This is an absolute nightmare of a cosmic horror novella. The situation just goes from bad to worse…and worse… and worse. The idea of having to sacrifice others for your own gain is used to really great effect and there are so many insane descriptions of creatures that are now etched in my brain. Marley is a real son of a b and it all leads to a huge, tragic, brilliant ending.

Thanks again go to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for providing me this eARC in exchange for an honest review. What an original novella that was also a pleasure to read. Cosmic horror has become a new favorite subgenre of mine. To say anything more about the plot wouldvruin the reveal for the next reader, but it was a bittersweet ending. As a bonus, there is a short story unrelated to the novella included in this publication. It was very reminiscent of a certain Night Gallery TV movie that I remember watching as a kid. Both are highly recommended.

I almost never read horror, the world is it's own horror story and I usually read to escape. This book is a Novella and was a one day read, so I thought it would be fun to read a different genre which happens to take place in my own state, in a nearby town. I enjoy short stories/ novellas because they have to get to the point and there's not a ton of filler.

Caleb and Marley are two toxic childhood friends who stumble upon a weird sacrificial ritual and gain powers. The story takes place over their entire lives and while topically its a creepy story that feels extra creepy because knowing its in my own state, and reading at 3 am next to the woods just makes it a tiny bit weirder, but also it inspires some theological thought. While the story is creepy in general, the underlying message (which asks the reader to question indoctrination of children) leaves you thinking about the story long after you've finished.

This was so interesting -- I kept thinking, what could possibly happen next? How can this keep going on? Caleb and Marley depend on the wheel for their successes in life, and Marley doesn't mind the children who have to be sacrificed to make it work. I found this horrific and original and I hope to see more by this guy.

I found this deeply fine. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

My overarching sense of this work was undercooked. I caught a typo that was spelled correctly later on the same page. The dialogue was a little stilted at times, as was the prose. There's a lot of telling instead of showing. There are also a few things that didn't quite make sense to me, the most notable being when Claudia gets upset at Caleb for spending so much time with Marley, but they only seem to be meeting up twice a month. The implication is that Caleb is never present with his family, but the timelines don't seem to add up. However, the cosmic horror aspects were delightfully creepy, and while the epilogue didn't do much for me, I'd love a continuation of the last chapter.

I'm interested to see what else Boulerice writes going forward, because the combination of cosmic horror and a toxic friend is a good once, but this one did not hit nearly as hard as I would have liked.

I received this book from NetGalley for a review. The description made it sound super weird, and it delivered. I read it in one sitting, it had me so enamored. I couldn’t wait to find out what was going to happen.

Caleb and Marley are neighbors and best friends. When they began sneaking out of their houses at eleven years old, they simply explored their small neighborhood. But, as that became dull, the two began exploring the nearby national forest. One night, they go farther than ever before and come across a clearing surrounding a hill. At the top of the hill is a giant millstone surrounded by singing children in white dresses holding hands. The stars in the sky are different from what they know their stars to look like. One of the children comes down and welcomes to two to join them. Without much hesitation, they do. Soon after, a large monster made of vines comes out of the woods and grinds one of the children into the millstone. Horrified, Caleb and Marley and run all the way home.

Over the next few weeks, the boys notice they are suddenly smarter, more talented, and more likable. They wonder if these improvements are because of what they were a part of in the woods. Unfortunately, their new gifts wane over time. They wonder if their gifts will come back if they visit the wheel again. The boys’ next actions set off the events that will define their entire lives.

I loved this book! It is completely original and such a compelling story. It drew me in much like the quintessential cosmic horror novel, The Fisherman. Unlike The Fisherman, the first third isn’t boring and I never wondered where the story was going. The action starts almost immediately and keeps up for the entire book. If you’re a fan of cosmic horror this is a must read.

Get your own copy July 22,2025.

3.75/5

In Feeding The Wheel, we are presented a pretty bizarre premise which includes but is not limited to: human sacrifice, a tale of friendship (kind of....) and a giant terrifying wheel. Though it is short in length, it packs a punch, not only with the horror and descriptions included (check trigger warnings if needed) but also with an almost literary description of how a certain situation can change and affect people in such different way, digging through family and social dynamics. Can't finish the review without mentioning the heart-stopping artwork included throughout the book, helped with the atmosphere and immersion a lot.

Thanks to NetGalley and Death's Head Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Michael Boulerice's Feeding the Wheel is a terrifying and absorbing novella about the evolution of a narcissist and the woe that comes to his enablers. A perfect story for these troubling times. Fans of Ray Bradbury and Stephen King will love this!
-Ivy Grimes, author of The Ghosts of Blaubart Mansion

4.5/5 stars. I read this in an afternoon and enjoyed most of it. I'm not a huge fan of how the story was tied up in the end, but it was satisfying enough and the plot kept me intrigued the entire time. I recommend to anyone that wants an interesting, short cosmic horror. Check trigger warnings if needed.

I made it about 60% in and was bored ti be honest. I reslly enjoyed the ritual parts but I just couldn't get into any of the other parts of the book. I will read this author again in the future sometime.