Soul Sacrifice

Spirit Shield Saga #3

by Susan Faw

The underworld writhes. Terror unleashed. Souls enslaved.

The Spirit Shields with memories returned are plunged into a conflict older than mankind. The pending battle pits family against spirit and flesh. The godlings face off for ultimate control of the souls of the dead, each with their own agenda, for there is no love lost between these siblings.

Helga, goddess of the underworld, tightens her hold on those who hold the key to ultimate victory. Meanwhile, Avery struggles to convince her sister Artio that unless they become allies they will fail in their misaligned quest. Cayden, with the aid of Brimstone, struggles to fulfill a destiny prophesied since their original deaths long ago.

Can four warring siblings find peace and forgiveness? Or will they battle to the end of the world, sacrificing all living souls in the conflict?

Don't miss the exciting conclusion to the Spirit Shield Saga!

308 pages, Paperback

Published April 24, 2017

About the author

A lover of unusual worlds, Susan is a masked crusader for the fantastical world. Championing mythical rights, she quells uprisings and battles infidels who would slay the lifeblood of her pen. It’s all in a night’s work, for this whirlwind writer. Welcome to the quest.

Dante Rossetti Grand Prize awarded for Best Young Adult Fiction of 2016, Chanticleer Reviews, for Seer of Souls.

First in Category, Dante Rossetti, Best Young Adult Mythology, 2016, Chanticleer Reviews, for Seer of Souls.

First in Category, Dante Rossetti , 2017 Chanticleer Reviews, for Soul Sanctuary

Find out how it all began! You can download the prequel novella to the series for free!

Visit susanfaw.com to download your copy, or copy and paste this link: http://susanfaw.com/

Reviews

[Judith Docken]

From the dark and terrifying opening to the cataclysmic, heartbreaking final clash, Soul Sacrifice is a riveting read. Evil forces vie for control in a struggle that could go either way. Alliances are forged and broken and secrets long hidden are uncovered, as humans and Primordials alike fight to protect the well of souls from Helga’s twisted plans. Alive with vivid imagery, very real human conflicts and relatable characters, Soul Sacrifice is a page-turner, a satisfying and triumphant finish to Susan Faw’s Spirit Shield Saga.

[Ola Adamska]

Great finish of the series! Everything comes to the conclusion - every event was prophecised and would have its explanation.
In this book alliances change, who was sworn enemy would become the surprising ally, who was considered ally would be apparently an enemy. What struggles would occur this time for our four godlings?
Join them in this spectacular conclusion of the series.

[Lana]

The grand finale to a magnificent series and wow what a ride this was. The war had always been one between the Gods and never one between primordials and catharians but unfortunately the gods pulled everyone into the war. The battle had to be fought bu those who supported Avery and Cayden, the twin spirit shields as alone they could not defeat their sister Helga who was ready to reap souls before giving them the chance to be reborn. Susan Faw wrote so beautifully about the idea of rebirth and reincarnation of souls, showing the cycle of death and life as never ending through rebirth which was Cayden's sphere of protection through the well of souls which Helga had damaged and was robbing of soul spirit to feed her daimon horde. Avery calls for herlp from the spirit world - a world beyond the human one and that is the transition to the gods and Artio and Genii call on their father for help and help is given. The great fight takes place in Cathair and is finally won however at great loss for all who fought. The cycle of life though carries on and a mother gives birth to the future once again!! I particularly loved the character of calleigh in this book and the beautiful elder oak tree! An epic fantasy read which has all the usual good against evil characteristics, on the one hand we get Helga who is pure evil with her daimon, shades, soul fetch dolls, charun and lava pitted against all that is good like the pegasuses, the oak tree, the twin godlings, mordacai and genii and of course calleigh and good wins after such a heart wrenching period of doom and destruction.

[Anne Monteith]

The author has written a beautiful tale of rebirth through reincarnation for all creatures, a cycle where the souls are protected by the spirit shields. Cayden and Avery are the spirit shields and now recall most of their past and why they chose to become human.

Avery has been joined by Artio, at first as her prisoner because Artio is still focused on revenge and believes that Avery and Cayden were responsible for killing her and her lover Genii. She knows that without Avery’s assistance she will be unable to use the boxes even is she manages to decipher how to use them. As they travel toward the temple she starts to resemble the woman she once was and lose the characteristics of the bear that was used when the Flesh Clan did their ritual.

