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Domestication
In an eat or be eaten world, domestication is a death sentence.
When Janie chose the isolated sheep farm, she knew her husband would hunt her down. What she didn’t expect was Rob and Howard. Rob rules the farm with the same domination tactics she uses to train dogs, while Howard believes only human supremacists think humans should be treated any differently than other animals. Janie inadvertently jumps out of the frying pan and into the fire. She wishes to leave her old self behind. She wants to transform. Will she devolve into meat, metamorphose into a monster, or transcend beyond her domesticated limitations?
When Janie chose the isolated sheep farm, she knew her husband would hunt her down. What she didn’t expect was Rob and Howard. Rob rules the farm with the same domination tactics she uses to train dogs, while Howard believes only human supremacists think humans should be treated any differently than other animals. Janie inadvertently jumps out of the frying pan and into the fire. She wishes to leave her old self behind. She wants to transform. Will she devolve into meat, metamorphose into a monster, or transcend beyond her domesticated limitations?
- GenresHorror
349 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 23, 2024
5 people are currently reading
223 people want to read
About the author
Shannon Knight
7 books17 followersShannon Knight lives in the Pacific Northwest with her most excellent cat. Their adventurous lives include coffee, reading, ribbon games, and K-dramas.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
October 18, 2024
I requested this one on a whim because that cover is killer, and it did not disappoint!
Janie has finally taken the terrifying step of leaving her abuser, arriving at an isolated sheep farm, knowing her husband may come looking. She finds a kind of solidarity with the sheep, domesticated and docile, filed down into a new shape that is more convenient for their keepers and kept alive only as long as they serve their purpose. She, too, was worn down over the years, controlled and contained, kept in a cage and expected to perform her domestic duties with a smile, with no wild will of her own.
The novel explores the power dynamics inherent in both human and animal relationships, touching on the ethics of speciesism—or 'human supremacy' as it's put by the characters in the novel— questioning the morality of eating animals of all kinds. The book is not overtly about veganism, nor does it advocate for it, but it engages with the topic in a way that adds depth to the exploration of the more prominent themes. What makes one species more valuable than another? Is it wrong to treat humans in the ways we treat non-human animals? Where do we draw the line, and why? As a vegan for over a decade, I can say the way this novel approached the philosophical ideas behind ethical veganism in a much more nuanced and thoughtful way than I often see, which was a very pleasant surprise!
While the book's themes are intriguing, the execution falters in places. The writing is straightforward but can be repetitive, sometimes detracting from the narrative's impact. Character development is also a somewhat weak point—most notably with the primary antagonist, who comes across as a cartoonishly evil villain, and the supporting characters, who feel rather one-dimensional. Janie herself is an exception to the rule, as a well-fleshed-out and complex character with trauma and flaws, fighting for her life through a series of escalating circumstances with resilience and immense strength. I was especially touched by her bond with the barn cat Kisa, which added a much-needed infusion of warmth and companionship to this bleak tale.
If you're interested in a thought-provoking examination of power, survival, worth, and the ethics of human-animal relationships all wrapped up in a heart-pounding horror novel, Domestication is worth a look!
Trigger/Content Warnings: animal death, domestic abuse, domestic violence, murder, confinement, verbal abuse, violence, body horror, cannibalism, misogyny
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Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Janie has finally taken the terrifying step of leaving her abuser, arriving at an isolated sheep farm, knowing her husband may come looking. She finds a kind of solidarity with the sheep, domesticated and docile, filed down into a new shape that is more convenient for their keepers and kept alive only as long as they serve their purpose. She, too, was worn down over the years, controlled and contained, kept in a cage and expected to perform her domestic duties with a smile, with no wild will of her own.
