The Sacrifice

by Rin Chupeco

An island oasis turns deadly when a terrifying legend threatens to kill off visitors one by one in this haunting novel from the highly acclaimed author of The Girl from the Well and the Bone Witch trilogy.

Pristine beaches, lush greenery, and perfect weather, the island of Kisapmata would be the vacation destination…if not for the curse. The Filipino locals speak of it in hushed voices and refuse to step foot on the island. They know the lives it has claimed. They won’t be next.

A Hollywood film crew won’t be dissuaded. Legend claims a Dreamer god sleeps, waiting to grant unimaginable powers in exchange for eight sacrifices. The producers are determined to document the evidence. And they convince Alon, a local teen, to be their guide.

Within minutes of their arrival, a giant sinkhole appears, revealing a giant balete tree with a mummified corpse entwined in its gnarled branches. And the crew start seeing strange visions. Alon knows they are falling victim to the island’s curse. If Alon can’t convince them to leave, there is no telling who will survive. Or how much the Dreamer god will destroy …

Genres: Horror, Young Adult, Fantasy, Audiobook, Thriller, LGBT, Queer

Audible Audio

First published September 27, 2022

About the author

Gone.

Newsletter: http://www.rinchupeco.com/newsletter
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Reviews

[megs_bookrack · Rating 4 out of 5]

**4.5-stars**

When a film crew from the United States arrives on Kisapmata, a deserted island in the Philippines, they are ready to get to work. They need their new show to be a success and with the content they're after, it should be.

For me it was easy to picture this crew and their motivations. I was thinking something around the lines of Discovery shows such as The Curse of Oak Island, or The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch. You know the type of show I mean.



The thing with Kisapmata island is that a God is reputed to live within the island. He goes by different names, some consider him a Death God, some call him the Dreamer, but he is said to have the ability to grant unknowable power in exchange for eight, very specific, sacrifices.

Because of this legend, locals avoid the island as much as they can. It's uninhabited and while they do have knowledge and respect of it, they tend to give the God his space.



The crew does discover one local teen, Alon, said to have a special relationship with the island. They're a bit of a caretaker, spending a lot of time there and even maybe communing with the God.

Considered an expert of all things Kisapmata, the film crew are delighted when Alon agrees to stay with them and be their guide during the show.



As they settle in and begin to set up, a giant sinkhole appears in the middle of their camp. In it, belying logic, is a giant balete tree with a mummified corpse wrapped amongst it creepy-as-heck branches.

It's like the corpse has been feeding the tree for years, but who is it and more importantly, how the heck is this tree growing underground?



Thus begins the horror that is this little island. From there stuff escalates real quick. The crew needs to get their story, but is the payoff going to be worth it?

People start seeing things, visions of people long dead and it seems nowhere is safe. As a storm rages offshore, they lose communication and have no means of escape. Is anyone going to get off this island alive?



Y'all, y'all, y'all! First of all, this is the perfect time of year to pick up this book. This story has almost everything you need for a phenomenal reading experience.

We have detailed and fascinating legends. We have, basically a curse. We have a dynamic film crew with well-fleshed out characters. We have a nonbinary main character. We have inclement weather trapping our cast at a remote location. We have atmosphere for days. We have stunning, toe-curling horror imagery. We have scenes that will make you sleep with the lights on.



The tension builds very quickly and then continues to build. It's claustrophobic, it's a bit panic inducing, it's scary.

I will say that the pace increases so much towards the end, that it almost got a bit too chaotic. I found it more difficult to track what was happening towards the end and challenging to picture in my mind all that was happening. Hence, it's not quite a 5-star for me.

That is 100% personal taste though, for many people, whose minds possibly work more quickly than my own, this will be a 5-star experience.



I have only read one other Rin Chupeco, The Girl from the Well, and I was super-impressed with the eeriness of that story as well. Chupeco definitely has the gift for horror. I would consider this to be a more-modern, YA-South Pacific version of The Ruins.

The Sacrifice is super-chilling and will stick with me for a long time to come. Chupeco truly knows how to set a scene. I had so much fun with this. 10-out-of-10 recommend!



Thank you so much to the publisher, Sourcebooks Fire, for providing me with a copy to read and review. Now I need to go back and devour Chupeco's backlist!!

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second read: June 9, 2024
First read: September 14, 2022

Horror rooted in colonialism always slaps for me. If you're a fan of the adventure horror genre, where a bunch of dumb white people go to some far-off location with zero respect for local folklore and beliefs and get unalived for their troubles, this is the book for you. Rin Chupeco's grasp of evoking a creepy, spine-tingling, absolutely unsettling atmosphere remains unparalleled.

