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Staniel #2
Dig Your Grave
An unanswered phone call. An empty bed. And a loud clock ticking down the seconds before Daniel Nieto’s heart—the one he recently discovered he still possessed—gets broken again.
His lover is gone. Taken by an unknown enemy, one who hasn’t yet realized that Daniel would willingly stride into hell to get his Diablo back. The pain of losing another person he loved would bring any other man to his knees, but Daniel only accepts carpet burns from one special Greek.
Too busy being in love, Stavros Konstantinou never even noticed the betrayal coming until it was too late. When the life he’s fought so hard to build is thrown into chaos, he finds himself scrambling to unmask his enemies. Now, with Daniel at his side, he’s out for revenge.
The hunt is on.
Bodies are piling up.
And they’re sending out a warning.
Before you even think to go up against us…
Dig Your Grave.
This is book two in Daniel and Stavros’ love story. It is strongly advised that you read book one, Call the Coroner, first.
His lover is gone. Taken by an unknown enemy, one who hasn’t yet realized that Daniel would willingly stride into hell to get his Diablo back. The pain of losing another person he loved would bring any other man to his knees, but Daniel only accepts carpet burns from one special Greek.
Too busy being in love, Stavros Konstantinou never even noticed the betrayal coming until it was too late. When the life he’s fought so hard to build is thrown into chaos, he finds himself scrambling to unmask his enemies. Now, with Daniel at his side, he’s out for revenge.
The hunt is on.
Bodies are piling up.
And they’re sending out a warning.
Before you even think to go up against us…
Dig Your Grave.
This is book two in Daniel and Stavros’ love story. It is strongly advised that you read book one, Call the Coroner, first.
181 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 6, 2020
193 people are currently reading
1329 people want to read
About the author
Avril Ashton
78 books1,675 followersA Caribbean transplant, Avril now lives in Stone Mountain, GA., with a tolerant Spousal Equivalent. Together they raise an eccentric daughter who loves reading and school (not so much school anymore). Avril’s earliest memories of reading revolve around discussing plot points of Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys with an equally book-minded mother
Always in love with the written word, Avril finally decided to do the writing in August of ’09 and never looked back. Spicy love scenes, delicious heroes, and wicked women burn up the pages of Avril’s stories, but there’ll always be a happy ending; Av remains a believer of love in all its forms.
Always in love with the written word, Avril finally decided to do the writing in August of ’09 and never looked back. Spicy love scenes, delicious heroes, and wicked women burn up the pages of Avril’s stories, but there’ll always be a happy ending; Av remains a believer of love in all its forms.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 249 reviews
May 22, 2021
Read #1: November 23, 2020
Read #2: February 21, 2021
Read #3: May 21, 2021
__________________
(Read #2) i. have. no. words.
__________________
Original Review:
5 💫
'Pleasure was too weak a word, and bliss didn’t compare' Funny how in one sentence, I can sum up what I felt during the entire book. I loved every second of it, and I’m honestly still on the high. This one all kinds of dark and gritty, and just what I needed.
'He was beauty.
Reason.
Life like Daniel had never seen.'
Like the first book in the series, if you need a trigger warning, this isn’t for you. It’s got V I O L E N C E like you’ve never seen before… that tbh my bloodthirsty side appreciated….very, very much.
'There’s a special kind of terror that comes with loving you, with being loved by you. Your enemies. Mine. Those we don’t even know about. I push it down, put it at the back of my mind, but it’s a permanent part of my existence now. That fear. We are not invincible, though you make me feel like that. You make me feel like death is just one more thing to conquer.'
Stavros is missing and Daniel is restless. When Daniel finds out that Stavros has been taken by enemies, he is ✨angry✨ and ready to burn the world down. Though, angry is too tame of a word to describe what Daniel was feeling, he was ready to do whatever it took to have Stavros back by his side, and he had no qualms in doing so.
'Turns out m-monsters can love too, and he loves me as much as I love him. He will c-come for me and he will kill for me. I can’t begin to tell you just how badly you’ve fucked up.'
..and yeah, he was correct because Daniel did come for him, in all his blazing glory, and then, with Stavros and Toro, hunt down each of those fuckers and made them beg for their deaths.
"We have particular tastes in common, Diablo." Daniel picked up Stavros' left hand, bringing it out of the water and holding it up, lacing their fingers. "That is true, but we are more than our love of violence." They were more than who they’d been when they first came together. "You want to know about my needs. It has been three years and they are as they have always been. My needs are yours. This revenge thing, I needed it as much as you did." He touched their joined hands to the middle of his chest. "Because they took you. And nobody takes you but me."
Toro is Daniel’s nephew. He is a character I haven’t talked about in the past, but he seriously needs appreciation. The way he offered himself up as payment to get to Stavros, did all the work of hunting those idiots down, and was always by Daniel and Stavros' side was ✨everything✨ He was loyal and loved his family, and would die for them, and I loved that!!
"I love you," Daniel told him. "I will always love you. I am in this world because you are."
Coming back to these two, I have no words. They were both ✨incredible✨ I loved how Daniel stood by Stavros' side no matter and was always around, even if he was in the shadows. The way Stavros was treated, and put through all that torture made me shed a few tears because he didn't deserve that, but it was all worth it when they took their revenge, by digging their enemies graves.
"…it was something ten times stronger than love, that I saw in Daniels eyes when you were missing. Whatever that thing is, whatever lies beyond love, he feels it for you."
The plot of the book was nothing but Daniel and Stavros and how they burned the world down. Because that’s exactly what they did, took their time extracting revenge from each and every one of those people who dared to harm them, it was barbaric and brutal, but it was well worth, and I enjoyed it.
"Let this be a message, the only one I’ll ever send: You come fore me and mine, bring a motherfucking army and be a prepared to die. Because I’m prepared to."
These two were other-worldy and OTT, but I loved it. Violence was foreplay to them, and blood was an aphrodisiac, it got them high and fuck, if it wasn’t beautiful to watch.
'Watching Stavros was the worst kind of foreplay. He didn’t want it to end, but he also couldn’t wait for the finale. He feared becoming obsessed with this sight: his lover covered in blood, that saw at work, his hair stringy with sweat, exacting revenge in the sexiest way Daniel had ever seen. He wanted to halt Stavros’ actions just to take him and be taken on this floor, surrounded by dead bodies and bodily fluids.'
Got a taste of their madness yet? No? here goes another one:
'Other people’s lovers gave them jewelry and trips to exotic locales. His gave him a body to torture and dismember. Daniel’s teeth flashed bright when he grinned. "I know the way to your heart, Diablo"'
Needless to say, I fucking loved this book and couldn’t recommend it more. When Call the Coroner got over, I couldn't stand it and was overjoyed to know that there was another one, but now, I’m still coming down from the high of this one and honestly, no book will compare.
'Stavros didn’t budge. He smiled at Daniel, eyes reflecting the same destructive fire, the same desperate yearnings, matching Daniel's depravity as if they were a set. But sí, they were that, a matching pair.'
If you don’t mind blood and guts and madness, this book is the one for you, but be sure to read Call the Coroner first. I honestly can’t recommend Daniel and Stavros' duet to you guys enough because I loved every second of it!
'There was perfection in this. A rightness. A knowing that he couldn’t sharethese moments with anyone but Stavros Konstantinou'
__________________
Call the Coroner: ★★★★★
Dig your Grave: ★★★★★
__________________
Another Avril Ashton BR with the wonderful nut! Girl, I'm loving these BR's with you, can't wait for the next one!
Read #2: February 21, 2021
Read #3: May 21, 2021
__________________
(Read #2) i. have. no. words.
__________________
Original Review:
5 💫
'Pleasure was too weak a word, and bliss didn’t compare' Funny how in one sentence, I can sum up what I felt during the entire book. I loved every second of it, and I’m honestly still on the high. This one all kinds of dark and gritty, and just what I needed.
'He was beauty.
Reason.
Life like Daniel had never seen.'
Like the first book in the series, if you need a trigger warning, this isn’t for you. It’s got V I O L E N C E like you’ve never seen before… that tbh my bloodthirsty side appreciated….very, very much.
'There’s a special kind of terror that comes with loving you, with being loved by you. Your enemies. Mine. Those we don’t even know about. I push it down, put it at the back of my mind, but it’s a permanent part of my existence now. That fear. We are not invincible, though you make me feel like that. You make me feel like death is just one more thing to conquer.'
Stavros is missing and Daniel is restless. When Daniel finds out that Stavros has been taken by enemies, he is ✨angry✨ and ready to burn the world down. Though, angry is too tame of a word to describe what Daniel was feeling, he was ready to do whatever it took to have Stavros back by his side, and he had no qualms in doing so.
'Turns out m-monsters can love too, and he loves me as much as I love him. He will c-come for me and he will kill for me. I can’t begin to tell you just how badly you’ve fucked up.'
..and yeah, he was correct because Daniel did come for him, in all his blazing glory, and then, with Stavros and Toro, hunt down each of those fuckers and made them beg for their deaths.
"We have particular tastes in common, Diablo." Daniel picked up Stavros' left hand, bringing it out of the water and holding it up, lacing their fingers. "That is true, but we are more than our love of violence." They were more than who they’d been when they first came together. "You want to know about my needs. It has been three years and they are as they have always been. My needs are yours. This revenge thing, I needed it as much as you did." He touched their joined hands to the middle of his chest. "Because they took you. And nobody takes you but me."
Toro is Daniel’s nephew. He is a character I haven’t talked about in the past, but he seriously needs appreciation. The way he offered himself up as payment to get to Stavros, did all the work of hunting those idiots down, and was always by Daniel and Stavros' side was ✨everything✨ He was loyal and loved his family, and would die for them, and I loved that!!
"I love you," Daniel told him. "I will always love you. I am in this world because you are."
Coming back to these two, I have no words. They were both ✨incredible✨ I loved how Daniel stood by Stavros' side no matter and was always around, even if he was in the shadows. The way Stavros was treated, and put through all that torture made me shed a few tears because he didn't deserve that, but it was all worth it when they took their revenge, by digging their enemies graves.
"…it was something ten times stronger than love, that I saw in Daniels eyes when you were missing. Whatever that thing is, whatever lies beyond love, he feels it for you."
The plot of the book was nothing but Daniel and Stavros and how they burned the world down. Because that’s exactly what they did, took their time extracting revenge from each and every one of those people who dared to harm them, it was barbaric and brutal, but it was well worth, and I enjoyed it.
"Let this be a message, the only one I’ll ever send: You come fore me and mine, bring a motherfucking army and be a prepared to die. Because I’m prepared to."
These two were other-worldy and OTT, but I loved it. Violence was foreplay to them, and blood was an aphrodisiac, it got them high and fuck, if it wasn’t beautiful to watch.
'Watching Stavros was the worst kind of foreplay. He didn’t want it to end, but he also couldn’t wait for the finale. He feared becoming obsessed with this sight: his lover covered in blood, that saw at work, his hair stringy with sweat, exacting revenge in the sexiest way Daniel had ever seen. He wanted to halt Stavros’ actions just to take him and be taken on this floor, surrounded by dead bodies and bodily fluids.'
