited 🖤

"I received an ARC from the author and am voluntarily leaving a review."

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was tense, surprising, funny and steamy in places. I really enjoyed Willa's character. She is unashamedly straight forward and also funny with her banter. Everyone is bound to have met a girl like her sidekick in their life...annoying, a bit dumb and overexcited but that you still have to stick with anyway. The chemistry between Willa and the main lead is definitely something that will get you hot...the story is well-written.
I would recommend it to anyone who likes romance with some kind of a quest in the plot, with characters that are in the grey area of good and evil.

[Gianna Austin · Rating 5 out of 5]

While it took me a while to finish because of the chaos in my personal life, I still felt like I couldn’t put this down! The author’s amazing descriptive writing truly makes you feel like you’re standing in that world right alongside the characters. The character of Willa is extremely well written. There’s lots of adventure and spice, if you’re into that! I’d definitely recommend this to others!

[Ashlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always wondered what it would be like for a fae or vampire to be with anything other than a human. This fulfilled that need.

Some of the sentences were awkward, but overall, it was an interesting story. I enjoyed it and can't wait for the next book!

[Hanna Belle · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great dark fantasy romance! I loved the story and everything about this book.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book and am impressed in the quality of the writing as a debut novel. I’m also mildly heartbroken about how the story ended… well, happy and sad. It’s a confusing mix!

I wish that there had been more of a focus on world building. While there was a brief introduction at the beginning, I believe there was a missed opportunity to delve into the unique specifics including the rankings of demons, various fae realms, etc. It was a complex world and as such, I believe there could’ve been more of a focus and explanation.

Additionally, at times it felt like the plot was too fast paced. There was a lot crammed into these pages and I believe readers would’ve benefited from a slowed down pace.

Overall, a great read! Very unique storyline and complex characters. At no point was I able to predict where the story was headed. A worthwhile read for lovers of fantasy and I look forward to the next book!

[Hollie Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. Especially when I was finally able to read undisturbed! I hope there will be a second book!! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[ForTheLoveofReading_Crysy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing book! The plot was so riveting! Loved all the characters. The banter between all the characters had me laughing constantly! The spice was *chefs kiss* all and all was a very well written book! I want more!

[Jennay Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am in shock that this is her debut novel! It was fantastic and a very fresh take! I loved this plot and the characters were epic. Definitely an amazing read!

[Mariaan Belinfante · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent creative writing. I was enthralled start to finish. I will am astonished how great this was for a debut, congratulations. Demons, fae, demigods all rolled into one. Hopefully there will be more of Willa sometime in the near future
I received an advanced review copy and leave this review voluntary Thank you BookSirens

[Allyse Reinauer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow I can't believe this was a debut novel! This world she crafted was complex and intriguing. When I started reading I was worried the story would be too confusing with all that was going on (fae, deomon and werewolves oh my!), but I was surprised at how well the story developed and that there were no plot holes. The fine line between too much and not enough detail, which can derail a good fantasy novel, was walked exquisitely.

Willa is such a badass and I loved watching her grow. She credited so much of that growth to everyone around her, but she was the one who kicked ass through the whole story and persevered.

The spice was spot on starting early and occurring frequently which is a big plus for me ;)

The ending was NOT what I expected, and judging by how she left it I'm hoping we can see more of this world!

I received an ARC of this book, but these thoughts are my own.

[Ann Adolphson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spice Level/ 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Masked Temptation, I was able to get an ARC thanks to Book Sirens and Diana Noire. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. This book is about a witty demoness named Willa who must infiltrate a highly secretive Fae Kingdom in order to steal a soul for the demon King. She doesn't expect to fall in love with a fae Prince. This book was dark and funny and I would highly recommend it to anybody but make sure and read your trigger warnings because there is mention of sexual content violence and mature language. There are characters of demonic origin that some of the religious faith may not like but it didn't bother me any. Willa may have her downfalls of being a demon but she makes up for it with her witty personality and badass self. The ending of this book had me wanting to see what happens next. I can't wait to read more Diana Noire books in the future.

[Syrinejude · Rating 5 out of 5]

I AM HOOKED!!!

This is no ordinary storyline! Just when you think you've got it all figured out, get ready for a fantastic surprise. I absolutely adore the thrilling twists & turns that this story has to offer.

[Erika]

DNF at 23%
I really tried. I got this as an arc and I was excited to read it based on the synopsis. I’m sure the story is what it claims to be, but I can’t deal with the writing. It’s choppy. It jumps around. It has 0 adjectives and just falls very flat.
I wanted to like it, but I canNOT keep going.

