This was such an interesting debut! I loved the way rural American life, queer identity, familial expectations, horror, and Chinese mythology all intersected. This is a dark and subtly strong debut novel, that is written beautifully and has a story that subverts all expectations. A slow burn that builds in drama and tension until the last page. I will definitely be checking out what this author does next!

This is a difficult review to write because it's one of those times when it's probably not the book, it's me. I was very intrigued by the premise of the book, but somehow it never really grabbed me. It might've been my mood, quite possibly had I read it at another time I'd have been pulled in. But while I enjoyed the writing, and I've never been one that needs to like the characters in books as I read them, I found it especially easy to actively dislike all of these characters. It was hard to find someone to "root for", and therefore I didn't much care what happened to any of them. And since this is a slow-burn of a horror story, it just felt like it took way to long for the horror part to get going (not that there wasn't a fair bit of horror in the flashbacks to hunting scenes and abusive father scenes). In the end I can see how this would appeal to many readers, but it just wasn't for me. On the other hand, I did enjoy Kailee Pedersen's writing style (if not the subject matter) and hope she'll continue writing, I'd definitely be willing to give her future books a try.
I had both the Kindle edition and the audiobook, and found myself mostly listening to this one. The narration by Yung-I Chang was nicely done.
Thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for providing copies for an unbiased review.

This story centers around the Morrow family. Carlyle is the tough, abusive father and owner of the thousand acre farm in rural Nebraska. He has two sons, the oldest Joshua, who is the favorite, and Nick. Both have returned to the farm after 20 years at their father’s request. Joshua was disowned after marrying Emilia, a beautiful young Asian woman. Nick went out to live his own life as a writer away from the oppressive life he had with his father. As the story unfolds we are given insight to Nick’s younger years as he struggled with his father’s brutality and favoritism of his brother and his own sexuality. Upon their return to the farm Nick finds himself an outcast again when his brother and father reconcile. The difference this time is that Emilia is also left out. Nick and Emilia already had a connection but this amplifies things between the two. Nick is inexplicably drawn to her and finds himself questioning her past by reflecting on his own. There is more to Emilia than meets the eye.

Let me begin by saying this is incredibly well written. The writer delivers an atmospheric story that talks impressively about humanity, life in rural Nebraska and a dysfunctional family. The story was interesting but moved at a snail’s pace. Instead of feeling like it’s 320 pages it felt like it was double that. The actual “horror” part of the story was not revealed until near the end. What an ending it was!! I would have liked to see more tension built up earlier that hinted at more of the center of the story because it was so interesting!! I wanted more of that and less of the flashbacks. Overall a very interesting and well written story, the pacing was just too slow.

3 ⭐️

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an advanced copy

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

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

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

3 stars

I don't know how I felt about this one. I see what the author was going for, but the pace and the alternating didn't quite work for me. I think I probably wouldn't have finished this one had it not been for the audiobook. I enjoyed the narration by Yung-I Chang.

If you’re a fan of Cassandra Khaw’s writing, Kailee Pedersen's Sacrificial Animals will be right up your alley. Both authors have a knack for weaving folklore into the fabric of modern life, focusing on the kind of prose where every single word and detail matters. Normally, I’m the type to throw on an audiobook while multitasking, but this book demanded more—Sacrificial Animals forced me to slow down, really listen, and absorb every nuance. The creeping unease that builds throughout is worth it when you reach that ending. This isn’t just a story; it’s an experience that explores race, familial relationships, and toxic masculinity in a way that sticks with you long after the final word. The audiobook narration truly brought this to life, elevating it from good to unforgettable.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advance audiobook of this novel. This author is a writer of great promise. The concept of the novel is good. The author just needs to learn to use her gifts more judiciously. The prose is often beautiful but can be used as a sledgehammer. The horrific family dynamics could have been hinted at with maybe one or two scenes in flashback, and that would have done the trick. The dual timeline was not necessary, and the part in the past was repetitive because it focused on the same types of traumatic events repeatedly. The focus needed to shift from the trauma of the past to the events of the present, or more needed to occur in the past than the endless abuse. This tendency was amplified by the narrator, whose voice lacked subtlety. I think they were trying to match the tone of the novel. I do look forward to the author's future works.

