Why am I passionate about this?
Erotic literature has always fascinated me as a great transgressor of social conventions. I read the Marquis de Sade when I was young, followed by Henry Miller and the extraordinary Venus in Furs. These are works of astonishing literary scope that explore human nature as few others do. Then I discovered Bataille, and the fascination became too profound to ignore for a restless writer determined to explore human nature. When I read Lolita, I understood that eroticism wasn't merely a perfect thread for a narrative, but could become the very essence of great literary storytelling. For me, continuing that exploration through dark romance is simply a natural extension of who I am as a writer.
A.'s book list on exploring the darker side of desire
Why A. loves this book
Shantel Tessier’s The Ritual takes dark romance to its extremes.
Secret societies are always a powerful ingredient in any story, and this one inspired me, so I found it particularly interesting. But I also admired how Tessier uses transgression to build a world in which readers accept rules they would reject outside fiction, which I consider a significant literary achievement.
Much of the novel’s appeal lies in its ability to explore uncomfortable fantasies without turning its protagonists into role models. As a fellow author, I found that particularly thought-provoking.
1 author picked The Ritual as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.
AN AMAZON TOP 100 BESTSELLERAn all-new dark standalone romance from the USA Today & Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Shantel Tessier THE CHOSEN ONEI vow. You vow. We vow.Barrington University is home of the Lords, a secret society that requires their blood in payment. They are above all—the most powerful men in the world. They devote their lives to violence in exchange for power. And during their senior year, they are offered a chosen one.People think growing up with money is freeing, but I promise you, it’s not. My entire life has been planned out for me. I never got…