The novel explores the power dynamics inherent in both human and animal relationships, touching on the ethics of speciesism—or 'human supremacy' as it's put by the characters in the novel— questioning the morality of eating animals of all kinds. The book is not overtly about veganism, nor does it advocate for it, but it engages with the topic in a way that adds depth to the exploration of the more prominent themes. What makes one species more valuable than another? Is it wrong to treat humans in the ways we treat non-human animals? Where do we draw the line, and why? As a vegan for over a decade, I can say the way this novel approached the philosophical ideas behind ethical veganism in a much more nuanced and thoughtful way than I often see, which was a very pleasant surprise!
While the book's themes are intriguing, the execution falters in places. The writing is straightforward but can be repetitive, sometimes detracting from the narrative's impact. Character development is also a somewhat weak point—most notably with the primary antagonist, who comes across as a cartoonishly evil villain, and the supporting characters, who feel rather one-dimensional. Janie herself is an exception to the rule, as a well-fleshed-out and complex character with trauma and flaws, fighting for her life through a series of escalating circumstances with resilience and immense strength. I was especially touched by her bond with the barn cat Kisa, which added a much-needed infusion of warmth and companionship to this bleak tale.
If you're interested in a thought-provoking examination of power, survival, worth, and the ethics of human-animal relationships all wrapped up in a heart-pounding horror novel, Domestication is worth a look!
Trigger/Content Warnings: animal death, domestic abuse, domestic violence, murder, confinement, verbal abuse, violence, body horror, cannibalism, misogyny
You can find me on...
Youtube | Instagram | TikTok
You can join our book club over on Patreon...
PBB Book Club
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
August 3, 2024
This was a great horror story. An abused wife, Janie, escapes her husband and retreats to a sheep farm far away from civilization. Unfortunately it appears she’s gone from the frying pan into the fire!
Her boss is unrelenting and forces her to work every waking hour. A docile cook stays in the house under the supervision of a guard dog. Her only solace is a cat.
What secrets lie within this isolated place? The entire time you have the creepy jitters and an uncanny feeling that things are not going to turn out too well for Janie.
Nerve wrecking anticipation until the end!
Thank you to NetGalley for this arc.
Her boss is unrelenting and forces her to work every waking hour. A docile cook stays in the house under the supervision of a guard dog. Her only solace is a cat.
What secrets lie within this isolated place? The entire time you have the creepy jitters and an uncanny feeling that things are not going to turn out too well for Janie.
Nerve wrecking anticipation until the end!
Thank you to NetGalley for this arc.
August 3, 2024
Domestication is a character driven horror novel following Janie who escapes her abusive husband hoping to find refuge working at Sweet Grass Farm - but instead finds herself in a new situation of abuse, with a new master.
Janie's new life on Sweet Grass Farm introduces her to Rob & Howard, the current occupants. I found the relationship dynamic between the three so fascinating and it was something I was constantly thinking about. Their complexities pull the reader deeper and deeper as the story gets darker and twistier.
As mentioned, the story is very character focused rather than plot focused. We really dive into the psyche of Janie and come to know her very well as we learn about what she went through in the past and who she hopes to become through her own personal transformation. Will she break the cycle or will she succumb to the illusion of power and become a monster herself?
The horror elements were on point as well - it was dark, gory, and does not hold back on that front. The author does a great job of setting the tone from the beginning to leave you unsettled but also creates the perfect amount of mystery and tension to keep you coming back for more.
Definitely recommend for those looking for a character driven horror story with dark themes!
P.S. can we take a moment of appreciation for this gorgeous cover art 🙏🏼
Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for providing me with an electronic copy of this book to review.
Janie's new life on Sweet Grass Farm introduces her to Rob & Howard, the current occupants. I found the relationship dynamic between the three so fascinating and it was something I was constantly thinking about. Their complexities pull the reader deeper and deeper as the story gets darker and twistier.
As mentioned, the story is very character focused rather than plot focused. We really dive into the psyche of Janie and come to know her very well as we learn about what she went through in the past and who she hopes to become through her own personal transformation. Will she break the cycle or will she succumb to the illusion of power and become a monster herself?
