Don't Knock

by M.A. Savino, Frina Art (Illustrator)

When Contessa Salavatori is betrayed by someone close to her, she makes a decision that changes her life forever.

Heartbroken and on the verge of death, she signs a contract with the demon who saves her life.

Now, as her dependence on and feelings for him grow, she begins sacrificing lovers to feed his desire for fresh souls.

But when she crosses paths with a stranger who she feels a strong connection to, she finds herself on the wrong side of the demon’s good graces.

Can Contessa find a way to break free from his clutches, or will she be dragged back to hell where she belongs?

Don't Knock is a dark paranormal romance with triggers. Reader discretion is advised.

304 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 9, 2026

Reviews

[Emms-hiatus(ish) · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF@ 60%

I kept waiting for something, anything to happen. I gave up, read the last chapter, and still... nothing.

This is just poorly done demon/pain 🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5-4

This book was nothing like I thought it was going to be. I truthfully went in blind and was not disappointed.

I initially thought it would go to the secret society club especially with so much emphasis on her parents moon parties.
But it went a different direction. I loved the FMC vibe and career choice.

I wish we had a little more lore on the creature. But that intrigued me. I’ve never read anything like this (and I enjoy demons and monsters) but this was very different.

[Elaine Rainbolt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a well written book. This story starts out with Contessa going with her friend going to a party but meeting her boyfriend at the party until something happens then a tragedy happens. That's where Mastyx comes in and turmoil begins. The ending was so good. I had no idea until the very end.

[Bobi Jo Bartow · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was 🔥🔥🔥

I knew I was going to enjoy this one but I didn't realize how much I was until after I read the 1st chapter! This book takes you on a journey with Tessa as she goes through a tragic event and makes a deal with the Devil. This is when the real story begins...and the spice! Mastyx takes control but Tessa doesn’t let that stop her from fighting till the end! And what an ending it is! Thank you M A Savino for another amazing book!

[Alyssa Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

OH MY LANTA!!! This book! A devious ride of paranormal erotica. If you are a lover of M.A Savino, you are going to looooove this book! The FMC?! PUH-lease! Trigger filled and delicious in the most pitch black way 😏

Tropes:
-enemies to lovers
-Demon Lover
-Possessive MMC
-female unaliver
-paranomal erotic

Let me know when you read it, because I NEED TO TALK ABOUT IT!!!

[Athena, the goddess of books · Rating 4 out of 5]

what a betrayed woman can do? from a cheating boyfriend to a demon lover, see what happens

[Bob Fendt · Rating 5 out of 5]

My review of
Don't Knock
by Melissa Savino

Rating a Red Hot 🔥⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Phew 🥵 this is not just hot, it's on fire 🔥🔥
A truly sizzling erotic paranormal horror, that is trigger loaded, so beware.
I absolutely loved Don't Knock by Melissa Savino, one of my most favourite authors.
Fast-paced, hot steamy erotic action, sacrificial murder and a demonic horror romance, a full on suspense thriller.

Contessa Salavatori is left betrayed and angry by her best friend and makes an almost fatal decision leaving her close to death, when the demon offers a deal to save her life, see signs the contract in her blood.
Now she belongs to the demon, she is his, only his. Resistance and thoughts of straying entails the consequences of painful punishments.

Contessa begins to sacrifice her lovers to satisfy her demons needs for fresh souls.
One stranger she comes across that she senses there's an attraction, a lust for.
Can she find a way to break free from the contract that binds her to her demon.

I found myself drawn in and hooked by the cover, and from the first pages of this intense thriller by the outstanding author Melissa Savino.
I did not want to put this book down, doing so was a real struggle, it is addictive reading.
If you can't handle triggers this is not for you, but it you can take it, go get it, you won't regret it.

[Kristi Guthrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book unlike anything I’ve read! The crash that sends it all into chaos keeping the reader riveted and craving for more. Crazy turns so buckle in reader for the wildest ride of your life.

