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Dashkov Crime Family #2
Poisoned Empire: Dark Mafia Romance
382 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 13, 2026
About the author
Jo McCall
20 books263 followersJo McCall writes dark, contemporary and paranormal romance with a mafia focus.
A paramedic for over ten years, Jo traded in her stethoscope for paper and pen after an injury left her unable to finish out her career.
She is an avid reader of anything dark and steamy and when she isn’t writing, you can find her making a rather large dent in her TBR.
She is a lover of strong but vulnerable heroines who find their own and hot, sexy alpha males who might be a tad bit over-possessive. Jo loves to lose herself in her characters and the flaws and darkness that surround them.
There is no shame found here, and she often gets lost when writing out those erotic, steamy scenes that make women’s (and men’s) fantasies come true.
“There is nothing like getting lost in something. you know is wrong, but still can’t resist.”
Jo currently resides in the beautiful state of Washington with her two dogs.
A paramedic for over ten years, Jo traded in her stethoscope for paper and pen after an injury left her unable to finish out her career.
She is an avid reader of anything dark and steamy and when she isn’t writing, you can find her making a rather large dent in her TBR.
She is a lover of strong but vulnerable heroines who find their own and hot, sexy alpha males who might be a tad bit over-possessive. Jo loves to lose herself in her characters and the flaws and darkness that surround them.
There is no shame found here, and she often gets lost when writing out those erotic, steamy scenes that make women’s (and men’s) fantasies come true.
“There is nothing like getting lost in something. you know is wrong, but still can’t resist.”
Jo currently resides in the beautiful state of Washington with her two dogs.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
February 8, 2026
Poisoned Empire was the perfect followup by Jo McCall in the Dashkov Crime Family.
At the end of book 1 Mathias and Ava have been torn apart and Mathias is sure Ava has betrayed him. Ava is sure Mathias will come for her. Meanwhile, Vas is trying to hold everything together, free his boss, and rescue Ava even though he’s been told not to.
Like the first book this book doesn’t shy away from the darker side and has plenty of triggering scenes. While they might be hard to read for some, I don’t feel like they are over the top or unnecessary. Each scene gives to the darker side of the story. It truly shows the evil and the depravity of people and on the flip side it shows the lengths others will go to for those they love when they have the power to do so.
We also meet Ava’s real family and find out more of her past and how she became to part of the family she thought was hers. She might have lost a lot thanks to the man she thought was her father, but she gains a family who instantly adore her.
The worst part about this book is that Mathias and Ava are a part for a lot of it and even when they are together it’s not smooth sailing. The hurt and anger between them may be justified and fit the story but I just wanted them to get it together. In saying that though, the story wouldn’t have as much drama without it.
Now like Vengeful Oath this is a rewrite of Jo McCall’s first series, which I have also read. But don’t shy away if you read it first time around, because I am here to say I was just as hooked this time as I was the first and despite knowing the outcome I road the highs and lows all the way through.
I know the finale is coming and I know how it is going to end but I’m jumping straight into Redeeming Vow to finish this series again.
Happy Reading.
At the end of book 1 Mathias and Ava have been torn apart and Mathias is sure Ava has betrayed him. Ava is sure Mathias will come for her. Meanwhile, Vas is trying to hold everything together, free his boss, and rescue Ava even though he’s been told not to.
Like the first book this book doesn’t shy away from the darker side and has plenty of triggering scenes. While they might be hard to read for some, I don’t feel like they are over the top or unnecessary. Each scene gives to the darker side of the story. It truly shows the evil and the depravity of people and on the flip side it shows the lengths others will go to for those they love when they have the power to do so.
We also meet Ava’s real family and find out more of her past and how she became to part of the family she thought was hers. She might have lost a lot thanks to the man she thought was her father, but she gains a family who instantly adore her.
The worst part about this book is that Mathias and Ava are a part for a lot of it and even when they are together it’s not smooth sailing. The hurt and anger between them may be justified and fit the story but I just wanted them to get it together. In saying that though, the story wouldn’t have as much drama without it.
