Shantel Tessier

The Dark Kingdom series captured my heart by delving into a complex and unstable world and this is Grave and April's story in Book 3. The draw of their attraction presents a serious dilemma – to fight for their love, or let it go.

As the phrase says, "opposites attract," and this couldn't be truer for April and Grave. Their contrasting personalities and life circumstances draw them together in a magnetic and sometimes chaotic manner. The challenges they face ignite a story I couldn't put show more down.

April is kind and compassionate, but she surprised me by hiding a volatile temper beneath the surface. I admire her mature sense of non-intrusive behavior towards Grave as she respects his boundaries. It's refreshing to come across someone who gives people space and doesn't pry into others' lives. I realized early on that if anyone could save Grave, it was April. All he needed was someone to believe in him.

Grave respects April's patient and respectful demeanor which is a breath of fresh air because he is used to his friends and his very protective brother, Bones, constantly telling him what to do. Grave is an adrenaline junky who hides his insecurities with drugs and racing cars and it's heartbreaking to see him hit rock bottom before he realizes what he has to live for.

It's fun reuniting with supporting characters who add depth and richness in a great series, and The Dark Kingdom has some wonderful Kings and Queens. Bones loves his brother dearly and has a hard time showing it. Cross is a great friend who only wants the best for Grave. Titan is a growly beast who has a heart in there somewhere. And Emilee, Haven, and Jasmine show April the true meaning of genuine friendship. I seriously can't wait to read Jasmine's story.

I highly recommend this dark romance for it's difficult subject matter and complex characters who are realistically flawed and resilient. Pick up this book. It won't disappoint. show less

*The Sinner* by Shantel Tessier** ⭐ OUT OF 5 STARS SORRY SOME SPOILERS PROCEED WITH CAUTION

*(DNF at 66% — page 410/623)*

I normally don’t rate books I’m DNF’ing, but after pushing through **66%** of this one, I feel I’ve earned the right. And as always — this is *my* opinion. If you loved it, that’s totally valid. 🙌

That said… whew. 😬

I really *wanted* to like this book. I **loved** *The Ritual*, so I went in hopeful. I’m no stranger to dark romance — rough scenes, show more intense dynamics, kink exploration… all good, as long as there’s consent, emotional grounding, or at least a clear narrative purpose. But *this*? This went way past my threshold.

💔 **Why I DNF’d**

The level of abuse Ellington endures made me genuinely sick to my stomach 🤢. Yes, the author writes it like Ellington enjoys *some* of the kinks, which is the only reason I kept trying — like okay, maybe she’s reclaiming her trauma, maybe there’s empowerment there…
But then there’s **Sin**.

This man supposedly *loves* her, yet the mental, emotional, and physical damage he inflicts is so extreme, so disturbing, that I hit my limit. The cognitive dissonance of “I love you” paired with “I’m destroying you” was just too much. The mental abuse especially? Absolutely **messed up**. 🧠💔

And that moment when she’s in horrible condition and instead of comforting her, he’s focused on having sex with her while she’s basically out of it?
I’m sorry, but **what kind of sick, twisted logic is that?** 🚩🚩🚩
No amount of “dark romance” excuses that.

❌ **Final Thoughts**

I can tolerate dark, messy, unhinged fiction — trust me. But this went from dark romance to something that felt **gross**, **exploitative**, and **deeply unsettling**. I couldn’t stomach another page.

**DNF.**
**Not continuing this book or the series.**
**Just… no. 😑** show less

📚🔥 **Book Review: *The Ritual* by Shantel Tessier** 🔥📚
*(A dive into dark desire, chaos, and the fine line between devotion and destruction)*

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Okay, let’s get one thing straight: finding a dark romance that *actually* balances story, spice, and soul without devolving into a fanfic fever dream is like hunting for Atlantis. 🐉✨ But, after much nagging from my oldest (and several “you *have* to read this” texts later), I finally surrendered to *The Ritual*. And show more wow—consider me baptized in morally gray glory.

