Kindle
$5.99
Available instantly
Audible Logo Audiobook
$0.00
with membership trial
Paperback
$19.99
MP3 CD
$8.38
Kindle Price: $5.99

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Audiobook Price: $21.83

Save: $19.84 (91%)

Read with our free app
You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions

Buy for others

Give as a gift or purchase for a team or group.
Learn more

Buying and sending eBooks to others

  1. Select quantity
  2. Buy and send eBooks
  3. Recipients can read on any device

These ebooks can only be redeemed by recipients in the US. Redemption links and eBooks cannot be resold.
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Kristine Kathryn Rusch
+ Follow
More books from this author
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

The Sacrifice: Book One of The Fey Kindle Edition

by Kristine Kathryn Rusch (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 299 ratings
See all formats and editions
Their armies have conquered half the world. Now they want the rest.

The Fey, known for their beauty and their warrior magic, have set their sights on Blue Isle. They should conquer the Isle quickly; its people, simple and religious, have never known war.

On the eve of the invasion, Jewel, the granddaughter of the Fey’s all-powerful Black King, has a frightening vision, one that ties her fate to the Isle forever. Still, she helps her father Rugar head the invasion force.

The force meets a surprising resistance. Nicholas, heir to Blue Isle’s throne, has always dreamed of battle. Normally, he would be no match for the powerful Fey. But Blue Isle has a secret weapon—a weapon no one understands, a weapon that could stop the Fey in their tracks.

Nicholas must find a way to harness this amazing power. Jewel must find a way to thwart him. To survive, one of them must make the ultimate sacrifice.

A fast-paced, vibrant novel, filled with memorable characters, Sacrifice begins a saga that will take readers to a richly imagined world, filled with magic, treachery, and unexpected love.

“Whether [Rusch] writes high fantasy, horror, sf, or contemporary fantasy, I’ve always been fascinated by her ability to tell a story with that enviable gift of invisible prose. She’s one of those very few writers whose style takes me right into the story—the words and pages disappear as the characters and their story swallows me whole….Rusch has style.”
—Charles de Lint

“In less than 20 years, Rusch has won most of the major sf and fantasy awards, including the Best Editor Hugo during her stint at the Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction….[She] is one of the more accomplished younger sf authors.”
—Booklist

“A masterful writer is at work.”
—Orson Scott Card

“Rusch’s greatest strength…is her ability to close down a story and leave the reader feeling that the author could not possibly have wrung any more satisfaction out of the piece.”
—The Kansas City Star

“Kristine Kathryn Rusch integrates the fantastic elements so rigorously into her story that it is often hard to remember she is not merely recording the here and now.”
—A.M. Dellamonica
Science Fiction Weekly

“Like early Ray Bradbury, Rusch has the ability to switch on a universal dark.”
—the Times [London]

Kristine Kathryn Rusch, the former editor of The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, has won a World Fantasy award and two Hugo awards for her work in science fiction and fantasy. She has also won France’s most prestigious fantasy award, Le Prix Imaginales. Her fantasy novels, including the stand-alone novels, The White Mists of Power, Heart Readers, and Traitors have won praise around the world.

She also writes science fiction. Io9 has called the hero of her Retrieval Artist series one of the top ten science fiction detectives of all time. Her mystery novels, published under the name Kris Nelscott, are classics of the genre. And her romance novels, published under the name Kristine Grayson, are actually lightweight fantasy novels hiding in another genre.
Read more Read less
Previous page
  1. Book 1 of 10
    The Fey
  2. Print length
    496 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publication date
    January 8, 2014
  6. File size
    2384 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
Next page
Next 5 for you in this series See full series
Total Price: $29.95
By clicking on the above button, you agree to Amazon's Kindle Store Terms of Use
More like The Sacrifice: Book One of The Fey
Page 1 of 1Start overPage 1 of 1
Previous page
  3. 3
    The Rival: Book Three of The Fey
    Kindle Edition
    $5.99
  5. 5
    Victory: Book Five of The Fey
    Kindle Edition
    $5.99
  11. The Fey    10 book series
Next page
Loading...

From the Publisher

EPIC FANTASY FROM AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR KRISTINE KATHRYN RUSCH

Epic fantasy series

“A very good, very large fantasy...nicely done and with a particularly satisfying and unexpected resolution.”

—Science Fiction Chronicle

Epic fantasy series
Epic fantasy series

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A very good, very large fantasy...nicely done and with a particularly satisfying and unexpected resolution."

-Science Fiction Chronicle on The Sacrifice

"Rusch's greatest strength...is her ability to close down a story and leave the reader feeling that the author could not possibly have wrung any more satisfaction out of the piece."

