What do you think?
Rate this book
Sacrificial Animals
Inspired by Kailee Pedersen's own journey being adopted from Nanning, China in 1996 and growing up on a farm in Nebraska, this rich and atmospheric supernatural horror debut explores an ancient Chinese mythology.
The last thing Nick Morrow expected to receive was an invitation from his father to return home. When he left rural Nebraska behind, he believed he was leaving everything there, including his abusive father, Carlyle, and the farm that loomed so large in memory, forever.
But neither Nick nor his brother Joshua, disowned for marrying Emilia, a woman of Asian descent, can ignore such summons from their father, who hopes for a deathbed reconciliation. Predictably, Joshua and Carlyle quickly warm to each other while Nick and Emilia are left to their own devices. Nick puts the time to good use and his flirtation with Emilia quickly blooms into romance. Though not long after the affair turns intimate, Nick begins to suspect that Emilia’s interest in him may have sinister, and possibly even ancient, motivations.
Punctuated by scenes from Nick’s adolescent years, when memories of a queer awakening and a shadowy presence stalking the farm altered the trajectory of his life forever, Sacrificial Animals explores the violent legacy of inherited trauma and the total collapse of a family in its wake.
The last thing Nick Morrow expected to receive was an invitation from his father to return home. When he left rural Nebraska behind, he believed he was leaving everything there, including his abusive father, Carlyle, and the farm that loomed so large in memory, forever.
But neither Nick nor his brother Joshua, disowned for marrying Emilia, a woman of Asian descent, can ignore such summons from their father, who hopes for a deathbed reconciliation. Predictably, Joshua and Carlyle quickly warm to each other while Nick and Emilia are left to their own devices. Nick puts the time to good use and his flirtation with Emilia quickly blooms into romance. Though not long after the affair turns intimate, Nick begins to suspect that Emilia’s interest in him may have sinister, and possibly even ancient, motivations.
Punctuated by scenes from Nick’s adolescent years, when memories of a queer awakening and a shadowy presence stalking the farm altered the trajectory of his life forever, Sacrificial Animals explores the violent legacy of inherited trauma and the total collapse of a family in its wake.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published August 20, 2024
About the author
Kailee Pedersen
2 books79 followersKailee Pedersen writes haunted, unsettling speculative fiction. She graduated with a B.A. in Classics from Columbia University, specializing in ancient Greek. Kailee was adopted from Nanning in 1996 and grew up in Nebraska, where her family owns a farm. Her writing on LGBTQ+ and Asian American themes was awarded an Artist Fellowship by the Nebraska Arts Council in 2015.
When not scribbling down her next book, you can catch her singing opera, playing video games, or working as a software engineer in New York City. Sacrificial Animals is her first novel. Visit her website at kaileepedersen.com.
Photo by Garland Quek (www.garlandquek.com)
When not scribbling down her next book, you can catch her singing opera, playing video games, or working as a software engineer in New York City. Sacrificial Animals is her first novel. Visit her website at kaileepedersen.com.
Photo by Garland Quek (www.garlandquek.com)
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 212 reviews
August 29, 2024
When Sacrificial Animals opens, we meet the Morrow family: the father, Carlyle and his two sons, Joshua and Nicholas. Carlyle is domineering and brash leaving Nick, the youngest—and the inferior in Carlyle’s eyes—to take the brunt of his violent actions and sharp tongue. When the eldest—Joshua—reveals his decision to marry an Asian woman, he is disowned by his racist father and sent away from the sprawling, grand estate of Stag’s Crossing.
Shifting forward in time, Carlyle seems to be softening with his old age but not much… Only enough to grant Nick, Joshua, and Joshua’s wife—Emilia—access back to Stag’s Crossing to see to his death and burial. Nick hasn’t seen Josh or Emilia for twenty years and though Emilia is Josh’s wife, she has a curious relationship with Nick. Soon, their relationship turns intimate but quickly grows in to something more alarming.
The story shifts between past and present timelines and while I think that both hold importance in the overall story, I enjoyed the present timeline so much more. The narrative takes on a slower pace and though it bodes well for building tension, I wish that we would have gotten to the heart of the story sooner. In my honest opinion, I feel this story would have read better had it come in around 220 pages versus the 320 that it is.
What I found interesting was that Pederson chose to narrate the story with the main focus on Nick when it’s clear (to me, at least) that Emilia is the star of the show here. While the scenes from Nick’s childhood became a little monotonous after a few chapters, I was awakened when scenes of Emilia appeared; I wanted to hear more about her character.
Here, I feel it necessary to say something about the writing style too which wasn’t my favorite, at least not in the first half. Sentences tended to be structured in not the most lucid of ways—often times venturing in to purple prose—and it only served to confuse readers rather than getting to the point. The amount of times I thought “put down the thesaurus and step away” while reading was innumerable. That said, the last 30%... WOW.
Reflections on trauma, race, father-son relationships, and family obligations. And as should be obvious from the title of this book, there is animal death and violence depicted in this book.
TLDR: Worth the read if you can withstand some overzealous prose.
Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review. Available 08/20/2024!
Shifting forward in time, Carlyle seems to be softening with his old age but not much… Only enough to grant Nick, Joshua, and Joshua’s wife—Emilia—access back to Stag’s Crossing to see to his death and burial. Nick hasn’t seen Josh or Emilia for twenty years and though Emilia is Josh’s wife, she has a curious relationship with Nick. Soon, their relationship turns intimate but quickly grows in to something more alarming.
The story shifts between past and present timelines and while I think that both hold importance in the overall story, I enjoyed the present timeline so much more. The narrative takes on a slower pace and though it bodes well for building tension, I wish that we would have gotten to the heart of the story sooner. In my honest opinion, I feel this story would have read better had it come in around 220 pages versus the 320 that it is.
What I found interesting was that Pederson chose to narrate the story with the main focus on Nick when it’s clear (to me, at least) that Emilia is the star of the show here. While the scenes from Nick’s childhood became a little monotonous after a few chapters, I was awakened when scenes of Emilia appeared; I wanted to hear more about her character.
Here, I feel it necessary to say something about the writing style too which wasn’t my favorite, at least not in the first half. Sentences tended to be structured in not the most lucid of ways—often times venturing in to purple prose—and it only served to confuse readers rather than getting to the point. The amount of times I thought “put down the thesaurus and step away” while reading was innumerable. That said, the last 30%... WOW.
Reflections on trauma, race, father-son relationships, and family obligations. And as should be obvious from the title of this book, there is animal death and violence depicted in this book.
TLDR: Worth the read if you can withstand some overzealous prose.
Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review. Available 08/20/2024!
July 28, 2024
Sacrificial Animals is a slow-burn literary horror that blends Chinese mythology with midwestern white America and cycles of familial abuse. It took me a bit to get into but ultimately gripped me up through the pitch perfect ending. The author drew on her experiences being adopted from China and growing up on a farm in Nebraska in the late 90's.
Alternating between past and present timelines, we follow Nick Morrow, the younger son of a racist, paranoid, and violent man who has only become worse since the death of his wife. He tries to raise his sons in his own image, pushing them into fishing and hunting. Nick is secretly queer and deeply traumatized by the violence he experiences as a child. As an adult, his father says he is dying. So he asks his children to come home. Including Nicks older brother who was disowned for marrying an Asian woman. Past and present wind together, as dread and horror slowly build. Again, it may be slow to start and it definitely leans literary, but I thought it was brilliant. The audio narration isn't my favorite but it's okay. I received a copy of this book for review via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.
Alternating between past and present timelines, we follow Nick Morrow, the younger son of a racist, paranoid, and violent man who has only become worse since the death of his wife. He tries to raise his sons in his own image, pushing them into fishing and hunting. Nick is secretly queer and deeply traumatized by the violence he experiences as a child. As an adult, his father says he is dying. So he asks his children to come home. Including Nicks older brother who was disowned for marrying an Asian woman. Past and present wind together, as dread and horror slowly build. Again, it may be slow to start and it definitely leans literary, but I thought it was brilliant. The audio narration isn't my favorite but it's okay. I received a copy of this book for review via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.