Got a taste of their madness yet? No? here goes another one:
'Other people’s lovers gave them jewelry and trips to exotic locales. His gave him a body to torture and dismember. Daniel’s teeth flashed bright when he grinned. "I know the way to your heart, Diablo"'
Needless to say, I fucking loved this book and couldn’t recommend it more. When Call the Coroner got over, I couldn't stand it and was overjoyed to know that there was another one, but now, I’m still coming down from the high of this one and honestly, no book will compare.
'Stavros didn’t budge. He smiled at Daniel, eyes reflecting the same destructive fire, the same desperate yearnings, matching Daniel's depravity as if they were a set. But sí, they were that, a matching pair.'
If you don’t mind blood and guts and madness, this book is the one for you, but be sure to read Call the Coroner first. I honestly can’t recommend Daniel and Stavros' duet to you guys enough because I loved every second of it!
'There was perfection in this. A rightness. A knowing that he couldn’t sharethese moments with anyone but Stavros Konstantinou'
__________________
Call the Coroner: ★★★★★
Dig your Grave: ★★★★★
__________________
Another Avril Ashton BR with the wonderful nut! Girl, I'm loving these BR's with you, can't wait for the next one!
March 17, 2020
3 Stars
Told in dual POV, 3rd person. It’s the second installment in the "Staniel" series and has to be read in order. I loved book one so much but I didn’t like this as much! It was a replica of book one and still not as good. IMO, the second half of the story hadn’t anything to say and just repetitive of the first half or at some point of book 1; blood and torment and sex… At 72% I started skimming and this is not a good sign. I expected something more, something better! Overall, this was an ok read for me and hope you enjoy it more than me!
Told in dual POV, 3rd person. It’s the second installment in the "Staniel" series and has to be read in order. I loved book one so much but I didn’t like this as much! It was a replica of book one and still not as good. IMO, the second half of the story hadn’t anything to say and just repetitive of the first half or at some point of book 1; blood and torment and sex… At 72% I started skimming and this is not a good sign. I expected something more, something better! Overall, this was an ok read for me and hope you enjoy it more than me!
![Profile Image for moonlight ☾ [semi-hiatus].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1645500038i%2F37448930._UX200_CR0%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
May 17, 2022
"We have particular tastes in common, diablo. That is true, but we are more than our love of violence. You want to know about my needs. It has been three years and they are as they have always been. My needs are yours. This revenge thing, I needed it as much as you did. Because they took you. And nobody takes you but me."
this was just as gory and violent as book one and i loved seeing Stav and Daniel work together to defeat their enemy (well deserved, bc my bb Stav can't catch a break i swear 😭). as individuals, they already had the reputation of being feared so, together, they were a perfect team of not giving a fuck of how ruthless they're going to be to anyone who wronged them. 🥺
did i love this as much as book one? well, no. it's mainly bc the tension, conflict and emotions they went through in book one made things complex and intriguing and i couldn't stop reading bc of their dynamic. they were still great here, but more cute and sweet. don't get me wrong, i loved seeing their affection towards one another, but the first book just had that oomph but, bc this is still Staniel, i'm whipped for them regardless. 😌
this was just as gory and violent as book one and i loved seeing Stav and Daniel work together to defeat their enemy (well deserved, bc my bb Stav can't catch a break i swear 😭). as individuals, they already had the reputation of being feared so, together, they were a perfect team of not giving a fuck of how ruthless they're going to be to anyone who wronged them. 🥺
did i love this as much as book one? well, no. it's mainly bc the tension, conflict and emotions they went through in book one made things complex and intriguing and i couldn't stop reading bc of their dynamic. they were still great here, but more cute and sweet. don't get me wrong, i loved seeing their affection towards one another, but the first book just had that oomph but, bc this is still Staniel, i'm whipped for them regardless. 😌
February 7, 2023
3rd reread: Jan 3-Feb 8, 2023
This book has been out for 4 years and I've been rereading it for the past 3. Imagine what it would be like if this book was longer? 😭😭 so good. Imagine what it would be like to have another Staniel book? Because DAMNIT AVRIL. ITS BEEN FOREVER. *sigh* I'll still wait for tomorrow and the next day and the year after that for simply the update that they'll get their book.
2nd reread: April: 8, 2023
Stavros being soft for Daniel and Daniel only had me weak in the knees.
1st Reread: August 9, 2021
The audacity this book has to end where it ended has me wanting to pull a Stavros on Avril Ashton.
Original Boring Ass Review 0
I don't know what else to say other than the fact that I loved every second of this book.
Our male leads are fucking badasses and have wreaked havoc on my world.
And right now? I'm just trying to stop myself from rereading this duology again.
And book 3?? Please. Please. Please Come to Mama. I need you in my life.
Immediate reactions:
Stravos and Daniel,
What have you done to me?
This book has been out for 4 years and I've been rereading it for the past 3. Imagine what it would be like if this book was longer? 😭😭 so good. Imagine what it would be like to have another Staniel book? Because DAMNIT AVRIL. ITS BEEN FOREVER. *sigh* I'll still wait for tomorrow and the next day and the year after that for simply the update that they'll get their book.
2nd reread: April: 8, 2023
Stavros being soft for Daniel and Daniel only had me weak in the knees.
1st Reread: August 9, 2021
The audacity this book has to end where it ended has me wanting to pull a Stavros on Avril Ashton.
They’d killed a man mere hours past and they were here now, because this was who they were. And it was glorious. Depraved, too. But it was for them, the depravity. It was just for them. It was fuel to the bonfire, it kept it raging, flames reaching for the sky, singeing anyone who weren’t them.
Original Boring Ass Review 0
I don't know what else to say other than the fact that I loved every second of this book.
Our male leads are fucking badasses and have wreaked havoc on my world.
And right now? I'm just trying to stop myself from rereading this duology again.
And book 3?? Please. Please. Please Come to Mama. I need you in my life.
Immediate reactions:
Stravos and Daniel,
What have you done to me?
March 9, 2021
✰ 3.5 ➼ 3.75 Stars ✰
-ˏˋ BR SHOUTOUT ˎˊ-
I want to give a huge thank you to Nenia Campbell for offering to buddy read this one with me! I actually wasn't even planning on reading this book so thank you for the motivation. Your updates were hilariously awesome, and I loved your fabulous review ❤︎
-ˏˋ GENERAL MUSINGS ˎˊ-
Story wise Call the Coroner was 30% torture porn and 70% romance. I guess author Avril Ashton decided to course correct in a big way because Dig Your Grave was, 50% romance, 40% torture porn, 5% Daniel and Stavros having dick measuring contests with everyone they came in contact with, and 5% setting up for a possible new series/sequel. Basically, I should've enjoyed DIG YOUR GRAVE even more than I enjoyed CALL THE CORONER . On paper this book is a five star confirmed read. It delivered on all the torture that I wanted from book one, Stavros and Daniel demonstrated that their reputations were well earned, it had the just right amount of romance, plus I stayed up till two in the morning to finish it. But alas, there was something. . .missing. I guess we're gonna have to investigate✨️.
-ˏˋ THE PLOT ˎˊ-
Oh boy. . .where to begin. . .well DIG YOUR GRAVE is torture porn first and foremost. Seriously, Daniel and Stavros rejoice in their mutual love of fucking people up, and the minute the guns come out their pants get a bit tighter. This is the story of that time Daniel and his Diablo went on a killing spree.
Word to the wise, don't mess with Daniel or what he considers his.
-ˏˋ WHAT WORKED ˎˊ-
✧ The Story as a Whole ✧ I gotta admit this review is a tricky one for me. On the one hand I devoured this book. I casually started it right before bed and didn't put it down until I finished every last word. Therefore, one would assume I loved this book. . .which, kinda. I enjoyed it for what it was, a fun murder-spree with two of the most romantic psychos the literary world has ever seen. Overall, the story had me hooked. I appreciated getting to see Daniel and Stavros really live up to their reputations as infamous scary bad guys.
One of the biggest mistakes I think authors tend to make when writing "bad dudes" is that there is so much TELLING vs. actually SHOWING. You can tell me till you're blue in the face that Daniel Nieto is a bad motherfucker, but until you show me I won't believe you. I bring all this up because I had a bit of that feeling after reading book one. The only time I really saw Daniel being Daniel Nieto was when he was torturing Stavros, and as we've established he was shit at that. Here though? Oh no, I would NEVER, N-E-V-E-R want to cross anyone by the last name Nieto. So, that aspect of DIG YOUR GRAVE was appreciated. The plot was fast paced, there was a good mix of romance + torture, and luckily Daniel and Stavros weren't separated for very long (which was mostly good thing).
-ˏˋ WHAT SORTA WORKED ˎˊ-
✧ The Romance ✧ Oh man. . .this is awkward. First off, please nobody throw rotten fruit at me, I swear I tried to love the romance. I think it's time for me to accept that I'm not as enamored with the romance between Stavros and Daniel as other people seem to be. As Nenia mentioned in her review there was something. . . .off about the romance. I just wasn't as invested in Stav&Daniel as I was the first time around. I think a big part of that is because there's no more tension. Book one Stavros&Daniel had a delicious enemies-to-lovers thing going on that I just adored. Not only that, but there was the whole Petra dilemma. Here there's none of that. Instead we have the weirdest balance of sugary sweet love declarations every other sentence -
Which okay, the above quote is sweet (my hearts not dead yet) but it was excessive. Every other word out of Daniel and Stavros's mouth was some sort of overdramatic love declaration. It was just too much. For me tonally it was a bit. . .strange. Not only was this book pretty dark (we'll get to that) but there was basically no down time. What I mean is they were either spouting romantically romantic shit -
Or doing romantic torture shit -
There was no in-between. After a while I got a bit bored, and the cheese overload became overwhelming. I'm sorry but I cannot with couples who are declaring their love for each other every other sentence. It's just too much. Overall, the romance was. . .fine. I like Stavros and Daniel together. They seem happy, or at least as happy as a couple of middle-aged bloodthirsty psychos can be. There's just something about them as a couple that doesn't spark with me.
-ˏˋ I'M NOT SURE HOW TO FEEL ˎˊ-
✧ Torture Porn is Thy Name ✧
DIG YOUR GRAVE as I stated was comprised of 40% romance and 50% torture porn. Which okay look I'm pretty bloodthirsty when I read so I actually don't mind torture. In fact I was a little disappointed that CALL THE CORONER only had about 30ish% torture. As I stated, if I was Petra I'd want my husband to torture my murderer for at least a month, AT LEAST. What made the torture in CALL THE CORONER work (for me) was the Petra angle. I wanted to see Daniel get his revenge, but at the same time I also couldn't wait until he had the tables turned on him. Meanwhile the torture in DIG YOUR GRAVE was. . .meh. What made it less. . .fun/hot/nice/enjoyable this time around was the lack of stakes. First off, I don't even know who the people torturing Stavros are. Seriously who are they and why should I care? Clearly Stavros didn't care because he called two of the three men nicknames based on their appearances. Secondly, as Stavros himself says -
It honestly felt like a huge unnecessary retread. Why was Stavros randomly kidnapped? IDK. Who are the men who kidnapped Stavros? *shrugs* Will Stavros get his revenge on. . .Jay, probably. Thirdly, Stavros is barely tortured. So, when he and Daniel start going on their killing spree I'm over here like -
What I mean is he got tortured for about two chapters and then miraculously recovers in about three weeks. Due to that, the subsequent murder spree felt very. . .hollow. I didn't know who the torturers were, the reason Stavros did get tortured was stupid, and to put it plainly, mutilation is gross. Yeah. . .that's the other thing, um, how do I put this, Stavros and Daniel really REALLY really like torturing people. Again I say to Stav&Daniel -
Sooooo, yeah, the torture scenes were foreplay. Seriously, that was the whole point of them.
