Grave

Dark Kingdom #3

by Shantel Tessier

GRAVE
My life went to hell years ago, and I've had a death wish ever since then with fast cars, women, and drugs. They don't call me Grave for nothing!

But I do it because I need to feel something... anything. What's life worth living for without the high?

And then I saw her!

She's too good for me, and I should stay away. But like an addict, I switch one drug for another, and I'll be taking her to hell with me.

APRIL
I'm anything but sweet, despite what people think, so when he tells me I'm too good for him and I'm better off without him, I don't listen.

My life was simple before Grave stepped through that door, but who wants simple?

He makes me feel alive. It took one touch, and I became addicted!

But therein lies the problem. Addiction is Grave's middle name, and when he tells me he's taking me to hell with him, I don't know whether to take that as a threat or a promise!

Genres: Dark Romance, Dark, Romance, Mafia Romance, Contemporary Romance, Smut, Contemporary

354 pages, Hardcover

First published August 31, 2020

About the author

Shantel is a USA Today & Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author. She lives in Oklahoma with her high school sweetheart, who is a wonderful, supportive husband and their two daughters. She loves to spend time cuddled up on the couch with a good book. Although she has a passion to write, her family is most important to her.

Email her at: Shanteltessierassistant@gmail.com

Reviews

[Meredith Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grave is the second full length novel in the Dark Kings series by Shantel Tessier. This is Grave and April's story, which is spoken in multiple POV's. We first met Grave in Code of Silence and then again in Titan. Now Grave can be read as a standalone, but to get a better understanding of these characters, I would highly recommend reading the other two novels first.

My poor little heart ached for Grave. When he was a teen, he lost his mother, the only woman that he had ever loved. This really took a toll on him. Then he was stuck dealing with a father who was completely heartless. On top of that, his relationship with his older brother began to suffer. All of this left him feeling lost and alone, so he turned to alcohol, drugs, sex and fighting in order to mask the pain. As it turned out, all he needed was the love of a good woman. Someone to believe in him and fight for him.

April was in college when her mother passed away. Due to this, she had to drop out and move back home in order to take care of her wild and reckless younger brother. Not only that, she had to take over the family business, a flower shop called Roses. This was a lot of responsibility that left her both busy and often stressed out. But then one day a sexy, tattooed man with a heart of gold came into her shop and forever changed her world.

I absolutely loved Grave and April. She was the light to his darkness. She loved him deeply and was bound and determined to help him slay his demons. Their relationship was far from easy, but they were exactly what each other needed. The connection between them was instant and their chemistry was sizzling hot. But there were a lot of obstacles that had to be overcome. Thankfully they had their family and friends to help them along the way.

All in all, Grave is a fantastic addition to this emotional, raw and gritty series. The author does a wonderful job to illustrate the struggles that addicts deal with as well as how it affects the people around them. This story definitely tugs at your heart strings. It really packs a punch and I loved each and every second of it. I thoroughly enjoyed the first two books, but this one completely captured my heart. Grave and April are EVERYTHING! If only I could give this 10 stars I would. Well done Shantel!

[NiCoLeTa E. {Addicted To Books} · Rating 4 out of 5]

***4,5 "Fight for it, or let it go?" stars***

NOW LIVE!



"I'm just a druggie with a death wish..."

The truth is that I liked this book much better than "Titan" and it feels weird cause to be totally honest with you, Grave was the only one from the Kings that didn't intrigued me in the first book as much as the rest of this crew!!!
But, Shantel proved me wrong and i couldn't be more happy about that!!!

"Why do you do it?"
"To feel alive."

Well, this story touched me very deeply...
My heart was breaking over and over again for Grave!!!
That poor man!!! He wasn't as cruel and tough as the rest of the guys!!! He had so many feelings inside of him and he was suppressing them over and over again and his only weird and unhealthy solution to face them was drugs and reckless behavior
They were saying that he had a death wish and in a way, they weren't wrong!!!
Grave was a man full of addictions and then he met April and she became one of them!!!

"I'm an addict to many things. None of which are good."

"She's become my new addiction. I've never restricted myself when it came to drugs and alchool, so why would I do that with her?"

April was a regular girl!!! A sweet and loving girl with many problems and after meeting Grave, her problems became much more.... and even though, she knew that Grave wasn't the right man for her, she couldn't resist him...
Will she be able to become his number one??
Will she manage to make him realize that he could live without all this adrenaline rush and drugs in his life???
Will she be enough for someone like Grave, even though she worth even more than he has to offer her???

"Do you like him enough to fight for him?"

Well, i really liked this story!!!
Grave was stubborn and an addict, but i really liked him... He had a kind soul, even though it was broken and that was something that made him loveable in my eyes...
My heart was aching for his struggles...
April was a lovely girl and she was the right one to help him...
Love can conquer all, after all... Or not???

"For once in my life I'm ashamed of who I am. But I know I can be better. For her. For us."

Well, honestly, I can not wait for more of these crew...
I'm already much intrigued by Bones and Cross...
And of course, i can not wait for Nite's turn!!!!
Please, Shantel!!! Give us Nite's book!!! I need it!!!

"I've always had a death wish, but for once I have something to live for."

*ARC provided in exchange of an honest review.*

[Keri Loves Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

This sexy as sin, tattooed King is going to wreck you in the best way. You are going to fall hard for Grave. An alpha and protector to his core, he’s exactly what the purple haired beauty needed. Together they would save each other.

Grave is a hot mess. He is on a downward spiral to oblivion. The world is at his fingertips, yet he is ruining his life. He has so much heart, he just loses his way. Then he meets the girl at the floral shop.

April owns her own business and she takes care of her younger brother. Her brother is constantly in trouble and heading down the wrong path. She’s struggling to help him and keep the business afloat. Then he walks into her shop.

Their attraction is instant. The connection is intense. Their chemistry is explosive and totally consuming. Neither of their lives is simple.

Grave replaces one addiction for another and when reality bursts his happy bubble, he hits rock bottom. April needs to decide whether she’s all in or if she’s ready to cut her losses.

This was an emotional story that touched on sensitive subjects. Real struggles that an addict faces and a love that heals. I enjoyed April and Grave’s love story. It wasn’t an easy path. They both endured heartache to come out of it stronger. Together they can conquer anything.