February 14, 2024
I love reading horror books that deal with race, mythology, and family drama, so this should have been the perfect book for me. I ultimately feel like this book is really bogged down by its prose and structure.
The book is divided into two parts, then and now, with alternating chapters taking place while Nick is growing up at the farm and with the boys reunited following their father’s cancer diagnosis. The blurb talks about Nick’s sexuality (then) and his eventual affair with his brother’s wife (now), but I think this should have been left out as it doesn’t occur until more than halfway through the book. The structure doesn’t really work for me because both parts take place with the exact same characters in the exact same setting with the exact same dynamics. The “then” portion of the novel is about Nick fearing his father, being resentful of his brother, and trying to come to terms with the violence that surrounds him. The “now” sections of the novel are doing the same thing, but with the added character of Emilia, who is an enigma to both Nick and the reader. While very little happens in the book, the problem is more that character beats are repeated over and over in two timelines.
I love atmospheric prose, but I have to say that I think the prose in this book drags it down. The flowery phrases don’t add anything to character or to a sense of place. Because every sentence is pushed to its maximum, it has the effect of flattening everything out. When everything is “eternal,” a “mockery,” “vicious,” “violent,” a “submission,” then nothing is. These words are repeated heavily throughout the narrative, and they lose their punch pretty early on.
I think this would have been stronger as a novella, where the prose wouldn’t have dragged as much over time and where the events could have been less spread out. I would still recommend this book to those who love a dramatic and flowery writing style, but I would say go into the book knowing as little as possible about the story.
The book is divided into two parts, then and now, with alternating chapters taking place while Nick is growing up at the farm and with the boys reunited following their father’s cancer diagnosis. The blurb talks about Nick’s sexuality (then) and his eventual affair with his brother’s wife (now), but I think this should have been left out as it doesn’t occur until more than halfway through the book. The structure doesn’t really work for me because both parts take place with the exact same characters in the exact same setting with the exact same dynamics. The “then” portion of the novel is about Nick fearing his father, being resentful of his brother, and trying to come to terms with the violence that surrounds him. The “now” sections of the novel are doing the same thing, but with the added character of Emilia, who is an enigma to both Nick and the reader. While very little happens in the book, the problem is more that character beats are repeated over and over in two timelines.
I love atmospheric prose, but I have to say that I think the prose in this book drags it down. The flowery phrases don’t add anything to character or to a sense of place. Because every sentence is pushed to its maximum, it has the effect of flattening everything out. When everything is “eternal,” a “mockery,” “vicious,” “violent,” a “submission,” then nothing is. These words are repeated heavily throughout the narrative, and they lose their punch pretty early on.
I think this would have been stronger as a novella, where the prose wouldn’t have dragged as much over time and where the events could have been less spread out. I would still recommend this book to those who love a dramatic and flowery writing style, but I would say go into the book knowing as little as possible about the story.
May 29, 2024
Reading for review in the June 2024 issue of Library Journal
Three Words That Describe This Book: contemplative pacing, constant unease, great ending
Draft Review:
Nick Morrow is 43, living in NYC, working as a literary critic. It is a far cry from a childhood spent in the shadow of a cruel father on a 1,000 acre family farm in Nebraska. When his father reaches out to let Nick know he is dying, Nick encourages his estranged brother, Joshua, disowned when he married Emilia, a woman of Chinese descent, to join him in a trip back home. Told exclusively from Nick’s point of view in 2 times frames: “Then” –the year he was 13, when he was forced to kill newborn fox pups– and “Now” – as Nick, Joshua, and Emilia return– Pedersen presents a contemplatively paced, supernatural horror tale, centering family, trauma, and revenge, with unease infused into every detail. Readers will fall into the rhythm of the alternating short chapters that work in tandem both to give readers a snapshot of those two pivotal years and to foreshadow the horrors to come. Masterfully balancing character and atmosphere, readers will follow Nick as the foreboding details build, knowing full well that the tightly coiled tension will eventually explode, and when it does, they will be left gasping in awe.
Verdict: For readers who like creepy, methodically paced stories that put the unease above plot such as written by Kevin Brockmeier and for those who enjoy tales that use the mythology of non-western voices in a revenge plot like The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones.
Notes:
I cannot stress enough how this book purposefully builds tension and unease, without much technically happening, and yet so much happens. The last 50 pages are NOT TO MISS. But you have to go in knowing this is a story that is told with purpose to make you feel it, get invested, and fall into its then and now rhythm until it all comes together. Again, on purpose you can see it coming together, you suspect you know what is going on, and even if you do figure it out, it is still so much more.
Told with short chapters that alternate to "then" when Nick is 13 and "now" when he is 43 and working in tandem to both give readers a snapshot of those 2 pivotal years in the story AND work together to fill in the blanks of his entire life.
The short chapters keep you reading even though the plot moves slowly. But again, the "plot" is those 2 years and how they lead to the LAST 50 PAGES. I think the book jacket gives too much away. I am going to be careful about plot details in my review and really focus on the experience of reading this book.
But the fox on the cover is key. That is easy to understand though because the fox is the start of the "then" storyline.
This is a 5 star read for me but also for the literary reviewer in me because it is meticulously crafted with an ending that is perfectly set up by the storytelling, but I know it is not a 5 star read for every reader. This book will get a range of reviews and I think that is fine. Not every book is for every reader.
Here is an example I noticed
Nick's choice of flowery language and "big word" adjectives was off putting and noticeable early but it quickly becomes clear that Pedersen did that on purpose to add to Nick's character. First it is the literal show (don't tell) of how he has eschewed his midwest farmer roots for the life of a literary critic and writer. But also, it is there to make the reader a little wary of Nick. We have sympathy for him the entire time as he tells us his life story, but he is not perfect even though he was clearly abused as a kid, lives with terrible trauma, and more. But the way he uses language puts you off a bit as a reader. It shows some cracks. And those cracks build.
For readers who like creepy, methodically paced stories that put the unease above plot such as written by Kevin Brockmeier and for those who enjoy tales that employ the mythology of marginalized voices into a revenge plot like The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones
In the Valley of the Sun is also a good readalike. by Andy Davidson.
Also here like Jones-- I appreciate that every detail matters. Every word choice, every scene, every description, it is all there for a reason.
Three Words That Describe This Book: contemplative pacing, constant unease, great ending
Draft Review:
Nick Morrow is 43, living in NYC, working as a literary critic. It is a far cry from a childhood spent in the shadow of a cruel father on a 1,000 acre family farm in Nebraska. When his father reaches out to let Nick know he is dying, Nick encourages his estranged brother, Joshua, disowned when he married Emilia, a woman of Chinese descent, to join him in a trip back home. Told exclusively from Nick’s point of view in 2 times frames: “Then” –the year he was 13, when he was forced to kill newborn fox pups– and “Now” – as Nick, Joshua, and Emilia return– Pedersen presents a contemplatively paced, supernatural horror tale, centering family, trauma, and revenge, with unease infused into every detail. Readers will fall into the rhythm of the alternating short chapters that work in tandem both to give readers a snapshot of those two pivotal years and to foreshadow the horrors to come. Masterfully balancing character and atmosphere, readers will follow Nick as the foreboding details build, knowing full well that the tightly coiled tension will eventually explode, and when it does, they will be left gasping in awe.
Verdict: For readers who like creepy, methodically paced stories that put the unease above plot such as written by Kevin Brockmeier and for those who enjoy tales that use the mythology of non-western voices in a revenge plot like The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones.
Notes:
I cannot stress enough how this book purposefully builds tension and unease, without much technically happening, and yet so much happens. The last 50 pages are NOT TO MISS. But you have to go in knowing this is a story that is told with purpose to make you feel it, get invested, and fall into its then and now rhythm until it all comes together. Again, on purpose you can see it coming together, you suspect you know what is going on, and even if you do figure it out, it is still so much more.