However, one star docked because the island where the novel takes place is located in Leyte where the language spoken is Waray or Binisaya, and for some reason the language used by the Filipino characters is Tagalog - couldn't let that one go.

[Luvtoread (Trying to catch up) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tales of a cursed and haunted island in the Philippines bring an investigative television crew hoping to gather footage to produce a new reality show starring a famous ghost investigator whose character has been in question for awhile so he and the producers are looking for his big comeback. People do not live on the island due to the legends but the film crew need a guide and they find a teenager named Alon who is the only one willing to help them although he informs them right away that it would be best for all to leave the island since many of the legends are true and he doesn't want anyone to get hurt or possibly die so Alon feels their best chance of survival is if he stays on to help them. Almost immediately some of the crew being to see visions and hear voices but they think it's their imagination induced by all the scary tales. Before long many frightening events begin to occur and again Alon pleads for them to leave the island before it's too late but to no avail. By the time many of the crew decide to leave it will be too late for so many after they find out that this island is truly cursed and behind many legends lie unspeakable truths.

This was a wonderfully, creepy and atmospheric book written by Rin Chupeco. The edgy and fast-moving story kept my attention with spooky things happening continuously chapter after chapter. The creatures were uniquely well-done and many that I haven't encountered before which was a lot of fun. The story had many twists and turns and an impressive, unexpected turn and reveal at the last quarter of the book. This story may have been written for young adults but I think it would be enjoyable for any reader who loves to read horror. I am so glad I had the chance to read this book and I definitely recommend adding it to your reading lists.

I want to thank the publisher "Sourcebooks Fire" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this spooky island story and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!

I have given a rating of 4 HAUNTING AND SCREAMING 🌟🌟🌟🌟 STARS!!

[Kirsty Carson · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up to 4.
Pristine beaches, lush greenery, and perfect weather, the island of Kisapmata would be the vacation destination...if not for the curse. The Filipino locals speak of it in hushed voices and refuse to step foot on the island. They know the lives it has claimed. They won't be next.

A Hollywood film crew won't be dissuaded. Legend claims a Dreamer god sleeps, waiting to grant unimaginable powers in exchange for eight sacrifices. The producers are determined to document the evidence. And they convince Alon, a local teen, to be their guide.

Within minutes of their arrival, a giant sinkhole appears, revealing a giant balete tree with a mummified corpse entwined in its gnarled branches. And the crew start seeing strange visions. Alon knows they are falling victim to the island's curse. If Alon can't convince them to leave, there is no telling who will survive. Or how much the Dreamer god will destroy...

Chupeco has a really distinctive style and creates interesting and intriguing characters that are hard not to either love or hate and The Sacrifice is full of many of these. The storyline is full of mystery and tension and kept me guessing what was going to happen next… but more importantly… who would be next!

I really enjoy the way Chupeco uses traditional culture, history and mythology in her writing to add a sense of realism to her spooky tales and it’s fun learning new things about cultures I normally wouldn’t be exposed to.

My only qualm with The Sacrifice is that the plot kind of dragged towards the end and I would have liked a snappier, more impactful ending. Overall though, very enjoyable.

[Laurie (barksbooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

“It is believed that when people hear the screaming someone is about to die.”

The Sacrifice is a fun read set on a very haunted island with a stoic and intelligent lead character and their loyal and lovely dog Askal who are asked to guide a bunch of dimwitted, stubborn Hollywood types as they film a comeback show for a washed-up and shamed Ghosthunter dude. Well, you might find it “fun” if you enjoy seeing awful dumbasses get what they deserve. I know I did.

Alon, the young guide, grounds this story of horror, sacrifice and murder, always dispensing hard truths and honest advice which is constantly ignored by the disrespectful men who have inhabited the island looking for power and wealth. When a sinkhole opens up and the creepiest tree ever erupts from its bowels, these people should’ve taken the hint and high-tailed it back home but that wouldn’t make a very thrilling book I guess! Instead, they stick around ignoring all common sense as bad thing after worse thing happens. It’s all quite amusing and very entertaining to witness.

Not all of these people are horrid. There’s a sweet budding romance that occurs naturally and adds to the tension, fear and mounting dread inhabiting the island - instead of taking away from it. I loved the way it was done. It was very subtle, very real. And there’s also Askal. I always appreciate a dog character that is a true character and not one squished into a story for that cheap emotional gut punch so many writers insist on throwing into horror novels (you're safe here - there’s no dog death!).

