Sacrifice the Wicked: A Dark Mission Novel [Mass Market Paperback]

Karina Cooper (Author)

Book Description

Release date: September 25, 2012 | Series: Dark Mission

“A brilliant new voice in paranormal romance.”
—New York Times bestselling author Christina Dodd

Karina Cooper’s Dark Mission novels are red hot—and, with Sacrifice the Wicked, she returns readers  to the darkly thrilling dystopian realm of witches and witch hunters she introduced in her stunning debut, Blood of the Wicked. This time, it’s a battle of the sexes, as reluctant allies become passionate lovers in a world on the brink of destruction. Agent Simon, a witch, finds himself fighting to save the life of his stunning enemy, Director Parker Adams, while, against his better judgment, falling in love with her. Cooper has boldly staked her claim to paranormal romance greatness—with her Dark Mission books as well as her brilliantly imaginative Victorian steampunk series, The St. Croix Chronicles—placing herself in the same exalted ranks as paranormal and urban fantasy superstars J.R. Ward, Kresley Cole, and Karen Marie Moning.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“The murky, gritty mood of the Dark Mission novels remains strong in this fourth offering...Cooper has a gift for creating characters with depth, and the ongoing plot keeps the reader engaged. The relationship between the hunter and the hunted is the most passionate and dangerous ever.” (RT Book Reviews (4 STARS) )

From the Back Cover

Parker Adams has always done what’s expected of her . . . until a double agent with nothing to lose ignites a passion she doesn’t dare give in to.

Mission Agent Simon Wells is everything Parker Adams has been trained to fight: manipulator, murderer, spy . . . witch. But for her, what makes Simon most dangerous is his mesmerizing sexual magnetism, powerful enough to tempt even the famed ice queen of the Mission. Though she knows better, each encounter with the deceptive agent leaves her craving more.

Simon isn’t a man to let go of what’s his, and his pursuit forces Parker, a woman he can’t get out from under his skin, to make a stand that could destroy her. If they can work together, they might survive the politics that has enslaved their devastated world—or fall victim to the pitfalls of desperation, bone-deep mistrust, and a hunger that threatens to consume them.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Avon; Original edition (September 25, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0062127691
• ISBN-13: 978-0062127693
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 1.1 x 6.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #733,398 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

After writing happily ever afters for all of her friends in school, Karina Cooper eventually grew up (sort of), went to work in the real world (kind of), where she decided that making stuff up was way more fun (true!). She is the author of dark and sexy paranormal romances, steampunk adventures, crossover urban fantasy, and writes across multiple genres with mad glee. Her award winning steampunk series, The St. Croix Chronicles, is the RT Reviewers Choice Awards recipient for Best Steampunk Novel 2012.

One part glamour, one part dork and all imagination, Karina is also a gamer, an airship captain's wife, and a steampunk fashionista. She lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with a husband, a menagerie, a severe coffee habit, and the fantasy of a dog. Visit her at www.karinacooper.com, because she says so.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Best in the series so far September 25, 2012

By Jen TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Kindle Edition

If you still have a copy of All Things Wicked sitting on your bookshelf, heed my advice and reacquaint yourself with it before you pick up this book. I didn't and I wish I had. If you've never read a Dark Mission book before, I suggest you start with Blood of the Wicked. Otherwise, you'll have no idea what is going on here.

This book draws heavily on the events of the previous installment and while there is a little bit of recap, there is not much. So I spent a little too much time, straining my brain to remember who, for instance, Nadia Parrish was, and where the hero fit in to the Eve project. The book assumes a working knowledge of the world-building and of past events.

All that being said, I think this is my favorite book in the series. The romance was smoking hot. Phenomenal sexual tension and sweltering bedroom action. (*fans self*)

Simon Wells is an agent for the mission, but he is also a genetically engineered witch. He's been placed in the mission as a spy for another sector of the Order. There are, in fact, other witches who have been placed in similar positions. But their DNA is degenerating. And it's Simon's job to take them out cleanly, before they die an ugly death and expose the program.

Parker is the Mission's director and she takes her job seriously. She knows there is something amiss with Simon and Sector Three, but she has no idea how deep it goes. The fact that she is wildly attracted to Simon only makes matters worse.

When Parker's name appears on Simon's hit list, he decides enough is enough. He won't kill this loyal, amazing and dedicated woman, just because she is getting too close to the truth. So the two of them go on the run...... trying to get one step ahead of Sector Three and the timebomb of Simon's faulty DNA that's ready to blow at any moment.

