The Ritual

The Ritual 

The Ritual is the latest novel to be checked off my to be read list. It is the first book in a six part series. I’m not even going to lie when I say that this book and series has been ridiculously overhyped on social media. That is actually why it took me so long to pick it up and read it. 

If you’ve followed me for any length of time, then you already know how much I hated Haunting Adeline, and I’m still a bit salty over the fact I gave in to the hype of that book and read it. That is why I was really hesitant to give in on The Ritual and read it. 

This post contains affiliate links

I haven’t had the best of luck when it comes to reading overhyped books, and I had my doubts for a long time, and even during the book. But I’m really glad I read it and gave it a chance. 

“I’d set the world on fire, including myself, if it meant saving her.” 

Shantel Tessier, The Ritual

This made me really hesitant to give The Ritual a try, because it felt like it was overhyped, and I had less than stellar results with Haunting Adeline. But I finally decided to just go for it and try it out. If it was terrible, I didn’t have to read the entire series. I could stop right there. This is what I told myself, and it worked. I finally decided to give it a try, and I am so glad that I did!

At the time of publishing this review, The Ritual, and all of the LORDS series is available via Kindle Unlimited, making it easily accessible to many readers, and I appreciate that. It makes it so that I can read the entire series without breaking the bank. This is something I’m making it a point to do more of in the new year, utilizing a subscription that I pay for. 

This is the first Shantel Tessier book I’ve ever read, but I’m going to go out on a limb and say that it won’t be the last one. I’m interested in reading more of her writing. 

Have you read The Ritual? Come on in and let me tell you about it! 

About The Ritual 

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. 

The Ritual Book Playlist 

• “Make Hate to Me” by Citizen Soldier 
• “Needles” by Seether
• “Like Lovers Do” by Hey Violet 
• “Numb” by 8 Graves 
• “Killing Me Slowly” by Bad Wolves 
• “Guest Room” by Echos 
• “I Don’t Give a Fuck” by Missio featuring Zeale 
• “Everybody Gets High” by Missio 
• “Taste of You” by Rezz featuring Dove Cameron 
• “Sick Like Me” by In This Moment 
• “Bad Intentions” by Niykee Heaton 
• “Mirrors” by Natalia Kills featuring Migos and OG Parker 
• “If You Want Love” by NF 
• “Broken” by Lifehouse 
• “Honesty” by Halsey 
• “Oh Lord” by In This Moment 
• “All The Time” by Jeremih featuring Lil Wayne and Natasha Mosley 

The Ritual Warning 

For those of you who wish to go in blind, please remember this dark romance is a work of fiction, and I do NOT condone any situations or actions that take place between these characters. Continue to the prologue, but just remember that I warned you. If you do NOT want to go in blind, please read the trigger warnings listed here. 

Nothing about this is to be taken seriously. It is strictly a work of fiction and for your smut pleasure. 

The Ritual may contain triggers for some. Trigger warnings include but are not limited to: 

• Graphic violence
• Non/Dub consent
• Branding
• Forced sex fantasy
• Drug/alcohol use
• Masks
• Breath play
• Bondage
• Kidnapping
• Anal

Thoughts on The Ritual 

“Don’t be ashamed, Blake… You’re my chosen one. Be proud. I know I am.” 

Shantel Tessier, The Ritual

In The Ritual we meet Ryat and Blakely. Ryat is a LORD at Barrington University, a secret fraternity. Blakely becomes his chosen, but then even more than that when she becomes his wife. 

This starts off as a really slow burn. I mean elderly person trying to cross a busy intersection while using a walker level slow burn. Imagine watching a race between the senior citizen with the walker and a turtle. You wonder who will win, or if they’ll ever make any real progress. Will they actually make it to the finish line? 

It probably could have been edited and shortened a bit, just to alleviate how slow it is to start with. But stick with it, because once it heats up, it really heats up. The first half of this book rides a thin line of smut with a side plot instead of a plot with smut added in to compliment the plot. There is a lot of sex. Ryat and Blakely go at it like rabbits on Viagra. 

I remember making it through the first half and not knowing how I felt about it yet. Which is odd for me. Normally I at least have an idea of how I’ll be rating a book by about the fifty percent mark, and then change it if I’m surprised in any way by the ending. I was talking to my husband about it, and the best I could come up with was, I’m reading it. Past that, I’ve got nothing yet. But I think that was just because it took so long for things to heat up and become interesting. 

