Dark Rituals

by K.J. Devoir

Each day together brings them closer to death...
A dark, psychological NA romantic suspense novel of high stakes and dangerous love.
Told in dual MMC/MFC first-person POV.

One year ago, Brynlee Jones was brutally attacked and threatened on the UCLA campus after witnessing a crime. After fleeing Los Angeles to start a new life in Vegas, she’s determined to finish her degree while working the night shift at a club. Just when she thinks she’s finally escaped the unsolved crimes of her past trauma, it all comes back to haunt her in ways she could never have predicted; and far worse than imagined.

When rich-kid law student Case Channing is given his fraternity’s initiation task of finding a missing person, it leads him to Brynlee , this strange but beautiful girl, unlike anyone he’s known. But meeting her becomes the most dangerous thing he’s ever done, setting a deadly chain of events into motion that forces him to reckon with his family’s mafia connections and the dark memories of his past. Case doesn’t know what he’s up against until it's too late.

Together, Case and Brynlee must find a way out…

contains explicit, graphic, mature content.

Genres: Dark, Romantic Suspense, Dark Romance

268 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 26, 2023

About the author

🥀𝑲.𝑱. 𝑫𝒆𝒗𝒐𝒊𝒓 𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒔 𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒌, 𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒎𝒚 𝒓𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒖𝒃-𝒈𝒆𝒏𝒓𝒆𝒔. 𝑺𝒖𝒃𝒔𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒃𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒆𝒓 @ KJDevoir.Com
𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒍𝒚 𝒂𝒄𝒄𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝑾𝑰𝑷𝒔, 𝑮𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒂𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔, 𝑬𝒙𝒄𝒍𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝑺𝒘𝒂𝒈!

Reviews

[Becca · Rating 3 out of 5]

came in a book box subscription that my husband got me, it wasn't my favorite. the writing was good but I feel like the ending was rushed.

[kymagirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Brynlee (h) witnesses something she was never meant to see in a UCLA campus basement, her life shatters overnight. She runs, changes her identity, and starts over in Las Vegas, hoping distance will keep the shadows away. But danger always finds its way back. ‍

Case (H) has never followed the rules, but when his powerful father pressures him to join an elite fraternity, he agrees to one task: find the missing girl. What begins as an assignment turns personal fast. Bryn isn't just a target, she’s the one person who makes him question everything.

As they uncover a violent underground network, Bryn and Case are forced to choose between loyalty and survival. Their fight isn't just about exposing the truth. It's about taking back control and refusing to stay silent.

Brynlee grows from a cautious survivor into someone who takes back her voice. Case breaks from his toxic legacy and becomes a protector instead of a pawn. Together, they turn trauma into strength and deception into trust.

A dark, gritty, mafia, stalker, romantic thriller, exploring love, trauma, survival, secrecy, power, corruption, identity, trust, betrayal, justice, control, revenge, legacy, recovery, and sacrifice.

[J. Ockenhouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Case and Brynlee were characters that pulled me into their lives and the dramas that follow. I loved this story and read it in one sitting. Between them is a definite chemistry. The goth girl and the rich boy break the stereotypes and show that money is the root of evil.

Their is no dull moments, just a full throttle rollercoaster that broke off the stop handle and makes sure to give you the full cray experience. Highly recommend. I received an ARC for an honest and voluntarily review.

[Rach3l · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had a lot going on and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The beginning of the book hooked you and and made you wonder where it would go next. I liked how the author had dual points of view. It worked well with how the story unfolded. I would definitely recommend.

Side note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review

[Sheryl Meyers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent story! I loved the dynamics between Case and Bryn, plenty of mystery, suspense and spice! This is a good author to follow!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Johanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 1 of the Nightmare Lovers series. What a great read!

'A fast-paced stalker mafia dark romance of high stakes and dangerous love, with a gothic twist.'

The characters drove the storyline and they were very compelling and complex and complicated and perfectly steamy together. Plot was intense and intriguing and well paced. World building was excellent and solidly drawn. Look forward to more. Thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend.