Helga has released Genii from the underworld making him human again but failing to tell him that everyone and everything he comes into contact with will rot and die. In regaining his humanity, he regains his memories of the love he and Artio shared. Not realizing the curse Helga has placed on him he goes in search of Artio.

Mordecai and Cayden have also been released from the underworld but they are still under Helga’s control through the soul fetches. Fearing that Helga will realize how much Zionia means to him he leaves her one night while everyone is asleep and puts a block on the bond they share so she cannot immediately follow. Cayden believes that the only way to win against Helga will be dying but for him their will be no chance of rebirth; his soul will not go into the well awaiting reincarnation, it will simply cease to exist.

4.75/5 **I would like to thank the author, Susan Faw for giving me a copy of this book to review in exchange for an unbiased, honest opinion.**

[A.A. Jankiewicz]

Soul Sacrifice, the third and final instalment in the Spirit Shield Saga takes off right after the end of Soul Sanctuary. The stakes are higher than ever as the battle for control of the souls of the dead comes down to the climactic battle between the godling siblings Avery, Cayden, Artio and Helga.

I won’t post a plot summary simply because if you happen upon this review and have not read the two previous volumes which are needed to understand the story, I may accidentally give something away.

I thoroughly enjoyed this last volume of the trilogy. Faw does a great job of creating an intrinsic world with believable and very human characters that you leave wanting to turn the page for more. Filled with magic, mythology and adventure, I highly recommend this YA read.

[Thomas]

Man!!! What an ending to a fabulous set of stories.
One of the most epic battles written, sacrifices of some really great people for others the continue.

Two sisters part gods, part who knows what, both with the intent of ruling the world and all its inhabitants. Even if it means the deaths of their siblings. Other lesser beings with the same intent not knowing that they were just pawns of the godlings.

Susan Faw is a two time winner of the Dante Rosetti Awards for Seer of Souls, & Soul Sanctuary. Both from The Spirit Shield Saga.

[Rosemary Hughes]

This is great series, with multiple scenarios being carried out, across a given time span. Some may find it difficult to balance the various aspects of the story, but it is dramatic and intriguing, keeping the reader enthralled with each different event.

This is, in a way not a HEA ending, but it is a righteous ending. An ending which epitomizes the ideals of our heroes.

Yes, a VERY enjoyable saga!!!

[Jojo]

The epic conclusion to all the chaos that Helga creates and will the twin Spirit Shields and Artic beat the odds? I was hooked on this Trilogy. It was well written and detailed enough that I felt like I was traveling alongside Cayden and his sister Avery. A few Twists that I didn't see coming kept me from putting the book down.

[Jackie]

Just another amazing book by a fantastic author. Great fantasy that leaves you wanting more. Loved helping to review the ARC

[Phthon]

Wow! Amazing finale to a gut wrenching series that kept you on the edge of your seat. I never knew what was going to happen next. Wow...just...wow

[Veray]

This was an amazing series that kept me on the edge of my seat. There were so many twists and turns that I had to go back and read again to make sure I read it right. I would love to see it as a movie! The ending was a bit of a surprise, but the epilogue was very surprising and it if meant what I thought it did I wasn't so sure about it. I mean who would want to be the mother of their previous lover. Kind of weird if you ask me. Just saying.

[LooseBoots]

Wow,
What a wonderful book. It was such a pleasure to read . I was totally captivated by the story. Sadness, love, greed and kindness. A melting pot of emotions and for a change , the good guys win.
May the force be with you.

I am sad it's over and I will re-read at some point.

Thank you for creating such a treasured trilogy.

well worth a read.

[Linda]

A satisfactory conclusion to this series. This book was a bit confusing at the begining but by the end of the middle it was all coming together. you have 6 children of a GOD, and not 4 like we thought. They are all fighting for the very souls of mankind. Who won? I know do you?

[Mary King]

i love this series it was a great book, it held my attention and it left me wanting to read more of her books.

[Janet Wild]

A great finale

Throughly enjoyed this saga. A good blend of fantasy, good v evil, mythology with hints of horror and romance. Never read the author before but may read more

[Donna]

*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book*

I loved the entire series and I am sad to see it end. I love the characters and it is definitely hard to believe that Helga is Avery & Cayden's sister. I can kind of understand Artio's actions but Helgo is a piece of work. I really feel bad for Cayden and Ziona in this book. They do what they have to do but at such a high cost. I will definitely be looking for more by this author in the future.

