Sacrificial Animals: A Novel By Kailee Pedersen

Sacrificial Animals is a compelling supernatural horror debut, deeply rooted in the author's own experience of being adopted from Nanning, China, and growing up on a Nebraska farm. This atmospheric novel delves into ancient Chinese mythology, exploring themes of trauma, family, and forbidden love.

Nick Morrow’s life takes an unexpected turn when he receives a summons from his estranged father, Carlyle, inviting him back to the rural Nebraska farm he fled years ago. Nick, who left behind a painful past and a tumultuous relationship with his father, is reluctant but compelled to return. His brother Joshua, disowned for marrying Emilia, a woman of Asian descent, also receives the invitation, leading to a reunion marked by unresolved tensions.

As Carlyle and Joshua rekindle their strained relationship, Nick finds himself drawn to Emilia, leading to a romantic affair. However, as their relationship deepens, Nick begins to suspect that Emilia’s motives are entwined with something far darker and older than he could have imagined.

The novel intertwines Nick’s present with his troubled past, including vivid memories of his adolescence on the farm—a time marked by a queer awakening and the eerie presence of a shadowy figure that seemed to haunt his every step. Sacrificial Animals probes the violent legacy of inherited trauma and the disintegration of familial bonds, weaving a chilling narrative that explores the intersection of personal and supernatural horror. 📚❤️