Sixteen year old Kass Stathos has it all… She's pretty they say. She's popular they say. She has doting parents. Her boyfriend is the star quarterback. Her high school experience should be picture perfect… There’s just one thing missing…Her ability to feel fear. For as long as Kass can remember she’s never felt the sensation of fear—At least that was true until the little girl showed up. No one else sees her. She wants to show Kass things, disturbing things, and she won’t stop until she does. Kass’ perfect life starts to crumble around her. Until someone long forgotten crashes back into her life. Ian was sent away after his mother’s tragic suicide. He’s the only one who believes Kass’ wild stories and he’s always there when she needs him. But could there be more to Ian’s return than what he’s sharing? When the haunting turns violent Kass knows she’s running out of time. In the search for figure out who the girl is, and how she’s connected to her, Kass uncovers secrets she could have never been prepared for. Secrets hidden behind the mirage of a perfect life. Secrets that could shatter everything she has ever known…
Nykki was born and raised (mostly) in a cow town in Tulare county, CA. She moved with her mother to UT at 16. This is where she met her future husband and father to their three adorable children. They now live in the beautiful state of MT, exploring the wilderness one weekend at a time. Growing up her nose was always in a book, having read nearly every VC. Andrews book by the age of twelve. It wasn’t until 2011 that she discovered her passion for writing. Her debut novel SACRIFICED is available now on Amazon! It is a YA paranormal with horror elements. She also writes fantasy, sometimes with a little sci-fi elements spun through.
I don't normally read in this genre, or YA fiction in particular, but I really loved this book. It's funny, creepy, and keeps you guessing. Kass is a great character and every other character in the book is so interesting that even they could have a book all about them. The story is emotional and serious, but still manages to have a lot of humor. This was one of the only books I have ever read that I laughed, cried, and got scared. Don't pass this one up!
Recently, the ya, young adult, genre has been taking over book clubs all over the world. What draws people to the most awkward period of life, I’ll never know. But for some reason, I cant look away either.
In Sacrificed by Nykki Mills, Kass is a sixteen year old girl who by literature standards, is pretty normal. She has two loving adoptive parents, lots of superficial friends, and a horny boyfriend. However, she doesn’t really feel fear. That is until some very creepy things start happening.
The spirit of a dirty little girl begins appearing and of course, only Kass can see her. Most of her “friends” think she has gone crazy and her boyfriend keeps sneaking off places. The only one who believes her is the misunderstood boy next door, Ian. He happens to be in a band drive a motorcycle and has luscious lips. At sixteen, I would have sought out his help too!
They begin searching for reasons to explain the strange voices, sounds, and visions that Kass is soon plagued by. Turns out, they all go back to her biological mother. Soon, Kass is kidnapped, Ian is in chains, and there is a ritual being performed that involves a demon. I won’t go into further details so I don’t write any spoilers but it is very intense and ends in fire.
There were a lot of things that I liked about this book, number one being I couldn’t put it down. The pacing was fantastic, maybe a little quick but I thought it worked for the book. Normally, I don’t read a lot of paranormal because the characters tend to visit me in my sleep which causes a whole list of problems that typically involve a Disney marathon at three in the morning. But I really didn’t feel like this was over the top. Yes, the spirit of the little girl was crazy! I expected her to star in my dreams but the way Mills closed the story, there was enough resolution that I was no longer terrified of the monsters that go bump in the night because of the way the characters handled them.
Another thing that I liked was that the teenagers did not expect to conquer the world. A lot of ya books have teens doing crazy things but everything they had to do was believable. Kass was not expected to walk a tight rope over New York City while shooting at an advancing army. She was a relatable character. Plus, Mills even has a line where the teenagers realize they are in over their heads.
Now, this book was with teenagers so there was no real sex going on. There was a scene where it came very close, but luckily a demon handled things. Which of course is good because he didn’t have a condom… I thought the relationships that Mills set up were age appropriate but still effective in creating compelling drama. There were one or two moments of predictability in the relationships but overall they were great.