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

Reading the blurb, I knew I needed to listen to it especially with mythology. The narrator, Yung-I Chang did a great job portraying the characters in the story and kept me engaged. However, the way the author wrote the sentences was very prose. I have been struggling with stories written like this lately and the pacing was also slow for me. The story is written in dual timelines past and present and I really enjoyed the present timeline the most. I was hooked by the end with Emilia and seeing what her next steps and how she would proceed was fascinating. This story is perfect for lovers of family drama, and mythology. I would check TWs because there are a few in this story.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ARC Audio Copy!

This is a dark and gritty story that follows a character who was raised by a father who was violent and abusive, and tried to raise his boys in his image after the death of their mother. There is a lot of hunting, animal abuse, and violence enacted on the children during flash backs so be sure and check trigger warnings before you read this story.

I would not really classify this as a horror, it felt like a historical fiction with some thriller aspects, but I never really felt like I was in a horror story until the very end. The ending was not surprising and I could see it coming but that did not lessen the impact that it had on the story.

The story is wholly uncomfortable from start to finish, there are no happy moments, there is nothing pleasant about anything that happens, but it does a really good job of showing you just who the characters really are and why they are the way that they are.

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.

This was an interesting read. The writing style was very distinctive, and the third person POV felt very detached. The descriptions and comparisons throughout felt very graphic and gory. I don’t consider myself overly sensitive to animal death or cruelty in books, but this was a lot.

While this book had a plot, it was definitely heavier on the atmosphere, through extensive descriptions, imagery, and Nick’s thoughts. The synopsis felt almost like a spoiler, because the events described didn’t take place until over halfway through the book. It was a very slow-paced literary horror.

Overall, this book was a struggle. None of the characters were likable, nor were they supposed to be, but they also just didn’t feel very compelling. I felt more indifferent to them than anything. I think this also contributed to my difficulties following the story. The timeline moved between then and now, and sometimes I lost track of which timeline I was in, especially because they felt very similar. I listen to the audiobook for this, which helped some with the atmosphere, but I wasn’t a big fan of the narration.

I think some people will love this one. If you like slow-burn literary horrors and unlikable characters, check this out! It just wasn’t for me, unfortunately.

Kailee Pedersen's Sacrificial Animals blends Chinese folklore with American Gothic in a mesmerizing family saga. Alternating timelines create tension, particularly in the present-day narrative. Pedersen's lush prose, enhanced by Chang's narration, combines with atmospheric elements to craft an immersive, beautiful, yet disturbing experience.

Pedersen explores complex themes like race, trauma, and sexuality through skillful use of animal imagery, particularly foxes from Chinese and American folklore. Biblical and mythological references add depth to the narrative, while morally ambiguous characters and the absence of a clear protagonist create an unsettling atmosphere.
This captivating tale is ideal for readers who appreciate Gothic horror, complex family dynamics, and lyrical prose exploring challenging themes.

*4.5 Stars On My Instagram Account*

"My mother said it was only a cautionary tale...About falling in love with the wrong woman."

"...the season of forgiveness was long past."

The intensely unsettling atmospheric gothic story, Sacrificial Animals, by horror debut author Kailee Pedersen, is a master crafted work of literary fiction.

Influenced by the writer's life as an adoptee from China, raised on a farm in Nebraska, and based on Chinese mythology, Sacrificial Animals is told in alternating, "Now" and "Then" short chapters.

Nick, 43, receives a call from his father Carlyle, asking him to come home to the farm after 20 years away. He's dying and needs to see him and his brother Joshua. Carlyle disowned Joshua for marrying that "Asian" woman. But it seems all is forgiven. He wants Emilia to come too.

Carlyle is a racist who abused his sons. Trying to teach Nick to be a man, he performs an act of unconscionable animal cruelty involving several fox pups. Carlyle thinks nothing of sacrificing animals or humans; but it haunts Nick his whole life.

As Joshua and Carlyle reconnect, Nick and Emilia begin bonding, Nick infatuated with Emilia's beauty. In fact, she looks the same after 20 years...exactly the same. Inevitably, they make a decision that has unfathomable consequences.

