I don’t tend to read a lot of horror, mostly because I don’t enjoy the gore aspect as much. When I heard about the (controversial) concept of cozy horror, I was instantly intrigued. Like cozy mysteries as they relate to the broader mystery genre, cozy horror beings the complexity and vividness of horror without the heavy emphasis on gore. It’s horror that is approachable for those who want the emotions that great horror can spark without the overreliance on terror.

Rachel Harrison’s Black Sheep is a perfect example of what this new exploration of horror can bring to the table. The terror comes from the feeling of tension and anxiety throughout the book. There is light gore, but it plays more on the idea of what occurs rather than direct descriptions of anything gory. This is the sort of book that encouraged me to appreciate a genre that I can sometimes shy away from.

Review | Black Sheep

I was absolutely hooked on this book start to finish. An impressive feat when the main character is somewhat unlikable! Part of what is gripping about the book is learning more about the religious cult that Vesper grew up in. Another part that sneaks up on the reader is the mystery of who exactly invited Vesper to return after she had been banished. This puzzle seems simple at first, but as the story gets more twisted it becomes apparent that there is much more going on than the reader or Vesper herself realized.

Vesper is a stunningly beautiful woman with a face that she inherited from her mother Constance—an icon to horror movie fans and one of the original scream queens. When the book opens, Vesper is fired from her waitressing job and we learn that she left home at eighteen, fleeing the religious cult where she was raised. Since the cult practices ex-communication, Vesper has not been allowed to return nor has she been contacted by any of the people she left behind. Until she receives an invitation to her cousin’s wedding (conveniently to the only man Vesper had ever loved).

The story follows Vesper as she returns home for the wedding. There’s a lot to unpack here, particularly around the long-term impact being raised in a cult had on Vesper as an adult. There is more going on with Vesper than being raised in the cult. The thing about Vesper that was the most interesting was that she chose to leave a cult without any exposure to other ideology. That Vesper was adored by the members of the cult is another fascinating twist. They may be upset that she left, but they seem glad to see her back (even if their hopes are up that she plans to rejoin permanently).

Vesper is often unlikable, though at the same time the reader feels sympathetic towards her. Vesper is self-absorbed, and she often does things to others that are quite hurtful. We see this pattern with her and her cousin Rosie, and we see it repeat with a coworker and friend of hers. The reader is left wondering if Vesper was always this self-serving, or if this a by-product of her upbringing. Even more, is this the characteristic in Vesper that gave her the courage and will to leave everything she knew behind? The reader may not like Vesper, but she commands a certain level of respect.

The nature of the cult itself is revealed quickly in the book, though this could be considered mild spoilers for those going in blind. The reveal of the cult absolutely tickled me. I didn’t realize that we have bias when it comes to cults, in that I think most readers assumed the same thing I did. While Vesper mentions that people have certain connotations if she reveals she was raised in a religious cult, the impact of that statement is even funnier when we learn what exactly the nature of the cult’s beliefs are. The dark side to cults is contrasted with an almost Disney-like feel. This alone added a dark humor to the book that becomes important as the story turns from comical to horrifying.

The other main storyline for Vesper is her search for her father. Through flashbacks, we get glimpses into the special relationship Vesper and her father shared. Contrasted with a mother who often seems to dislike and resent her own daughter, it’s easy to see why Vesper clung to this man who left her life far too young. While Vesper was often made to believe her father came and went for work, it becomes clear that he is the inspiration for Vesper choosing to leave the cult (and also how she knew that leaving meant a member can’t return). Her father looms over the book and her life as a beacon of hope that she could find family outside the cult. At one point Vesper remembers asking if she could go with him and that her mother wouldn’t care, and he responds that he wishes he could bring her but that her mother would care very much.

The book gets darker and more twisted, and the back-half delivers a few moments that I would describe as terrifying psychologically, while not being overly gory. It has enough gore to nod to the broader horror genre, but this book is firmly in the cozy horror end of the spectrum. That doesn’t take away from the adrenaline rush I felt at times reading it. However, there were moments of peaceful intrigue built in to allow the story to flow and keep the reader engaged without feeling the need to take a break.

Absolutely gripping, unique, and compulsive! The epilogue delivers the perfect ending.

Audiobook Review | Black Sheep

The audiobook version absolutely delivered. Narrated by Jeremy Carlisle Parker, the story comes to life with her expert cadence and delivery. Parker nailed the confident apathy that defines Vesper as a character. Vesper has a certain level of self-absorption and attitude that comes from a mix of extreme beauty, self-esteem, and if-I-survived-a-cult-I-can-survive-anything.