The horror elements were on point as well - it was dark, gory, and does not hold back on that front. The author does a great job of setting the tone from the beginning to leave you unsettled but also creates the perfect amount of mystery and tension to keep you coming back for more.
Definitely recommend for those looking for a character driven horror story with dark themes!
P.S. can we take a moment of appreciation for this gorgeous cover art 🙏🏼
Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for providing me with an electronic copy of this book to review.
July 28, 2024
This is the first book I've read by Shannon Knight and it was a twisted dark spiral into abuse and farming. I do not normally read horror but this one sounded intriguing and I'm trying to expand my reading horizons. This story is like an X Files episode but there are no Mulder and Scully to save you. Janie's journey from an abused victim and prey to an apex predator is bloody, dark, and filled with little decisions that can have big consequences. I honestly liked how the abuse in this story is shown by Janie being purposely oblivious to what's going around her because trauma makes you block out everything that can harm you. Janie doesn't want to accept the dangers till they're too late. I loved the circular nature of predator and prey, human vs. nature, and the choice for survival. I can't wait to read what Shannon writes next!
January 20, 2025
I have no words. Disturbing but great book. Will not be going to a farm in the middle of nowhere. Read it all in a day. Every chapter was like oh and ooohhh.
August 20, 2024
This is an absolutely chilling psychological horror novel about abuse, control, and manipulation.
Janie is running from a very abusive relationship and takes a job on a sheep farm in the middle of nowhere. But it doesn't take long until the owner, a woman named Rob, and another farmhand, Howard, start to treat her less like help and more like a prisoner.
And, boy, do things get disturbingly out of control as this novel progresses. Janie has nowhere to go, no escape, and an ex who's hunting her down. The situation deteriorates even further when a LOT of human bones begin to surface.
This book is a great example of how to do horror without gratuitous blood or gore. Oh, there's going to be bloodshed and torture, but it's the psychological torment that makes this story so disturbing. The tension is palpable and the sense of dread and hopelessness seeps into your soul as you read.
I highly recommend this fantastic novel.
Janie is running from a very abusive relationship and takes a job on a sheep farm in the middle of nowhere. But it doesn't take long until the owner, a woman named Rob, and another farmhand, Howard, start to treat her less like help and more like a prisoner.
And, boy, do things get disturbingly out of control as this novel progresses. Janie has nowhere to go, no escape, and an ex who's hunting her down. The situation deteriorates even further when a LOT of human bones begin to surface.
This book is a great example of how to do horror without gratuitous blood or gore. Oh, there's going to be bloodshed and torture, but it's the psychological torment that makes this story so disturbing. The tension is palpable and the sense of dread and hopelessness seeps into your soul as you read.
I highly recommend this fantastic novel.
August 4, 2024
Domestication is a new novel by Shannon Knight. Her previous work has been Science Fiction and Fantasy. This is her first Horror novel, and it is a great one! I'll say that had someone handed me this book without telling me who the author was, my first guess would be that Stephen King was the author. Yeah, it's that good.
I was engaged in the story from the opening page, and stayed that way for the rest of the narrative. It moves very fast and is loaded with plot twists and scary situations that kept me on the edge of my seat.
And I couldn't set it down.
I admire the author's ability to switch from one genre to another so smoothly and still maintain the highest quality of story-telling.
Janie is a forty-something woman who is escaping a brutally abusive marriage. She files for divorce and buys a bus ticket to take a farm job promising room, board, and a little pay. When she arrives at her destination, she walks to Sweet Grass Farm and meets her boss, who calls herself Rob.
Janie does not know what she has gotten herself into, but soon finds out how hard and dirty farm work can be. Without experience, she quickly discovers what poor performance means: more punishment and abuse.
She takes it in stride, seeing an opportunity to build up her strength for an eventual confrontation she knows will come.
It isn't an easy life, but she will make the most of a bad situation and watch for opportunities to improve her situation and hopefully earn her escape.