This isn’t your average “bad boy with trauma” plot wrapped in satin sheets and regret. Oh no. This book stalks the edge of human obsession and power dynamics, and then says, “Jump. You’ll thank me later.” It’s the kind of dark romance that doesn’t hold your hand—it drags you through fire, makes you question your moral compass, and somehow leaves you wanting more. 😈🔥

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### 💀 The Darkness, The Depth, The Dilemma

Let’s be honest: *The Ritual* isn’t for everyone—and it doesn’t pretend to be. There are moments where the treatment of women crosses that very uncomfortable line between fiction and violation. It’s not “kink,” it’s *trauma reimagined*, and the author doesn’t shy away from it. If you’re triggered by sexual violence or psychological manipulation, this one will not be your safe haven. 🚫

But that’s also what gives the story its pulse. The female protagonist isn’t a passive victim—she’s resilient, educated, and fierce in her autonomy. 💪💋 In a genre where women are too often plot devices or prizes, this heroine stands her ground. She doesn’t just survive the darkness—she *redefines* it.

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### 🔥 The Chemistry and the Chaos

Oh, the chemistry. The kind that feels like standing too close to a lightning storm—you know you might get struck, but you can’t move away. ⚡ The banter is sharp enough to draw blood, the tension is coiled like a serpent, and the payoff? Deliciously unhinged.

This isn’t “boy meets girl.” It’s “man burns down his entire world because the girl looked at him funny.” And I—like the chaotic romantic I am—ate it up like dessert after midnight. 🍷💀

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### 💭 Final Thoughts

If you’re craving a dark romance that doesn’t just play with danger but *worships* it, *The Ritual* delivers. It’s raw, violent, and unapologetically sensual—yet buried beneath the flames is a story about *choice*. The author doesn’t romanticize pain; she gives her heroine agency, intelligence, and the right to *say yes or no* in a world built to strip that away.

So yes, it’s heavy. Yes, it’s spicy. And yes, it made me question if I should be this emotionally invested in fictional chaos. But that’s what makes it unforgettable.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
**Five stars** for the twisted brilliance that made me squirm, think, and—against my better judgment—root for the man who’d burn the world just to keep her warm. 🔥🖤

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Quotes that stood out for me for better or worse:

“Keep your bitch on a leash.” He then looks over at me, his eyes quickly running over my body once again, making my breath quicken. “Otherwise, one may assume she’s a stray.”

“I’ll own you, Blake.” He shortens my name, his free hand comes up, and he trails a finger down my neck over my racing pulse, making my body break out in goose bumps. “And I think that’s exactly what you want.”

“You serve and obey me. I protect and own you.”

"If there’s no pain, then how do you know you’re alive?"

They say love is patient and kind. I’m not either one of those things when it comes to Blakely. I’m controlling, possessive, and madly jealous. Which can only mean one thing—I’m obsessed with her. To the point I want to hide her from the world. I don’t want another man looking at her, let alone talking to her.

“Do you want to be his whore for the rest of your life, or do you want to be my good girl?”

“You were mine yesterday, today, and tomorrow.” He gently kisses my forehead."

most favorite one:
"We got here by chance, but we’re still together by choice." show less

I still love Ryat, I really hate Sin. I still rated this book a 5 stars. Am I crazy? Probably.

The whole book, the whole book I was pissed off at either Sin or Elli or both. Stupid fucking choice after stupid fucking choice, they consistently fucked up. But they were so well written that did their choices never once made me want to stop reading, if anything I was rabid to know how this was going to play out. I needed justice, I needed revenge, I needed to know.

Shantel's style of writing these show more books grabs me by the throat and then we are running a marathon. I love it. I love how crazy it makes me feel, but like any good Dom, I trust her to always eventually give me what I need. So many times in this book I felt like I was going to scream, but never once did I consider putting this book down as I knew all would be revealed, and we'd be better for it. How fucking right I was.

The thing I will warn in this book is that the sex is ROUGH. And there is a lot of it. There are also a lot of themes that many find very icky.

In conclusion, I loved how this story unfolded, but Ryat is still my fave. I can't wait to see if Tyson makes me change. show less