Sacrifice

Experiment X #1

by Nikki Haase

Karen first saw The Man in the Tank, with eyes too blue to be human and the ability to cause people to drown with the mere flick of his wrist, in an unsettling dream. When he suddenly shows up in her small town though, her once normal life takes a turn towards extraordinary. Jack Cortex quickly begins to make her question everything about her shadowed past. Soon, tragedy strikes and Karen is thrown into a world of secret experiments to create human weapons for the government. A world, Jack says, has always been a part of who she really is. When this new, and terrifying, side of her is revealed, she may no longer be able to stay in her quiet and normal life as those from the infamous Lab threaten to take away the last remaining pieces of her sanity.

219 pages, ebook

First published August 20, 2015

About the author

Nikki Haase is an author who writes across genres; mainly dystopian sci-fi, and contemporary new adult fiction. Besides writing, Nikki enjoys reading, dyeing her hair vivid colors, and occasionally long-boarding. When she's not engrossed in a notebook, creating worlds with only the alphabet, she is usually cuddling or playing with her hyperactive dog, Kira, and watching spooky YouTube videos. With an unhealthy love for coffee and tea, she truly does turn caffeine into books.

Reviews

[Caroline Noe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Karen is a normal young woman with a miserable life and an abusive boyfriend. That is until the mysterious Jack arrives, bringing with him a violent and terrifying secret: she's part of a government experiment and they're coming for her. Haase has created an extraordinary world, hidden beneath the ordinary. The plot is compelling, the characters likeable and the writing style easy to read, yet never dull. A highly recommended pageturner.

[A.J. Gala · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite thing about this book is Karen's refreshingly platonic relationship with the other experiments. Also, Jack is my boyfriend. Sorry.

[Tristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Sacrifice' introduces readers to Ruby Turner, a character whose life is turned upside down by the revelation of her connection to a clandestine government operation involving super soldiers. Nikki Haase weaves a tale of intrigue, power, and self-discovery that is as compelling as it is thrilling. Awarding this book a 4-star rating, I was drawn into the world Haase crafted, particularly impressed by the setup of main characters and the context provided for the overarching narrative concerning the Lab and its experiments.

One of the strengths of 'Sacrifice' lies in its ability to lay the groundwork for an expansive story filled with complex characters and moral ambiguities. Ruby's journey from obscurity to becoming a central figure in the battle against a corrupt system is engaging, making her a character readers can root for.

However, the book does not come without its faults. Ruby's relationship with her boyfriend is portrayed in a manner that, while initially serving to highlight significant personal challenges, eventually becomes repetitive. The emphasis on his abusive nature is made clear early on, rendering further instances more exhaustive than elucidative.

Despite this critique, 'Sacrifice' stands as a strong opening to what promises to be an enthralling series. It lays a solid foundation for the ensuing conflict and character evolution, making it a must-read for fans of action-packed, speculative fiction.

[Eric Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

The War has just begun!

In the first book of the Experiment X series, author Nikki Haase takes her readers on a bizarre journey where we discover a secret government plot to create the ultimate in human weapons, using the elements of the earth to give these superhumans their powers. But the inhumane treatment of the subjects leads to a bloody revolt, as the superhumans must band together to take out the lab where they were held and all the evil within.
This novel doesn't shy away from sensitive topics, and first person narrative of its lead, Karen, gives the reader the perspective of a gifted person who did not experience the horrors of the lab the way the others did. I enjoyed how the superpowers were connected to elements (fire, earth, water, air), and the dark secrets of the lab were shocking, even if all secrets were not revealed. I'm anxious to read the next book in the series!

[Nicole Graythorne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sacrifice, Experiment X Book 1 by Nikki Haase is a dystopian urban fantasy where the government is paying soldiers to have children to experiment on to make them into super soldiers. The book is very fast paced though it does start off with the FMC in an abusive relationship which drags on a bit. There is a good bit of violence which is expected for this genre. The characters through the book evolve and bond with each other as they try to escape the government's grasp.