Told with short chapters that alternate to "then" when Nick is 13 and "now" when he is 43 and working in tandem to both give readers a snapshot of those 2 pivotal years in the story AND work together to fill in the blanks of his entire life.
The short chapters keep you reading even though the plot moves slowly. But again, the "plot" is those 2 years and how they lead to the LAST 50 PAGES. I think the book jacket gives too much away. I am going to be careful about plot details in my review and really focus on the experience of reading this book.
But the fox on the cover is key. That is easy to understand though because the fox is the start of the "then" storyline.
This is a 5 star read for me but also for the literary reviewer in me because it is meticulously crafted with an ending that is perfectly set up by the storytelling, but I know it is not a 5 star read for every reader. This book will get a range of reviews and I think that is fine. Not every book is for every reader.
Here is an example I noticed
Nick's choice of flowery language and "big word" adjectives was off putting and noticeable early but it quickly becomes clear that Pedersen did that on purpose to add to Nick's character. First it is the literal show (don't tell) of how he has eschewed his midwest farmer roots for the life of a literary critic and writer. But also, it is there to make the reader a little wary of Nick. We have sympathy for him the entire time as he tells us his life story, but he is not perfect even though he was clearly abused as a kid, lives with terrible trauma, and more. But the way he uses language puts you off a bit as a reader. It shows some cracks. And those cracks build.
For readers who like creepy, methodically paced stories that put the unease above plot such as written by Kevin Brockmeier and for those who enjoy tales that employ the mythology of marginalized voices into a revenge plot like The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones
In the Valley of the Sun is also a good readalike. by Andy Davidson.
Also here like Jones-- I appreciate that every detail matters. Every word choice, every scene, every description, it is all there for a reason.
Shelved as 'did-not-finish'
September 7, 2024DNF @ 18%
Thank you to the author Kailee Pedersen, publishers St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of SACRIFICIAL ANIMALS. All views are mine.
I imagine the publisher was attracted to this manuscript because it comes from such a unique perspective, as the author was born in Nanking and was adopted and raised in Nebraska. Unfortunately, I can't find my way to agree that this is either a well-written book or a story told interestingly.
Reading notes (only over what I read):
Three (or less) things I didn't love:
This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof.
1. Some really grisly animal cruelty in this book, which is a horror trope I don't like.
2. A few style issues. Hyperbole can be a great literary tool. But sometimes, it just causes clarity issues. Like here, on page 23: Without the gun he has no power in this house. His father could strike him dead where he stands. It really had not been established that this was a household where murder was a danger. At least not yet. Also, if every event in a book is described as a calamity, every meal as a feast, every feeling as a flood, it gets not only repetitious for the reader, but inauthentic. The syntax is unnecessarily complex: Years from now, when he is man enough to stand taller than his father, the garden will not rise to bloom again; it will lie fallow and barren as their family tree. p24 Also, the lack of quotation marks doesn't appear to have stylistic meaning, but does cause clarity issues. I'm finding this a miserable read. Was that the point of this curmudgeonly style? I just can't finish it.
Thank you to the author Kailee Pedersen, publishers St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of SACRIFICIAL ANIMALS. All views are mine.
I imagine the publisher was attracted to this manuscript because it comes from such a unique perspective, as the author was born in Nanking and was adopted and raised in Nebraska. Unfortunately, I can't find my way to agree that this is either a well-written book or a story told interestingly.
Reading notes (only over what I read):
Three (or less) things I didn't love:
This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof.
1. Some really grisly animal cruelty in this book, which is a horror trope I don't like.
2. A few style issues. Hyperbole can be a great literary tool. But sometimes, it just causes clarity issues. Like here, on page 23: Without the gun he has no power in this house. His father could strike him dead where he stands. It really had not been established that this was a household where murder was a danger. At least not yet. Also, if every event in a book is described as a calamity, every meal as a feast, every feeling as a flood, it gets not only repetitious for the reader, but inauthentic. The syntax is unnecessarily complex: Years from now, when he is man enough to stand taller than his father, the garden will not rise to bloom again; it will lie fallow and barren as their family tree. p24 Also, the lack of quotation marks doesn't appear to have stylistic meaning, but does cause clarity issues. I'm finding this a miserable read. Was that the point of this curmudgeonly style? I just can't finish it.
June 26, 2024
An atmospheric supernatural horror with a persistant and palpable air of dread that sticks to the pages and makes you wince turning them, this is an intricately woven story about a family crumbling under their patriarch, with dense lush prose that sinks the reader into this american gothic nightmare of generational trauma, this relishes in its slowburn as we alternate between past and present which steadily builds tension, the writing was both violent and vulnerable, this is a tender terror of a book, a raw reflection on cruelty, masculinity,
race, trauma and family dynamics, not to be missed!
race, trauma and family dynamics, not to be missed!
September 14, 2024
Did I miss something? DID ANYTHING HAPPEN? 🥱
August 7, 2024
Sacrificial Animals is a slowburn horror literary fiction featuring daddy issues, toxic masculinity, and Chinese folklore. In the story, we follow Nick and Joshua as they go back to their hometown after getting a call from his dying father. He wants to be forgiven for all the things he did to them. Nick, Joshua, and Emilia (Joshua’s wife) go back to seek reconciliation. (CW: child abuse, animal abuse, racism).
This is the classic ‘it’s not you, it’s me’ situation. This book gives slowburn a whole new meaning. It takes a long time until the horror starts and until then all we get is an unsettling and disgruntling literary fiction about family drama and daddy issues. Both things are stuff I don’t enjoy. It was just very slow and reflecting. I’m the kind of person who loves a good character study or character-focused books, but this was just reminiscing about one’s effed-up past and it’s just not my thing. The two timelines of then/now also made it feel slower to me.
Around the 80% the story picked up super quickly and it became AMAZING. The ending was crazy fun and it made it all worth it. (I'm team Emilia woop woop).
I don’t have much to say other than the writing is beautiful (if you enjoy literary fiction) and that I loved the ending. 3.5 stars because of that (but I can't round it up because it just was brutally slow).
* I received the ARC for free, this hasn't impacted my review.
This is the classic ‘it’s not you, it’s me’ situation. This book gives slowburn a whole new meaning. It takes a long time until the horror starts and until then all we get is an unsettling and disgruntling literary fiction about family drama and daddy issues. Both things are stuff I don’t enjoy. It was just very slow and reflecting. I’m the kind of person who loves a good character study or character-focused books, but this was just reminiscing about one’s effed-up past and it’s just not my thing. The two timelines of then/now also made it feel slower to me.
Around the 80% the story picked up super quickly and it became AMAZING. The ending was crazy fun and it made it all worth it. (I'm team Emilia woop woop).
I don’t have much to say other than the writing is beautiful (if you enjoy literary fiction) and that I loved the ending. 3.5 stars because of that (but I can't round it up because it just was brutally slow).
* I received the ARC for free, this hasn't impacted my review.
September 11, 2024
This novel is a slow burning affair with the horrific revelations coming in at about the final few chapters. However, the trauma, violence, and dark family legacy leading up to it is beautifully written and I was captivated by the narrative.
This is, after all, a literary horror novel and it's gothic, bleak, and offers nary a feel good moment throughout.
The story is told in two timelines and I loved this. It really gave me a chance to realize just how dysfunctional this family is. A widowed racist father, the favored eldest son, and the second son who is treated as a possession or pet more than a family member.
While the narrative firmly focuses on Nick, the second, not quite good enough, son, the star of the book is Emelia. She is the wife of the first-born and he was disowned by the father because she is Asian and he's not having that in HIS family.... yeah, one of those.
Twenty years on and there's a reunion of sorts as the father seemingly wants to make amends for his brutish violent ways in which he raised his sons.
Of course, this is not going to end well. But when the big juicy reveal happens, the true nature of everything we've just read makes more sense.
If you like a slow burning literary horror novel with a truly despicable father figure and family trauma piled high, I recommend this book.
This is, after all, a literary horror novel and it's gothic, bleak, and offers nary a feel good moment throughout.