[Damian Southam]

Rejects, abominations and unnatural creations of the substance of nature from whence they come, a shroud of death and absolute stillness and silence follow the wake of the Charun's path. As Achak remained frozen, for anything less would bring his own decapitation, like those the Charun and his brethren carried to dispose in a circle of other rotting testaments to their depravity. The triangular pyramids around the horrid open pit, were made worse by the realisation that each was created with the plethora of other unpolished skulls belonging to whole villages of missing Primordial people - his people. Never had he seen such blatant disregard for the sanctity of life, but in whose name they act shouldn't mean any surprise for the lengths the blighted spirit shield is prepared to go to. Avery too had begun to notice absences but it wouldn't be until Achak, who'd grown fond of her since his help started, checked back in with all that he'd learned of the deaths of her new wards.

If it were something more than the mundane affairs of her's and Cayden's she'd come to use her own mortal presence to draw in the culprits. Her presence and the power of her tattooed body to contend with the killers would only work to draw to her the creatures with more than the untainted mortal souls. Her body markings, her attire and the unique weapons are all legacies of the temple designed for more than just the high priestesses, regardless of what those with ambitions beyond their capability and standing in the spirit shield realm, that marked her with the true essence of the soul incarnated at her birth; as to Cayden's. Since their God Born, or godling, souls had revealed their true selves the spirit shields had altered her's and Cayden's incarnations so completely that they each suffered identity crisis in their own individual ways.

For her the melding of her true self with the more reserved original self has been more seemless than it has for Cayden. Much more comfortable in her new body and purpose she didn't however have the detrimental effects wrought by the perverted soul snatch dolls, which undoubtedly play havoc with both Cayden and Mordecai's beings. Avery's spirit shield abilities and capacity has been getting more pronounced since their confrontation with the new combined Godly form of their soul sister Artio. Avery and Cayden lived their twin lives with the presence of each other in their telepathically linked minds before the arousal of the spirit shields. Thus meaning they had the same sort of bond before the renewal which reflected similarly the bond their original immortal souls had before they made their sacrifice to become mortal, in order to protect the functions they served.

But Cayden has been uncontactable since the altercation, cutoff telepathically by wherever Helga kept him, he would possibly also be cutoff from his soul-link to his beloved, Ziona. It all had started leaving Avery feeling more bereft than at any other point in their shared existence as godlings and holistically since before their ascension. They each nedded to consider and get more used to the notions that some of what came before is irrevocably different, and might only be attainable again in mere snippets if they should both survive Helga's dark desires. Of course this is among the nefarious plans of their adversaries who would take control of all the spirit shields to rule in unison, potentially making their past and present sacrifices meaningless unless they find a way to prevail, or at the least ameliorate. Whilst the mortal contenders would have all spirit shields destroyed so that the Gods would no longer have any influence over the affairs of humankind and the like, their desires are shortsighted and lacking the understanding of what their success would mean for life as they experience it.

Little do they know or remember that without celestial involvement through spirit shields over crucial mechanisms, that all life would cease to exist inside the mortal realm. The thirst for power has warped not just certain shields but also the rule of man, as those seeking it would call it. How quickly their history has forgotten that with the exclusion of their dark mistress the mortal interests were not removed from their governance, the three other original godling shields irreparably damaged had lived alongside and in coalition with mortals; not as only Helga would have it. And yet many see fear but also self serving interests as those only the dark mistress will provide, making them as blind as those they belittle. But even then, although she seeks to unify ruling, Helga's machinations and corrupted meddling seeks something that ultimately relates to the original gods and not inherently with mortal rule for the sake of only itself. Whilst it will have absolute influence over mortal kind it isn't for that why she seeks her endgame, it's to get back at the gods for punishing her.

When it did arrive, the Charun attack Avery instigated came silently at first. Avery's readiness won out quickly and definitively in that first single instance, showing her to be so much more capable than she was before she was reborn. Her bone knife struck true and where normal blades wielded couldn't fatally wound or kill, her weapon combined with her power could do what others couldn't. The next three that appeared, however, sought to provoke her failure through words. Avery's resolve is far beyond the years and capacity of the body still so young in many ways. The Charuns' blighted existence was created by Helga's soul thefts, which she then sent into the abyss to be bonded to pieces of the darkness to create the blights, instead of permitting their natural entry into the well of souls for those who'd live good lives and contributed to the process of life. These that circled her now knew she could despatch them which promptly changed their confidence, where nothing else but facing their mistress could. They would use her connection to her twin brother and the way that Helga could now pull on his strings in order to make her susceptible to an error that could cost her dearly.

