The Ritual: A Dark College Romance - Kindle edition by Tessier, Shantel. Romance Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

This is my first encounter with the talented Shantel Tessier, and let me just say, "why the hell did I wait so long?!?!" "The Ritual (L.O.R.D.S. #1)" took me on a rollercoaster of emotions that I wholly unprepared for, but holy hell, am I glad I took the ride! I was pretty skeptical going in because of the hype of every dark romance lover I’d seen; I was afraid it wouldn’t live up to it and I wasn’t prepared to be disappointed. Plus I’m not usually a college romance lover but this lived up to the hype and then some for me 🔥From the very beginning, Tessier warns readers of trigger warnings, and very true, they are there for a reason. If you do have triggers, definitely check those out. This book is an exploration of the dark side, with a healthy dose of suspense that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Even though I thought I knew what I was jumping into, the author constantly threw curveballs, and they kept me up reading late into the night - I absolutely could not put it down.The book is written from dual POV, which I personally prefer. It centers around the LORDS and their secret society, then follows the journey of Ryat and Blakely. It gets pretty dark and the smut is SMUTTY 🌶️ but the characters are so well developed and plot is so intricately put together that it all just works.And the suspense…GIRL. Just when you think you have it figured out? Tessier leads you down a different path you didn’t even fathom. The author weaves a tale of deception, power, and survival that had me hooked from start to finish. The darkness within the Lords' world is so believable, and the characters are so well crafted that you can't help but be invested in their fates.Despite the unsettling themes, I couldn't put this book down…turns out I’m absolutely here for it. Tessier's writing style is absolutely gripping, and she skillfully navigates the fine line between suspense and trigger. She’ll have you questioning everything you come across and still keep you hungry for more lol.Shantel Tessier has created a dark romance masterpiece and has gained a new fan. This book is not for the faint of heart! It will challenge your expectations, thoughts, and norms and keep you guessing until the very end. I personally can’t wait to read more of her work!Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥Triggers: read the warnings… you’re welcome 😉

I enjoyed this book! The characters were written well and their character development was done JUST RIGHT! I despised Matt. When I say despised, I mean HATED him with every fiber of my entire being. He just gave me the ick from the very beginning.Ryat was my second favorite character in the book. Oddly enough, my favorite people were Gunner and Ty. Lol, they were the most consistent in how they handled things and I loved that Gunner had Ryat's back whenever wherever for however long.Anyway, getting back to Ryat. Top tier Zaddy vibes. He was stern, rough, but so sweet to Blake when she needed it. It wasn't always aggression, angst, etc. He was broody, calculating, and commanding. Yet, he seemed to constantly get usurped by Matt and honestly it was pissin me off. He was a badass, but also not? I dunno it was interesting.Blake was cute, but also annoying. She didn't seem to know who she was, which was understandable, seeing as how almost every aspect of her life was controlled by someone else. I hated that she gave concessions for Ryat when it came to Lords business. Yet, she had no understanding for her mother's situation when she learned of it. Like excuse me? How are you just gonna act like that? That part super annoyed me. Blake was a good character she just had moments where I wanted to Spartan kick her. 😤Overall, this was a FANTASTIC read. The spice was spicin and the plot was plottin. I was enthralled from start to finish.

This was my first read by Shantel Tessier, and I picked it up purely because the cover caught my eye—it looked dark and enticing. I went in expecting something unique, and 𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℝ𝕚𝕥𝕦𝕒𝕝 did not disappoint! This book is a gripping, dark journey into hidden desires, dangerous secrets, and the irresistible pull of forbidden societies.From the very first page, I was hooked. The story is intense, packed with twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat, pulling me deeper with every chapter. I’m a sucker for stories about secret societies, and Tessier perfectly captures that forbidden allure. The writing is both mesmerizing and unsettling, which only heightens the thrill.The characters are masterfully complex. Blakely’s defiance against her mother’s expectations gave her a rebellious streak I could easily relate to. And then there’s Ryat—he starts off as a character you want to hate, but there’s so much more to him than meets the eye. From the beginning, I couldn’t stand Matt, and Sarah was the bad-girl friend Blakely truly needed. Their intense dynamics made every interaction captivating. Themes of power, desire, and control run deep, making each scene utterly unpredictable.If you’re a fan of dark romance or psychological thrillers, this is a must-read. The suspense and powerful storytelling left a lasting impression on me, and I’m already planning to dive into 𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕊𝕚𝕟𝕟𝕖𝕣 and 𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕊𝕒𝕔𝕣𝕚𝕗𝕚𝕔𝕖 (Ty’s story). Shantel Tessier has a new fan!