The story is told in two timelines and I loved this. It really gave me a chance to realize just how dysfunctional this family is. A widowed racist father, the favored eldest son, and the second son who is treated as a possession or pet more than a family member.
While the narrative firmly focuses on Nick, the second, not quite good enough, son, the star of the book is Emelia. She is the wife of the first-born and he was disowned by the father because she is Asian and he's not having that in HIS family.... yeah, one of those.
Twenty years on and there's a reunion of sorts as the father seemingly wants to make amends for his brutish violent ways in which he raised his sons.
Of course, this is not going to end well. But when the big juicy reveal happens, the true nature of everything we've just read makes more sense.
If you like a slow burning literary horror novel with a truly despicable father figure and family trauma piled high, I recommend this book.
July 22, 2024
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: Aug. 20, 2024
“Sacrificial Animals ” is the debut novel by Kailee Pedersen. With components of the Chinese myth of the nine-tailed fox, “Animals” is a book that ended far differently than it began.
After promising himself he would never return to his abusive father and their Nebraska farmstead, that is exactly what happens when Nick receives a phone call from his father, who claims to be dying. Nick’s estranged brother, Joshua, returns reluctantly as well, after being disowned by his father years ago for marrying a woman, Emilia, outside his race. Despite the complicated family dynamics, Nick finds himself rekindled with old feelings toward the woman who is now his brother’s wife and they are reciprocated- until Nick finds out Emilia’s true intentions.
The novel itself used verbose language and, as is the most annoying (to me) trend, no quotation marks. I also had no idea what the book was supposed to be about, as nothing happened until the novel was nearly over (around the 80% remaining mark). When those final chapters hit, there was terrifying, gory and sensational, in the best way, but I wanted that from the first page, and I did not get it.
The story is told by Nick, in two timelines; his childhood and later when he returns to the farm as an adult. Both storylines focus on farming and hunting, and the verbal and physical abuse suffered by Nick and Joshua at the hands of their father. Although the hunting segment showed its importance in the final pages, I found it really difficult to endure the rest of the story, as nothing of particular interest happened.
The Chinese myth was fascinating, but I wasn’t given enough of it in “Animals”. Instead of a “supernatural horror” as it is depicted, I was left with an atmospheric novel that choked me with its prose and structure.
Pedersen is talented, and she definitely has the vocabulary, so I’m sure this novel will be a hit with some readers, but it definitely isn’t for everyone. I was intrigued enough to finish the story, but it left me wanting.
Expected publication date: Aug. 20, 2024
“Sacrificial Animals ” is the debut novel by Kailee Pedersen. With components of the Chinese myth of the nine-tailed fox, “Animals” is a book that ended far differently than it began.
After promising himself he would never return to his abusive father and their Nebraska farmstead, that is exactly what happens when Nick receives a phone call from his father, who claims to be dying. Nick’s estranged brother, Joshua, returns reluctantly as well, after being disowned by his father years ago for marrying a woman, Emilia, outside his race. Despite the complicated family dynamics, Nick finds himself rekindled with old feelings toward the woman who is now his brother’s wife and they are reciprocated- until Nick finds out Emilia’s true intentions.
The novel itself used verbose language and, as is the most annoying (to me) trend, no quotation marks. I also had no idea what the book was supposed to be about, as nothing happened until the novel was nearly over (around the 80% remaining mark). When those final chapters hit, there was terrifying, gory and sensational, in the best way, but I wanted that from the first page, and I did not get it.
The story is told by Nick, in two timelines; his childhood and later when he returns to the farm as an adult. Both storylines focus on farming and hunting, and the verbal and physical abuse suffered by Nick and Joshua at the hands of their father. Although the hunting segment showed its importance in the final pages, I found it really difficult to endure the rest of the story, as nothing of particular interest happened.
The Chinese myth was fascinating, but I wasn’t given enough of it in “Animals”. Instead of a “supernatural horror” as it is depicted, I was left with an atmospheric novel that choked me with its prose and structure.
Pedersen is talented, and she definitely has the vocabulary, so I’m sure this novel will be a hit with some readers, but it definitely isn’t for everyone. I was intrigued enough to finish the story, but it left me wanting.
Read
July 26, 2024DNF @10%
August 29, 2024
I had really high hopes for this one. The synopsis sounded really good along with the Chinese mythology added in. This book was so slow. Nothing happens until about 70% and it just fell flat. I felt like the dual timeline really didn't add much and made it slightly hard to follow. However, I did like the narrator and felt they did a good job. I think if this book was a bit longer and had some more build up it would have been great.
Thank you Macmillan audio for the gifted copy.
Thank you Macmillan audio for the gifted copy.
August 16, 2024
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.
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.
July 5, 2024
2.5 Stars rounded up
This book takes slow burn to a whole other level, and by that I mean nothing happens in this book until the 70% mark. Though I enjoyed the way things progressed after that, I have to ask myself does that thirty percent make up for the rest of it? I'm not sure...
Sacrificial Animals is an atmospheric literary horror that touches on topics of generational trauma, Chinese mythology, toxic masculinity, and figuring out where one fits into this strange world. The story flips back and forth between past and present following our main character, Nick. Nick's father was harsh and abusive to both him & his brother, Joshua. As the younger son, he was seen as inferior in his father's eyes and dealt with the brunt of his father's abuse. Now in their 40s - Nick and Joshua are summoned home by their dying father. Joshua brings his wife, Emilia, home with him - despite the fact that his relationship with her is what got him disowned by his father. Tensions rise, relationships become tangled and messy, and the sense of dread slowly builds as the ending closes in on us.
First things first, the writing was exquisite *chefs kiss*. As I have read an early copy, I will refrain from using any direct quotes but there were parts of this story where I was highlighting whole paragraphs because the author does a fantastic job of digging deep into what it means to be a human, and what it means to grow up in a dysfunctional (and abusive) household. In addition, the setting of Stag's Crossing and rural Nebraska was described beautifully and really allows you to become immersed. My only complaint as far as writing was the dialogue - no quotation marks were used, which is not a problem itself, but the way conversations were formatted made it hard at times to understand who was talking and what exactly they were saying out loud vs. what was just a thought.
Unfortunately, the story itself was lackluster. I will say, I was pulled in at the beginning and was captivated learning about what Nick went through with his father all those years ago (and having his queer awakening) - but after a while, things got repetitive and I felt like we were learning the same information over and over again. I don't think the story does anything particularly surprising either - it is pretty easy to figure out early on where things are going and what the outcome will be.
There were things I loved about this book and things I really disliked. Overall, this is one that I can see having very mixed reviews - for those that hate it, I understand. For those that love it, I understand. Very torn on this one hence my right in the middle rating!
That being said, I will be on the lookout for new releases from this author 👀
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an electronic ARC of this book to review.
This book takes slow burn to a whole other level, and by that I mean nothing happens in this book until the 70% mark. Though I enjoyed the way things progressed after that, I have to ask myself does that thirty percent make up for the rest of it? I'm not sure...
Sacrificial Animals is an atmospheric literary horror that touches on topics of generational trauma, Chinese mythology, toxic masculinity, and figuring out where one fits into this strange world. The story flips back and forth between past and present following our main character, Nick. Nick's father was harsh and abusive to both him & his brother, Joshua. As the younger son, he was seen as inferior in his father's eyes and dealt with the brunt of his father's abuse. Now in their 40s - Nick and Joshua are summoned home by their dying father. Joshua brings his wife, Emilia, home with him - despite the fact that his relationship with her is what got him disowned by his father. Tensions rise, relationships become tangled and messy, and the sense of dread slowly builds as the ending closes in on us.
First things first, the writing was exquisite *chefs kiss*. As I have read an early copy, I will refrain from using any direct quotes but there were parts of this story where I was highlighting whole paragraphs because the author does a fantastic job of digging deep into what it means to be a human, and what it means to grow up in a dysfunctional (and abusive) household. In addition, the setting of Stag's Crossing and rural Nebraska was described beautifully and really allows you to become immersed. My only complaint as far as writing was the dialogue - no quotation marks were used, which is not a problem itself, but the way conversations were formatted made it hard at times to understand who was talking and what exactly they were saying out loud vs. what was just a thought.
