It's errie it's atmospheric. I love reading about cults and their practices so when I read about this book i knew that I have to read it. And I must say Rachel Harrison done justice with plot and characters. I was totally immersed in the story. I would definitely recommend this book to all people who enjoys reading thriller along with some cult prcaticse plot line.

Twenty-something Vesper Wright is working at a casual dining chain restaurant, complete with required "pieces of flair", when she's unceremoniously fired after a molten cheese incident gone wrong. Cranky, burned out, and seething with self-loathing, she trudges home to find a red envelope from her estranged family that might as well be smoldering and singed. You see, when Vesper was eighteen she chose to leave her strict religious community and not look back. Per tradition, if anyone leaves the fold, they are effectively shunned and so the arrival of this letter is not only unprecedented, it's a cause for concern.

Emotions flood back to her about her time in the community, both good and bad. Mostly good as they relate to her cousin Rosie who is more like a sister to Vesper. What feels like an olive branch seems more like a thorny bramble as the letter contains an invitation to Rosie's wedding...to Vesper's old fling.

And these years away have been hard. While needing to strike out on her own, we come to learn that Vesper has a soft spot in her for those she loves, especially her father. He was also an outsider and not a big part of her life because he was not a member of the religious community and therefore shunned. She's been looking for that connection again and can't resist the lure back.

Surging with emotion, curiosity, and no small amount of 'revenge dress' wearing in mind, Vesper decides to make her way back home. Home to her toxic mother, the glamorous horror film star and her gothic mansion of a farmhouse, and the cloying expectations of her family and community that she left for the sake of her own agency and personhood.

BLACK SHEEP was my first Rachel Harrison novel and I was honestly so underwhelmed I nearly DNF'd this multiple times.

Predictability:
1) Spoiler alert: Vesper’s family is full of Satanists, and she was the most popular girl around. Between the title and sacrificial imagery, was anyone in the dark here?

2) Everything from the plot, to the reveal regarding Vesper's parentage, to the reason why Vesper was REALLY invited back to the community was painfully obvious. Between the title and sacrificial imagery was anyone in the dark here?

3) Overall, the predictability of this one left my impression of the book decidedly lackluster. Even the ending which others describe and a "chaotic whirlwind" or "unhinged" was totally just "meh" for this reader.

Satanism Brought to You by Hot Topic:
1) Everything from the overtly referenced Addams Family mansion she grew up in to the description of Vesper's school uniform sounds like it was lifted right from a Marilyn Manson music video. Seriously, pleated skirts with embroidered pentagrams and baphomets?

2) Also, and I can't believe I'm about to go down this path - but this was one of the most surface-level depictions of Satanism. Is it supposed to be this farcical? Did I completely miss the irony? It wasn't scary, it wasn't tense, it was laughably dumb. It's camping right alongside The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina here.

Vesper:
1) Vesper is one of the most unlikable and uninteresting characters I’ve encountered. Despite her privileged upbringing and independence, she seems directionless, stuck in a miserable job, and joyless. Her actions—like screwing around with her best friend’s love interest—don’t help her case.

2) I could never nail down what was driving her. Was it loneliness? Was it a need for approval? Was it fear? It certainly wasn't a strong sense of self or even outright rebellion.

Maybe this is on me. Maybe I'm just not feeling the depths of familial betrayal, the commentary on female perfectionism, the freedom of writing purposefully unlikeable female characters...but I don't think so. Watch more horror movies and then come talk to me about how this story is even remotely interesting. While this book may appeal to fans of campy, surface-level horror, it didn’t deliver the depth or tension I look for in the genre

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for sharing an advance copy with me in exchange for an honest review.

Just no.

I was actually with the book and story until the halfway point. It was drastically down hill as the book transitioned to the estranged relationship Vesper (what the hell with that name??) has with her family and the father she hasn’t seen in 14 years. When the big “reveal” happened around the 50% mark, I rolled my eyes to the back of my head and the book drastically went downhill. There is a weird romance storyline that’s completely unnecessary and the horror aspect was just out of place.

*Black Sheep* by Rachel Harrison is a darkly comic, character-driven horror novel follows the protagonist, who returns to her childhood home and grapples with the mysteries surrounding her family's eerie legacy. Harrison blends suspense, supernatural elements, and sharp wit to create an engaging, atmospheric narrative. The book excels in building tension while offering insightful commentary on the complexities of human relationships and personal trauma. I am looking forward to her novels during spooky season!

Rachel Harrison continues to impress-- I love her darkly funny and deeply affecting approach to horror.