Betrayal hits Contessa coming out of the blue sending her spiraling and making a decision that will bring hell and fire 🔥 to the forefront.

The choice between death, the urge to live, as it all unravels.

A contract, a very maddening agreement, emotions and erotic tension as the temptation, lust drench the pages in a Feral desire.

Chapters flowing, this is one brilliant and satisfying read that gets your adrenaline surging through the whole read.

[Cecily - MillennialBookGal · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know how I feel about this novel. It started off strong if not a little bit in the realm of ick. There was some sexy scenes, depraved scenes, and scenes that when visualizes made me laugh out loud. The ending was decent but om the whole the story was just okay.

[Katlin Stokes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Savino never lets me down! This one was definitely different than her usual writing style but I absolutely loved it! Right from the beginning it hooked me and I couldn't put it down. I loved the concept of the demon lover and that ending was just *chefs kiss*.

[Tanya Kolb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whoa! What did I just read? M.A. Savino is a master when it comes to bringing the heat! This is not usually my cup of tea. She has a way of blending the spice and the story just right.

Tessa is wronged and she lashes out in the moment. That decision is one she will live to regret!

[Chapters_with_VDKeck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Y’ALL! This is erotic horror with teeth—and it bites HARD. 😈🔥

This book pulls you in really fast. After a brutal betrayal by someone she trusted, Contessa Salavatori is left broken and dying—and her choice to sign a contract with a demon saves her life while sealing her fate. What follows is a chilling descent into dependency, desire, and damnation as she’s bound to him and forced to feed his hunger with fresh souls. 🩸

The demon is seductive and dangerous, their connection twisted and consuming, written with an intensity that makes every interaction crackle. It’s hot!! As Contessa’s feelings deepen, so does the cost—especially when she meets a stranger who sparks something human, hopeful, and forbidden. That connection puts her directly in the demon’s crosshairs and raises the stakes in terrifying ways. 😮‍💨

Savino’s writing is atmospheric and immersive—smoky, bloody, and charged with dread. You can feel the heat of hell, the weight of every sacrifice, and the tension tightening with each choice Contessa makes. I swear I could smell sulphur! This story doesn’t soften the darkness or look away from the horror woven into the dark romance.

Unsettling, seductive, and unapologetically dark. Check the triggers and step inside—Don’t Knock will drag you straight to the edge. 🖤🔥

[travel_thru_books · Rating 5 out of 5]

M.A. Savino has mastered the brand of dark, addictive storytelling, and she wastes zero time proving it, with her newest book. From the very first page, I knew this book was about to ruin me in the best possible way.

By the time I hit the last page, I was sitting there in stunned silence thinking: HOLY. ACTUAL. HEĻĻ.
M.A. Savino did not come to play — she came to unravel me one page at a time, and leave me sitting here grateful for the emotional damage.

This story was FIRE, literally, and I’m still like… damn, this is so unhinged and sooo good.

Don’t Knock is the kind of dark, erotic chaos that gets under your skin and whispers things you absolutely should not enjoy — and yet you do. Contessa’s descent into demon‑bound desire is intoxicating, sinful, and so scorchingly sensual I swore my Kindle was going to start smoking. The tension is wicked, the heat is feral, and the atmosphere is pure, intoxicating temptation.

Melissa outdid herself with this one — the pacing, the heat, the darkness, the absolute boldness of it all. Fantastic story from start to finish.

And that ending line? Sharp, bold, and absolutely unforgettable.

[erika • dead wrong reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5 ⭐️ • 3/5 🌶️

• tropes + themes •

- demon + human
- enemies to lovers
- female unaliveer
- healing arc

• summary •

Don’t Knock starts off with all of the betrayal and action that we love. Our FMC finds out, in the worst way, the unsavory secret of two people closest to her and this is where everything goes downhill. She decides to sell her soul to to devil in exchange for saving her life.

As we follow our FMC and MMCs “relationship”, we see that she is slowly losing herself and is willing to do the unthinkable to keep him around as much as she knows it is wrong to do so.

