I really wanted to love it. The premise was amazing and I was so excited...

It was slow. Like painfully slow. It felt stuffed out to me. There were some really solid elements to the book and had it been about a 1/3 shorter, it would have worked.

It didn't feel like a horror either. There wasn't any suspense building, nothing really scary about it. The characters were decent, I think a lot of the interactions were well written but I was just underwhelmed with the book as a whole.

3 stars

I LOVE books that are rooted in mythology and cultural relevance and this book really delivered for me

It was so unsettling and kept me guessing and on the edge of my seat. I will be looking for more from this author in the future!

This book was really so different from what I was expecting. I was expecting Appalachian horror but this felt a bit more memoir-esque or lit fic. Definitely not BAD just not what I was expecting.

Tense, thrilling, and atmospheric, this is the novel to read if you’re someone who loves books that fill you with a sense of dread, but you somehow can’t put them down. Set in rural Nebraska, Sacrificial Animals follows the Morrow family in two different timelines. At first, the relationship between the two timelines is unclear, but Kailee Pedersen slowly weaves the two together and reveals ghosts left unburied. Chock-full of unforgettable and unlovable characters, Sacrificial Animals is bound to make you squirm.

The hardest thing to navigate with this novel is the writing style. Designed to be stream-of-consciousness(esque), this book is dense. Luckily, the chapters are short and give you lots of stopping places! In addition, the book was just a little too long. It ended up dragging at points and could’ve benefited from being 30-50 pages shorter. Overall, Sacrificial Animals earned a 4/5 ⭐️ from me! It honestly was closer to a 3/3.5 until the very end, so take that as you will.

This book will definitely not be for everyone, so please check the content warnings before diving in. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC!

Rating: 1.4 leaves out of 5
-Characters: 2.5/5
-Story: 2/5
-Writing: 1.5/5
Genre: Horror, Thriller
-Horror: 0/5
-Thriller: 1/5
Type: Ebook
Worth?: Nah

Want to thank Netgalley and publishers for giving me the chance to read this book.

First things first, that writing was not it. It was like someone who needed to make the word count on their essay so they spew word vomit. Pedersen could have made written this book beautifully if she had cut the book in half. She could have kept the writing style minus majority of the words. Making this into a novella or short story would have done wonders.

I didn't find this to really be horrific. I know a lot of people talked about atmosphere and I would like to ask WHERE? Was it in the woods? The house? I don't know but I sure couldn't find it. I would say the same with the thrill part but it was so minor.

Don't get me wrong, I do understand what Pedersen was trying to tell us but it got lose in the sea of useless words.

Diving from that, some aspects reminded me of The Only Good Indians. Then again mythology and folklore often do tend to meet a point every now and again.

This was a horror that was so slow that it changed its genre during reading. The feeling of fear or edge of your seat scare just is lacking. I was given so much time to ponder that I had the plot figured out.

I will not be rating this book outside of netgalley and only doing so here to protect my percentage.

⭐️⭐️/5
This one was hard for me. I read this as an ARC and it’s released now. New author to me. The cover looked interesting and so did the synopsis. I don’t like posting negative reviews, but I also have to be honest!

It’s a slow burn supernatural gothic horror that is inspired by the author’s adoption story from China and raised in Nebraska. It’s a mash-up of small town, farm life following the Morrow family (dad and 2 sons) in an abusive home filled with toxic masculinity and mixed with supernatural Chinese mythology. It explores how violence begets violence in this tale of vengeance. Each chapter goes between now and then and ends in a gruesome climax where the last meets the present.

This book did not hit the mark for me. The writing was verbose. A lot of unneeded imagery. Although there was a strong attempt at making the characters emotionally developed, the execution fell flat to me and they were all very 1 dimensional. A lot of daddy-issues. The mixing of Chinese mythology and small town Nebraska ended up being odd. But my main issue is still the prose. It was very hard to read. I almost DNF’ed and found myself skimming a lot of it and not missing much. :( sorry! 😢 just wasn’t my cup of tea.

An atmospheric
horror with a slow build to
a perfect ending.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️



I write haiku reviews but am happy to provide further feedback!

This was a very interesting and unexpected book! I wasn't entirely sure what to make of this book, but there was an interesting story at its core that kept me engaged. This is a very slow burn type of story that requires some effort to push through at times, but I think is ultimately worth it. I was really fascinated by the blend of Chinese culture and mythology with some American midwestern aspects as well. I really liked learning that some of this was inspired by the author's own experiences, as that always lends an extra layer of authenticity and realism to a story. As mentioned, this is a slow burn that at times felt hard to get through, but I think Pedersen's prose really kept me hooked on both the story and simply wanting to read more from her, and for that reason I had an overall positive experience with this book.

Sacrificial Animals is a man giving up on his children by failing them miserably but yet expects their life long respect and obedience. I live on the Nebraska border and one thing all midwesterners feel at some point in their lives is leaving and never coming back. But then as we grow we see where we come from is a part of us.
Josh and Nick are tied to eachother, the land, their family yet they never can fully cut any ties.
But don’t be fooled this is NOT contemporary literature. It is dark and twisty, explores shame and guilt, LGBTQ and how it differs from small town to city life. And just an overall eerie feeling.
When you see an old abandoned farm house on a country road and get a weird feeling just driving by it?
Yeah, that.
Stunning horror novel disguised as speculative fiction.

Sacrificial Animals is a horror story told in dual timelines, narrated throughout by the younger brother Nick. It starts slowly with the story of two brothers, Joshua and Nick, raised by their father on an isolated 1000-acre estate after the death of their mother. Their father is a brutal man, who physically and mentally abuses both boys. The first 80% of the book is devoted to this abuse of the two boys, who escape as adults, and vow never to return. It is a graphic and upsetting, and often slow read. When the two brothers and Joshua's wife, Emilia, finally return to the home when the father is dying, the true horrific purpose of the story becomes evident. It is quite a chilling ending to a book that sheds light on both an ancient myth, and the modern-day horror of child abuse and animal cruelty. This is not an easy read, with an overly long narrative, but it is definitely thought provoking. Thank you to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for my advance copy. The opinions of this review are my own.

"Sacrificial Animals" by Kailee Pedersen is an astounding and chilling debut novel. I went into this book completely blind; I didn't read a thing about it beforehand. At first I thought it was a story about a father and his two sons, with a healthy dose of toxic masculinity and abuse, and it was that. But when the mysterious and incredibly beautiful wife of one son enters the story, I soon came to realize that this book was so much more than a family saga.

This book is a slow build and switches back and forth between the past and the present, adding to the suspense. The writing is cerebral and I would classify this work as 'literary horror.' The ending is very dark, gory, and definitely not for queasy readers. The mixture of Chinese mythology and good old-fashioned white America's love of violence and control made for a unique read for sure.

"Sacrificial Animals" is a creepy, atmospheric read and Kailee Pederson is definitely a writer to watch. Fans of "The Only Good Indians" by Stephen Graham Jones (one of my favorite authors) will not want to miss this one!

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the privilege of reading an advanced copy of this spectacular debut!

Book Review: Sacrificial Animals by Kailee Pedersen

Rating: 4 Stars

I recently dove into Sacrificial Animals by Kailee Pedersen, and what an experience it was! This debut novel is a rich blend of personal history and supernatural horror, inspired by Pedersen's own journey as an adopted child from Nanning, China, growing up on a Nebraska farm. The story revolves around Nick Morrow, who receives an unexpected invitation from his estranged father to return home. After escaping an abusive household, Nick thought he had left the past behind him for good. But when he arrives back at the farm, the ghosts of his childhood—and a few new ones—start to resurface.

Nick’s brother Joshua, who was disowned for marrying Emilia, a woman of Asian descent, also finds himself drawn back into the family's toxic dynamics. While Joshua quickly rekindles a connection with their father, Nick is left to navigate a burgeoning romance with Emilia. However, as their relationship deepens, Nick begins to sense that Emilia's interest may be tied to something darker and more ancient than he could have ever imagined. Interspersed with haunting memories from Nick's adolescence, the novel tackles themes of inherited trauma and the complex layers of familial relationships, all while keeping you on the edge of your seat.

Now, let me get into my thoughts about the book. Man, was this book full of purple prose and atmospheric tension and unease! Honestly, I enjoyed every minute of it. Yes, it was slow-moving at times, and the writing was definitely on the flowery side. But that’s part of what made it so captivating. The prose is meticulously crafted, creating a slow burn that builds an air of dread that lingers long after you’ve turned the last page.

The way Pedersen weaves together elements of supernatural horror with deeply personal and emotional storytelling is nothing short of impressive. You can almost feel the weight of the past pressing down on Nick as he navigates his return to a place filled with both love and pain. The atmosphere is thick with a persistent sense of unease that kept me turning pages late into the night.

Overall, Sacrificial Animals is a beautifully haunting debut that perfectly balances lyrical writing with an eerie narrative. If you’re in the mood for a slow burn that explores the complexities of family and identity against a backdrop of ancient mythology, then this book is definitely worth your time!

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

This book was certainly unexpected for me. I will start with saying that I am usually not a fan of the horror genre and tried to read this book from the perspective of a true fan. I initially thought that I might become a vegetarian based on the overly detailed descriptions of animal deaths. Early on, I switched from audio book to regular format so I could skim past these scenes. Overall, the prose is flowery even when horrifying and overly metaphorical - just not the writing style for me. And the story is nothing but depressing in my opinion. However, I rated up by trying to read from the perspective of someone who really likes this genre and think that fans will enjoy the slow build, the tension and the unveiling of the traps that the characters make for themselves. The ancient Chinese fantasy and fables were an interesting element that I wished had been played up a bit more. Anyway, trying to keep all this in mind but this book was not enjoyable to me in any format.
Trigger Warning - explicit animal and child abuse and gory scenes.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for the early copy of this book.
This is more of a literary horror which is unfortunately not for me. I liked the story enough but it was not holding my attention as much as I would have preferred.
I enjoyed the unique setting in rural Nebraska and the story about the fox. The ending was satisfying and I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for a slower-built family horror.

