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Feeding the Wheel

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"Michael Boulerice is a darkly inventive voice in horror, lacing his words with scalpel sharp nightmares." –Laurel Hightower, author of BELOW and THE DAY OF THE DOOR

THE WHEEL GETS ITS DUE.

Caleb and Marley's first mistake was stumbling into the gruesome sacrifice to the grinding wheel and its gods. Their second was enjoying the benefits it gave them. Now, one of them can't get enough, and the other just can't get out. Nothing can ever stop the wheel.

140 pages, Paperback

Published July 22, 2025

2 people are currently reading
3645 people want to read

About the author

Michael Boulerice

11 books36 followers
Michael Boulerice was born in Massachusetts and has spent the majority of his life in New Hampshire. He’s worn many hats, holding jobs as an office drone, a mattress delivery man, a marketing specialist, and an entrepreneur, but has discovered his true passion lies in writing horror—more specifically, using horror as a tool to process lived trauma. Michael has been published previously by NoSleep, Tenebrous Press, and Cosmic Horror Monthly. He lives on the Atlantic coast with his wife and two cats. Feeding the Wheel is his first novella.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
Profile Image for Kate Victoria RescueandReading.
1,946 reviews114 followers
July 30, 2025
Calling all cosmic horror fans! You’ll want to add this one to your reading lists!

Follow two kids as they find a hovering wheel in the middle of the forest one night. It changes the trajectory of their lives for good and bad.

I enjoyed seeing Marley & Caleb grow up, deeply influenced and bound to an object beyond their comprehension. It was a quick story, almost a bit too short, but I really, really enjoyed reading it. The author has a wonderful imagination.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Dead Sky Publishing/ Death’s Head Press for a copy!
Profile Image for Kristin Sledge.
355 reviews39 followers
July 8, 2025
5 stars and a girl hungry for more from this author. An excellent shorter story about corruption and those who turn a blind eye.

Caleb and Marley are going into the seventh grade. Puberty, girls, and school loom over them with an unsure feeling. However, the night before school begins they take a walk through the forest behind their houses and find a group of children dressed in valiant white, standing in a circle around an enormous and floating stone wheel, waiting for something. Enter an Eldritch looking forest beasty named Old Friend who emerges from the trees and plucks a child up, gives it a hug, and grinds it into the spinning wheel. At first, Marley and Caleb chalk it up to hallucination, but when everything begins to go their way they question what the Wheel really does. Visit after visit to the wheel brings more good fortune, but when is enough truly enough? And what other sacrifices must Caleb and Marley make to keep the lives they've built?

I read this so fast! It was shorter but held my attention in a vice, my fingers turning the page in almost a trance-like state as I devoured words like the wheel ground children. I really felt for Caleb by the end whereas I vibed more with Marley in the beginning. Marley was unashamed with the offerings to the wheel, which was such a redeeming quality for me. So many times we get people doing terrible things with such guilt I find myself disconnecting from them. I'm sitting there screaming at the page "THEN JUST STOP", which would have been reasonably easy to do for Marley and Caleb. That quality that I really admired in the beginning morphed over my journey with them, making me even take a look inward to think would I be a Marley or a Caleb? And honestly.....Marley's fate would probably become my own. I am not noble or really regretful in my life, but I see how unchecked it will fester and rot. The ending was a bit rushed, but honestly it fit the story...had it been drawn out more I think some of the magic would have been lost. Also, sign me up for a tattoo of dear Old Friend. What a cool character they were!

Other than the rushed ending this is easily a 5 star read, the characters alone plus the mysteries of the wheel, children, and realms beyond make this a top read of the year for me. Thank you so so much to the publisher and Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for That Horror Chick.
34 reviews76 followers
August 18, 2025
** I received an ARC copy from Netgalley in exchange for a honest review**

At the start I wasn't so sure what to expect, but this book surely delivered a fun and delightfully gorey story! It is a pretty quick read, and I think you can finish it in a single afternoon or evening. The characters are just deep enough to keep it interesting, and the flashback scenes definitely did lots of good in terms of understanding what was happening.