Which as Nenia hilariously pointed out would have made a ton more sense if Stavros and Daniel turned out to secretly be vampires. Once I heard that conspiracy theory I kept secretly hoping one of the men would reveal their vampire status, but alas. Honestly, after a while it just got a bit. . .tiring. There's only so many times I can read about Daniel and Stav popping wood because they chopped off some dudes leg. Why anyone would want to have sex right where someone vomitted, peed, cried, probably pooped, and expelled a ton of blood is beyond me!
In conclusion. . .I -I'm still not entirely sure where I stand on the excessive torture porn in this book. It was both fun, kinda sexy(?), very character accurate, while at the same time also being a bit much. I guess don't go into this book with an empty stomach ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
-ˏˋ WHAT DIDN'T WORK ˎˊ-
✧ My Dick is Bigger Than Yours ✧
I'm not gonna lie all of the things I've mentioned so far haven't really bothered me. . .much. What DID annoy and rub me the wrong way was the proverbial dick measuring contest that Stavros and Daniel seemed to instigate with E-V-E-R-Y-O-N-E they came into contact with. The contest got so intense that Daniel and Stavros started a gang war because. . .reasons (not very good ones).
I - I'm still not sure how starting this war helps Stavros or Daniel. Someone please explain their reasoning because I'm confused. In my estimation the only purpose the war serves is to let everyone within a 500 mile radius know that Daniel&Stav have the biggest cojones. Which. . .good for them? I mean Daniel is pushing fifty he might want to think about taking a breather, but whatever works for him!
✧ The Incompetencies of an Abductor ✧ This last point is less "something that didn't work for me", and more a hilariously absurdity. So, one of my favorite pastimes in case you didn't know is judging fictional abductors on their competency when they preform torture. . .okay I kid but it is a topic I have strangely written about in several reviews, how u n i q u e. Anywho, I think the most entertainingly baffling part of DIG YOUR GRAVE was undoubtedly just how bad Stavros' abductors were. Seriously, not only did they not realize who they kidnapped -
BUT THEY DIDN'T EVEN MAKE SURE TO KILL HIM. I'm sorry but there is no way in hell I'm gonna leave the guy I've been torturing alive, especially if that man is just as psychotic as his partner. However, probably the most egregious and unintentionally funny part is the way in which their cover gets blown.
WHY, W-H-Y, wHy would you leave all the important information with the fake nurse. I - I don't even know. hilarious.
-ˏˋ IN SUMMATION ˎˊ-
All in all, DIG YOUR GRAVE was a good time! Since I wasn't in love with book one I went into book two with middling expectations. Due to that, my attitude towards this book is more exasperated fondness vs. crippling disappointment. There were a lot of good things happening in this book. The romance - while a bit cheesy for me - was mostly engaging. The torture was. . .detailed. Everything was well written and despite my issues with it I couldn't put it down. Basically, if you loved book one read this book. Everything is turned up to 11 for better and for. . .less better?
“I am here,” he whispered the words meant only for Stavros at his lover’s ear. “Always here, Diablo. I go nowhere unless you are with me, so come back. We have blood to spill. Graves to dig. Bodies to bury.”
-ˏˋ BR SHOUTOUT ˎˊ-
I want to give a huge thank you to Nenia Campbell for offering to buddy read this one with me! I actually wasn't even planning on reading this book so thank you for the motivation. Your updates were hilariously awesome, and I loved your fabulous review ❤︎
-ˏˋ GENERAL MUSINGS ˎˊ-
Story wise Call the Coroner was 30% torture porn and 70% romance. I guess author Avril Ashton decided to course correct in a big way because Dig Your Grave was, 50% romance, 40% torture porn, 5% Daniel and Stavros having dick measuring contests with everyone they came in contact with, and 5% setting up for a possible new series/sequel. Basically, I should've enjoyed DIG YOUR GRAVE even more than I enjoyed CALL THE CORONER . On paper this book is a five star confirmed read. It delivered on all the torture that I wanted from book one, Stavros and Daniel demonstrated that their reputations were well earned, it had the just right amount of romance, plus I stayed up till two in the morning to finish it. But alas, there was something. . .missing. I guess we're gonna have to investigate✨️.
-ˏˋ THE PLOT ˎˊ-
Oh boy. . .where to begin. . .well DIG YOUR GRAVE is torture porn first and foremost. Seriously, Daniel and Stavros rejoice in their mutual love of fucking people up, and the minute the guns come out their pants get a bit tighter. This is the story of that time Daniel and his Diablo went on a killing spree.
Without him at his side, Daniel was about to cut a bloody path through anyone in his way. Digging graves and stacking bodies. One by one.
Word to the wise, don't mess with Daniel or what he considers his.
-ˏˋ WHAT WORKED ˎˊ-
✧ The Story as a Whole ✧ I gotta admit this review is a tricky one for me. On the one hand I devoured this book. I casually started it right before bed and didn't put it down until I finished every last word. Therefore, one would assume I loved this book. . .which, kinda. I enjoyed it for what it was, a fun murder-spree with two of the most romantic psychos the literary world has ever seen. Overall, the story had me hooked. I appreciated getting to see Daniel and Stavros really live up to their reputations as infamous scary bad guys.
“Monsters aren’t born, you know.” [. . .] “No man leaves his mother’s womb with an affinity to wreak havoc and court death.” He sighed. “We are created by circumstance. By loss. By pain.”
One of the biggest mistakes I think authors tend to make when writing "bad dudes" is that there is so much TELLING vs. actually SHOWING. You can tell me till you're blue in the face that Daniel Nieto is a bad motherfucker, but until you show me I won't believe you. I bring all this up because I had a bit of that feeling after reading book one. The only time I really saw Daniel being Daniel Nieto was when he was torturing Stavros, and as we've established he was shit at that. Here though? Oh no, I would NEVER, N-E-V-E-R want to cross anyone by the last name Nieto. So, that aspect of DIG YOUR GRAVE was appreciated. The plot was fast paced, there was a good mix of romance + torture, and luckily Daniel and Stavros weren't separated for very long (which was mostly good thing).
-ˏˋ WHAT SORTA WORKED ˎˊ-
✧ The Romance ✧ Oh man. . .this is awkward. First off, please nobody throw rotten fruit at me, I swear I tried to love the romance. I think it's time for me to accept that I'm not as enamored with the romance between Stavros and Daniel as other people seem to be. As Nenia mentioned in her review there was something. . . .off about the romance. I just wasn't as invested in Stav&Daniel as I was the first time around. I think a big part of that is because there's no more tension. Book one Stavros&Daniel had a delicious enemies-to-lovers thing going on that I just adored. Not only that, but there was the whole Petra dilemma. Here there's none of that. Instead we have the weirdest balance of sugary sweet love declarations every other sentence -
“I don’t feel strong." [. . .] “I don’t feel strong.”
“You do not have to be, Diablo. Not all the time. Not here with me.” [. . .] “But if you want it, my strength is yours. Always yours.”
Which okay, the above quote is sweet (my hearts not dead yet) but it was excessive. Every other word out of Daniel and Stavros's mouth was some sort of overdramatic love declaration. It was just too much. For me tonally it was a bit. . .strange. Not only was this book pretty dark (we'll get to that) but there was basically no down time. What I mean is they were either spouting romantically romantic shit -
"[. . .] We are not invincible, though you make me feel like that. You make me feel like death is just one more thing to conquer.”
“I am glad. Otherwise I would be alone in this madness.”
“Never,” Stavros shot back. “You are never alone. Could never be alone.”
Or doing romantic torture shit -
“Thank you for tonight.” Other people’s lovers gave them jewelry and trips to exotic locales. His gave him a body to torture and dismember.
Daniel’s teeth flashed bright when he grinned. “I know the way to your heart, diablo.”
There was no in-between. After a while I got a bit bored, and the cheese overload became overwhelming. I'm sorry but I cannot with couples who are declaring their love for each other every other sentence. It's just too much. Overall, the romance was. . .fine. I like Stavros and Daniel together. They seem happy, or at least as happy as a couple of middle-aged bloodthirsty psychos can be. There's just something about them as a couple that doesn't spark with me.
“You’re not invincible, Nieto.”
“Of course not.” He’d never claimed to be.
“There is someone out there who will fuck your ass up.”
“Sí.” Daniel jerked his head in agreement. “I fell in love with him.”
awh ❤︎ now please talk about ANYTHING else. . .
-ˏˋ I'M NOT SURE HOW TO FEEL ˎˊ-
to torture or not to torture, that is the question✨
✧ Torture Porn is Thy Name ✧
DIG YOUR GRAVE as I stated was comprised of 40% romance and 50% torture porn. Which okay look I'm pretty bloodthirsty when I read so I actually don't mind torture. In fact I was a little disappointed that CALL THE CORONER only had about 30ish% torture. As I stated, if I was Petra I'd want my husband to torture my murderer for at least a month, AT LEAST. What made the torture in CALL THE CORONER work (for me) was the Petra angle. I wanted to see Daniel get his revenge, but at the same time I also couldn't wait until he had the tables turned on him. Meanwhile the torture in DIG YOUR GRAVE was. . .meh. What made it less. . .fun/hot/nice/enjoyable this time around was the lack of stakes. First off, I don't even know who the people torturing Stavros are. Seriously who are they and why should I care? Clearly Stavros didn't care because he called two of the three men nicknames based on their appearances. Secondly, as Stavros himself says -
“This feels oddly like déjà vu,” he croaked out.
It honestly felt like a huge unnecessary retread. Why was Stavros randomly kidnapped? IDK. Who are the men who kidnapped Stavros? *shrugs* Will Stavros get his revenge on. . .Jay, probably. Thirdly, Stavros is barely tortured. So, when he and Daniel start going on their killing spree I'm over here like -
What I mean is he got tortured for about two chapters and then miraculously recovers in about three weeks. Due to that, the subsequent murder spree felt very. . .hollow. I didn't know who the torturers were, the reason Stavros did get tortured was stupid, and to put it plainly, mutilation is gross. Yeah. . .that's the other thing, um, how do I put this, Stavros and Daniel really REALLY really like torturing people. Again I say to Stav&Daniel -
Sooooo, yeah, the torture scenes were foreplay. Seriously, that was the whole point of them.
“Diablo.”
He panted as he gazed down at Daniel.“We should tell Toro to add lube to the duffel bag of supplies.” He licked his thumb then scrubbed away a smear of blood from the tip of his lover’s nose.
“Yes.” Daniel’s lips twitched. “This might become a bit of a habit.”
Which as Nenia hilariously pointed out would have made a ton more sense if Stavros and Daniel turned out to secretly be vampires. Once I heard that conspiracy theory I kept secretly hoping one of the men would reveal their vampire status, but alas. Honestly, after a while it just got a bit. . .tiring. There's only so many times I can read about Daniel and Stav popping wood because they chopped off some dudes leg. Why anyone would want to have sex right where someone vomitted, peed, cried, probably pooped, and expelled a ton of blood is beyond me!
