Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison
@RachelHarrisonsGhost
Pub date: September 19, 2023
5 stars

I’ve read all things Rachel Harrison and loved every word. Black Sheep is a love letter to horror fans everywhere. A feminist nod to strong yet broken women who come into their own, welcoming the female beasts they are. I saw this in The Return, Cackle, and again in Such Sharp Teeth; she knows how to write damaged yet powerful women with a horror premise that creeps up and I am here for it.

Vesper left home at eighteen to get away from her family’s religious cult but when she’s invited to her dear cousins wedding to her childhood sweetheart, she can’t stay away. And that’s all I want to say. I think every reader should go into this one as blind as can be. I’m glad I did because the shock was mind-blowing.

I cannot wait to see what Rachel does next!

My thanks to @BerkleyPub for this gifted copy

This book was unexpected. It has some pretty crazy twists in it. There was one line in particular that I reread a few times because it totally shocked me. It definitely kept me reading and for a long time I had no idea where the story was going. Definitely a book to check out when it releases September 12th!

This is a very bleak and creepy book. It gets into some pretty dark, occult elements, but it’s also witty, has some feminist plots, fascinating characters, and thrilling edge-of-your-seat moments throughout. If you can handle some pretty terrifying supernatural horror, this will be a good pick for your Halloween to-read list.

Vesper has just been fired from her latest job waiting tables at your standard American style chain sports pub (37 pieces of flair, maybe?) when she makes her way home to find a wedding invitation. To the wedding of her former boyfriend. To her cousin/former best friend with whom she was raised. The invitation comes as a major surprise, not only because of the bride and groom but also because Vesper was raised in an ultra-religious community and once you’re out, you’re out, and you are a pariah, never to be let back in again for any reason. So who has sent Vesper this invitation with its hand-written note, and why? And should she go back (of course she’s going back, that’s the whole book, right?)

Oh, the book was a tricky, delicious delight. To some extent the less said the better, and the first part of the book was the strongest, for me. Oh, and Vesper’s delightful mother, a famous scream queen with a houseful of props. So fun. And, again, can’t give too much about the story away but it’s equal parts horror and fun. Definitely recommended.

This is my first time reading Rachel Harrison but definitely will not be the last. The book was a bit of a slow burn but I loved it. I really was not expecting the twists that happened closer to the end of the book. It was interesting getting to know the main character and learn about her family. I read this in one setting. Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC.

Thank you to the publisher @berkleypub and @netgalley for my e-ARC in exchange for my hoe at review. And a big thank you to @letstalkaboutbookspromo for putting together the buddy read!

Rachel Harrison does it again! She has become an auto-read author for me. I read and loved Such Sharp Teeth last year and I knew she wouldn’t disappoint me this year.

When I was reading the opening chapters in the back of my head I was chanting, “please be a Satanist cult” and I almost screamed with delight at the first “Hail Satan”.

I loved our main character, Vesper. She has such an attitude and sass that works and isn’t annoying or overwhelming to read. I think Vesper is a true morally grey character considering her upbringing and how she interacts with the world.

I truly could not stop thinking about this book. And now I’m looking up more cult books to read into spooky season.

There were some plot twists that I did not see coming but after they were revealed they felt so natural. Like yes, of course! I should have guessed that.

All around Black Sheep was truly enjoyable and is the perfect cult read for spooky season!

One of the best cult books I have ever read. I couldn’t put this one down! I enjoyed that it wasn’t horrifying, but had horror themes. There are so many fun twists in this one!

This book was everything I hoped it would be. Dark, suspenseful, and witty. Rachel Harrison is an auto-buy author for me and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

Actually 4 1/2 stars.
Vesper finds an envelope on the doorstep of her apartment that has a wedding invitation for her cousin and former boyfriend. She goes to the wedding, returning to the house of her horror movie scream queen mother, Constance, where she grew up. Back to her religious community. Not just any religion, but one that worships Lucifer: Satanists. She will be forced to confront her family and community’s beliefs, where she finds that dark family ties bind her, that being the black sheep of the family may have more sinister truth then she realizes.

