Black Sheep

This was my first Harrison read, but it won't be my last. The twists in this one are so much fun, and just when you think it's on the quieter side of horror, it packs a wonderfully gory punch. And yet, throughout, there's a solemnity to the themes and the commentary that works with the humor to make the read surprisingly powerful if you slow down to give it some thought, even if it's a roller-coaster of a page-turner in the moment of reading. All told, it's just fun, smart horror, and I had a blast reading it.

I loved this and I can't wait to read more of her work.

There are so many great existentialist quotes in this one as the FMC, Vesper, fights with who she is, where she came from, and what it all means.

🐑 For Fans of:
- drama horror
- existentialism
- questioning faith
- satanism
- horror
- former cult member
- daddy issues
- mommy issues
- family secrets

✏️ Review
In this book, you find Vesper’s mommy issues and daddy issues come to the forefront when is mysteriously invited back home—home to the cult she grew up in to watch her former best friend marry her former boyfriend.

Kinda messed up right? Well, that’s only the beginning.

Rachel Harrison’s books are always literary fiction with horror elements. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Her books are about the journey and show more the self-discovery more than the horror.

I loved the vibes but felt like I would’ve enjoyed a longer book. Another 50 pages added the to middle-end would’ve brought it up to a 4.

That said, the epilogue was probably one of the most enjoyable ones I’ve ever read in a horror book. It would be perfect for a movie!

📚 Book: Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison
⭐️ Rating: 3.75 out of 5
📊 Genre: Horror Drama show less

A cynical twenty-something Vesper, must confront her unconventional family’s dark secrets. Nobody has a “normal” family, but Vesper Wright’s is truly..."Something Else". Vesper left home at 18 and never looked back—mostly because she was told that leaving the staunchly religious community she grew up in meant she could never return. But then the envelope arrives on her doorstep.
The term “black sheep” is often used to describe a family member who is different or frowned upon because they may act or hold values outside the social norm. But when your family are the crazy and dysfunctional ones, then maybe it’s good to be the "black sheep"?
Vesper Wright left her small town and religious community at 18, to get away from the show more cultish, toxic environment. For the last six years, she has been keeping a low profile and barely making a living as a waitress. Soon things could get even rougher than usual, but it doesn't matter to Vesper. She had sworn that no matter what happened, she would NEVER go back. It was a promise to herself that she thought she would have no problem keeping, since anyone who left the community was declared an outcast and could never return...until one day, a letter arrived in the mail.

It was a wedding invitation, and not just to any wedding, but to her cousin Rosie's wedding. Rosie had been like a sister to her when they were children, and now she is getting married to Brody, who was Vesper’s old boyfriend and the only guy she has ever loved. Someone had unexpectantly, maybe even secretly bent the rules by extending this "olive branch" to Vesper, and it’s because of this mystery, more than the heartfelt entreaty at the bottom of the invitation for her to come back home, that finally makes the decision for her. She had just lost her job, giving her no reason for her to stay, so she packs her bags and gets on the train. Vesper has decided that she isn't going to take anything from these forks ever again and is fully prepared to confront everyone at the family farm where the wedding is to take place, if it becomes necessary.

As she expected, nothing about her old home had changed over the years, though what did surprise her was how seemingly happy everyone was to see her, considering how she had left. Well, that is everyone except her mother. Mom...the family matriarch...the horror film star...was as icy cold as she always had been. However, her cousin Rosie is just as kind and warm as she had ever been, and Brody??? Just one look into his eyes...well, Vesper knew, without a single doubt, that he was still in love with her. Sitting down to dinner with the people she grew up with, she is soon reminded of the reasons why she had left this all behind in the first place, for even though this looks like a picture of the perfectly "normal family" Vesper knows it is anything BUT!! Soon the readers will discover that and much more, for themselves.

That twist altered my perception entirely and quickly sent this story in a direction which could very well be described as the ugly stepchild of My Best Friend’s Wedding and Rosemary's Baby.