Janie is a tough character that is used to facing hardship. She is mentally tough and realizes she will have to become physically tough. She has spent years enduring abuse at the hand of others, and she seems to have become accustomed to it. She does her best to please her employer, but very little of what she does is up to the high standards of Rob.
Rob, the principal antagonist, is a tough,older woman. And when I say tough, I mean tough like old boot-leather. She also has an above-average ability to mete out punishment and abuse to those who displease her. She seems to be displeased with nearly everyone, especially those who have worked for her.
These two have a kind of 'cat and mouse' relationship where the one has to pay attention to who is in what role from minute to minute.
This makes for a great story that a reader will want to read on and on.
My favorite point of plot is the transformation that happens to Janie. It is unexpected, and strangely satisfying. 'Nuff said.
My takeaway from Domestication is to never give up. Janie was persistent and never lost sight of her life goals. No matter how bad things were, she never lost sight of what she wanted for herself, and she was willing to endure a lot in her attempt to get there.
Domestication is a book full of plot twists. The principal character is in constant danger. There are many disturbing scenes that will make a horror fan cringe, and might repulse those who are not horror fans. The characters are nearly all bizarre and complicated. I found this entertaining in a macabre sort of way.
Highest recommendations for this horror story with surprises galore, as well as plenty of blood and guts.
I was engaged in the story from the opening page, and stayed that way for the rest of the narrative. It moves very fast and is loaded with plot twists and scary situations that kept me on the edge of my seat.
And I couldn't set it down.
I admire the author's ability to switch from one genre to another so smoothly and still maintain the highest quality of story-telling.
Janie is a forty-something woman who is escaping a brutally abusive marriage. She files for divorce and buys a bus ticket to take a farm job promising room, board, and a little pay. When she arrives at her destination, she walks to Sweet Grass Farm and meets her boss, who calls herself Rob.
Janie does not know what she has gotten herself into, but soon finds out how hard and dirty farm work can be. Without experience, she quickly discovers what poor performance means: more punishment and abuse.
She takes it in stride, seeing an opportunity to build up her strength for an eventual confrontation she knows will come.
It isn't an easy life, but she will make the most of a bad situation and watch for opportunities to improve her situation and hopefully earn her escape.
Janie is a tough character that is used to facing hardship. She is mentally tough and realizes she will have to become physically tough. She has spent years enduring abuse at the hand of others, and she seems to have become accustomed to it. She does her best to please her employer, but very little of what she does is up to the high standards of Rob.
Rob, the principal antagonist, is a tough,older woman. And when I say tough, I mean tough like old boot-leather. She also has an above-average ability to mete out punishment and abuse to those who displease her. She seems to be displeased with nearly everyone, especially those who have worked for her.
These two have a kind of 'cat and mouse' relationship where the one has to pay attention to who is in what role from minute to minute.
This makes for a great story that a reader will want to read on and on.
My favorite point of plot is the transformation that happens to Janie. It is unexpected, and strangely satisfying. 'Nuff said.
My takeaway from Domestication is to never give up. Janie was persistent and never lost sight of her life goals. No matter how bad things were, she never lost sight of what she wanted for herself, and she was willing to endure a lot in her attempt to get there.
Domestication is a book full of plot twists. The principal character is in constant danger. There are many disturbing scenes that will make a horror fan cringe, and might repulse those who are not horror fans. The characters are nearly all bizarre and complicated. I found this entertaining in a macabre sort of way.
Highest recommendations for this horror story with surprises galore, as well as plenty of blood and guts.
October 6, 2024
3.5 rounded up to 4
Domestication follows the story of Janie, a woman escaping her abuse husband, who ends up at a farm in the middle of nowhere hoping to find strength and peace. But the owner of the farm, Rob, might not be the escape she was looking for.