Their one weakness in the absence of a necessary bright light to keep them at bay is that their mistress wanted Avery's capture, not her death. So whilst they had to hold back in order to wound but not kill, she has no such limitations which gave her an advantage she meant to exploit to its fullest. Thankfully too, Achak's timely arrival would see him capable of defending himself from their unnatural blades whilst giving her the chance to move in on those he kept from striking at her, as she was likewise distracted before his arrival. It was enough to turn the tide, as with each distracted blight Avery could weave between, to flip and move with advanced agility to bury her blade again, causing those she stabbed to shriek and pop from existence, returning the darkness in them to the abyss. She did feel something akin to remorse for the souls that'd been twisted by her sister but which she couldn't afford to let it sway her. Being the cowards they are, once the odds were no longer in their favour they rent the fabric of space and opened a portal again, so that they could retreat to a likely disciplining by their mistress.

Meanwhile beneath the usual lay of the land where life still exists, Helga has trapped Cayden and Mordecai in a pocket sealed with the substance of the abyss. Anything alive that touched the black tar like seal of his cave is disintegrated. For anything daring to near, the tar would stretch and grab any life or the souls released by the death and ashes that resulted. The Underworld mechanisms have their place in the cycle of life, meant for those souls intended for Helga's care because they could not learn to contribute to life. But Helga nonetheless plays a very dangerous game in seeking to manipulate that which should exist in only the bowels of the world. When the true purpose of the substance, to trap and keep in its domain those bad souls isn't realised properly, a slippery slope can be created by her meddling into places never meant for occupation by things with life, including godlings. But in her unquenchable thirst she would brook nothing but total dominion, whether she is capable of actually leaving appears to be incidental.

The cyclic arguments Helga has with Cayden leave him bereft over the frustrations and the power to escape where she's trapped him that is no longer his to control. His access to the well of souls now cutoff leaves him inept and unable to do anything about it, or to use his godling heritage and power; even with Mordecai's company they are still powerless and he is lonely without his links to Avery and Ziona. If not for the fact that Mordecai too has been trapped, both suffering injuries far more dangerous because of the soul fetches, then hopelessness might surely sack his will. When his and his twin's souls were immortal they'd respected and valued the mortal contributions of souls to the continuance of life. Having given up their immortality to be reborn as mortal godlings awaiting a reawakening, the godling twins now knew the contribution of mortal understanding even more greatly because of their changed natures. But before, after, during, none of it mattered to Helga who'd only ever been immortal and embittered, disgruntled at a betrayal which has cut her off from any meaningful life outside of her hatred.

For Helga the depths of her planning knows no bounds. Controlling the two soul fetches that took care of two adversaries, and her recent deal in expanding her dominion over the daimons too meant that success is more guaranteed. Control and manipulation have been the tools that would permit her to smite the intentions of the Gods, and to smite them as they have her. Once they'd punished the only one of them who really cared for the realm of mortals, in large because of his involvement with a mortal woman, they'd abandoned it and turned their backs. A failed experiment of creation they did not care if its happenings led to its distruction. But she'd teach them her lesson once she finished accruing the control that would give her power enough to show them, and to escape her prison. She'd become as powerful whether it caused the destruction the shields feared is incidental once it released her from her bondage. Confined as she is Helga has created minion after minion to burrow and mine to the depths she was never meant to have gone, discovering things better left undiscovered.

For Artio, in her wrathful current form for the part of her betrayed by her sister, but which has been misdirected in ways that she cannot see, she only sees its the twins who're responsible. If successful in her bid she would deleteriously remove those capable of helping her to reach true justice. Part of her new body was betrayed before it was used to house her soul, a giant animal demigod betrayed by the gods, the beings with a great many debts to pay. Bereft of a love she's partially forgotten because of her time in the stars, the lover now bonded to her true betrayer who had jealously attempted to steal the happiness of her life and love that had once been the epitome of Artio's existence. But to keep what her immortal soul would've eventually lost, she was manipulated into building the beginning of what would cost her all that she had.