Grab a copy, kick back and enjoy!.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark Rituals is the prequel to the Nightmare Lovers series but can be read as a standalone. The author calls it a dark, psychological, romantic suspense. I think that description is fitting so be prepared for a twisted and suspenseful love story. I love these genres and I think the book was very well done. The premise was that for an initiation task, a man found a mystery woman who ended up being a woman who got attacked and almost died because of something she saw. I don’t want to say more than that but I thought the plot was original and the storyline was interesting.

Both characters were multidimensional. Both were trying to get by living with the trauma of their past. Both were haunted by their past. Brynlee was a woman trying to piece together a life she didn’t have to live in fear. The strength of character it took to achieve that was apparent throughout the book. One of her survival mechanisms was to create an alter-ego she used as a shield to make her feel safe. She was a goth in her past who loved the way she lived but then had to change to blend in. I think something that helped was she still had the mindset of a goth. Case also created an alter-ego due to a past trauma that lent him the strength to slay his demons. Drama classes helped him develop the role. Case was torn between what he wanted to do and who he wanted to be and what his father wanted him to do and what his father wanted him to be. He was torn between what he wanted of Brynlee and what he needed from her. Both of their lives were a constant struggle.

I couldn’t put this book down. I was drawn into the mystery of what was really behind Case’s initiation, and why the fraternity really wanted to find Brynlee. The chain of events became more and more suspenseful. I did feel that there may have been some missed opportunities for more action, but maybe that wasn’t what the author was going for and it didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment of the book. It’s just my personal preference. And we finally get a happy ending that we hoped for but never felt coming.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Morgana Lefaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was first published in 2023, then slightly revised and repackaged in a single volume with another book in 2024, and now published on its own in 2025. This one is identical to the previous version, which was only slightly different from the original version. The book is well written, the characters are all engaging, the sex is very hot, but I wish it had been longer and had more detail, especially in the climactic section.

Here is my original review for the book:
I enjoyed this book, but the ending felt rushed. Actually, it felt like it kind of skipped over a bunch of stuff, jumping from the moment when Case was finally honest with Brynlee, to the resolution, without the necessary intervening steps. The characters were engaging; I liked Brynlee from the start, and felt sympathy for Case, although I was also impatient with him, wanting him to man up and grow a pair, stop doing everything his father told him to, and tell Brynlee the truth. The vampire teeth were hilarious. The story was interesting. Devoir writes well, although I did miss the poetry of her earlier books. But neither of the characters were poets, so there wasn’t really room for poetry. The editing/proofreading was much better than in her earlier books, with only a few errors.

As far as the revision goes, here’s what I said last year:
There’s very little difference between this version and the previously published one, but I did notice a small but significant change. Two sentences are added to the end of chapter 73 and one to the beginning of chapter 74 ( the last two chapters before the epilogue). It’s not much, but it fills in a rather jarring break in the story that I had noticed reading it the first time.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lyssa Vette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to start this off by saying that I received this ARC (advanced reader copy) from the author. In return I would share my honest review, in doing so I am doing this voluntarily.
Dark Rituals by K.J. Devoir and K. Kearns was a very fast-paced standalone. The book is like a rollercoaster that keeps me tied down to my seat from the beginning of the book till the end. I love a good mystery and suspense as the next girl. I can say I thoroughly enjoyed this book so much I might re-read it.
This is also told from a dual POV. So, if that is not your thing, you would not like this, however, I still would recommend it to you before it flows so well in this book. Did I mention it HEA too?
It is about Case and Bryn. The development between the two characters and their past. Not to mention the mystery, suspense, and spice. It will make you think so much.
Starting, Bryn almost witnessed her life flash before her own eyes, why you might ask, well; that’s because she saw things that she should not have and almost led to her death. Case finds her and questions, but it switches up to him trying and having to save/protect Bryn at all costs.
Thank you K.J. and K Kearns for the opportunity to read this book. You truly gained a lover of your work, and I cannot wait to read more. I also apologize for the late review, the holidays coming up it has been super busy.