Further, the book relies on Vesper’s skeptical view of the world and tendency to manipulate others to bring the comedy and bravado to a situation as strange as she finds herself. While most people who escaped a cult would be fragile, Vesper is anything but. In fact, Vesper has a certain sense of fearlessness that allows her to not only return to the cult where she was raised but do-so knowing her attendance will disturb the members more than they will disturb her.

The element of comedy was expertly delivered through the narration. There is a fine line where a narrator could lean too much towards comedy and accidentally undermine the horror of the story. Parker had just the right amount that allowed the reader to think about the absurdity of the cult, while also feeling fearful and on edge as the events unfold.

Thank you to Penguin Random House for my copy. Opinions are my own.

“When you’re young, you just absorb your surroundings .”

The audio narrator was a perfect choice for this book.

The story was entertaining from start to finish with good pacing.

The main character, Vesper, reminded me of Daria, but with darker vibes. I kinda loved Vesper’s character though. I even loved to hate her mother, Constance.

It was like a fever dream when she came back “home” for a wedding. I think that was my fav part.

One thing that was super weird was the cult talking about Lucifer like you would God/Jesus. Like I know it was a satanic cult hit that kept having me like, they aren’t talking about the lord…more like lord Satan.

It was good, a decent read and I’d for sure read something else by this author.

AMAZING. one of my favorite reads from 2023. good for her!!!!! harrison brings so much wit to the storyline and i'm so in love with her writing.

Is Rachel Harrison ever not good? The answer is no. Looking at family dynamics through a surprising, creepy lense made this book a little bit of an emotional Trojan horse, which is so clever and so good.

achel Harrison has a rare skill with narration. Throughout her novels, her leads are relatable, flawed, humorous, and enjoyable. Her latest, “Black Sheep,” is no exception and may well be her finest to date. The cynical Vesper Wright had once left her home years ago, and never once looked back.

Until now. Vesper is the ‘Black Sheep’ of her family. Coming from a firmly religious background, Vesper desired more. The day she left, she was told she could never return. But now Vesper is invited to her cousin Rosie’s wedding.

Unfortunately, Vesper is plunged into a nightmare of reconnecting with toxic family and all their secrets. Even the ones that should remain buried.

From the start, Harrison’s writing is intelligent and sharp. Vesper’s narration is perfectly suited to the plot. Harrison filters toxic family and freedom through Vesper’s biting wit and never once does it grow dull. The dialogue and viewpoint remain snappy throughout.

But Harrison also excels in characterization. She weaves the portrait of an incredibly dysfunctional family and town, before mining it for all it is worth. Buried secrets in small towns are a horror staple, and Harrison makes it fresh and enjoyable.

The storyline comes to a cathartic and powerful conclusion. Thought here are several lulls in the pacing, Black Sheep is a well developed, delightful story that heralds another blast from Harrison.

8/10

This book is B-A-N-A-N-A-S in the best way, perfect for #spookyseason ! Definitely go into this one blind. Here is a brief synopsis. Vesper left home at 18 and when an invitation to her cousin and former best friend’s wedding appears begging her to come home who is she to reject the offer ? She was glad to have escaped her religious cult upbringing and her mother who is famous for being a scream queen in the movies but maybe it’s time to face her past. I loved this one!
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Huge thank you to @berkleypub @berittalksbooks @thephdivabooks @dg_reads @prhaudio and @netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
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Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was such a fun, quick read. It’s a little under 300 pages, so not long at all, but it packs a lot into those pages, it was hilarious and horrific in equal turns, and I found myself explaining the basic plot of this book to anyone who would sit still long enough to listen because it just delighted me so much.

Let me say up front that I am a fan of Rachel Harrison. Her writing never fails to grab me and keep me up waaaay past my bedtime. "Black Sheep", although somewhat fun and irreverent, just didn't bring anything new or fresh to the tired horror trope of the reluctant grown child returning home.

I GUESSED THE ENDING ON PG 132 HEHE. this is a low 5, which is so rare, but i feel like it could've been longer & more intense in some scenes. however, i really appreciated the commentary on family & the unique perspective on religion all throughout the book, forcing readers to see the concept from a different angle. i love our main character's cyncism and sarcasm as well. this was the fastest I've flown through a physical book in weeks. Rachel Harrison is easily one of my new favorite authors!

Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison

Black Sheep has all the creepy vibes you may need to close out spooky season! It’s got a scream queen, a gothic house filled with movie paraphernalia, and a Satanic cult. Harrison’s take on classic horror themes is always quirky and fun to read!

Thank you @netgalley and @berkleypub for this advanced reader!

#BookReview #Bookstagram #RachelHarrison #BlackSheep #BerkleyBooks #BookishLife #Reading #Bibliophile #BookPhotography #BookRecommendations #horrorbooks

This was such a fun read for Spooky Season. Harrison always has the most inventive twists on classic monster tropes and BLACK SHEEP is no exception. I got so many shivers and laughed aloud many times!

I'm always prepared to hand-sell Rachel Harrison to customers. Family drama, wit, and an eerie spin on an otherwise relatable dilemma - she's got a signature style and I will remain here for it.

This was my first Rachel Harrison novel, but it certainly won't be my last! It was the perfect creepy and thrilling novel for the season! MC Vesper is a cynical woman who holds many secrets about her past and family. She is difficult and unforgiving and a horrible friend so it's hard to feel any empathy for her. But I did and I hate that I loved her!

Harrison writes on disturbing and often grotesque topics but at the same time her writing is witty and full of sarcasm and laughs. I instantly loved her writing style. I definitely recommend you add this one to your October TBR!

I don't know why I didn't realize this book would involve a satanic cult when it literally has sheep in the title and on the cover. I like Rachel Harrison's writing, but I think she could've given us more wild, crazy, and creepy scenes with a topic like a satanic cult! I think back on a satanic panic type book like We Sold Our Souls by Grady Hendrix and (unpopular opinion but) that one had so many fun elements. I was also expecting more of the cozy vibes I always hear that Rachel's books have. As for the horror level, I understand why it would be labeled as horror because satanism and lucifer can be terrifying for a lot of people, but I would say it's horror for people who don't normally read horror if that makes any sense. It's not going to scare the pants off of readers. I am still really interested in reading some of Rachel Harrison's previous books.

Meh. For all the hype this book has been getting, this was a real let down for me. Firstly, I would hardly describe this as horror. It's family dysfunction with a comic satanic cult bent. So maybe comedic horror? Is that a thing? To me it just felt like a rip off of Netflix's "The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina" with some people's roles changed up a bit, and no cat. But otherwise, Vesper is just a more unwilling Sabrina. I read the whole thing but found it a bit boring and entirely predictable. Meh.

This author never disappoints! I always know I’m in for an adventure with some shock and gore. Love how she builds worlds and characters

Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison felt like it had great potential as a fun read for spooky season. I tried to get into it but I ultimately couldn’t. It felt like a YA read and while I can enjoy a YA book on occasion, the writing is typically not as engaging for me. The portrayal of the cult seemed like a jab on religion in general but particularly on Christianity. It was a little too over the top and tongue in cheek for me to really enjoy it.

I have posted this review on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/p/CymbtrgrhqD/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Goodreads

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5833913418

And Amazon

This is a hard one to review without spoilers but I can definitely say it was incredibly entertaining. I loved so much about the main character, Vesper, her name, her attitude, her background and baggage with a horror movie star mom, it was all so well done. I always love a protagonist goes back home to confront her past type story and this one was no exception, when Vesper returned to her deeply religious family after running away when she turned 18. And as far as dark family secrets go, her family definitely had a juicy one.

I had a lot of fun listening to the audiobook, the narrator captured the sarcastic tone of the main character perfectly. My only problem with this book (and it's not a real problem) was that it was too short. While it absolutely accomplished what it set out to do within the boundaries of it's genre, I could have used 100 more pages to delve deep into the psychology and the background of all the characters because everything was really compelling.

The pivot around page forty GOT ME. Like--ok--let's freaking do this story! I went in expecting something totally different, but was still totally, utterly on-board. After that, it's maybe a little predictable, but in a "well--what else could possibly be happening" sort of way, but the ride was incredible. What a page turner. And the character work was really important and great. As someone estranged from their religious family, this read was weirdly healing? Just absolutely great stuff. LOVE Harrison & will read anything she writes.

Maybe the most obvious "twist" in the history of the universe. I can't believe everyone didn't know what was going on immediately and they were just able to enjoy it despite the fact. For me? I've failed with both this one and Such Sharp Teeth. I think Cackle might actually be more my speed. I might give it a go next Halloween season.

ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.