Dig Two Graves

Daniel Faust #11

by Craig Schaefer

Daniel Faust is back from hell and out for blood. He has a new face and a deadly mission: to find the tiger-queen Naavarasi and his own traitorous brother, and put them both six feet underground.

But when Naavarasi’s shape-shifting minions abduct one of Daniel’s own, it’s time for a desperate rescue. With his demonic lover Caitlin and his precocious apprentice Melanie, he follows a thread of nonexistent airlines, ghostly packages, and urban legends all the way to Springfield, a small town with big secrets.

A small town where everything closes at sundown and people are warned not to go out after dark. A small town where the library offers books written by authors who never existed, and the locals seem to be acting out parts assigned by an invisible director. There’s only one way into Springfield. There’s no easy way out. And as the fabric of reality begins to warp and change all around them, Daniel and company will have to learn a new set of rules if they want to survive and put an end to Naavarasi’s twisted design.

This is a rescue mission, but there’s more at stake than a single life. The consequences are cosmic. He’s gunning for a pair of heads tonight but before his work is done, Daniel Faust may have to drop enough bodies to fill a graveyard.

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Magic, Demons, Audiobook, Zombies, Vampires

326 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 26, 2024

About the author

Craig Schaefer's books have taken readers to the seamy edge of a criminal underworld drenched in shadow (the Daniel Faust series), to a world torn by war, poison and witchcraft (the Revanche Cycle), and across a modern America mired in occult mysteries and a conspiracy of lies (the Harmony Black series).

Despite this, people say he's strangely normal. Suspiciously normal, in fact. His home on the Web is www.craigschaeferbooks.com.

Reviews

[✘✘ Sarah ✘✘ (former Nefarious Breeder of Murderous Crustaceans) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actual rating: 20 million stars. And a half.

This book in a nutshell? Oh Bloody Shrimping Hell of the Stinking Fish to the power of 50. Only a few pages in and I started feeling like this:



By the time I got to the last part of the book, I was in a perpetual state of utter shock, complete dismay, and total discombobulation.



Is this one of the (if not THE) best bloody shrimping installments in the series so far? DAMN RIGHT IT IS. To think it's book #11 in the series! ELEVEN!! And it's downright mind-blowing from beginning to end!! Not sure how Heather does it. She probably sold her soul to Prince Sitri in exchange for Unsurpassable Writing Talents (UWT™) or something.

I can't say much about the book without getting into MAJOR SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER territory, so I won't 😬. Suffice it to say that it is packed with shocking shockers (as I might or might not have already mentioned), crazy as fish everything developments, most scrumptious revelations, memorable character interactions (as per usual), a glorious tie-in to another Schaefer series (👋 waves at Danielle Faust👋), and downright amazing scenes that are sure to turn any reader into a slightly frantic hand-clapping, fist-raising, woo-hoo-ing maniac. There's enough devious scheming going on to make Machiavellian jealous, too, and about as much MUAHAHAHAHA as HAHAHAHAHAHA.

Also, EVERYONE is here. Even the sons of Gondor. (Yeah yeah yeah, I know, I said I wouldn't go into MAJOR SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER territory. Guess what? I lied.) There are pet zombies named Stumps (well at least Cait wishes there were) and Dan turns out to be a cosmic singularity of irritation. There is much gore, blood, and dismemberment (severed heads FTW!), and Mr Smith is given the opportunity to unleash his inner stand-up comedian (I kid you not). Inanimate objects are repeatedly bullied and evil nemeses don't even have the courtesy to line up to fight one at a time.

And that's about it. Well it's not, actually, but you know, SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER and stuff, so go read the book, it will probably change your life. Unless you aren't familiar with the series, in which case you will probably die deadly dead from a severe case of complete and utter bewilderment. (But hey, it's not quite as bad as it sounds.)



Note to self: you may be a gangster who steals shit and deals drugs and extorts money but steal from a library thou shalt not. Because some things are just not done.

P.S. Typewriters are underrated. Just so you know.
P.P.S. “And then they heard the horns” is, hands-down, the best line ever.