The general plot of this book was intriguing and it left me guessing constantly. This was a quick and easy read but I don’t think it is just for teenagers. Mom and daughter could share this book easily. Word to the wise, this book was a little mild on the paranormal activity until almost the very end. I preferred that as paranormal is still new to me but other people may not.
free book for honest review. juliesbookreview.blogspot.com
Kass is a 16 and living life like any other teenager. She is a cheerleader and dating Chance, the star quarter back. Can't get any better than that ! Kass will be turning 17 soon and looking forward to a big party. Kass has 2 supportive, adopted parents. They love her more than life itself. They want nothing but for her to be happy and keeping her protected . . . . . . from what ?? from who ??
During a game she spots a scary blue eyed man, not just any man but a scary, creepy type. Kass tries to forget it until nightmares start to haunt her. Not only nightmares but she starts seeing a little girl. This little girl wants to tell her something which Kass has to figure out. Of course no one would believe Kass, except for one one person, Ian her childhood friend and neighbor. Ian has been away for a few years, due to his mother's suicide, but now he is back and wants to help Kass.
There seems to be many secrets that Ian and Kass need to uncover and with the help of Ian's cousin, Gina they will uncover more than they will ever understand ! Time is running out for Kass. . . .
What an awesome read ! ! I could not put this one down till the end ! I felt I was drawn into Kass's nightmares with her, like Kass I wanted answers. Ian by far was my favorite character. I felt he was easy to understand and who could not love him! He had been thru so much. Nykki nailed it on this one and I can not wait to read Cursed! If you like a good mystery with a side of haunting this is the one for you ! Please take caution and do not start before bed . . . . . . not that it will give you nightmares (or maybe it will) BUT you will not be able to turn that light out till its finished !
How many of us have memories before we're five? Not many, I'd bet. And even the vague flashes are probably more from hearing stories of our childhood than actual memories. What if what you don't remember haunts you and threatens to steal not only your sanity but your life?
This book is classified as young adult, but I really wouldn't recommend it for anyone under 16 unless they're very mature and have nerves of steel. There is no graphic sex and the language is a fit for teens, but certain subjects are disturbing and scary. This isn't your average paranormal book.
For those who can handle more sensitive subject matter and don't spook easily, this is a must read!
The good:
Sacrificed is unlike anything I have ever read. There are elements that aren't completely new, but tangled in such a way that the story is fresh and completely disturbing. More than once, I was thrown back into my childhood when I was afraid of the dark and thought there were monsters under my bed.
The storytelling is so vivid and imaginative that I was completely on edge as I read. I jumped at every noise and my cat nearly gave me a heart attack. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough on my e-reader!
The characters are well-developed and three dimensional. This is only told from Kass's POV, but I felt like I knew the other characters just as well.
The bad:
There were a few typos, left out words, and general errors. A set of fresh eyes wouldn't hurt the editing process. For the record, these things didn't matter to me at all while reading because the writing is phenomenal.
One of my favorite characters was Kass's dog, Jes. Jes plays a huge part in the beginning of the book, but once you get past the halfway point, he just disappears.
Let me start off by giving you guys a very fair warning- DO NOT READ THIS ALONE AFTER DARK! i made this mistake and I should add that I live right next to a marsh that already creeps me out. Cut to me making my poor Grandmother check my windows because I thought I heard something…. Yes that really happened….
Kass has always felt like there was something wrong or missing. Sure she was a cheerleader and dating the star quarterback of the football team. Sure her parents spoil her. Sure she was one of the popular girls and a lot of girls would kill to be in her shoes.. but something is missing she can’t feel fear. On a night out with her friends at a haunted house attraction she is approached by a stranger and that’s when it all hits the fan! She starts to hear things and see things no normal high school cheerleader should. That’s when the little girl appears (and I freak the f out…)
I enjoyed the plot line of this story. It got my attention right from the beginning and held my attention throughout. I wish that the uncovering of the mystery began earlier in the book and was more of the focus of the book. For me the romance aspect of the story didn't need to be an important part of the story. I liked her flashbacks and memory recovery scenes. It gave just enough for you to speculate without giving anything away. I'm hoping that Mills releases a sequel, because I am very interested in seeing where this story goes. Over all if you enjoy YA paranormal and Occult books this is a great one! Once I started I couldn't put it down until I found out what happened.
