Lucien is still recovering after being kidnapped and left to die. Caleb is in the dungeon for questioning and judgment. Xander is acting strange, spending less and less time with Peter. The team is without a leader with Caleb being gone. And on top of everything else, Peter’s body is dying. The cravings for blood are intensifying and there is a battle going on inside of him. No one knows what will happen if he is turned, which part of him will take over. But a decision must be made, as he is quickly running out of time.
Together, Lucien and Peter work to put their coven back together. Silver is pegged as a replacement for Caleb as team leader, but first he must defeat all others desiring the position according to dog law. Peter receives a personal visit from Daniel, with a particularly interesting request from the council. Whatever decision Peter makes will affect both his relationship with Lucien as well as the lives of their coven members. Peter struggles with forgiving the one responsible for what happened to Lucien and dealing with the potential loss of one of his closest companions. In the end, Lucien and Peter will make the decisions needed to move forward, for both themselves and for the coven.
Soul Mates: Sacrifice picks up right where Soul Mates: Deceptions left off and it is just as full of adventure and excitement. This series is based in a fascinating world with characters that are both well developed and captivating. Over the span of three books, the relationship between Lucien and Peter has grown exponentially and watching these two together is always thrilling and engaging. Peter has gone through so much, accepting both this new world and his role in it, and he is an excellent leader. He may not always know the right decision immediately, but his main focus is always the welfare of the coven members, those that follow him and Lucien without question.
As always, this world is filled with fascinating secondary characters that add so much depth to the story. In particular, we learn more about Simon, both who he truly is and what happened in his past. He is a quiet character, always there when Lucien or Peter need something, but underneath the surface is a heavy burden. There is so much more to learn about Simon, and I can only hope that he will play a large part in the next story. Also returning are Nikolas and Sabaan, two of my absolute favorite characters in this series. Nikolas and Peter continue to be close, their bond strengthening, and Sabaan proves to be a very useful asset for both Peter and Lucien.
Once you start reading, it is impossible to resist begin immersed into this world and its characters. Everything about this series is top notch and makes for an exhilarating and gripping read. This book could stand on its own, but I highly recommend starting at the beginning with Soul Mates: Bound by Blood followed by Soul Mates: Deceptions. Each book builds upon the previous stories and they are therefore best enjoyed in order. If you like these stories, I also recommend reading the other stories in the series, A Coven Christmas and “Possession” from the Spiked anthology. These stories provide yet another look at specific characters and are just as wonderful as the books in the series. Lane’s writing is exceptional and as always she ends this book in a way that is both a satisfying ending and an opening to the continuation of the series. This is just one example of Lane’s impressive talents and the beauty of this series.
“It was odd, the way things had changed so much in my time here. I'd come to realize that nothing stayed the same for too long. Whether it was the nature of the world in general, or the growth and stagnancy of relationships of the people involved in it ~ things would always change.
People would always change.
…
I'd gained friends, lovers, and a family here. I loved and was loved in return. Accepted for who and what I was. This was my home, in every sense of the word.”