Reading Guide: The Ritual by Shantel Tessier
READING GUIDE
The L.O.R.D.S 101: The Ritual
A recap of the rules, characters, and events from The Ritual.
This series is a big step into the world of dark academia. There’s secret societies, shady characters and a suspenseful plot line that only gets twistier with each book. Naturally, it may be difficult to track the events, characters, and theories within the series. And when there’s a waiting period between book releases, it may be helpful to have a little cheat sheet to remind you of past events.
If you scroll all the way down, there are even some *spoilers* (including a character tree).
That said, please be mindful of TWs. This series includes SA, violence, death, child abuse, and self harm… and a lot of explicit scenes.
Have I missed something? Or are you looking for more information? Let me know!
NOTE: This is comprehensive, and there may be spoilers included below. Proceed with caution!
What Victoria Loves About The Ritual
VICTORIA’S RATING: 4/5
I wasn’t sure what I was in for, but I needed a college bully romance to satisfy an itch. I stumbled upon this series and 100000% judged the book by its cover (and by that, I mean I very quickly added it to my read-list) and I was not disappointed.
I liked the introduction to the world and the LORDS society re: initiation, Chosens, and expectations for that lifestyle. The buildup was nicely paced. And when the story got going, it was like unraveling a ball of yarn (messy and confusing) but in the most intriguing way. Honestly, I probably could’ve done without some of the twists in the middle of the book and some storylines, but overall it was engaging!
The best part of this book? It was STEAMY. It’s sexy, it’s dark. There’s a lot of manipulation, lies, blood, and violence, but that’s dark romance for you. I thought the exploration of kink preferences was handled decently well, at least positioning / creating a safe space for the FMC and MMC and that’s better than most books I’ve read.
I dare you to start this series and not become addicted. Keep an open mind, be mindful of TWs, and prepare yourself for CNC, bondage, primal play, and a massively possessive MMC. Best of all, I think this series is just warming up. Remember, there’s no shame in curiosity and pleasure!
Characters
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A secret organization based out of Barrington University in Pennsylvania.
A L.O.R.D. is a Leader, believes in Order, knows when to Rule, and is a Deity.
Not just anyone can become a Lord, you must be born into it.
A Lord must be initiated in order to become a member, but he can be removed at any time for any reason. Lord initiates are distinguished by a ring, which is replaced with a brand, an insignia of a circle with three horizontal lines burned into their skin upon completion of initiation.
A Lord takes his oath seriously. Only blood will solidify their commitment to serve those who demand their complete devotion.
Their life is the price of membership. A Lord can be a judge, jury and executioner. He holds power that is unmatched by anyone, other than his brother. Members hold powerful positions, strategically determined based on where they fit best in the world — senators, CEOs of multibillion dollar companies, etc. For many Lords, marriage arrangements are set in place, combining empires to remain indestructible.
The Lords are capable of making anyone disappear. They guarantee Lords protection as long as they are faithful to their oath. The cost of failure is death.
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In the three years of their initiation, Lord candidates must abstain from penetrative sex, which has been deemed a distraction, serves as motivation for initiates, and proves their loyalty to the Lords. During their senior year, Lords are rewarded for their servitude with sex.
A chosen one is the reward granted to a Lord if they manage to complete all trials of initiation. Typically, a chosen one and the Lord know each other. They’ve been friends, or they’ve dated. However, they may also be arranged. The Lords are given a list of names that must be chosen before senior year even starts. A chosen must be placed on the list by her parents. While a male descendant serves the Lords, a Lord who has a daughter may make her serve as well in a show of gratitude to the Lords.
A chosen one has to willingly take an oath to belong to her Lord. In doing so, she accepts that she is his to use for his pleasure until he no longer has use for her. A chosen must be willing to surrender in all that they do.
There are no rules for the Lords once they have taken on a chosen. He can take more than one chosen one. But, a Lord never tells another member how to treat his chosen one. Being a Lord isn’t about harming your chosen ones — they are a reward. "If you break it or kill it, you don’t get to replace it with another one.”
A Lord may establish his own rules for his relationship with his chosen.
A chosen one must understand patience, obedience.
She must understand that her body is no longer hers.
She may be shared with the other Lords.
She may be punished for her indiscretions. “Humiliation is key.”
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When married to a Lord, a wife claims the title of Lady if she is able to successfully complete her initiation.
Once a Lady is a widow, they re-gift her to another Lord.
