The Hunters’ Masquerade

by Licia Dawn

Becks is faced with a dangerous game of cat and mouse with her arch nemesis, Austin, at a Masquerade Ball.

As secrets are revealed and old wounds reopened, Becks must decide if forgiveness is possible and if she can ever trust Austin again.

Will their love be enough to overcome the past, or will the hunt for truth lead to more pain?

Genres: Dark, Dark Romance

154 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 30, 2024

About the author

Licia Dawn is a Canadian Indie Author that has decided to use books as her daily dose of therapy. She’s an introverted social butterfly who loves to engage online as much as she can.

Reviews

[Kswag · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This may be a misconception on my part to assume when serial killers are referenced as a trope in the book that it will be represented in the book. No one died in this book however Austin suffered at the hands of woman scorn and that level of redemption was satisfying at times.

These two hunted each other’s vulnerabilities and it was primal and very steamy. This would fall well in the hands of the smut community and HEA readers

[Victoria Parker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Favorite Quote:

“It’s always been you.”

[Mary Meadows · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man this novella…

FMC in charge and the MMC a wimp just for her! That was awesome

The plot was good but the spice was better and I love books like this cause you can’t put much in a short book like this but what was in it was really good, the spice really did surprise me because I’m used to this only from the mmc and not the fmc

Becks and Austin were perfect for each other but it’s the definition of wrong place, wrong time type of thing. The years apart was needed to grow and know what the other wants and that really was just about it!

Of course I would’ve loved more context about the world and society they live in but it was not the main focus so that was okay, it is a novella after all

❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

[Ivett · Rating 4 out of 5]

—⭐️4 stars⭐️—
— 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ —

⚠️ TW:Feminine rage, male submission, dub-con, chasing, blood play, torture, heavy degradation ⚠️

⛓️ BDSM
⛓️ Second chance
⛓️ Ball for serial killers (unfortunately, thats all, it shows nothing of it)
⛓️ Heavy spicy sceenes (in public as well)
⛓️ FMF (not why choose)
⛓️ Cat n mouse play (chase in the woods)

"Technically, he didn’t ruin my life. I did. He was just the reason.”

What to say? This is a short story with no PLOT but loads is smut.

Becks is kinda pathetic, sorry to say, but crying over a man in the past 10 years and not moved on...even she said the same about herself, so please don't come at me. I never liked the second chance romance (if there is a reason why it is not worked out at first, why would it will at the second time?) but it was good in this story as it is worked really well with the smut scenes.

Austin supposed to be a serial killer as everyone else in the ball, but I haven't see anything from that. He is switcing between submissive and dominant, whimp for her then gag her. This was a bit out of place for me. But who am I to say no for good smut scenes?

It is a short story and if you can put aside the cryin at the beginning at the story and reach the part where the ball is actually starts, it will be good, believe me.

[Lianna Belle · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a f*kin delicious read!! From the first sentence to the last I DID NOT want to set this down!!
Entirely fell in love with Becks and soon after fell in love with Austin, too. Sabrina is the *chefs kiss* element it needed. Licia is a smut genius and this is no exception. Keep your partner or your BOB close by 😉

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got this book for free, and I really do like reading indie authors and respect anyone that takes the time to write a book and publish it. Hats off to you, but…

This book was bananas.

For one, it’s called Hunters’ Masquerade, but 1% of the story takes place at said masquerade. The main characters in this story are all serial killers, sort of? I think they’re meant to be like a secret society of Dexter Morgans. At the beginning of the book, the main character, Becks, gets invited for the first time to this masquerade with other killers.

Cool premise. Love it. Except for, like I said, basically no parts of this book take place at this event. The fact that the main character, her best friend (Sabrina) and love interest (Austin) are all serial killers is mentioned a few times but has literally no bearing on the story whatsoever. It’s just randomly mentioned. Like when Becks is about to bang Austin in the basement, she thinks that Sabrina should get meat hooks to make hacking people up easier. (Okay?)