· Book 1: The Long Way Down ★★★★★
· Book 1.5: The White Gold Score ★★★★★
· Book 2: Redemption Song ★★★★★
· Book 3: The Living End ★★★★★
· Book 4: A Plain-Dealing Villain ★★★★★
· Book 5: The Killing Floor Blues ★★★★★
· Book 6: The Castle Doctrine ★★★★★
· Book 6.1: Sweet, Blissful Certainty ★★★
· Book 7: Double or Nothing ★★★★★
· Book 7.1: A Drive in the Country ★★★★
· Book 7.2: Sixty Six Seconds ★★★★
· Book 8: The Neon Boneyard ★★★★★
· Book 9: The Locust Job ★★★★★
· Book 10: Down Among the Dead Men ★★★★★



[Pre-review nonsense]

OH WOW OH WOW OH WOW OH WOW OH WOW OH WOW
OH WOW OH WOW OH WOW OH WOW OH WOW OH WOW
OH WOW OH WOW OH WOW OH WOW OH WOW OH WOW
OH WOW OH WOW OH WOW OH WOW OH WOW OH WOW
OH WOW OH WOW OH WOW OH WOW OH WOW OH WOW
OH WOW OH WOW OH WOW OH WOW OH WOW OH WOW
OH WOW OH WOW OH WOW OH WOW OH WOW OH WOW
OH WOW OH WOW OH WOW OH WOW OH WOW OH WOW



➽ Review to come and stuff. (As soon as I'm no longer dead.)



[April 13, 2024]

Only two weeks to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!





P.S. Heather mentions in her last blog post that "stuff’s gonna hit the fan. Also this is the book where the identity of the Paladin is finally revealed, a major antagonist is dealt with once and for all, and we pave the way to the Ultimate Showdown of Ultimate Destiny." And what do I have to say to that? Well this, obviously:

[Lukasz · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5

Another excellent book in my favorite Urban Fantasy series. I enjoyed it A LOT! Plus, the Paladin's identity is finally revealed. I'm surprised :)

[Zach · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spoilers Beware.
Also irresponsible and sporadic use of Professional Wrestling terms in this review. It also contains my general thoughts and feelings on the series and characters as a whole.

Heather’s pacing in the Faust series is something that I've always really appreciated. antagonists get introduced and they get wrapped up somewhere around 1-3 books. It keeps things moving and fresh. I enjoy it. However, Dig Two Graves is now the sixth book in "The Enemy" story arc. I'm still invested in it but it's starting to lose a bit of its luster for me personally.
This book moves lightning fast, but the overarching plot is moving iceberg slow. I assume that this is due to having multiple series running concurrently with each other, so it becomes a balancing act to prevent one or the other from racing out too far ahead of the other and spoiling things. Don't get me wrong, I am all for a bunch of action, but once or twice I found myself wishing Dig Two Graves would slow down and catch its breath as the last few books have been Daniel and Navaarai locked in one big Ironman match.

I swear this book felt like a good 75% of it was one long string of running away, chasing, or fighting scenes. it isn't until the very end that the Paladin is revealed and Daniel squares a debt. Nothing else gets resolved. Sure Navaarasi’s plan gets foiled, but Daniel is still stuck in the wrong body. The Enemy is still cutting promos in the background, and the whys of Navaarasi being protected by Prince Malphas is still unknown.

On to the books Dialog:
I'm not sure what happened here. It felt like a lot of the conversations characters had with each other weren't actually conversations. More like interactions where they just take turns hitting each other with one-liners, quips, and memes that would feel right at home out of a Twitter thread somewhere.
Royce at one point in the story comments on how it's annoying to deal with and by the end I was starting to agree. At times it was hard to take the situation seriously because of it. You're trying to build up a sense of risk, danger, and suspense only to deflate it with some type of cheesy one-liner/gag that instantly breaks me out of kayfabe like a steel folding chair to the head.
in contrast, some of the self-reflective moments Daniel has about Teddy, or the more serious talks he has with Melanie are great. They feel meaningful and impactful. Heather has had moments of wonderful, and vibrant prose sprinkled throughout the entire Daniel Faust series so I know the talent is in there. I just wish there was more in this one.