The only vice that I have with this book is that the ending felt rushed, and I didn't really feel the way that they tied it all up.

Overall a very creepy and effective story, with rich storytelling and a casual easy to read writing style. Definitely looking forward to more work from this author!
Profile Image for Nichole Hall.
27 reviews2 followers
September 1, 2025
When Marley and Caleb, the main characters are young, they stumble upon an old grinding wheel in a forest near their home. Curious, they watch as a group of children gather in a circle. Suddenly, a strange, otherworldly eldritch creature named Old Friend appears. He plucks out one of the children and places them on the grinding wheel as a sacrifice. Both Marley and Caleb are frozen in shock. They are unsure if what they’re witnessing is real or just a figment of their imagination.

They begin to notice that good things keep happening to them, almost as if luck is on their side. They soon realize that their fortunes are tied to sacrifices made at the wheel. To continue their boon, they'll need to visit the wheel regularly. But, at what cost?

I absolutely love the unique plot and how the story unfolds. I am looking forward to the next book from Michael Boulerice!

Thank you to Netgalley, Michael Boulerice, and Dead Sky Publishing for this ARC.
Profile Image for ash.
223 reviews
October 31, 2025
Proudly wearing its inspiration from the legendary H.P. Lovecraft, Wheel very much reads like if 'The Shadow over Innsmouth' was written by one of the Innsmouth fish folk tempted by the blessings of a higher power; Caleb's position as both favoured and victim of an eldritch god makes him the best narrator for this kind of story, which, at its best, is creepy, weird, and the best kind of unsettling. (I also cannot overstate how much I love the unnatural floating disk with a hole in the centre being our Great Old One for the tale.)

However, this appealing and eerie premise is really held back by its writing. The evocative imagery really starts and ends with the Wheel itself; meanwhile, the prose describing Caleb and Marley's 'normal' lives pales heavily in comparison to the cosmic horror underside of the narrative. The scenes of the boys at school or at work are written with a strangely reticent style where it seems that the author was clearly trying to only write them out as a bridge or explanatory setup to get to the Good Stuff. Paragraphs of the typical 'telling and not showing' writing pitfall show up frequently, and I believe that is very much a disadvantage in a genre that requires a healthy amount of mystery and suspension of disbelief. There are also small typographical errors within some dialogue that tended to disrupt my focus. (There's one instance in particular that I found pretty conspicuous, where the narration refers to Caleb in the first person and then reverts back to the first person narration of the rest of the book.)

But despite all these things, Wheel is a true love letter to the cosmic horror genre, and has everything about it that I want: weird creatures, creepy happenings, unexplained phenomenon, the horrifying infinity of space, both the insignificance of humanity in the face of unfathomable knowledge and humanity's penchant for greed and abusing that knowledge. I always needed to know what happened next, and that kept me reading until the end.

I also truly hope that they keep the illustrations I had in my edition in the published one, because they add a delightfully nostalgic sense of creep factor to the whole thing. And they are also charming as hell!

Thank you to Death's Head Press for the ARC through NetGalley.
Profile Image for Windsor Grace.
299 reviews1 follower
April 8, 2025
I received this book from NetGalley for a review. The description made it sound super weird, and it delivered. I read it in one sitting, it had me so enamored. I couldn’t wait to find out what was going to happen.

Caleb and Marley are neighbors and best friends. When they began sneaking out of their houses at eleven years old, they simply explored their small neighborhood. But, as that became dull, the two began exploring the nearby national forest. One night, they go farther than ever before and come across a clearing surrounding a hill. At the top of the hill is a giant millstone surrounded by singing children in white dresses holding hands. The stars in the sky are different from what they know their stars to look like. One of the children comes down and welcomes to two to join them. Without much hesitation, they do. Soon after, a large monster made of vines comes out of the woods and grinds one of the children into the millstone. Horrified, Caleb and Marley and run all the way home.

Over the next few weeks, the boys notice they are suddenly smarter, more talented, and more likable. They wonder if these improvements are because of what they were a part of in the woods. Unfortunately, their new gifts wane over time. They wonder if their gifts will come back if they visit the wheel again. The boys’ next actions set off the events that will define their entire lives.