Right from the start we are hit with gory description of mutilated animals so I wouldn't recommend it for the faint of heart. I think it found a good balance between being horrifying and just over the top. The description, whether it be of gore or of the atmosphere really build a good sense of dread. You keep expecting something bad to happen.
You really dive into the psyche of Janie and understand her drive but the other two characters were just weird. I think it was a bit hard to understand why they were acting the way they were but it didn't hinder my enjoyment of the story.
I would say that one of the weak point of the story is its first third because as it lays out the background and character, it is also quite slow and repetitive. But after that the twists keep coming and it was a fun ride.
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this book.
Domestication follows the story of Janie, a woman escaping her abuse husband, who ends up at a farm in the middle of nowhere hoping to find strength and peace. But the owner of the farm, Rob, might not be the escape she was looking for.
Right from the start we are hit with gory description of mutilated animals so I wouldn't recommend it for the faint of heart. I think it found a good balance between being horrifying and just over the top. The description, whether it be of gore or of the atmosphere really build a good sense of dread. You keep expecting something bad to happen.
You really dive into the psyche of Janie and understand her drive but the other two characters were just weird. I think it was a bit hard to understand why they were acting the way they were but it didn't hinder my enjoyment of the story.
I would say that one of the weak point of the story is its first third because as it lays out the background and character, it is also quite slow and repetitive. But after that the twists keep coming and it was a fun ride.
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this book.
August 9, 2024
I initially bought Domestication because the cover art was so eye catching, after reading the first chapter, I was immediately hooked. Janie leaves her abusive husband and escapes to a farm after filing for divorce. She hopes the time away and manual labor will be the change she needs to start anew.
I've got to say, I don't think I've ever read a book like Domestication. Hats off to Shannon Knight for writing such a gripping story. It's certainly the dynamic between the three main characters that had me going on to the next chapter when I should have been getting sleep (or getting back to work, honestly).
From the moment Janie steps on the farm, the tension builds. There is a chapter early on where Janie falls asleep due to exhaustion, and Rob exacts some harsh punishment. I could feel my chest tightening as the scene played out. I knew I was going to enjoy this story from that moment.
I won't say much more, other than you should certainly add Domestication to your TBR. Horror fans will no doubt enjoy this book.
I've got to say, I don't think I've ever read a book like Domestication. Hats off to Shannon Knight for writing such a gripping story. It's certainly the dynamic between the three main characters that had me going on to the next chapter when I should have been getting sleep (or getting back to work, honestly).
From the moment Janie steps on the farm, the tension builds. There is a chapter early on where Janie falls asleep due to exhaustion, and Rob exacts some harsh punishment. I could feel my chest tightening as the scene played out. I knew I was going to enjoy this story from that moment.
I won't say much more, other than you should certainly add Domestication to your TBR. Horror fans will no doubt enjoy this book.
November 26, 2024
Domestication is an exceptionally well written novel! This is psychological horror of the best kind—not a genre I'm too familiar with, but now I have an outstanding example to judge others by. The attention to detail of farm life and work was astounding. It was clear the author had personal experience in such a setting, and this was confirmed after reading the acknowledgements at the end of the book. The POV character's personality, personal history, and transformation was so well handled. She felt so real and I was rooting for her the whole time. The other two core characters were equally engaging, but for different reasons. This novel is filled with depravity, abuse, manipulation, imprisonment, and many other dark themes, but it's also a book about strength, overcoming your fears, self-realization, and taking back power. I'm definitely going to check out this author's other works.
July 30, 2024
Domestication is a tour de force that uses some extremely horrific situations to dive into the psyche of a long suffering victim of domestic abuse. The character of Janie is such a well written character and even though she does some extreme things in this book we are alway right there with her to the bitter end. Lots of fantastic twists in this book as well and it does not hold back on the gore and horror. Highly recommended.