The scent of blood stung his nostrils and had his mouth flooded with saliva. Doing was a thrill, it set him on fire getting his hands dirty with the sticky red. But watching… Watching Stavros was the worst kind of foreplay.
In conclusion. . .I -I'm still not entirely sure where I stand on the excessive torture porn in this book. It was both fun, kinda sexy(?), very character accurate, while at the same time also being a bit much. I guess don't go into this book with an empty stomach ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
-ˏˋ WHAT DIDN'T WORK ˎˊ-
⚡️beware of spoilers ⚡️
✧ My Dick is Bigger Than Yours ✧
I'm not gonna lie all of the things I've mentioned so far haven't really bothered me. . .much. What DID annoy and rub me the wrong way was the proverbial dick measuring contest that Stavros and Daniel seemed to instigate with E-V-E-R-Y-O-N-E they came into contact with. The contest got so intense that Daniel and Stavros started a gang war because. . .reasons (not very good ones).
“I want that war between Pascal and Jairo Beltrán—” He named The Forger’s husband, the one they’d learned from Yusef was laundering all his estranged family’s dirty money. “And I want us to destroy whoever is left when the dust settles.”
I - I'm still not sure how starting this war helps Stavros or Daniel. Someone please explain their reasoning because I'm confused. In my estimation the only purpose the war serves is to let everyone within a 500 mile radius know that Daniel&Stav have the biggest cojones. Which. . .good for them? I mean Daniel is pushing fifty he might want to think about taking a breather, but whatever works for him!
✧ The Incompetencies of an Abductor ✧ This last point is less "something that didn't work for me", and more a hilariously absurdity. So, one of my favorite pastimes in case you didn't know is judging fictional abductors on their competency when they preform torture. . .okay I kid but it is a topic I have strangely written about in several reviews, how u n i q u e. Anywho, I think the most entertainingly baffling part of DIG YOUR GRAVE was undoubtedly just how bad Stavros' abductors were. Seriously, not only did they not realize who they kidnapped -
The thought of his lover’s fury forced his stiff, aching face into a smile.
“He’s smiling.” The person in front of him sounded incredulous. “Boss, he’s smiling.”
BUT THEY DIDN'T EVEN MAKE SURE TO KILL HIM. I'm sorry but there is no way in hell I'm gonna leave the guy I've been torturing alive, especially if that man is just as psychotic as his partner. However, probably the most egregious and unintentionally funny part is the way in which their cover gets blown.
Thanks to Anna, the nurse who’d been planted with Stavros’ uncle, they had names which had been used to acquire some grainy photos, so they had a few ideas on who they were looking for.
WHY, W-H-Y, wHy would you leave all the important information with the fake nurse. I - I don't even know. hilarious.
-ˏˋ IN SUMMATION ˎˊ-
All in all, DIG YOUR GRAVE was a good time! Since I wasn't in love with book one I went into book two with middling expectations. Due to that, my attitude towards this book is more exasperated fondness vs. crippling disappointment. There were a lot of good things happening in this book. The romance - while a bit cheesy for me - was mostly engaging. The torture was. . .detailed. Everything was well written and despite my issues with it I couldn't put it down. Basically, if you loved book one read this book. Everything is turned up to 11 for better and for. . .less better?
February 7, 2021
✨5 STANIEL STARS!✨
【Song: This is The Hunt - Ruelle】
🎶We live in the shadows
We live where darkness hides
We'll go where no one goes
We won't give up this fight
We're coming after you
No where to run
We're coming after you
This is the hunt🎶
⳾*⑅*❀⑅*❀⑅*❀⑅*❀⑅*❀⑅*⳾
“Other people’s lovers gave them jewelry and trips to exotic locales. His gave him a body to torture and dismember. Daniel’s teeth flashed bright when he grinned. "I know the way to your heart, Diablo"
Fuck...this was some disturbing shit.....I LOVED IT!
Honestly, it’s no surprise how much i loved this novella simply because it has Daniel and Diablo in it, especially considering how much i loved the first book, Call the Coroner.
Just like Call the Coroner, this book was graphically violent.
Even though this was a short novella, every page was intense and full of action.
Torture. Blood. Gore. Violence. And just pure MADNESS.
This book had it all.
It was so dark and depraved and i fucking loved it.
"There is someone out there who will fuck your ass up."
"Sì." Daniel jerked his head in agreement. "I fell in love with him."
͙⁺˚*･༓☾ DANIEL NIETO & STAVROS “DIABLO” KONSTANTINOU: ☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙
“He was beauty.
Reason.
He was life like Daniel had never seen it.”
Stavros is missing.
He was betrayed and ambushed by a person he trusts.
Kidnapped and tortured, again.
“No food, just torture.
Déjà vu.
Daniel did it better. Or was he biased?”
Stavros gets beaten to an inch of his life. He gets tortured so badly that he almost dies.
“Wrists for sure broken.
Shivering from the torture, from the blood loss, from starvation.
They didn’t know shit. Didn’t know it wasn’t strength that kept him alive. Wasn’t stubbornness that held his tongue. It was Daniel Nieto. Behind his eyelids, Stavros saw his lover’s face. His eyes.”
But throughout it all, the one thing that keeps him fighting and hanging on, is his utmost belief that Daniel will stop at nothing to get him back.
“Turns out m-monsters can love too, and he loves me as much as I love him. He will c-come for me and he will kill for me. I can’t begin to tell you just how badly you’ve fucked up.”
Saying that Daniel is furious would be a huge understatement.
“Did the people who took Stavros want Daniel on the loose? Because the only person who could ever hope to contain him was Stavros. Without him at his side, Daniel was about to cut a bloody path through anyone in his way.
Digging graves and stacking bodies.
One by one.”
He’s absolutely bloodthirsty, and nothing short of Stavros himself will stop him from burning the world down to get his Diablo back.
What happens when the one person who kept Daniel tethered gets kidnapped?
He wrecks havoc, picking the people involved up one by one.
“His prey had thought himself safe. Untouchable. Not to Daniel. He served as a reminder: nobody was safe. Nobody escaped him when he was on the hunt.”
He’s merciless and barbaric in his ways.
He tortures, torments and kills everyone standing in the way between him and his Diablo.
“Nobody and no one was off limits. When you loved like he loved, there were no lines, only lesser evils.”
Until he finally finds him, bloody, broken and all but dead.
“I am here,” he whispered the words meant only for Stavros at his lover’s ear. “Always here, Diablo. I go nowhere unless you are with me, so come back. We have blood to spill. Graves to dig. Bodies to bury.”
Call me sadistic and heartless, but for me that’s when the real fun begins.
Together with Toro(Daniel’s nephew), Stavros and Daniel hunt every single person that played a part in capturing and torturing Stavros.
“He wasn’t stopping until Jay and every fucking body he knew, everybody he loved was put down. This was personal and he didn’t give a fuck what he had to do.
A lesson must be taught.
He was not to be fucked with”
And when they finally have the assholes under their thumbs, they take their sweet time punishing them one by one.
“Thank you for doing this with me,” he said softly. He couldn’t take this for granted. Couldn’t take Daniel for granted.
“Anything.” Daniel lifted his head, shining eyes back on Stavros’ face. “I will do anything for you.”
Stavros slid a thumb over his jaw. “I know.” He inhaled then let it out. “Shall we go kill a man, then?”
Off somewhere hiding in the shadows, Toro’s chuckle reached his ears.
Daniel simply nodded, sweet violence bleeding through his gaze as the affection that had been there before receded. “Sí.”
They bask in the glory of the screams, the pleading and the blood.
They revel in it. It turns them on, and becomes their own form of foreplay.
”Watching Stavros was the worst kind of foreplay. He didn’t want it to end, but he also couldn’t wait for the finale. He feared becoming obsessed with this sight: his lover covered in blood, that saw at work, his hair stringy with sweat, exacting revenge in the sexiest way Daniel had ever seen. He wanted to halt Stavros’ actions just to take him and be taken on this floor, surrounded by dead bodies and bodily fluids.”
Daniel and Diablo are real psychos, they’re truly merciless and ruthless. I was speechless at the lengths they went through to take their revenge.
"Let this be a message, the only one I’ll ever send: You come fore me and mine, bring a motherfucking army and be a prepared to die. Because I’m prepared to."
Together, they’re agonized bliss.
“There’s a special kind of terror that comes with loving you, with being loved by you. Your enemies. Mine. Those we don’t even know about. I push it down, put it at the back of my mind, but it’s a permanent part of my existence now. That fear. We are not invincible, though you make me feel like that. You make me feel like death is just one more thing to conquer.”
They’re two predators who get their high from torture and blood. They’re the true definition of messed up and twisted.
“He tore his stare away from Alan’s bloodied visage and gazed down at his lover, only to find Stavros’s face upturned, eyes on him filled with adoration and the darkest promises.
It was Daniel’s turn to smile. “Work,” he rasped as he stepped to the side. He didn’t go back into the shadows. He remained at Stavros’ side. Aroused beyond imagination as Stavros took Alan apart, piece by piece, so beautifully.”
And fuck me, if i wasn’t rooting for their brand of twisted all the way.
"We have particular tastes in common, Diablo." Daniel picked up Stavros' left hand, bringing it out of the water and holding it up, lacing their fingers. "That is true, but we are more than our love of violence." They were more than who they’d been when they first came together. "You want to know about my needs. It has been three years and they are as they have always been. My needs are yours. This revenge thing, I needed it as much as you did." He touched their joined hands to the middle of his chest. "Because they took you. And nobody takes you but me."
Daniel and Stavros truly convinced me that there really is ✨Beauty in darkness.✨
"I love you," Daniel told him. "I will always love you. I am in this world because you are."
I loved this novella just as much as i LOVED Call the coroner. I don’t care for plots or storylines, just give me Daniel and Stavros, and i am immensely satisfied and beyond happy.
I highly recommend Call the Coroner and Dig your grave to anyone who like Daniel and Stavros, revel in blood, torture and madness.
For anyone who, like me, finds beauty in darkness, this one’s for you.
⳾*⑅*❀⑅*❀⑅*❀⑅*❀⑅*❀⑅*⳾
My reviews of:
➊ Call the Coroner ➳ 5 🌟
➋ Dig your grave ➳ 5 🌟
⳾*⑅*❀⑅*❀⑅*❀⑅*❀⑅*❀⑅*⳾
Prior to reading:
“The hunt is on.
Bodies are piling up.
And they’re sending out a warning.
Before you even think to go up against us…
Dig Your Grave.”
✨Fuck yeah...i am sooo ready!✨
【Song: This is The Hunt - Ruelle】
🎶We live in the shadows
We live where darkness hides
We'll go where no one goes
We won't give up this fight
We're coming after you
No where to run
We're coming after you
This is the hunt🎶
⳾*⑅*❀⑅*❀⑅*❀⑅*❀⑅*❀⑅*⳾
“Other people’s lovers gave them jewelry and trips to exotic locales. His gave him a body to torture and dismember. Daniel’s teeth flashed bright when he grinned. "I know the way to your heart, Diablo"
Fuck...this was some disturbing shit.....I LOVED IT!
Honestly, it’s no surprise how much i loved this novella simply because it has Daniel and Diablo in it, especially considering how much i loved the first book, Call the Coroner.