The characters are not that interesting, and we don’t learn much about them. What we do know is the Austin left Becks with no explanation 10 years prior to the story, and she sees him for the first time since then at this masquerade. Her resolve to ignore him lasts about five minutes, and then she’s revenge f*cking him. (Also her best friend shows up and s*ts on his face for a couple minutes and then leaves? Alright.)

They then go back and forth for the rest of the night fighting for dominance. They also have the same conversation about 36 times in between sex which is described as mind-blowing, but ultimately seems to be utterly displacing her internal organs if the amount of times her cervix is mentioned is any indication. She’s supposed to be getting revenge on him by forcing him to submit, but I don’t know how successful she is considering he seems to enjoy it. By the end they are moving back into together and living happily ever after, which is wild because this is the same man that locked her out of their shared home and proceeded not to explain himself for a DECADE (and seemingly would have continued not explaining if she hadn’t run into him at this serial killer soirée and made him crawl around on the floor about it.)

Other gripes:
- There are so many apostrophes missing in this book that I’m actually surprised the plural possessive in the title is written correctly.
- At one point, Austin disappears and then comes back wearing a Scream mask (should have been called a Ghostface mask if I want to be all “actually it’s Frankenstein’s *monster*” about it)
- During sex, Austin bites Becks so hard she’s like gushing blood, and then has sex with her so hard they break a window and then *he* is gushing blood.
- He chokes her so hard at one point she passes out, and they just act like this is Very Normal.
- There is a flashback in which Becks tries to unalive herself, and her best friend’s response is to bring her ibuprofen and a plate of cheese and crackers.
- This line: “I always made fun of Sabrina for having such soft grass, but right now, I'm thankful.”

That being said, I for some reason couldn’t stop reading this. 😂

[Booksnliftsdiary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5⭐️/5 (rounded up!)

“Technically, he didn’t ruin my life. I did. He was just the reason.”

Hunters’ Masquerade is a spicy, captivating romance that combines erotic elements with desire for an unforgettable night of seduction. Rebecca “Becks” and her best friend, Sabrina, dive into the Hunters’ Masquerade Ball on Devil’s Night—October 30th—where Becks unexpectedly reunites with her ex-boyfriend, Austin, after ten long years. The chemistry between them ignites with sizzling encounters that are hard to resist.

Austin has become a magnetic figure, drawing in thousands of followers who eagerly watch his every intimate move. As Becks is drawn back into his orbit, the heat of their past simmers just beneath the surface, leading to an unexpected reunion that’s packed with passion. The author skillfully captures the tension and yearning between the characters, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as buried secrets come to light.

Amidst the steamy moments, Becks must navigate her emotions and decide if she can trust Austin once more. The journey is filled with sultry scenes, culminating in an uplifting happily ever after (HEA) that leaves you feeling warm and hopeful. If you’re looking for a book that’s equal parts passion and heart, Hunter’s Masquerade is an absolute must-read!

A big thanks to Licia Dawn for sending me a digital ARC of this book!

Release date: 10/30/2024.

[Alyx Reese · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this story. Second chance at love between two serial killers at a serial killers annual masquerade ball/hunt? Sign me up! Beck and Austin once lived together, until Austin broker her heart and ghosted her. She never knew why he did it. Ten years later her bestie Sabrina has managed her an invite to the ‘ball’. Beck and Sabrina are excited to see each other after all these years. Beck, prior to the ball, finds out that not only is Austin back, but upon searching for him on the computer, finds his cam page. Of course she watches, and she sees that he can’t ‘finish’ without saying her name.