Parker is this amazingly put together woman, who maintains absolute control at all times. Except with Simon. There is a sinful dominating quality about him that simply makes her melt. (And me too!!) He reduces her to her most feminine and pliant... and he is so sexy and growly and... It's just really hot. She fights it and fights it, which makes it all the more satisfying when they finally get together. Rraw!

I'm not going to say too much more except to warn you that there is a big, wet, sticky cliffhanger. None of the other books ended this way, so when I got to the last page, I was unprepared for the story to end without resolution. Boo!!!! Clearly, I will be reading book 5 to see what the hell happens next. Read more ›

4.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't put it down June 10, 2013

By Brittany

Format:Mass Market Paperback

More like 4.5 Stars. I really liked the tension and chemistry between Parker and Simon. As I've said before, characters always sell me on a book, pretty much regardless of plot.

But the plot in Sacrifice the Wicked is also wonderful. You really feel the climax of the series building. Each page turned has more and more tension escalating. It was really hard putting this one down and forcing myself to sleep between reads.

Beautifully done, Karina.

Another book I've loved!

4.0 out of 5 stars An Amazing World! March 8, 2013

By Ruth

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Based on this book alone I can tell you that the world Ms. Cooper has created is complex, compelling, and without a doubt, fascinating, but it was Simon and Parker’s relationship progression and their off-the-charts sexual chemistry that drew me in and kept me turning the pages. The storytelling is so well done that even though I probably should have set it aside until I could read the other books, I couldn’t put it down.

I’m looking forward to reading the series from the start because this is one incredible world and I want to explore every bit of it!

My thanks to Avon Books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4.0 out of 5 stars Sacrifice the Wicked March 1, 2013

By Vanessa

Format:Kindle Edition

After the fan incident in All Things Wicked, yeah stuff hit it. I could not wait to dive into Sacrifice the Wicked. The revelations made were going to have some strong repercussions that flowed over into the next book. There was also that thing that Simon and Parker had not going. I knew these two would be a treat to read, especially considering there was a huge non trust potential enemy thing.

Simon is very sexy and extremely dangerous. I was left questioning his motives more times that I can count. He made an intense hero to fall in love with. He was paired with an equally intense heroine. Parker is one passionate woman. She is determined in outing the spy's that have infiltrated her mission and uncover all the secrets that are being covered up by the Church. She also has full intentions of overthrowing all the conspiracies she is finding along the way. Parker has near fatal tunnel vision when it comes to these tasks. As a pair they are a force to be reckoned with and one the Church should fear.

The Dark Mission series has a dark edge that readers don't get to see too often. I love dark books. The darkness in this series is often cruel and always heartless. The deeper readers are taken into this gritty post-apocalyptic Seattle the darker things become. The secrets that have been hidden for decades are beginning to be revealed at an alarming rate. The pace is accelerating and I am so glad I jumped on this thrill ride.

The ending left me slightly aggravated. I can assure you I would have been even more upset if I had to wait for the next book in the series. Luckily it is in my Kindle. It is not a cliff hanger. There are just questions I need answers to right this second.

5.0 out of 5 stars "Between the thrilling action, killer plot and sizzling romance the reader can't help but become enthralled..." January 3, 2013

By M. Nix

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Mission Agent Simon Wells rides a fine line between being good or bad. He's on a critical mission that he is determined to keep under wraps but the beautiful Parker Adams keeps getting in his way. Simon is dying like the rest of the people like him. But before he dies Simon is going to save Parker from herself.

Being Director Parker Adams should mean something but right now Parker can't seem to get the truth from anyone. She wants to find out who is killing her people and stop them but no one is willing to help. Simon knows more than he's telling her, and she knows it! Parker will find out what is really going on or die trying and it seems that someone has decided dying is what she needs to do.

Will Simon be able to save Parker from the people hunting her? Can he convince her to trust him?

Sacrifice the Wicked is Sexy with a capital S! The Dark Mission series just worked its way to the top of my TBR pile with Sacrifice the Wicked. Parker and Simon share an intense sexual attraction causing enough heat between them to melt the pages. I highly recommend that this series be read in order. There are a lot of things going on in this story that will leave the reader saying "huh?" if you haven't read the previous books. I have really enjoyed Ms. Cooper's world building in the Dark Mission series. It just keeps getting better and better. I love that Parker and Simon return to the dark and gritty streets of New Seattle as they run for their lives. Karina Cooper gives her readers some fantastic action sequences in Sacrifice the Wicked. Between the thrilling action, killer plot and sizzling romance the reader can't help but become enthralled by Sacrifice the Wicked.

Miranda for Joyfully Reviewed