-The Kansas City Star

"Kristine Kathryn Rusch integrates the fantastic elements so rigorously into her story that it is often hard to remember she is not merely recording the here and now."

-Science Fiction Weekly

"Whether [Rusch] writes high fantasy, horror, sf, or contemporary fantasy, I've always been fascinated by her ability to tell a story with that enviable gift of invisible prose. She's one of those very few writers whose style takes me right into the story-the words and pages disappear as the characters and their story swallows me whole.... Rusch has style."

-Charles de Lint

About the Author

New York Times bestselling author Kristine Kathryn Rusch writes in almost every genre. Generally, she uses her real name (Rusch) for most of her writing. Under that name, she publishes bestselling science fiction and fantasy, award-winning mysteries, acclaimed mainstream fiction, controversial nonfiction, and the occasional romance. Her novels have made bestseller lists around the world and her short fiction has appeared in eighteen best of the year collections. She has won more than twenty-five awards for her fiction, including the Hugo, Le Prix Imaginales, the Asimov's Readers Choice award, and the Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine Readers Choice Award. Publications from The Chicago Tribune to Booklist have included her Kris Nelscott mystery novels in their top-ten-best mystery novels of the year. The Nelscott books have received nominations for almost every award in the mystery field, including the best novel Edgar Award, and the Shamus Award. She writes goofy romance novels as award-winner Kristine Grayson. She also edits. Beginning with work at the innovative publishing company, Pulphouse, followed by her award-winning tenure at The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, she took fifteen years off before returning to editing with the original anthology series Fiction River, published by WMG Publishing. She acts as series editor with her husband, writer Dean Wesley Smith.To keep up with everything she does, go to kriswrites.com and sign up for her newsletter. To track her many pen names and series, see their individual websites (krisnelscott.com, kristinegrayson.com, retrievalartist.com, divingintothewreck.com, fictionriver.com, pulphousemagazine.com).

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B004ZMBMRO
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ WMG Publishing, Inc. (January 8, 2014)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 8, 2014
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2384 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 496 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 0615778739
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 299 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Kristine Kathryn Rusch

Kristine Kathryn Rusch

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

New York Times bestselling author Kristine Kathryn Rusch writes in almost every genre. Generally, she uses her real name (Rusch) for most of her writing. Under that name, she publishes bestselling science fiction and fantasy, award-winning mysteries, acclaimed mainstream fiction, controversial nonfiction, and the occasional romance. Her novels have made bestseller lists around the world and her short fiction has appeared in eighteen best of the year collections. She has won more than twenty-five awards for her fiction, including the Hugo, Le Prix Imaginales, the Asimov’s Readers Choice award, and the Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine Readers Choice Award.

Publications from The Chicago Tribune to Booklist have included her Kris Nelscott mystery novels in their top-ten-best mystery novels of the year. The Nelscott books have received nominations for almost every award in the mystery field, including the best novel Edgar Award, and the Shamus Award.

She writes goofy romance novels as award-winner Kristine Grayson.

She also edits. Beginning with work at the innovative publishing company, Pulphouse, followed by her award-winning tenure at The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, she took fifteen years off before returning to editing with the original anthology series Fiction River, published by WMG Publishing. She acts as series editor with her husband, writer Dean Wesley Smith.

To keep up with everything she does, go to kriswrites.com and sign up for her newsletter. To track her many pen names and series, see their individual websites (krisnelscott.com, kristinegrayson.com, retrievalartist.com, divingintothewreck.com, fictionriver.com, pulphousemagazine.com).

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
299 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

R.F
5.0 out of 5 stars Rusch does it again!!!
Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2023
Verified Purchase
I’ve read lots of Rusch’s science fiction work but never any fantasy. This book was awesome and fun. Great characters and conflicts all around. Rusch is descriptive and thorough in creating her world. The end satisfying. I look forward to the second book.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
A_Power
4.0 out of 5 stars Compelling Throughout
Reviewed in the United States on October 17, 2012
Verified Purchase
Jewel is the grand-daughter of the Black King, the ruler of the Fey. The Fey have conquered half the world and have set their sights on the other half. The only thing standing in their way is Blue Isle - an island known for trade and not warfare. Jewel and her father travel to Blue Isle for what they expect will be a swift victory. But they - and the Islanders - are about to discover a tide-changing secret.

I read this series for the first time more than a decade ago. I remembered enjoying the balance of war and romance very much the first time around and I hoped I would enjoy it a second time. And I did. As an older reader, I do notice holes in it that I didn't when I was younger, but for all that, it is a compelling story that kept me turning pages, even though I know what happens.