Just like Call the Coroner, this book was graphically violent.
Even though this was a short novella, every page was intense and full of action.
Torture. Blood. Gore. Violence. And just pure MADNESS.
This book had it all.
It was so dark and depraved and i fucking loved it.
"There is someone out there who will fuck your ass up."
"Sì." Daniel jerked his head in agreement. "I fell in love with him."
͙⁺˚*･༓☾ DANIEL NIETO & STAVROS “DIABLO” KONSTANTINOU: ☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙
“He was beauty.
Reason.
He was life like Daniel had never seen it.”
Stavros is missing.
He was betrayed and ambushed by a person he trusts.
Kidnapped and tortured, again.
“No food, just torture.
Déjà vu.
Daniel did it better. Or was he biased?”
Stavros gets beaten to an inch of his life. He gets tortured so badly that he almost dies.
“Wrists for sure broken.
Shivering from the torture, from the blood loss, from starvation.
They didn’t know shit. Didn’t know it wasn’t strength that kept him alive. Wasn’t stubbornness that held his tongue. It was Daniel Nieto. Behind his eyelids, Stavros saw his lover’s face. His eyes.”
But throughout it all, the one thing that keeps him fighting and hanging on, is his utmost belief that Daniel will stop at nothing to get him back.
“Turns out m-monsters can love too, and he loves me as much as I love him. He will c-come for me and he will kill for me. I can’t begin to tell you just how badly you’ve fucked up.”
Saying that Daniel is furious would be a huge understatement.
“Did the people who took Stavros want Daniel on the loose? Because the only person who could ever hope to contain him was Stavros. Without him at his side, Daniel was about to cut a bloody path through anyone in his way.
Digging graves and stacking bodies.
One by one.”
He’s absolutely bloodthirsty, and nothing short of Stavros himself will stop him from burning the world down to get his Diablo back.
What happens when the one person who kept Daniel tethered gets kidnapped?
He wrecks havoc, picking the people involved up one by one.
“His prey had thought himself safe. Untouchable. Not to Daniel. He served as a reminder: nobody was safe. Nobody escaped him when he was on the hunt.”
He’s merciless and barbaric in his ways.
He tortures, torments and kills everyone standing in the way between him and his Diablo.
“Nobody and no one was off limits. When you loved like he loved, there were no lines, only lesser evils.”
Until he finally finds him, bloody, broken and all but dead.
“I am here,” he whispered the words meant only for Stavros at his lover’s ear. “Always here, Diablo. I go nowhere unless you are with me, so come back. We have blood to spill. Graves to dig. Bodies to bury.”
Call me sadistic and heartless, but for me that’s when the real fun begins.
Together with Toro(Daniel’s nephew), Stavros and Daniel hunt every single person that played a part in capturing and torturing Stavros.
“He wasn’t stopping until Jay and every fucking body he knew, everybody he loved was put down. This was personal and he didn’t give a fuck what he had to do.
A lesson must be taught.
He was not to be fucked with”
And when they finally have the assholes under their thumbs, they take their sweet time punishing them one by one.
“Thank you for doing this with me,” he said softly. He couldn’t take this for granted. Couldn’t take Daniel for granted.
“Anything.” Daniel lifted his head, shining eyes back on Stavros’ face. “I will do anything for you.”
Stavros slid a thumb over his jaw. “I know.” He inhaled then let it out. “Shall we go kill a man, then?”
Off somewhere hiding in the shadows, Toro’s chuckle reached his ears.
Daniel simply nodded, sweet violence bleeding through his gaze as the affection that had been there before receded. “Sí.”
They bask in the glory of the screams, the pleading and the blood.
They revel in it. It turns them on, and becomes their own form of foreplay.
”Watching Stavros was the worst kind of foreplay. He didn’t want it to end, but he also couldn’t wait for the finale. He feared becoming obsessed with this sight: his lover covered in blood, that saw at work, his hair stringy with sweat, exacting revenge in the sexiest way Daniel had ever seen. He wanted to halt Stavros’ actions just to take him and be taken on this floor, surrounded by dead bodies and bodily fluids.”
Daniel and Diablo are real psychos, they’re truly merciless and ruthless. I was speechless at the lengths they went through to take their revenge.
"Let this be a message, the only one I’ll ever send: You come fore me and mine, bring a motherfucking army and be a prepared to die. Because I’m prepared to."
Together, they’re agonized bliss.
“There’s a special kind of terror that comes with loving you, with being loved by you. Your enemies. Mine. Those we don’t even know about. I push it down, put it at the back of my mind, but it’s a permanent part of my existence now. That fear. We are not invincible, though you make me feel like that. You make me feel like death is just one more thing to conquer.”
They’re two predators who get their high from torture and blood. They’re the true definition of messed up and twisted.
“He tore his stare away from Alan’s bloodied visage and gazed down at his lover, only to find Stavros’s face upturned, eyes on him filled with adoration and the darkest promises.
It was Daniel’s turn to smile. “Work,” he rasped as he stepped to the side. He didn’t go back into the shadows. He remained at Stavros’ side. Aroused beyond imagination as Stavros took Alan apart, piece by piece, so beautifully.”
And fuck me, if i wasn’t rooting for their brand of twisted all the way.
"We have particular tastes in common, Diablo." Daniel picked up Stavros' left hand, bringing it out of the water and holding it up, lacing their fingers. "That is true, but we are more than our love of violence." They were more than who they’d been when they first came together. "You want to know about my needs. It has been three years and they are as they have always been. My needs are yours. This revenge thing, I needed it as much as you did." He touched their joined hands to the middle of his chest. "Because they took you. And nobody takes you but me."
Daniel and Stavros truly convinced me that there really is ✨Beauty in darkness.✨
"I love you," Daniel told him. "I will always love you. I am in this world because you are."
I loved this novella just as much as i LOVED Call the coroner. I don’t care for plots or storylines, just give me Daniel and Stavros, and i am immensely satisfied and beyond happy.
I highly recommend Call the Coroner and Dig your grave to anyone who like Daniel and Stavros, revel in blood, torture and madness.
For anyone who, like me, finds beauty in darkness, this one’s for you.
⳾*⑅*❀⑅*❀⑅*❀⑅*❀⑅*❀⑅*⳾
My reviews of:
➊ Call the Coroner ➳ 5 🌟
➋ Dig your grave ➳ 5 🌟
⳾*⑅*❀⑅*❀⑅*❀⑅*❀⑅*❀⑅*⳾
Prior to reading:
“The hunt is on.
Bodies are piling up.
And they’re sending out a warning.
Before you even think to go up against us…
Dig Your Grave.”
✨Fuck yeah...i am sooo ready!✨
January 27, 2024
Excellent sequel - when do we get book three?!🖤
April 28, 2023
First reread: just as good as the first time 💙
Original review:
Loved this novella so much!!! I didn't want it to end!!! I NEED MORE OF STAVROS AND DANIEL!!! ❤️🖤
I'll write a full review later, I need some sleep now. 🤣 But if you loved the first book, chances are you'll love the second even more! 🤤😌
Also, I need to scream about something: I desperately NEED Linc & Yusef book and Pascal & the Forger book!!! 😭😭😭 I was obsessed with them the moment they showed up. Aaaand I thought their books were already released so imagine how sad I was when I went to check and I didn't find them. 😭😭😭
Update: I just saw that Pascal & the Forger book is being written now. I can't wait for their book, but also I need Linc & Yusef and not knowing when they will get their story is torture! 🥺 Aghhh, I'M OBSESSED!!!! This has Al and Laz vibes all over again, the torture of waiting and anticipating a book with MCs you love! 😭🥺 I'll be waiting (im)patiently for their books because they stole my heart in this novella (Stavros and Daniel already had my heart). ❤️
Original review:
Loved this novella so much!!! I didn't want it to end!!! I NEED MORE OF STAVROS AND DANIEL!!! ❤️🖤
I'll write a full review later, I need some sleep now. 🤣 But if you loved the first book, chances are you'll love the second even more! 🤤😌
Also, I need to scream about something: I desperately NEED Linc & Yusef book and Pascal & the Forger book!!! 😭😭😭 I was obsessed with them the moment they showed up. Aaaand I thought their books were already released so imagine how sad I was when I went to check and I didn't find them. 😭😭😭
Update: I just saw that Pascal & the Forger book is being written now. I can't wait for their book, but also I need Linc & Yusef and not knowing when they will get their story is torture! 🥺 Aghhh, I'M OBSESSED!!!! This has Al and Laz vibes all over again, the torture of waiting and anticipating a book with MCs you love! 😭🥺 I'll be waiting (im)patiently for their books because they stole my heart in this novella (Stavros and Daniel already had my heart). ❤️
September 20, 2023
𝑭𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅
They are freaking amazing. Period.
Ps. I need to read Pascal story!!! And yusef' one is already out??
Too many characters i wanna know about
𝑶𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘
Just the prologue!!
Just the prologue is enough to make you fall in love (or scare the shit out of you 😂😂)with the devravity, and the violence of this second chapter of Staniel 🤩🤩🤩
Making edits never been so hard because it's impossible to report the intensity, the bloodlust, the hunger of this couple.
I can’t even find the right words to describe it!!
But I can tell you Avril Ashton just became a one-click author to me !!
And I really hope she gonna give us Toro's, Pascal's and Yusef' story because I need them🤩🤩
#StanielForeverInMyHeart
They are freaking amazing. Period.
Ps. I need to read Pascal story!!! And yusef' one is already out??
Too many characters i wanna know about
𝑶𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘
Just the prologue!!
Just the prologue is enough to make you fall in love (or scare the shit out of you 😂😂)with the devravity, and the violence of this second chapter of Staniel 🤩🤩🤩
Making edits never been so hard because it's impossible to report the intensity, the bloodlust, the hunger of this couple.
I can’t even find the right words to describe it!!
But I can tell you Avril Ashton just became a one-click author to me !!
And I really hope she gonna give us Toro's, Pascal's and Yusef' story because I need them🤩🤩
#StanielForeverInMyHeart
March 16, 2020
Fabulous - dark, depraved and gritty ... just how I love these two ! This book is not for the faint hearted and you need to read Call The Coroner first to understand the depth / bond between Daniel & Stavros. I bloody love them ❤️❤️❤️
October 17, 2021
”I want to build an empire with you.
One nobody would even attempt to touch, because they’ll know… Worlds will burn, blood will flow”
God, I love these two so much. and this ending was a little open where is my third book.
One nobody would even attempt to touch, because they’ll know… Worlds will burn, blood will flow”
God, I love these two so much. and this ending was a little open where is my third book.
February 19, 2024
Daniel and Stavros are so dramatic fr, but i loved them. the fact i took two weeks off from reading and still came back to finish this speaks volumes tbh. they're a mess but i will always be a sucker for the i'll burn the world down if you touch what's mine head assery.
May 19, 2022
Gritty! Enjoyed.
I didn't think it was possible but this book was even darker than the previous book. I knooooww!
Well, I guess extreme violence is what happens when clueless people do things like try to harm the family of self-proclaimed "monsters". They get things like hacked off body parts and vanishing family members *shudders*
Also, lesson for anyone, don't mess with these men because they take "scorched earth approach" very literal.
I've read just two books by Avril Ashton and at this point, I already I know this genre is something she excels in.
In real life, you can NOT get me to watch a bloody scene in a movie but this author managed to get me to read a whole 200+ pages of even worse things happening to people . Full disclosure , I finched a LOT but I still read it and that is what I call talent!
After reading this, I have decided to read her entire backlog of books. Its the least she deserves after two very strong showings.
Also, I think it will set me up pretty well for the upcoming books that were hinted at getting to the end of this book.
This is going to be a bumpy, dark ride so Someone get me a lamp, some tissues and an airbag! I'm gonna need it! Lol!
I didn't think it was possible but this book was even darker than the previous book. I knooooww!
Well, I guess extreme violence is what happens when clueless people do things like try to harm the family of self-proclaimed "monsters". They get things like hacked off body parts and vanishing family members *shudders*
Also, lesson for anyone, don't mess with these men because they take "scorched earth approach" very literal.
I've read just two books by Avril Ashton and at this point, I already I know this genre is something she excels in.
In real life, you can NOT get me to watch a bloody scene in a movie but this author managed to get me to read a whole 200+ pages of even worse things happening to people . Full disclosure , I finched a LOT but I still read it and that is what I call talent!
After reading this, I have decided to read her entire backlog of books. Its the least she deserves after two very strong showings.
Also, I think it will set me up pretty well for the upcoming books that were hinted at getting to the end of this book.
This is going to be a bumpy, dark ride so Someone get me a lamp, some tissues and an airbag! I'm gonna need it! Lol!
May 22, 2023
2.75*** stars
This is some serious "I burn the world down to find you and bring you back to me, love of my life" kinda story. And mind you, not only the world is burning with these two. Sweet baby Jesus.
If you’re into that, go ahead. Just follow the path of blood and torture and you’ll find Daniel’s and Stavros’s well deserved HEA.
Meanwhile I'll go read some small-town-sunshine-fluff now. Bye. ♡
*************
Staniel Duet
Book 1 - Call The Coroner - 3.5 stars
Book 2 - Dig Your Grave - 2.75 stars
Please note that it’s strongly advised to read Book #1 first.
“Thank you for tonight.”
Other people’s lovers gave them jewelry and trips to exotic locales. His gave him a body to torture and dismember.
“I know the way to your heart, diablo.”
This is some serious "I burn the world down to find you and bring you back to me, love of my life" kinda story. And mind you, not only the world is burning with these two. Sweet baby Jesus.
If you’re into that, go ahead. Just follow the path of blood and torture and you’ll find Daniel’s and Stavros’s well deserved HEA.
Meanwhile I'll go read some small-town-sunshine-fluff now. Bye. ♡
*************
Staniel Duet
Book 1 - Call The Coroner - 3.5 stars
Book 2 - Dig Your Grave - 2.75 stars
Please note that it’s strongly advised to read Book #1 first.
March 15, 2020
« There’s a special kind of terror that comes with loving you, with being loved by you. Your enemies. Mine. Those we don’t even know about. I push it down, put it at the back of my mind, but it’s a permanent part of my existence now. That fear. We are not invincible, though you make me feel like that. You make me feel like death is just one more thing to conquer. »
These two MEN are BADASSES. Two of the greatest. I mean their business is all about killing people.
When Stavros is taken in hostage, Daniel just LOST his mind. You said blood?
« Turns out m-monsters can love too, and he loves me as much as I love him. He will c-come for me and he will kill for me. I can’t begin to tell you just how badly you’ve fucked up. »
And yeah the loser really fucked up. He paid it by...digging his grave (. Be prepared. There are some incredible dark scenes in this.
Hell YEAH.
This book is all about the LOVE between these two.
« We have particular tastes in common, diablo.” Daniel picked up Stavros’ left hand, bringing it out of the water and holding it up, lacing their fingers. “That is true, but we are more than our love of violence.” They were more than who they’d been when they first came together. “You want to know about my needs. It has been three years and they are as they have always been. My needs are yours. This revenge thing, I needed it as much as you did.” He touched their joined hands to the middle of his chest. “Because they took you. And nobody takes you but me. »
Yeah they are kind of cute.
And I'm really in love with Daniel when his talking in his godbirth langage.
PS: I'm kind of curious about Yusef....Can't fucking wait about his story with...you want to know? Read.
Stavros and Daniel are really bad people. You don't want to cross path with either one of them. They are cold blood murderers. I mean the way they met with each other was glorious and unforgettable. But there is something about the way they just love each other that it just amazing. The way they can't live without each other. They breathe for the other. Incredible. They love the same way they hate with ALL they can.
Am I liking them ? Yes...No...Maybe?
These two MEN are BADASSES. Two of the greatest. I mean their business is all about killing people.
When Stavros is taken in hostage, Daniel just LOST his mind. You said blood?
« Turns out m-monsters can love too, and he loves me as much as I love him. He will c-come for me and he will kill for me. I can’t begin to tell you just how badly you’ve fucked up. »
And yeah the loser really fucked up. He paid it by...digging his grave (. Be prepared. There are some incredible dark scenes in this.
Hell YEAH.
This book is all about the LOVE between these two.
« We have particular tastes in common, diablo.” Daniel picked up Stavros’ left hand, bringing it out of the water and holding it up, lacing their fingers. “That is true, but we are more than our love of violence.” They were more than who they’d been when they first came together. “You want to know about my needs. It has been three years and they are as they have always been. My needs are yours. This revenge thing, I needed it as much as you did.” He touched their joined hands to the middle of his chest. “Because they took you. And nobody takes you but me. »
Yeah they are kind of cute.
And I'm really in love with Daniel when his talking in his godbirth langage.
PS: I'm kind of curious about Yusef....Can't fucking wait about his story with...you want to know? Read.
Stavros and Daniel are really bad people. You don't want to cross path with either one of them. They are cold blood murderers. I mean the way they met with each other was glorious and unforgettable. But there is something about the way they just love each other that it just amazing. The way they can't live without each other. They breathe for the other. Incredible. They love the same way they hate with ALL they can.
Am I liking them ? Yes...No...Maybe?
September 16, 2020
Other people’s lovers gave them jewelry and trips to exotic locales. His gave him a body to torture and dismember.
There is something extremely wrong with these two. And maybe also me because I did like them😅
There is something extremely wrong with these two. And maybe also me because I did like them😅
December 18, 2023
Tropes: organized crime, boss/assassin, established relationship
Feels: 3.5/5
Steam*: 3/5
Kinks: rough sex, murder and blood turning them on
Angst: low
HEA: yes, but honestly it still feels like a happy for now because they've started so much conflict between threats. Someone's going to come for them.
Pairing: MM
Triggers/potential icks/content warnings: lots of murder and violence, even of innocent people, nice LGBTQIA rep
This was a continuation of Daniel and Stavros' story. It's been about 3 years since they got their happy for now in their book. They've continued their lives of crime. And Stavros' job as an assassin has gotten him some unwanted attention. He gets kidnapped because someone wants to know who hired him for some jobs. He gets tortured for many days, then shot and left for dead. This is the story of Daniel coming to find and rescue Stavros and then the two of them getting their revenge, making everyone pay for what they did to Stavros.
I liked the first book better than I liked this one. I like a couple that is possessive about each other, I love the hurt them and die mentality, but there didn't seem to me to be enough substance to make up for some showy and dumb stuff. I liked the grittiness of the smut and the possessive words and the emotion it represented but it didn't back it up for me with enough good stuff.
There were a bunch of things I didn't love.
- This book is largely performance. Every moment they do a power play to manipulate someone or to take revenge and kill someone, it's them taking the stage and being showy. There's not a lot of substance to this book
- The people who took Stavros seem dumb. If the guy wanted Stavros to talk and name names, he shouldn't have broken every bone in his hand and rendered him in able to talk with a broken jaw. How is he going to communicate?
- Stavros and Daniel go into the home of the brains behind the attack on Stavros without having done reconnaissance. That just seems dumb
- There were typos sprinkled throughout the book
- It was too dark for me with the killing of innocents. After killing a bunch of people, including not just the guilty person who hurt Stavros but also the innocent elderly parents of a character, an uninvolved brother, and a stupid woman who gave shelter to the wrong person, Stavros and Daniel are overcome with lust after the killing spree and have sex. It's one thing when they're taking down a real villain for them to feel that kind of bloodlust. But all those innocent people they killed? That's not sexy.
- I know they're trying to be scary. But there have been multiple instances where in this book they have let themselves be filmed committing murders and given the video to people to intimidate them. It's dumb because they are putting out into the world evidence of their crimes that could easily put them in jail
Some notable moments:
"“I am here,” he whispered the words meant only for Stavros at his lover’s ear. “Always here, Diablo. I go nowhere unless you are with me, so come back. We have blood to spill. Graves to dig. Bodies to bury.”"
"Elias watched him silently for a few heartbeats before he said, “I thought it was a joke, you know. You and Daniel Nieto.” He shook his head. “But I forgot that when you fuck up, you really fuck up.” That was true, so Stavros didn’t bother taking offense. He simply shrugged. “He kidnapped and tortured me. I had no choice but to fuck him.”"
*FYI about steam: I rate steam based on a combination of quality & quantity. I note kink separate from steam because I don't want to underrate steamy reads that don't have much kink.
**Note about spoilers: I like to comment on the plot of a book in reviews, so I almost always mark my reviews as containing spoilers. But I try to avoid spoiling the big dramatic moments! As a reader, I personally like to know what I'm getting into before I read a book so I know more about the content and if it's to my taste/mood, so I try to give that information in my reviews for myself when I'm considering rereading and also for other readers.
Feels: 3.5/5
Steam*: 3/5
Kinks: rough sex, murder and blood turning them on
Angst: low
HEA: yes, but honestly it still feels like a happy for now because they've started so much conflict between threats. Someone's going to come for them.
Pairing: MM
Triggers/potential icks/content warnings: lots of murder and violence, even of innocent people, nice LGBTQIA rep
This was a continuation of Daniel and Stavros' story. It's been about 3 years since they got their happy for now in their book. They've continued their lives of crime. And Stavros' job as an assassin has gotten him some unwanted attention. He gets kidnapped because someone wants to know who hired him for some jobs. He gets tortured for many days, then shot and left for dead. This is the story of Daniel coming to find and rescue Stavros and then the two of them getting their revenge, making everyone pay for what they did to Stavros.
I liked the first book better than I liked this one. I like a couple that is possessive about each other, I love the hurt them and die mentality, but there didn't seem to me to be enough substance to make up for some showy and dumb stuff. I liked the grittiness of the smut and the possessive words and the emotion it represented but it didn't back it up for me with enough good stuff.
There were a bunch of things I didn't love.
- This book is largely performance. Every moment they do a power play to manipulate someone or to take revenge and kill someone, it's them taking the stage and being showy. There's not a lot of substance to this book
- The people who took Stavros seem dumb. If the guy wanted Stavros to talk and name names, he shouldn't have broken every bone in his hand and rendered him in able to talk with a broken jaw. How is he going to communicate?
- Stavros and Daniel go into the home of the brains behind the attack on Stavros without having done reconnaissance. That just seems dumb
- There were typos sprinkled throughout the book
- It was too dark for me with the killing of innocents. After killing a bunch of people, including not just the guilty person who hurt Stavros but also the innocent elderly parents of a character, an uninvolved brother, and a stupid woman who gave shelter to the wrong person, Stavros and Daniel are overcome with lust after the killing spree and have sex. It's one thing when they're taking down a real villain for them to feel that kind of bloodlust. But all those innocent people they killed? That's not sexy.
- I know they're trying to be scary. But there have been multiple instances where in this book they have let themselves be filmed committing murders and given the video to people to intimidate them. It's dumb because they are putting out into the world evidence of their crimes that could easily put them in jail
Some notable moments:
"“I am here,” he whispered the words meant only for Stavros at his lover’s ear. “Always here, Diablo. I go nowhere unless you are with me, so come back. We have blood to spill. Graves to dig. Bodies to bury.”"
"Elias watched him silently for a few heartbeats before he said, “I thought it was a joke, you know. You and Daniel Nieto.” He shook his head. “But I forgot that when you fuck up, you really fuck up.” That was true, so Stavros didn’t bother taking offense. He simply shrugged. “He kidnapped and tortured me. I had no choice but to fuck him.”"
*FYI about steam: I rate steam based on a combination of quality & quantity. I note kink separate from steam because I don't want to underrate steamy reads that don't have much kink.
**Note about spoilers: I like to comment on the plot of a book in reviews, so I almost always mark my reviews as containing spoilers. But I try to avoid spoiling the big dramatic moments! As a reader, I personally like to know what I'm getting into before I read a book so I know more about the content and if it's to my taste/mood, so I try to give that information in my reviews for myself when I'm considering rereading and also for other readers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 22, 2020
4.5 stars
Oh how I've missed these two psychopaths in love, and I didn't even really realize it.
Stavros and Daniel are as in love as ever, but Stavros' business takes him away for days, maybe even weeks at a time sometimes, and just as he gets home at the start of this, he's called away...and is promptly captured.
Big. Mistake.
Because where in ever other walk of life Stavros and Daniel are pretty evil and psychopathic - except when it comes to their close family like Stavros with his uncle and Daniel with Toro and Levi - with each other they're human and so fucking in love with each other it goes beyond love, whatever that may be.
It's like...I'm reading these two doing these horrible, monstrous things together and I know in reality I would be a shaking, horrified scared shitless mess, and I'm still partly horrified as I read...but then a big part of me just loves that these two get hot for each other while the other tortures, maims and kills others and proceed to have sex after doing said torturing, maiming and killing, feet away from the bodies...
And I just love that these two love so fiercely, care so much for each other, that they will go to the ends of the earth to destroy anyone who hurts the other or gets in their way. They're together through it all, and if you fuck with them....well, good luck with that. Seriously, if you fuck with them...you better kill them or else you're royally fucked.
As for the plot, there was nothing exactly new with this. It was just more of Stavros and Daniel torturing, maiming and killing others while they proceeded to fuck each other's brains out...but also...it's Stavros and Daniel, and their love is like no other. Just as much as they don't care about hurting the majority of other humans, their love is even more than that apathy and disdain for other human life.
So for me I didn't care too much about the plot not bringing a ton to the table. Just reading these two together makes me happy, makes me just want more, more, more. I could read about these two just living their daily lives, loving each other and being sweet with each other...but then maiming and killing on the side every once in awhile for pages and pages and I would never get bored. I already want more of these two protecting each other, loving each other, killing together. It's who they are.
And it's the humanity they show with each other which really makes me love them. They don't show it anywhere else - except for a few family members - but with each they are always human and I absolutely love that.
So two big thumbs up from me. Loved this. A nice surprise added onto the first book, which was amazing.
Highly recommend! (if you don't mind two character who are basically sociopaths/psychopaths except for when they're with each other, and don't mind gore and violence and all that shit...)
Oh how I've missed these two psychopaths in love, and I didn't even really realize it.
Stavros and Daniel are as in love as ever, but Stavros' business takes him away for days, maybe even weeks at a time sometimes, and just as he gets home at the start of this, he's called away...and is promptly captured.
Big. Mistake.
Because where in ever other walk of life Stavros and Daniel are pretty evil and psychopathic - except when it comes to their close family like Stavros with his uncle and Daniel with Toro and Levi - with each other they're human and so fucking in love with each other it goes beyond love, whatever that may be.
It's like...I'm reading these two doing these horrible, monstrous things together and I know in reality I would be a shaking, horrified scared shitless mess, and I'm still partly horrified as I read...but then a big part of me just loves that these two get hot for each other while the other tortures, maims and kills others and proceed to have sex after doing said torturing, maiming and killing, feet away from the bodies...
And I just love that these two love so fiercely, care so much for each other, that they will go to the ends of the earth to destroy anyone who hurts the other or gets in their way. They're together through it all, and if you fuck with them....well, good luck with that. Seriously, if you fuck with them...you better kill them or else you're royally fucked.
As for the plot, there was nothing exactly new with this. It was just more of Stavros and Daniel torturing, maiming and killing others while they proceeded to fuck each other's brains out...but also...it's Stavros and Daniel, and their love is like no other. Just as much as they don't care about hurting the majority of other humans, their love is even more than that apathy and disdain for other human life.
So for me I didn't care too much about the plot not bringing a ton to the table. Just reading these two together makes me happy, makes me just want more, more, more. I could read about these two just living their daily lives, loving each other and being sweet with each other...but then maiming and killing on the side every once in awhile for pages and pages and I would never get bored. I already want more of these two protecting each other, loving each other, killing together. It's who they are.
And it's the humanity they show with each other which really makes me love them. They don't show it anywhere else - except for a few family members - but with each they are always human and I absolutely love that.
So two big thumbs up from me. Loved this. A nice surprise added onto the first book, which was amazing.
Highly recommend! (if you don't mind two character who are basically sociopaths/psychopaths except for when they're with each other, and don't mind gore and violence and all that shit...)
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May 10, 2023
so happy to have gotten more of daniel and stavros with this extended novella!! I am obsessed with them!🤭
poor stavros really went through it in this one, but daniel would rather die than lose stavros so he made sure he got his baby back and killed anyone in his way!
I loved seeing them both get revenge on every single person who kidnapped and tortured stavros. they are partners in crime and still the best match made in hell!🥹💘 true soulmates!!
poor stavros really went through it in this one, but daniel would rather die than lose stavros so he made sure he got his baby back and killed anyone in his way!
I loved seeing them both get revenge on every single person who kidnapped and tortured stavros. they are partners in crime and still the best match made in hell!🥹💘 true soulmates!!
January 20, 2021
Other people’s lovers gave them jewelry and trips to exotic locales. His gave him a body to torture and dismember.
These two has the weirdest and most dangerous foreplay ever! I love Stavros and Daniel and the lengths they will go to for each other, their love is raw and powerful and they have the same wickedness for torture. This book was very gruesome and more violent than the previous one. Also you might want to avoid this book at all cost if you are bothered by MCs who love to fuck each other's brains out after they dismembered the body of their enemy, in the same room, stained with blood, limbs everywhere! 😵
These two has the weirdest and most dangerous foreplay ever! I love Stavros and Daniel and the lengths they will go to for each other, their love is raw and powerful and they have the same wickedness for torture. This book was very gruesome and more violent than the previous one. Also you might want to avoid this book at all cost if you are bothered by MCs who love to fuck each other's brains out after they dismembered the body of their enemy, in the same room, stained with blood, limbs everywhere! 😵
October 30, 2023
I'm giving this book 4⭐ aswell, but the overall rating for this duet is
4.25
⭐.
This book didn't feel like an ending to this duet, but like we're just getting started. It delivered so many side characters and future complications for both MMCs, that I'm expecting this to be a series, for sure.
🟢 3 years after the events of the 1st installment
🔵 Stavros and Daniel live together at the beach house and they're happy, solid as ever
🟡 Dead wife mentioned only 2-3 times
⚫ This book goes dark, a lot of killing, torture, basically the whole book is just that
🟣 Daniel and Stavros connect also in business this time, they start working together and decide to build an empire
🌶️ Great spice, lots of sex
This installment wasn't as lengthy as it should be. We're missing about 50 pages at least here, a few loose ends were made with additional 5 new side characters and therefore it felt like the book had an abrupt ending, leaving us hanging , because things are far from over.
Stavros gets kidnapped and tortured in this installment and it's really bad. Daniel finds him, nurses him back to health and then they go on a killing spree finding Stavros' kidnappers and detangling the plot, the events Stavros was unknowingly thrown in the middle of.
Stavros is, again, such a good character. So emotional and devoted to Daniel , I absolutely love him.
Daniel is loved by default, no mistake about that. He's older, a former cartel boss and in general a force to be reckoned with, so it's so amazing seeing him being gentle and vulnerable with Stavros.
"And it was something ten times stronger than love I saw in his eyes when you were missing. Whatever that thing is, whatever lies beyond love, he feels it for you."
These guys really are the perfect match. And as I was saying in my review for Call The Coroner, Daniel does come to the conclusion how he's experiencing full understanding and support with Stavros, with both of them being in this business and side by side at the worst of times.
"There was perfection in this. A rightness. A knowing he couldn't share these moments with anyone but Stavros Konstantinou."
I also read the bonus content where Daniel was being interviewed and it pains me to see that their surprise wedding wasn't included in this book. It definitely should've been, because this story needed such an event. There was too much of that killing plot here and not enough of the good, wonderful life shared between Daniel and Stavros, so that would've helped this story tremendously.
I'm probably going to read Levi's book next, I'm not done with the Nietos yet. I really hope the author will continue with books for this potential series, it would be a shame to let it go.
And while at it, please also write a 3rd book for Daniel and Stavros. 😄🤞🫣
This book didn't feel like an ending to this duet, but like we're just getting started. It delivered so many side characters and future complications for both MMCs, that I'm expecting this to be a series, for sure.
🟢 3 years after the events of the 1st installment
🔵 Stavros and Daniel live together at the beach house and they're happy, solid as ever
🟡 Dead wife mentioned only 2-3 times
⚫ This book goes dark, a lot of killing, torture, basically the whole book is just that
🟣 Daniel and Stavros connect also in business this time, they start working together and decide to build an empire
🌶️ Great spice, lots of sex
This installment wasn't as lengthy as it should be. We're missing about 50 pages at least here, a few loose ends were made with additional 5 new side characters and therefore it felt like the book had an abrupt ending, leaving us hanging , because things are far from over.
Stavros gets kidnapped and tortured in this installment and it's really bad. Daniel finds him, nurses him back to health and then they go on a killing spree finding Stavros' kidnappers and detangling the plot, the events Stavros was unknowingly thrown in the middle of.
Stavros is, again, such a good character. So emotional and devoted to Daniel , I absolutely love him.
Daniel is loved by default, no mistake about that. He's older, a former cartel boss and in general a force to be reckoned with, so it's so amazing seeing him being gentle and vulnerable with Stavros.
"And it was something ten times stronger than love I saw in his eyes when you were missing. Whatever that thing is, whatever lies beyond love, he feels it for you."
These guys really are the perfect match. And as I was saying in my review for Call The Coroner, Daniel does come to the conclusion how he's experiencing full understanding and support with Stavros, with both of them being in this business and side by side at the worst of times.
"There was perfection in this. A rightness. A knowing he couldn't share these moments with anyone but Stavros Konstantinou."
