MY REVIEW - SACRIFICED - THE LAST ORACLE BY EMILY WIBBERLEY

Title: Sacrificed

Series: The Last Oracle

Author: Emily Wibberley

Release Date: 13th February 2015

BLURB from Goodreads

Fifteen-year-old Clio should have never been the Oracle of Sheehan. That power is passed from mother to eldest daughter, and Clio is the youngest of four sisters. But when her entire family is murdered by Mannix, the king's adviser, Clio is left all alone and heir to a power she never wanted and doesn't understand.

Hunted by Mannix, Clio seeks refuge in a foreign city where oracles are absolutely forbidden. If she's found out, she will be sacrificed atop its great pyramid. 

Clio has no choice but to win the trust of Riece, an enemy warrior. Despite the growing feelings between them, Clio knows that if he finds out who she really is, he won't hesitate to kill her.

Clio tries to hide her budding powers, but the visions she has of Mannix bringing a barbarian army into Sheehan torture her conscience. She alone has the strength and foresight to stop him, but only if she can embrace her destiny and sacrifice everything.

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INITIAL THOUGHTS

I am really looking forward to this one a lot. I promoted it on my blog recently and it really piqued my interest. Reading the blurb made me think of another two series I have read and totally adored, A Dance Of Dragons Series by Kaitlyn Davis and the Throne Of Glass Series by Sarah J. Maas.  So as I loved those series so much I have fairly high expectations for this book.

MY REVIEW

I received an e-copy of this one from the Author in exchange for my honest review. The cover features a figure shrouded in a bright blood red hooded cloak. The cover also has a pyramid on it. The pyramid is also featured in the book plot from a rather important scene in the book. Would the cover makes me pick this up from a book store shelf? Yes it really would stand out to me. As i said it was the cover that really drew my attention when I was signing up to do Book Blitzes.

So the main character in the book is 15 year old female, Clio,  she is the youngest of four sisters.Their mother is the Oracle of Sheehan, and so runs and resides in the temple. The Oracle receives visions from the Deities, and the people of Sheehan consult her regularly and give gifts and sacrifices to the Deities in exchange for their blessings. Being an Oracle is something runs in a family. Clio's mother is considered a great oracle who has saved the King of Sheehan and it's people many times. Clio's mother has the pure white hair that Oracles have and she has assistants called Vessels to do her bidding and help with the temple duties and blessings etc. Clio's two eldest sisters have been Vessels since they reached the age of 16. When the book begins Clio and her only sister left at home with her Ali are talking about the fact Ali has just turned 16 yrs old and will be going to the temple to begin her teachings in becoming another Vessel for their mother. Neither Ali nor Clio knows what the teachings are but the eldest sisters seem different, they have a muted, hollowness about them. Clio is desperate to spend every last minute with Ali whilst she is still at home as although Ali says she will never change Clio knows only too well that she will.  When the present Oracle dies her powers will pass to her eldest living daughter. So that is a reason why Clio is not at all worried that she will ever become an Oracle.

Sheehan is a poorer kingdom than the nearby mighty Morek. Morek has many fine warriors that fight to take over land. Morek has already swallowed up many communities and now it seem Morek has set it's sights on Sheehan. 

There is suspicion, the Emperor of Morek despises Oracles and has had the Oracle of Morek and her vessels killed. There is also a lot of deceit, under handedness, and betrayal. Mannix is in charge of the Sheehan warriors that are basically young boys and farmers more used to working in the fields than fighting in them. Mannix is confident that he can broker some sort of deal with the Emperor of Morek so that Sheehan is not just swallowed up by Morek. But how does this arrangement benefit Mannik? 

Sadly the King of Sheehan is murdered and the blame put onto the Oracle and her vessels. Mannik sends warriors to kill the Oracle and her family. Fortunately for Clio she has had a disagreement with her family and is not home when her family is killed.

Clio is busy hiding in a tree with Prince Derik of Sheehan. It is whilst she is in the tree that she receives her first vision. So Clio is the new Oracle of Sheehan and finds she has a lot of enemies, and many that would love to kill her too. Clio "see's" her sister ALi alive but taken prisoner in Morek so Clio immediately treks to Morek.

There is so much more about this book than the basics I have mentioned above, for example why the power of the Oracle has not gone to the eldest living daughter of the Oracle.

There's the friendship and common goals of Prince Derik and Clio. I haven't even mentioned two of my favourite characters who are Riece, the head guard and mighty warrior of Morek. His sister Tirza who is featured in the latter part of the book, and I hope will be a prominent character in books two & three. To be honest I wasn't so sure about Prince Derik, whether I felt Clio should trust him or not. I will say I took an instant dislike to Mannik. . . and I didn't see that superb twist coming at all. This really is a great read. There really aren't any dull moments at all in this book. You are kept constantly engaged with the plot and characters. 

I enjoyed the concept of the Deities and the Oracles, and the diversities within races of the Sheehan people, the Morek people and those that live in the wastelands between that need to be avoided at all costs. 

I could honestly go on and on about this book, so add it to your "To Read Lists"

So did I enjoy the book? I truly loved it, every word! Would I recommend the book? Oh, yes, in fact I've already recommended this one to a few of my blogging friends! Would I want to read more in this series? Yes, please I'd love to, these characters have so much more to give. I want more Clio, more Terza and much more Riece please! Would I read other titles by this author? I would certainly take a closer look at anything written by this author.