Unfortunately, the story itself was lackluster. I will say, I was pulled in at the beginning and was captivated learning about what Nick went through with his father all those years ago (and having his queer awakening) - but after a while, things got repetitive and I felt like we were learning the same information over and over again. I don't think the story does anything particularly surprising either - it is pretty easy to figure out early on where things are going and what the outcome will be.
There were things I loved about this book and things I really disliked. Overall, this is one that I can see having very mixed reviews - for those that hate it, I understand. For those that love it, I understand. Very torn on this one hence my right in the middle rating!
That being said, I will be on the lookout for new releases from this author 👀
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an electronic ARC of this book to review.
August 15, 2024
Review originally on JamReads
Sacrificial Animals is a supernatural horror novel written by Kailee Pedersen, and which will be published by Titan Books in the UK and St Martin Press in the US. A slow-burn novel that blends together farm/midwestern horror with Chinese mythology, exploring the cycles of familiar abuse and the discovery of identity, all paired with a literary prose, almost lyrical, that enhances what becomes a superb piece.
A story that alternates between two timelines, past and present, following Nick Morrow, the youngest of the two sons of Carlyle Morrow, a racist, violent and paranoid man who tried to raise both of them in their image; as a result, Nick grew under fear and deeply traumatized. Carlyle calls his children as he's dying; both are expected to return to the farm, including Joshua, the older who got disowned for marrying Emilia, a woman of Asian descent.
The return of both to the farm is accompanied by the repetition of those patterns that we could already observe in the past. Joshua and Carlyle quickly warms to each other, letting Nick and Emilia to their own devices, a reminiscent of how Nick was always the lesser on the family; however, this time, the presence of the enigmatic Emilia will end blossoming a romance with Nick, who can't stop thinking that there might be something sinister in this interest.
Pedersen puts a great emphasis on exploring Nick's character, especially through those early year scenes that give us an excellent insight into his growth and his queer awakening, portraying how Carlyle's control over his life creates a long-lasting trauma; but not only that, but to the sharp reader, it also shows the first details of a shadowy presence that will end stalking the farm and altering his trajectory.
We can draw a parallelism between Nick's young experiences and the conduct patterns that are established in the return to the farm: Carlyle and Joshua getting along, while relegating poor Nick to a second plane, which also contributes to the poisoning of his mind. The cycle of trauma and violence will only be altered by the total collapse of the family on the verge of the presence that put its eyes on the farm many years ago.
Not for being secondary characters, Carlyle and Joshua are less fleshed than Nick, as they are necessary actors in this choral piece. In Carlyle, we have a violent and paranoid man, who also goes for isolation when his wife dies; and that violence is mainly exerted over the children, who will end developing different trauma as a consequence. Joshua was always his right eye, the favourite, even after his treason, and in his return is treated as the prodigal son, a cause of resentment for Nick.
Emilia itself is enigmatic, and steals the show at many points; even in those moments that she appears in the past, we can guess there's more than what the eyes can see. Seductive but also intelligent, her role is not an easy one to play.
Not only the story is excellent, but the prose also deserves a mention; Pedersen has taken a bold choice, opting for a heavy and almost lyrical prose that contributes to enhancing the atmosphere. This kind of prose makes the reader part of the story, allowing them to almost experience Nick's story through the pages, and in combination with the slow-burn pacing, it slowly raises the tension until we reach the inevitable conclusion.
Sacrificial Animals is a debut that can easily top the list of horror releases this year; the unsettling atmosphere, the characters and supernatural horror combined with Pedersen's prose create an experience that will be absolutely loved by literary horror fans. Kailee Pedersen is a voice to watch in the space, with a debut that remembers to a well-distilled whiskey, a memorable novel that will stay with me far after finishing it.
Sacrificial Animals is a supernatural horror novel written by Kailee Pedersen, and which will be published by Titan Books in the UK and St Martin Press in the US. A slow-burn novel that blends together farm/midwestern horror with Chinese mythology, exploring the cycles of familiar abuse and the discovery of identity, all paired with a literary prose, almost lyrical, that enhances what becomes a superb piece.
A story that alternates between two timelines, past and present, following Nick Morrow, the youngest of the two sons of Carlyle Morrow, a racist, violent and paranoid man who tried to raise both of them in their image; as a result, Nick grew under fear and deeply traumatized. Carlyle calls his children as he's dying; both are expected to return to the farm, including Joshua, the older who got disowned for marrying Emilia, a woman of Asian descent.
The return of both to the farm is accompanied by the repetition of those patterns that we could already observe in the past. Joshua and Carlyle quickly warms to each other, letting Nick and Emilia to their own devices, a reminiscent of how Nick was always the lesser on the family; however, this time, the presence of the enigmatic Emilia will end blossoming a romance with Nick, who can't stop thinking that there might be something sinister in this interest.
Pedersen puts a great emphasis on exploring Nick's character, especially through those early year scenes that give us an excellent insight into his growth and his queer awakening, portraying how Carlyle's control over his life creates a long-lasting trauma; but not only that, but to the sharp reader, it also shows the first details of a shadowy presence that will end stalking the farm and altering his trajectory.
We can draw a parallelism between Nick's young experiences and the conduct patterns that are established in the return to the farm: Carlyle and Joshua getting along, while relegating poor Nick to a second plane, which also contributes to the poisoning of his mind. The cycle of trauma and violence will only be altered by the total collapse of the family on the verge of the presence that put its eyes on the farm many years ago.
Not for being secondary characters, Carlyle and Joshua are less fleshed than Nick, as they are necessary actors in this choral piece. In Carlyle, we have a violent and paranoid man, who also goes for isolation when his wife dies; and that violence is mainly exerted over the children, who will end developing different trauma as a consequence. Joshua was always his right eye, the favourite, even after his treason, and in his return is treated as the prodigal son, a cause of resentment for Nick.
Emilia itself is enigmatic, and steals the show at many points; even in those moments that she appears in the past, we can guess there's more than what the eyes can see. Seductive but also intelligent, her role is not an easy one to play.
Not only the story is excellent, but the prose also deserves a mention; Pedersen has taken a bold choice, opting for a heavy and almost lyrical prose that contributes to enhancing the atmosphere. This kind of prose makes the reader part of the story, allowing them to almost experience Nick's story through the pages, and in combination with the slow-burn pacing, it slowly raises the tension until we reach the inevitable conclusion.
Sacrificial Animals is a debut that can easily top the list of horror releases this year; the unsettling atmosphere, the characters and supernatural horror combined with Pedersen's prose create an experience that will be absolutely loved by literary horror fans. Kailee Pedersen is a voice to watch in the space, with a debut that remembers to a well-distilled whiskey, a memorable novel that will stay with me far after finishing it.
August 27, 2024
once in a while, a horror story comes around and just blows me away, and this time, it was this one. such a slay.
June 19, 2024
“His suffering is rendered meaningless by the voice of his father tinny and distorted through the phone. Ordering him back to Stag’s Crossing where history must repeat until there is no more history left.”
I want to begin this review by saying that I think that the blurb spoils a lot of what happens in the second half of the book. I think the main thing that readers should know before heading into this novel is that it follows a man named Nick in past and present timelines. In the past timeline, readers see Nick as he grows up in an abusive household. In the present timeline, Nick returns to his childhood home after his father calls him and informs him that he is dying of cancer.
Both Nick and his brother Joshua return home to spend time with their dying father. Joshua brings his wife Emilia along for the visit, even though he was disowned for marrying her many years before due to the fact that she is Asian. Sacrificial Animals explores racism, abuse, and the lengths that these two sons will go to for parental approval.
The horror elements didn’t really appear until the last part of this book, but with the excessive foreshadowing I was able to predict exactly what would happen by the end. The past and present timelines felt very repetitive, rehashing the past in the present and foreshadowing the future during scenes of the past. I very rarely felt like I was learning anything new during the whole 320 pages of this book.