The Kings are powerful. They are business partners, but they are also family. They take care of their own. You’ll see their bond and watch their circle expand. These men are finding love and creating their own families. Each King has his own strengths and weaknesses and I look forward to the next.
.

[Bookishness · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐️

[booksneedcaffeinetoo · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was trash. And not in a good way.

This whole review is SPOILERS so don’t read it if you don’t want to read my spoilery rant.

1.5/5 stars

I was all excited to see where the author would take this series. I thought TITAN was just okay, but I liked the premise. I was really hoping that this book would show us more do the crime lifestyle. But that’s not what we got.

Instead we got a book with poorly handled addiction. And while he does have thoughts constantly about addiction, they more so are ‘april is my new addiction, I don’t need drugs any more’ bs. The dude has been an addict for YEARS. He’s gonna have not only an addiction to how it makes him feel but literally a chemical addiction that will make his body crave the drugs even if his mind doesn’t. This is never addressed or thought about. Even the rehab stint was so weirdly handled with no details or mentions of withdrawals. Also with how much he used, he would be going through withdrawal within a week. So that whole ‘week sober bc of April’ stuff without feeling any withdrawal symptoms isn’t accurate.

Also it has poorly handled sexual assault and suicide. I mean Grave is literally drugged and sexually assault by Lucy who we then are supposed to feel compassion for because she felt guilty after and tried to kill herself? Sorry, but I don’t feel sympathy for sexual assaulters. It seems like the suicide was there just to make her a sympathetic character. And then April and Grave have to save the day?!?! Like can you imagine having your girlfriend make you save the life of the girl who sexually assaulted you?!? And like of course Grave will have mixed emotions about Lucy after what was done considering he’s known her for years. And then as if that wasn’t bad enough, then Lucy gets raped and murdered after?!?!? What was literally the point of any of that sexual assault and suicide?!? You could’ve added drama in a better way. Then again, going off how the author handled sexual assault in TITAN and SLAUGHTER I really shouldn’t be surprised....but I am.

And as someone who has read (but not reviewed) a fuckton of dark romance, uh this isn’t it. I just wish the author would lean more into the crime, the violence, the murder, hell even toss in some stereotypical dark romance tropes by keeping the love interest captive or something. But instead she includes a ton of sexual assault and suicide attempts to make it ‘dark and gritty.’ I’m okay with reading dubcon in the context of dark romance, but this isn’t even that. *sigh* I guess I’m in the minority here, because her books all have glowing reviews....

And why the fuck was Ethan such a catalyst character only to be forgotten about in the second half and then pop up in the epilogue?! I was expecting Grave to be a mentor/scare it straight character for Ethan. Almost like a ‘dont end up like me’ type of mentorship but that wasn’t ever addressed. Nor was why Ethan kept going to the airport nor why Ethan stole Grave’s drugs. He just magically became a model citizen? Why was he such a little shit only for us not to see how he stopped being a little shit?!

Also what is Emilee going to do when Bones gets his own book? Or is Bone’s book making their relationship poly? I get that their relationship works for them, even if it seems like Titan’s book was really Bones’s book (I mean I felt more love between them than I did Titan and Emilee. Which is confusing when you’re rooting for the ex and not the ‘love interest’...). All I can think about is how Emilee is going to be super jealous when Bones leaves her. Because she loves both of them, right? And will she be happy with just Titan at the end or feel like something is missing in their relationship? I really thought their three way in TITAN was a one time thing... (which considering how possessive Titan is, I still struggle getting how he would be cool with Bones participating not just watching....?) I mean if they’re happy then go for it. I’m just wondering how this will cause a fuck ton of issues for Bone’s girl. (Unless they go full poly in that book.)

And why did Grave never admit to April that his mom is dead? And why did April replace her bestie with Jasmine so easily? And why does Jasmine have 3+ dudes completely falling for her? I mean they all seem head over heels? Idk I just want Nite’s book already. But preferably not with Jasmine. If she gets a book I want it to be with a guy we haven’t met yet! Sorry my pet peeve is when characters all inter-date. Like branch out some! Plus Jasmine would need a dude completely focused on her, and Nite is a mafia bodyguard basically, so family comes first for him. Idk if they would be a good fit?

How Grave found out about the pregnancy was so melodramatic. I felt like I was reading a soap opera.

This book has potential to be so good. I loved the added aspect of the Airport, of the fighting, of Ethan being a little shit in over his head, of the mentions of art, the drama with the shop, a jealous ex. BUT it never fully leaned into the crime. It had poor addiction, sexual assault, and mental health rep. Characters disappeared and came at random intervals. I wanted the subplots to be further explored and for that whole sexual assault/suicide/murder thing to be handled better or not at all. The drama in this book feels so OTT. I wanted to feel the love between April and Grave, but all of their scenes together were literally them just fucking or riding in a car. They barely had any conversations. At least in TITAN the characters new each other for years. They had a past. They talked and didn’t just fuck. This book they rarely spent time together. Idk I didnt see enough interactions between them to see why they liked each other beyond they were hot lol.

I do appreciate how there were so many cameos of other characters, but I felt like they were just name dropped. Their scenes were all short, and basically were just them just partying. I wish we had gotten more in-depth conversations between the girls like we (sort of, barely) got with the boys. And I also wish that we got more Grave/Bones interactions.

Anyways. Petty rant over. I’ll probably read the next one and just hope there is more crime. Like don’t tell me the Kings are scary and criminals SHOW ME.


Content Warnings and Trigger Warnings: suicide, drug use, sexual assault, rape, over dose, emesis, violence,

[Mihaela]

i really hope jasmine is not one of these guys's heroine. i don't mind a sexually active heroine but she would sleep with anything in sight. it was bad enough Titan got one whore

[The Romantic Rush Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grave to me felt like a gamble (excuse the Vegas-themed pun)- I wasn’t sure how connected I could feel to him after Titan, not sure how much I could stomach a painful story about addiction and self-destruction. But the gamble more than paid off, this book totally consumed me from start to finish, and Grave stole my heart.

