The Ritual: A Dark College Romance

Name: The Ritual: A Dark College Romance
SKU: 19549
Availability: InStock

4.4 | 88,476 ratings

Price: 4.99

Last update: 12-28-2024

About this item

NOW AN AMAZON TOP 10 BESTSELLER

An all-new dark standalone romance from the USA Today & Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Shantel Tessier

THE CHOSEN ONE

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.

I VOW. YOU VOW. WE VOW.

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.

Things to know about The Ritual
It is MF
TW (Please see the author's note on the inside)
J/P (jealous/possessive) Hero
OTT (over the top) Hero
This is a 152K word romance that contains dark themes that may be triggering to some.

This book can be read as a standalone but the timeline of the Lords books is as follows:
The Ritual
The Sinner
The Sacrifice
Sabotage (the H isn't a Lord but he works for a Lord)

From the Publisher

Top reviews from the United States

Victoria

oh. my. God

Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2024

Wow ???? I NEVER do 5⭐️ it’s hard for me to do that. This. This was easy.

5/5 ⭐️
5/5 ????️
Dual POV
No cheating
OM drama/ not REALLY OW drama but she’s around
MF (no sharing. NOT RH)
Virgin FMC
Family drama

Holy moly this book is ???? this is my first Shantel book and she’s a new one click author for me now!
Run, don’t walk to this series. If you love dark romance or even just thinking about wanting to read it. Do it. Please read the trigger warnings on her page. There is a lot of dub con/ non con, so if that bothers you. Skip it. My only “triggers” are tropes I avoid and that’s cheating and RH. THIS IS NOT RH/why choose/ no sharing involved.

So this world there are L.O.R.D.s. It’s pretty much a dark society that run the country. These men go through trainings and dangerous assignments for their first three years at Barrington University. During this time they abstain from women. Their reward if they do their job and remain loyal to their oath, they get a chosen. There is a list of women who can be chosen. A chosen basically becomes their bed buddy for their last year. They can share or do anything they want to and with them. After college they marry their arranged fiancé (sometimes ????)and rule in powerful positions.

So about the book. Ryat is my new book boyfriend. He’s sexy, smart, dangerous, protective and obsessed with our FMC. Ugh he’s everything you’d want. Blakely (Blake) is smart and doesn’t take crap from anyone. The moments where she isn’t smart/strong are kind of understandable, anyone would be shaken up in those instances. Blake has an arranged marriage with a LORD. She is also dating him during her college years. Ryat is a LORD. He is told to choose Blake as his chosen and that’s where I’ll leave you because I will not ruin this book for you by going any further. Just know, you won’t regret it.

Now I’m ready for The Sinner (2nd book) and I’m putting into the universe that Shantel needs to do a next generation series! PLEASE!

See you in October for LNV, Shantel ???? ☠️

Annika

I really shouldn't love this as much as I did

Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2024

I have been toying with this book for so long and put it off each time as I was worried about the tr!ggers, but 2024 seems to be the year I read all of my tab00 reads.

Barrington University is a place for the Elite. Everyone is looking for power, for influence but the one thing they all have in common: money. But secretly, the real rulers of BU are the L.O.R.D.S. A secret society that pulls the strings behind every major corporation and political party in the country.

To become a L.O.R.D, you must follow a strict set of rules and obey blindly during your time at BU for which you'll be rewarded with a Chosen, a woman who is pledged to honor all of your wishes and whims.

Blakely was always feisty but knew that her future was already pre-determined and would end in a loveless arranged marriage. That is, until she finds out that her husband-to-be and college boyfriend has been cheating on her and she runs off right into the arms of Ryat. He is everything she's supposed to stay away from: untouchable, ruthless, domineering, entitled.

I became OBSESSED with this story. Even though I know I shouldn't since it has some serious triggers and taboo elements. If you're on board with submitting yourself to a man to fulfil his needs and in return get your needs taken care of, then you'll have one hell of a time.

I was positively surprised that most of the sexual content toyed the line of consent and merely acted out some of Blake's fantasies within set boundaries and always favoured her enjoyment over punishment. It was actually sweet to see how Ryat became soft just for her even though it triggered his possessive side.

The secret society aspect of the story was really cool, even though I must say that the plot became more convoluted as time went on and that's something as the plot consisted mainly of smut. I do think this is predominantly an Erotica book and is light on the plot, this said, the spice is EXCELLENT. There were a few minor parts that didn't sit right with me and made me deduct some points but overall not a bad read. I'm not sure I will pick up the next books though as I've been told that the consent gets more and more dubious.

“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.”

Jessica Call

Do you want to start a Ryat? Why yes, yes you do!!

Reviewed in the United States on April 5, 2024

First off, I'd like to say this is my first ever book by Shantel Tessier. And it definitely held me captive! I will now forever one click so fast! Never have I read anything like this before. It's like the movie The Skulls but darker and absolutely devious and delicious! Ryat is everything! He will have you dropping to your knees and begging him for more! I love the secret society aspect. I love the name "The Lords" initiation is intense and brutal but only the stong survive. Blakely, she has no idea what goes on. Only whispers and rumors. She just wanted her degree and to live her life. She was to be married after college to a member of The Lords. Ryat and Blakely weren't even on each other's radars until they were. And omg your jaw will continuously hit the floor by all the events that take place in this book. You are going to find yourself caught up in this world and think to yourself "this is so wrong to like this, it's so dark and forceful" but you won't be able to stop turning those pages, salvating for more. Wondering if you'd ever be able to take it in real life? I will admit I am not someone who could do that in real life but it's so well written you experience it right along with them. You feel everything. You see everything. It's deliciously dark and dirty and it was absolutely amazing! "I Vow, You Vow, We Vow" powerful words and so perfect!! I cant even begin to describe how good this book is without giving it away. I highly recommend reading it. Especially if you love you some dark romance!!

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