I loved this book! It is completely original and such a compelling story. It drew me in much like the quintessential cosmic horror novel, The Fisherman. Unlike The Fisherman, the first third isn’t boring and I never wondered where the story was going. The action starts almost immediately and keeps up for the entire book. If you’re a fan of cosmic horror this is a must read.

Get your own copy July 22,2025.
Profile Image for Alexandria ☾.
73 reviews28 followers
March 29, 2025
4.5/5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley for the arc. I read this in an afternoon and enjoyed most of it. I'm not a huge fan of how the story was tied up in the end, but it was satisfying enough and the plot kept me intrigued the entire time. I recommend to anyone that wants an interesting, short cosmic horror. Check trigger warnings if needed.
Profile Image for Books For Decaying Millennials.
246 reviews48 followers
November 2, 2025
I snagged a copy of this from the author, while at Voidcon. All views and opinions are my own.
-
Here's a fascinating, and perhaps for some creators, frustrating thing, that happens when someone sets out to to take ideas that arise in their mind and in set them down, whether in word, visual art, or music. Once you tap into it, it's going to go places that will surprise the creator, because even they don't necessarily know where it's going to lead. I was chatting with Michael while in the middle of reading, nothing spoiler related of course (the rules must, and all that). but we did talk about where it was drawing, that moment of inspiration, that flash of an image that won't go away. Michael said he found himself wondering "Is this something?". Clearly it was, he followed that inspiration where to led, that inevitable path which brought us Feeding the Wheel .
This is a story that seems to flow in two concurrent streams, you an examination of childhood trauma, those friendships we had that, looking back, weren't equal, that were rife with toxicity and manipulation. Everyone, sadly, I feel, could relate to this. That friend or neighbor that you played with, interacted with that didn't have the best home life. the point of divergence where they either were able to get away, to grow beyond that darkness, or to see them continue the cycle, to "feed the wheel", perhaps becoming something far worse. Perhaps it comes down to empathy, whether we retain that, or if through that trauma, something breaks, never to be healed or regrown.
Here's where we get into that second parallel current, that "something" that Michael is tapping into.
What fascinates me about the intersection between "Cosmic Horror" and "Folk Horror" is just how nebulous that point of difference is. It's a reminder that the accept world, that mapped existence we call reality, is a few steps away from things nameless and strange that ring those evolutionary warning bells deep in our brains. I found myself thinking about traditions surrounding "the fey", "little people" to name a few. admonitions, warnings and taboos in cultures around the world. Warnings to stay on the mapped paths, to venture in certain places, eat the food of strange folk, the warning that everything has a cost and eventually will come due.
Profile Image for Heidi Ragauša.
56 reviews
August 21, 2025
I really enjoyed reading this book — it’s clear that a lot of care, passion, and imagination went into every page. The story has a unique voice and a compelling premise that kept me engaged throughout. I especially appreciated the character development that the author was able to create in such a short amount of time. Not to mention, the bonus story!

There were a few moments where I felt things could’ve been tightened up a bit, but overall, that didn’t take away from the experience. For an early work, this shows real promise, and I’m excited to see what comes next from the author.

A solid and enjoyable read — definitely worth checking out.
Profile Image for AgoraphoBook  Reviews.
469 reviews8 followers
June 1, 2025
Feeding The Wheel
Michael Boulerice 

4/ 5

Creepy, kooky cosmic horror with hints of Ligotti and Matthew Barlett's weird and wonderful collection'Creeping Waves'; yet this story has a flavor and style all it's own.
Profile Image for Marisa (marisalynnreads).
156 reviews16 followers
November 17, 2025
*Rating: 4.5 rounded up*

Huge thank you to @deadskypub for the gifted copy!

"𝘐'𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘰𝘰𝘯. 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘴. 𝘍𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘨𝘰. 𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘱 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘺𝘤𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘦'𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘺 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴. 𝘔𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵. 𝘖𝘳 𝘥𝘪𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯."

I need more from Michael ASAP. How is this his debut horror novella?!