Jewel is only one of an array of interesting characters. Kristine Kathryn Rusch takes the opportunity to examine Fey and Islander societies from multiple vantage points - from those their people judge important to those they consider negligible. My favourite characters were Scavenger - a member of the least important Fey known as Red Caps who have no magic and are consequently considered without value - and Matthias - an Elder in a religion which he's not sure he accepts. Though the story switches characters throughout, the pace never flags and each chapter carries the story forward. Definitely worth a read.
4 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Samantha Suvak
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Multi-POV Fantasy Story
Reviewed in the United States on July 16, 2023
Verified Purchase
This is a really great fantasy story that hooked me in! It uses multiple character POVs and tells the story of the Fey invading a peaceful island people. And invaders are the bad guys, but I liked all the characters in the book and I get where they're coming from even if they're being jerks. Excited to read more in the series.
Helpful
 Report
J.RUFO
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Fantasy novel
Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2023
Verified Purchase
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. All the characters were believable and entertaining and some complex.
I can't wait to read the sequel
Helpful
 Report
Dallas Lauchner
4.0 out of 5 stars Peace through war, religion, love or some variation?
Reviewed in the United States on November 21, 2016
Verified Purchase
This is such an interesting thought provoking book that initially seems to be about war, and a disagreeable war with a people hard to like. But then religion seems to take the upper hand and many excellent questions arise about the use of religion in war. Then love or is it lust or is it some vision of something more takes control of the story and seems to take it someplace new that few fantasy epics even attempt. Volume one ends with lots of questions and positive momentum to the next volume. It's hard not to give it five stars.
3 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Walter Perrin
5.0 out of 5 stars Well written fantasy
Reviewed in the United States on December 17, 2022
Verified Purchase
Great fantasy store line with great characters. Kristine weaves a great story with plots and history melded together. A good read.
Helpful
 Report
srae
2.0 out of 5 stars Not a page turner
Reviewed in the United States on September 2, 2013
Verified Purchase
When you find you are skimming pages trying to get to the good parts, you probably have wasted your money on the book. I have read Rusch's series Driving the Universe. Loved them. Lots of good characters, mystery, nail biting excitement, fun story premise, just can't wait to read the next book in the series kind of book. This was not true for her Fey series. The fey book was predictable, frustrating, with an unbelievable romance between the two main characters, one from a country of cruel mass murderers, that live to kill everyday and a peaceful island people who only the prince and his sword master know his to fight. I gave up trying to read the whole book, skimmed through the book until I finally jumped to the final chapter and read what you knew was going to happen after the fourth chapter. Won't be reading more of this series.

Try instead any other of her series. I for one have enjoyed all of them. They are very unlike, thank you for that, her Fey series.
17 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
yss
5.0 out of 5 stars The most extraordinary fantasy/sci-fi writer
Reviewed in the United States on August 24, 2021
Verified Purchase
She is THE best I have ever read my life reading In this genre. This entire series is the most complicated, in depth and complex you could possibly want to read.
This series starter is breath taking in pace and impossible to put down. I actually read all night twice because I couldn't stop.
2 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
Peter Ffrench
5.0 out of 5 stars Epic series starter
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 6, 2022
Verified Purchase
I've enjoyed reading this book, despite the length it has held my attention following the action and trying to understand the motivation of the characters. The cruelty and ruthlessness of the Fey, the turmoil in the Church when their most sacred product is found to be all that will kill the Fey and the despair of the Islanders thinking that their home will never truly be theirs ever again. The solution at the end seems to be the only compromise that will allow them to live together but at what cost to the Islanders who were happy to trade and coexist with anyone not to be subservient to a cruel master race who's sole purpose is to overrun and control the world.
Report
Anne
5.0 out of 5 stars Série d'une grande qualité
Reviewed in France on June 11, 2018
Verified Purchase
Cette série est d'une très grande qualité.
Tout y est, l'intrigue, le suspense, l'univers très particulier et très bien documenté.
Si vous aimez la magie, la politique, les coups tordus et les gentils, lisez cette série !
Report
Neil T
3.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing
Reviewed in Australia on February 13, 2023
Verified Purchase
This book made me sad. A very good story, told by a very good storyteller, who unfortunately couldn't get past the fact they were a modern day American. I'm sorry, but leaders in lands and times such as are the setting for this story do not use contemporary slang. Things do not "happen on their watch", nor do they call each other "buddy". These are just two examples of the poor writing/editing that really intruded, in a very negative way, on what was a very promising work. Maybe next time the author should employ a better editor.
Report
Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Great 5star
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 8, 2023
Verified Purchase
Once started you can't stop. Excellent and fairly fast paced hope I can read the next as soon as possible.
Report
Heathered
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 27, 2022
Verified Purchase
Loved this book, so many interesting characters and plots. Lots to keep me interested in what will happen next! Recommended.
Report

Report an issue


Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report