With that out of the way, let's get onto my thoughts on things as a whole. Ever since the locust job there have been directions the series took, or things ignored, that have started to worry me a bit.

So let us start by ripping the bandaid off with Melanie.
In the Redemption song where we first meet her, she is a minor but interesting character. By the time I got to The Castle Doctrine, she had grown on me. By the time I got to The Locust Job, she was wearing off on me. Now in Dig Two Graves, she's starting to wear on me.
Ever since she became Daniels's apprentice, she's been a bit of a Mary Sue. This was really evident in the Locust Job and there were times when I was reading it that I had to go back and look at the cover to make sure I was indeed reading a book series called Daniel Faust, not a spin-off called Melanie Loomis.

Her lack of experience is her only obstacle, but when she inevitably busts through that wall like Stone Cold Steve Austin, where does that leave Daniel? Yesterday's news? Don't forget, she's also the Paladin and is likely to take up even more screen time as she is basically the main protagonist of the story now. How much will Daniel even be focused on going forward when it already seems like he is slowly being choked out of his own series? I won't lie, I'm a bit nervous about it. The more I think about it, the more it seems like Haromny was originally supposed to be the Paladin, as it solves this issue by being its own spin-off series, but it was switched at the last moment for reasons unknown.

Sigh. Let's talk Dan. I need to get some things off my chest.
I am sick of Dan's Jobber cards. They were a cool and unique idea at first but now they only exist to cause some type of temporary inconvenience, or worse yet, to be helplessly slung at one of the many antagonists only for them to completely and utterly no sell the gimmick.
Magically, Dan gets buried over and over by everyone he comes across like he is some random undercarder. No exceptions. You would honestly think he would try and find a way to improve somewhere along the way, but no, he never does. I'm not saying he needs to fly around incinerating people with massive fireballs and laser beam eyes, but this has been a regular and noticeable pattern for a while now.

Out of all the series the author writes, it's starting to make me think that Dan is the unwanted stepchild here. Heather has written lots of other cool characters like Haromny Black that all grow, improve, develop, or learn new abilities. All of them except Dan. I'd argue that not only has he been completely stuck in neutral for the last 8 or 9 books, but rather he's steadily been regressing.
In book 1 we were introduced to an interesting question that was posed: How did Dan survive all those possesions? A normal human couldn't, so what's going on? We are on book 11 now and not a single peep since. That's one of the many questions I have that never gets touched again. Why?

Long gone are the days of Dan using cool and interesting magic to fight off Cambion outside of his burning apartment in book 2. Long gone are the days of the Mourner out in the desert sprinkling breadcrumbs about how she still sees great potential and talent in him as a Sorcerer.
Dan goes to hell and comes back in book 10. He escaped the pit, and it was quite an unprecedented feat. Does he get any type of rub from this? You know, any type of minor or measly change or improvement to his magic/talent at all? Nope, Sorry.
Emma Loomis now possesses Dan's original body and is busy repairing it. This feels like an interesting opportunity here. Maybe all those possessions really did screw Dan up somehow and that's why he feels so stunted. The point is there are lots of options and angles here in the story that are just being flatly ignored. Do I hope something like this will be explored or even touched on in the next books? Hell yes! Do I think it will be? Unfortunately no.

Magic in this series is almost completely irrelevant. Now there are only guns. All problems and villains are dealt with almost exclusively by getting shot to death by guns. Our main character has gone from being a crafty Sorcerer and hired wand to Daniel Faust the mass shooter.

At the end of book 5, he gets even with the corrupt Warden by shooting him dead.
Remember Damien Ecko? Shotgunned to death.
In Down Among Dead Men, it's noted that Hell seems to be charging up people's magic and we see this in action when Dan runs into some old enemies. Does Dan even attempt to experiment with this? No. The opportunity gets glossed over here in favor of him solving his problems with more guns. Hell guns this time.