Grave’s name isn’t coincidence- for years he’s been living his life like his only goal is to end up in an early one. Adrenaline chaser, addict, ne’er do well, womanizer, addict- these are all words those that love him would use to describe him. So much so that they’ve consumed his identity- even his own brother can’t see beyond his actions to recognize them for what they are- a cry for help. The signs of a deeply wounded man who is doing whatever he can to siphon off all his emotions into destructive behavior. A man who feels already dead- so he’s doing whatever he can to feel alive again, or if not, to numb himself further. Because for Grave, it is easier to give into his urges than to try to confront his lostness, his loneliness- and much easier to perpetually disappoint everyone around him than to try to live into his potential. This is a man who is coping by taking the easy way out. Because nothing has made him care enough to break out of that pattern.

Until April. Until he meets a petite, purple haired florist who hasn't had it easy, who is drowning in family responsibility, but who somehow is so refreshingly hopeful, compassionate, and sweet- a beautiful flower, an unexpected work of art that Grave can’t stay away from. But she’s also a fighter- Grave sees her fight for her brother, her business, and soon she does something that no one, not even his brother, has done- she fights FOR him. She won’t give up on him- no matter how messy things get. Her strength, her love ground Grave in a way that no one else does, and all of a sudden he realizes her love is healing him- it’s therapeutic, restorative, redemptive for him. She gives him something that he feels like no one else has- unconditional love.

These two fall into an easy, sweet, and surprisingly vulnerable relationship- a stark contrast to the darkness of book one’s romance, and certainly unexpected given the darkness surrounding not just Grave, but his Kingdom life. Grave soon discovers something makes him feel alive more than his drug addiction- loving, and being loved. Of course, Grave’s turbulent and toxic world finds ways to start bleeding back in, and he’s forced to face his demons once and for all. And the biggest obstacle of all? Himself. What can and will he conquer to be with his purple haired salvation?

GRAVE stole my whole heart. Unequivocally. He was totally unexpected, and I could not love him more. He feels more than anyone- the sweet boy is still grieving the trauma of losing his mother. Nothing has been the same since. Shantel delightfully defies tropes here- he’s a tatted, scary man with a foreboding name and a bad reputation- but he’s a bleeding heart. She lets him be so emotionally transparent- so vulnerable. There is a refreshing authenticity to him- no matter what Grave does, it is genuine, and I loved his sweetness, his altruism and gentleness under his bravado. Somehow the king with the darkest name has the lightest soul.

And April was so lovable. She’s a passionate caregiver. She, too, was such a genuine character- it is no wonder she was able to so seamlessly integrate and connect with all the complex characters in Grave’s world. She has fortitude, but with soft edges. And she accepts Grave for who he is. That doesn’t mean she lets him off the hook, she demands the treatment she deserves, she demands him be his best self, because in accepting him she sees him. THE REAL him. I loved them SO much together. Their chemistry is SCORCHING, but also just so intimate and swoony. They magnify the best in each other. t is SO endearing!

One of the best treats about this story, though, is watching the Kings function as a family. And this is a huge part of Grave’s redemption. Because this is not only a story about healing, it is also about the powerful love of a family unit. Fan favorite Jasmine plays a key role in this story, and we get glimpses of other favorites like Luca, Nite, and Haven. Titan, however- is the real MVP- the way he shows up for his chosen brother is profound. And where we landed with Bones left me even more excited to crack open his head. Cross,too, remains an interesting enigma. Plus, we get a new family of brothers in the Mason that has me obsessed hoping for a spin-off because they are fascinating.

Somehow amongst the seedy Vegas underworld and the dark and gritty intensity of this Kingdom world, Shantel created an unexpectedly sweet story about the light of healing and family. Grave has to discover that he is worth love- and at first he thinks April’s love is enough to heal him, but then he discovers the most important truth- the turning point for any addict- that HE has to love himself enough to change, that he has to invest in himself in order to live. Grave does not disappoint- it is engrossing, riveting, so sexy, and surprisingly tender. Unexpected but powerful. And Grave now owns a piece of my soul. This Kingdom world keeps getting better and better!

[Greta]

3,5✨

[Jennifer Hinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m an addict to many things. None of which are good.




Grave is the second installment of the Dark Kings series, featuring an emotional story of addiction, love, loss, recovery, & redemption. Kyle “Grave” Reed lives a fast life of women, drugs, fighting, & power.... being one of the four Kings that run Vegas, he has no intentions of slowing down anytime soon when the world is his for the taking. That all changes when florist April Davis enters his life and gives him something to look forward to past one night. In order to have a future with the one woman he wants it with, he must face painful realities and that’s easier said than done. Will Grave lose out on his shot at HEA or find the strength to fight for it all?

“I’ve always had a death wish, but for once I have something to live for.”

The Dark Kings series is the only good thing that came out of Code of Silence for me (okay, also a few support characters but you get my point), so when Titan’s book was such a letdown I wanted to throw my Kindle out the window. Don’t get me wrong, I loved Titan but I hated the story he was given. Nevertheless, I’m not a quitter and I had high hopes that Grave would be a winner for me....after all, I’m a fan of the more heart wrenching stories and this one had the ingredients to deliver. Grave’s journey is a shining example of why I love the messy addiction stories the most because when done right they pull emotions from me that typical romance cannot. I still can’t stop thinking about this book, it made that much of an impact. Grave wasn’t my favorite King going into this series but through him Shantel delivered my favorite book of hers EVER and one that will be hard to top for both Cross & Bones.


Book Facts:
Told in: Dual POV, all present day with 1-2 segments written from a third character’s POV.
Type? Interconnected stand-alone in series that features a new couple in each installment within the same “world”.
Triggers: Drug addiction, drug overdose, suicide attempts, rape/sexual assault, torture & violence.
Ends in: HFN-ending for couple with overall story continuing with Cross up next.

The Main Players:
Kyle “Grave” Reed: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2
“It’s no secret why Kyle Reed is known as Grave. The guy has a death wish. He’s an adrenaline junkie.”

April Davis: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“I’ve never met anyone like her before. She’s the exact opposite of me. Full of life. Breath of fresh air. Talented.”


What I liked:
⭐️Get ready for a lengthy “likes” section bc it’s been far too long since the last time I had this many positive points to make.⭐️

❤️ Addiction is such a difficult subject to focus on in romance, it must be done respectfully & as authentic as possible for it to have the impact necessary for it to work. Shantel was able to skillfully write Grave’s addiction in such a way that I felt I was an active person in his life. From his POV as well as April’s, he doesn’t have the “normal” face/life of an addict so it’s easy to see how so many just saw it as either heavy partying or didn’t see it at all. His denial up until the very moment it’s impossible to do so anymore makes the realization that much more heartbreaking.....
He shatters my heart with three words. “To feel alive.”

