Book Review: The Ritual by Shantel Tessier
- Megs
- Feb 7, 2025
- 2 min read
The Ritual
Shantel Tessier
L.O.R.D.S., #1
Publisher: Independent
Published Date: November 19, 2021
Genres: Dark Romance, Fiction
606 Pages / 16 Hours 12 Minutes
Date Read: March 17, 2023
Format: 📱
Source: Kindle Unlimited
This is book one in an interconnected stand alone series. As always, if you prefer a spoiler free review please read my quick review instead of the in depth review below.
About the Book
I vow. You vow.
We vow. Barrington University is home to the Lords, a secret society made up of the school’s most privileged and dangerous men. Tradition dictates that during their senior year, they are offered a chosen one.
Blakely's future was already set for her, but everything shifts once more when she meets Ryat Archer. As dark traditions and buried secrets begin to take hold of her life, Blake is forced to navigate a brutal game where loyalty and survival come at a steep cost. But the game for Blakely becomes a fight for survival.
Quick Review (Spoiler Free)
This was, in my opinion, the first real "dark" themed romance that I read. The others had some dark moments or themes within them but this one as a whole is a pretty dark concept. The concept that you could be "given" away to someone and forced to do as they please on top of having to fight for your life in other instances that Blakely encountered was crazy. I binged this book. The storyline and pacing were great. The spicy scenes were great. All around good read if you like the darker topics.
Now, let's get into the details!!
(Note: Some text may appear to be blocked out, just highlight that text to read it.)
I was hooked on this book from the moment I began reading. I could not put it down. It begins with your typical sleazy university mentality of parties and sex being a focus and evolves into a much darker story.
Ryat has done his time to be initiated into the Lords society. Blakely was pulled into this world (no thanks to her cheating, dick-bag boyfriend, er ex-boyfriend).
There is a whirlwind of dark scenes in this story, lots of stalker vibes, some touch her and die vibes, and the plot twist was something I did not see coming!
I have a weak spot for a man with this much confidence.
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