This book reminded me of Divergent and Maze Runner without the end of civilization. This is not a romance. Overall I enjoyed this book and want to read the rest of the series.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Amber Hoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Usually Science Fiction is one of those categories that you have to be a hard core fan to read one of the books. Sacrifice (Experiment X book 1) does NOT suffer from this problem! It is a well written and easy to read story that follows a secret government experiment breeding the ultimate human weapons. The story starts out a little slow, focusing a little too much on Ruby's, the main female character, abusive relationship. I never personally found a significance to the story for it, maybe it plays a larger part in later books in the series? Hang in there for the first third of the book and you will be rewarded with action and excitement, characters that strangely fit together in the most beautiful way, and unexpected twists and cliffhangers that will have you salivating for book 2!

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!! What a well written and easy flow that kept me white knuckled to my kindle!
Government experiments on the military’s children goes really wrong when they learn to fight back. Ruby is just a small town girl living a full and mundane life until Jack Cortex shows up one day at the diner she works at.
Secrets never stay hidden for long, and soon Ruby finds out that she is an extraordinary woman and weapon. Jack helps her train and learn her true strength as they join forces to battle the lab coats to free the children who have been experimented on.
I can’t wait for the next book, and I know there had to be one because that cliff hanger…. Jeesh! I NEED a Happy Ever After!!

[Andrea Payne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great imagery!

Sacrifice was my first book by Nikki Haase. It took me a minute to get in to it. It was great reading, I just had a bit of trouble with the intrigue and mystery. We learn things as Ruby does and it was an excellent technique in making her even more real for me. I absolutely loved this book. It is definitely an original idea and a very unique presentation. The imagery was off the charts!l

I am really looking forward to continuing the series. I would absolutely recommend this book for anyone over 16ish due to some (not intimate) mature content and subject matters.

[Tara Warner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so very thankful to have received an ARC copy of this book and it is so beautifully written. Sci-fi isn't my normal genre read, but I've decided to start branching out with my reading a bit and I'm glad I picked this as my first sci-fi read. I was hooked from page one and finished within about two days. I cannot wait to grab a physical copy when it comes out so I can reread it and annotate to my hearts content.

[Elawndarts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Got interested from a TikTok, stayed because it was really enjoyable story.

If you are looking for an adventure with a woman lead and the men around her don’t treat her like fragile precious cargo, you’re going to have a good time.

A few too many characters to keep up with but I have that issue with television as well. This reminds me of something that would end up getting picked up for a show.

[Charolette Cleveland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay peeps. Are you looking for your next thing to sink your teeth into? Something fresh and absolutely worth every dime you spend? This. This is it. I'm trying so hard not to spoil anything- I was an ARC reader for this book. It was so hard not being able to really talk about it until now and now that it's out... I really don't wanna spoil that experience for everyone. The characters, the plot- everything is thought out with the utmost care. I hope you guys enjoy reading it like I did

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story dives straight into the action and features a lot of anger, told from Ruby's point of view. Ruby loses members of her family and is stuck with one member. Over time, Ruby loses and gains more company so there are plenty of characters to follow and further lives at risk. This reads as a YA story, set in a dystopian world.


I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Alicia Gillispie · Rating 4 out of 5]

How would you feel if your world went up in flames? Then imagine finding out you are part of some government experiment and nothing is as it seems. This book was such an easy read because the writing style was so accessible. There were politics, experimentation, elements, death, betrayal and other compelling aspects to this enjoyable read! I wish there had been more details but am excited to read book two and discover more!

[Jordan Encee · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was unexpected!

Going into this book, I was expecting something a little bit different. The super powers and the all too awesome violent action scenes are all present. When first coming into this I thought it would be about the experiments in the a facility. But I was completely wrong. It was a much more complicated story thing I thought it was going to be. Still enjoyed it and looking toward to the next book.

[Marybeth Buskirk · Rating 3 out of 5]

The plot and pacing and twists in this book were astounding but honestly the characters were what brought this book down for me. I definitely did have favorites, but most of them just felt like recycled ones that I have read about before, but I'd definitely recommend if you are into scientific experiments and dystopias!

[Barbara Strickland · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a first book and I found it imaginative and with a good flow. It can be quite brutal at times as the characters find themselves and their powers, and face the reality of their births. At times it did jump around not letting us connect with the characters but overall a great start to the series.