.....it was so powerful and was able to give a glimpse of one of the many aspects of addiction.

❤️ Their romance may not have showcased how the deeper elements that played a role in how they came to “love”, but I think it did a better job at showcasing a love between a genuinely good person and an addict who loved her yet didn’t know how to be what she deserved bc he didn’t love himself. I feel like it showcased both the fun & excitement as well as the distrust & disappointment that came with being with someone like Grave. I think that sometimes we don’t need to visually see the love bloom to believe it, bc I had no problem believing in these two.

❤️ Not only was she able to handle Grave’s addiction well, the way she used it as a tool to unify her characters & finally show the family aspect of this group while also showcasing the first true emotions I felt coming from any of these characters (in support roles) was pulled off exceptionally well. I loved how we get to see the different ways it affects those around him.....
“I kneeled on a floor last night, Grave. And I begged you to open your eyes. I cried for you not to be dead.” I choke out. “Do you know what that feels like?”

....and how they handle or deal with it.....
“You know, we both lost a mother,” he starts, and a knot instantly forms in my throat. “But you know what else I lost?” I don’t answer. “A brother. A best friend.” I swallow. “I lost you the day that we buried Mom. And I’ve been losing you every day since to your addiction.”
It added another layer of emotionality to an already raw storyline.

❤️ One of the most crucial elements of a successful series is how interesting/likable the support characters are (otherwise why continue to read a series of characters you don’t like). Since I first met her in Code of Silence, Jasmine has been my fave Shantel character ever....I get that some readers think she’s obnoxious but I love the crude unfiltered humor she brings to every book.....
“I tried. I’m not tequila. I can’t make everyone happy.” “Tequila makes me want to fight,” I say. “Then tequila it is.” Jasmine claps her hands.

..... and getting a glimpse of who her potential HEA could involve it was an added bonus. But the surprise new fave for me was Bones. I haven’t been his biggest fan (I didn’t hate him though), but it took his baby brother’s installment to show me he’s the kind of deliciousness I can’t wait to dive into.....
Trey steps up to the barrel. “Are you going to start a war over a whore?” he asks. My brother cocks the gun. “Are you?”

.....I’m so ready for his installment.

❤️ But what might be the “surprise” obsession that came from this series involves the Mason Brothers. They aren’t good guys and yet I already have an unhealthy need for more.

When I found out they have their own spin off coming I was more excited than I have been in a while. Those three have the potential to be my faves of 2021.

❤️ And finally, it takes a very special storyteller to be able to create an unredeemable villain yet force you to sympathize and genuinely “feel” for that character. Shantel does that very thing in this book in such a phenomenal way that it resulted in genuine tears from me twice where this particular character is concerned.....
I open my arms, and she all but falls into me. “I really am sorry.” She begins to softly cry. “I just wanted him to love me like that. Like I loved him.”


What I didn’t:
🖤 Grave’s eyebrow ring because come on.....

.....it’s a rarity that this type of piercing actually looks sexy on a man (not saying it doesn’t ever) and it’s a very outdated piercing. I’m not with it.


The Verdict:

Grave was the reminder I needed where Shantel is concerned, showing me just why I run & download release after release of hers. It was the perfect mix of emotionally raw & messiness and exciting & delicious.....Grave gave me a story that not only can I fully recommend, but one I urge you to download. With it now sitting at the top spot of her entire collection (that I’ve read), I cannot wait to see her attempt to top this again and again.....it’s going to be nearly impossible to beat.


“I destroyed me. I destroyed us. But I promise you, I’m going to be better. I owe you that.”

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5-4 stars

We Could Be Sinners, Just For One Day
*arc generously provided by the promo team in exchange for an honest review*

What’s this book about? (I'm trying to give as little spoilers as possible)
Grave is an addict.
April is a simple girl.
They meet and something changes within him.
It's supposed to be easy, but their love goes through the ringer. Who's going to be the last one standing once they come out of hell?

Another Tess Tess book that I was eagerly awaiting. The story was definitely fast-paced and worthwhile. The world-building continued and I must say that the more I read of this family/group of friends, the more I love them.
I liked the lead characters as entities, but I wasn't able to connect and relate to them as much as characters of the previous books. The first 30% were there for a reason, but it wasn't convincing enough to make me care in the end. It just felt like 30% of the story were 'wasted' on sth other than the heroine and the hero's relationship. Their connection was immediate and it was certainly lovely. They bonded over certain situations and I rooted for them. They were cute. Their story was addictive, but not as addictive as the previous stories. The characters had potential to be even deeper, but I feel like we only scratched the surface. Situations in this story could've been dealt with better and more extensively. I still recommend this to people who love the entire series because this book had lots of cameos and important roles for characters we're familiar with.

ORIGINAL COMMENT:
I liked the characters, but I didn't connect as much with them as I did with the characters of the other books. The first 30% could've been arranged differently I feel. It was an enjoyable read, but it wasn't my favorite.

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[Michelle L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn't a review but a comment based on a previous comment. The page kept saying that something went wrong when I tried to comment on it.

**SPOILER ALERT**

So correct me if I'm wrong, but these books blatantly and repeatedly address that fact that the men basically use women left and right but SHE'S the whore? Em slept with like 3 guys, one of which was her bang buddy for YEARS so she wasn't exactly sleeping around. I think we can all agree George is a s.o.b., and Titan - he gets his dream girl. I realize these are fictional stories, and I'm no feminist, but this judgement is total and complete b.s. These guys have banged, and will bang, practically anyone they want; but yes forgive me, my bad, she's the whore. Glad to at least see the approval of a sexually active heroine though. Oh wait, that's not approval considering they're being called whores. Even better to see that the dated mindset stills holds up for "boys will be boys", but the women are free to be judged as sluts. Cause we've all only slept with one person EVER right??? And wouldn't books be great if all the single women who were never married were virgins? Sounds pretty frikin boring to me. But I'm guessing by those antiquated standards that probably makes a lot of us readers WHORES.

[Leah City of Words and Pages · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grave ist der zweite Band in der „Dark Kings“ Reihe. Ich habe das Buch jetzt gelesen, da im August der dritte Band rauskommt.