This book captivated me from the first page, all the way to the very last. It constantly had me on the edge of my seat, never knowing what was going to happen next. There are even little drawn out scenes throughout that just add another level to the creepiness of the story

It's a mix of folklore, scifi, and horror, full of self discovery, unhealthy friendships, and narcissistic tendencies. Nothing prepared me for what would become of Marley and Caleb at the end of this wild ride.

𝘼𝙙𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙏𝘽𝙍 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚...
🕳️Horror/scifi novellas
⚙️Supernatural powers
🕳️ Narcissistic MMCs
⚙️Sinister secrets
Profile Image for Kaitlyn Lopez-Collier.
320 reviews21 followers
August 23, 2025
4.5 stars ⭐️

Thank you so much Deadsky publishing for sending me a paperback copy of this book!!

Wow this book really hooked me on page one. It follows two boys who discover a wheel in the sky, children in white gowns and a creepy forest monster. Once the wheel is fed, the boys discover they are stronger, smarter and their personal abilities are amplified.

The story dives into themes of greed and this cycle of sacrifice. The story is unsettling through imagery and suspense over this wheel’s hunger. What I love most about horror is that it discusses very real themes that can translate to the real world, such as unethical billionaires.

I found the characters, Marley and Caleb, very interesting as you watch them grow up and use their personal strengths to become successful. I find it hard to review this story without giving too much away because I believe it needs to be experienced for yourself if you love this genre. The thing that held me back from giving 5 stars was there were quite a few typos for such a short story. Other than that, the storyline was very cool and creepy. I loved the themes it discussed and I had a hard time knowing what would come next. Thank you again Deadsky!
Profile Image for Em Barton.
99 reviews1 follower
September 1, 2025
✨ 4.75

📚REVIEW COPY📚

“‘Please, join us for The Ritual of the Wheel. I understand you have questions. All will become clear. You will see.’”

If you ever come across a giant, floating wheel in the middle of a forest, just walk away.

This book hit the ground running and I read most of it in a mild state of shock and horror. It asks the question “what are you willing to let happen to live the life you think you deserve” in such a brutal way.

It also handles the narcissistic character brilliantly, and as someone whose just cut one such individual out of my life, it was so refreshing to read an accurate portrayal of what it’s like to have to deal with a narcissist.
(I’ll let you discover if they get their comeuppance yourselves 😝)

I really enjoyed the drawings, however unnerving, that were scattered throughout, as well as the bonus short at the end which was delightfully haunting.

A huge thank you to Dead Sky Publishing and Michael Boulerice for the review copy, I thoroughly enjoyed this!
Profile Image for Krystelle.
1,146 reviews46 followers
July 4, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

Cosmic horror is a very difficult beast to wrangle, and even more difficult to wrangle with any level of success. There’s a certain level of complexity in handling eldritch terror, especially when balancing it with the mundane.

I felt like the characters in this were a little underbaked, and that the dialogue was a little stilted in places too, but I could understand the urgency in getting to the cosmic horror parts of this book. It felt like the ‘normal life’ facets of this were the ones that the author wanted to get out of the way to get to the good stuff.

There were some definite parts of this that definitely fitted the ‘good stuff’ brief. The focus on knowledge being powerful but also dangerous (and, more often than not, fatal) was wonderful, and I feel like the curtain got peeled back just that bit more on the Old Gods.

It was definitely brought forward with a real creeping sense of dread, which was delicious. I’m keen to see more of where this author’s work goes- but for now, this is a lovely first romp for me!
Profile Image for Dan.
112 reviews
July 22, 2025
A narcissistic best friend. A window to another dimension. A being made of the forest’s discarded things. A circle of children in white, singing to an unknown god. And a system in which the being made of discarded things grinds the singing children into a paste to feed the god sitting on the other side of the interdimensional window.

Oh—and the narcissistic best friend absolutely, positively does not exploit the fact that these sacrifices give him the power of superhuman manipulation.

