Sacrifice is the third novel in the Young Adult Gryphon series by Stacey Rourke. It is best to have read the previous two books in the series, The Conduit and Embrace, to start with an understanding of events in Sacrifice. The adventures of Celeste, Keni, and Gabe (siblings) continue as they embrace their supernatural abilities and navigate life.
Celeste
has embraced her duties as the Conduit (think the enforcer of the semi-good
supernaturals) and is training to enhance her abilities. She is training with, of all people, a
berry eating gnome who has some control issues. Since Alaina, her previous spirit guide, has renounced her
supernatural abilities and has fallen in love with Celeste’s brother, she is
stuck with the bossy, obnoxious Bernard.
Celeste has found love with Caleb, a demon with an Irish accent. Technically, demons are the enemy, but
Celeste and Caleb have found happiness.
Well, at least for a while.
Until a glitch in the demonic rules means that Caleb has to go away for
his own safety.
Enter
Rowan, the pirate demon who is determined to push Celeste’s buttons. Everyone loves a rascally bad boy—and
Rowan is it. Will Celeste get over
Caleb and find love with Rowan?
Sacrifice is divided between the drama
in Celeste’s love life, the wedding of Gabe and Alaina, and the battles with
the dark side. The best part of
Rourke’s writing, by far, is the way she writes unique, appealing, and witty
characters. Each one of the main
people in her novels is distinct and well drawn. I found myself laughing out loud at some of the things they
said. Rourke does a great job of
capturing age appropriate conversations for the characters (some are
teenagers), and each interaction, particularly with Rowan and Celeste, is well
done.
The
supernatural battles were less compelling for me and I found my attention
starting to wane. The final drama
at the end of the novel felt a little rushed and anti-climactic. I did like the whole wedding tie-in
though, and Rourke does a great job describing the setting of the Biltmore
Estate (the location of the wedding).
This
novel is not the end of the Gyphon books, and it ends with a clear expectation
of another book. So, start at the
beginning of the series and catch up before the next one comes out!
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Regina
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The old grey donkey, Eeyore stood by himself in a thistly corner of the Forest, his front feet well apart, his head on one side, and thought about things. Sometimes he thought sadly to himself, "Why?" and sometimes he thought, "Wherefore?" and sometimes he thought, "Inasmuch as which?" and sometimes he didn't quite know what he was thinking about.
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