Rules & Rituals
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Initiation into the Lords is a three-year process during which initiates are placed through a series of trials. If he makes it past the three trials of initiation, he will forever know power and wealth. They are challenged to see the depth of their loyalty, pushed to their limits to prove their devotion and to show their commitment… including committing murder.
Records are kept of these crimes and used as insurance against those who get kicked out before graduation. Death is the consequence for those who fail to uphold their vow to the Lords.
Initiates are required to abstain during the three years of initiation to prove their loyalty to the Lords.
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I vow. You vow. We vow.
The ritual is what one must do in order to become a chosen.
A chosen must be willing to surrender in all that they do.
A chosen is protected under the ritual. Any and all must treat them as such.
The Ritual Vow Ceremony occurs in the Cathedral. Lords and initiates dressed in black robes and white masks sit among the pews; the first two rows are reserved for women who are bound.
Participants face a large stage and altar, long staircases on either side lead to a loft overlooking the congregation. In the middle of the loft sits a tub for baptism sunk into the floor up against the ledge with an all-glass side allowing people to witness what happens in the water.
The ritual cleanses chosen ones of their past sexual partners. It is usually done with the chosen naked.
The vow ceremony must be performed to solidify the ritual, and the Lord must show ownership of his chosen one: “You either fuck their mouth, pussy, or ass. It’s not to please them. It’s for us to claim them.”
Locations
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The members are required to live together in the House of Lords, a five-story renovated hotel located far from campus.
It has white brick and black shutters with large windows, designed for the rich. Six columns are decorated with black garland wrapped around them from top to bottom. Spotlights are strategically to illuminate the grounds.
There is a large roundabout with a pond in the middle with a fountain on either side and a white arched walkway across the center.
Inside, the house is decorated in black and white. A grand staircase is covered in black carpet with a matching banister. On the second floor, the platform opens up, giving the option to go left or right. The upper level is also open in the middle, allowing one to look up at the high, black-painted ceiling where chandeliers hang down to the first floor.
The basement contains a bunker — an armory housing “more guns, ammo, and weapons [they] could ever need. It’s also where [they] hold all [their] important meetings.” There is a black table in the middle of the room with seating for fifty people.
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The cathedral was donated to the Lords. The cathedral sits in the middle of nowhere off the two-lane road, surrounded by woods.
It is large and medieval with high walls and spiers on top. An old white cross sits above the main entrance, which has fallen over time and rocks with the wind.
Inside, the Cathedral has been modified to suit the Lords’ needs. Rows of pews face a large stage and altar, long staircases on either side lead to a loft overlooking the congregation. In the middle of the loft sits a tub for baptism sunk into the floor up against the ledge with an all-glass side allowing people to witness what happens in the water.
Beyond the building and behind a wrought-iron gate is a graveyard, an old burial ground where Lords, chosen ones and Ladies are buried if they betray their oath. People who members have killed are also buried there.
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A four-story club on the outskirts of town run by Tyson Crawford. Blackout is believed to house the "dirtier side of things,” as exhibited by the torture chamber in the basement.
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Located outside of Dallas, Texas.
20-acres of property with a pond and trails on which Blakely often runs.
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Ryat’s cabin in the woods in Pennsylvania, which he purchased 2 years prior to meeting Blakely.
Character Tree
Spoilers
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Ryat Alexander Archer
Parents: Abbot
Arranged to Marry: Cindy Williams (Deceased)
Chosen One: Blakely Rae Anderson
Married: Blakely Rae Anderson
Initiation Trials:
Loyalty: Kill an unnamed Lord who spilled secrets
Devotion: Successfully fight to the death against a fellow initiate
Commitment: Pull off a hit on Nathaniel Myers (Deceased)
Gunner
Parents: N/A
Arranged to Marry: N/A
Chosen One: Sarah
Married: N/A
Initiation Trials: Unknown
Prickett
Parents: N/A
Arranged to Marry: N/A
Chosen One: Unknown
Married: N/A
Initiation Trials: Unknown
Matt Winston (Deceased)
Parents: Jake (Deceased), Kimberly
Arranged to Marry: Blakely Rae Anderson
Chosen One: Ashley (Deceased)
Married: N/A
Initiation Trials:
Commitment: Pull off a hit on Nathaniel Myers
Tyson Crawford
Parents: N/A
Arranged to Marry: N/A
Chosen One: Whitney Minson (Deceased)
Married: N/A
Initiation Trials: Unknown
Abbot Archer
Parents: N/A
Arranged to Marry: Valerie (Deceased)
Chosen One: LeAnne Mayes
Married: LeAnne Mayes
Initiation Trials: While his trials are undisclosed, Anderson has a reputation of having killed three of his brothers during his senior year. He’ was widely feared by his class and is considered a legend.