Part cosmic horror, part folk horror, and all too real for anyone who’s had a manipulative best friend. It’s a quick, entertaining read with vivid imagery and believable characters. Strong 5/5 from me.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the Advanced Review Copy. This review is my honest opinion on the work provided.
Profile Image for Joe Butler.
Author 7 books16 followers
October 26, 2025
Loved it. Stephen King through the lens of Spielberg. Great writing, that so authetically captures the feeling of being the victim of that one dude at school who could somehow talk you into doing the dumbest stuff. I had a great time with this.
Profile Image for Ryan.
55 reviews13 followers
June 11, 2025
Caleb and Marley are your average slackers in middle school. Not great at school, athletic or anything that would get the praise of their teachers or parents. This changes after finding The Wheel, a cosmic entity hidden in the woods. After they witness a horrific ritualistic sacrifice, their entire world will change forever when they become imbued with strange power. However they realize all too late that with this power comes dire consequences.

The best way to summarize The Wheel is the movie Chronicle/The Covenant with a cosmic horror twist. Two boys wander into the woods to find a strange entity that grants them powers and abilities at a horrific cost, both in the immediate and the long term. Boulerice not only captures cosmic horror perfectly but also the conflict that arise when people acquire pow). My only criticism would be the length. The story is a novella, but there are definitely parts of the story (mainly the second half) that could have been more fleshed out. The pacing of the second half of the book tends to be very quick and I would have loved to see more of a slow burn that leads to the epic conclusion. Overall I loved reading FEEDING THE WHEEL and Boulerice’s take on cosmic horror. It was a quick but highly enjoyable read. Thank you to NetGalley and Dead Head Press for giving me an ARC copy of the book in exchange for an honest review!
Profile Image for Laurel.
470 reviews54 followers
June 16, 2025
Combining folklore, body horror, cosmic horror and coming of age into a wtf story with spectacular pacing. A quick and fantastic read.
Profile Image for LizzieReader.
61 reviews1 follower
June 11, 2025
I am a huge fan of genre-bending horror, and this story did a good job of blending horror and sci-fi together to create an intriguing plot that makes the reader ask themselves, "Would I have done the same in these circumstances? What would I do if I got a cheat code to life at the expense of my morals? And what if I had a friend who was a little too good at convincing me I deserved what we got out of it?" I read it in one afternoon, needing to know what would happen next!
Profile Image for Troy.
1,255 reviews
July 3, 2025
Thanks again, go to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for providing me this eARC in exchange for an honest review. What an original novella that was also a pleasure to read. Cosmic horror has become a new favorite subgenre of mine. To say anything more about the plot would ruin the reveal for the next reader, but it was a bittersweet ending. As a bonus, there is a short story unrelated to the novella included in this publication. It was very reminiscent of a certain Night Gallery TV movie that I remember watching as a kid. Both are highly recommended.
Profile Image for Lizardley.
202 reviews1 follower
April 13, 2025
I found this deeply fine. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

My overarching sense of this work was undercooked. I caught a typo that was spelled correctly later on the same page. The dialogue was a little stilted at times, as was the prose. There's a lot of telling instead of showing. There are also a few things that didn't quite make sense to me, the most notable being when Claudia gets upset at Caleb for spending so much time with Marley, but they only seem to be meeting up twice a month. The implication is that Caleb is never present with his family, but the timelines don't seem to add up. However, the cosmic horror aspects were delightfully creepy, and while the epilogue didn't do much for me, I'd love a continuation of the last chapter.

I'm interested to see what else Boulerice writes going forward, because the combination of cosmic horror and a toxic friend is a good once, but this one did not hit nearly as hard as I would have liked.
Profile Image for Fauwxx.
178 reviews5 followers
November 13, 2025
This was a cosmic horror novel with folklore elements woven in.

I think we've all read something like this, where the character wants xyz, but getting those things requires doing morally bad things. Then, to keep xyz, the character needs to keep doing the morally bad things or the xyz will disappear. Hence, the title, Feeding the Wheel.

This just didn't work for me. I found the characters to be very unlovable and I just wasn't that interested in what they were doing. The folklore elements and eldritch beings were actually pretty creepy and I loved the descriptions of them.