Ich mag das Mafia Setting, welches die Autorin hier geschaffen hat, aber ihre High School/College Geschichten gefallen mir noch etwas besser.
Der Schreibstil sowie die Erzählweise sind einfach jedes Mal klasse!
Ich fliege immer wieder nur so durch die Seiten. Es zieht sich an keiner Stelle und es passiert jedes Mal etwas interessantes, wodurch man auch weiterlesen will.
Dadurch mochte ich ebenfalls den Handlungsverlauf, wobei mir das zwischen den Protagonisten am Anfang etwas zu schnell ging.

Grave tat mir eigentlich das ganze Buch über sehr leid. Seine Vergangenheit hat keine schöne Seiten und auch sein Alkohol- und Drogenproblem ist manchmal nichts für schwache Nerven.
April ist irgendwie ein Sonnenschein. Sie war loyal, freundlich und einfach eine angenehme Person.

Ich freue mich schon auf Teil drei, aber am meisten interessieren mich eigentlich Jasmine und Bones. 🙋🏼‍♀️

Ich habe ein Exemplar von „Grave“ von der Bloggergruppe der Autorin zugeschickt bekommen. Vielen Dank dafür!

[Hallie Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book .. if I could give it more than 5 stars, I honestly would.. this book gave me a ride of emotions… I’m talking anger, sadness, literal tightness in my chest and throat at one moment but ending with happiness!

Maybe it’s because the storyline itself hits SO close to home. Mother died, younger brother becomes an addict who literally has a death wish, gets a girl pregnant, fucks shit up.. there just happened to be an overall happy ending for this brother with that girl .. my brother took another girl to find that with. Again, partial storyline that felt close to home the entire ride.

But by far my favourite of the series so far - I honestly have a good hunch it WILL be my favourite of the series.

[Gina Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grave and April Book 3 of The Dark King Series. Please check your TW. 3/5 🌶️. Grave gets his name honest, he’s a bad boy who seems to have a death wish. Can April save him or is she just another addiction. This storyline made me cry, it was a very emotional read for me. Reading it, I thought this was going to be predictable, nope not at all. I will say it that the story seemed rushed by the ending, maybe I just wanted more. I absolutely love this series. While it’s not my favorite book in the series, I still highly recommend it.

[Kandace Denys (bookish_kayy) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up

This next installment in the Dark Kings is full of real world struggles. Grave is a man with a death wish. April is someone put directly in his path for reasons unknown to him.
I love this group of characters, catching up a little with characters from previous books, and I’m taking bets on what’s next in the series.
I wouldn’t classify this as being too dark, but it definitely hit home with some tough subjects.
Overall, another good read from Tessier.

[Abstract ♥ Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

ALL MY REVIEWS CAN BE FOUND ON MY BLOG: ABSTRACT BOOKS





' Grave ' is the second book of the 'Dark Kings' series by the best selling author Shantel Teisser. Told in dual perspectives , get ready to meet the king with a death wish and the girl who gave him a reason to Live!

After reading Titan , Grave's book was one of my most anticipated books of this year! Grave was a mystery for me and I desperately wanted to know his reasons of why he was the way he was. And the author sure did not disappoint me! I loved this thrilling story !

Grave in one of the 4 Dark Kings. Ever since his mother's death , he has drowned himself in drugs and Girls to forget the pain. He doesn't care about his life , and likes to play with death. There is afterall a reason , why he is called Grave. That is until an angel with purple hair , smashes into his life and gives him a reason to Live!

April has not always had an easy life. After her mother's death , she took over her flower shop and dropped from college to look over her younger brother. Until on day , she meets Grave. Both of them are immediately drawn towards each other and I loved the chemistry they had. That is until her brother goes and fucks everything up. He gets into trouble , which lands April into trouble and she is forced to go to grave for help. Grave already being obsessed with the pretty flower girl , agrees to help her. Soon they both form an unbreakable bond and find themselves falling in love too fast.

But grave has many demons of his past. A past that April has no idea about. His addictions cause problems between them, and now it is upto Grave whether he can fight his destructive wants to be with the women be desperately loves.

This book was an amazing ride for me. I loved getting to know the Youngest of the Kings and being in his mind was an absolute pleasure for me! This book is a definite recommendation to all the dark Romance lovers out there!


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[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely LOVED Grave! Books that touch on tough topics like dealing with addiction always pull me in. Dealing with such a dark topic can be hard for readers to connect to, but I've always found them more captivating. Grave was every single bit of that and more. The connection between these two felt so real. Her reactions to him in certain situations, you FEEL those because you remember in in your mind a time when you felt like this about a guy (trying not to give spoilers in this instance lol). One of my favorite Shantel books for sure!! This series just keeps getting better!!

[The MasqueReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! Shantel turned my thoughts about Grave around quickly! I started this book because I love the Dark Kings but I was NOT expecting to love Grave!

I wasn’t quite sure where Shantel Tessier was going to take us with Grave’s book. After briefly meeting him in Code of Silence and actually getting to know who he APPEARED to be to everyone around him in Titan’s book, I wasn’t that into his character. After reading his story, I can tell you that knowing his inner thoughts make a huge difference in how you feel about him. You can never truly know someone based solely on their actions. You see what they let you see. There is so much about this character hidden beneath the surface.

Grave meets April by sheer chance and their journey is not easy in any way. Even though their connection was almost instant, Grave is an addict and we all know that is a hard life. Not only to live and survive but also for a loved one to remain by an addicts side through all the pain and tough times.

It took me a couple chapters to get into the book but once I did I was so glad I stuck with it. It has the perfect mixture of darkness, sexiness and love that I enjoy! I was able to get to know a character that hadn’t appealed to me prior to starting it and leaving the last page loving him and his path.



♥️This world!!
**Luca; who you get a glimpse of in this book, has his own standalone - Code of Silence.

Dark Kings (series of standalones)
-Titan
-Grave
-Cross (coming soon)
-Bones (coming soon)

**Nite will also be getting his own book! ♥️♥️♥️

[Madigan F · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5���️ 2/5🌶️

I really enjoyed Grave, it was an easy, fast read. The relationship between Grave and April was gratifying, it was nice to have a relationship that wasn’t all about being rough in the Dark Kingdom series and there was a great redemption arc. The only thing that bugged me a bit was the mention of specific brands, such as the type and model of car and clothing, it just felt unnecessary.