Arc from NetGalley in exchange for honest review
Arc from NetGalley in exchange for honest review
September 12, 2024
Well. I devoured this book. I’m a sucker for horror, but I’m pretty specific in my tastes. Domestication offers psychological horror, the grotesque and fantastical found in bizarro fiction, and they combine in the best way. Reading this book had me thinking of the film “You’re Next”. I think it’s an ode to every female who has ever had to put her head down to “get by” who finally says “burn it all to the ground” and I am here for it.
January 12, 2025
I just put this book down and I'm dying to start it all over again!
We follow Janie as she escapes her old life and husband to work on a farm, away from everything and everyone. I love how you can tell that something is off from the moment Janie arrives and we're introduced to Rob and then Howard, and the fate of the previous farm hands is slowly revealed.
Enthralling all the way through. Some of the descriptions were a bit gruesome for me and I had a to take a couple breaks to let my stomach settle.
Amazing cover art! It absolutely drew me to requesting this title. I had never read anything by shannon Knight before and will look for more in the future
Thank you NetGalley for an advanced digital edition in exchange for my honest review.
We follow Janie as she escapes her old life and husband to work on a farm, away from everything and everyone. I love how you can tell that something is off from the moment Janie arrives and we're introduced to Rob and then Howard, and the fate of the previous farm hands is slowly revealed.
Enthralling all the way through. Some of the descriptions were a bit gruesome for me and I had a to take a couple breaks to let my stomach settle.
Amazing cover art! It absolutely drew me to requesting this title. I had never read anything by shannon Knight before and will look for more in the future
Thank you NetGalley for an advanced digital edition in exchange for my honest review.
August 18, 2024
A character driven book that makes you want to read more, an absolute page turner. An excellent book that will make you feel unsettle in the best way. I’m looking forward to reading more from this author in the future.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 2, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley and the author for granting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Soooo good. So good. Like a modern Grimm fairy tale. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time I was reading, in the best way. 10/10
Soooo good. So good. Like a modern Grimm fairy tale. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time I was reading, in the best way. 10/10
August 29, 2024
This was a wild ride. Like a boulder rolling downhill and picking up steam as it goes. I went into this almost blind, and I'm glad, because I definitely did NOT expect what happened.
September 24, 2024
There’s a lot to enjoy about Knight’s Domestication. Equal parts Stephen King’s Misery and Freida McFadden’s The Housemaid this is a gripping and brutal thriller, refreshingly frank about the realities of farm life, in particular the ever-present nature of death and shit. There are no kid gloves or lambswool blankets to be seen on this sheep farm, and the harshness is only compounded by Janie’s isolation, both geographical and emotional. Janie comes to Sweet Grass Farm to escape an abusive marriage and, dang it all, she’s going to survive no matter how uphill she must shovel shit.
I read this in a single sitting and very rarely could I predict what was going to come next. I don’t want to spoil anything, because it is worth the read, so there is little more I can say.
If I had to name a complaint it’s that Janie comes to a realisation about a factor of her living situation long after it becomes obvious, past the point of naivete and into obliviousness. It’s a fact that is near-directly stated the very first time it occurs on-page and is only ever hammered in harder and harder with each reappearance and additional detail, but Janie doesn’t piece it together until near the very end. However, if my biggest complaint is that a character metamorphosing from cowed victim to survivor has more important things to turn her tunnel-vision upon, then, well, that’s a small complaint indeed.
Lastly, because I contemplated giving up on the book when I became worried: the cat survives.
I read this in a single sitting and very rarely could I predict what was going to come next. I don’t want to spoil anything, because it is worth the read, so there is little more I can say.
If I had to name a complaint it’s that Janie comes to a realisation about a factor of her living situation long after it becomes obvious, past the point of naivete and into obliviousness. It’s a fact that is near-directly stated the very first time it occurs on-page and is only ever hammered in harder and harder with each reappearance and additional detail, but Janie doesn’t piece it together until near the very end. However, if my biggest complaint is that a character metamorphosing from cowed victim to survivor has more important things to turn her tunnel-vision upon, then, well, that’s a small complaint indeed.