My biggest problem with this book was the writing style. I normally enjoy prose that leans towards poetry, however, the prose in this novel reads less like poetry and more like stream of consciousness. Every sentence runs on in a way that makes it feel clunky, and the excessive descriptive phrases used pulled me out of the story and made my eyes gloss over. With such a minimal and repetitive plot, this book relies heavily on the writing style to pull the reader into the world – unfortunately it made me want to finish the book as quickly as possible so I could be done reading it.
I really wanted to love this book, and I’m sad that I didn’t. Unfortunately, it just did not work for me.
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I want to begin this review by saying that I think that the blurb spoils a lot of what happens in the second half of the book. I think the main thing that readers should know before heading into this novel is that it follows a man named Nick in past and present timelines. In the past timeline, readers see Nick as he grows up in an abusive household. In the present timeline, Nick returns to his childhood home after his father calls him and informs him that he is dying of cancer.
Both Nick and his brother Joshua return home to spend time with their dying father. Joshua brings his wife Emilia along for the visit, even though he was disowned for marrying her many years before due to the fact that she is Asian. Sacrificial Animals explores racism, abuse, and the lengths that these two sons will go to for parental approval.
The horror elements didn’t really appear until the last part of this book, but with the excessive foreshadowing I was able to predict exactly what would happen by the end. The past and present timelines felt very repetitive, rehashing the past in the present and foreshadowing the future during scenes of the past. I very rarely felt like I was learning anything new during the whole 320 pages of this book.
My biggest problem with this book was the writing style. I normally enjoy prose that leans towards poetry, however, the prose in this novel reads less like poetry and more like stream of consciousness. Every sentence runs on in a way that makes it feel clunky, and the excessive descriptive phrases used pulled me out of the story and made my eyes gloss over. With such a minimal and repetitive plot, this book relies heavily on the writing style to pull the reader into the world – unfortunately it made me want to finish the book as quickly as possible so I could be done reading it.
I really wanted to love this book, and I’m sad that I didn’t. Unfortunately, it just did not work for me.
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 12, 2024
3.5 stars.
The murder of two fox pups at the novel’s opening sets the tone for this novel: dark, visceral, vicious.
The Morrow men are repellent: one by design (the father Carlyle), taking anything he wants and beating and killing anything that defies him, the sons, Joshua and Nick, abused into pale copies of their father, though the younger Nick retains a little softness despite his father’s years of cruelty.
Carlyle calls his sons back to Stag's Crossing, the name of the rural Nebraska farm he established through hard work, and a financially useful marriage. Nick has been living and working in New York as a literary critic, while the older Joshua, and former golden boy, has been living far from home and working at a bank since he was driven away and disowned by Carlyle for marrying Emilia, an unacceptable woman, i.e., a Chinese American.
The family congregate at Stag's Crossing, with Carlyle on good behaviour, Nick's intense fascination for Emilia rekindled, and Joshua is brought back into the fold by a magnanimous patriarch. Each family interaction, however, is filled with tension, which only builds as Nick finds himself pushed back into a less important role while Carlyle and Joshua reconnect, with Joshua beginning to revert to his pre-Emilia levels of intolerance, dominance, and dismissiveness, of Nick and increasingly Emilia. Nick and Emilia also begin a clandestine, intense and intimate relationship. At the same time, author Kailee Pedersen goes back and forth in time to when Nick was a child to moments that would make him the adult he now is, and show us the constant cruelty that Carlyle dispensed to his growing children and to any and all wildlife in the area.
Pedersen lays little clues, right from the beginning of the novel, that hint at terrible things to come for the Morrows, while also touching on themes of child abuse, animal cruelty, sexuality, identity and racism. Foxes, and the eradication of them from Stag's Crossing, open the novel, and runs throughout as we see Carlyle and Nick in constant conflict about the creatures, while allusions of impending danger abound, and only escalate with the family reunited after years of isolation.
And even though I knew from the beginning what was likely to happen, I still felt a bit of a thrill when it did, and all the pain and horror that Carlyle had meted out over years came back, big time. Vicious and implacable.
This is a satisfying story, but one that is often difficult to read because of the depicted cruelty and a tendency for the author to repeat some things. The narrative, however, rewards the reader with well-drawn characters, really dysfunctional family dynamics, and much brutality. This won't be for everyone, but if you stick with it, oh that ending is delicious.
Thank you to Netgalley and to St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for my review.
The murder of two fox pups at the novel’s opening sets the tone for this novel: dark, visceral, vicious.
The Morrow men are repellent: one by design (the father Carlyle), taking anything he wants and beating and killing anything that defies him, the sons, Joshua and Nick, abused into pale copies of their father, though the younger Nick retains a little softness despite his father’s years of cruelty.
Carlyle calls his sons back to Stag's Crossing, the name of the rural Nebraska farm he established through hard work, and a financially useful marriage. Nick has been living and working in New York as a literary critic, while the older Joshua, and former golden boy, has been living far from home and working at a bank since he was driven away and disowned by Carlyle for marrying Emilia, an unacceptable woman, i.e., a Chinese American.
The family congregate at Stag's Crossing, with Carlyle on good behaviour, Nick's intense fascination for Emilia rekindled, and Joshua is brought back into the fold by a magnanimous patriarch. Each family interaction, however, is filled with tension, which only builds as Nick finds himself pushed back into a less important role while Carlyle and Joshua reconnect, with Joshua beginning to revert to his pre-Emilia levels of intolerance, dominance, and dismissiveness, of Nick and increasingly Emilia. Nick and Emilia also begin a clandestine, intense and intimate relationship. At the same time, author Kailee Pedersen goes back and forth in time to when Nick was a child to moments that would make him the adult he now is, and show us the constant cruelty that Carlyle dispensed to his growing children and to any and all wildlife in the area.
Pedersen lays little clues, right from the beginning of the novel, that hint at terrible things to come for the Morrows, while also touching on themes of child abuse, animal cruelty, sexuality, identity and racism. Foxes, and the eradication of them from Stag's Crossing, open the novel, and runs throughout as we see Carlyle and Nick in constant conflict about the creatures, while allusions of impending danger abound, and only escalate with the family reunited after years of isolation.
And even though I knew from the beginning what was likely to happen, I still felt a bit of a thrill when it did, and all the pain and horror that Carlyle had meted out over years came back, big time. Vicious and implacable.
This is a satisfying story, but one that is often difficult to read because of the depicted cruelty and a tendency for the author to repeat some things. The narrative, however, rewards the reader with well-drawn characters, really dysfunctional family dynamics, and much brutality. This won't be for everyone, but if you stick with it, oh that ending is delicious.
Thank you to Netgalley and to St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for my review.
August 26, 2024
This story is told in third person in a now and then format. It follows Nick as he returns to the family farm in Nebraska at his father’s request since he is dying from cancer. Nick also calls his older brother Josh and convinces him to visit as well since their father insists that he wants to reconcile. While I thought the story was well done in parts, it really wasn’t a read that I enjoyed all that much and yet I kept going to the end. The audiobook was expertly narrated by Yung-I Chang. He did a fantastic job telling this story of two brothers caught up in their desire to please an abusive father. I primarily listened to this read, only checking the text to verify a few things.
Carlyle pitted his two sons against each other from a young age, telling Josh that he would inherit the farm and Nick that he was weak. He was a bitter about the hand life had dealt him and abusive in many ways, both physically and emotionally. When Josh marries a Chinese woman, Carlyle disowns him and Josh leaves with his new wife. Nick was also fascinated with the wife, Emilia, and the fascination continues into more in the now timeline. The now and then format was a little muddled. I often couldn’t tell which section I was in due to Nick’s reminisces in the now timeline.
There is a secondary subplot about a huli jing, a nine-tailed fox from Chinese mythology. I thought the concept was fascinating, but I didn’t like the way it was incorporated into the story. I felt like it justified Carlyle’s derogatory thoughts and actions. Also, despite the fact that I had no particular love for Josh or Nick, I also felt like they were abuse victims and while the story did a good job of showing perpetuating cycles of abuse, there was a sins of the father visited against the sons theme here that I wasn’t comfortable with given the situation. While the abuse story was well done, the mythological part didn’t work for me in context though I would love to know more about it.