[Heather 'Confessions Of A Bibliophile' Creighton · Rating 5 out of 5]

☠️💜 𝓒𝓸𝓷𝓯𝓮𝓼𝓼𝓲𝓸𝓷𝓼 𝓞𝓯 𝓐 𝓑𝓲𝓫𝓵𝓲𝓸𝓹𝓱𝓲𝓵𝓮 𝓡𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀 💜☠️

Grave , book two in the Dark Kings Series by Shantel Tessier . Told in dual POV, we first met Grave and the rest of the sexy as sin boys from the dark and delicious world of 'Kingdom' in Code of Silence . We got to know him a little more in book one of the Dark Kings Series, Titan .

❝𝐾𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑑𝑜𝑚 𝑑𝑜𝑒𝑠𝑛'𝑡 𝑑𝑒𝑎𝑙 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑜𝑟 𝑠ℎ𝑖𝑡. 𝐹𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒, 𝑤𝑒 𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑘 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒 𝑎 𝑙𝑒𝑔𝑖𝑡 ℎ𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑙 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑐𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑜 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ ℎ𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑑𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠, 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝑜𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒, 𝑤𝑒'𝑟𝑒 𝑎𝑠 𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑘 𝑎𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑢𝑐𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑙𝑑 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑔𝑜.❞

Although Grave is standalone, I suggest checking out Code of Silence and Titan , or at the very least Titan , to better understand the world these guys live in and get to know some of the characters that you'll meet in Grave .

❝𝐼'𝑚 𝑎𝑛 𝑎𝑑𝑑𝑖𝑐𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑦 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑠. 𝑁𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑤ℎ𝑖𝑐ℎ 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑔𝑜𝑜𝑑.❞

Grave's is an addict with a deathwish. He's a reckless adrenaline junkie that's on a fast track to his own grave.

But life changes when he randomly walks into a quaint little flower shop and meets the purple-haired beauty that runs the place.

❝𝑌𝑜𝑢 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑤ℎ𝑎𝑡 ℎ𝑒 𝑛𝑒𝑒𝑑𝑠. 𝑌𝑜𝑢'𝑟𝑒 𝑔𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑠𝑎𝑣𝑒 ℎ𝑖𝑚 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 ℎ𝑖𝑚𝑠𝑒𝑙𝑓.❞

April not only owns the flower shop that was left to her after her Mom passed away but she also takes care of her younger brother, Ethan.

Ethan is a troubled teen and when he steps into Grave's dark and gritty world of Vegas, fate steps in and causes April and Grave to cross paths once again...

❝𝑆ℎ𝑒’𝑠 𝑏𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑚𝑦 𝑛𝑒𝑤 𝑎𝑑𝑑𝑖𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛. 𝐼’𝑣𝑒 𝑛𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑚𝑦𝑠𝑒𝑙𝑓 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑖𝑡 𝑐𝑎𝑚𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑑𝑟𝑢𝑔𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑎𝑙𝑐𝑜ℎ𝑜𝑙, 𝑠𝑜 𝑤ℎ𝑦 𝑤𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝐼 𝑑𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ ℎ𝑒𝑟?❞

Sooo I wasn't sure what to think about this one when I first started. It wasn't until about the 30 percent mark when things started to kick off, but once they did, I was completely hooked! I finished this book in just a few hours, completely devoured it! Grave and April were most definitely insta-lust, I'm not sure about insta-love, but they were most definitely smitten right from the very start and their chemistry made this read soo much hotter! They had only met a couple of times before the next thing you know they were up against a wall making out. The story just took right on off from there.

❝𝑆ℎ𝑒'𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑏𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑑𝑟𝑢𝑔 𝐼'𝑣𝑒 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑡𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑑. 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑏𝑒𝑠𝑡 ℎ𝑖𝑔ℎ 𝐼'𝑣𝑒 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑑.❞

I love that April was a "break the mold" kind of girl, she had her own sense of style and was the type that danced to her own drum. But yet she was also really laid back and had her head on her shoulders. Running the flower shop and doing her best to keep Ethan out of trouble.

Kyle Reed (A.K.A Grave), the youngest heir to the Kingdom and probably the most troubled. If ever there was a character misunderstood, it would be Grave. An addict? Yes. But he's soo much more than that. He's fiercely protective and would do anything for the people that he loves and cares about. He has more money and power then he even knows what to do with but his past continues to haunt him so to numb the pain he turns to drugs. Grave was on a fast track to the grave until he meets April. Who would have thought that walking into a flower shop just may save his life...

❝𝐴𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑙 𝑖𝑠 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑚𝑒. 𝑆ℎ𝑒'𝑠 𝑚𝑦 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦. 𝑀𝑦 𝑙𝑜𝑣𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑚𝑦 ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑙. 𝑆ℎ𝑒'𝑠 𝑔𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑜 ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑝 𝑚𝑒 𝑓𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑚𝑦 𝑑𝑒𝑚𝑜𝑛𝑠 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦 𝑑𝑎𝑦 𝑏𝑦 𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑚𝑒 𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑜𝑓 ℎ𝑒𝑟.❞

Shantel Tessier did an amazing job on this one. The plot, the main characters as well as the supporting characters, the romance, and steam... AMAZING! I love that she not only showed the POV of an addict or someone with addictions but she also showed the POV of the people who love and care about them. One of my favorite things about the story is that Grave actually went and sought out the help that he so desperately needed by going to a treatment center, instead of the age-old, "love saved him and now he's all better" that we see so often in books. I'm a recovering addict (5 years clean and sober, YAY!) so I appreciate Tessier soooo much for that and understanding that there is a whole lot more needed to overcoming addiction than just love.

❝𝑆ℎ𝑒'𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑜𝑛𝑙𝑦 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝐼 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤 𝐼 𝑐𝑎𝑛'𝑡 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑡. 𝐼 𝑛𝑒𝑒𝑑 ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑦 ℎ𝑖𝑡 𝐼'𝑣𝑒 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑐𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑑.❞

Grave is not an easy read. There are a lot of tender and loving moments but there are also some heartbreaking moments. But I assure you, you still won't be able to stop turning those pages to see what happens next.

❝𝐼 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑚𝑖𝑠𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝐼'𝑚 𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠, 𝐴𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑙. 𝐴𝑟𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑒?❞

I can not wait to see what else Shantel Tessier has in store for us in the Kingdom world. I am REALLY looking forward to Grave's big brother, Bones, story! If you enjoy dark romance in an organized crime type of world, then I highly recommend checking out Grave as well as the rest of the Dark Kings Series.



