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.

Thank you to netgalley for providing an egalley for review. Rachel Harrison is a go to author for me an this does not disappoint. What starts off as a coming of age, finding your place in the world novel (and when you boil it down, this is the core story), takes a darkly funny twist when Vesper goes home for her cousin's wedding. Vesper's family is not like other people's family. Vesper's father is not like other people's fathers. For a fun take on cults, religion and Satanism, read this.

Thank you, NetGalley, for this book.

I’ve only read Cackle by Rachel Harrison and loved it. But because it was more of a cozy horror book, I wasn’t sure how much I would enjoy her more hard-core horror, but this book was insanely fun. Once the fun twist is revealed (about 20% in), I was hooked and flew through this book.

Vesper has left her religious cult family behind and is living on her own in NYC. She works at a restaurant, lives a pretty boring life, but at least she can follow her own rules. However, her cousin is getting married and Vesper is invited back for the event. This is rare because once someone leaves the cult, they never get to come back. Vesper decides to attend, and the reader fully understands just what the cult is about.

This book was excellent. Vesper is a great main character, funny, strong, cynical, and sure of who she is. But her family is also strong, so she struggles with wanting to be a part of their lives but trying to distance herself from the cult. Loved this book.

Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison was fantastic and I told all my friends to read it!! I was truly thankful to have gotten to read this before most people! I would like to purchase this one for my physical library!

This was so good! If you love dysfunctional families, cults, and secrets in your horror novels then you should check this out! Even though this is a horror book, I like that there are funny parts along the way. It makes for a really enjoyable read.

I devoured this book in a day! It was so good and fun. I was instantly sucked into this novel and was pleasantly surprised with all the little twists throughout. Not the kind of cult I thought I was getting going into this book and that honestly made it that much better!