This is an eerily fascinating book about a family whose patriarch, Carlyle has always been a hunter, and his two sons, Joshua and Nicholas. When they were younger, Carlyle forced them to hunt the foxes he was so fond of but Nick especially hated the gruesome practice and was happy to leave the family home. Now, Joshua returns home with his new wife, Emilia who is an Asian beauty and Nick is drawn to her as well. It's a crazy tale of mythology and deception and it's fairly violent so beware if you are squeamish!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

A story of generational violence and trauma. I really enjoyed this one. From start to finish, I was enthralled and it kept me guessing in the best way! One of those books that makes you wanna stay up all night trying to finish it. I love the style of the writing and the imagery that the author used. I will be looking forward to more from this author and will be recommending it to everyone that will listen!

I liked the set up of the book, but I did feel like it was slightly repetitive with the back-and-forth back-and-forth about the same people just slightly different times in our life, but dealing with the same issues. I like the focal aspect. However, I felt like the non-folklore aspect was a little thin, so it was hard to kind of really get into or care about the characters, even though the story and the writing was pretty good.

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% took this from a 3 star read to a 4 star read. 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!

A family drama that masterfully blends American Gothic with Chinese mythology. The book's rich, detailed writing is one of its strong points. I found myself stopping frequently to allow Pedersen's exquisite stylistic work to really soak in. I cherished the thorough exploration of folklore and the catharsis at the conclusion. It was intriguing to observe how the mythology around foxes were intertwined because they are significant figures in both Chinese and American folklore.

What a fascinating book. I love how the author approached the book by breaking in up into chapters of “Then” and “Now”. The past and the present pacing was fluid and I was invested to learn what was going to happen next. That unnerving built up to the end was delightful and it was satisfying to watch everything come crashing down on the Marrow family. My one complaint is that this book is too long for what actually occurs. A shorter book (novella?? Is that the word) would have delivered a more staggering blow. Overall a very good book and I look forward to see what else the author will publish.

This haunting novel was inspired by Kailee Pedersen's own journey as an adoptee from Nanning, China. Pedersen was adopted in 1996 and grew up on a farm in Nebraska, and seemlessly weaves together her expereince ancient Chinese mythology.

Nick Morrow has left rural Nebraska forever. When his dying father demands that he return he is unsure and only decides to respond upon hearing his estranged brother and his non-caucasion wife will be present. Nick has held a torch for his brother's wife Emilia and immediately it seems reciprocated. As this sinister and haunting novel explore more and more of the deaths and slayings of animals in the wild, it is clear that something truly terrible is bound to happen. Rural gothic ? Slow burning? Very claustrophobic and pure art in the flow of the story. The reader won't expect what happens and much like a hunted animal, it will be far too late at the end.

If you like a horror novel happening in the light of day, this is a stellar novel for you!
#sacrificialanimals #kaileepedersen #stmartins

A tale of a family crumbling beneath the weight of masculinity and cruelty told in a raw and decadent prose. Going between the past and present, we learn about Nick Morrow's childhood growing up at Stag Crossing under the fist of his father, Carlyle, and in the shadow of his brother, Joshua. In the present, we learn the repercussions of that childhood built on violence, brutality and gore.

The supernatural/horror element is what really elevated this story for me. Emilia, Joshua's wife, is based on the nine-tail fox originating in Chinese mythology and enacts the final judgement of the Morrow family. There are a lot of really great comparisons to make between the original myth and the one Peterson writes, most notably the fall of the Shang dynasty with the fall of the Morrow dynasty, but the one most interesting to me is between Emilia and the mother fox that plagues Nick's childhood conscience. Both "foxes" create riffs in the Morrow family relationships and challenge Nick to reject the brutality his father raised him on while also acknowledging the damage his father wreaks, tying Nick's past to his present exceptionally well. They both slip into the cracks of the Morrow family relationships and eventually, enact revenge with a cunning and equally brutal hand.

I was lucky enough to win an e-ARC of SACRIFICIAL ANIMALS by Kailee Pedersen from a Shelf Awareness giveaway. Thank you for the early look, and have a safe and happy holiday weekend!

Wow!! This was such a great read. The writing hooked me immediately - the style is unlike most books I've read recently. The story is tragic and brutal focusing on a family who only knows violence. I'll be shelving this under my 'Good for Her' bookshelf.

DNF - I was intrigued by the premise but, the stylistic choices felt very trite & often missed the mark. The story is over-written with the author relying too heavily on metaphors, which leads one to question whether they have a firm grasp on the story itself. The characters were one-dimensional with few ridges to their person that may indicate proper plotting. Overall, this requires very serious editing to allow for a smoother flow. Metaphors & deep prose are wonderful to read when well-executed but in this case they were not.

This gothic horror set in the midwest is beautifully and hauntingly written. Interwoven with Chinese mythology and the supernatural, this story of family conflict and secrets stayed with me long after I finished it. A wonderful debut novel by Kailee Pedersen that I will definitely be recommending.

I just lost my beloved pet, so this was a hard read to even start. I had to DNF around the 5% mark....sorry!!

Sacrificial Animals by Kailee Pedersen weaves together elements of family drama, supernatural horror, and ancient Chinese mythology in a captivating debut novel.