🌪🌪 𝓒𝓵𝓲𝓯𝓯𝓱𝓪𝓷𝓰𝓮𝓻 𝓦𝓪𝓻𝓷𝓲𝓷𝓰: No cliffhanger. Grave and April's story wraps up beautifully. BUT, there is plenty more to come from the dark and devious world of Kingdom so I'll give Grave two cliffhanger tornadoes for what's to come!

❝𝑆ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑢𝑚𝑒𝑠 𝑚𝑒 𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑦 𝑑𝑟𝑢𝑔 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑑𝑖𝑑.❞

⚠️ 𝓣𝓻𝓲𝓰𝓰𝓮𝓻 𝓦𝓪𝓻𝓷𝓲𝓷𝓰: There are difficult subjects that could be considered triggers. I.e drugs, fighting, addiction, etc. If you would like to know more about what those subjects are, feel free to DM me!

❝𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑙𝑜𝑣𝑒 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟𝑓𝑢𝑙 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑦 𝑑𝑟𝑢𝑔 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑡𝑎𝑘𝑒. 𝐼'𝑣𝑒 𝑎𝑙𝑤𝑎𝑦𝑠 ℎ𝑎𝑑 𝑎 𝑑𝑒𝑎𝑡ℎ 𝑤𝑖𝑠ℎ, 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝐼 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑜 𝑙𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟.❞

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[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been a while since I've been in this world, so it took me a bit to remember the players. I really liked Graves for a good portion of this one, but not so much towards the end of the book. Same with April. I liked her till I didn't.

I think it was how some of these things felt dragged out. Everything that happened towards the end, was just too much. The extra angst hurt the book, honestly.

I also didn't understand all the tears for Lucy. In any other mafia book, she would've been punished severely.

I'm still going to give this one 4 stars, because I still love this author's writing.

[Mandyloves2read · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the second installment of the Dark Kings series and what a sexy emotional story it is . Grave is an adrenaline junky and addicted to anything that will numb him . April is just a spunky purple haired florist who’s trying to make ends meet for her and her brother . This is a story about the power of addiction and the power of love . This was a sexy steamy emotional romance I absolutely love Grave he’s probably my favorite out of the Kings but we’ll see his brothers story is still to come . Overall this is a fantastic book ! Definite must read and definitely gets my 5 stars! I absolutely love these characters that Shantel Tessier creates and her stories are always a addicting page turner for me and this one was no different! She is definitely one of my favorite one click authors and can’t wait to see what else she has in store for us with these characters and this world of the Dark Kings !

** I voluntarily reviewed an advanced complimentary copy of this book **

[All Booked Out · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Grave is the second book in the Dark Kings series and although I was hoping for Bones’ story to be told next, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I grew to adore the sad and albeit broken Graves and the selfless and feisty April.

Grave has always felt too much and after being told for most of his life to turn off his emotions, he does everything he can to numb them. That is until he meets April. A bright and refreshing light in his dark and numb world. Seriously, these two’s chemistry was magnetizing. I was drawn in from their first interaction and nothing could pull me away from experiencing their struggles, vulnerabilities and love alongside them.

This book had such a different feel to it then the first. To me personally this book wasn’t as intense, and action filled, but I loved it, nonetheless. It had a surprisingly sweet and tender feel to it amongst the angst that surrounded Grave and his addictions and self-destruction. Whilst my heart hurt for Grave and his battles, it was also warmed with his self-healing and the strengthening of his relationship with his friends and family. One thing that really hooked me to this story was the family aspect. I loved the close-knit relationship between April and the rest of the girls and also the brotherhood between the Dark Kings.

I am so intrigued and excited to get to know the rest of the Dark Kings. The mysterious Cross, the standoffish Bones and especially Nite and the little glimpse into who his leading Queen will be.

ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘If you want to be untouchable, it takes an army, and we’ve built one that is indestructible.’

I LOVED this book!

This series just keeps getting better and better! Seriously, I read this book in less than twenty four hours as I just couldn’t put it down. Grave and April had chemistry from the start and I was drawn in from the get go.

Grave has his demons and ever since the death of his mother, he has struggled with his emotions and using drugs to numb himself to the world. But one day he walks into Roses, a flower shop owned by April and from then on he finds himself battling a new addiction - her.

This book made me feel it all. The grief and despair, the lust and love and ultimately I could connect with both April and Grave in so many ways. I think we can all relate with feeling out of control in our lives and wanting to find a way to keep our heads above water.

‘This man is my King, and I will be his queen and protect him at all cost.’

I highly recommend Grave and it’s predecessor Titan if you haven’t read it yet! I cannot wait for both Cross and Bones! I am in love with these Dark Kings for sure!

I received an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

[JoLee (Cozy.Sunday.Reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grave is the second book in Dark Kings series by Shantel Tessier. Grave has a drug addiction and he trades one addiction for another when he meets April. She is now his new addiction. Loved her character she is sweet, but can hold her own when needs to, hard worker will do anything to keep her moms flower business going and her younger brother out of trouble. She had no problems kicking some butt when it came to her brother being bad. Not only is there ups and downs with Grave and April but also see the struggle with his brother Bones. Loved Grave and April good chemistry but also broke my heart at times. The best part was the friendship with Titan, Bones and Cross.

Highly Recommend Dark Romance

[Linathebookaddict · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy wow!!! This book was addicting. Captivating, sizzling and full of heartfelt moments. Grave and April. These two took me on a wild ride.
Don't let the title fool you. This book is about a man who is not what his rough exterior makes you believe he is.
Yes, he has his faults, he lives his life to the edge but then April comes in and everything comes to a halt. She change him but can he believe that he deserves her love?
Read to find out!!!
Great writing, amazing characters and swoon worthy moments. I highly recommend it.

[Wendy *cr8zysockbookblock* · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy hell!! These Dark Kings are gonna be responsible for the early death of panties everywhere, ladies. They are so hot and sexy that undergoods just spontaneously melt in their presence.

