Carnage Paperback – October 30, 2023

The Lords series by Shantel Tessier (The Ritual, The Sinner, The Sacrifice, Sabotage, Carnage, and Madness) is a relentless descent into the shadows of power, privilege, and psychological torment at Barrington University.At the heart of the series is the Lords, a secret society that operates with a chilling code: loyalty is absolute, and betrayal is punishable by death. Initiation rites are brutal, often requiring acts of violence or even murder as a blood oath for entry. These rituals are not only tests of strength and devotion, but also serve as psychological crucibles, stripping away innocence and binding members to a life of secrecy and moral compromise. The darkness of the series is most apparent in its unflinching exploration of abuse and manipulation. Tessier does not shy away from depicting graphic violence, sexual coercion, and the psychological games that define the Lords’ world. Characters are frequently forced into situations where their agency is stripped away, and survival depends on their ability to navigate a web of lies, blackmail, and shifting alliances.Relationships in the Lords series are fraught with toxicity and blurred boundaries. The books explore forbidden desires, possessive love, and the fine line between devotion and obsession. While some characters are portrayed as morally grey, acting out of love or past trauma, others are depicted as irredeemably toxic, pushing the boundaries of what is acceptable even within the dark romance genre. The psychological toll on both characters and readers is significant. The series is replete with trigger warnings for graphic violence, sexual content, and themes of non-consent, bondage, and even rape. Many readers have noted the need to pause due to the overwhelming intensity and degrading scenarios depicted, particularly in the earlier books. Tessier’s writing does not merely titillate; it confronts and unsettles, forcing readers to grapple with the darkness at the core of her characters and their world. Despite, or perhaps because of-its darkness, the Lords series is undeniably compelling. Tessier balances the brutality with moments of humanity, making readers root for characters who are deeply flawed, sometimes even monstrous. The series is filled with plot twists, betrayals, and high-stakes confrontations, ensuring that the tension never lets up. Even as the characters are dragged through hell, there are glimmers of loyalty, sacrifice, and love that provide a measure of hope amidst the depravity.The Lords series is not for the faint of heart. It is a journey through the darkest corridors of privilege, power, and desire, where every victory comes at a steep price, and redemption is always uncertain. Tessier’s ability to weave together violence, psychological complexity, and raw emotion sets this series apart as a standout in the dark romance genre; one that will haunt readers long after the final page.

This story was such a wild one the fact that all of the men at carnage had their own way of loving the FMC was nice to see a softer side of those men. They went through a lot throughout this story. The bond between Ash and Haidyn was such a sweet one. They really cared for each other. But no one loved ash more than Saint. That man would do anything for her!Teddy Hamilton and Michelle sparks are such a good pairing. This story was very dark so read your trigger warnings. Teddy and Michelle did a fantastic job narrating these characters and holding my attention throughout the story. I’m glad this story was better than the others. I was struggling since the last one I truly enjoyed was the ritual! This one was great. On to madness now 😉

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Carnage by Shantel Tessier is raw, gritty, and absolutely addictive. From the very first page, it grips you with its dark intensity and refuses to let go. Tessier has a gift for blending brutality and beauty in a way that makes you both shiver and swoon.The characters are layered, flawed, and unforgettable. Their chemistry is explosive, their choices dangerous, and their story nothing short of enthralling. Every twist had me holding my breath, and every heated moment left me completely hooked.This book isn’t just a dark romance: it’s an experience. Bold, unrelenting, and unforgettable, Carnage is the kind of story that lives rent-free in your head long after you’ve finished.An easy 5 stars

The wait is finally over! Carnage, we've heard about it. We've wondered about it. Who exactly are the Spade brothers? Why are they so feared? Well, welcome to Carnage!Saint our first Spade brother story. Saint's utterly unforgetable. He's intense, brutal, unhindged, powerful, unforgettable, and can be terrifying. Ashtyn? That girl is gonna put you through the ringer. She may be submissive for Saint, but when back into a corner and desperate she will hold absolutely nothing back.The spicy is definitely hitting, you get a whole other level than previous books. The plot will wind you up, spin you around, just when you think the ride is about to stop BAM another layer is added.So buckle up and enjoy your introduction to Carnage and the Spade brothers, make sure to clear your schedule because you will not be putting this book down!

Book 5 of the dark romance and like the previous ones there’s a lot of very explicit spicy scenes but at this point it seems almost redundant like ok we get it you keep writing the same scenes every book. What I did like was learning the background of carnage and the brothers and what happened with saints chosen. The twist at the end was also a nice surprise. For this book I almost wish that our FMC would have ended up with a different brother rather than the one who was clearly obsessed with her from the beginning because while tortured himself this specific brother just genuinely cared about her and her well being over his wants. One book left in the series and tbh I feel like I’m reading it just to finish it but I have a feeling the series and the author while not terrible they’re probably a skip in that it’s trying to hard imo.Dark romance book 5 of seriesRun awaysKidnappingPlot twist