Rachel Harrison brings a story of family and faith that holds an undercurrent of horror. That sometimes shows we don’t know who we really are, until it might be too late. If Rosemary’s Baby was blended with Snow White, this book might be The Omen for the 21st Century.

I love this author's books. Her stories always revolve around a woman protagonist seeking independence, with a side of supernatural. While I can't say there were any big surprises in the plot, Rachel Harrison is hands down the quintessential cozy horror author.

If you're like me and are drawn to anything relating to cults and enjoy horror, you won't want to miss Black Sheep!

1 adored Vesper, a young woman who left her family's farm at eighteen, hoping to never return. Until a wedding invitation arrives on her doorstep. Her beloved cousin Rosie is getting married....to Vesper's ex, Brody. Did I mention that going home also means returning to the eccentric religious sect she was brought up in? Except they aren't just any old cult-they are a satanic cult!

I won't give away the awesome twists & turns this book takes. It's best left to unfold as you read or listen. Highly recommend this dark, emotional, feminist cult horror read!

I think I might not like Rachel Harrison's writing very much? I dnf'd "Cackle," I thought "Such Sharp Teeth" was corny but a lot of fun, and this I'm just not sure. I might have hated it? It was just a lot of "I'm so hot and cool and everyone hates me for it" and it took suuuuch a long time for anything to actually happen. The way the father was described felt very icky and overly romantic to me, like he was initially meant to be a love interest and not enough editing was done once they switched him to a father figure. I wanted a lot more from the mother-daughter relationship, and I desperately wanted to stop being asked to find the over-the-top sarcasm a compelling substitute for an actual personality. Finally, the ending felt really bleak and meaningless to me which left me feeling even more unsatisfied. All in all, this one was very much not for me.

It's best going into Black Sheep not knowing too much about it. I think what you really need to know is Rachel Harrison is renowned for crafting tales centered around complex female characters with a good dose of supernatural while delving into themes of toxic friendships, trauma, and intricate family dynamics. She skillfully infuses her stories with dark commentary and horror elements, setting them apart from the ordinary.

Part of the thrill of Black Sheep is figuring out the family dynamics between our main character, Vesper, and her family and why she is the black sheep. Harrison takes her time in the book's first half, gradually unveiling Vesper's personal history and upbringing. Vesper herself is a multifaceted character, displaying spunky, prickly, and cynical traits that add depth to her character. Her complex relationship with her scream-queen mother adds an extra layer of horror to the narrative, making it all the more engaging.

The slow pace pays off, and the story picks up in the second half, where that long-awaited dose of supernatural elements I was waiting for emerges. I eagerly flipped through the pages, captivated by the escalating tension and excitement that builds up with every page to a thrilling showdown and I enjoyed how it all came together.

Traveling Witches read with Debra.

Vesper has left her "cult" upbringing to sling hash at a local restaurant. She gets a special invitation to go home to a wedding between the guy she loved and her best friend.

Something compels her to go to the wedding.

I love some cultish books and I love dark. But this book? It's more tongue in cheek and I just wasn't feeling it.

Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review.

Ohh I LOVED this one. I l listened to it as I read it, and honestly, it added so much more to it. Jeremy Carlisle Parker’s voice was perfection for this role. I thought I was prepared, but I was not. I was continually bowled over, although I had a sneaking suspicion of one of the twists. But that didn’t diminish my enjoyment at all. I was looking for clues to prove I was right 🤣 if you mention cults, I honestly don’t need anything else to jump in a join the fun, but this was a whole nother level of devotion. This might be one I reread out of enjoyment and to see what clues I missed the first time around, and that almost never happens!

Vesper left her family 6 years ago and never looked back. But after getting fired from her terrible serving position at a generic restaurant, she gets invited to a wedding. Back home. From where people leave and they can’t come back. Between her former best friend and cousin, and her ex boyfriend, the only guy she ever loved and who refused to leave with her. The audacity! But what else has she got to do at the moment, other than go back and make them feel terrible about themselves?