Filled with creepy imagery, ghostly apparitions, deadly fauna, caves filled with the darkest of secrets, short chapters, tons of action, and even a few moments of humor, this story is near impossible to put down.

4 ½ Stars bumped up to 5

[Malli (Chapter Malliumpkin) · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC was given by NetGalley & Sourcebooks Fire in exchange for an honest review

Content/Trigger Warnings: Death, murder, loss of a loved one/parent (in the past), mentions of plane crash, racism, themes of colonization & gentrification, alcoholism, talk of cheating, human sacrifices, cult themes, depictions of blood, graphic violence, gun violence, mentions of domestic violence, gaslighting & manipulation (from Hemslock), mentions of suicide, scene of dog being shot

✨ Wicked As You Wish ★★★★

“It is believed that when people hear the screaming, someone is about to die.”

It’s no secret that Rin Chupeco has easily become one of my favorite authors and when this earc landed in my lap, with a synopsis that lures you in, I had to start this book immediately. And of course, recommend it to all my horror/thriller loving friends! This was probably the easiest 5 stars I’ve given all year and I didn’t even think about it because at the end of this book, I just couldn’t stop saying ‘wow’ and I stand by that statement. Also, before we get into this review, I want to quickly mention that there is a dog in this book. For those wondering, ‘Does the dog die?’ No, the dog doesn’t die and despite my content/trigger warning, I’m not going to say anything else. Just know that this book is full of twists, turns, and surprises! And I also want to mention that this book won’t be for everyone, but this was the right book for me.

The island of Kisapmata is a beautiful place, but despite that beauty the locals fear the island and know of all the lives lost who stepped foot on it. With a body count of fifteen people dead, Hollywood quickly descends upon Kisapmata, determined to find out if the legend of a slumbering god is true and document everything. Alon, the only person who’s unafraid of stepping foot on the island wants nothing more than for everyone one to leave this place. And if he can’t convince them, there’s only one thing sure to happen… death and destruction.

Chupeco has such a beautiful and detailed way of building her worlds and establishing her characters. One of the biggest things that always sucks me into a Rin Chupeco book is the detailing in the environment and the those little details that make a character feel real. That’s what you get with this book. Plus, I’ve mention this to a few people, but it gives very strong Mummy vibes (for those who have seen the movies) and The Dark Picture Anthology vibes for fellow gamers. You get a rich, detailed, atmospheric book with characters who are so well detailed that even the ones you’ll come to dislike, you can’t help enjoying. Trust me when I say, there’s a lot of characters to dislike in this book, but I enjoyed them anyway because of those little details the author added in. I also want to point out that there is no good or bad person in this book, either. Okay, that’s a bit of a lie because there’s one lovely madman/power hungry nutjob thrown into this book that just makes this book feel just right. Otherwise, most of the characters are morally grey despite a few characters having bad pasts and you see the confliction in a lot of the side characters about certain things later on in the story. I also want to put in here that Alon, our main character is non-binary and the love interest, Chase Gries is either bisexual or pansexual. And I kind of really loved them a whole heck-a-ton!

“The living bring their own ghosts to the shore, and only the latter are honest about why.”

There’s also so many themes within this book and I think this is one of the strongest reasons why I fell madly in love with it. The author never holds back on themes she wants to include in her books. When Chupeco decides to include these themes, they’re beautifully woven throughout and honestly, at time, I think it’s hard for many readers to pick them out because they’re so intricately laced in the story. The prime example, there are a few characters we see who are haunted by their past choices and we see how the choices of those pasts can impact the way the characters are in the now. And there’s many other themes like that sprinkled throughout.

Respect was one of the major themes that really spoke to me because I’m a huge believer in respect. Not just respect being earned instead of given, but also showing respect to foreign people and a culture that isn’t your own. There were so many moments in this book that put an emphasis on respect and how even a little bit of it can go a long way. We also see what happens when disrespect occurs and how people respond to that disrespect. Though this theme isn’t a major theme of this book, it’s one I wanted to highlight and put emphasis on.

“Respect is key. But most foreigners don’t have that for us.”

