The Ritual

📚🔥 **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 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 show more 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 came at this after a DNF on another popular series and I thought I'd like it but probably not as much as others I have read. This book was a Rollercoaster. I stopped listening to TS TTPD because I needed to focus. The second half of the book had me screaming. Screaming. I has pissed at characters, not pissed at others, then pissed again. I look forward to the next book but JFC.

Also. Royal/Reign/Ryann? I laughed. I just fucking laughed.

My Review (May contain spoilers, fair warning upon reading this review, please be responsible)

The Ritual is a book that I have been meaning to read for quite some time. This is a book that I honestly was more terrified to read than anything else. I knew it was one of those crazy dark romances that I really needed to have the correct mindset to truly enjoy, and I can tell you that this book is completely bat crazy but I fell hard for it. This will have some crazy moments within in, and it won't be an easy read. But while I was completely hooked into this one, I completely recognize how WILD this book is. What the LORDS go through....I do not understand this level of crazy lol

However, I couldn't help but becoming hooked into this story. I show more wanted to become so immersed within it. It is very heavy on the sexual interactions though, so much so I found myself skipping through those parts. I did love how the plot develops in this one. I enjoyed the forbidden themes to the romance at times, and seeing them overcome the circumstances and to overcome it to be together was quite superb to see. The only thing missing in the story was we didn't see the heroine's initiation so I was really hoping for that. But the epilogue was beyond heartfelt even though I think her birth mother is CRAZY lol

Overall I had a blast with this book and eager to see the other LORDS get their stories. show less

A dark romance set within an elite secret society, where power, revenge, and unexpected love collide—The Ritual tests how far control can go before it unravels completely.

Synopsis: At Barrington College, the elite and secretive LORDS society operates behind closed doors, shrouded in privilege, power, and dangerous tradition. In their final year, each Lord is assigned a "Chosen One"—a woman who becomes both a responsibility and a test of control.
For Ryat, his Chosen One is Blakely. Driven by revenge, he intends to bend her to his will. But Blakely is not what he expected. Strong-willed and unpredictable, she may not just be the one chosen—she may be the one doing the choosing.
As power games turn into something deeper, and secrets show more threaten to unravel their world, Ryat and Blakely must face the truth: in a world ruled by control and betrayal, love might be the most dangerous risk of all.

Review: If you're considering picking up The Ritual, be prepared—it delves into much darker and heavier territory than I initially expected. While I went in anticipating a dark romance, the subject matter was more intense than I was comfortable with at times. I strongly recommend reviewing the trigger warnings before starting, as the book deals with a number of sensitive and potentially distressing topics.
The writing itself was solid, though not particularly remarkable. I struggled to form a strong connection with any of the characters, which may have been due to the overwhelming nature of the plot or the characters' limited emotional depth. While I enjoy dark romance as a genre, this one felt too extreme for my personal taste, and some of the narrative choices detracted from the story’s overall impact.
The pacing and plot structure were occasionally confusing, with too much happening at once to follow the emotional thread clearly. However, the final chapters offered a more romantic tone, which I appreciated—it brought a sense of closure that had been missing throughout most of the book.
Overall, I’m giving this a 2-star rating. Readers who enjoy very dark, high-stakes romance may find this appealing, but I would caution others to approach it with care. show less

This was so much better than expected. A lot of the "popular" dark romances that I have been rec'd have been major disappointments. This was, in fact, not disappointing at all. Ryat and Blake couldn't have been a more perfect match. He was possessive, and she wanted to be possessed. He would do anything to please her and would destroy anyone who hurt her. I couldn't understand why a smutty dsrk romance needed to be 600 pages, but there was story and plot development, and it twists. I also love that the series is standalones all within the same world. I will definitely delve deeper into the world of Lords and Ladies!

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

Well. Well....
I really enjoyed this.
Also, I can't believe I'm saying this, but I probably would have given it 5 stars if the end wasn't as sweet. Does that mean there is something wrong with me?

ok look-
was the name Ryat borderline impossible for me to read without pronouncing it “Rat”? for sure.

was the whole name-dropping a song title and musical artist every time there was an instance where music could be playing a little cringey? absolutely.

was the entire concept of the Lords was also cringey? for sure, but I could get behind it for the sake of just wanting to have a fun book to read.

could you play a drinking game with this book if you took a shot every time Ryat burned clothing? absolutely, but do NOT (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) do this if you are the type to read a whole book in one sitting you WILL get sick!!!!!!!!!!

but I was more than willing to overlook it all just to have a h***y book to read for fun, UNTIL Rat said he show more intentionally took away Blakely’s birth control and replaced it with placebos.



I think that what makes that the most weird to me, is Blake seemed pretty open to having children?? Like not even that many chapters earlier? My guy, why wouldn’t you just have a conversation with her?? LOL. And yes, I’m aware that she never got to take the placebos, but that just makes it an even weirder moment to include in the book at all.



anyway, my last note is this book is way too long. it had no business being over 600 pages. I was ready to move on when I was in the 400s.

that said, will I be reading the next book?

yeah. show less