[Heather Dudley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark Rituals is book 1 of Nightmare Lovers, following the journey of Brynlee and Case. Dark Rituals is a dark, psychological, romantic, suspenseful novel. This book will grab you from the beginning and doesn't let go. It is a fast paced spicy romantic thriller and I finished the novel in one sitting because I found it difficult to put the book down before finishing it. The main characters Brynlee and Case were quite intriguing and well-written. I got pulled into the dram that unfolded around them. The chemistry between them is definitely sizzling. On top of all the plot was full of twists and turns that keeps you wanting to invest your time in reading the story. I definitely would recommend reading this book. Author K.j. Devoir did an outstanding job with writing this novel and developing the characters so well. Case is given a task for his initiation that he believes will be pretty easy. Find a missing person named Brynlee Jones. When he does eventually find her, he becomes captivated by her. The more time he spends with her, he doesn't understand why the brotherhood wants her. He finds out it is to harm her and is determined to try and keep her safe, but he has to get her to trust him. I'm most certainly going to check out more books by this author.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[A. King · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes books like these are overdone. Other times, there's a perfect story tucked in the pages and once you get to reading it, you literally cannot put the book down.

This was one of those books for me.

Looking back at the start of the book, it's easy to assume that this is going to be your standard "Boy chases down girl in order to bring her back just so he can keep his future going" type of thing but the fact of the matter is that Case, our budding lawyer to be, ends up catching feelings for our leading lady, Bryn. After learning just what it was that had her running from the city, he realizes that there's far more to why he was sent after her than he was led to believe. "Missing girl" to find. FAR more to this missing girl.

Stalker mode engaged, once she figures out the truth about him: That he was technically the one sent to find her and bring her back into a potentially dangerous situation. Not that he fully knew what he was doing when he met her. Now though, he's invested and wants her safe. He wants her, period. But how is he going to prove that he's the good guy here when he's lied since the very beginning about who he is and what he wanted?

Jump in, you're not going to regret it!

[Eclectic Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

With a fascinating mix of gothic, mafia, and suspense elements, this prequel to the Nightmare Lovers series is sure to whet the appetite of all those who crave an exciting read.

Told in Case and Bryn's points of view, the storyline delves into the intriguing world of a sinister fraternity and the questionable initiation task that one member undertakes to find a missing girl. Little does he know that this task will not only put the girl's life in peril but also lead him down a treacherous path of unforeseen consequences that hit close to home.

The story unfolds at a perfect pace, which kept me engaged from the very first page. The characters have their own quirks and personalities that make them feel genuine. The vampire teeth were freakin' hilarious. I'm still laughing.... The plot was original and intriguing, and the ending was happy though I felt it ended a little abruptly.

If you're in the mood for a fresh and entertaining read, give this book a try.

Thank you to Ms. Devoir for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.

[stephanie cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark Rituals by K.J. Devoir

This is a fast-paced action-filled prequel standalone to the Nightmare Lovers Series told in a dual first-person POV. When Brynlee witnesses something she shouldn't it almost leads to her death. Case, who is pledging to his father's fraternity has been tasked with finding Brynlee.

This is a book that is going to grab your attention from the first chapter and keep it till the last. The characters are engaging, Case and Brynless are my favorites. You are instantly thrown into their world, lives & all their drama and we are here for it all. I enjoyed the dual point of view, it helps unfold all the events going on and you can experience it from different angles. Brings the storyline full circle. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys their full share of mystery, suspense, and spice. This author and the entire Nightmare Lovers series are on to be on the look for.

