The Ritual
L.O.R.D.S. #1
By Shantel Tessier
~ Can be read as a standalone ~
TheStory
Upon completion of his three-year initiation in the Lords, Ryat is given a Chosen from a list of women that signed up to become a Chosen for the Lords. They are the Lords’ to do with as they please. Blakely, in an attempt to get away from her cheating boyfriend, accepts her role as Chosen.
Forces are at work that Blakely, and even Ryat, are unaware of as they navigate their new roles. Constantly at each others’ throats, all that passion turns into something more than just ana assignment for either of them.
TheReview
At first, I thought the premise was a little silly. It seemed so far fetched that I just wsan’t sure how I was going to get into it.
But get into I did!
Pretty early on, the author does a great job of explaining Blakely’s mindset, even though it might seem to a normal person that it would be insane to accept the role of Chosen.
On the other hand, Ryat motives aren’t immediately clear other than his desire to piss off Matt. In the same vein, the Lords’ motives aren’t quick to become clear either. So there is a little air of mystery around why the events are transpiring the way they are. It’s pretty clear that Blakely is being manipulated, but she doesn’t really seem concerned about that, only concerned with getting what she wants.
It also got me thinking about the psychology behind what people might really do if given enough encouragement and zero consequences.
Honestly, it’s a pretty whack secret society with a seriously whack ritual… but I’m here for the fantasy of it all. I liked the power the Lords had - seemingly untouchable. It made Ryat a complete alpha-male with sway and influence on those around him.
It also got me thinking about the psychology behind what people might really do if given enough encouragement and zero consequences.
On the note of their relationship, it’s true enemies to lovers. Neither Ryat nor Blakely were secretly harboring feelings for each other while outwardly “pretending” to hate each other. They legitimately didn’t like each other but found a purpose in their roles as Lord and Chosen. The fact that they were each benefiting from the relationship is the only reason they were together. So that growth from enemies, to a sort of allyship, to lovers, was very organic.
Anyone ruthless enough to become a Lord is not just falling head over heels in love with some chick just because they’re banging. Ryat stayed true to that standard.
The book is well written in the fact that Blakely accepts her role in this secret society. While she may not know exactly what goes on in the group, she understands that she is in it to get something out of it for herself. It was the environment she needed in order to gain control over her life and decisions, even in the lack thereof.
Her POV really put me into her head so I understood her. I appreciated her perspective, her thoughts, her trauma, her desires, and her decisions. Since she wasn’t questioning the secrets and mysteries surrounding her circumstances, I found that I wasn’t either.
So when those answers came, I was just as in shock as she was about some of it.
I couldn’t stop reading partially because I needed the answers I was looking for but also, for her and Ryat’s relationship.
Ryat is secretive and aggressive. Likewise, Blake is aggressive and bratty. It made for an explosive, tension-filled, passionate relationship even before true feelings were ever involved. It is most definitely supposed to be an extremely spicy sexual relationship, but it’s easy to see that there is more going on with the both of them that even they can’t see happening. It wasn’t a slow burn but the relationship was a very slow build. Like a slow burn but for feelings.
The ending answered questions I didn’t even know I had because I was so into the characters that I was just following their lead - if they didn’t question it, neither did I. It’s crazier than you can even imagine how everything has been put into place for certain outcomes to transpire.
I loved this book SO MUCH! It’s mysterious, spicy, intriguing, dark, and dirty. On top of all that, it was even funny. Laugh out loud funny. I’m completely obsessed.
P.S. I am not a fan of the GHB scenes but that’s just not my yum.
FavoriteQuotes
“She will know hell, but for now, I shall be her devil.”
“In a world full of smoke and mirrors, he’s something real. We got here by chance, but we're still together by choice.”
“I VOW. YOU VOW. WE VOW.”
ProminentTropes
Enemies to Lovers
Morally Grey MMC & FMC
“Touch her and die”
Bully Romance
Insta-Hate
BDSM
Dom/sub
Secret Society
TheRating
Storyline: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Side Characters: 5/5
World Building: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Overall: 📘📘📘📘📘
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
L.O.R.D.S. Series
The Ritual
L.O.R.D.S. #1
The Sinner
L.O.R.D.S. #2
The Sacrifice
L.O.R.D.S. #3
Sabotage
L.O.R.D.S. #4
Carnage
L.O.R.D.S. #5
Madness
L.O.R.D.S. #6
Chaotic
L.O.R.D.S. #7