Now like Vengeful Oath this is a rewrite of Jo McCall’s first series, which I have also read. But don’t shy away if you read it first time around, because I am here to say I was just as hooked this time as I was the first and despite knowing the outcome I road the highs and lows all the way through.
I know the finale is coming and I know how it is going to end but I’m jumping straight into Redeeming Vow to finish this series again.
Happy Reading.
January 28, 2026
This is the next part of Mathias and Ava's story and it's a doozy. I could not put this book down once I started reading it. I love all the added details that were not present in the previous version. This version is more flushed out and it's a smoother read with plenty of content to keep your intrest piqued. The narrative is written well too. And there's loads of twists, a few surprises and danger lurking. What an addictive page turner. I'm looking forward to more of this incredible story.
January 29, 2026
Boy, this was just as good as the first!! Awesome read!
January 30, 2026
Poisoned Empire is the second book in the Dashkov Crime Family series written By Jo McCall.
💜 mysteries
💜 crime families
💜 rescue
💜 found family
💜 🌶🌶🌶🌶 spice
This book picks up a couple of weeks after the last book leaves off. Ava has really found herself in a not so great situation. She can’t believe everything that went down at the wedding before she found herself where she is now. She really had hoped things would have turned out differently and everything they had planned for would come to pass. But you know what they say about best laid plans and all that. What is she going to do? How long has it been since the incident? Is Matthias ok? Will he be able to find where she’s at?
This was a good continuation of the storyline. I really like the world building that’s being done in this series. It makes it much larger than just one city and one or two crime organizations. It’s also nice to see lots of character growth as well. Ava really does go through so much. I love to see her grow throughout this series as well. I really like this book and it does end on a cliffhanger. I can’t wait to dive into the next book in this series.
💜 mysteries
💜 crime families
💜 rescue
💜 found family
💜 🌶🌶🌶🌶 spice
This book picks up a couple of weeks after the last book leaves off. Ava has really found herself in a not so great situation. She can’t believe everything that went down at the wedding before she found herself where she is now. She really had hoped things would have turned out differently and everything they had planned for would come to pass. But you know what they say about best laid plans and all that. What is she going to do? How long has it been since the incident? Is Matthias ok? Will he be able to find where she’s at?
This was a good continuation of the storyline. I really like the world building that’s being done in this series. It makes it much larger than just one city and one or two crime organizations. It’s also nice to see lots of character growth as well. Ava really does go through so much. I love to see her grow throughout this series as well. I really like this book and it does end on a cliffhanger. I can’t wait to dive into the next book in this series.
January 30, 2026
This is the 2nd story in the Dashkov Crime Family Series that continues with Matthias and Ava finding themselves both taken, Mathias arrested with Ava being framed to look like she betrayed Matthias and Ava is in Christian’s clutches again. Ava is tortured and beaten and does everything she can to survive and Matthias gives orders to let her root wherever she is. Vas, Nikolai, Maksim, Leon and Dima are left running the Bratva and Vas has a feeling Ava is in danger so the guys come up with a plan to rescue her by a neutral family. Ava refuses to be a victim and takes matters into her own hands. The Kavenaugh’s, Ava’s family she’s meeting for the 1st time and feeling at home with a broken heart. The twins Kiernan, Seamus and Liam her dad train Ava to defend herself and she unexpectedly takes over as Pakhan after Matthias passes away. Ava her Russian and Irish families work together and Ava becomes known to be a tough Pakhan and as time goes on their lives are about battles from enemies known and unknown, hidden family secrets, revenge, one battle after another where they fight for family against those out to destroy them. This story ends with Ava helping their students with training and Matthias secretly plans how to return…
February 8, 2026
This continuation was even more painful and intense than I expected. Ava and Matthias spend much of this book separated by betrayal, captivity, and rage, and it honestly hurt watching everything unfold. What I loved most was Ava’s growth: every attempt to break her only makes her stronger and more determined to stop being anyone’s pawn. She returns sharper, more confident, and far more powerful than the woman he believed betrayed him. Matthias remains a harsh anti-hero shaped by revenge, but here he feels less obsessive and slightly less dominant than in book one; more a man in love than a man purely driven by control. Their reconciliation is wild, tense, and emotionally charged, and their dynamic stays messy and complicated in a way that fits this dark world. With Bratva politics, loyal friends, found family moments, and constant danger, this installment feels heavier and more emotional, focusing more on Ava’s evolution and the weight of responsibility she carries than on spice. And that ending absolutely pushed me straight into the finale.