At the end of this current book, we get the confrontation with Teddy. Do we get some type of cool magic showdown brother vs brother? Do we get to know how Teddy so effortlessly hijacked and countered Dan's Jobber cards at the end of The Locust Job? Nah. What do we get? You guessed it: Unceremoniously shot to death by The Almighty G U N.
For the life of me, I just can't understand why when the world that's been built is so full of interesting magic. It almost makes me think that the author regrets giving him the ability to use magic in the first place and is trying to soft-retcon it all.

Personality wise I feel like there has been a big shift as well. Dan is no longer a gritty, reflective, sometimes scummy by any means necessary character that I loved at the beginning of this series. In book 11 Dan comes across as a complete cornball. A comic relief character whos been relegated to being just an unflattering punchline in his own series. Its becoming harder to take him or the dangerous situations he is supposed to be in seriously. It's disheartening, I want old Dan back:(
I'll admit, it feels like the next book up is the crossroads with Faust for me now. I'm really starting to worry I might have to Old Yeller the series if things don't turn around and that is a horrible feeling to have.

Despite all of my above concerns, I need to state this clearly: I still love the Daniel Faust series. This one just didn't work for me, and a few cracks here and there are starting to show. It's still without a doubt my favorite urban fantasy/thriller series running. I always preorder the new books on Kindle, and always double dip again when the audiobooks drop. Heather, I still have faith in you the author, and Dan the character! Thank you for giving me HOURS of entertainment over the years. I'm wishing for many more to come. I'm glad I found your books.

[Christopher Buser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Schaefer does it again!

Every time, I think "There is no way this story is better than the one before."

Every time, I'm wrong.

The First Story is like the Cosmere's evil nephew.

And I'm here for it. All the way down.

[Todd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Naavarasi really needs to die. And Faust is way soft on his treacherous brother.

Faust and company are trying to find the Paladin (who ultimately will be responsible for saving the world, or not). While Naaverasi is trying to have him killed, Faust, Cait and Melanie are hunting his brother Teddy, and hopefully Naaverasi.

The gang finds themselves in another world, again. And chaos reigns throughout the story as per usual.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

It finally came out, I have been waiting for this book for the longest time and it did not disappoint. This author does a great job of keeping the same characters, but making every book different. This time, the author delved into the dark world of fanfiction and kept me hooked the whole time. Finished this book in two days and am already looking forward to the next one.

[Alissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The world is full of dangers, pet. And yet we must still push our fledglings from the nest. If you ever want her to spread her wings and fly, you have to accept that she can handle the burdens of freedom.”

[Lisa Hernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maybe I just missed one of my favorite anti-heroes, Daniel Faust, or maybe this is Schaefer’s most ambitious, well-crafted & creative tale of Faust & his merry band of morally centered Vegas magic misfits!
Chasing the shape shifting mistress of illusion (if you know, you know I’m not gonna try to spell her name!) Faust & crew wind up in an illusionary world ruled by B horror movie logic! This story provides action, plenty of snarky wit & a very satisfying ending!
Man, Faust & crew have definitely landed on my Mount Rushmore of favorite UF series … right alongside Kadrey’s Sandman Slim & Sanchez’ Montague & Strong!

[Isaac · Rating 5 out of 5]

so good. so so good.

After a tense , nerve wracking book ten, Faust is BACK. This time we are led through the steps of an elaborate dance where the story sways between layers of multiverse with finesse that feels effortless. Thank you Craig for this book. Ten years in and it’s getting better every time.

[Slick · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s been so long since the last installment I thought I had completely lost interest in this series as I was completely ambivalent towards it.
I bought this on a whim but wow, I was completely drawn back in. With the crew, the magic, their heists and the world.

Well done Mr.Schaefer, well done

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a total mindf*ck. This series is full of surprises and I love that I have no idea what will happen next, except that it will be wild.

[Efka · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was fun, while it lasted. On the other hand, it is a week since I've finished the book, and it is already fading. So, all in all, a decent read but I'm looking forward to ending this series sooner rather than having to go through another 24 books before it does.

[Charlene Mattson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Binged through in nearly 1 sitting, as per usual lol.

And I love the payoffs!

