Reviews tagging 'Medical content'

The Ritual by Shantel Tessier

21 reviews

catladymeg's review against another edition

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

3.5

This book was hard to get into at first. I genuinely did not love the first 30% or so due to the characters and their relationship. However, after that point the story picked up, the fluff started, and the story held my interest. I even stayed up later than I should have finishing the last 75%. This book was a decent read, but not really one of my favorites. For me, there was too much roughness from the male characters, especially the main male character, for my liking. I did like the development of the main female character, it just took a while. I would recommend this book to people who enjoy the gruffer side of dark romance who do not require a ton of fluff with their smut.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Murder

Moderate: Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, and Medical content

Minor: Infidelity and Pregnancy

bergha1998's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny sad 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

Woah this is a dark romance, check those TWs. The plot was great, I’m not usually into college romances, but it being so secret society focused kept it very interesting. The spice is crazy: drugs, primal, dubcon, breath play, and a lot of BDSM. I loved how possessive Ryat was from the start. 

Dark Romance, Arranged Relationship, Secret Society, 4 1/2 🔥

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Grief, Gore, Murder, Alcohol, Body horror, Drug use, Confinement, Bullying, Cursing, Sexual content, Death, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Rape, Medical content, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Stalking, Torture, and Violence

leatherboundriot's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

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

wyvness's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

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

annielikesbooks's review against another edition

challenging dark tense fast-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Sexual content

Moderate: Blood, Drug use, Kidnapping, and Medical content

cait's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

Minor: Blood, Confinement, Infertility, Sexual assault, Abandonment, Alcohol, Cursing, Death, Grief, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Body horror, Classism, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Murder, Toxic friendship, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Kidnapping

kaadee's review against another edition

dark 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? No

2.75

Ryat’s name is the only cool part of this book. Was I hooked? Yes. Was it good from an actual writing perspective? No. The world building is so ass, it’s laughable. That’s not why i read it though. 2 stars for okay-ish smut.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death of parent, Drug use, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Rape, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Medical content, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Sexual content, and Violence

allycatyo's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Kidnapping, Stalking, Torture, Violence, Alcohol, Death, Gaslighting, Murder, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Drug abuse

Moderate: Rape

Minor: Medical content, Vomit, and Pregnancy

Please read the author’s content warnings and take care of your mental health first. This is not a book for everyone.

atranscryptid's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark tense fast-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Child abuse, Classism, Rape, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Drug abuse, Misogyny, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Stalking, Violence, Death, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Abandonment, Addiction, Blood, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Medical content, and Domestic abuse

bnully1027's review against another edition

dark tense slow-paced

5.0

THIS BOOK WAS A FUCKING WILD RIDE AND I ENJOYED ALL OF IT. I devoured this. Yeah it was fucked up but idc I went in with rose colored glasses and that was the best way to do it.  Ryat, this man. Wow. I have no idea how to review this haha

The fact I gave this four stars was wrong. Obsessed with this.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Murder, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Kidnapping, Medical content, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Drug use, and Gore