The Ritual by Shantel Tessier: No Spoilers Book Review
A Steamy College Story with Secret Societies and Complex Characters
Reviewed by Lee Thorson
Buy The Ritual from Shantel Tessier on Amazon
Buy The Lords 6-part series from Shantel Tessier on Amazon
The Sinful Reader was founded by Anna and Lee Thorson, two sisters who love to read dark romance. We believe in transparency, and want you to know that we may earn commissions from links posted on our website. To support our small business, please consider joining the Dark Romance Book Club online forum or visit The Sinful Reader online store. Happy Reading! :)
The Ritual by Shantel Tessier is a seriously dark read that tells the story of Ryat and Blakely, two college students with their own secrets and desires. This book was unique and severely spicy, in a way that stood out from other books on my shelf. We keep spoilers to a minimum in our book reviews, but some details we deemed not to be major spoilers are shared to help you decide if this is your next read!
Imagine this...
Barrington University is home of the Lords, a secret society that requires blood as payment. They devote their lives to violence in exchange for power, and as a result they are some of the most dark and powerful men in the world. During their senior year, they are offered a chosen one.
Ryat choses Blakely...a woman he knows well from watching her closely...a woman who is already promised to another man. Together, they take a vow and embark on a journey of twisted secrets and seriously hot moments.
Our Opinion:
This book is very dark and not for the faint of heart. Luckily for me, I enjoy an intense romance and really enjoyed this book! Shantel Tessier highlights the complexity of the characters, and the explicit scenes are very well written. It is a fantastic work of fiction that balances straight up filth with an interesting plot. The story has many twists and turns to keep you on your toes, outside of the naughty, toe-curling scenes.
Tags and Tropes:
Dark College Romance, Suspense, OTT Jealous/Possessive MMC, Sadist MMC, Virgin FMC, Masochist FMC, Unaliver MMC, Secret Society, Touch Her and I’ll Unalive You Vibes, Degradation/Praise, Spitting in Mouth, Dirty Talker MMC, Knife Play, Bratty FMC, Spanking, Bondage, Anal Sex/Play
Spice Level: 5 out of 5
Trigger Warnings:
Drug/Alcohol Use, Violence, Murder, Death, Non/Dub Consent, Branding, CNC Fantasy, Breath Play, Masks, Bondage, Kidnapping
Our Favorite Quote:
“You were mine yesterday, today, and tomorrow.” He gently kisses my forehead. The tenderness a contradiction to his threatening words. “And you will continue to be mine forever.”
Buy The Ritual from Shantel Tessier on Amazon
Buy The Lords 6-part series from Shantel Tessier on Amazon
Join the Dark Romance Book Club and see what others had to say about this book in our online forums!