As far as writing goes, there were a lot of grammar issues which made it read and feel disjointed. It was very clunky and a lot of the story seemed to drag on. There wasn't really a story arc, it just felt like a slow, slow, slow burn until the end.
Profile Image for ♡━━━Judit ━━♡.
158 reviews
March 31, 2025
3.75

In Feeding The Wheel, we are presented a pretty bizarre premise which includes but is not limited to: human sacrifice, a tale of friendship (kind of....) and a giant terrifying wheel. Though it is short in length, it packs a punch, not only with the horror and descriptions included (check trigger warnings if needed) but also with an almost literary description of how a certain situation can change and affect people in such different way, digging through family and social dynamics. Can't finish the review without mentioning the heart-stopping artwork included throughout the book, helped with the atmosphere and immersion a lot.

Thanks to NetGalley and Death's Head Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Profile Image for Hank Fischer.
30 reviews
June 8, 2025
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC, This is my full and unbiased opinion given of my own accord.

Feeding The Wheel follows two best friends over the years, as they benefit from the boons given by a mysterious wheel in the forest by their hometown. Every few months, the friends travel to this wheel, and watch as a small child is fed by a bizarre entity, and the blood of the child is devoured by a powerful and malevolent being from another world. Caleb is forced to reckon with the consequences of a life that's only possible due to the slaughter of indoctrinated children, while watching his best friend Marley give into his worst manipulative impulses.

I'm a sucker for cosmic horror and weird fiction, and this definitely scratched that itch. It's a very short read, a novella, and not particularly dense, so you can most likely get through it in less than an hour. Because of this, there isn't a lot to say.

Editing wise, there were quite a few typos, as well as one case where Marley's name was replaced with Caleb's. It could definitely use another go around by the editor.

I think Boulerice got the point across in a pretty short timeframe, and it's very enjoyable to read. The worldbuilding of the Wheel and the Children of The Wheel was also pretty well done, even if it wasn't fully explored. I do wish it was longer, I don't think he got the most out of the premise, and there are a few dangling story threads not addressed by the end of the story. The climax is the weakest part of this novella. The actual ending/epilogue flowed nicely, but what preceded that left things to be desired. I also wish Marley's character and relationship with his parents was more fleshed out to accompany his downfall.

Overall, Feeding The Wheel is a solid 4/5 and a very enjoyable read, even if it's potential wasn't fulfilled to its fullest
Profile Image for Horror Reads.
920 reviews328 followers
June 8, 2025
This is a fantastic freaky and horrifying novella which has folk horror vibes along with some creepy cosmic horror.

Caleb and Marley are two best friends who sneak out for some late night adventures in the woods on the eve of entering seventh grade. They get more than they bargained for as they enter another world with a floating round disc, a group of strange children dressed in white, a ritual which brings a creature made of woodland things, and the bloody willing sacrifice of one of the children to a cosmic entity.

Both boys experience extraordinary changes. Scars and acne are gone, they possess knowledge they shouldn't have, and their talents are vividly enhanced. But this effect from the wheel wears off over time and this novella will show how they continue to go back, watch the sacrifices of children just to have these abilities and they'll do it for the rest of their lives. Throughout high school, collage, and well into adulthood, their lives are almost perfect because of the power from the wheel. But it comes with a cost and a question of morality.

We'll see how this affects both of them throughout the years as their relationship begins to crumble and how the lust for more power will change them both forever.

This is a very creepy, highly effective story and it gets more horrific as it progresses. What and who will one of them sacrifice for the ultimate power? I highly recommend this one.

I received an ARC of this book through Netgalley. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.
Profile Image for Alison Faichney.
437 reviews2 followers
July 24, 2025
This was a dope read! Boulerice is a completely new to me author. I haven’t heard this book mentioned in any of my circles, but I’m confident we’ll be hearing more from him soon. The novella, Feeding the Wheel, was great. It’s the story of two middle school friends, Caleb and Marley, who stumble upon a colossal, murderous stone wheel in the woods. The wheel is suspended a few feet above the ground and appears to eat willing child sacrifices. The boys flee but quickly discover temporarily enhanced capabilities which pulls them into a lifelong cycle of visiting this wheel to sustain their boon.