[Mihir · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full review over at Fantasy Book Critic

OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: Dig Two Graves is a bit of a weird book in the sense that is hotly anticipated after the climatic events of Down Among The Dead Men, but also isn’t a middle book in the fourth arc of the Daniel Faust series. I think the author isn’t quite following the older story arc patterns and so now we are in a bit of a conundrum. The author has recently highlighted that the legendary Enemy-Paladin showdown might be really around the corner. Based on the events of this book and all that has been building up from the past few books, I would say it’s high time for that epic confrontation. Be warned, it gets tougher and tougher to be spoiler free when you are double digits in to a singular series. So my review below will have some spoilers for the previous titles but I’ll do my best to be as circumspect as I can.


We all have heard that quote about seeking revenge and Dig Two Graves is the epic culmination of that very feeling. Since Teddy (Theodore) Faust came back in Daniel’s life in The Neon Boneyard (DF #8), Dan has been uneasy about his own actions in the past. Things however took a horrific turn when Teddy’s true intentions were revealed. That leads us to this book wherein Faust is now itching to get his revenge on the two people he holds responsible for his current physical predicament. Getting Pixie on board, they soon realize that things are a bit weirder than usual (Considering how things have been, this warrants extra attention). Pretty soon they realize that all routes lead to a unique town known as Springfield & when his hand is forced, Faust and gang have to go in the Tiger’s den on a rescue mission.


Phew, I think I’ve managed to be as oblique as possible and not spoil the plot of this book entirely. Again coming off Down Among The Dead Men, Dig Two Graves had a Herculean task to be better than its predecessor. It’s my utmost pleasure to proclaim that Dig Two Graves does exactly that and some more. Starting with its own plot and ending with a homage to serial killer thrillers, while also providing the biggest shocker about the Enemy-Paladin conflict, Dig Two Graves does everything the author wished for.


At this point, it would be counterproductive to talk about how amazing the characterization is. Because if you are this far along in the series, you are an appreciative fan. We all know and enjoy it. DTG checks off that box smoothly. But the best part about this book is the author’s love for the horror movie genre and all of its tropes. How Heather Schaefer combines this aspect into the plot of this book is something which you have to read to find out. But all I can say is that you will be gobsmacked and love it all the same.


Another thing which has been brewing in the background is the identity of the Paladin. We have been getting small tidbits and misdirections all throughout. In The Locust Job, we kinda got to see the strongest presence of the Paladin and in this book, we get to see what really happened in the hospital from a different perspective. This was a huge insight as that was one of my complaints about the ending in that book. Another thing which has also been unclear is Baron Navaarasi’s true goal(s). We possibly get to know them here and they are terrifying and completely understandable from her narcissistic perspective. Whether it is her true (and only) goal is something that remains to be seen. But knowing how intricate her plotting is, I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s more horrors waiting to be unleashed.


There’s a nice cameo by one of the first story Characters, the cover should provide you with a clue. I’m hoping that’s a premonition for the future. Lastly there’s even a presence of the Network who have been the baddies in the background and they prove here once again that are the ultimate bad guys. Lastly this book sets up the next and hopefully the last, big Enemy-Paladin confrontation which Faust and his allies have been waiting for. I’m all for it and it looks to be something that might outright be more bombastic than Wisdom’s Grave. I don’t know if that will be true but I trust Heather Schaefer & her planning.


CONCLUSION: Dig Two Graves is a story that works on a literal and metaphorical level. I don’t know which arc it fits into of the Daniel Faust series. But hell, it doesn’t even matter, the book is so damn fun and exciting. I finished it in under two days and now I can’t wait to see what comes next. Dig Two Graves is another fantastic thriller from the mind of Heather Schaefer, she completes a decade as a published writer today and we should be counting our lucky stars that she is the stupendous writer which she is.

[Vinay Badri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thrilling, Fun, Dimension-changing 11th installment of the Daniel Faust series that leans into horror tropes while forcing Faust into decisions, both painful and fateful


Long-running TV shows usually have experimental episode to reward their fanbase to for sticking with them for so long. These fun episodes are usually in the form of a musical or an alternate version of characters playing out "what - ifs" or transporting characters into a different timeline. Dig Two Graves essentially does that in this 11ᵗʰ installment of the Daniel Faust series and needless to say, the decision to host this in a horror-movie setting seems particularly apt for this series rooted in the occult.


