poupi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Really.
It is rough, spicy, kinky, with lot of plots.
Even if the pregnancy trope is an hard pass trope for me, this book obsesses me.
This is a really strange reading experience.
Spoiler
I loath the trope pregnancy and it ruined my reading each time. Writting a really good dark kinky college romance doesn’t feet with twentyish young adult craving for a pregnancy.
The second issue for me was for half of the book, the naivety of the FMC was too much. I was this closed to think that she was stupid… And out of nowhere she was able to stand up for herself.
It was about damn time, because she had everything in her hand to put their heads in their own asses.
And even after that, I still think the characters could have been so much more…
The pregnancy trope related to this naive character kills it for me.
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Murder, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Rape, and Blood
booklloveer101's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Addiction, Gun violence, Bullying, Drug use, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Blood, Deadnaming, Kidnapping, and Mental illness
im_s_morgan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Sexual violence, Cursing, Blood, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Sexism, Physical abuse, Violence, Murder, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Toxic relationship, Torture, Gaslighting, Death, and Vomit
Moderate: Drug use and Alcohol
lucymunoz111's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
▪️Main characters have great chemistry
▪️Secret Society
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Graphic: Blood, Murder, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Death, Drug use, and Violence
leatherboundriot's review against another edition
- 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
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 👀
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Stalking, Violence, Blood, and Medical content
Moderate: Murder, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Gun violence, Torture, Sexual assault, Rape, Sexism, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Pregnancy and Kidnapping
dovahkiin_freyja's review against another edition
Spoiler
he's cheating, then starts sleeping with Ryat after her ritual "choosing him/vowing" eventually they get married and then she finds out that it was really just "a game to him".She runs away for a few weeks until he finds her and drags her back. Then he tells her that she has to undergo some kind of test for the Lords /Ladies.
(I'm at 62%, and I'm going to DNF this book. The author uses too many exclamation points and the writing comes off. as annoying & childish. The story isn't interesting enough to keep my attention, and I feel like I wasted my time)
Graphic: Violence, Stalking, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Sexism, and Misogyny
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Physical abuse
wyvness's review against another edition
- 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
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.
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual violence, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Physical abuse, Bullying, Alcohol, Rape, Gun violence, Murder, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Medical content and Pregnancy
beckyremillard's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Alcohol, Sexual content, Death, Gaslighting, Murder, Violence, Torture, Blood, Rape, Sexual violence, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, and Pregnancy
peeshy's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Death, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Cursing, Sexual violence, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, and Rape
courtney_schreier's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Death, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Blood, Drug use, Gun violence, Murder, Rape, Sexual violence, and Sexual content