Masked: (A Dark Romantasy)

by Gloria Meizen

495 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 31, 2026

About the author

Gloria Meizen is a spicy writer for spicy readers, crafting dark romantasy packed with morally gray antiheroes, dangerous romance, and supernatural twists. Her books brim with blood magic, forbidden dynamics, and enemies-to-lovers tension, all served with biting sarcasm and filthy jokes—her love language.

Her stories dig into the traumas of morally gray and black-hearted characters, exploring their inevitable romance and redemption arcs. Expect vampires, demons, and supernatural antiheroes who ache under the weight of their power, all tangled in temptation, moral dilemmas, and forbidden fruit across a fantasy world where series and characters overlap.

Meizen's signature voice brings psychological depth, dark humor, and romance that splits you open and pieces you back together—always with a HEA.

Reviews

[The Affable Bibliophile · Rating 5 out of 5]

ACTUAL RATING IS 4.5 STARS

This is an ARC review. Thank you to the author for the gift of the book!!


This book…oh my god. This is my first book by Gloria Meizen, and I LOVED it. This is one of those books that just give you so much detail and the world building was amazing, and yet it wasn’t overbearing. I was pulled in with the first page. I didn’t want to put it down, so when I had my chance to read it, I read it. Even if I just had the time for a paragraph, I read it. My heart immediately broke for Elaelith when you learn of her situation. But she is strong and I rooted for her the entire book. Dominic? I mean, immediately he becameDaddy Reaper (no shame). He made me irritated at times. Heck, they both did. But he keeps you on his side time and time again. And the steamy moments in this book? Phew, I fanned myself and kicked my feet and couple of times. The whole story was amazing, and that ending? Phew. I need the next book in my hands soon. I truly can’t wait for it!

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this as an eARC for honest review

This book was such a good time! Its got masked men, angels/demons, captor/captive, pitch black mmc, and the plot is really good too! I loved how we never quite know exactly what is going on, it adds intrigue that makes you want to keep going to figure it out. It also gives a new appreciation for chocolates and cherries lol. I am very much looking forward to book 2 to continue solving what is going on, I have so many questions and also theories about what might be even tho they are all probably wrong!

[Ren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC

This book stole my heart. 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I absolutely loved this dark, dystopian world Gloria created within Masked. The angel x demon romance is one of my favourite tropes, and she represented it both so, so well.❤️

The world is so beautifully written and very immersive, which is very important to me, and she handled it beautifully. It was really easy to dive into it and forget time and place. 3am..hello? Sleep? Nah..
This was exactly what I need for my busy mind. 😅
But it also didn’t overexplain a thousand details, patterns, and furniture shapes that could send me to sleep. 😂
I think Gloria simply has talent for letting you into this dystopian world without making it feel forced.

🖤 Reaper’s story was especially intriguing and fascinating for me. I loved seeing glimpses of his past, where he originated from... Magnus, and the way he was with Pickle and his friends Jax and Astrid. I saw so much of his personality, and it captivated me woth each chapter. Now I want more of him, his story, and his... mind. ❤️ 😏

I also loved the FMC. She was very likable, cute, and silly, but also very strong from the start. I want to know more about her and her origins. I want to discover more about her with the next book.

I loved how we got to learn and discover her personality together with her as the story went along. Like, none of us knew what was happening or how the world worked, and I found that entertaining.

And then there was Pickle... Interworldly treasure. 🥺 Protect him at all costs. 😡

Also, my ultimate love... Jax.❤ He was featured here, but my love for him comes from Ignited, the prequel to Masked.
To me, Masked was such an easy read with a fascinating story. All the characters were so well written that I want to know everything about everyone. Even Astrid. 😏... Yes, even her.
I still have so many questions about the world, and I already can’t wait for the next book to find out more. 😍
Patience... just patience, I tell myself.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Masked is a very character driven book. Dominic/Reaper becomes obsessed with an angel with broken wings named Elaelith. Reaper is practically worshiped by both the demons and mortals around him. In a world that is poisonous and dying, he is surrounded by wealth and somehow has access to clean water and fresh fruits. He is ruthless and violent except with a certain broken angel and those closest to him, though he pretends to be just as ruthless with them.