Vesper has escaped from the Satanic cult that she grew up in and is just trying to move on with life. She's doing an okay job, working at a restaurant, paying rent, surviving, but then nacho cheese explodes all over a customer and then she receives a wedding invitation. To her cousin's and Vesper's ex-boyfriend's wedding. Consumed with rage she decides she is showing up and she is going to let them have all the anger that has built up the last 23 (almost 24) years. Except, when she gets there she just finds it disconcerting and hates that she misses the people that she once cared about. She isn't going to stay and leaves again. She thinks that she can just step back into the outside world, but she puts her faith in the wrong people. For a long time there was this play where the reader isn't sure if the cult is actually ran by Satan or if they all share the same delusion, but in the last 20% of the book the answers become very clear. I liked Vesper's character throughout the book, probably because I understand the bullshit she felt. Still, it really isn't until near the end of the book that any true horror aspects appear and instead most of this book felt like a family drama. Still fun, still entertaining, and worth the read.

I liked the main characters sense of humor and even appreciated her view of the world at times. I found her relatable and amusing. However, after the reveal of who her father was and everything that came after I was left disappointed. The ending felt rushed and unbelievable at times. It unfortunately just made the book a disappointment.

Harrison has a wicked way of making incredibly dark themes light hearted and fun. She explores the true meaning of family and the descriptions throughout the story are cinematic. Rachel Harrison continues to showcase her own darkly unique female centric horror.

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

At this point, I'll read anything Rachel Harrison writes. I know that it'll be wholly original yet recognizable, funny, and kind of wild. This one was a lot of "surely not" and "is she going there?" and I loved every second of it. A fun, spooky read!

4 stars.

Black Sheep is the perfect spooky szn read - and I went into it completely blind, unaware that 15% into the book I’d have a delicious twist that spun me into a reading frenzy. I’d share it but it’s not mentioned in the blurb so I don’t wanna be that girl!

Just remember that blood isn’t everything and turning your back on your heritage can be messy as hell.

In Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison, readers follow Vesper Wright as she confronts the dark secrets of her unconventional, cult-like family upon returning home for her cousin's wedding. The novel cleverly combines horror with sharp commentary on organized religion and familial bonds, immersing readers in Vesper's tumultuous inner dialogue filled with cynicism and humor. While the plot oscillates between existential dread and moments of levity, the pacing may feel disjointed at times, especially as it veers toward a more chaotic conclusion. Overall, this book delivers a unique blend of body horror and psychological introspection, making it a captivating read for fans of darker narratives​.

Rachel Harrison has quickly become one of my favorite modern horror writers. As a millennial woman, her characters and viewpoints really resonate with me and I think others will feel the same way. While this was not my favorite title of hers (I am just obsessed with The Return), I think readers will enjoy the themes - both conceptually and literally.

A good spooky setting for Halloween. Did someone say Satan? It wasn't so much jump scare as it was a good spook of a story. It's not your usual book, though, so be aware that things aren't always as they seem to be!

I really love Rachel Harrison's books! She is just so good at bringing the creep factor into all of her work!

I loved Such Sharp Teeth, so I had high hopes for this one, and it definitely didn’t disappoint. It’s got that kitschy, darkly funny vibe she does so well, mixed with just the right amount of horror to keep things interesting.

Vesper Wright is a character you can’t help but root for—snarky, cynical, and wrestling with her unconventional family’s dark secrets. Returning home to attend her cousin’s wedding, Vesper is pulled back into the toxic, religious environment she fled years ago. The tension between her need for closure and her unease about facing her past is palpable throughout the novel. Plus, the horror elements, while not overwhelming, are perfectly woven into the story to give it that sinister edge. I thought this was a breeze of a read and I was hooked from beginning to end!

Black Sheep is not so much a horror novel as a novel with horror elements; it's a story about reckoning with upbringing and breaking free from expectations. Vesper receives an invitation to a wedding at the community where she was raised and from which she has been estranged/shunned. She attends, and then the story gets moving and doesn't stop until the (satisfying) ending.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

"It's a cruelty of life that we can never protect our innocence. We can only watch ourselves lose it in retrospect. Scream at memories."

Anything by Rachel Harrison is always so unique, but this title caught me off guard when the plot finally dropped. It was dark and gritty and full of the human process. I will forever recommend Rachel Harrison and this book. The cover gave the plot away with such subtlety, and I love the juxtaposition with the lamb references. Solid 10 out of 10 read.

I wanted to like Black Sheep more than I did, and it's a testament to Rachel Harrison that I stuck with it, mostly just for the snarky narrator's voice and the fun set up.

Unfortunately, I found the Spirit Halloween Satanism to be a bit tedious, and eventually I grew mad at the narrator for not knowing what was going on when it was very obvious. After the first "twist," the plot didn't really leave many surprises and just kind of fell flat.

Rachel Harrison has quickly became a go-to author when I need a good horror book. After reading Cackle, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this one!

Black Sheep had me hooked right from the beginning, and I loved how dark and strange this one was. I can’t wait to read more from her backlist and her upcoming release soon!

Side note: this one isn’t for everyone. Please check TW.