If I haven't made it clear from any of my other reviews of Rachel Harrison's books, let me do it here: I love her books! Her brand of horror is perfect for me, and it is perfect for an incredible fall read. "Black Sheep" is an absolutely terrific read from start to finish. I truly didn't know what to expect from this one. I highly recommend that you go in blind.

Vesper - I love that name - left her family because she did not want to be a part of their religious community. She did not believe in their views. So at 18 she left and did not look back. Out of the blue, she receives an invitation to her cousin's wedding. Vesper loves her cousin Rosie, and decides to to return home for the wedding. It is a decision that will change her life.

I have so much that I would like to say about specific parts of this book. There were times when I laughed out loud, and there were times when I was absolutely terrified. Rachel Harrison writes horror that makes you think. She links her horror to the real world, and encourages you to turn a metaphorical mirror on yourself. I love it!

I am not going to give any spoilers or plot points away here. I truly loved Vesper. Her journey is fascinating, and she is just looking for her place in the world. She is a very believable character.

As I have said before, I love all of Rachel Harrison's books. "Cackle" and "Such Sharp Teeth" are two of my favorites. She writes strong, relatable female characters. I am looking forward to reading what she writes next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the advanced reader copy of this book. I also downloaded the audiobook version of this story. I highly recommend all of the audiobook versions of this author's books. This book is a great place to start if this is a new author for you. It is the perfect fall book to read. It is out now!

I wasn't sure what category to classify this book. Part of me says horror, and apparently, this is what the author writes, but it wasn't horror like I usually see. Horror light, maybe? Or perhaps just a dark novel. I will say it wasn't until I was further into the book that I understood why it was classified in this genre. To give away that would ruin the book for the future reader.

Vesper left her family at 18 and ventured into the real world. Let's just say she grew up in a religious cult, and when you leave, you are cut off from everyone. However, she receives an invitation to her best friend's wedding, back in the cult, and she decides to attend. This sets off a chain of events that is just a bit insane. Vesper learns the truth about her family and is put into a position that she really doesn't wish to be in. I think she regretted going back to the wedding.

The story is quite intriguing, and there are twists that I didn't expect. At least not until we understood more about her family. It also explains a little bit more about Vesper and some situations that arose during her time away.

While I'm not sure I would read any other horror books, I do like to expand my horizons. This book might leave you in disbelief or perhaps even chuckling at different scenarios. I liked the ending, and it leaves me wondering about Vesper, her father, and the rest of her family. 

We give this book 4 paws up.

rachel harrison, queen of allegorical horror-comedy that actually features both a real and fantastical version of the concept she wants to comment on! loved everything about this!

A young woman returns home after a few years away only to find out something shocking about her family's history. To reveal what it is would be a major spoiler that you won't learn about until the half-way point. This book mixes humor and horror well, but I must admit I was underwhelmed following all the hype about this book and the author's reputation for quality writing. Just OK.

Black Sheep is the perfect title for this story. Once you read it, you will understand why. This story has dark family secrets that are both horrific and unimaginable. Vesper was a strong protagonist that was easy to like and sympathize with. I liked her from the very beginning of the story. Although Vesper’s mother Constance was a villain in this story, I did love the premise of her as a character. Hello??!! She’s a horror queen movie actress who collects creepy stuff like masks and cannibal lamps?! She would have made the perfect companion for Ed Gein! I guess the interest in the weird and macabre made me not dislike her, like many other readers probably will.

Without giving away any spoilers, I will say that the ending was my favorite thing of all in the whole story. It was filled with a cinematic climax that had me biting my nails. I loved the gory descriptions of Vesper’s dad showing his true form and the demise of some characters. Rachel Harrison has my attention as a new reader of her work, and I am excited to read some of her backlist titles now.

Thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.