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Blakely Rae Archer (née Anderson)
Parents: Phil Anderson, Leanne Mayes
Arranged to Marry: Matt Winston (Deceased)
Lord: Ryat Alexander Archer
Married: Ryat Alexander Archer
Initiation Trials:
Loyalty: Refuse to sign divorce papers
Devotion: Kill Jake Winston (Deceased)
LeAnne Archer (née Mayes)
Parents: Unknown
Arranged to Marry: Unknown
Lord: Phil Anderson
Married: Phil Anderson
Initiation Trials:
Loyalty: Unknown
Devotion: Spy on Nathaniel Myers (Deceased)
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Freshman Year
Initiation Focus: Loyalty
Two weeks before the start of classes, Lord initiates begin to show their loyalty to the Lords, starting with the task: Kill or be killed.
Ryat’s first initiation task was to kill a Lord who spilled secrets.
Sophomore Year
Initiation Focus: Devotion
Ryat defeats a fellow initiate in hand-to-hand combat in front of an audience to prove his devotion. They fought “to the end” for “there can only be one winner. Only one left standing.”
Junior Year
Initiation Focus: Commitment
Ryat is assigned a hit in Chicago and a name — Nathaniel Myers— and a picture. A fellow initiate, Matt, accompanies him.
During the assignment, Ryat successfully shoots the man in the head while he’s asleep. However, Matt detours to Nathaniel’s wife “having a little fun.” Ryat threatens to shoot him, urging him to leave, but Matt insists eventually waking the woman. Unfortunately, in her haste to escape, Matt ends up pushing her over the banister and declares her dead.
Ryat and Matt are called upon by the Lords to clarify the events of the hit. Matt defends his actions claiming “she fell,” but Ryat refuses to talk. Matt is put on probation for “killing a very important bitch.” Her identity is not revealed.
Senior Year
Two weeks before the start of the year, Ryat and his fellow brothers who have completed all trials are initiated into the Lords. They are branded with the crest on their chest and granted a Chosen for their sacrifice.
Ryat is called to meet with a fellow Lord, who gives him his first assignment: a name. She is to be his gift — a chosen one. However, Ryat is hesitant as he recognizes the name as one of his fellow initiate’s girlfriend and future wife. Blakely Rae is arranged to marry Matt Winston, but before that she’ll be Ryat Archer’s chosen.
Over the next few weeks, Ryat inserts himself in Blakely’s path, manipulating situations that highlight Matt’s apparent infidelity and setting up intimate encounters that pique Blakley’s curiosity and interest in Ryat.
In his efforts, Ryat uncovers Blakely’s more deviant sexual interests that Matt had historically shamed her for. Ryat embraces them and slowly builds Blakely’s trust, eventually earning her willingness to show up and partake in the Ritual to become his Chosen.
As the two of them spend more time together, their feelings for each other develop, capturing Matt’s attention. Matt proceeds to threaten Blakely and goes to her father to further express his interest and intention to pursue the marriage arrangement. He offers $50,000 for her hand. Ryat’s father hears of this exchange and asks Ryat if he’s interested in a counteroffer. Ryat refuses stating he knows his duty is to marry another after graduation, so he has no intention of falling in love or bidding against Matt for Blakely’s hand.
However, a Lord assignment forces Matt and Ryat together. The two spend time undercover in a prison to kill an inmate responsible for the death of a fellow Lord’s son. While in solitary confinement, Ryat is attacked by a prisoner Matt hired to kill him. Ryat escapes, but as soon as he returns back to Barrington, he decides he is going to marry Blakely. He promptly seeks out her father to draft a contract for her hand in marriage, offering him $500k for her hand. Phil declines the money, but accepts the offer stating that if Blakely willingly enters the marriage, he is happy for Ryat to marry her. Blakely accepts and the two are wed in secret.
Meanwhile a series of unusual events raise suspicions around Blakely, including continued missed calls and messages from Blocked numbers. Blakely assumes they are associated with the CNC games she plays with Ryat, like the time he kidnapped her from her apartment to take him to her cabin or when he wore a mask and chased her through the woods.
When Ryat announces his marriage to Blakely at a Lords event, Matt follows her into Ryat’s room to disclose the context of their marriage, including the $500k offer for her hand. Blakely’s heart breaks and she runs away.