Elaelith was tortured by a human who wanted to use her for her power for 2 years. He failed. There are gaps in her memory. All she remembers is pain and that she is not permitted to hurt humans or she will lose her wings. Dominic's power and moments of vulnerability and gentleness mixed with his violence confuse her. She is his captive, but she does not understand what he could want from her. She tries to resist him and the luxuries he offers but is drawn to him and the comfort he can provide anyway.

You get little pieces of information from the main and side characters all through the book. It feels like these pieces could either fit together to give you answers with just a few more hints or that maybe the characters are confused or possibly delusional. The side characters also bring some humor to the plot. Pickle is a lovable character that shouldn't fit in with all the supernatural creatures, and yet he does. The reader and characters can't help but become attached to him, especially Jax. The night Jax met Pickle in Ignited is referenced repeatedly, and yet I still have no idea why that night was so significant or how it connects to Dominic and Elaelith. I have so many questions and very few answers. I can't wait to figure out where this is going.

[Cottage_reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to start off with the fact that I am NOT okay, because how am I going to wait out book two?! This was such delicious devastation...

Masked is a new Dystopian, dark romance/Fantasy by the queen of yearning.

What always gets me about Gloria's prose, is the way that you are drawn into the world, living and breathing it in real time. Days after turning the last page, the characters still walk along with me, the mystery (and cliffhanger) still begging for attention in my mind.

If you crave emotionally black masked men, push-and-pull dynamics and a scorching, all consuming romance, then this book is for you. Highly character driven, but with a plot so intricately woven that nothing I say here can do it justice.

Side characters are so deeply fleshed out, that they can stand alone in their own stories. I want more, need more from each of them.

I can only urge you to pick it up immediately if you want to be emotionally wrecked by the rawness of what it means to be truly good or evil.

Please read the TWs as this book deals with dark themes, but they are handled with care.

Lastly, my review would not be complete without a special nod to my boy, Pickle. He stole my heart in the prequel and I enjoyed every moment spent with him in this book.

Don't mind me while I hibernate until book two.

Thank you to the author for this great read and letting me be a part of this world. I enjoyed this ARC immensely. 🖤

[Lili Victoire · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this! It was a great first book in an interesting new dystopian world that reminded me a lot of Cyberpunk but with magic added in. The world feels alive and dangerous and you want to know more about how it works.

I loved the angel x demon pairing and felt this did a lot to add to the tension and power imbalance structure between Dominic and Elae as well as the corruption element. The push and pull between them was great and definitely leaves you wanting more! The spice is D/S in nature which will always earn high points from me but when partnered with the religious counterpart entities theming- it’s even better 👌🏻

In addition, the plot presents you with several mysteries that will leave you guessing, and if you’re someone who likes to try and assemble the puzzle pieces, this gives you a lot to theorize on! I’m really looking forward to the other books to see how everything unfolds!

[thelittlegothreader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was very fortunate to read the ARC of Masked!

A dark, dystopian setting, an intricate world of characters, a gentle yet incredibly strong FMC, and one of the best MMCs I've read in while: an absolute 10/10.

I love deeply descriptive writing, and Masked checked that box. I fell so deep into this world through the writing that I was sad to leave.

"Breathe, angel.
You'll soon be found."

Elaelith had my heart throughout the story. Her gentle nature and resilient strength created such a beautiful and empowering character. I absolutely adored her!

"Welcome to Club Underworld"

Reaper made it to my list of top MMCs! I love a long, dark haired MMC and a masked man. Combine them? I'm obsessed! Reaper had me hooked from his introduction. He's calculatingly controlled, he's cocky, and now he’s what will come to mind whenever I see cherries.

And Pickle? PRECIOUS!

[Nicole Swanson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was probably the best way to start off this series! The word building was phenomenal, the details of the story followed by the characters, the tension between Reaper and Elaelith was everything! I really enjoyed it and I can’t wait for the second book! A lot of riddles and questions that keep me asking more questions. Had my brain working overtime to seek the answers on WHO? WHY?!! The ending tho 😌👌🏻
Highly recommended it! 🤗🖤🙌🏻

✨demon x angle
✨forbidden dark romance
✨dystopian fantasy world
✨enemies to lovers
✨slow burn