Sacrifice

by Edward Lee

Alice has found a new life…

Yesterday, Alice Sterling was having a hard time. She had a less-than-perfect body that secretly shamed her—and a brute of a boyfriend who betrayed her. Then came the accident that crippled her.

…and an ancient evil has found alice

Today, Alice has it all. Or so it seems. She’s discovered a newfound erotic power over men, but it’s a power that soon turns deadly. For Alice has begun to dream…haunting dreams of a demon with the ravishing face of a goddess and an unmerciful soul.

Now, as Alice is lured into the buried depths of an ancient house, she is about to make a terrifying discovery about who she is. And what she has become.

--This is a re-release of the 1995 novel written under the pseudonym Richard Kinion.

Genres: Horror

332 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 19, 2014

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.

Edward Lee is an American novelist specializing in the field of horror, and has authored 40 books, more than half of which have been published by mass-market New York paperback companies such as Leisure/Dorchester, Berkley, and Zebra/Kensington. He is a Bram Stoker award nominee for his story "Mr. Torso," and his short stories have appeared in over a dozen mass-market anthologies, including THE BEST AMERICAN MYSTERY STORIES OF 2000, Pocket's HOT BLOOD series, and the award-wining 999. Several of his novels have sold translation rights to Germany, Greece, and Romania. He also publishes quite actively in the small-press/limited-edition hardcover market; many of his books in this category have become collector's items. While a number of Lee's projects have been optioned for film, only one has been made, HEADER, which was released on DVD to mixed reviews in June, 2009, by Synapse Films.

Lee is particularly known for over-the-top occult concepts and an accelerated treatment of erotic and/or morbid sexual imagery and visceral violence.

He was born on May 25, 1957 in Washington, D.C., and grew up in Bowie, Maryland. In the late-70s he served in the U.S. Army's 1st Armored Division, in Erlangen, West Germany, then, for a short time, was a municipal police officer in Cottage City, Maryland. Lee also attended the University of Maryland as an English major but quit in his last semester to pursue his dream of being a horror novelist. For over 15 years, he worked as the night manager for a security company in Annapolis, Maryland, while writing in his spare time. In 1997, however, he became a full-time writer, first spending several years in Seattle and then moving to St. Pete Beach, Florida, where he currently resides.

Of note, the author cites as his strongest influence horror legend H. P. Lovecraft; in 2007, Lee embarked on what he calls his "Lovecraft kick" and wrote a spate of novels and novellas which tribute Lovecraft and his famous Cthulhu Mythos. Among these projects are THE INNSWICH HORROR, "Trolley No. 1852," HAUNTER OF THE THRESHOLD, GOING MONSTERING, "Pages Torn From A Travel Journal," and "You Are My Everything." Lee promises more Lovecraftian work on the horizon.

Reviews

[Sharon Leung · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

I love this author, he is the best horror and extreme horror author for me. He has a way of telling a story but at the same time have you do enthralled that you feel you are there,going through it personally and watching it first hand. This is no exception, Alice is a normal woman having been hurt both physically a nd mentally and feels like she is nothing until things start to happen and she befriends her psychiatrist. Anyway lots of things happen and many twists and plots happen throughout the read that you struggle to put the book down. A great read and definitely recommend.

[Daniel Cork · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edward Lee is a writer whom I've said on many occasions I am really inspired by, while his stories can be incredibly violent and at times over the top, they are also intelligent, funny, and very uniquely written. Back when he was just starting he wrote a couple of novels under pseudonyms, such as Night Bait, Night Lust, and of course Sacrifice aka the only one of the three he's allowed to be republished. Very interested in seeing how this one pans out!

Alice is depressed after losing her leg and finding out her ex-boyfriend had been cheating on her, she finds that she's starting to feel suicidal as she begins to lose hope in her new life. Holly her therapist is doing all she can to help Alice, she can be stubborn and very forward in her beliefs but one thing is for certain she's in love with her patient. Alice has recently moved into a Watch House, having refurbished it, but something hides within the house and it wants to make Alice happy again...

Edward Lee originally published this story under the name of Richard Kinion, but despite that, you can tell who it's very obviously by. Sacrifice is a very tense supernatural horror novel that for the 90s actually handled the lesbian love storyline pretty well, but of course, I'm always happy to hear people who may disagree with me on that. I really enjoyed this novel it was a fast-paced bloodbath with an exhilarating backstory set in the time of the reign of terror, from England's point of view, and a really engaging villain. The twist at the end of this novel actually caught me by surprise and I really enjoyed it!

Overall: It's a really good novel, that more people should give a go. It's definitely one of those that gets overlooked, especially since it was originally published under a different name. 8.5/10

[Steven jb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alice has lost a leg but gained a demon-angel who helps her in ways her loving psychiatrist Holly never could. A cute tale written by a masterful writer.

[Γιώργος Μπελαούρης · Rating 4 out of 5]

i didnt like the climax and the twist
but till then i loved it!

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book almost didn’t feel like it was written by Edward Lee because it lacked the vile and disgusting content for which he’s known and loved. It was a decent book and worth a read.

[Mehmet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, it was a little similar to The Backwoods. Loved the build up and the story. Mr Lee has a brilliant way of using the English language. He uses it to make hilarious satirical points. This book did not have the dark pathos humour that he most well known for, but make no mistake it is still gruesome. Mind you I personally prefer these type of books, even though i do try reading all his type of stories. Only mistake I noticed was during the flashbacks to St brides Bay. England was written when it should of been Wales.
I do recommend this book highly if you enjoy Laymon, Hutson or similar taste to me.

[A.R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't Give Up on It!

This being Edward Lee's first book, it doesn't grab you by the throat like the others, but don't give up on it. The payoff will come, I assure you, the climax a perfect combination of story, visceral imagery, and grue.