[Linda Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Steamy thrilling twisty romance
Little did Case Channing, UCLA Law student understand what he was beginning when he reluctantly did what his father told him to do. His acquiescence starts a domino effect that may get people killed and or imprisoned. For his initiation into the pre-law fraternity on campus which is part of the old boy network aka The Brotherhood, he must find a missing girl, Brynlee Jones who disappeared a year ago from the UCLA campus after witnessing a crime. They have no idea the far-reaching ramifications that event will stir.
Oh. My. Word. At times I couldn’t be sure on which side Case stood. Was he a good guy or a bad guy? He doesn’t even know sometimes. This was a page-turner that I could not put down. Well-written, edited and fast-paced. Although it is part of a series, it is a standalone story with a very satisfying ending. I am truly looking forward to the next book. I volunteered to review an ARC of this book through BookSirens.

[A. Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book I read in about 4-5 hours. It takes place in LA and Las Vegas. It's told from Brynlee and Case's POV. This book has a lot of romantic suspense going on. Brynlee and Case both have to figure out who they are amidst a big mystery/conspiracy they are trying to figure out, that connects them. It was clear from the beginning there was a much bigger story going on than met the eye. In order to solve this mystery, Brynlee will have to stop hiding and Case will have to turn away from what is expected of him. Both Brynlee and Case are college students. Brynlee is a goth girl dancer. Case is a rich kid law student. The beginning of this relationship is built on a bunch of lies. How will Brynlee feel when she finally finds out the truth?.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Morgana Lefaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, but the ending felt rushed. Actually, it felt like it kind of skipped over a bunch of stuff, jumping from the moment when Case was finally honest with Brynlee, to the resolution, without the necessary intervening steps. The characters were engaging; I liked Brynlee from the start, and felt sympathy for Case, although I was also impatient with him, wanting him to man up and grow a pair, stop doing everything his father told him to, and tell Brynlee the truth. The vampire teeth were hilarious. The story was interesting. Devoir writes well, although I did miss the poetry of her earlier books. But neither of the characters were poets, so there wasn’t really room for poetry. The editing/proofreading was much better than in her earlier books, with only a few errors.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Katie Romeo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a great book, with dark themes, suspense and an amazing story. The main characters had a lot of chemistry and the dialogue was interesting, making you want to keep reading. While some of the themes have been done before the way it was portrayed in this story made it seem very fresh and different. Loved everything about it, until the very end, hence the 3 versus 4 star rating. The ending seemed very rushed and the conclusion just kind of happened without any story to go along with it. With the way the story had been going, I would have expected a bit more for the wrap up. Overall, was a very interesting story and worth the read.

Received via complimentary copy from Voracious Readers.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the idea of the story. It all was pretty fast paced. Case and Bryn were interesting characters. Case told lie after lie from the beginning and Bryn brushed everything off until things blew up but she knew he was hiding things and strange things were happening, he had the nerve to be upset she didn't trust him to help at one point. Intimate scenes were lightly spicy, pretty quick and over as quick as it starts. Ending felt a bit rushed, would have liked a bit more. The story wasn't all completely cohesive at times but I understood the plot. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

[Sammyll · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intense, fast paced book that I really enjoyed. Opposites, Bryn & Case meet when he is initiated into his brotherhood frat, in order to be accepted he has to find the missing campus girl, who is Bryn. He protects her upon learning why they want to find her. Secrets are revealed, mysteries solved and drama entails. They are drawn to one another and soon become a couple and fall in love.

At times I felt something was missing within the book, as events were predictable, too instant, but all in all a good book. I loved the snippet of the next book in the series and look forward to reading it.I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written and provided you are not triggered it is enjoyable and a quick read. In the beginning Case is an entitled spoiled little boy who sort of has one redeeming feature in that he is not quite sold on following in his fathers footsteps. Bryn being the token goth has become stronger in her self worth than a lot of girls ad obviously her mom was there and strong for her. The fraternity thing has been an ongoing issue on many campuses and personally I believe they should all be shut down. There are other ways to network and build bonds. Ready to start #2 we’ll see.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

[Amber_Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Ritual is the first book/novella that I have read by this author, and I’m sure it won’t be the last! It is marketed as a dark thriller romance and I think it does that well. I do like how the main characters have been portrayed and their interactions together and think it’s original. The plot is great, and a lot more involved than I expected and I LOVED that!