Beck is still angry, seeing and hearing that actually makes it worse, she REALLY wants some revenge. Once she gets to the ball, the real games begin. Austin wants to earn her forgiveness, in order to do that, he needs to be a good boy for her. Oh yeah, Licia brings all the spice, heat, and primal play out in the woods. It was so much fun. I totally loved the dynamic between Beck and Austin. The way they worked through what happened all those years ago, and how Austin showed he truly wanted to make amends. It was amazingly hot, and I could not put it down.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arc review The Hunters Masquerade

When you read a revenge dark romance book 90% of the time it's the guy wanting revenge on the girl....... NOT this one!!!!
Becks gets an invite from her BFF to the highly anticipated ball in her home town. She reluctantly says yes since she is wearing a mask so she won't be recognized. Plus who knows maybe her ex who ghosted her and broke her heart will be there. It's been years. He probably doesn't even live there anymore.....
Her friend lets it slip that he will be there... So what does a girl do? she looks him up to see what he is up to. Well he has a page. A spicy page where she heard her name fall from his mouth. Now confused, pissed at herself and her friend for dragging her to this party she goes hoping to to not run into HIM.
What happens when she does? 🔥 That's what 🔥The scene with MMC, FMC and her BFF 🥵
Licia knows how to write some spice and this was nothing short of it. The story of a revenge driven female FMC was a nice change. You don't see it often and when you do 🤌.

[Grace Machuca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beck and Austin are a perfect example of what happens to a scorn lover. Austin really broke and hurt Beck's heart 10 Yeats prior, leaving her homeless. Beck's life, like her car, was pretty much falling apart after that.

Her bestie, Sabrina, invites her to a masquerade ball hosted for serial killers. Sabrina added to the mix, well, that's even more flames to the fire. She is what you would call a ride or die kind a friend.

Becks runs into no other than Austin, who was also invited to the ball. Beck, prior to the ball, finds his "thirst trap" page and discovers he can't "finish" without screaming her name.

When Austin approaches Beck, a very spicy and dangerous cat and mouse game begins. I couldn't put this read down. At times, I was like, wtf just happened, but let me tell you, it was a good reaction.

Licia Dawn has a way with words because you could feel the tension and passion between Beck and Austin. We'll done!!! I give this read ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and the spice well you'll understand once you read it when I say I give this book 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶♾️. This read is truly an erotic thriller!

[_the.bookish.moon_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is a unique twist on second-chance romance, set at a darkly glamorous serial killers' masquerade ball. Beck and Austin share a complicated history; when Beck’s best friend secures an invite to this exclusive event she jumps at the opportunity to see her. Unbeknownst to her, Austin will also be attending.

Before the ball, Beck stumbles upon a spicy cam page belonging to Austin and this discovery fuels her anger and desire for revenge, adding heat and tension to their inevitable encounter at the ball.
As the night unfolds, Austin seeks her forgiveness and shows just how far he's willing to go to make amends, bringing hot and heavy primal energy to their reunion in the woods.

Licia Dawn brings all the spice and intensity in this book, delivering such a refreshing twist on the revenge-driven dark romance—this time, it's the female seeking retribution!

The story keeps you on your toes and hooked with its compelling mix of tension, spice, and emotional resolution. It’s an exhilarating read that i found impossible to put down! 🖤

[~lil maso~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed by Natalie for Saucy Reviews on Kinky Korner

What's not to love about this book, serial killers, lovers scorned, revenge, best friends who are the epitome of ride or die this had everything and more!

I devoured this book, from the first page to the last it kept me highly entertained and wow the spice was off the charts.

Becks is the woman scorned and Austin is the guy that ruined her life, but eventually for me at least he redeemed himself.

If you like dark and steamy this is definitely the book for you!


*ARC received in exchange for an honest review*
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[Faded Roze · Rating 4 out of 5]

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

⛓️“You’re about to get f*cked, in the woods, by ghost-face. What more could you ask for?”⛓️

I had such a fun time with this book! I was excited that the MMCs name was Austin (that’s my man’s name) and even more excited to find out that the FMC, Becks, was basically a take-no-bs switch.