I’m also maintaining my stance that the words “growl” and “whimper” should be removed from every single book out there. Or, at the very least have some sort of a limit on how many times they can be used in each book. I’m starting to hate those two words. 

But the second half of the book is full of twists and turns that I was not expecting, and I love that. Because who doesn’t want murder with their smut? I know I do! It swings back to being a good plot with smut added to it. I found myself on the edge of my seat, wondering what was going to happen next, or who would make an appearance. 

One of my favorite things about this book is Blakely’s character development along the way. She starts out as the standard stereotypical dumb college girl who doesn’t pay attention to anything outside her own narrow little world. But she slowly turns into a strong woman, who becomes the definition of a ride or die wife. 

Blakely and Ryat compliment each other perfectly. The same way that Beyonce and Jay-Z complement each other to become that amazing power couple everyone wants to be. Blakely brought out the softer side of Ryat, and Ryat brought out strength in Blakely. 

I will also say that this is a dark romance. But what makes the difference between this and stories like Haunting Adeline is consent. Consent is sexy. Let’s all say it together, consent is sexy. Which is something that I needed this book to have. It pushed boundaries, realized kinks without any shaming, and so much more. All between two consenting parties. 

Watching Ryat help Blakely enjoy her fantasies without shaming her was amazing. Everyone needs a partner like that. 

The Ritual was a book where I found myself rooting for both main characters as it went on. I wanted them to realize their potential, find themselves, find happiness, and keep right on going. Both Ryat and Blakely were really great characters. 

My biggest complaint was the death scenes toward the end. Meaning if I was Blakely, I would stick around and make sure everyone who was supposed to die there actually died. I’d be directing people to go dig the graves outside the cathedral, and watching them all be buried. Because people who are supposed to die keep coming back in this book. 

Final Thoughts on The Ritual 

“She’s mine. It’s just that simple. I’m addicted to her smile, the way she touches me. The sound of her voice. How she says my name. The way her scent lingers on my clothes when I’m not with her. Everything about her feeds a hunger that can never be satisfied. I know it, and she knows it.” 

Shantel Tessier, The Ritual

I’m calling The Ritual a solid four star read for me. Three means I’ve already forgotten it, which isn’t the case. But five also means I would read it again, and that isn’t going to happen either. So I’ve settled on four because I really enjoyed it. 

I’m also really excited that Tyson gets his own story in The Sacrifice. I loved him as a secondary character, and wanted to see so much more of him. I’ll also tell you that if he wasn’t a good guy (if you know where in the book I’m talking about, you know) I would have thrown my Kindle across the room and stopped reading right there. I have no idea why, but I wanted to see him be a good guy, and I wasn’t disappointed. 

Discussion 

Have you read The Ritual or any other writing from Shantel Tessier? Are you a fan? Let me know your thoughts in the comments! 

About the Author 

Shantel is a USA Today & Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author. Who lives in Oklahoma with her high school sweetheart, who is a wonderful, supportive husband. She loves to spend time cuddled up on the couch with a good book.

She considers herself extremely lucky to get to do what she loves while wearing pajamas. Going to concerts and the movies are just a few of her favorite things to do. Although she has a passion to write, her family is most important to her. She loves spending evenings at home with her family, watching Netflix. 

Purchasing The Ritual 

• If you are interested in buying the paperback version of The Ritual, click here.
• For the hardcover version, click here. 
• Click here for the Kindle version.
• Click here for my favorite Kindle I currently own.

More from Shantel Tessier 

Did you enjoy my review of The Ritual? Need another great Shantel Tessier novel to read? Here are my favorites! 

Dare Books 

• I Dare You
• I Promise You
• If You Dare

Dark Kingdom Books

• Code of Silence
• Titan
• Grave
• Cross
• Bones

Dash Books

• Dash

Selfish Books

• Selfish
• Myself
• Selfless

Lords Books

• The Ritual 
• The Sinner 
• The Sacrifice 
• Sabotage 
• Carnage 
• Madness 

Seven Deadly Sins Books

• Addiction
• Obsession

Undescribable Books

• Undescribable
• Unbearable
• Uncontrollable 
• Unforgettable
• Unpredictable
• Unforseen

Standalone Novels

• Donut Overthink It
• Slaughter
• Make You Beg
• Chaotic

Short Stories

• Just a Kiss

Amazon Notice 

The Reading Wife is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com, at no added cost to you.