February 22, 2026
This book will captivate you and pull you in from the first chapter. It is an adventure of twists, dark secrets of betrayal and brutal torture. We find this story right were the first book ended. We see Ava coming into her own as a very strong female who will stay strong even in the face of severe torture and crazy family. We finally get some secrets coming out in the open from the past but leads to more and more questions. Who is betraying who and who can be trusted. We see Matthias's anger and his feelings of betrayal from AVA will he forgive her or will this do them in. We see how quickly he can shut is emotions completely off and push people away. This book also brings forth other story lines that are pulled in and gives us more perspectives on past secrets. This book is full of dark twists, adventure, brutal war and tones of secrets. Phenomenally written and wow you will just love Ava her character is incredible and so well developed. I can't wait for the next book as that cliff hanger was a brutal one.
I was given this book as an ARC for my honest review.
I was given this book as an ARC for my honest review.
May 23, 2026
I LOVED the first book and went into this one fully seated for Matt’s reaction to Ava’s kidnapping and all that delicious angst and miscommunication… only for this man to prove himself to be one of the most disappointing love interests in book history in this book.
You’re telling me he finds out the woman he supposedly loves was TAKEN by her abusers and does NOTHING TO SAVE HER???? Then sees images of her being brutally tortured, and his grand emotional response is… clenching his teeth??? Sir, be serious.
And don’t even get me started on the aftermath. Where was the rage? The heartbreak? The GROVELING?? Instead we got zero emotional accountability and somehow jumped straight to sex the next time they met, with comedy banter (about her torture mind you) sprinkled in like that was supposed to fix everything??? Excuse me???
And he only approached her when she was a badass who can shoot and doesn’t need him. Control maniac fuck.
Author, what exactly was the vision here?
Definitely a DNF for me, and I will NOT be reading Book 3 because MATT IS TRASHHHHHHHHHHHHHH🚮
You’re telling me he finds out the woman he supposedly loves was TAKEN by her abusers and does NOTHING TO SAVE HER???? Then sees images of her being brutally tortured, and his grand emotional response is… clenching his teeth??? Sir, be serious.
And don’t even get me started on the aftermath. Where was the rage? The heartbreak? The GROVELING?? Instead we got zero emotional accountability and somehow jumped straight to sex the next time they met, with comedy banter (about her torture mind you) sprinkled in like that was supposed to fix everything??? Excuse me???
And he only approached her when she was a badass who can shoot and doesn’t need him. Control maniac fuck.
Author, what exactly was the vision here?
Definitely a DNF for me, and I will NOT be reading Book 3 because MATT IS TRASHHHHHHHHHHHHHH🚮
January 26, 2026
This is the second book in this amazing trilogy, and Ava and Mattias’s journey continues.
Ava is forced into marriage with Mattias, and is breaking through the barriers around his heart, until he thinks she betrayed him, and he is determined to lock her away and break her, but she is not a pawn to anyone’s game, and she comes back stronger, and fiercer, and wants to watch their empire crumble.
This story ends in a cliffhanger!
This is a well written action packed, emotional roller coaster, with family dynamics, friendships, forced marriage, secrets, betrayal, danger, suspense, intrigue, vengeance, determination, lovers / enemies / lovers, undeniable chemistry, and love, which leads to an entertaining, twisted, and unpredictable addictive page turner.
I look forward to reading more from this talented author whose work I highly recommend.
Ava is forced into marriage with Mattias, and is breaking through the barriers around his heart, until he thinks she betrayed him, and he is determined to lock her away and break her, but she is not a pawn to anyone’s game, and she comes back stronger, and fiercer, and wants to watch their empire crumble.
This story ends in a cliffhanger!
This is a well written action packed, emotional roller coaster, with family dynamics, friendships, forced marriage, secrets, betrayal, danger, suspense, intrigue, vengeance, determination, lovers / enemies / lovers, undeniable chemistry, and love, which leads to an entertaining, twisted, and unpredictable addictive page turner.