The other major theme of this book ties in with colonization, gentrification, and how when foreigners come to a place that isn’t their own, they constantly demand and take, and if that doesn’t work then they just pay everyone off so they can do what they want. If you think this doesn’t actually happen, then you would be very, very wrong. This is something that still continues in North America with the Native/Indigenous people to this day and this is something that constantly occurs in other places such as the Philippines and South America, and many other places in the world. This was a theme that spoke to me on so many levels, for a plethora of reasons. And I want to point out, that with the entitlement that comes from foreigners to a new place that isn’t their own, there’s a lot of racism that comes along with that too. Prime example, Chase Gries, the love interest, upon arriving on Kisapmata hands all of his bags of to Alon and assumes they are “the help” when Alon is actually the guide and local of Kisapmata for the entire production cast. There’s also conversations in the beginning with a side character who talks with Alon of how Hollywood likes to take advantage of, not only young people, but foreign people, as well. These are just two of the various moments that highlight this key theme of the book. And again, this themes ties back to the themes of respect and how respect is often disregarded by majority of people who aren’t locals.

“No. The opportunities you have in America are not always available everywhere.”

Of course I have to talk about the mythology of this book! You knew this was coming at some point in this review and we’re finally here. I have absolutely fallen in love with Filipino mythology because of Rin Chupeco and this book is no exception. This book, like all of Chupeco’s books, are very unapologetically Filipino. The amount of notes of words I had to go look up, the creatures and legends I spent three hours scrolling to learn more about, it was just everything. It filled my heart with so much joy and honestly, I wanted even more and was so sad when the book came to an end. Though the author does add English translation or the definition afterwards, I still wanted to do my own research. That also lead me down many rabbits holes and a lot of late hours scrolling to learn as much as I could find. I really enjoyed that this book motivated me to look into things more and I also love when you can tell an author is being unapologetically themselves in their book, as well. I think this will be something many readers will either like or dislike. That’s just always been the nature of the beast when it comes to things like this, but I strongly encourage readers to look things up if they still don’t understand. And if you’re a mythology lover like me, the extra research is so worth it!

If I had to say anything negative about this book (which I don’t), aside from the Filipino words/language and mythology, I think many readers may have issues with romantic subplot. Now for me, this wasn’t any sort of issue and I kind of enjoyed it. I really liked that it still happened, but it wasn’t a main focus of the story and it wasn’t too much of a standout that it impacted the main storyline. However, I think if you’re a reader who’s not always a fan of romantic subplots, this could go either way for you.

And I will say, I don’t think the horror in this book will be for everyone. I think there will be readers who thoroughly enjoy this book because of the horror/thrilling aspects of it, but I think there will be many readers who get chills or become unnerved by a lot of the things that unfold in this book. Again, this is another thing that could go fifty-fifty for many readers. Obviously, I loved it and really enjoyed the way things unfolded and played out.

“The Diwata knows. He knows all who come to his shores. He remembers us after we die.”

Overall, I had a wonderful time reading this book! I saw so many similarities between this book and The Mummy, and for the video game lovers, The Dark Picture Anthology series. It was the perfect read for me! And let me say, curling up with this book while it’s storming outside was absolutely delightful and meshed so well with the story inside these pages. If you’re looking for a good atmospheric read for Summerween or for just fall reading in general, then you definitely need to put this book on your radar. It’s the perfect spooky read for lovers of all things spooky!


The quotes above were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.


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[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Sourcebooks Fire and Netgalley for the advanced copy. Below is my honest review.

I was really in the mood for a good horror novel, and this one fit the bill.

Deep in the wilds of the Philippines lies a mysterious island, said to be cursed and home to a god, waiting for sacrifices to awaken and remake the world. Young Alon and their dog are the only locals willing to step foot on this island, full of things seen only out of the corner of the eye, so when a film crew swoops in to make a documentary of the sordid history of strange occurrences and deaths, Alon steps in to help guide them in an attempt to quell the spirits of the island's desires. Thing is, not everyone who came along is there to be respectful, and inner demons will clash with outer ones in this dark tale of secrets and judgment.

Also really liked the multiple forms of representation in this book. It was really well done.

I just wanted a little bit more, so four and a half stars, rounded to four.

Definitely still impressed with this one, and absolutely want to pick up more of this author's works.

[jenny✨ · Rating 2 out of 5]

unfortunately, this wasn't the book for me :( that being said, i definitely want to delve into rin chupeco's other novels, because *whew* they can really build up spooky lore!

full review to come~

many thanks to netgalley and sourcebooks fire for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[The Sassy Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐ -- Great cover on this one!

