Jasmine Dunmore’s life has abruptly taken a turn for the better. Having just found out that she has inherited a house in Venice bequeathed to her by an aunt she never knew existed, Jasmine sets off to Italy to see her house and to make a profit from its sale. Also included in her inheritance was an exquisite tarot card, Il Tempo, to which Jasmine feels an inexplicable pull.

Lumere is Il Tempo, the Hermit, guardian of the gate that stands between our mortal world and the world of the demons. Vespero is a fellow demon who wants nothing more than to unleash his demonic minions into the mortal world to bring on Armageddon. Unwittingly, Jasmine is drawn into the demon’s realm because she holds the key to preventing Hell from being unleashed on Earth.

Book of Masks was an absolutely PHENOMENAL read. The blurb for this story grabbed my attention, but barely scratched the surface of the story contained within the book. From the first page, the sights and smells of Venice during Carnivale unfolded in my mind’s eye, holding me enthralled in its spell. Book of Masks is rife with opulence, heart-pounding action and breath-taking sexuality. This book is not for the faint of heart as it contains NO HOLDS BARRED carnality, often in vivid detail. Still, at the heart of the story is an against-all-odds love story in which Jasmine and Lumere are willing to sacrifice everything for each other.

With a story and characters that I won’t soon forget, Book of Masks is going on my keeper shelf. Nathalie Gray is an exceptional author capable of creating a visceral experience where the reader feels a part of the story. She crafts a new mythos regarding the Tarot, and I for one will never look at my tarot cards the same again.

Reviewed by: Misa