The Ritual

 January 22nd, 2024

Rate: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Spice Level: 🍆🍆🍆🍆🍆

"I can't guarantee that I will grow old with her, but I will spend every second of every day that I'm alive proving to her that she comes first no matter what."

"Fuck, I love you," he whispers, his hand around my neck, crushing the chain into my already sensitive skin. "Remember that when I rip you apart."

"I see freedom, in knowing that I belong to him."

"I can see you, touch you, and kiss you." I wipe it away with my thumb. "I can love you."

"That's what Ryat is to me. My sun, my air."

"You, Blakely Rae Archer, are my Heaven."

It took me less than 24 hours to DEVOUR this book! From start to finish I was on the edge of my seat! It took me less than 5 chapters to fall in love with and claim Ryat Alexander Archer as my new book boyfriend. My lovely sister recommended this book to me. And up until this book the only dark smut book that I have ever read was Haunting Adeline. I hate to say this, but as much as I love Zade Meadows, Zade doesn't have shit on Ryat Archer. When I tell you that I didn't want to put this book down, I really didn't but because I needed to sleep for work I had too. But that caused a major riff in me, read this book or sleep for work... The life of a book worm, right?

Let get into it! Off the bat you are introduced to Ryat Archer, who is a freshman at Barrington College. He's going through inanition to join the secret society known as the LORDS. Think of the Lords as a world dominating Hitmen, they are everywhere, and they rule the world in many powerful positions. In order to become a Lord, you must do as your told for your entire college extent and for the rest of your life. You are given the title of Lord your senior year in college and put into power plays following your graduation. But during your years of college not only do you have to abide by the society rules, but you must also kill for them, as well as abstain from sex.

The first few chapters (which are short) are about Ryat working his way through inanition, freshman, sophomore, junior year. The book really begins the first week of his senior year when he is called into a LORDS office at 2am. You see in the world of the lords, you get chosen ones, and then you have an arranged marriage to another Lords daughter, and then they have to go through inanition to become a LADY. But a chosen one is basically a Lords plaything for their senior year before they graduate and marry into their arranged marriage. Ryat was given a very specific Chosen one, for reasons he won't even know until the end.

Ryat's chosen one is the Girlfriend of another Lord, and also that Lords arranged marriage. Sophomore year, Ryat and a fellow lord were sent for another inanition. Their target was to take out a LORD that no longer complied with the rules and guidelines of the society and so the society put a hit out on him and sent Ryat and Matt his partner and friend at the time to take care of it. Now when, Ryat and Matt arrived at the intended targets house, Ryat took care of business but Matt, ugh Matt... I hate that motherf***er with every fiber in my being. Matt decided to take it upon himself to try and "touch" the targets wife. she was not an intended target, but because of Matt she ended up dying anyway.

Ryat's chosen one is Matt's girlfriend Blakely. and this is where the story starts getting real, real interesting and keeping you on your toes.

Keep in mind Dark Romance/ Erotica Smutt Books like this, do come with trigger warnings for many reasons. If you have triggers, please read those triggers before you decide to deep dive off a cliff into this book. It is not for the faint of heart. But I promise you, if you decide even with the triggers to read this book, you will not regret it for a second. You will become infatuated with Ryat Alexander Archer, he will make you question everything you think you know about yourself sexually and what you like, and I'm not kidding on that. You will fall head over heels in love with this fictional man, because of everything he does, the way he walks, talks, dresses, all of it!! This is a very sexually powerful book, and it also shows you that love is different for everyone. it's not as clear cut to some couples out there. Ryat and Blakely's story is full of fight, and stubbornness and need and trust and their dynamic is unlike anything that I have ever read in my life.