I thoroughly enjoyed this one. It was well written and well paced. The setting was atmospheric. The plot was engaging with hints of colonialism, mythology, and traditional culture. The characters were well developed and intriguing. I pretty much read this one all in one go! 👍🏻👍🏻

**ARC Via NetGalley**

[On the Same Page · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

CWs: alcoholism, mentions of sexual assault, body horror

This isn't a perfect book by any means, but I really enjoyed my time with it. I loved the creepy island vibes, the Filipino myths, the commentary on colonization and racism. I also loved that this was about a group of white people who go to a remote island, ignore all the warnings from local civilians, have zero respect for the culture and religion of the place, and then suffer for it by getting picked off one by one. Alon makes for a great main character, although I do think Askal the dog stole the show a little. I liked the twists and turns this story took, and was pretty satisfied with the ending.

I also really liked the inclusion of lines in Tagalog, but I've been told by a Filipina friend that the Tagalog reads a little stilted. I also looked up a few other reviews, and this one by Kate also mentions the Tagalog, and goes a step further to say that it was the wrong language to use for the region the island is supposed to be located in.

[Bon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this, as I do most of Chupeco's work. A YA destination horror jaunt, The Sacrifice included some of my favorite tropes of the genre, from botanical horror to Film Crew Just Doesn't Get That They Should Leave to some reckoning with colonial legacies in the Philippines. In fact, the film crew served as a metaphor for the second coming of colonial invaders to this rural mystical island, and it was [chef's kiss]. Nonbinary protagonist Alon was a quiet, sympathetic character and I enjoyed reading this through their POV. And Askal is the best dog.

[Bobby's Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

A queer horror fantasy at its FINEST! And that insane plot twist?! Chef’s kiss!! I devoured this book, because it was quick and the story was action-packed! The island of Kisapmata is cursed and the Filipino locals speak hush about it. That is until, a Hollywood film crew come to the island to document a legend of the Dreamer god. And they convince Alon, a local non-binary teen, to be their guide. But soon, strange things start happening and if Alon can’t convince them to leave, there is no telling who will survive or how much the Dreamer god will destroy! A terrifying, but adventurous young adult horror that you have never wanting to be on an island alone again! A must read for the spooky season!

[Louisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this was such a fantastic read! Loved the setting and the atmosphere, and watching everything go down! It was such a amazing read!

[Erin Entrada Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

SO GOOD.

[Melanie Schneider · Rating 5 out of 5]

Das war gut!

[Tessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5 Stars (GR!)

The Sacrifice is a fast-paced suspense (oxymoron much?) that features a haunted island, idiot Hollywood shmucks, the cutest dog on the planet — as well as sleeping Gods, tree monsters, and general despair.

Alon is a young man who's grown up near the Island his entire life; he knows the waters and the creatures/spirits that live there as well as his own home. The Island seems to favor him, and that makes him an asset to the people who come to the island looking for their next cash-cow in the form of a documentary. No one has been allowed on the island after the mysterious deaths that have plagued it throughout the years. But legend says Cortez and Magellan themselves buried treasure there, and no form of warning is going to stop them from getting what they want.

My favorite thing about this is that it's absolutely terrible people getting what they deserve. The Island punishes bad people, and spares the innocent...most of the time. Alon agrees to be their guide, for a fee, to take care of his sick father, but spends the entire time warning them that not only are they not welcome, the Diwata(the Sleeping God) is gonna be pissed.

Of course they don't listen, and of course, they immediately start seeing/hearing horrible things. This is a classic case of Colonizers Gonna Colonize, and they definitely get their due for not listening to Alon or the local government that they had to pay off to get there in the first place.

The first half of this book was FANTASTIC. I can't stress this enough. I was hooked by the ease of Alon's voice, and the narrative went along smoothly. I loved the description of the island and was so genuinely creeped out by the imagery of the creatures that it left me feeling super uncomfy in the dark. All of the things one would look for in a book like this was there. I was definitely settling in to enjoy how this turned out, especially as Alon basically walked behind them filing his nails like "Oh no...if it isn't the consequences of our own actions." It was *chefs kiss*.

My one annoyance during this period was Chase. His character felt forced. I love a good himbo dynamic, but the kid spent the entire time either thirsting over Alon or being incredibly whiny. it was hard to find something to endear him to me. If we wanted to find something to tie Alon to the group, we could have just as easily used Melissa, who was Alon's first friend of the group, and who was abruptly pushed aside in favor of the bland romantic relationship between Chase and Alon.