I look forward to reading more from this talented author whose work I highly recommend.
February 1, 2026
I read the Shattered World series a long time ago. I gave it 5 stars. I just finished reading the revised edition that Jo McCall recently published, and I have to say that, even without remembering all the details of the previous version, the new trilogy leaves you with the same feeling of having read something extraordinary. Phenomenally written, the story is addictive, exciting, and features characters that the author has boldly defined and kept true to themselves and what they represent, making this story what readers like me expect from a mafia story, without any forced concessions to soften the world it describes. It's still a 5-star for me. Absolutely recommended. Many thanks to Jo McCall for providing me with an ARC. Congratulations, you are very talented, and it shows from the first page.
February 6, 2026
The second and third books in Ava and Matthias' story.
This story was as intriguing as the original story, but added content made it a smoother read. Ava's strength and determination showed that she was not the pawn everyone thought she was. She was able to gain the truth of her mother's disappearance and the family ties that brought her the pain and loss that she suffered.
There were surprises, twists, turns, and so much more in these final books of the trilogy. Ava shows that she's a force to be weary of and isn't someone that will just cower to those that feel their power is stronger. Matthias shows great strength in letting her shine and they are a great match.
The characters are great, the story is deep and full of twists and turns and kept me engaged throughout the story.
This story was as intriguing as the original story, but added content made it a smoother read. Ava's strength and determination showed that she was not the pawn everyone thought she was. She was able to gain the truth of her mother's disappearance and the family ties that brought her the pain and loss that she suffered.
There were surprises, twists, turns, and so much more in these final books of the trilogy. Ava shows that she's a force to be weary of and isn't someone that will just cower to those that feel their power is stronger. Matthias shows great strength in letting her shine and they are a great match.
The characters are great, the story is deep and full of twists and turns and kept me engaged throughout the story.
January 28, 2026
I just finished this read and I'm still processing. There is so much that happens there's no way to summarize that wouldn't give anything away. This was such a great read, I devoured it every chance I had. Ava and Matthias were destined for each other, each was perfect for one another. Ava turned herself from the skittish woman into someone no one wanted to mess with, and I loved that for her. This read is full of secrets, and most have been revealed except there's a few that were left hanging, I'm really hoping we get Kenzie's read next.
January 30, 2026
I love the suspense!
The chemistry between Matthias and Ava sizzles in the pan! Very S3xy!
The world and character building are really well done!
Ava's growth is stupendous! Loved that!
Like rollercoasters? Then this is going to give you one wild ride!
The climb to the cliff and the wait for that drop...how will I wait for book three?
Not easily, for sure!
Wonderful addition to the series!
The chemistry between Matthias and Ava sizzles in the pan! Very S3xy!
The world and character building are really well done!
Ava's growth is stupendous! Loved that!
Like rollercoasters? Then this is going to give you one wild ride!
The climb to the cliff and the wait for that drop...how will I wait for book three?
Not easily, for sure!
Wonderful addition to the series!
February 7, 2026
I’m really enjoying the characters and story Jo has for this one, I was on the edge of my seat with the first one needing to have the rest of the story for Ava and Mathias. Such a great series and I can’t wait to read more within this world.
March 15, 2026
Poisoned Empire continues on with the cliffhanger in Book One, Vengeful Oath. Ava is still being held captive, and Matthias won't come to rescue her due to her betrayal of him. Will Ava be rescued by anyone, or will she be left held captive? Jo keeps you turning the pages with all the twists and turns that you dont see coming.
I recieved an arc for my voluntary honest review for NN Book Blog. If you love a dark Bratva Romance with plentyof action, then you will love this book. You will need to read Book One first, otherwise you will not be able to follow what is happening in this book. However, this book may not be for everyone; please read the author's trigger warnings before reading or purchasing this book.
I recieved an arc for my voluntary honest review for NN Book Blog. If you love a dark Bratva Romance with plentyof action, then you will love this book. You will need to read Book One first, otherwise you will not be able to follow what is happening in this book. However, this book may not be for everyone; please read the author's trigger warnings before reading or purchasing this book.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews