The lives of two brothers under a hardened and cruel father are explored, and when one marries a girl of Asian descent, all hell breaks loose. The book is divided into past and present, with cause and effect situations on these characters’ lives. There is plenty of sacrifice, both of actual animals and of these boys and men as they fight each other and within themselves, as sinister intentions swirl around them. I found the writing worthy, but the retelling of this ancient fairy tale is draped under a veil of darkness which lends a morose vibe throughout. I did not particularly care for this one, but can appreciate the author’s final piece just the same.

I won’t lie and say that Sacrificial Animals is an easy and fun read, nor would I recommend it if you’re going through any sort of depressive episode. While brilliant, this novel lives in a sense of hopelessness. It is the epitome of haunting, ruminating not on haunted houses or terrifying ghouls, but on the all too real presence of lingering childhood trauma, and the lasting effects of toxic family dynamics.
Overall, while there is a paranormal element to this story, that aspect was not where my favour lay. I felt more invested in the then and now depictions of the main protagonist, Nick’s, day to day. The slow reveal of cause and consequence, and how his later identity and relationships were altered by the experiences of his past. Compared to that, the supernatural twist almost felt trivial, though it did bookend the events of the plot nicely. With that in mind, I appreciated the fact that the true horror of this story was not found in the conclusion—or, at least, in my opinion it wasn’t—but rather in the midpoint as you realize exactly how Nick’s relationship with Carlyle has damaged him.
One thing stopped Sacrificial Animals short of being a perfect read for me, and that was the final chapter. The last chapter from Emilia’s perspective felt completely unnecessary and really just came off as an exposition dump of folklore. It was especially disappointing because all of the important points had already been covered in context clues throughout the rest of the narrative.
Overall, while this book gave me depression, I did like it. It was a beautifully told story about terrible things, and was ultimately a very addictive read that I wholly recommend should you feel up to it

The description that initially captures you to read this in the first place is so wonderfully downplays how good this is. It was gore, it was creepy and sinister. It was a delicious slow build to the terror. Building the story by shifting between “then” and “now” perspectives, Nick and Joshua’s childhood is laid out as the backdrop for them both escaping their childhood home and the eventual return they both make 30 years later along with Joshua’s wife, Emilia.
This was a blend of childhood horrors that met with a Chinese myth come to life.
I really enjoyed the story which is weird to say considering how tense and uncomfortable it is the entire time. Almost the whole story is told from Nick’s perspective as the youngest brother and least favorite in the family between him, Joshua, and their abusive father. He suffers from the moment his mother dies through the rest of his life. There’s some tender moments but the entire time is Nick just doing anything he can to please his father only the eventually leave and never return. Only when his dad calls asking him back does Emilia’s part really start to stand out. I loved her.
Themes of: mythology, revenge, childhood trauma, abuse, animal abuse. This was graphic and not just alluding to anything so definitely trigger warnings for those things.

Sacrificial Animals by Kailee Pedersen is a dark and atmospheric gothic horror that delves into the chilling legacy of a troubled family. The story follows two brothers, Nick and Joshua, who return to their childhood home to care for their dying father, only to confront the sinister ghosts of their past. Pedersen creates a haunting atmosphere and weaves in elements of ancient Chinese mythology, adding depth to the narrative. While the novel effectively explores themes of inherited trauma and family dysfunction, the pacing can be uneven, and some plot twists feel predictable. Overall, Sacrificial Animals is a compelling read with moments of genuine suspense, though it may not fully satisfy those seeking a more intricate or unpredictable horror experience.

Sacrificial Animals by Kailee Pedersen is an impressive supernatural horror story!
Such a wonderful and captivating read.
Pedersen’s writing skills are truly remarkable. The author's gripping plot that immediately grabbed my attention and kept me engaged throughout.
The author did a nice job of crafting an entertaining and compelling story,

Sacrificial Animals by Kailee Pedersen #sixtyeighthbookof2024 #arc #sacrificialanimals

CW: cruel animal death, human death, child abuse, hunting

Nick is called home to Nebraska for his abusive father’s imminent death, along with his brother Josh and sister-in-law Emilia, whose marriage is the reason Josh was disowned years ago. The story cuts between now, when Nick starts an affair with Emilia, and back when he was a young teenager suffering from his father’s cruel treatment.

I almost DNFed this book, but I’m really glad I stuck it out. Something told me to keep going. I enjoyed the portions in the present day better than the flashback chapters, but then as the book progressed, the historical chapters reveal more about why the present day part is unfolding the way it is. And the last 20% is everything. It all comes together in a way I wasn’t expecting but is just perfect.

I don’t know anything about Chinese mythology but the story constructed in this novel and the ancient tale it’s based on makes me want to learn more.

This book won’t be for everyone. It’s hard to read at times and also a little slow during some of Nick’s thought processing, but I think it’s worth it for that ending.

Thank you to @stmartinspress and @netgalley for the advance copy. (pub date 8/20/24)

#supernaturalhorror 🦊

Trigger warning on this one for gore, and animal killings. The title literally describes what goes on in parts of this book, which is a tale of generational trauma, abuse, loyalty, and some Chinese mythology. Nick and Joshua get called back home to their father's deathbed in Stags Crossing, Nebraska years after leaving their childhood home and never planning to return back. Joshua had been disowned by his father for marrying an asian woman, and Nick was the favorite son but still suffered verbal and physical abuse at the hand of his father. Upon returning to Nebraska they are forced to face their childhood demons and contend with new ones as sibling rivalry competes with their desire to please their father. The timelines alternate between present day and their pasts and is narrated by Nick, who describes in detail the hunting and animal torture his father imposes him to do.

As if that wasn't disturbing enough, the book is also very slow moving. It's an exploration of relationships and trauma, and nothing really happens until you are 70% into the story. So not really my cup of tea as I thought it would be more of a horror story with less animal sacrifice.

This is perhaps one of the darkest books I have ever read . The horror of it sticks I. Your throat like heavy smoke. Primarily it is about a family, but a very twisted and torn up family, namely two brothers and the father. The father is a no nonsense violent and strict man, abusive, physically, verbally and emotionally. He pushes his sons to do violent and unspeakable acts like killing innocent baby animals because he believes in the toxic male stereotype that will force them into a mold of what he believes his children should be. He is also racist and classist to the point of disowning one son after he marries a woman he deems unacceptable. When his time to die approaches he summons both sons back to his home and there in begins the slow burn building up of temptation, psychological horror, and ultimately a form of brutal justice against the family. The style of writing was very hard to follow and the book took me a while to get through. Though I did enjoy the premise it, took me a bit and the catalyst was so painful to me as an animal lover I almost did not finish the book.

Sacrificial Animals by Kailee Pedersen is a novel about generational trauma, Chinese mythology, and the supernatural. 🦊

The book follows Nick, who moved away from his abusive, controlling father twenty years ago. That was also the last time he saw his brother (Joshua)—who was disowned by his father when he married a woman of Asian descent named Emilia. A phone call from his father leaves him with shocking news. Nicks’s father is sick and wants the boys to come back to Stag’s Crossing.

Both brother’s hesitate at first, but wind up going. Joshua quickly falls back into the role of loyal son. Nick and Emilia are left to their own devices, which leads to an attraction. However, there’s more to Emilia than what meets the eye.
The book is told from Nick’s perspective in the past and present. In the past he’s trying to catch an elusive fox that is eating his father’s chickens.

Okay… I’ll be honest. This book didn’t do it for me. I’m going to break down this review in what I liked, and what I personally didn’t like (but might work for you). I’m a firm believer in others loving a book I did not.

Liked:
The story telling was rich. Even though the content was heavy, the story was detailed beautifully. Even the brief gore near the end was elegantly penned.

I liked the atmosphere of creeping dread. The whole story you know something bad is going to happen but you’re not sure when.

Did not work for me:
The story took awhile to get going. I love a good slow burn. The ending definitely was rewarding, but I can’t help but feel I dragged my feet to get there. Not much happens until the 70-75%. It’s mainly character build up and slow burn dread.

While the title is Sacrificial Animals, there was a lot of cruelty to animals—so please be forewarned. The book starts out with killing baby foxes and it was hard to read.

No quotation marks. This is definitely a style choice—and I know of a few other books that do this as well. I found myself having to read sentences again sometimes because I didn’t realize it was someone talking. I’m a big fan of having them. Again that’s just my preference!

I really wanted to love this but it fell a little flat for me. The whole book felt very bogged down with purple prose and needlessly obscure words, which took the impact out of the lines that were truly stunning.

There were a lot of flashbacks & inner thoughts of the narrator that didn’t add to the story. If anything, they detracted because I would get lost in memories within a memory and forget what the point of the actual chapter was. In general, I think this would have been more impactful as a novella.

There were moments of breathtaking, lyrical prose. The author was also able to capture generational trauma and complex parent/child relationships very well. I think there is a lot of promise, and I look forward to reading their future work

I received a gifted ALC copy of SACRIFICIAL ANIMALS by Kilee Pedersen from Macmillan Audio and Netgalley!

SACRIFICIAL ANIMALS follows Nick, a young man raised on a farm in Nebraska. His abusive father pushes him to do things he isn’t comfortable with like hunting and killing animals. Both he and his older brother have left the farm and their father behind in the present day. His brother’s marriage to a Chinese woman puts an even bigger wedge in the family as his father can’t accept this. When their father gets a dismal diagnosis, he calls his sons (and his son’s wife) back home to care for him and say goodbye.

This is a book that pulls from the author’s own history. She was adopted out of China and raised on a farm in Nebraska itself. From the tone of the book, the atmosphere of this transition morphs into a supernatural horror story with a lot of trauma and darkness.

I would say that this book felt more like a literary fiction story and family drama for much of the book. We go back and forth in time following Nick through his youth and in the present day. The relationship with Nick’s father and his own questioning of the life his father is pushing him to lead is complicated and well defined. The horror does come in later in the book, but I personally would have liked that to come in sooner.

This was a really interesting read and a quick audiobook to consume as well. I think if you go in expecting a slower story and more of a character driven book, this is one you may enjoy!

When Carlyle Morrow was a young man, he left his home in South Carolina, and headed west to Omaha, Nebraska. There, he found a wife, bought land, and built a home, Stag’s Crossing. Soon, they had two sons: Joshua--the eldest--was like his father by appearance and temperament (wrathful and impatient), and Nick—three years younger--was like his mother by appearance and temperament (introverted and caring). When she died after giving birth to a stillborn son, Carlyle blamed the doctor whom he considered an outsider, and developed a decidedly aggressive dislike for Nick.

Joshua was a hunter like his father: delighting in the violence, and exhibiting a natural savagery. Nick, was a natural fisherman: patient and deliberate. Carlyle trained his eldest (and favorite) son to take over the homestead. But when Joshua defied him by bringing the home his future wife, Emilia, Carlyle disowned and banished him from Stag’s Crossing for breaking the one, solid and steadfast rule: never allow a stranger to enter the home.

The narrative is from Nick’s point-of-view with chapters alternating between Then and Now. The Now chapters occur twenty years later when Carlyle calls for his sons to come home, allowing Joshua’s wife to come as well. By breaking his own rule, is Carlyle inviting the proverbial fox into the hen house? Someone who—like the doctor attending his wife’s labor—will cause his second, fatal error?

There is an overarching feeling of the mythical in the telling of this story. First, it felt like I was reading a modern rendition of Nordic/Germanic folklore, filled with the natural world (forests and animals); huntsmen; tragedy; violence; and magic. Second, Emilia brings the magic of the huli found in Asian tales. The lack of quote marks added to the surreal nature of the narrative.

So, who are the sacrificial animals? Are they the deer, rabbits, and foxes hunted and killed by the Morrows, or are they people like Nick, Joshua, Carlyle, and Emilia? Read and find out.

I would like to thank St.. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this novel.

Carlyle Morrow is raising his two sons, Nick and Joshua, after the death of his wife. He is determined to raise them in his own image: racist, violent and paranoid. Both escape their father, but are called back when Carlyle is dying.

This story is told through Nick using both past and present timelines. It is unsettling and disturbing. The story builds slowly as the drama builds to its conclusion.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Publishing for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Available August 20, 2024.

Sacrificial Animals was very sluggish for me. I don’t know if it was because of the two time lines or not. Nothing happens until in the book until you reach the 70th percent mark and when it does . It’s not much to tell about. Just disappointed with this novel.

hank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Kailee Pedersen for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Sacrificial Animals coming out August 20, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I really enjoyed the Chinese folklore about the nine-tailed fox. I think it brought something new and fresh to the story on the farm. The writing was really good. I liked the story. I think it was a little too much of a slow burn for me. I was thinking there would be more horror from the start. So I wished for more action before the last act in the book. I would check out future books by this author because I love horror books.

DNF @ 4%

I couldn't get very far into this because the prose is just so purple and over-bloated. I also can't keep reading because of the subject matter, but depending on your own triggers, you might be fine.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley, for the free E-copy for review.

This gripping read delves into the darker realms of sibling rivalry, woven together with mythical Chinese lore.

We follow Nick, the second son, as we explore his tumultuous childhood. Always feeling inconsequential in his father's eyes and bearing the brunt of his cruelty, Nick dreams of escaping his childhood home when he’s old enough. It’s a visceral experience as he navigates the push and pull of trying to make his father proud while grappling with his distaste for hunting.

Kailee Pedersen masterfully infuses just the right amount of suspense, employing an interchanging timeline that builds toward a shocking climax. The incorporation of Chinese mythology adds an intriguing supernatural element, with some scenes so viscerally gory that they left me gasping.

Sacrificial Animals is a powerful exploration of belief, family dynamics, and vengeance.

It would be hard to say I enjoyed this book - the trigger warnings are real and shouldn't be ignored. That being said, there are still many things to appreciate about this novel. The writing is solid and flows well, the pacing is good, and the story is compelling.
I would recommend for fellow horror readers, with trigger warnings.

I am not sure what to say about this book. I did not finish it because it was too much for me but I"m not sure completely why. Perhaps the very abusive father?

The writing at times is spectacular and I was drawn completely in but I kept getting pulled out. The lack of quotation marks made it hard to follow the dialogue as well.

This is more of an intellectual horror that has deep themes and I wasn't and perhaps never will be ready for it.

2.5 stars.

Nick Morrow left rural Nebraska behind many years ago and never expected to return to the difficult and traumatic past he experienced living with his father, Carlyle. Joshua, Nick’s brother, was disowned by Carlyle for marrying Emilia, a woman of Asian descent. When Nick and Joshua each receive an invitation from their father to return home, they know it is an invitation they cannot refuse. Joshua and Carlyle quickly return to their old dynamic, leaving Emilia and Nick to their own devices. What starts as a simple flirtation quickly escalates to something more between the two, but Nick soon starts to suspect that Emilia’s interest in him may be more sinister than he believed.

SACRIFICIAL ANIMALS is a debut novel written by Kailee Pedersen and is inspired by the author’s journey of adoption from China in 1996 and growing up on a farm in Nebraska with supernatural horror and ancient Chinese mythology weaved in.

This novel has an interesting inspiration and a compelling synopsis but unfortunately, didn’t quite live up to my expectations. I initially found the story difficult to get into due to the lack of punctuation used for dialogue, while this was a simple annoyance and confusing, I soon became accustomed to the author’s writing style which is quite verbose.

SACRIFICIAL ANIMALS is told in the POV of Nick in alternating timelines, the present time, and the past (something like 20-30 years ago when Nick was a child). I enjoyed learning about Nick’s life experiences through this alternating timeline, although his character does experience some terrible and traumatic things. Nick’s narration is somewhat monotonous and flat which is paired with a slow burn development of the plot making this feel like a long way to get to the heart of the story. It’s an unsettling read that focuses on family drama (including abuse).

I wish I had looked more closely into the trigger warnings for this book because while I do not have many triggers, I do not appreciate reading about animal abuse in the novels I consume. The animal abuse contained in the beginning of the story was graphic and hard to read. I am grateful that these scenes were few though and limited to the first few chapters.

I loved the infusion of ancient Chinese mythology within this story. I am not super familiar with Chinese mythology but did pick up on these elements from the beginning of the story. I was rewarded with an interesting ending, and one that I wasn’t entirely expecting and was easily the highlight of this book! The ending is somewhat open-ended and leaves some interpretation up to the reader.

Overall, while this wasn’t entirely my cup of tea, it is certainly an interesting debut!

<i>I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, of this advanced digital copy for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for an honest review! All opinions shared are my own. </i>