Something happened in the second half. Suddenly, the dialogue became bland and predictable, the charm and bizarre nature of the story fell flat. By the time we reached the twist at the end, it was the only redeeming factor. I think the last half needed more love, and less of an inclination to follow the common genre tropes. And again we absolutely, in no way, needed this romance (and this is coming from ME, you know, the girl who lives and breathes romance).

Overall it was still a good, creepy read and was definitely easy to get through.

*My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for gifting me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review.*

[Naomi · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hated this book. It could’ve been great, I loved the setting! Give me all the horror books set on deserted islands with curses and cults and documentaries! But this… The execution of these ideas were terrible.

First off: the documentary crew. They were so stereotypical it just annoyed me. The main character couldn’t even be bothered to learn some of their names? He gave them nicknames but then other people used their names and I’d be like ??? who we talking about? The villain dude was boring too, he wasn’t to be trusted before we even meet him because he’s assaulted multiple woman. ALSO he believed in the curse but then he couldn’t believe that he also saw the curse and they flew in a lady from another island just to pester him?? I guess he was supposed to be unstable but eh, it didn’t feel believable.

The main character: So so so boring, he had no personality. It was like we were looking through a camera because even without his thoughts we’d know the same things. I feel for him protecting the island but it feels like he could’ve done more, I don’t know.

Love interest: yawn. He’s an influencer. He’s hot? He acts like a child. Didn’t believe the attraction between them. Every time he was on his phone I cringed. His ex girlfriend was so extremely evil it was a caricature. His friends were boring. The whole talking about Alon and Chase while on speakerphone was just stupid. And the dreamer god could haunt people through phone/computer waves? lmao ok

Other characters: the love interests dad was a bad dude but he’s the love interests dad so we’ll save him! Two dudes who the main character named Hawaiian Shirt and Goatee, they were the evil documentary crew people, one dude so evil he had an affair with a minor? And then killed her so he became an alcoholic. At least they killed him I guess. Hawaiian Shirt didn’t do much but in the end he seemed to care about the kids but he still didn’t get a name so whatever. There was ONE alive woman but we only know she wasn’t getting paid. The other women were either a dead cult leader and a dead mom. So.

Setting: I liked the setting but I didn’t really feel like I was there. The corpse tree was pretty cool but the people just kinda… went on with their days, nobody felt that shocked by seeing a dead body in a tree? We didn’t learn all that much about the Philippines, which was sad because that did interest me. But mostly it was just Alon saying something in Tagalog and then not translating it? I’d have loved to learn more about the setting and beliefs I guess.

Writing: I counted multiple grammar mistakes and typos. In one sentence Chase was a him and a her, one time someone got the wrong name. The way people spoke with each other felt disjointed, as if they were having separate conversations. People repeated stuff constantly. It feels like there was no editor.

I really wanted to like this book, but instead it was a slog to get through and I just wanted to get it over with.

I liked the cover?

[Beca ☾ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a fun quick read and my first experience with the author. The story unfolds on an island in the Philippines that is rumored to be haunted. Multiple deaths have been linked to the island, and now it has caught the attention of Hollywood. A film crew arrives to start filming a reality show with a disgraced famous ghost hunter. People do not live on the island due to the legends and the only person who is brave enough to step foot on the island is a teenager named Alon. The crew soon hires Alon to show them around. Alon makes several attempts to warn the crew to leave the island and return to safety. These warnings are ignored. But soon the crew starts hearing screams, experiencing hallucinations, and weird things keep happening. Soon intentions and secrets are revealed; things go from bad to worse. The ending was decent, it did well wrapping things up. I definitely want to know what happens next for Alon.

[Dawn Chen · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE BANGER OF A YA HORROR. I absolutely loved every second of it. To spooky haunting to outright monstrosity god and human sacrifice. And that ending??? Absolutely chef’s kiss. This is my first Rin Chupeco book but NOW I NEED MORE OF THEIR HORROR BOOKS.

[Selina⚔️ · Rating 1 out of 5]

Quite possibly the most disappointing read this year (and I had plenty).

The audiobook narration is awful. I don't know if the production team took the time and decency to double-check if the pronunciation of tagalog words are correct.

Obviously hindi kasi parang nakikinig ako sa isang AFAM, which is ironic because the narrator is of Asian descent.

My last straw was the stereotypical accent that the actor used for the Lola, who is a local in the island. It's horrendous and offensive.

It doesn't mean that South asians all sound the same. Bakit tunog Indian si Lola??

Technically speaking also, the audiobook is not edited properly?