⛓️“I’ll see to it that he thinks about this very night every single day of the rest of his life.”⛓️

Becks hot, her best friend is also hot, and Austin fucked up but he’s doing his best to make it up to everyone 🤷‍♀️

I don’t want to say too much and spoil the story because it’s such a short read but I really, really liked this one. And, I would highly suggest it for someone who loves a good little submissive MMC. Austin really knows how to earn his forgiveness 🤭

⛓️“What a good boy you are, using your manners and everything.”⛓️

As always, please check your TW and read with caution.

[Kayla Maree · Rating 3 out of 5]

Early Release Review:
Did I enjoy the smutty moments? Oh for sure.
Did the story line make sense? Kind of. I felt lost a couple of times throughout the story because items got tossed in there that weren't mentioned before and that pulled me out of the story quickly.
Did I enjoy the tropes? Yes, and no. I feel like some of the listed tropes were missing throughout the book. I do also feel like some items in the book have been used in several other books I have read which as a fellow author I get and understand why you would use something that you know everyone would like but I feel like it needed more Licia in it, not a copy paste of the trope; if that makes sense.

Overall, I think if you want something that has good smut this would be it. If you want something that has an easy understanding to plot, probably not the book you want.

[Gina Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this novella! Could not put this down. I loved Becks our MFC and Sabrina her BFF. Hated Austin at the beginning but he definitely made a redemption! Had me yelling at my kindle like “no girl! Don’t do that”! This novella story is about a hunters ball that happens every 3 years. Becks and Sabrina are both unalivers and Becks drives back to her hometown, where Sabrina still lives to join her at the annual ball. Austin whom is Becks ex-lover will be attending this ball as he is now apart of the unalivers. Becks will get some kind of revenge and redemption from Austin, but we will also learn why he completely ghosted her 10 years ago and completely broke her heart. Their love will rekindle and a very happy ending.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC READ

When serial killer trope is mentioned I assumed it would be more of a topic throughout the book but unfortunately it just wasn’t which is a bit of a downside. However Becks did give Austin exactly what he deserved for most of the book.

I do feel however that there could have been more plot to the book than what there was. It felt a bit rushed to me and like there was stuff missing to the plot that should have been added.

That being said this book would go more for the smut community as a trope to be looking for.

[Sara Phillips · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unfortunately, I just wanted more from this book. When serial killers are mentioned as a trope, you sort of expect someone to die or at least allude to those actions in the book. Other than the Masquerade being full of murderers (not really elaborated on), and Becks and Sabrina being serial unalivers, it isn't talked about. I would have loved more backstory about both of their characters.

Austin and Becks have an interesting relationship of enemies due to what seems like Austin being a giant child ten years prior and Becks being heartbroken. She's keen for revenge and does her best to exact it against him. However, it seems like during the course of the Masquerade, she mostly just opens her legs and mouth to exact her revenge. Most of the book is a power struggle between Becks and Austin, which was nice to see in a novel. I liked that Austin would switch to being the submissive and then switch back to be dominant.

What really turned me off of this book was that the f word was used as punctuation, it seemed like. Sometimes, around 8 times on a single page. I'm in no way a pearl clutcher, but there are so many words in the English language that have way more power and impact than just saying the same word over and over and over. The plot was repetitive with Becks and Austin just repeating the same speech about where do they go from here, why did she let it get so far etc. Most of the novel takes place over a 48-hour period, and then we skip ahead at the end to the HEA, which was a really odd decision. It seemed rushed, but maybe there is a chance for a sequel.

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

[Kerrie Porter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please check trigger warnings. This book was different from what I have previously read. The fmc Becks has a back and forth with things with her ex Austin the mmc. The book is spicy and the plot is good, and the way Becks takes charge now at times and shows Austin that she's not the same girl she was when they dated, especially after it was a very bad break up. This book will suck you in and keep you wanting to know more and see what happens between Becks and Austin. Will they get back together or will Becks just have her fun and leave?? You will have to read and find out.