Recommended to horror lovers that enjoy dysfunctional family dynamics and Chinese mythology. Watch any trigger warnings about abuse, including animals.
Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Macmillan Audio for a copy provided for an honest review.
Carlyle pitted his two sons against each other from a young age, telling Josh that he would inherit the farm and Nick that he was weak. He was a bitter about the hand life had dealt him and abusive in many ways, both physically and emotionally. When Josh marries a Chinese woman, Carlyle disowns him and Josh leaves with his new wife. Nick was also fascinated with the wife, Emilia, and the fascination continues into more in the now timeline. The now and then format was a little muddled. I often couldn’t tell which section I was in due to Nick’s reminisces in the now timeline.
There is a secondary subplot about a huli jing, a nine-tailed fox from Chinese mythology. I thought the concept was fascinating, but I didn’t like the way it was incorporated into the story. I felt like it justified Carlyle’s derogatory thoughts and actions. Also, despite the fact that I had no particular love for Josh or Nick, I also felt like they were abuse victims and while the story did a good job of showing perpetuating cycles of abuse, there was a sins of the father visited against the sons theme here that I wasn’t comfortable with given the situation. While the abuse story was well done, the mythological part didn’t work for me in context though I would love to know more about it.
Recommended to horror lovers that enjoy dysfunctional family dynamics and Chinese mythology. Watch any trigger warnings about abuse, including animals.
Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Macmillan Audio for a copy provided for an honest review.
July 16, 2024
Wow, what a book! Sacrificial Animals gave me VC Andrews vibes but without the incest and with more supernatural elements. The author did a phenomenal job of creating an ominous presence throughout the book, and the display of karma intricately woven into the story was 👌🏻.
I really enjoyed the portrayal of family trauma that focused not on mother-daughter relationships but on abusive father-son dynamics.
I will be reading whatever book Pedersen puts out next.
I really enjoyed the portrayal of family trauma that focused not on mother-daughter relationships but on abusive father-son dynamics.
I will be reading whatever book Pedersen puts out next.
September 2, 2024
⭐Thank you goodreads for sending me this book in a giveaway⭐
That was hella weird. But i fuck with it. This didnt have to be the most perfectly crafted piece of literature, i had a good time and I support womens wrongs.
That was hella weird. But i fuck with it. This didnt have to be the most perfectly crafted piece of literature, i had a good time and I support womens wrongs.
February 12, 2024
Just, wow. I don't even know where to begin. I'm so happy I got an advance copy of this book. It's a book I cannot wait to to see the reception for. I'm sure some will be put off by the slow burn but I absolutely loved it. It's only February and not to be hyperbolic, but this might end up being the best book I read all year.
The writing was absolutely phenomenal. At once, raw yet elegant. Then, vulnerable and frightening. I absolutely cannot wait to read more work by Pedersen and that this is their first novel is absolutely mind blowing. Mesmerizing, mysterious and taut.
The writing was absolutely phenomenal. At once, raw yet elegant. Then, vulnerable and frightening. I absolutely cannot wait to read more work by Pedersen and that this is their first novel is absolutely mind blowing. Mesmerizing, mysterious and taut.
September 11, 2024
When I read the synopsis for this, I was so intrigued! I then received a copy in the mail and loved the cover.
This is such an interesting idea of a book! Without giving away any spoilers:
I enjoyed the non-linear timeline as it acted as a zipper for the histories and current standings of the characters. It added more depth to each character as well as created an empathy for some. It was quite a slow burn and had a quick conclusion.
The descriptions were very precise and I could picture things quite easily in my minds eye; from the color of a fox to the sound of a car driving on gravel.
TW: harm to animals.
Thank you to St. Martin’s press for gifting my an arc of Sacrificial Animals by Kailee Pederson!
This is such an interesting idea of a book! Without giving away any spoilers:
I enjoyed the non-linear timeline as it acted as a zipper for the histories and current standings of the characters. It added more depth to each character as well as created an empathy for some. It was quite a slow burn and had a quick conclusion.
The descriptions were very precise and I could picture things quite easily in my minds eye; from the color of a fox to the sound of a car driving on gravel.
TW: harm to animals.
Thank you to St. Martin’s press for gifting my an arc of Sacrificial Animals by Kailee Pederson!
Shelved as '2024'
September 27, 2024🎧 Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio
August 1, 2024
I spent a decent amount of time deciding what to say about this book. Though it is not my lowest ranked of this year, it will be memorable because of how much work it took me to get through it.
I don't believe in writing bad reviews, as I know authors work tirelessly in many ways the public will never see. So let me start by listing what I did enjoy about this book:
• Something about this book is deeply evocative. You can feel the tendrils of it from the very beginning, and throughout the book, you can feel it building in the background. The mystery of what leaves you hooked enough to stay in the story.
• I’m always a fan of books that use animals as major plot lines. As this is a mythological, supernatural horror, it calls back to mythology and folk tales of ancient days.
• When we finally got to the big reveal of THE supernatural horror, I was beyond ready. It was cleverly done, and I really could read another book by this author, that goes more in-depth into this character’s backstory.
But for the sake of transparency, as this arc was kindly gifted to me, here was what I struggled with:
• The vocabulary was unnecessarily large. I’m fairly well-read, but I spent the first 25% of the book looking up at least one or two words per every page or so. Finally, I was able to turn off something in my brain that allowed me to just read without thinking.
• I would label this as literary with a horror aspect. The horror is an undercurrent that doesn’t show itself until the last 15% of the book. So if you’re looking for horror, that might cause someone to DNF. I almost did.
• I did feel as though much of the first 30% could have been condensed. I understood Carlyle’s violent disposition, the sibling unbalance, and life on Stag’s Crossing fairly quickly. Some of the actual story is necessary for the final pay-off, in a way that I didn’t expect (and did appreciate.) Overall, I struggled to read through the bits that felt repetitive.
• Lastly, the writing itself was difficult for me to find pace with. I finally realized that we were in the head of the main character - an emotional man (who is hiding it.) He’s a writer, who is viewing his childhood with a measure of brutality and romanticism.
I’m writing all of this out in detail because I do truly believe this book has a certain audience that will love it, the way that it deserves. I’m not in that particular audience, but over a section, just watching them have a good time. Go you! Enjoy your party!
I don't believe in writing bad reviews, as I know authors work tirelessly in many ways the public will never see. So let me start by listing what I did enjoy about this book:
• Something about this book is deeply evocative. You can feel the tendrils of it from the very beginning, and throughout the book, you can feel it building in the background. The mystery of what leaves you hooked enough to stay in the story.
• I’m always a fan of books that use animals as major plot lines. As this is a mythological, supernatural horror, it calls back to mythology and folk tales of ancient days.
• When we finally got to the big reveal of THE supernatural horror, I was beyond ready. It was cleverly done, and I really could read another book by this author, that goes more in-depth into this character’s backstory.
But for the sake of transparency, as this arc was kindly gifted to me, here was what I struggled with:
• The vocabulary was unnecessarily large. I’m fairly well-read, but I spent the first 25% of the book looking up at least one or two words per every page or so. Finally, I was able to turn off something in my brain that allowed me to just read without thinking.
• I would label this as literary with a horror aspect. The horror is an undercurrent that doesn’t show itself until the last 15% of the book. So if you’re looking for horror, that might cause someone to DNF. I almost did.
• I did feel as though much of the first 30% could have been condensed. I understood Carlyle’s violent disposition, the sibling unbalance, and life on Stag’s Crossing fairly quickly. Some of the actual story is necessary for the final pay-off, in a way that I didn’t expect (and did appreciate.) Overall, I struggled to read through the bits that felt repetitive.