A disclaimer suddenly appeared in the middle of a chapter and the chapter cuts are not seamless.

(It might be how I downloaded the file but this is the first time I encountered this issue)

For the story... it is boring and mediocre.

It pains me to say this because the premise got me hooked and I read the author's previous works.

I also a hard time accepting that the main character speak in Tagalog because those who live in Leyte are known to speak in Bisaya.

(Is the author aware of that? Did they research? Were they discouraged by the editors for some reason? Or is this Imperial Manila?)

The horror/creepy elements got pretty old as well because of the pacing and overt exposure of the island creatures.

The ritual aspect was repeated so much that I was rolling my eyes and saying, "YES I GET IT" blah blah.

The romance didn't give me the kiligs also.

How can I be when the love interest is a shirtless influencer :----)


There was an attempt to make him appear endearing but without his daddy issues, he is a cardboard box.

Lastly, there are only few female characters and those were:

A. Blonde girl influencer who cheated and was shallow; (Possibly killed)

B. Dead Mom of love interest

C. Dead Mom of main character

D. PA who doesn't get paid and always wants to point that out; only appeared a few times

If there were more chapters about Alon and less with the other characters, this book might be okay because they are interesting.

But no we have to have many scenes with crawling roots.

The only good things here are the book cover and Askal the dog.

[Cora ༄ {once upon a broken heart} · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was really good! It’s not super popular but it was super entertaining, and not too long. I do have a little bit of an irrational fear of trees now though…

[Elliot A · Rating 2 out of 5]

***Link to video***



Thank you to the publisher, Sourcebooks Fire, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of The Sacrifice in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


The Gist

You know what? I’m kind of tired writing these negative, or shall we say unfavourable reviews. There have been a lot of them lately.

So, here I am, excited to start Rin Chupeco’s newest story. I loved her Bone Witch trilogy and Never Tilting World duology, but there was something missing in The Sacrifice.


The Details

I loved the premise, the setting, the contradiction between such a beautiful location and the terrible things that happen on the island.

It was impossible for me to connect with either the story as a whole or the characters.

The story is narrated from a local’s point of view. When they refer to any of the other characters, they give them nicknames, such as “Armani” or “straw hat”. Yet, in conversations the characters’ real names are mentioned, making it very difficult to figure out who is who.

Also, I assume the author wanted to make reveal of the mystery of the evil on the island a slow burn, because we barely get any kind of information of what makes this island so bad.

For a long time it is eluded to that they should leave the island, since it is not safe. But why? Give us something!

I started to not care about the mystery and the horror.

Everything is kept so at a distance that I couldn’t fully immerse myself in the story. I felt like I was hovering above it and try as I might, I was unable to connect to any of it.

The Verdict

Overall, sadly this couldn’t satisfy my itch for a good horror story.

Generally speaking, I do enjoy Chupeco’s writing. I still have the second part of Never Tilting World to finish, which I hope I can start soon.

[Cath · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is now one of my favorite books of all time. Anti-colonizer human sacrifice story featuring a nonbinary protagonist with some Philippine history and tons of folk horror thrown in? HELLO it’s like the author peered into my soul.

[Katie T]

Dnf 51%
Another scenerio in which I was not listening to a word 🤷‍♂️

[Miles Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was fine. It was a cool concept but would’ve been better on screen tbh cause it was kinda dull but would’ve looked cool. Also I wasn’t really keen on an unreliable narrator horror book lol.

[Kelsie Christensen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book in a book subscription and was very excited about it. I also really want to read The Bone Witch that is on my shelf. This book was WEIRD. I liked the twist at the end and really liked the main character. But this story was hard to follow and understand fully. And nothing really happened. I mean deaths and craziness did but the ending was so unsatisfactory. So many questions left and could easily have a sequel that I sincerely doubt is happening… I didn’t like how open ended it was. Overall it was interesting but I didn’t love it and am still kind of confused and weirded out.

[Jan Agaton · Rating 3 out of 5]

the Filipino rep was good & creepy island vibes are immaculate, but the Hollywood aspect didn't do it for me and made me dread picking it up. but it was tolerable, and i liked the twist at the end!