(Supernatural’s 200th episode features an amateur musical retelling of Sam & Dean Winchester’s Journey so far….)

At this stage of the Daniel Faust series, you know what you are going to get. Craig Schaefer's mode of progressing the story through 3 book arcs is pretty much established. So you know that to an extent, this book is going to line up the ducks for the 12th book arc concluder. There is this sense of comfort and familiarity but at the same time, heightened stakes.


The author uses this sense of comfort to lull you in before introducing the delightful variation that propels the narrative right through. If you love horror movies, this book is an absolute blast. The author knowingly acknowledges the tropes of the horror movie genre and plays it up with a bunch of clever, sly winks even as Faust and his allies try to even the score.


The book is super-enjoyable and quite pop-culture-heavy. There is a heavy Twin-Peaks vibe along with other notable horror - movie references. The escapades are fun and the action is thrilling. What however this book does well is to push through major character developments. Faust is all about family and it is those developments that cause him a lot of conflict and pain. Faust knows that he is a morally gray character, leaning more towards the dark side but is also willing to take responsibilities for his past mistakes. That allows him to be more measured and willing to offer chances but still open to taking the hard decisions

"To get the respect you deserve, sometimes you have to remind people of who you are and sometimes you have to remind them what you are"

Given the long running nature of the series, anything said from a plot perspective will be a spoiler for earlier books. But the pieces are lining up and the next set of escalations are well upon us. There are fascinating plot developments that primes the board for an explosive end to this arc and Faust will need all and more of his allies to survive. Increasingly, there are links and references to the other series in this world – Harmony Black & Wisdom’s Grave. This therefore cannot be a standalone series for a read – it has become almost MCU-like in complexity & connections. I guess we should all be thankful that the author adds the “Story So Far” section at the beginning (I wish more and more authors did that)

"Fate cast you as the hero of this story but you’ve got a whole family of certified bad guys backing you. We are going to lie, cheat and steal for every advantage we can get. While you go high, we’ll go low"

Dig Two Graves is another solid installment in this series and amazingly enjoyable with memorable mashup of pop-culture cross-over elements despite being episodic and mid-point of an arc

Rating - 4 Full Houses on 5

[libby g. fulgione · Rating 5 out of 5]

Schaefer outdoes himself … AGAIN!

Faust is BACK - from his excursion to Hell … from his Bizzaro (parallel) WORLD adventure as a female PI … and although he’s not yet back in his own body, Dan Faust, con man, card sharp, magician, crooked, thieving, murdering gangster and all around BAD GUY that he sees himself as - is once again the lynch pin standing between the end of the world and Foes just so far out of his league that his only chance is to just be himself - playing it straight while laying all of his cards on the table for his foes to see … while changing the rules, palming a caard or three and just plain cheating because when it comes to his family (and his world) and his back is to the wall, that’s when our Danny Boy is at his most cunning and dangerous … And even though Mr. Schaefer found a way to let Faust write himself out of the First Story directly, once Faust sets his mind to something … well, let’s just say I wouldn’t want to be that “something” threatening his family …. no matter who or what, any Foe foolish enough to go out of their way to seek vengeance for past encounters with him, no matter how big, evil, and all powerful they may seem, from the ancient shapeshifting master strategist with her desire to destroy both earth and hell, or the multiversal corporate cosa nostra without emotion run as a profit and loss statement but with nearly endless resources or even the eternal Enemy whose role was defined in the veery First Story to repeat throughout eternity to destroy each and every alternate Earth, only to reincarnate and start over should he ever lose to the Paladin, just as it was written in the First Story… and once again it’s Faust fouling up the works, sticking his nose in those foul nasty places again and again, making sh** up as he goes flying by the seat of his pants … and still coming up Aces... Folks if you’re a Faust fan, this novel will “wow” you probably even more than his prior deeds. If you’re like me and a fan of the man blessed with both an incredible imagination and an always improving talent to put pen to paper like Mr. Schaeffer, then this novel will not only “Wow” you, but Schaeffer now finally takes out out his hammer and smashes you over the head until you realize that EVERYTHING is, and always has been, connected - flowing directly out of the First Story which is picking up steam and storming along with nothing to slow it down to the inevitable conclusion where the all powerful Enemy faces off against the fledging unprepared newly reincarnated Paladin who typically has little to no chance to save alter earths from destruction … well, until the Enemy chooses to destroy the earth which Dan Faust calls home, for himself and his ever growing family and boy do I feel bad for that Enemy guy…