Nick Morrow, who left behind a troubled past in rural Nebraska, receives an unexpected invitation from his father to return home. Despite his initial reluctance, Nick decides to confront his past and reunite with his family, including his disowned brother Joshua, who married Emilia, a woman of Asian descent. As Nick navigates the tensions and resentments within his family, he finds himself drawn to Emilia, sparking a forbidden romance.

However, as their relationship deepens, Nick begins to uncover dark secrets about Emilia’s past and her connection to ancient Chinese mythology. Haunted by memories of his adolescent years and a shadowy presence that once stalked the farm, Nick realizes that his family’s legacy is intertwined with forces beyond his understanding.

As the mysteries of the past unravel, Sacrificial Animals delves into themes of inherited trauma, identity, and the power of ancient myths. With atmospheric prose and gripping storytelling, Pedersen crafts a haunting tale of love, betrayal, and the supernatural forces that shape our lives.


Sacrificial Animals by Kailee Pedersen is a haunting and atmospheric debut novel that seamlessly blends elements of family drama, supernatural horror, and ancient mythology. Set against the backdrop of rural Nebraska, Pedersen’s narrative draws readers into the complex dynamics of the Morrow family, exploring themes of trauma, identity, and forbidden desires.

The protagonist, Nick Morrow, is a compelling and deeply flawed character whose journey of self-discovery unfolds with both intrigue and emotional resonance. As Nick grapples with his troubled past and the strained relationships within his family, including his disowned brother Joshua and his enigmatic wife Emilia, readers are taken on a suspenseful and often unsettling journey.

Pedersen’s writing is ambient and evocative, painting a vivid portrait of the Nebraska landscape and the eerie presence that haunts the Morrow family farm. Through alternating timelines, the author skillfully weaves together past and present, gradually revealing the dark secrets that bind the characters together.

At its core, Sacrificial Animals is a story about the power of love and the lengths to which people will go to protect those they care about. However, it also delves into darker territory, exploring the consequences of repressed desires and the ancient forces that lurk beneath the surface of everyday life.

Overall, Sacrificial Animals is a gripping and thought-provoking read that will appeal to fans of both literary fiction and supernatural thrillers. With its richly drawn characters, atmospheric setting, and spine-tingling plot twists, it is sure to leave a lasting impression on readers long after the final page is turned.

Thank you NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press for this ARC. A tale weaved with mythological elements and family trauma with a touch of personal experiences makes for a compelling combination. I enjoyed this story very much and look forward to reading other work by this author. This book publishes August 19, 2024

I really didn't want to do this, but I am DNF'ing "Sacrificial Animals" by Kailee Pedersen. I feel absolutely horrible and guilty about it. I BEGGED St. Martin's Press for a galley. I was rejected THREE times and finally, they emailed me the net galley.

The blurb on the back was so interesting and I loved the cover. Every animal centric horror book I've read, I've loved until now. I had high hopes for this book. I hate DNFing books. But this book just wasn't for me.

Pedersen is a good writer. She has a very expansive vocabulary. So much so that I needed a dictionary near by to look up words. At times it felt like she had a thesaurus and was using less common words to sound impressive, like when a high schooler is trying to impress an English teacher by using "thus" and "plethora" in an essay. She never used quotation marks, so it wasn't always clear what was dialog and what wasn't or who was talking to whom and when.

This was a VERY frustrating read and I just couldn't get into it. I dreaded even looking at my kindle. What I read was kind of boring and maybe it does get better. I don't know. I was going to force my way through it, but I have several other ARCs commanding my attention as well as a never ending TBR pile. Maybe now just isn't the right time to read this and perhaps I'll try again some day, but for now, it's a DNF.

Giving 3 stars as a placeholder. I don't feel right giving a star rating to something I couldn't finish.

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I am so thankful to have received this book from NetGalley. It was such a surprise. I loved the descriptions and the language of the story. Thought the juxtaposition of modernity with Chinese folklore was extremely unique and effective.

“To grieve is to rot from the inside out.”

“Sacrificial Animals,” by Kailee Pedersen

This book was not for me. I did not like any of the characters at all, which made get bored very easily as I was reading. The way it was written felt flat and told rather than showing which added a disconnect between the characters and me and so I could care less when something terrible happened to anyone but also not feel any happiness when bad things happened to bad characters with how flat they felt. 1 out of 5 stars.

Thank you for the ARC, Netgalley.

Sacrificial Animals
By: Kailee Pedersen
This book was so different than anything I have read lately in the best way! An awesome mix of ancient Chinese mythology, supernatural horrors, and a long waiting and patient malevolence. Flashing between the past and the future a coming of age/ queer awakening story. A single, horribly abusive father and his 2 sons. Grappling with the trauma from child hood and the reality of their father’s last wishes for them to return to the family farm. An isolating and unnervingly dark tale were something or someone is off but you can never really put your finger on it until the devastating yet satisfying end. This book was steeped with unease and I loved every second of it! Please check trigger warnings - Trigger warning for animal & child abuse.

It's a slow burn with a spare writing style that still manages to be deeply sensorial--reminded me just a bit of Cormac McCarthy. A strange, scary, and moving read.