Overall, I really enjoyed this and would definitely recommend it!

******

I received a free copy from the author via BookSirens in return for an honest review.

[LeQuetia Hollis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a true page turner for me. From beginning to end, I was on the edge of my seat trying to anticipate what would happen next. Of course, it was a pleasure to have something different in that the female lead is the dom, which rarely happens in books of this trope. Case and Bryn were a good match for one another and their traumas allowed them to bond in a way that made them stronger. I would definitely read something else highlighting these two a few years down the line, if written. Great job!.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Brittany Lyda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm just stating the book but I have a tendency to forget what happens in the book as I'm reading so going to rate as I go since I got this as an arc and want to put as much as I can in.

So far I feel things are moving quite fast and a little more background is needed to form a bond with the characters.

I noticed some words in the beginning that people may find offensive and with today's society I feel like it'd be safer for her to find different words (gay, retarded)

Will add more as I continue :)

[Lauren Millsaps · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. It had a solid start; girl goes missing boy needs to find her. I liked the whodunit aspect of this book to, it kept me engaged and wanting to read more! It was quick and engaging. There was some mistakes and grammar errors that could easily be fixed with some editing. I felt like the ending could have been elaborated (what happens to KIL, do they find out who exposed them? What about the burlesque club and the life there?) but, there were no lose ends and we find out what happens to the main characters.

[chesirern · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark Rituals by KJ Devoir is a dark, psychological, romantic, suspense novel. This book grabs you from the start and does not let go. It is a fast paced spicy romantic thriller and I devoured it in one sitting.
The main characters Brynlee and Case were interesting and well written. I was pulled right into the drama that unfolded around them. The chemistry between them was definitely sizzling. On top of all the plot was full of twists and turns that kept your interest.
I definitely recommend reading this book. The author did a great job!

[Alicia Campos · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Case and Bryn's story. The blurb didn't do it justice. In fact, ignore the blurb and just read it! It's really a dark suspenseful romance. I loved that the characters were dark and unique and both battling their own demons. I thought the ending tied everything up nicely, which I love! It was exciting, a bit spicy, and had a good plot… not just the angst between the characters to keep it going. Good read!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Serena Holt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Goth girl Brynlee Jones and wealthy Case Channing are an unlikely couple at first glance. Her dominatrix stage personna calls to his dark trauma past. This story is fast paced (almost too much so IMO) and has moments where I wished the author gave me more. There are smexy scenes, but none above a spicy level 2 in my reader experience.
The story line is intriguing yet slightly simplified. I finished the book in one sitting. I enjoyed the tale. This was my first KJ Kearns book.

[Courtney Humphreys · Rating 5 out of 5]

My book is titled Dark Rituals but seems to be the Dave book. Great story with lots of entertaining elements. Love the main characters relationship. Love that they didn’t waste too much time not communicating when things got hairy (in so many books they go round and round each other masking things harder and dragging it out before they get honest), that’s how they won.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Happyscribe · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want a quick read that ramps up the danger and tension literally from the second chapter then this is a rollicking good read. Yes, Bryn (our FMC) sees something she shouldn’t and flees to LV, but it’s the wild alignment of fates that have case (MMC) and Bryn connected.

There’s enough to keep you guessing and stressing about what will happen to their fragile relationship once all truths are revealed that you will likely binge read this.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

The suspense within this book will have you hooked from the beginning - you know something is happening but the author will keep you on your toes constantly. The relationship between Case and Bryn was so lovely, they're both from different worlds and what started as a not so accidental meet, spiralled. Case's need to protect Bryn very early on had me squealing! Very much looking forward to the next!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.