Ryat spends months looking for Blakely, only to find her working at a diner — and just in time to save her from an attack. He brings her back to Barrington. Blakely is informed that as she has married a Lord, she must undergo her own initiation to become a Lady — one of equal standing and power as her husband. In order to acquire the title, she must complete a series of tasks that prove her loyalty to her Lord and the organization.
Her first task comes in the form of Ryat handing her divorce papers. He tells her that she has made her intentions clear when she ran away and he offers her a way out. He leaves and she burns the papers in the fireplace. However, as she awaits his return, Cindy, his ex-betrothed, arrives at their cabin and she claims that during Blakely’s absence she’s been keep Ryat company. Cindy unsuccessfully attempts to attack Blakely. Upon Ryat’s return, they realize that Cindy has been working with Matt to harm Blakely. With the help of Ashley, Matt’s Chosen, they had tracked Blakely during her escape and had intentions of kidnapping and hurting her.
Ryat moves them out of the cabin and into an apartment above Blackout, Tyson’s club. It is there that Blakely receives her initiation task — she’s given a name of a Lord that she’s expected to kill. However, that same evening, Matt attacks her, beating her face in and leaving a clear message to the newlyweds that he will not go down easily. At the hospital, Phil reveals that real Blakely’s mother is the woman Matt had killed during Ryat’s last initiation task —
Ryat increases security at the cabin and they return home. But Matt manages to get around their defenses, shoots Ryat, and kidnaps Blakely. He takes her to a bunker along the Niagara border where she discovers Matt’s accomplice is the woman she grew up thinking is her mother, Valerie. And it’s Valerie who realizes that Blakely is pregnant. She threatens Matt not to harm Blakely because she wants to take the child and raise it as her own, claiming it’s her second chance at raising a better child.
After regaining consciousness a week later, Ryat admits to having put a tracker under Blakely’s skin. He and their dads use it to find her location, partnering with Tyson under the guise of Lord’s orders. Tyson enters the bunker through tunnels just in time to catch Matt attempting to assault Blakely. Tyson claims that he’ll partake enough to earn Matt’s trust and he helps Blakely escape to safety. Tyson ends up in a quarrel with Matt and Matt’s father, who he takes down with help from Ryat. They successfully rescue Blakely, but the takedown re-injures Ryat and he’s taken to hospital for emergency surgery.
At the hospital, Blakely confirms her pregnancy and learns she’s having twins. Ryat recovers and they are able to go home together.
Matt is forced to sit through confessional in front of the Lords, where he must speak to the sins he committed against the Lords. Although he refuses to speak, Valerie is brought in to confess to his sins. Both are killed. And Blakely finally meets her biological mother, LeAnne.
In the weeks that follow, LeAnne discloses that through the years she’s kept a close eye on Blake and coordinated security and opportunities for Blakely. She shared that Valerie is the one who signed her up to be a Chosen and arranged her marriage to Matt. But it was LeAnne who assigned Ryat the task of having Blakely has his Chosen in an attempt to shield her from Matt. LeAnne confesses that she and Phil had been married in college, nullifying his marriage to Valerie, and that her own marriage to Nathaniel had been her initiation task from the Lords. Blakely does not forgive her mother for her absence because it led to pain and trauma of being brought up by Valerie.
In the epilogues, we’re introduced to Ryat and Blakely’s children 18 years later. Their two twin boys, Reign and Royal, are about to enter their freshman year at Barrington and Reign expresses interest in joining the Lords. We learn that Blakely and Ryat have been relatively transparent about their experience with the organization, but are supportive of their sons’ decision to participate in initiation if they so choose. Their younger daughter, Ryann, states that she intends to attend Stanford, deviating from the family tradition in search of her own experiences and in pursuit of her own passions.
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“Once a Lady is a widow, they re-gift her to another Lord.”
Lincoln serves as the intermediary between initiates and the Lords. He distributes assignments and disciplines the Lords who attend Barrington University. He claims he has to “clean up” after the messes they make.
The Lords are capable of making anyone disappear. They guarantee Lords protection as long as they are faithful to their oath.
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Tyson Crawford:
“He chose Whitney Minson as his. Well, once she performed the vow ceremony… he tied her facedown on his bed, naked, gagged, and blindfolded. Left her there all day while he went to his classes. He had cameras all over his room with a live feed of it on his phone. Then once he went home, he fucked her, which he also recorded and sent to her boyfriend — the boyfriend she was cheating on after she took the vow to be Tyson’s.”