Lastly, because I contemplated giving up on the book when I became worried: the cat survives.
September 18, 2024
This is a suspenseful psychological horror novel. Janie has been suffering domestic abuse at the hands of her husband Eric for years. What makes it worse is that even if she summoned up the courage to go to the police, Eric is the police. Using his position of authority Eric has treated Janie worse than an animal. However, Janie has been slowly making plans as to how to leave him and disappear.
With the help of a referral from a support group Janie disguises herself and takes a journey to an isolated sheep farm. It's a place to recover and enjoy nature away from all the daily stresses. Isn't it?
Janie may have just made her last mistake. Rob & Howard set Janie up with hard physical labour with poor living conditions and immediately Janie knows something isn't quite right with the situation. Howard doesn't even speak to her, just getting on with the cooking & butchering and general farm tasks.
Rob is the toughest, meanest woman you could come across. Running the farm with the same sort of control & domination tactics you would use to train a dog. Rob's hounds are never far from her side and when one is called Biter you know it's with good reason.
[Domestication, noun. - the process of taming an animal and keeping it as a pet or on a farm]
Has Janie traded in one abusive home for another? Will she act like the sheep in the barn and allow herself to be dominated? It's an eat or be eaten world and is she ready to join the predators or will she just be domesticated meat?
And what happens when Eric hunts her down? Will he be willing to let her go or would he rather kill her?
This novel really gets into Janie's head. It's slow-paced but keeps you on edge with the full horror of the situation being revealed gradually. This book goes places I wasn't expecting. It may be psychological but it includes some absolutely gross-out moments and scenes of extreme violence. But lighten the mood by listening to Jolene by Dolly Parton which after reading this you will agree is the unofficial theme song for this story.
None of the characters are likeable although some have their unexpected moments. There is however a very cute cat.
It's best to not know any more of the plot before going into it. Very thoughtfully written with an interesting set-up. It's unlike anything else. And that's a good thing.
Thank you to Netgalley for access to this recommended horror.
With the help of a referral from a support group Janie disguises herself and takes a journey to an isolated sheep farm. It's a place to recover and enjoy nature away from all the daily stresses. Isn't it?
Janie may have just made her last mistake. Rob & Howard set Janie up with hard physical labour with poor living conditions and immediately Janie knows something isn't quite right with the situation. Howard doesn't even speak to her, just getting on with the cooking & butchering and general farm tasks.
Rob is the toughest, meanest woman you could come across. Running the farm with the same sort of control & domination tactics you would use to train a dog. Rob's hounds are never far from her side and when one is called Biter you know it's with good reason.
[Domestication, noun. - the process of taming an animal and keeping it as a pet or on a farm]
Has Janie traded in one abusive home for another? Will she act like the sheep in the barn and allow herself to be dominated? It's an eat or be eaten world and is she ready to join the predators or will she just be domesticated meat?
And what happens when Eric hunts her down? Will he be willing to let her go or would he rather kill her?
This novel really gets into Janie's head. It's slow-paced but keeps you on edge with the full horror of the situation being revealed gradually. This book goes places I wasn't expecting. It may be psychological but it includes some absolutely gross-out moments and scenes of extreme violence. But lighten the mood by listening to Jolene by Dolly Parton which after reading this you will agree is the unofficial theme song for this story.
None of the characters are likeable although some have their unexpected moments. There is however a very cute cat.
It's best to not know any more of the plot before going into it. Very thoughtfully written with an interesting set-up. It's unlike anything else. And that's a good thing.
Thank you to Netgalley for access to this recommended horror.