Cover Brilliant! Would pick it up in a shop in a heart beat!
Genre YA with a fresh twist!
Plot The strange little girl was totally freaky and a wee bit scary!
Editing and format Well done, nothing to distract from the book
Characters Loved Ian. Truly a worthy swoon worthy protagonist.
So since I loved most aspects of the book who only a 3 star? Cause I KNOW I WILL LOVE book 2 even more and I cannot show a growing appreciation for the authors growth if I give it a 4 or 5 now!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters felt real and even reminded me of some people I knew in high school. The storyline kept me hooked with the scary bits causing my heart to bit faster and the romance causing me to "Aaww." The only downside for me was that the book needs proofreading as there were many spelling errors, incorrect and missing words. But it didn't necessarily detract from my enjoyment of the book.
I loved Sacrifice, and recommend you read it. I was on the edge after a few pages. I felt each of the characters come to life.. as I was drawn into Kass's nightmare. The strange, yet painfully familiar, little girl who beckons her to place filled with evil.... will keep you riveted to the last page.
I couldn't put it down and finished it in two days. Kass is the all american girl, until she finds out she's not and her life gets turned upside down. I love the layers of the story and how unexpected twists kept me on my toes. I really enjoyed reading this and was left reeling once it was over.
I was instantly captivated and awake all night just to finish it! I did not want to put it down! The story and characters were well written and easily related too! Kass is very likable character. Over all this was an amazing YA story! I hope those who read it like it as much as I did!
MUST READ!! The author makes you crawl into the book. Great story line, couldn't put it down! Can't wait for her next one. Would have been just as good without the profanity.
This story has a decent fear quotient. There is the expected teenage angst, boyfriend issues, and general relationship dramas that are the centre of every teen's world. We've all been there. We all know how all encompassing it is at that age.
But then, there is the twist. And what a twist. The paranormal horror element grows steadily throughout the tale until its ultimate climax. It fits seamlessly into the narrative and adds a spooky depth to the tale.
The characters felt realistic to me, and their actions, on the whole, age appropriate, as were their interactions with each other.
This is a fast paced story which drew me in from the outset. An enjoyable change of pace for me.
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.
I received a gift copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Imagine living your whole life not knowing what it meant to fear anything. Not because you didn’t try to but because you were simply unable to ever feel that particular emotion. This is how Kass has lived her entire life. Never fearing anything when out of the blue something changes and that is the ONLY emotion she seems to be able to feel. Strange things start to happen to Kass and she starts to fear that she is losing her ever loving mind. Kass tried to explain things to her friend Jen but Jen just doesn’t believe her. The only person who seems to even take her fears seriously is the boy who grew up next door and had just recently returned to town. Ian vows to help Kass figure out everything that is going on and to keep her safe. Through their journey of trying to find answers they find a heck of a lot more than they bargained for. This tale is full of intrigue and some pretty horrific things but it makes for a great page turner. I hope to read more in the near future.
This book...what else is there to say other than it is amazing! I read Cursed by Nykki Mills first and fell in love with it, so in a way this was like a prequel of that. I really enjoyed learning about Ian and Kass' relationship. There was so much ghostly happenings that I was quite scared reading late at night, but in a good way. Mills has a way of creating so much fear and tension with her words that you just have to keep reading. I'm not going to spoil the plot at all here, but if you haven't figured it out I would highly recommend this book! Just like I would recommend Cursed. Mills is definitely a new author to watch out for. I have a feeling there will be more greats to come from this one!
I started this amazing book at night and have to admit that I had to put it down not because it was bad or anything - cause it was intense really scared me (yes, I believe in ghosts and yes I'm a chicken). I did pick it right up the next morning and couldn't put it down. I really enjoyed the intensity and the characters in this book. I truly recommend this book!
**SPOILER FREE ZONE** This book was pure gold. I devoured in just a few hours & could not put it down. It was rich, raw & gritty with an undertone of danger and terror. All that said - it is perfect. It also deserves more than this "at-a-glance" book review. Stay tuned! The actual review is still to come.