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I read this book out of order with the concurrent Harmony Black series and frankly I'm glad I did. Had I read the Harmony Black Series first I would've wondered how and when and where Harmony would show up in the next book. Well, she won't. She was unceremoniously written out of the whole "Enemy" storyline and there won't be a huge arch that combines the two series like I had hoped. With that out of the way, I found this book to be the standard Daniel Faust affair. Only, technically he's in a different body, which was hard to wrap my head around because he still sounds, acts, and does everything pretty much as if he were in his own body. Personally I think if someone had put me into an older atrophied body, I'd be struggling with slow reflexes and bad eyes, or whatever, but not Daniel, he's got Hell on his side, or something.

I don't know, if you're on book 11 by this point, you know the drill. If you're just starting on Book 11, stop, none of this book will make any sense to you, not a single thing. Otherwise, fast, fun, but I feel like I'm reading a series of cliffhangers and I really would like to say that this book puts us closer to the end of The Enemy arc, but it doesn't, and I don't see the end of the Enemy coming anytime soon. So maybe that's great for some of you, maybe not for all of us. At least Daniel Faust's character isn't odious and obnoxious like some other magicians/sorcerers *cough*Dresden*Cough*

Also I am reading again, albeit, slowly, I have not found a lot of books or series I want to immerse myself in. So if any of you have any good suggestions, by all means, let me hear them. I'm not sure what I want to read, but all the old tropes feel tired, fantasy, YA, Zombies, all of it is tired. Martha Wells, Djèlí P Clark have been some amazing fantasy for me as of late, and I know Welles has a sequel coming to the Witch King, so, I'll just say I'm already waiting for more from those two. But If you've read anything that's really fun and way out there, just let me know. (As long as its not some LitRPG. I am over LitRPG)

[Dayanara Ryelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is weirder than what Heather usually writes (and that's saying something!) and I don't know how to rate it yet because I'm not finished.

One big error besides spelling Dan's apprentice's name as "Melnaie" in one chapter.

I had used [the teleportation device he was trying to enchant] exactly once, to escape my burning apartment when the Redemption Choir was trying to smoke me out, and vowed to never do it again.

Except there was no such device. It was either Canton's wand or his hat (I think the former), because I remember him trying to use it in Melanie's early days and failing, but then succeeding in the Ink factory. (Not a hundred percent sure it was the RC, either, unless it was RC 2.0.)

=7 May=
GAH! I hate rating one of my favorite authors badly! But this book is just not fun or exciting to me and just comes off as a pile of stuff created to reveal that Melanie is actually the pally and Dan successfully killed his brother.

But that doesn't mean I'll stop reading! In fact, the last Daniel book I gave a two was Double or Nothing (DF 7) and the one right after got a four. As a fellow writer, I know there are some chapters that I don't like sometimes, but I leave them because I don't want to reveal something important right then. Perhaps whole books can be that way, too.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: Dig Two Graves (Daniel Faust Book 11)
Author: Craig Schaefer

Rating: 5/5

Pages: 326

Also available on @amazonkindle - kindle unlimited

I was so sad to get to the end of this. I really didn't want it to end.

I didn't think it could get any better than down with the dead men but bloody hell!!!

I was taken on a twisty, turny, unpredictable journey with faust and the team. Unexpected temporary truces made. I have no idea how Craig comes up with some of these ideas.

The descriptions were flawless. I felt the mood of the characters and heartbreak with emotions when difficult decisions were made.

The first person and third person text are seamless, and you don't really notice the changes.

Another brilliant read!
I can't wait for the next instalment. I have no idea where the ending will go. I have no idea who will win. Another unexpected plot twist.

