Sacrificial Animals

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

Book Review: Sacrificial Animals by Kailee Pedersen

Rating: 4 Stars

I recently dove into Sacrificial Animals by Kailee Pedersen, and what an experience it was! This debut novel is a rich blend of personal history and supernatural horror, inspired by Pedersen's own journey as an adopted child from Nanning, China, growing up on a Nebraska farm. The story revolves around Nick Morrow, who receives an unexpected invitation from his estranged father to return home. After escaping an abusive household, Nick thought he had left the past behind him for good. But when he arrives back at the farm, the ghosts of his childhood—and a few new ones—start to resurface.

Nick's brother Joshua, who was disowned for marrying Emilia, a woman of Asian descent, also finds himself drawn back into the family's toxic dynamics. While Joshua quickly rekindles a connection with their father, Nick is left to navigate a burgeoning romance with Emilia. However, as their relationship deepens, Nick begins to sense that Emilia's interest may be tied to something darker and more ancient than he could have ever imagined. Interspersed with haunting memories from Nick's adolescence, the novel tackles themes of inherited trauma and the complex layers of familial relationships, all while keeping you on the edge of your seat.

Now, let me get into my thoughts about the book. Man, was this book full of purple prose and atmospheric tension and unease! Honestly, I enjoyed every minute of it. Yes, it was slow-moving at times, and the writing was definitely on the flowery side. But that's part of what made it so captivating. The prose is meticulously crafted, creating a slow burn that builds an air of dread that lingers long after you've turned the last page.

The way Pedersen weaves together elements of supernatural horror with deeply personal and emotional storytelling is nothing short of impressive. You can almost feel the weight of the past pressing down on Nick as he navigates his return to a place filled with both love and pain. The atmosphere is thick with a persistent sense of unease that kept me turning pages late into the night.

Overall, Sacrificial Animals is a beautifully haunting debut that perfectly balances lyrical writing with an eerie narrative. If you're in the mood for a slow burn that explores the complexities of family and identity against a backdrop of ancient mythology, then this book is definitely worth your time!

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️