Grave oh Grave!! I went into his story not knowing quite what we were gonna get with him. This man is living his life on the edge. Playing Russian roulette with his life everyday with the choices he makes. Drugs, drinking, womanizing and chasing adrenaline in any way he can. The people that love him the most live in constant fear of when they are gonna find him dead and he doesn’t seem to care. He seems to have accepted his fate that he’s just going to end up in an early grave, and that’s preferable to dealing with the hurt that he’s had buried for so long.

He is beautiful, loyal to his family and wanted by many women, but this gorgeous man is broken. Broken beyond repair, or so he thinks. But can the right woman believe in him enough to make him believe he’s worth fixing? When he meets April she changes the way he looks at lots of things. He doesn’t even realize it’s happening and oh my heart never stood a chance. Swooning so hard!

April is this amazingly strong and resilient character who is working her fanny off to keep her flower shop afloat and care for her brother after her mother died. When Grave walks into her shop she is immediately drawn to him, to figuring out the intricacies of this complex and gorgeous man. She knows something isn’t quite right but she’s determined to figure it out, because she believes he’s worth it.

I love that he doesn’t feel the need to give into his vices when he is with her, she has become his new vice. His new addiction. She has this ability to help him heal without even realizing it. They are just amazing together. He’s just such a mess on his own in so many ways. But she brings out all the things in him that are the best parts. Boy, and there are many of them. All these are those parts that make him one of the elusive and elite dark kings.

I couldn’t stop reading this book the second I started until I was finished. This book was so full of everything I love and expect from Shantel’s books. Lots of yummy chemistry, suspense, lots of secrets, lies and angst. Hot scenes galore and unexpected edge of your seat moments. As always she gives us a full cast of characters to fall for, and I’m already starting to count the days until we get all of their stories.

Grave was another phenomenal addition/addiction to the Dark Kings series. I can’t wait for more!!

My cr8zysockbookblock blog wrap up for this book!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️-GAAHHH!! All the amazing secondary characters make this book even more amazingly fantastic! I’m addicted to the Dark King’s and can’t wait for the remainder of their books. Shantel gives just enough of each of them in every book that we are salivating over each and every one of these dark and devious bad boys. I’m legit dying of anticipation for their stories. I.Can’t.Even!! BTW, I’m shocked at how hard I fell for Grave. Every Sinfully Sexy Inch of him.
Infinite number of Stars in the Sky for this book! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥- GAH!! Words are failing me here my friends, which doesn’t happen often. But heck yeah!! Hot Smokin’ Hell!🔥Grace and April are all kinds of Hot!
🌪Cliffhanger Warning-No cliffhanger! However, More Dark King’s books are coming our wayand I cannot wait!!
🔫 Trigger Warning-This book does have some scenes that could be considered triggers for some, but what you would expect from a Dark/MafiaRomance. They are fairly graphic. If you have concerns you can PM for more information.

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[Yuee 📚 🎧 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was different , not a Shantel style of books TBH

Grave was such a sweetheart with dad you would like to kill your self , his struggles , his healing journey made him just perfect 🥺♥️


April is strong and a fighter , they truly loved each others ♥️


I felt it was wrapped up with so many open cases

Ethan suddenly became good. , i wanted a plot something like this you know.


And the most perfect quote to this book is
Everything happens for a reason ♥️


Ps : I am still in love with bones. And can’t wait for his book ♥️🙈

[Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this book, but actually really really did! April is an amazing character with so much compassion and she’s smart as hell! Grave made a lot to improvement in my eyes! Super cute story! Do wish it was longer though!

[Enni (on hiatus) ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s no secret why Kyle Reed is known as Grave. The guy has a death wish. He’s an adrenaline junkie.

Kyle Reed.
The reckless one.
The party boy who is constantly drunk or high or both.
He lives up to his nickname Grave.

”Are you asking me if I’m in love with Grave and willing to risk my life for that?”
“Are you?”
“No.”
“So you’re willing to walk away from him?”
“I mean … I like him.”

April Davis.
The good girl with a wild streak.
Oblivious to the inner workings of Las Vegas.
A chance encounter leads to her meeting Grave.
And she is ready to fight for him.

She gives me a soft smile, and my knees almost buckle at the sound of her voice. She’s the best drug I’ve ever tasted. The best high I’ve ever reached.

Let me start of by saying that Grave was definitely not what I was expecting for. I was expecting a ruthless, degrading and idgaf-about-anything Grave. Not the thoughful and protective Grave I was actually faced with.

Anyone who has read Shantel Tessier's LORD series knows she is a wiz with a pen. Unfortunately, Grave was so unlike Shantel Tessier's book that I could not help but be disappointed. The writing was definitely subpar by Shantel's usual standards.

I loved how April was incorporated to the Dark Kings girl's gang in such a natural way. Also, despite being a good and responsible girl, she really had a backbone. She stayed true to herself and stood up for herself, even though at points I think she should've been more determined.

”Was that true?”
“Why the fuck do you care?”
“Grave …”
“I’m just a druggie with a death wish.”

Grave's addiction was something that played a huge part of this book and I am not sure how I felt about it being so easy for him to abstain from drugs and alcohol when she was with April. On one hand, I don't care about it but, on the other hand, it feels a bit too easy. At the end of the book, I kind of understand the rehab stint but then again, it was caused by April's insecurity which was not on brand with her character for most of the book.

Lucy was such a big part of this book because she was a side character that kept popping out throughout the book and she also had an impact to the MCs relationship. The way things ended for her was a bit anti-climatic but I also think the bitch deserved it lol

YOU KNOW THAT saying what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas? Everyone knows it’s not true.

Ethan's fate was also left too unknown for me. He stole some of Grave's pills, was involved in a lot of shady shit and was supposed to pay off hid debt by fighting but all of a sudden in the end it was all just forgotten? Call me nosy but once I am given a teaser of so many interesting storylines in the book, I want to know what happened.

I don’t know what will happen in three hours or three years, but I do know that this man is my king, and I will be his queen and protect him at all cost.

The surprise preganancy at the end was really a surprise for me as well. I definitely did not expect it and tbh, did not really care about it either. But, I do think Grave and April deserved their happy end.

The story was good and it was all there but I just wanted more on so many aspects that I could not give this more than three stars. I really hope Shantel is back to her usual level in Cross' book!

• • • • •

Grave, do your worst. Which is also, in this case, your best because we love a morally grey MMC and I just know he will one of the worst (or best, depending on how you want to look at it).