You really can't go wrong with Schaefer's books.

Have you read this book or series?
Will you give it a go?
What's your favourite urban fantasy book at the moment

[Hans · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was incredibly fun. A member of the family has been captured and so Daniel, Cait, Melanie and one unlikely "ally" they pick up along the way have to go on a rescue mission to horror town, quite literally.

And what starts out more like a side quest ends up having huge implications for what's to come in the next couple of novels. One plot string is more or less resolved and there are some major revelations, one of them being the identity of the Paladin. I'm very satisfied that my theory about who it might be ended up being true.

Also, while I liked Daniel's solotrip through hell in the previous book, I like it much more when he teams up with his friends and family. Daniel having a new body also wasn't half as awkward as it might have been, so all in all, great novel, next please.

[Jeannine Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth the wait!

I couldn't wait to read the next installment of Daniel's story and it did not disappoint! I love the blend of Sci-fi and fantasy that these books all have. Magic is science we don't have explanations for yet. I love the multi verse aspects of the main plot and the addition of Hell.
Daniel as a character has grown throughout the books and experiences, as showcased in the relationship with his brother. I'm a big horror movie fan, so this one had an added bonus!
I can't wait to see what is in store next.

[Tait · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Thrilling Ride with Daniel Faust

The latest installment in the Daniel Faust series does not disappoint. Daniel, with his signature morally grey persona, is as captivating as ever. The story is a quick, thrilling read that kept me hooked from start to finish. My only complaint? I wish it was longer! I can't wait to see what comes next in this exciting series. Highly recommended for fans and new readers alike.

[Val Ras · Rating 4 out of 5]

After quite a few books in this and other related series it becomes difficult to keep track of everything, especially if you have time breaks between. Still, kudos to the author for his imagination. Daniel Faust and his friends battle Naavarasi in worlds, created by her (worlds based on movies are pretty cool), to prevent the rakshasa from taking over everything by inserting herself in the book. Melanie turns out to be a Paladin destined to fight Enemy. Big war is ahead

[Anastaciya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I guessed 🙈
I had this thought on reread of the previous book, about who the Paladin was. At the beginning of this one, I guessed, and was correct, ha.
The plot itself, the pocket world, ah, I love such stories, this book was written for me.
As for Naavarasi's plan, I thought it would be something of the sort. I'm happy to be getting answers. But I think there's still more there...
Can't wait for the next installment.

[Patti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ooh, so twisty... I did not see that coming, well done! This story is very satisfying on it's own, but as a bonus things are left locked, loaded, and ready to launch even higher in the next book. (Sorry Craig, this is what you get for creating good stories -- fans with endless demands for The Next Book!)

Also, good reminder that Cait is actually a demon and I never want to go backpack shopping with her.

[Menzie Chase · Rating 5 out of 5]

this series keeps getting better

I’ve been reading these books since the beginning, as well as the associated series Harmony Black. This is such a rich world, with great characters who’ve all had lovely arcs of growth, and twisty plots, written with intelligence and humor. Highly recommend.

[wilfredo rodriguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Big Umiverse

When Stephen King wrote the Dark Tower books, he pulled all his universes to oppose Roland. It was a huge undertaking. Craig Schaefer has done the same with his current series of books with this episode of Faust tying in to Black's Right to Kill. A great story and I look forward to where we go from here.

[Lawrence FitzGerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good prose (salted with humor), good characterization, good world building (and an elaborate mythos), only an okay story this time (a trope too far), and a theme (the family you make).

Schaefer has to keep upping the stakes. He probably has a few more novels with Naavarasi and the Enemy. But how do you up the stakes from the world destroying Enemy? Guess we'll all find out.

[Tookie]

A character confirmed

While I liked having more of the apprentice in the story, it felt a little off based on how protective Daniel had been in previous books. I was glad to see my guess on the paladin confirmed.

[Anthony Wild · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another entertaining episode in the Daniel Faust saga.

I have always loved these books and find myself invested in the characters and the story. This is testament to the great writing - Cant wait for the next one or any of the books Craig writes!

A great book