The cosmic horror was great in this one. The vibes were dope and the imagery goes hard. I struggled to connect with the characters as neither are good dudes, but it aligns with the events of the story and it’s a full circle tale. The only thing I wished is that we got more of that ending. I would love to have learned more about other potential dimensions, but maybe we’ll get more from Boulerice on that in the future.

Boulerice has included the short story, Lord of Doors with this book. I hoped it was going to be related to the events of Feeding the Wheel, but it wasn’t. I *loved* the short story at the end. It was perfect imo. Cyclical, creepy and it hits the mark all the way through. It’s short but packs a wallop in its few pages. I definitely feel like Boulerice is on the horizon for indie horror so don’t sleep on this one. Great read.
51 reviews2 followers
August 5, 2025
An interesting read that didn't overstay its welcome! 3.5 ⭐ rounded up.

I enjoyed how we don't get answers to everything regarding the nature of The Wheel, as the characters we follow don't have that knowledge. The MCs Caleb (our narrator) and Marley are not likeable characters, and I don't always enjoy being in a first person perspective when teen boys (in flashbacks) are involved, but overall the writing worked for me. The gory descriptions were graphic and painted quite the visual.

My main criticism is that there are some contradictions and inconsistencies within the story.

I would like to see Michael Boulerice publishes in the future, he has intriguing sci-fi ideas!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy for review.
Profile Image for Stina.
200 reviews19 followers
May 15, 2025
Thanks to netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I almost never read horror, the world is it's own horror story and I usually read to escape. This book is a Novella and was a one day read, so I thought it would be fun to read a different genre which happens to take place in my own state, in a nearby town. I enjoy short stories/ novellas because they have to get to the point and there's not a ton of filler.

Caleb and Marley are two toxic childhood friends who stumble upon a weird sacrificial ritual and gain powers. The story takes place over their entire lives and while topically its a creepy story that feels extra creepy because knowing its in my own state, and reading at 3 am next to the woods just makes it a tiny bit weirder, but also it inspires some theological thought. While the story is creepy in general, the underlying message (which asks the reader to question indoctrination of children) leaves you thinking about the story long after you've finished.
Profile Image for Emi.
283 reviews1 follower
August 28, 2025
Publishing date: 22.07.2025 (DD/MM/YYYY)
Thank you to NetGalley and Dead Sky Publishing for the ARC. My opinions are my own.

TLDR: Two young boys discover something in the woods they might never have been meant to see. This will impact their lives for many years and hold grave consequences.

My positives:
- Eldritch / Cosmic horror (both are bangin)
- Oh no consequences
- A good "spiral into madness" arc

My negatives:
- Pacing? Never heard of it
- Characters felt a little flat
- Felt rushed the first 50% and then it got good a little after that
- Ending didn't do much for me

This book is an okay horror novelette. It told a story, was just grotesque and eerie enough, and had the bones of something greater poking through. The final product was just a little ... eh? I don't feel any particular way about it.

I think I would recommend this to those who enjoy "the forest is dangerous" and typical eldritch horrors.

Giving this 3 stars. It was fine, nothing too memorable, but not bad either. Will be selectively recommending this.
Profile Image for Rebecca.
420 reviews5 followers
September 11, 2025
For you cosmic horror lovers, this short but good book is a must-read this season. I love how we receive all the information right from the beginning as we follow the two main characters on their journey with the wheel. Their dynamic as friends and their thoughts on what they’re doing and what they want are compelling. Although it’s a ridiculously short book, I felt we gained valuable insight into the characters, their families, and their significant others. While the wheel loomed in the background of their lives, the main focus was on their actions, the behavior they exhibited over the years, and how they coped with the consequences of those actions. It was a great way to illustrate how things can go off track; once you fall into this cycle, it’s hard to break free, especially when burdened by other people’s expectations. Even though it took a long time, Caleb ultimately took a stand, broke the cycle, and realized how he had been manipulated.

Thanks to NetGalley and Dead Sky Publishing, I received an ARC for an honest review!
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