[Natalie Miernicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

What's not to love about this book, serial killers, lovers scorned, revenge, best friends who are the epitome of ride or die this had everything and more! I devoured this book, from the first page to the last it kept me highly entertained and wow the spice was off the charts... Becks is the woman scorned and Austin is the guy that ruined her life, but eventually for me at least he redeemed himself. If you like dark and steamy this is definitely the book for you!

[L.R. Douglas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was always going to be a sucker for female rage and a male submissive, but combine that with Licia's storytelling and I was always going to love this 🖤 Thank you so much to the author for allowing me the opportunity to be involved with it!
Becks was a delight, and the supporting cast were fun too. I do love a good grovel... Was nice to see a cameo of the characters from a recent anthology [Written in Blood] as well.

Would love to see more from this world in the future

[Heather Kearns · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶🌶

Novella that I read in one sitting!

FMC is in charge, and the MMC is literally on his knees crawling for her. Becks and Austin were once together, but time and space took them apart, but they were needed so they could grow and learn about themselves and each other. These two were made for each other! Then add in Becks' BFF, Sabrina, and *chefs kiss* This was a great second chance romance that solidified the MCs needed to rediscover and end up with each other.

[Noëmi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not sure but I waited for the killer part till the end….It was hinted at a few times and there was nothing. And what was their job? Killer that works with the local police?

Also what oath did he swear to Sabrina? Austin never said really. I was waiting till the end to read about that.

The spice was good, expected a bit more girl play this time as it was hinted at again in the beginning. Would have been nice to see it. Nice to see the switch in the dom/sub area though.

3,5 Stars

[kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn’t put this down really likes Becks she was a bad ass that didn’t take no shit from Austin when it came time for the masquerade party. She made him work for it though. Also loved Sabrina she was an awesome best friend to becks. I also came to like Austin as well when he started to basically grovel for Becks. And the spicy scenes in this were spicy 🥵

Was glad to be apart of this arc read I really enjoyed it!

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great short read that grabs you and takes you through it! 🥵🌶️

A lot of fun, suspense, humor and oh yeah spice! Becks and Austin is the proof perfect people at the wrong place wrong time. They still grew as characters which is great. The plot was nice but the spice was spicy! I love it!

I had the opportunity to receive this as an ARC and had to give my honest review because wow! It needs to be on TBR!

[Isabelle Houseknecht · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ 3🌶️

This is a short little spicy read! I loved it! The main characters are almost perfect for each other. They have a ton of fun at a murder party and it sets off a chain of events for the rest of the book! I was a little sad that there wasn’t any actual murder in the book since it is about murders but Beck definitely put in some work with Austin!

[ashuls_book_diaries · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly this was absolutely fulfilling. Considering the book isn't even 200 pages it got me going. I bloody love becks and Austin. Also I love their jobs and oooooo the fact she's a dom and they swap and change ugh love best smutty book I've read in a while. Second chance has now become a favourite of mine ❤️

[Chelsi Lowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short and spicy!!! This is a spice packed novella with some dark themes but I didn’t think it was nearly as dark as some of the warnings lead you to believe. Killing is discussed but never occurs on page. The chemistry between the characters is electric and the spice scenes have it all. Nice little break up in between long books!! 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🔥

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

10 out of 10 recommend!!!!!! Everything was amazing about this book from the plot to the main characters!!!!! I loved some Becks she was definitely a spitfire which I loved!!!! I love a good book with some spicy scenes and this book was not short on them at all! Will recommend this books to everyone!!!!

[Roo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick short and spicy novella! I loved the characters and absolutely was obsessed with the meddling! I love a badass MC with a strong sense of the need for revenge!

The characters and world presented to us were lovingly detailed! If you enjoy chases, badass characters, and spice this book is for you!

4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
2🌶️🌶️

[Rissareads0297 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

ARC Review

I went into this a little blind and really enjoyed it! I love a good FMC revenge moment and the spice was GOOD. The serial Killer trope was very light and I was expecting a bit more from that end. If you're looking for a halloween vibey quick and spicy read this is def for you!