We know Savino’s FMCs always find a way to overcome, and let me assure you, this FMC is no different. I loved the twist at the end that made everyone in the book do a double-take.

Side note, one of my favorite parts of this book was Savino’s description/characteristics/etc. of the MMC demon and the ins and outs of human interaction with him. I have never read anything like it; that was refreshing.

Overall, if Savino writes it, I read it. If you want something dark and spicy, with an FMC that has a reception arc, this is your read.

[Carla Hicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review:

I will absolutely read EVERYTHING M.A. Savino writes. This book is brilliant!! I love the power play and the spice this book brings. This book is dark and depraved and yet quite delicious in all the ways an erotic horror should be. It will unravel all your emotions and put a fire in your stomach you never knew existed. Buckle up and get ready to ride the highway to hell!!!

Contessa makes a deal with the devil to save her life but it comes with a price. Her life is now not her own, but can she find a loophole to get control back? Can she regain the life she once had? Don’t walk, RUN and grab your copy of Don’t Knock and be ready for suspense, tension and temptation.

You have all the elements of a great paranormal romance in this book, mixed with submissive to dominant and a plot twist I didn’t see coming. If you want a trigger filled, possessive MMC, female unaliver, demon loving erotic horror, then this is for you. It’s captivating and will keep you wanting more. You won’t put it down. 5 star read!!!

[Danielle Lundquist · Rating 5 out of 5]

Firstly, I want to start off by saying check your trigger warnings because there is a lot of darkness in this book. I, however, don’t have any TWs so it didn’t bother me, but for some, it will.

Contessa is in high school, she finds out a secret between her boyfriend Jayce and her best friend. Her friend doesn’t know she knows. There is an accident that changes everything. Tessa sells her soul to the devil on order to survive. She maintains a sexual relationship with this demon with a tail. She knows that she has to keep up her end of the deal, or he will kill her. She has success in her career choice and most of her life, but never had a real boyfriend.

She starts with some questionable behavior that will keep you engaged in the story. The end was not what I was hoping for, or expected, but who know, part 2? This is a continuation of an anthology written with this story. I love that I was able to continue reading to find out what happened.

[Jenny Coyne · Rating 5 out of 5]

rounding up from 4.5 stars

I was fortunate to get to beta read this book. The only problem? Ms. Savino's writing gets me so absorbed into the book that I forget to edit! I read this as a short story in an anthology, but this expanded version gives you so much more! We get to find out how Tessa meets Mastyx and see how their relationship evolves as her willpower and psyche erode. This erotic horror novel will have your head spinning with the turns it takes. The ending especially was most unexpected!

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another masterpiece by Melissa.
This book is phenomenal, filled with suspense and will keep you on your toes until the end of it. Just when you think you figured out the ending of it... BAM! surprise not it!
Tessa gave as good as she got. She's no pushover. I can't say more to avoid spoilers but Mastyx the tricky demon got what he deserved.
If you love pitch black , fierce FMC and possessive MC , this book is for you !!
I'd give it 10 stars if possible. Read it, you will NOT be disappointed. This book might be my favorite of 2026.

[Rachel Browning · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Don’t Knock” by M. A. Savino is a dark, seductive paranormal romance that pulls you in fast. Contessa’s dangerous deal with the devil sets the stage for a story filled with suspense, tension, and temptation. The atmosphere is intense and the stakes feel high throughout. I couldn’t put it down and was completely hooked until the end. Perfect for readers who enjoy dark romance with a supernatural edge.

[Brittany Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

M.A Savino is such a phenomenal author. "Don't Knock" the extended version from the Halloween Anthology is 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥. She gives you everything you need from Tessa's front story and how Mastyx became her lover to your need to know answers following the cliffhanger she left us with. If I could give this more than 5 ⭐ I would. You are immediately drawn in and wrapped up until the very end.

I would say there are TW to check before diving in if you're sensitive.