• Lastly, the writing itself was difficult for me to find pace with. I finally realized that we were in the head of the main character - an emotional man (who is hiding it.) He’s a writer, who is viewing his childhood with a measure of brutality and romanticism.
I’m writing all of this out in detail because I do truly believe this book has a certain audience that will love it, the way that it deserves. I’m not in that particular audience, but over a section, just watching them have a good time. Go you! Enjoy your party!
February 10, 2024
Kailee Pedersen’s Sacrificial Animals is a family saga that combines Chinese folklore and American Gothic to great effect. One of the novel’s strengths is its dense, lush prose. Pedersen is an exceptionally skilled stylist and I kept pausing during reading to let the sentences sink in. This is the story of an unpleasant family and it has a nasty bite to it. I enjoyed the catharsis of the ending and loved the full fledged dive into folklore. Foxes occupy an important place in legend in both China and the US, and it was fascinating to see those myths woven together.
To me, the main weakness of the book was the thin plot. I think this would have made an explosive short story, but the novel’s length overpowered the action and reduced it to a simmer. That said, I still recommend the book for anyone wanting an atmospheric read and I will keep an eye out for what Pedersen writes next.
Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for an early copy of this book.
To me, the main weakness of the book was the thin plot. I think this would have made an explosive short story, but the novel’s length overpowered the action and reduced it to a simmer. That said, I still recommend the book for anyone wanting an atmospheric read and I will keep an eye out for what Pedersen writes next.
Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for an early copy of this book.
September 23, 2024
This is a slow burn ominous tale of one family unravelling. Nick receives an invitation to return home to the family farm because his abusive father is dying. Nick reaches out to his disowned brother, Joshua, to try and get him to return home to say goodbye. Josua was always the favorite brother but when he first brought his wife to meet his father, he became irate and disowned Joshua for bringing an outsider to their farm. Emilia is Joshua’s wife and the wedge that separated the three men from each other’s lives. Hoping to put the past behind them, they all meet on the farm for reconciliation and to say goodbye. Joshua and his father quickly resumed their old bond, leaving Nick and Emilia alone for hours and hours every day. Nick’s old feelings for Emilia resurface and they develop a closeness that becomes romantic. While reflecting on his life Nick begins to feel a sinister presence at the farm that may have been there all along, that threatens to destroy everything. I honestly thought this book would be scarier than it was, but overall, I was not disappointed in this read. The flashbacks to his past and his father’s generally weird behavior make this feel more like a coming-of-age tale with sinister undertones. The prose has a lucid feeling which gives this entire book a dreamlike quality, but nothing much happens until the last ¼ of the book. The folklore elements of the book are not really developed much throughout the story but being familiar with Chinese mythological creatures I was able to see what was happening between the lines. This is a quick read that delivers a sinister lit-fic story.
July 31, 2024
Sacrificial Animals
Kailee Pedersen
8/20/24
Rating: 4.5 / 5
Ok, so ...
This gothic/supernatural horror novel of generational trauma, toxic masculinity, and revenge is absolutely dripping with darkness, atmosphere, and a constant sense of uneasiness prevailing over all.
Kailee Pedersen's writing is elegant and descriptive, with prose that's almost lyrical, even while she's describing some pretty terrifying scenes.
I really, really enjoyed this horror novel. It's told in flashbacks and present day, and I was really invested in both timelines, which made it a page turner for me...
(Although some of the flashback scenes did became a bit redundant... and maybe the book could have shaved off 30 pages or so.)
But other than these tiny "issues" that have more to do with my personal preferences than anything else, I'd be hard-pressed to think of any other critiques. I truly loved everything else about this novel.
And that last quarter ... Wow. *chef's kiss*!
I love a horror novel that sticks the landing... and this one nailed it!
I highly recommend this one.
The audiobook, narrated by the extremely talented Yung- I Chang, really brought the story to life as well.
Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, and Kailee Pedersen for this ARC eBook and audiobook in exchange for my honest feedback.
*Full review on publication date
Kailee Pedersen
8/20/24
Rating: 4.5 / 5
Ok, so ...
This gothic/supernatural horror novel of generational trauma, toxic masculinity, and revenge is absolutely dripping with darkness, atmosphere, and a constant sense of uneasiness prevailing over all.
Kailee Pedersen's writing is elegant and descriptive, with prose that's almost lyrical, even while she's describing some pretty terrifying scenes.
I really, really enjoyed this horror novel. It's told in flashbacks and present day, and I was really invested in both timelines, which made it a page turner for me...
(Although some of the flashback scenes did became a bit redundant... and maybe the book could have shaved off 30 pages or so.)
But other than these tiny "issues" that have more to do with my personal preferences than anything else, I'd be hard-pressed to think of any other critiques. I truly loved everything else about this novel.
And that last quarter ... Wow. *chef's kiss*!
I love a horror novel that sticks the landing... and this one nailed it!
I highly recommend this one.
The audiobook, narrated by the extremely talented Yung- I Chang, really brought the story to life as well.
Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, and Kailee Pedersen for this ARC eBook and audiobook in exchange for my honest feedback.
*Full review on publication date
August 3, 2024
I listened to an advanced copy of the audiobook
Review of the audiobook: 4 stars
The narrator did a good job but because they talk in the exact same voice for chapters 30 years in the past and chapters in the present, I got confused a few times which part of the timeline we were in.
Review of the book: 2.75
There are many things I loved about this book but more things I didn't. Some parts of the plot didn't make a lot of sense, some parts were simply too long and repetitive, I wish it had been 50 pages left.
I was also very excited for the ending to come as it felt like the author put in place obvious hints but then there was no build up to the one big scene, and it was just "this happens, this happens, end", it fell flat and was quite disappointing.
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to read this book.
Review of the audiobook: 4 stars
The narrator did a good job but because they talk in the exact same voice for chapters 30 years in the past and chapters in the present, I got confused a few times which part of the timeline we were in.
Review of the book: 2.75
There are many things I loved about this book but more things I didn't. Some parts of the plot didn't make a lot of sense, some parts were simply too long and repetitive, I wish it had been 50 pages left.
I was also very excited for the ending to come as it felt like the author put in place obvious hints but then there was no build up to the one big scene, and it was just "this happens, this happens, end", it fell flat and was quite disappointing.
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to read this book.
August 28, 2024
This book had a lot of promise. I love the setting and the undercurrent of mythology present here. I think Pedersen has a strong grasp of language and lyrical prose. That being said, I think the story itself got lost among the writing.
There are no quotation marks to indicate dialogue and very rarely do we see a comma where we would like to see one. Playing with grammar is fine and dandy but if I cannot understand a sentence without having to read it again and punctuating it myself, you have not written with the reader in mind. There is also the tendency to exaggerate every incident of violence and fear that takes place in the novel. Horror is about anticipation-- if your character is already terrified of everything that goes on to begin with, there is nowhere to go from there.
I didn't read this thinking that there would be a twist at the end because it's glaringly obvious what's going on from the very beginning. This makes the "big reveal" very low impact for the reader and ultimately unfulfilling. I enjoyed the dreamy quality of the writing and the overall story, though. I think this may have been better as a novella/shorter novel due to the sheer amount of plot and scene repetition between chapters. I would've DNF'd this if I didn't love Nebraska. 2.5 stars rounded up.
There are no quotation marks to indicate dialogue and very rarely do we see a comma where we would like to see one. Playing with grammar is fine and dandy but if I cannot understand a sentence without having to read it again and punctuating it myself, you have not written with the reader in mind. There is also the tendency to exaggerate every incident of violence and fear that takes place in the novel. Horror is about anticipation-- if your character is already terrified of everything that goes on to begin with, there is nowhere to go from there.
I didn't read this thinking that there would be a twist at the end because it's glaringly obvious what's going on from the very beginning. This makes the "big reveal" very low impact for the reader and ultimately unfulfilling. I enjoyed the dreamy quality of the writing and the overall story, though. I think this may have been better as a novella/shorter novel due to the sheer amount of plot and scene repetition between chapters. I would've DNF'd this if I didn't love Nebraska. 2.5 stars rounded up.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 212 reviews