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The Lords are a group of men who form a secret cult designed to help them gain power in their careers and personal lives. It is a world for the wealthy, and anyone who betrays their oath does not live long enough to tell the tale. Every member has to pass brutal loyalty tests that include abstaining from any sexual activity and completing dangerous missions to prove their dedication.
During their senior year, each Lord gets to choose a “Chosen,” a woman who becomes their sexual partner until they are finished with her and ready to marry a “Lady.” The series follows five Lords (and one who technically is not a Lord but works for one). Each book focuses on a different man’s story, and in almost every case, the relationship starts with either a forced pairing or a long-standing obsession.
My Thoughts
You cannot search “dark romance” without this series appearing in your results. Every book is over 600 pages long, so clear your weekend if you decide to dive in. I will admit I was nervous to review it because everyone who touches these books seems to love them. Me? I enjoyed some parts more than others.
Let’s start with the one I really did not enjoy. Book two was rough for me. Ellington was the worst female character in the bunch. She was constantly on drugs, and while I understand she was dealing with trauma, it made her chapters frustrating to read. Sin, her love interest, did not help much either. He was supposed to love her but enabled her bad choices instead of helping her.
Now for the good part. Haidyn completely stole my heart. His book was my favorite by far, and even though it was over 800 pages, it felt like twelve. Every page kept me hooked. The emotions, the tension, the growth it all hit perfectly. That book alone gave me what I was hoping for from the entire series. Saint, who used to be one of my favorites, dropped a few places after this one, but I still adore him overall.
My Rankings
Characters: 5/5
Even though I had my complaints about some of them, each character felt unique and developed. The women all had distinct personalities, and the men, while equally obsessed, still stood apart in their own way.
Plot: 4/5
The storyline got a little confusing at times, especially when it came to remembering past characters or side plots from previous books. Still, each story managed to feel fresh while staying connected to the world of the Lords.
Writing: 5/5
Shantel Tessier’s writing is strong and detailed. She knows how to pull readers into dark and emotional worlds. I also love when an author makes me question my loyalty to a character as the series goes on.
Spice: 5/5
Absolutely amazing. The scenes were written so vividly that it felt like I could picture everything perfectly. It was bold, detailed, and well-paced without feeling repetitive.
Buy It or Shelve It?
I would definitely buy Haidyn’s book alone, but since it is part of a larger set, I would have to go with Shelve It for now. The series is well written and detailed, but keeping up with the side characters can get overwhelming. A few of the female leads also threw me off with how they handled certain situations.
Still, if you love long, dark, and powerful romance stories filled with secret societies, loyalty tests, and obsession, this series is absolutely worth the read.
📚 Read The Lords Series by Shantel Tessier here!