[Skye · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book really left me reeling.
The plot was great steady paste.
The plot twist on the other hand slapped you around, and don’t even get me started on that cliffhanger.

This book had the right amount of steam and the right amount of spice. The heartbreak had you crying, the writing was descriptive and wonderful. I do wish that there was a little bit more emphasis on the world-building because it did seem a little bit mixed-match that there were so many mortal world terms when I don’t think that was the intended setting.

The story itself was very unique.
The characters were very complex and semi-relatable.
It just took you on a wild ride altogether. It was a great book that got me out of a deep reading slump. I cannot wait for the next book.

I received an advanced review, copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Aylin (nilyareads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶🌶🌶/5
.
Morally Gray FMC
Demoness X Fae
Romantasy
Undercover Mission
Twists & Turns
Forbidden Love
Fast-paced
.
I really enjoyed this story The idea of a demon and a fae falling in love is a unique idea and I loved it! The combination of different species like, demons, fae, werewolves etc in the same world is just great! I'd like to learn more about the details of the world.
There are many twists and turns but what I expected the least was the ending. I certainly am not expecting that kind of ending for the beautiful stery! It hurts and broke my heart The only thing I didn't like is the usage of pop-culture elements like, Sherlock and Thor in a fantasy world. The reasons are well explained and logical but still it felt weird.
Willa is a high ranking demoness going into a fae kingdom for a mission to find a pure and strong soul. To enter the kingdom she posses a fae. Although she is not familiar with the traditions or life styles of fae she does her best to complete her mission to regain her rightful place in Hell. The only things keeps her from completing her mission are her feelings for Prince Rayan and the thoughts of the fae she possessed, Bahar.
I'm grateful for BookSirens and author for providing me with an eARC in return for an honest review 🩵

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book just gave me twists and turns every chance it could! I haven’t read an insta-love since I was a teenager. That trope is not my piece of cake but I enjoyed it in this book.

The steamy scenes, the morally grey FMC, the fantasy worlds of the creatures of hell and the fae, possession, fate, and the balance of light and darkness are just some of the themes in this book.

The possession part gave me vibes of a TV show I love, Supernatural. With the eyes turning black, the black smoke, and the fighting of wills between demon and host. (Of course Fae are much more powerful than humans.) And the Fae part brought me back to when I read ACOTAR.

I was rooting for Willa. I wanted her to get what she wanted. I was desperately wishing it. I don’t think Ray deserves her lol but I want her to be with her love. Now I have to wait until the next one comes out!

I received an advanced copy of this book and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Sienna Zini · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am writing this review following the aftermath of the ending, but there is no other way.
This book is incredible, the writing is top-notch. And the characters, Willa in particular, are fantastic.
I laughed, raged, cried, and right now, I don’t like the author very much, but just because she was so good at driving me around and leaving me hanging. No doubt, I’ll forgive her once she hands over the next book.
Masked Temptation is a must-read fantasy romance by a gifted author.
Almost forgot... 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Notyourmomsshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just got back from Hell and loved it??
I loved Willa, a higher
demoness after my own heart, and Ray, a Fae Prince. The FMC is the villain? YES PLEASE!
The world building was supreme without it being overwhelming and info dumping. Willa's on a mission to bring back a pure soul for sacrifice but she maybe accidentally falls in love and discovers new parts of herself along the way. The ending was so fascinating and shocking. I can't wait to see if we get more of them in the second book of the series!!

[Angel Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

The storyline is really good, I was engaged right through. There is a love story, action and good bit of spice keeping you entertained.

There is quite a good bit of banter between characters that made me laugh out loud in public area 😂

The only reason this book doesn’t get a 5 is I’m not sure how I feel about the ending. All the way through I loved this book but the end disappointed me a little.

All in all it’s a great book and well worth a read.

[purple jellyfish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable read with some surprises along the way. Loved the strong characters and depth to their backgrounds. Would have wished for a more detailed conclusion for all characters.

[Sierra Winson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book started out a little on the slower side, but once you get into it there is absolutely no putting it down…. I hope there is more of Willa and prince Ray I hope they get there happy ever after because I don’t like that Ray wound up with The girl Willa possessed.

[T.R. Sharrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this as an ARC book and I'm so happy I did!! What an amazing read!

[Sara Cayson · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a great read. Would highly recommend it