[Hashmi Gor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exciting read

From the 1st page the reader is thrown into Karen's life which seems to change page by page. Full of unexpected turns, engaging characters, amazing talents and adrenaline packed action, this book keeps you on your toes throughout.
Definitely recommend this book if you enjoy x_men, superheroes etc.

[Katarina Martinez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I stepped out of my normal comfort zone and decided to do an ARC read with this sci-fi read. And im SO GLAD I DID. There was so many twists and turns and was such a good read and worth the stepping out of my comfort zone! Ruby is such a strong FMC and very captivating. Nikki did a wonderful job at making you feel like you were inside with her descriptions of the characters and the settings.

[Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

My ONLY problem with this book was having to read my ARC copy electronically opposed to a good, old fashioned book. That being said, it took me longer to read than it should have (and I likely would have enjoyed it even more if I'd committed to just this one book while I was reading). I sat down today and decided that I owed it to the author to finish prior to the release date. Well. I'm so happy I finally did!

This book honestly reads like an action packed blockbuster movie. Ruby is constantly jumping from one problem to the next after her Uncle is murdered and her home is destroyed. She is brought to the home of Jack - essentially a stranger at this point - and told about what she is. A human experiment that 'belongs' to the government.. a fire elemental with a lot to learn about her power.

This is not my normal genre for reading, but I am thrilled at having been given the opportunity to be an ARC reader for this series - it bumped this novel WAY up on my TBR, and I am eagerly awaiting the next installment of Ruby's story.

[Magnus Rice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was sent this book as an advanced copy before release and was in love within the first few pages. It really catches your attention from the beginning and is perfectly paced. Would recommend this for anyone who likes fantasy

[Princesspint · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was a slow read 📚 for me. Did not have spice. The world building was good. Characters were good, but I didn't connect with any. Was a good story. I will continue the series to see where it is gonna take me.

[Hailie Drescher · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing, edge of my seat, couldn't put down tale of self discovery.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

My very first SciFi and I loved it. Read the second installment. Looking forward to the third!!

[Amy Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got this book as an ARC, I love a great read! Great job 👏 ❤️

[Kimberely Crigger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put it down!

I loved this book, I'm going to read it again. Hanging on the edge of my seat for the next one

[Stephanie Vicente · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was action packed and had a good flow to it. I thought it was a great start to the series. It was an enjoyable book

[K. Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fun read! I enjoyed every second of this ARC and I will indeed to be getting a physical copy as soon as I can!

[Alex Dooley · Rating 4 out of 5]

i went into this book a bit blind as to what it would be about. i recalled signing up for the ARC team through TikTok but forgot the subject of the book by the time i received it. that being said, this was an incredibly entertaining read. the Elemental system is unique to what i’ve read in the past while the concept is still familiar. i would have to guess at least some inspiration for this book came from Maximum Ride and i’m definitely not complaining. government controlled experiments on kids that leave them with extraordinary powers into adulthood? sign. me. up.

unfortunately, there were a good amount of grammatical errors throughout, but that can be overlooked for the sake of a good story. the introduction of new characters was also a tad rushed, making it hard to discern who is who at times. hopefully through the rest of the series, the boys develop more unique personalities that make it easier to remember everyone, specially in high intensity scenes where the chaos can make individuals fall between the cracks.

i would have loved to see multiple PoVs to really get a feel for each of the boys in the house and start to get into their brains as well. i know theres gonna be trauma to unpack for all of these characters and i’m ready to see them heal together!

at times the word choice felt a bit clinical, almost as though a simpler synonym could be used instead. just a bit too proper and poetic when it didn’t necessarily need to be. obviously this doesn’t hinder the books, it just interrupts the flow of reading to come across a word or phrase that could be simplified.

lastly, i really enjoyed the hell out of this book. devoured it in two days. i can’t wait to see where the characters will go from here after that cliffhanger! also wondering if/when some more romantic aspects may come into play, it feels the stage is being set for a few different things to potentially happen and i’m excited to see if my predictions may come true or not