Review: The Ritual.
By Shantel Tessier
Book One of the ‘L.O.R.D.S.’ Series
Caution: This blog may contain spoilers!
This blog is for adults, 18+ only. Please be aware of the trigger warnings listed at the bottom of the article.
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The Ritual. by Shantel Tessier
Good Reads Score: 4.10
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Adult, Dark, College, BDSM, Erotica
Spice Level: 5/5
My Overall Rating: 4/5
‘Dark’ spectrum: 8/10
Synopsis:
THE CHOSEN ONE
I vow. You vow. We vow.
“Barrington University is home of the Lords, a secret society that requires their blood in payment. They are above all—the most powerful men in the world. They devote their lives to violence in exchange for power. And during their senior year, they are offered a chosen one.
People think growing up with money is freeing, but I promise you, it’s not. My entire life has been planned out for me. I never got the chance to do what I wanted until Ryat Alexander Archer came along and gave me an option for a better life. He offered me what no one else ever had—freedom.
I chose to be his. He made me believe that anyway, but it was just another lie. A way that the Lords manipulate you into doing what they want.
After being sucked into the dark, twisted world of the Lords, I embraced my new role and allowed Ryat to parade me around like the trophy I was to him. But like all things, what started out as a game soon became a fight for survival. And the only way out was death.”
Review:
Let’s talk about the ‘dark’ part of this contemporary romance book. Shantel does NOT hold back on what she believes her characters would do. This book is like if Freud’s id** was in full control of our two MC’s. They do whatever they want, regardless of the consequences with very little remorse- if any at all. It’s definitely giving sociopaths fall in love and literally murder and torture anyone in their way. If you’re reading this book you have to just step into the reality that, there aren’t really any consequences for the Lords and that the culture/lifestyle of being a Lord is taking what you want, whenever you want. So, before stepping into this one, check the Trigger Warnings for sure. I’ve listed them at the bottom of this blog.
The Plot and our Characters
Ryat, (pictured below), is our male MC and he is ‘given’ Blakely, our female MC, as a present of sorts for abstaining from sex for three years after he is initiated into the Lords, an undergroud, top secret society of mostly men who basically control the country through influence and power. Look, TBH, I don’t really want to summarize the plot for a couple of reasons- 1) spoilers but mostly because 2) I did not read this book for the plot and honestly had a hard time keeping track of it anyway. But, here’s what I think you should know:
Ryat Archer from @ jujuwhu on Instagram
At the heart of this book there are themes of self-discovery and empowerment, healing sexual shame and loving in a way that you never thought possible. Ryat and Blakely, both people who grew up in environments of extreme wealth and privilige, are ultimately very lonely and feel unloveable. They both have a hard time trusting others and have mostly had shallow relationships with people throughout their life. When they … “meet”… they are surprised at the instant bond they share.
The sex scenes are dirty, dark and lean into the BDSM sexual play- and I was HERE FOR IT. There is particularly a lot of bondage and restriction play so if you are into that, you’re going to love this book. This book borders on the edge between erotica and fiction, I would guess that there is a sexual scene in about every chapter. My only issue is that I couldn’t sit down for long periods at a time and read this book. Once a sexual .. situation.. happened I felt like I needed to take a break- ha. So, for a relatively short book, I actually recommend this book as a second book or a companion read to another book that can be your “daytime” read.
To Finish
I would definitely recommend this book- but be warned, this is NOT a gentle start into dark romance. This is, deep diving level 4 certification type of shit. Now that I have gotten my dark romance fill, I’m going to start……drum roll plz…..
…. Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas! I know, can you believe I haven’t read it yet? Starting ASAP.
Well, talk to y’all soon and I would love to hear what y’all thought about this book in the comments!
-Your friend,
Trigger Warnings:
Arranged relationship, Sex slavery, Attempted sexual assault, Dubious consent scenarios including consensual somnophilia and rape-play, Improper BDSM practices, Drugging including nonconsensual manipulation of birth control prescription, Depiction of a dead body, Branding (consensual), Genital mutilation, Murder, Torture, Gun & knife violence, Physical assault, Drowning, Cult, Stalking & nonconsensual surveillance. Recommended for 18+. (From the Trigger Warning Database)
** Freud conceived the id as the unconscious instinctual component of personality that is present at birth, the source of bodily needs and wants, emotional impulses and desires, especially aggression and the sexual drive.
“And you will continue to be mine forever. I can’t guarantee that I’ll grow old with her, but I will spend every second of every day that I’m alive proving to her that she comes first no matter what. I ended up going after her, but she was the one who brought me back.”