She'd essentially empowered her nemesis to take what was hers. Her wrath now consumes her every waking moment but it will never find true expression if its never aimed at the responsible party. Revered by an assembly of primordial clans, they might give her an additional strength to commit unknowingly the aims of her betrayer. Together with the twin souls that once called her sister, they're all victims of misdirection as much as, if not more than, the damage done by the godling responsible. The primordials who returned part of her to a new kind of existence are also in essence using her. To reach the supremacy of their belief system over their contenders', those who traditionally had seen her sister as their benevolent ruler have now switched alliance. But in some ways she's now living an existence that was never meant for her, and it could be the undoing of those who summoned her from her celestial burial place. Or perhaps for her twin siblings, or maybe even the sister who truly owes the blood debt she's determined to collect. Artio the bear demigod could potentially be snuffed out by her original killer once she's served her purpose, or she might hopefully become a pivotal actor in the game that could see it go the way of her innocent twin siblings.

Ramifications following the outcomes of the previous book are rippling through the environment like the undulations on the surface of pond water, like when a pebble is dropped into its centre so that ripples permeate away from the disruptions. From the obvious that affect the major players to the incidental that have more far reaching subtle effects, such as the release of the geas or enchantment that enforced mindless obedience from the armies of men, who'd been under a spell on behalf of the now deceased usurper Alcina. Maybe even that which entraps Artio's soul lover, Genie.

But where the head of one of Helga's minions falls there always seems to be more that poke up in the absence. If nothing else, Helga's capacity for preemptive strikes and backup plans show her level of intelligence, whilst the depths for which she'll reach show her depravity, naivety, and hopefully the false belief that she can control everything. The conflicts happening among the mortal races and power players continue to grow whilst many blindly march toward to their own destruction. They claim not to require godlings or spirit shields, and yet the efforts they make show that something or someone needs to be holding the reins, lest their greed be the thing that costs so many innocent lives.

In this new book the fingers in the pie are at an all-time high. Machinations left, right and centre are in play. Misdirection, like in so many real and fictional examples continue to be the endeavours with the most nefarious goals. The greed and attempted reach of those interested only in the artificial factors of life, in power, authority and control, continues to climb heights as yet unknown. Plans upon plans upon backups permeate the plots in a complex interplay of mystery, tension and intrigue. With much of the groundwork now complete or firmly in place its the varying consequences that start to show. In true epic fantasy style all that has come so far has been intended to reveal just how complex and detailed the games are.

Those you want to win are overwhelmed in trying to play catchup, let alone being able to go on the offensive or to go on to make a leap forward to get that necessary one or two steps ahead, those that'll let them make real headway in the battle for life. As can often be the case, for the good that hope to prevail its an inability of transcendence that holds them back; they simply cannot conceive the ways evil thinks and plans because its outside the scope of their abilities to look at the world in the same way. Thus they must often first experience a magnitude of losses necessary for them to start being able to plan accordingly. For everything that happens that cannot be defended against its often because the planners have done things they cannot themselves ever imagine doing so. In this factor of life it's why sometimes you need fire to fight fire.

With never a dull moment or a hiatus in the action the Spirit Shield Saga is of comparable character to the other really large sagas that epic fantasy readers seek and are accustomed to expect, like in the really good examples of them. In true empathetic style, even those you don't want to win have reasons that whilst being enormously out of bounds with regard to acceptable desires, they nonetheless have factors that don't justify, but do explain at least some of the why's. Susan's style is easy to slip into and carries you well into the story. With sneak peaks into the mystery there's tidbits that captivate you into finding out how they will turn out. With lovable and contentionable characters both, in a complex and rich environment its easy to slip into the worlds of imagination that carry you away. The notion of spirit shields and the lore that underpins this world is a strength, as are the characters. So if epic is your thing, or if you just love a good, long, and really detailed story then this saga will cross off the boxes you want to tick.

[Amber]

This book is exciting and I couldn't put it down! It holds you at the edge of your seat. I can't say more otherwise everybody will be yelling spoiler alert.

[Raewynn]

Wow, I loved this series!
There are so many twists and turns and things popping up that you just don't anticipate!
The storyline is great and I would recommend to anyone, this series.
Susan Faw is a terrific writer of epic stories and characters.
Terrific!