August 29, 2024
To sum it up: a woman escapes one abusive relationship for another abusive relationship and learns how to fix fences and hold chickens as a little treat. I actually really enjoyed this book, I couldn't put it down once I started. Fair warning, it's very gory and goes into farming quite a bit but it was still such an enjoyable read. Part of me really just wanted Howard and Janie to stay together on that farm drinking hooch and talking about Shakespeare but I was also pretty content with the actual ending where Janie became a lone wolf. I thought this had perfect commentary on domestic abuse and while yes Eric was pretty one-dimensional, that was totally fine because there are one-dimensional abusers in the real world, too, so I still saw everything as super realistic. Also that last line? Iconic. No notes.
Domestication is a very fun and easy horror read for people who want to enter the genre. There are some trigger warnings since it's quite graphic but I think that adds to the experience of the book too. Will definitely be remembering this story for a long time.
4.5
Domestication is a very fun and easy horror read for people who want to enter the genre. There are some trigger warnings since it's quite graphic but I think that adds to the experience of the book too. Will definitely be remembering this story for a long time.
4.5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 22, 2025
If I had to describe this book in a word, it would be "intense," and I give it props for being a well-done horror story with zero supernatural elements that isn't crazy over the top ax killer. The closest I can think of to compare it to is Misery, in that it highlights the harm of toxic dependency. Other than that, this is entirely its own thing, and let me tell you, dread is heavy in this one, and you'll be hoping the main character can finally catch a break. I should mention that this does contain mentions of abuse, both domestic and, I believe, sexual, at some points, but it's more alluded to than outright described. Also, if you want to get technical, there is animal harm in it.
Just thought I'd give a heads up in case any readers aren't comfortable with novels containing those things. Other than that, though, I highly recommend this one. Give it a read.
Just thought I'd give a heads up in case any readers aren't comfortable with novels containing those things. Other than that, though, I highly recommend this one. Give it a read.
August 21, 2024
Domestication is a horrifically good, twisted story that uses some extremely horrific situations to dive into the psyche of a long suffering victim of domestic abuse. The character of Janie is such a well written character and even though she does some extreme things in this book we are always right there with her to the bitter end. Lots of fantastic twists in this book as well and it does not hold back on the gore and horror. Highly recommended for those who love gut wrenching scares and nightmares.
September 2, 2024
Janie escapes her abusive husband to find safety and reprieve on a farm, only to quickly find herself in the same cycle.
This little horror built and maintained tension marvelously, with cycles of absolute horror followed by peaceful time with a cat. The ending? Excellent
It did feel it could have been tighter, it felt redundant and really hammered home the themes but even with that it was a fast and engrossing read
CW:
This little horror built and maintained tension marvelously, with cycles of absolute horror followed by peaceful time with a cat. The ending? Excellent
It did feel it could have been tighter, it felt redundant and really hammered home the themes but even with that it was a fast and engrossing read
CW:
September 20, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an advance copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.
This was a fantastic horror novel about one woman running from an abusive marriage and finding herself in hell disgused as a sheep farm. I loved the writing though I do believe part 1 is much stronger than part 2.
I wish some aspects had been expanded on more that i am not detailing for because of spoilers. But overall a solid read and definitely recomend for anyone looking for their next scary read.
This was a fantastic horror novel about one woman running from an abusive marriage and finding herself in hell disgused as a sheep farm. I loved the writing though I do believe part 1 is much stronger than part 2.
I wish some aspects had been expanded on more that i am not detailing for because of spoilers. But overall a solid read and definitely recomend for anyone looking for their next scary read.
December 19, 2025
solid 3.5 stars for sure, loved the characters in this and the way they interacted, i could also tell how much research the author did while writing which is always a cool thing to experience.
i think the prose here just didn’t click with me, a lot of parts had to be reread since they were worded a bit awkwardly in my opinion and just short circuited my brain.
i think the prose here just didn’t click with me, a lot of parts had to be reread since they were worded a bit awkwardly in my opinion and just short circuited my brain.
August 13, 2024
Thank you Netgalley for the eARC! I don’t know what the hell this was but it will live rent free in my head until I die.
January 21, 2025
This book manages to hold the suspence and give us all the horror.
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