“She never cheated on her boyfriend with Tyson. Because she never had one. He was a stalker.”… “Sometimes, the best revenge is to go after something that they love just as much as you loved.”
[The Lords] failed Ty and Whitney. They guarantee the Lords protection as long as they are faithful to their oath. That was not the case for Ty.
“Why do you think I chose the hell I did?” With that, he slaps my shoulder twice and then walks off… He was talking about Blackout. The Lords set him up with that club. Purchased the land, built the building, and then handed it all over to him— free and clear. Now it makes me wonder what he has to do to keep it.
“She’s a gift from the Lords." … “You know… since they owe me a wife and all.”
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“What can I do for you guys?”
“The basement.” I get to the point. “May we use it?”
He smiles up at us. “Of course. You never have to ask.” Sitting up, he places his forearms on the desk. “Just point them out, and I’ll have them delivered for you.”
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“You want to save her?” He walks over to me. “The only way to do that is to let her go because even if you were to die tomorrow, they would own her.” My spine stiffens at his words. “Her father won’t be able to save her. Your father won’t be able to save her. They take prisoners, Ryat.”
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A Lady’s Assignment:
“Why would they tell you to leave him?” I scoff. I know the Lords have to obey their oath, but I’ve never been told that a Lady has to do that.
“Because Nathaniel Myers was my assignment.”
My spine stiffens at her answer.
“An assignment that ended up lasting much longer than it should have. That’s why I had the hit put on him. I was done and needed it to end.”
Favorite Scene
“Don’t ever kneel thinking you need to serve him. Kneel because you want to serve him… You have the power to make him hear, see, and believe whatever you want to. Keep that in mind when he tells you he loves you.”
THE RITUAL by Shantel Tessier
Read The L.O.R.D.S Series
AN INTRODUCTION TO DARKNESS: The Ritual (The LORDS #1) by Shantel Tessier (Amazon)
A college bully romance that will satisfy your itch for this sub-genre. This introduction to the LORDS society — the initiation, Chosens, and expectations for that lifestyle was like unraveling a ball of yarn — it was twisty, messy, confusing — but in the most intriguing way. There’s a lot of manipulation, lies, blood, and violence, and I think this series is just getting warmed up.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 4/5
CALL IT SINISTER: The Sinner (The LORDS #2) by Shantel Tessier (Amazon)
This book was 10x harder to get through than The Ritual… not because it wasn’t addictive, but because the characters’ backstory is so brutal. I thought I knew dark romance. This book set a new standard for me. It’s an emotionally and mentally taxing read — proceed with caution. And if you choose to move forward, prepare yourself for the most heartbreaking love story.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 4/5
REVEL IN THE DARKNESS: The Sacrifice (The LORDS #3) by Shantel Tessier (Amazon)
This is yet another twisted, disturbing storyline, but not as graphic or emotionally wrecking has The Sinner. We finally get Ty’s story and some introduction to BDSM and blood play. For those who enjoyed The Ritual, this is up to par with the events of that book.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 4/5
NOT QUITE A LORD: Sabotage (The LORDS #3.5) by Shantel Tessier (Amazon)
Spicy taboo step-sibling romance featuring Ty’s guys. Do not read in public because it starts of hot and just gets steamier with every page turn. OH HOT DAMN was it spicy. This short story was pretty fast-paced and very action-packed. While this is not as spicy as some of the previous books, if you’re not into degradation / humiliation, multiple partners, this is not for you.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 4/5
LIVING IN PITCH BLACK: Carnage (The LORDS #4) by Shantel Tessier (Amazon)
TL;DR: Dark, gripping, thrilling, sexy! So many storylines and details from earlier in the series came together in this book. We finally get to dive into the world of the Spade brothers. They are exactly as hot as you think they’ll be. They’re ruthless, over the top and downright murderous. Prepare to take mental breaks — you’ll need it.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 4/5
FADING INTO STATIC WHITE: Madness (The LORDS #5) by Shantel Tessier (Amazon)
In Madness, we get a clearer picture of the actual torture the Spade brothers experienced and we actually get all the answers that were left untold from the previous book. I actually found myself exclaiming “NO FREAKING WAY!” and “OH NO!” aloud as I read this book. Friends, I SOBBED. I felt tears cascade down my face at 3am and curled into a ball to get through the end of this book.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 4/5
Immerse yourself in the darkness and secrecy of the LORDS; listen to our L.O.R.D.S playlist (Spotify).
Until the next chapter!
xo, Victoria
P.S. Craving more books featuring these sub-genres, tropes, and themes? Tap the links below.
