“The Sacrifice” by Shantel Tessier – An Audiobook Review
⭐ Rating: 3/5
Year Published: 2023
Genre: Dark Romance, Erotica
Page Count: 644 (17.5 hr)
Narrators: Heather Firth & Liam Dicosimo (Duet Narration)
Quick Summary
The third book in the L.O.R.D.S. series, The Sacrifice is a dark, steamy romance packed with power dynamics, betrayal, and high-stakes tension. While still suffering from some of the same issues as its predecessors—a convoluted plot and underdeveloped characters—this installment is marginally better written, with a more engaging storyline and slightly more compelling characters.
What I Liked
Improved Writing & Storytelling: Compared to the previous books, this one felt more polished, and the plot—while still twist-heavy—was at least easier to follow than The Sinner.
More Engaging Characters: Though still lacking in depth, the characters in The Sacrifice felt a bit more fleshed out than in prior books.
Well-Done Dual Narration: As with the other books, the audiobook narration was solid, enhancing the reading experience.
What Didn’t Work for Me
Still Lacking Character Development: I get that this is erotica, but with a book this long, there should still be stronger character arcs and emotional depth. Instead, the characters felt surface-level, making it difficult to get truly invested in their journeys.
Convoluted Twists: Like the other books in the series, The Sacrifice leans into overcomplicated plot twists, some of which feel unnecessary or forced rather than adding meaningful stakes.
Shantel Tessier’s Style Just Might Not Be for Me: After three books, I’ve realized that her writing style, character development (or lack thereof), and storytelling approach just don’t click with me.
Who Should Read This?
If you’ve enjoyed the L.O.R.D.S. series so far and are looking for another dark, high-heat romance with power struggles and suspense, you’ll likely enjoy The Sacrifice. But if you’ve struggled with the convoluted plots and shallow character development in the prior books, this one won’t change your mind.
Final Thoughts
While The Sacrifice was an improvement over the previous books, it still suffered from thin character development and an unnecessarily complicated plot. If nothing else, it solidified for me that Shantel Tessier’s books just aren’t my thing. A better effort, but ultimately, not one I’ll be recommending.