Nick and his older brother Joshua were raised by their domineering father Carlyle Morrow on his sprawling property in rural Nebraska. Their mother passed away while they were still very young and so they barely remember her, but Carlyle sometimes says that Nick reminds him of her, not that it causes him to be treated any better. To the contrary, the man clearly favors his first born and is grooming him to one day take over the estate. Though neither boy is treated with anything approaching affection, each existing at the whims of their father’s moods which range from near total apathy at best to violent rage at worst.

While away at college, Joshua meets and marries Emilia, who Carlyle instantly abhors presumably due to her Asian descent. He banishes the couple from his property and vows never to speak to Joshua again, which means that when Nick grows up and moves to the city, the old man finds himself alone with only his greyhounds to keep him company.

In the present day, both boys are now in their forties when they are called by their father to return home as he is dying of cancer and wants them all back together. Neither is eager to visit but they both find themselves going regardless, and while things seem strangely pleasant at first, the 3 men quickly find themselves falling back into their old roles. Joshua and Carlyle roam the property’s vast acreage hunting and fishing, while Nick is relegated to remain at home with Emilia, where the pair find themselves forming a strange and potentially dangerous bond. As deep-seated resentments and jealousies percolate back to the surface, Nick remembers the cruelties that were thrust upon him in his childhood and can’t help but feel as if the entire family is on an unavoidable path towards their own destruction.

Sacrificial Animals meanders along in beautifully extravagant prose, with borderline poetic descriptions of people, places, and events. The pacing is languorous to a fault however, making some sections drag. While the relatively short chapters that alternate between past and present provide some momentum, the dream-like atmosphere bogs down the story.

Inspired by Chinese mythology, there is a dark parable woven through the novel about man’s mistreatment of nature, but this is also a tale about the ways we can be cruel to each other, toxic masculinity, and the ripples of abuse through time. Most readers should have no trouble guessing exactly what is going on well before the characters do, but once things reach their violent conclusion it still feels satisfying. Kailee Pedersen proves herself a writer to watch, even if this first novel might have benefitted from some tighter editing.

Sacrificials Animals by Kailee Pedersen was an intimate portrayal of revenge. The plot was wound so finely that by the time you’re stretched to the highest tension, you’re perspective gets completely shattered. I loved the deeply pervasive folk horror elements, and the conclusive mythology of it all. So well written was this story that it rolled into my imagination like waves of eerie poetry, depecting the isolation and terrors of toxic masculinity and racial prejudice. I loved this story and I think anyone looking for a gorgeous literary folk horror will eat this up.

Truly truly found this to be a gorgeous and atmospheric book - not as much spooky in a traditional "horror sense" as atmospheric and exhilarating.

So let me start by saying that this is not my preferred genre. I went into this book knowing that it might not be my style. However, I did enjoy the book. It took me a little bit to get into it and some of the hunting was hard to read. While blood doesn't bother me in real life reading about the death of animals some of them quite gory was a bit much for me.

I was intrigued by the characters. I was hopeful that Nick might get the happy life he deserved. I thought that Carlyle and to some extent Joshua were jackasses. I was bothered by Carlyle's callous treatment of his wife and son's death. Once they were gone they were never mentioned again. Carlyle was cruel to both boys, but Joshua seemed to be unfeeling about Nick's neglect even as Nick felt for Joshua.

These twist in the this book was interesting. I felt this story reminded me of the Brother's Grimm fairy tales.


Thank you to St .Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Sacrificial Animals by Kailee Pedersen is really not my kind of book, in so many ways. Number one, it’s third person narration. Don’t love it. Number two, it’s about abuse, both physical and emotional. Don’t love that, either. Their mother died giving birth to their brother. That left them with their father. The older brother, Joshua, did better than did his younger, brother, Nick. His personality type is too different from his father’s. His father wanted to make a man of him. Nick didn’t see manhood the same way. He left home, planning to never return. His brother had been ostracized for daring to marry an Asian woman so he was all that was left. He kept in touch with his father. He didn’t enjoy it, but now his father is dying, bone cancer, he says, and he wants them to come home. They did. Joshua got on better with his father, as always. Then, things started getting strange.

I didn’t love it. I can’t deny the author has a way with words and that she has a story to tell. It is just not a story I want to hear.

I was invited to read Sacrificial Animals by St Martin’s Press. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #StMartinsPress #KaileePedersen #SacrificialAnimals