The Ritual by Shantel Tessier (Paperback)

The Ritual is the first book in Shantel Tessier’s Lords series, a dark, spicy new adult romance.

Barrington University is home to the Lords, a secret society that requires blood in payment. They are above all others, the most powerful men in the world, devoting their lives to violence in exchange for power. And during their senior year, each of them is offered a chosen one.

People imagine that growing up with money is freeing, but our heroine promises you it’s anything but. Her entire life has been planned out for her, every choice made long before she could make it herself. She never once got to do what she truly wanted, until Ryat Alexander Archer came along and offered her something no one else ever had: freedom.

So she chose to be his. Or at least, he made her believe she’d chosen, when in truth it was simply another of the ways the Lords manipulate you into doing exactly what they want. Drawn into their dark, twisted world, she embraces her new role, allowing Ryat to parade her around like the trophy she is to him. But like all games, what began as one soon becomes a fight for survival, and the only way out may be death.

Please note this is a dark read containing mature themes. Perfect for readers who love a dark secret society romance, an enemies-to-lovers slow burn and a dangerous, all-consuming bargain.