Reviews with content warning for Alcohol - The Ritual

Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

The Ritual by Shantel Tessier

75 reviews

dscholl's review against another edition

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dark emotional fast-paced

Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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leatherboundriot's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

DNF at 26%
I wanted to like this one so badly. There were some aspects that really intrigued me but the writing style, characterizations, and pacing just weren’t it for me.

Second Read Review: Update 08.24.2023

So I went back and finished the book. I have to admit that it surprised me. The first time I made it about a quarter of the way through and didn't really connect with the characters or plot. Diving back in at that point, I did continue to struggle with it for a while, but around 50-60% it got better. I struggled with the pacing of the book because it felt like it was moving very fast-- and it was, but in the second half of the book, we started to get more substance to the story that drew me in.

The spice was 10/10, that was never the issue for me.

All in all, I think I'm on board to read more in this series. Maybe not the entire thing, or even in order, but there are some other characters that I would like to know more about. I've got my eyes on you, Ty 👀

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wyvness's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

"I vow. You vow. We vow."

Prepare to be ensnared by the allure of this Dark College Romance that's bound to leave you breathless.

"The Ritual" introduces us to Ryat and Blakely, two students at Barrington University, a prestigious institution in Pennsylvania harbouring a covert secret society, the Lords. This clandestine group shapes its male members into the future power players of the nation, wielding untold influence.

Initially, the story's pace might seem a tad slow, but let me tell you, it takes off like a rocket after the first couple of chapters. And when it ignites, it's a storm of twists and turns, each more unexpected than the last. The book serves up a whirlwind of craziness that keeps you at the edge of your seat.

Ryat emerges as a dominating force, exuding possessiveness and control that perfectly match his fiery yet submissive counterpart, Blakely. However, Blakely's occasional susceptibility to outside influence did prove irksome, occasionally leading her astray.

A word of caution: "The Ritual" comes laden with trigger warnings, and it's certainly not suited for every reader. This tale is a playground for those with a taste for the dark and twisted, for the ones who relish stories that defy the norm.

"I was forced to pick her as my chosen, but she continues to choose me every day. And that is what I call heaven. Because life without her would be hell."

In a nutshell, "The Ritual" is an intoxicatingly intense, addictively dark, and utterly twisted tale that sprawls over 500 pages you'll find impossible to put down. If you're drawn to the allure of dark romance, don't hesitate—seize this book and let yourself be carried away.

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_toristorytime's review against another edition

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dark tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.5

This book challenged me a lot. The line between kink and fantasy versus SA and rape seemed intentionally very blurred if there at all. This book had moments of steam that I enjoyed but it took a lot of digging to find it. I considered DNFing this book multiple times.

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beckyremillard's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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cait's review against another edition

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challenging dark funny mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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allycatyo's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I’ve heard many things, positive and negative, about this book and I finally decided to give it a shot. Much to my surprise I couldn’t put the book down. The triggers are not my usual cup of tea, but I remained intrigued and loved the secret society aspect more than I thought I would! This is my first dark Romance and I think it was a great choice. Would I recommend this book? That’s complicated. But if you do read this book, don’t say we didn’t warn ya.

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