The Sacrifice

by Gwenna McAllis

A looming threat. An unexpected ally. An inevitable showdown.

Daniel Wester’s father has been rescued, but the ordeal has left him a shadow of his former self. Wounded and weakened from his time in demonic captivity, his health is rapidly deteriorating, thrusting new responsibilities onto Daniel’s shoulders—just as the darkness they thought they had escaped begins to claw its way back into their lives.

Lena has been Daniel’s anchor through every battle, but now she’s fighting a war within her own mind. The evil entity they thought they had eluded has found a way into her dreams—it whispers insidiously, tormenting her with terrors each night.

As Daniel grapples with how to help both Lena and his father, old allies from Dad’s past arrive with a chilling prophecy: the end is near, and the demon plaguing them is only part of a much greater threat.

Yet as their situation grows increasingly dire, a glimmer of hope emerges. Daniel stumbles upon rumors of a potential ally, a force of good that could turn the tide in their favor— if only he can learn how to reach them.

With tensions rising and time running out, Daniel must find a cure for his father, save Lena before the demon consumes her, unlock secrets from his parents’ pasts, and find a way to protect everyone at the Compound before it’s too late.

Heart-pounding and filled with shocking revelations, The Sacrifice raises the stakes in a devastating showdown where every decision could mean life, death—or even the end of the world.

Genres: Horror

422 pages, ebook

Published March 4, 2025

About the author

Gwenna McAllis is the author of The Compound Duology, a supernatural suspense series steeped in folklore, demons, and family secrets. She writes atmospheric fiction set in the American South, blending mystery, horror, and emotional depth.

A lifelong lover of scary stories, Gwenna grew up reading the Jeffrey series by Kathryn Tucker Windham and checking out anything spooky she could find at her small-town Alabama library (often against her mother’s wishes). She studied creative writing at the University of South Alabama and now lives in the Tennessee Valley with her husband, two young children, and an elderly rescue dog who’s seen too much.

When she’s not writing, she’s likely drinking coffee, dodging laundry, or daydreaming about a cabin in the woods where no one needs snacks.

You can follow Gwenna on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook: @gwennamcallis.

Reviews

[Kathy Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Sacrifice was a fantastic sequel to The Compound. I had so much fun reading this one and quite literally could not put it down! It hit all the notes I wanted it to. Between heart-pounding suspense, supernatural mythology, and the perfect amount of romance, I was hooked from the start.
I also really enjoyed the new characters we meet in The Sacrifice and how much detail they added to Pete & Helen Wester’s story. I look forward to reading future novels by Gwenna!
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Bo Poske · Rating 5 out of 5]

The wait is over The Sacrifice is here, and it delivers EVERYTHING I wanted and more. Huge thanks to Gwenna McAllis for the ARC! This duology has been a wild, dark, and emotional ride, and I’m beyond grateful to experience it early.

Picking up where The Compound left off, this sequel takes the horror, the stakes, and the lore to an entirely new level. The tension is insane, the world feels even more dangerous, and the characters are damaged, determined, and desperate - are impossible to look away from. McAllis doesn’t just expand the universe; she deepens it, weaving in new layers of terror and intrigue. I have never read one book to the sequel so quickly. I had to get to this book immediately. The Compound & The Sacrifice might be the best novels I have read in a long time.

And that ending? Let’s just say this story may not be over yet. There’s so much runway left in this world, and I NEED more. If you loved The Compound, The Sacrifice is going to wreck you in the best way possible.

[Meghan S · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up for GR


Thank you to the author for an advanced readers copy!

After Lena and Daniel rescue Daniel’s father from an evil entity, the Compound’s safety is compromised as old allies re-enter their lives. “With tensions rising and time running out, Daniel must find a cure for his father, save Lena before the demon consumes her, unlock secrets from his parents’ pasts, and find a way to protect everyone at the Compound before it’s too late.

I flew through The Compound so I was really interested to see where the sequel would go, but i have to admit I’m a little underwhelmed.

I couldn’t help but notice some symbolism behind the demons and the havoc they reek in the world vs. the current state of American politics. I wish there had been a little more context clues/hints as to what was going on with Lena, i kept forgetting about her when she was MIA. There seemed to be a lot of focus on random small details that didn’t really add to the plot.
I just didn’t feel as hooked as I did with the first one, and really wish there was more going on in the first 50%, but I do like how everything wrapped up

[Derek · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know it's described as a duology, but I'm hopeful it doesn't stop there. Between the worldbuilding and some of the revelations in The Sacrifice, I'm left wanting more of this world and these characters. I appreciated how this novel branched out from what I'd describe as more traditional Christian supernatural elements (e.g., demons) to incorporate/blend ideas from other traditions as well. It's been a while since I read The Compound so I can't remember the exact narrative structure, but for the first 2/3rds of this book, I'd almost describe it as cozy / low stakes apart from some foreshadowing sprinkled about. But once the pace picks up, I was quickly reminded that demons don't play nice as it quickly rushed toward the conclusion. Overall a fun read and I look forward to more from the author.

I received a free review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Ree · Rating 4 out of 5]

Daniel, our main character is back for more at the compound and has found himself up against demons once again. The sequel to the compound was highly anticipated for me! The first book was very unique with different elements of sci fi and the occult that added another layer of suspense to the novel. This time around, we dive a little deeper in to what the demons want and why they are so persistent. I love Daniel’s character. So much! He is so dedicated to others, mostly because he is use to flying solo or with his friend Lena. We had some romance in this book too which was a pleasant surprise. If you are a fan or paranormal vibes you should definitely give this duology a go! Solid sequel Gwenna! Well done!

Thanks to book funnel for this advanced reading copy!!

[Rick Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed The Sacrifice. It picks up right where the story left off at the end of The Compound, following the various characters as they try to protect and save their friends and loved ones from Abalaroth and the other demons. I really enjoyed the lore and history of demons and "angels". The only reason why I didn't give this 5 stars was because I felt like the build up was a little too long and the "pay off" a little too quick. But that's really just me nitpicking, and with that said, if you liked The Compound, you will absolutely enjoy The Sacrifice. Go read it!

[Nicholas · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perfect follow up to the first book, The Compound. The Sacrifice kept me on my toes in anticipation, wondering what would happen next. This book was suspenseful and insightful, full of well-written imagery and symbolism. The duology has the nostalgic feel of a classic supernatural thriller.

[sherry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is good but not really scary. I feel it would have been better if they touched more on the super natural and not the love story. I felt that the same conversations were had over and over. I found myself skimming. This is a 3.7 for me.

[Stephanie Blankenship · Rating 5 out of 5]

absolutely loved this book. the plot was good and the action too! was hard to put down. finished the duology in a week. Definitely a must read for Supernatural fans!