*Giveaway Bonus*

If you enjoy the review below and would like to win Sacrifice, here are the terms and details about entering into Dakota Bank's giveaway:

1.) It's international, and the winner will receive a signed copy of Sacrifice + a $25 Amazon gift card!

2.) You must leave a comment (http://fuisti.blogspot.com/2011/09/sacrifice-by-dakota-banks.html), by September 12, on some aspect of the review. Something like 'enter me in the drawing' won't count.

3.) Add your e-mail address at the end of your comment so, if you are selected, Dakota can contact you.

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Once upon a time, Maliha Crayne was just a late 16th century wife and soon-to-be mother. Very humble beginnings for what and who she'd later become - an immortal and powerful slave and executioner, her master a ruthless demon.

Centuries later, Maliha Crayne is a popular writer, an archaeological and geographical expert, billionaire times three with powerful connections, and, most importantly, an executioner only on her own terms. Now Maliha's main goal is to fully break apart from the demon and defeat the most powerful of the bunch, possibly saving mankind, by accounting for the deaths of those she killed and gathering powerful shards.

But, on the way to completing this journey, other battles fight for Maliha's attention, battles that take her all over, both physically and emotionally. On the one hand, there's Jake, her boyfriend of a couple months with a past too foggy for Maliha to decide what to trust. On the other, there's Lucius, a current demon slave and executioner wavering between which side he's on. The biggest emotional battle for Maliha, though, is the one within. To win, she has to revert to the tactics she used as a demon slave, but without falling prey to that lifestyle again. Easier said than done.

There are so many battles to be fought. Can she conquer them all and remain herself in the end?

Sacrifice has various layers and sub-plots. This can be a double-edged sword. While it makes the plot and characterization more complex and thorough, giving each sentence great value, it can also trip readers up. The layers always connect; sometimes, though, you have to really concentrate to make sure you don't get too wrapped up in a sub-plot and lose sight of the main plot. The details about weaponry, geography, technology, battle tactics, etc. really made me respect the author and her level of research. In spite of how much is explained, it never feels like info-dumping.

Last, but not least, romance and characterization. There are a lot of interesting characters in the story, different ages and genders and power types, and it's all very well done. As in, realistic. I never got the impression that these people weren't real. As far as romance goes, Maliha is a sexy woman of power, so lust and love can be expected. I like how the romance never entirely feels solid. Someone who has been alive for centuries is expected to have had many flings and issues with commitment regardless of how strong the emotions are. Maliha definitely does.

In all, I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in action, geography, romance, sub-plots, demons, depth of characterization, and skilled writing. ( )

I loved the second book in the Mortal Path series. Maliha is a fantastic character that I cant wait to read more of. ( )