[chelsea reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

rin chupeco has been a favourite author of mine for a long time. i first read the bone witch back when it came out, then proceeded to read the girl in the well series, which was amazing. when i saw she had another horror book out, i knew i had to read it asap.

one of my favourite things about chupeco’s books is that they’re short and sweet. most of her books are around 300 pages. when you read a bunch of high fantasy books over 500 pages, a short book is like a breath of fresh air.

while being on the shorter side, it doesn’t take away from the actual story. i find that longer books have “boring bits” as the author is clearly trying to make up a word count rather than keep the reader interested. shorter books eliminate filler scenes as they don’t have the space for them. the sacrifice is a fast paced and quick read. i finished it in a couple of hours (i couldn’t put it down).

i really like how rin chupeco made this book lgbt+ inclusive. i know others will enjoy this (and some won’t). i thought it was nice how the author had the setting in a remote philippines island and didn’t use culture as an excuse to not include queer people.

and speaking of setting – i absolutely loved that chupeco used a remote island in the philippines. so many contemporary setting books i read are all set in the usa, or sometimes the uk. but rarely do they venture to asia.

the world building was on point. we have a secret island that only locals know about and a evil entity. there was enough vague-ness to make it believable. (plus, a lot of asian countries have plenty of their own ghost stories, so for all we know, there’s some truth to the story).

as for the ghost story itself, it was spooky at times but not downright horrifying. chupeco can write some of the most unsettling things – and all it takes is one sentence. i found the girl from the well to be more scary than the sacrifice, but it’s written for young adults, so it might be scarier for than than it was for me (an adult, and not the intended audience).

my only issue with this book was that i found it difficult to connect to the characters. while i loved alon, i struggled with the other characters. (the other characters were a bunch of americans intent on destroying the island for some quality tv shots, so it’s hard to like characters like that).

while i found that this wasn’t chupeco’s best work, i still really enjoyed it. they remain one of my favourite authors.

overall, i couldn’t recommend this book enough. if you like small little scares, (rather than full blown horror) i think this book would be great for you!

[Lesley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok, here’s what I like:

- this book is a twist on the trope where explorers hire a local guide to help them find treasure and the guide, often unnamed, ends up being collateral damage. Here, the MC is the local guide. And many of the studio crew members are called “Hawaiian shirt,” or “Goatee.”
- Askal is awesome.

What I don’t like:
- what makes horror most effective to me is when I care about the characters and am worried about whether they live or die. I cared very little if 95% of the characters here lived beyond the next page.
- there are some weirdly stereotypical things happening with some of the BIPOC characters, most significantly Chase’s friend.
- there are some issues with the way gender is dealt with, and I was really confused by it. The MC is constantly misgendered and no one is called out on it.
- others have already noted the cultural and language errors. If your goal is to make the characters who are unacknowledged have a voice, maybe make sure that voice is accurate.
- there are significant errors in the text (Chase is referred to as Chris and then back to Chase), and the audio has a copyright note shoved in the middle of one of the early chapters. It’s kind of a mess.

Actually, I think “it’s kind of a mess” sums it up pretty well.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Fire, and Rin Chupeco for the opportunity to read The Sacrifice in exchange for an honest review.

Kisapmata would be the perfect island getaway, if it weren't for the supposed legendary curse killing people off. Explorers, such as Cortes, a whole plane crash, and a slew of missing people leaves the island with an air of legend that may just draw in horror-lovers. That is, those who make spooky TV shows for Hollywood.

Alon, a local island resident, is tasked with being a guide for a film crew making a spooky show about the island's legends and missing people, including the myth of the eight sacrifices to awaken the Diwata, the island's vengeful god. The film crew seeks any chance at a spooky moment for the camera, but when a massive sinkhole opens up revealing a tree with a corpse therein, the spook factor becomes a bit too real.

Unrelenting, the director takes the chance to use real footage to highlight the episodes of the show he is making, but Alon knows better. After seeing what is happening to the film crew after being exposed to the corpse tree and the island's curse, Alon makes every attempt to convince them to leave before it is too late and they succumb to the curse as well.

Alon also has a cute dog, Askal, which follows him around and is quite inquisitive and protective. Alon also finds themself drawn to one of the crew members son's, Chase--who is working through a recent breakup with a psycho cheater girlfriend,--giving a very slight romantic dynamic to this novel. (Alon is non-binary, by the way).

This book is a quick read, each chapter leaving an itch for more as the island's cure does its fun throughout the story. The first-person narrative is a nice touch, as Alon is already familiar with the working of the island and its curse, so they see the reactions of others with a grain of nonchalance. The spook factor of this novel is excellent. There's just something about carving hearts out for sacrificial needs and trees that come alive and seek an unknowing victim...

An excellent young adult thriller/horror!