The Sacrifice

When the most powerful ruling family in the world attempts to conquer a tiny, seemingly helpless island kingdom, they meet forces they never knew existed, and face an epic battle that changes everything. With a richly imagined world full of diverse and compelling characters, Kristine Kathryn Rusch’s brilliant storytelling illuminates the timeless power struggle between politics, religion, and family that continues to resonate in the all-too-real world of today.

From its beautifully crafted opening to its powerfully surprising conclusion, this spellbinding masterpiece takes fantasy to soaring new heights and solidifies Rusch’s place as the greatest storyteller of our time.

“A very good, very large fantasy...nicely done and with a particularly satisfying and unexpected resolution.”

—Science Fiction Chronicle

“Rusch’s greatest strength…is her ability to close down a story and leave the reader feeling that the author could not possibly have wrung any more satisfaction out of the piece.”

—The Kansas City Star

“Kristine Kathryn Rusch integrates the fantastic elements so rigorously into her story that it is often hard to remember she is not merely recording the here and now.”

—Science Fiction Weekly

“Whether [Rusch] writes high fantasy, horror, sf, or contemporary fantasy, I’ve always been fascinated by her ability to tell a story with that enviable gift of invisible prose.  She’s one of those very few writers whose style takes me right into the story—the words and pages disappear as the characters and their story swallows me whole…. Rusch has style.”

—Charles de Lint