I also read the bonus content where Daniel was being interviewed and it pains me to see that their surprise wedding wasn't included in this book. It definitely should've been, because this story needed such an event. There was too much of that killing plot here and not enough of the good, wonderful life shared between Daniel and Stavros, so that would've helped this story tremendously.
I'm probably going to read Levi's book next, I'm not done with the Nietos yet. I really hope the author will continue with books for this potential series, it would be a shame to let it go.
And while at it, please also write a 3rd book for Daniel and Stavros. 😄🤞🫣
October 27, 2022
Sadly I didn't like this as much as the first. Bit overly gorey for me, which is weird considering the torture in that one. Still loved being around Staniel though.
3.5 stars
3 on the spice scale
3.5 stars
3 on the spice scale
September 21, 2024
Daniel presented his Diablo with the people who kidnapped and tortured him just so Stavros could torture and kill them in return.
And they say romance is dead?
And they say romance is dead?
May 28, 2021
The obsession continues. This book was exactly everything I needed in a second Staniel book. I loved it so damn much. Those two are MM goals FOREVER.
Top MM book, top couple, favorite ever... the list goes on and on. Avril Ashton saves me once again from the same old story/plot and over-hyped books.
I'm continuing on reading everything she's ever written because it's that damn good. Stavros and Daniel will be in my head forever. CHEF'S KISS!!!
Top MM book, top couple, favorite ever... the list goes on and on. Avril Ashton saves me once again from the same old story/plot and over-hyped books.
I'm continuing on reading everything she's ever written because it's that damn good. Stavros and Daniel will be in my head forever. CHEF'S KISS!!!
March 30, 2022
Great sequel!
It’s a bloody massacre of loyalty and love for these 2 men.
It’s a bloody massacre of loyalty and love for these 2 men.
March 10, 2020
3.5 beaten-up stars
Poor Stavros, Avril did it to him AGAIN. Dude has some amazingly fast recuperative powers. This one was not as enjoyable to me as usual. Overkill (no pun intended) with just too many bloody, brutal, violent torture scenes. I really didn’t enjoy the aphrodisiac effects displayed at the highly graphic scenes either. I expect dark and nasty from Avril but the results here felt repetitive. I think this is setting up for a possible new series. Bring a stronger than usual stomach for this one.
Poor Stavros, Avril did it to him AGAIN. Dude has some amazingly fast recuperative powers. This one was not as enjoyable to me as usual. Overkill (no pun intended) with just too many bloody, brutal, violent torture scenes. I really didn’t enjoy the aphrodisiac effects displayed at the highly graphic scenes either. I expect dark and nasty from Avril but the results here felt repetitive. I think this is setting up for a possible new series. Bring a stronger than usual stomach for this one.
May 21, 2020
You’ve got to love how completely unapologetic these characters are. How they will literally tear through the world to get to the other and avenge them. No matter what or who stands in their way. Blood and romance.
And though this felt more like an extended epilogue to book one, it also has one hell of a setup for what’s next to come in this world. Be it another instalment of this Staniel series, or maybe another spinoff.
Love these two men and the bloody world they rule.
And though this felt more like an extended epilogue to book one, it also has one hell of a setup for what’s next to come in this world. Be it another instalment of this Staniel series, or maybe another spinoff.
Love these two men and the bloody world they rule.
June 7, 2024
Unfortunately I didn’t enjoy this as much as the first one. Let’s get into why (spoiler: it was the quality of the writing).
WHAT I LIKED
- Diablo. It’s an endearing (and very fitting) pet name that was unique enough not to grate on my nerves.
- The relationship dynamic. All I can say is that these two psychos are perfect for each other – but, like, in a good way (if that makes sense)🥴
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE
- The plot. Everything felt a little too convenient. Christophe is sick so he’s out of the picture. Stavros is kidnapped so Daniel has to go find him and of course he’s going to spill as much blood as he can. We also got heaps of sex – including sex in not so sanitary conditions because Daniel and Stavros are what? Missing a few screws? Disturbed? Not afraid of germs? All this to say I don’t think we needed a sequel. In fact, after I finished the first book I wasn't checking for the second book like that because I was satisfied with what I got (yes, I know this is the exception that proves the rule among readers). When I did get around to reading the synopsis, I was a little disappointed. I thought it would be centred around a different couple, maybe Levi and his husband – that could have been interesting. Instead we get Yusef, a character from Stavros’ childhood who’s never been mentioned before (?) and really doesn’t play much of a role in the plot except to deliver the inciting incident that gets us from exposition to rising action.
- The writing. Call the Coroner was crisply edited. No unnecessary words. No drawn out monologues. Nothing. This one I think could have used another go with the editor. There were some questionable word choices and overall Daniel and Stavros felt… different, though I can’t quite put my finger on how (it was certainly more than the kind of difference that indicates character growth).
WHAT I’M 50/50 ABOUT
- The end. Yeah, this series was definitely meant to have a third entry. I did some digging but I’m unclear why Avril hasn’t published more related works. She said three years ago that she was working on Toro’s book and something featuring Yusef and Linc but there’s been no updates since. She mentioned that she has a Facebook group where she (presumably) posts updates but I haven’t got Facebook so I’ll probably never know. I’m guessing as an indie author it’s taking some time which is understandable. One thing is clear, there won’t be another Staniel book which is perfectly fine by me.
- The gore. It felt a little gratuitous at times but I will also happily acknowledge that I’ve never had the stomach for it so there’s that.
Overall, I’m glad I finished this series (I’m ticking them off one by one!) but I’ll probably forget about this book in favour of keeping book 1 on my favourites list. Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.
WHAT I LIKED
- Diablo. It’s an endearing (and very fitting) pet name that was unique enough not to grate on my nerves.
- The relationship dynamic. All I can say is that these two psychos are perfect for each other – but, like, in a good way (if that makes sense)🥴
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE
- The plot. Everything felt a little too convenient. Christophe is sick so he’s out of the picture. Stavros is kidnapped so Daniel has to go find him and of course he’s going to spill as much blood as he can. We also got heaps of sex – including sex in not so sanitary conditions because Daniel and Stavros are what? Missing a few screws? Disturbed? Not afraid of germs? All this to say I don’t think we needed a sequel. In fact, after I finished the first book I wasn't checking for the second book like that because I was satisfied with what I got (yes, I know this is the exception that proves the rule among readers). When I did get around to reading the synopsis, I was a little disappointed. I thought it would be centred around a different couple, maybe Levi and his husband – that could have been interesting. Instead we get Yusef, a character from Stavros’ childhood who’s never been mentioned before (?) and really doesn’t play much of a role in the plot except to deliver the inciting incident that gets us from exposition to rising action.
- The writing. Call the Coroner was crisply edited. No unnecessary words. No drawn out monologues. Nothing. This one I think could have used another go with the editor. There were some questionable word choices and overall Daniel and Stavros felt… different, though I can’t quite put my finger on how (it was certainly more than the kind of difference that indicates character growth).
WHAT I’M 50/50 ABOUT
- The end. Yeah, this series was definitely meant to have a third entry. I did some digging but I’m unclear why Avril hasn’t published more related works. She said three years ago that she was working on Toro’s book and something featuring Yusef and Linc but there’s been no updates since. She mentioned that she has a Facebook group where she (presumably) posts updates but I haven’t got Facebook so I’ll probably never know. I’m guessing as an indie author it’s taking some time which is understandable. One thing is clear, there won’t be another Staniel book which is perfectly fine by me.
- The gore. It felt a little gratuitous at times but I will also happily acknowledge that I’ve never had the stomach for it so there’s that.
Overall, I’m glad I finished this series (I’m ticking them off one by one!) but I’ll probably forget about this book in favour of keeping book 1 on my favourites list. Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.
December 8, 2024
3.6 ⭐️
This book felt unnecessary but I’m also not complaining.
It wasn’t long first off, it still had good smut second of all, and lastly, it ties up everything pretty well (even though it doesn’t really). They never mention Antonio—which thank god—but also what??
I don’t know if it’s important or not but the book picks off three years later which is why I feel as if it’s unnecessary, the first book left off ok already.
But regardless, I enjoyed the book.
I LOVE the relationship between Stavros and Daniel, also really love Stavros and his uncles relationship :), Toro, and the mention of other characters as well.
Oh yeah, I also like how literally almost every “mafia” man was entangled with a man, but hey, this is the mm verse.
It was painful to envision Stavros like that and it helps emphasize my “relationship” with the book(duology). Did I also mention I LOVE Toro?? Seriously, but idk why the relationship with Toro and Seraphine were never brought up again and idk if they have a book but I think it would be interesting.
The revenge was nice and didn’t drag. I was honestly a bit confused when understanding the plot bc why tf and who tf is this Yusef guy—I don’t care—but it was nice to see that even the “enemies” had motives and it wasn’t 1 dimensional. Kinda messed up that bro likes his dead husbands BROTHER(Linc) but I guess you can’t control love…
Which sums up like every forbidden love ever (including this one lol).
Overall, I feel like this book doesn’t need to be read but if you wanted more of Daniel and Stav (which I don’t doubt is prob the reason there IS a second book), this is a pretty decent book, y’know.
Thoughts/emotions summed up: 😒😔😏💀🌶️🤭🤯🥲🤨
This book felt unnecessary but I’m also not complaining.
It wasn’t long first off, it still had good smut second of all, and lastly, it ties up everything pretty well (even though it doesn’t really). They never mention Antonio—which thank god—but also what??
I don’t know if it’s important or not but the book picks off three years later which is why I feel as if it’s unnecessary, the first book left off ok already.
But regardless, I enjoyed the book.
I LOVE the relationship between Stavros and Daniel, also really love Stavros and his uncles relationship :), Toro, and the mention of other characters as well.
Oh yeah, I also like how literally almost every “mafia” man was entangled with a man, but hey, this is the mm verse.
It was painful to envision Stavros like that and it helps emphasize my “relationship” with the book(duology). Did I also mention I LOVE Toro?? Seriously, but idk why the relationship with Toro and Seraphine were never brought up again and idk if they have a book but I think it would be interesting.
The revenge was nice and didn’t drag. I was honestly a bit confused when understanding the plot bc why tf and who tf is this Yusef guy—I don’t care—but it was nice to see that even the “enemies” had motives and it wasn’t 1 dimensional. Kinda messed up that bro likes his dead husbands BROTHER(Linc) but I guess you can’t control love…
Which sums up like every forbidden love ever (including this one lol).
Overall, I feel like this book doesn’t need to be read but if you wanted more of Daniel and Stav (which I don’t doubt is prob the reason there IS a second book), this is a pretty decent book, y’know.
Thoughts/emotions summed up: 😒😔😏💀🌶️🤭🤯🥲🤨
July 29, 2022
Oh no. This was not for me. I don't mind a good mix of violence and sex in a mafia romance, but this was too much. It was gore - sex - gore -sex - more gore. The violence and what Stavros and Daniel do to the people they capture is abhorrent. I liked Call The Coroner, but this book killed any love I had for these two characters. They aren't morally grey, they are straight up bad people who don't deserve forgiveness. I skimmed a lot of the violence - there was too much of it for a romance. I don't even mind violence between the MCs in a dark romance, but this gore forward side characters was too much for me.
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