Listening to voice actor Yung-I Chang anguished heartache as Nick, suffering from generational trauma, sexual identity, and overbearing guilt is an emotionally visceral experience. Reading the book made me realize that every word mattered because each word was a stepping stone to a deadly conclusion that some might say was justice, others vengeance, many more evil. Just remember, "Tricky things, foxes."

I received a free copy of this book/audiobook from the publishers via #NetGalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

A slow mythical-horror burn with complicated family ties!

While the narrator is even-toned and at times lackluster, "Sacrificial Animals" story keeps listeners engaged. Listeners follow Nick through the past, navigating a life in rural Nebraska, and present, returning to his home. Both Nick and his older brother Joshua return to their former home to say their last words to their dying father, Carlyle, who traumatized them during their childhood.

Pulled back to Stag's Crossing the story takes a mythical-horror turn.

A slow burner perfect for fans of horror/thriller/ and fantastical.

Thank you NetGalley, thank you Kailee Pedersen and thank you Macmillan Audio for bringing this title to us!

I liked the middle and the end a lot. The beginning was slightly slow and too focused on a farm in Nebraska that is owned by an abusive patriarchal white male who acts as the right hand of God. And we kinda hate this man who shapes his two sons with violence, racism, prejudice... they want nothing else than to run away. But that is the point. To set the mood and justify the end of revenge.
Emilia, a woman of Asian descent, marries one of the sons...
An amazing, satisfying, and creepy ending. Rarely do I love an ending more than a beginning, but this was a good example.

Thank publisher for the audio , The post is scheduled for tonight (Sunday night) will share links after the book is out Tuesday afternoon

The story sounded intriguing but I just couldn’t handle the narrator. There was no inflection in his voice at all. I got through chapter one and that was it

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Yung I-Chang’s narration perfectly captures Nick’s voice, reflecting the deep-seated resentment he harbors for his father and brother. The audio production enhances the atmosphere, pulling the listener deeper into the story.

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

Thank you to NetGalleyand St. Martin’s Press as well as the author for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

#NetGalley #St.Martin’sPress #Sacrificial Animals #KaileePedersen #MACAudio2024 #macmillanaudio

Title: Sacrificial Animals
Author: Kailee Pedersen
Format: eBook
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press/Macmillan Audio
Publication Date: August 20, 2024

Themes: Father/son relationship, Brother/Brother relationship, Chinese mythology/folklore, familial drama, LBGTQ+, slow burn

Trigger Warnings: child abuse, hunting, graphic animal death, cancer, familial abuse/estrangement,

This book is so beautifully written! What a talent this author has. No one has written familial abuse this well since “Flowers in the Attic” by V.C. Andrews. This book tells the story of Nick and his relationship with his father and brother. After growing up with an incredibly abusive and cruel father, the last thing he expects is to be called home by his father to be at his deathbed. Also, he’s expected to call his estranged brother, who has been disowned by their father because of his marriage to an Asian woman, and ask his brother and his wife to come home to bury their father. Their father receives Nick’s older brother warmly, while Nick and his sister-in-law are ignored. As Nick gets to know Emelia better, he begins to suspect that her intentions may not be benign as he had assumed.

This is an author who is talented. There’s no doubt about that. Her prose is lovely and descriptive. The story is also quite compelling. I love the blend of western and Chinese folklore. I learned a lot about both and I was fascinated. It is, however, simply too slow. Not much happens until the last third of the book. That last third is really fun, but this book should have been WAY shorter. It does a great job of building tension through a lot of nothing happening. It does require time and patience. It turned out to be worth it, mostly.

The audiobook has a great narrator. I had a much easier time listening to this one. The narrator is very expressive, yet soothing. I found that I could listen to it while I did housework and it was easier to handle the slowness rather than sitting down to read and endure the grueling build-up.

All in all, the reader/listener needs to go into this story knowing that this is a time commitment and not an easy read. Fans of Ally Wilkes and V.C. Andrews are likely to get it. I had mixed feelings but I’m glad I read and listened to it.