[Shana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an awesome story. I've loved everything I've read by Savino so far and this did not disappoint! This was dark, hot 🔥 (in more ways than one), and oh so steamy.
I really liked the FMC and her struggles through the story. You get to see her thoughts and worries, as well as her confidence and determination.
At no point during this book did I actually KNOW what was going to happen. I had some guesses, but I was wrong every time and I loved it all the more for it.

[Christain Meshell · Rating 5 out of 5]

When faced with dead, would you sell your soul? That’s exactly the situation Contessa, Tessa for short, is faced with. After accidentally discovering something she shouldn’t had, Tessa unknowingly sets her life on a course she didn’t expect or plan for. An agreement she fully doesn’t understand the terms of sends her into a lustful, adventurous/dangerous life. Craving a touch, a passion of which she cannot return from… Sometimes though, reading the fine print can be everything. 🔥

[Olivia Konradt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just WOW! I read this as a short story and was dying for more, this extended version was everything I wanted ♥️
Contessa is a wonderful FMC, she is powerful and confident but is not without weaknesses. Mastyx is terrifying especially to have as a lover. I could read this over and over, especially with that perfection of an ending!

[Jaime Tragesser · Rating 5 out of 5]

M.A. Savino has done it again. This book was 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥. Erotic horror was not something I knew I needed in my life! Tessa makes a life changing decision to save herself and it may be one she comes to regret. There were times I wanted my own Mastyx in life and others where I thought "umm no thanks!" If you are into horror with some erotic scenes, look no further and check this one out.

[Bobi Jo Bartow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this as an ARC! Don't Knock is just another amazing book by M A Savino! Nothing like making a deal with the devil himself. Tessa has no idea what's in store for her! She learns that she may not be in control of her life on earth but in Hell she takes things to a whole new level! Spice mixed with revenge makes this book 🔥🔥

[Patricia Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very hot read!
What kind of deal would you make to stay alive? Contessa makes her decision and the heat is on from there.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don’t Knock by M.A. Savino is a dark, seductive blend of horror and toxic romance. What begins as a desperate deal for survival spirals into obsession, control, and a chilling loss of self. Twisted, addictive, and unapologetically grim—this one lingers long after the final page.

[Terri Leigh Cope · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy smokes! Hot demon alert!! I love how the story starts and how it develops into such a great gem! Once again Melissa knocks it out of the ballpark!

[Carly Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one pulls you in fast and doesn’t really let up. It starts with betrayal and spirals quickly into something darker, where every choice feels a little more dangerous than the last.

Contessa’s story leans hard into obsession, control, and survival, and her dynamic with Mastyx is equal parts unsettling and addictive. It’s the kind of relationship that keeps you hooked even when you’re questioning every decision being made. The tone stays intense throughout, with a steady sense that things are only going to get worse.

What stood out most was how far the story is willing to go. It doesn’t soften the darker elements, and the emotional unraveling feels just as important as the plot itself. The pacing is quick, the atmosphere is heavy, and the tension carries all the way through to an ending that genuinely caught me off guard. And the steamy scenes? I mean this is M.A. Savino! You know they are gonna be scorching.

Definitely one to check content warnings for, but if you’re into dark paranormal romance with high stakes and morally gray characters, this delivers.

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Contessa Salavatori is betrayed by her boyfriend and her best friend. She's so upset and angry and makes a choice that changes her whole existence - and signs a binding contract with the Demon who rescues her. She starts to feed his need for new souls......

Contessa meets a new man who stirs up deep feelings in her, but the Demon is furious!

Can she break her contract with him and finally be free from his clutches?

Don't Knock is a dark and erotic paranormal thriller. Read the triggers. Or don't.

I loved this book. Mastyx has complete control over Tessa, and she gradually turns into someone she doesn't know. A sizzling horror that had me hooked from the start. Pacing is fast and suspenseful, and the narrative is descriptive and extremely immersive.

Thanks Melissa, my second book of yours and I look forward to reading more. Your writing is charged with intensity and took me right to the edge, wondering what was coming next. That ending though.... nailed it 🥰