I love this author's work...and once more she has given horror fans yet another "gore-soaked" tale of terror. show less

Solid offering in the realm of horror novels; it certainly pulled me in and was a very quick read, ushering me through the pages and never losing sight of the action. There were several moments of truly nauseating gore, which was certainly in keeping with the general vibe. I don't know whether the author meant for Vesper to be a sympathetic character for the readers or simply the lens through which we viewed the story, but even from the first, I felt for her, even if her sarcasm and light misanthropy had simply been the result of the jaded upbringing of a bitter Gen Z. The dissociation Vesper seemed to experience became much more understandable, of course, when we learned how she was seen more as an icon than as a person by the people show more around her, and the way she seemed to finally feel the full extent of her anger and sadness at the final turning point was powerfully written. show less

So after reading Rachel Harrison's Such Sharp Teeth, I had to read her other books. Black Sheep was such a fascinating look into family dynamics and if we can ever escape the past.

To start off, I was absolutely floored when I found out what kind of cult Vesper grew up in, which I loved! I assumed it was going to go one way because I just never really thought her family's cult would be in that area of religion. I'm trying to be as vague as possible because other's should be just as surprised as I was when I read it.

The characters and storyline was all so fascinating. While Vesper was the most obvious choice of narrator, I would've loved to have something from Constance's point of view. I was more sad and angry for her than Vesper. "I show more never wanted you," she said. "And, ironically, I could never act like I did." I'm not advocating for her treatment of Vesper, but if there's ever an argument for pro-choice, this is it. Forcing women to bear children they do not want creates a relationship like Constance's and Vesper's, with a young woman who was emotionally and psychologically abused her entire life. Again, none of this advocates for abuse, and of course, at a certain point, you do have to take responsibility for your own actions. Constance was a product of her upbringing just like Vesper, but the difference is is that Vesper decided to change it. She realizes this by the end, and so does Constance. The last moment Constance has she spends giving her daughter the means to end this. It's not a perfect redemption story but it's a satisfying one.

One thing that I find issue with in this book (and I had the same problem with Such Sharp Teeth) is that the main character can be a little slow on the uptake. The amount of time it takes for Vesper to figure out who her father is and what's going on with the rest of the members of the cult took way too long. In general, the fact that she didn't figure out who her father was is a little funny in how dumb she was being.

Besides that one issue, it was still a relevant, uplifting novel on how family may be a part of us, a part that we can't change, but we can decide what to keep going forward. show less

Rachel Harrison’s novel, “Black Sheep,” intricately weaves the themes of self-discovery, estrangement, and the supernatural into a compelling narrative that is both unsettling and profoundly resonant. Harrison, known for her gripping tales of complex women and their encounters with the otherworldly, does not disappoint in this chilling addition to her oeuvre. “Black Sheep” explores the dark corners of belonging and belief through the eyes of its protagonist, Vesper, a young woman grappling with the shadows of her past and the eerie realities of her present.

Vesper, a waitress with more sass than savings, has been floating through life detached and disillusioned since leaving her constrictive religious community six years prior. show more The community, shrouded in mystery and strict beliefs, had been her entire world, one she fled in search of freedom and answers about her mysteriously absent father. Despite the bridges burned, an unexpected wedding invitation from her once-close friend and cousin Rosie offers a portal back to the life she thought she’d left behind forever. Vesper returns, encountering a reception that oscillates between welcoming and chilling. As the narrative unfolds, Vesper confronts not only the ghosts of her past but also the sinister undercurrents of a faith that she left behind. Harrison adeptly crafts a small-town horror story that probes the depths of familial bonds and the cost of independence.

The novel shines in its character development and atmospheric tension. Vesper is portrayed with a raw authenticity that makes her struggles palpable and her journey captivating. Harrison excels in painting the eerie, claustrophobic town with a brush dipped in shadows and suspense, making the setting itself a character that looms large over the narrative.

The exploration of themes such as alienation, the search for identity, and the impact of toxic faith is done with a relatively nuanced hand. The horror elements in “Black Sheep” serve not merely as scares but as metaphors for the inner demons Vesper battles, making the story resonate on a psychological level as well.

Moreover, Harrison’s wit and sharp dialogue cut through the darkness, providing necessary levity and depth to the narrative. Her ability to balance the elements of horror with moments of introspection and humor is commendable.

While “Black Sheep” is undeniably gripping, certain plot elements feel somewhat predictable, and the pacing can occasionally falter, particularly in the middle section of the book where the narrative seems to tread water. Additionally, while the ending provides closure, it might come off as rushed and somewhat underwhelming given the build-up, leaving a few too many questions unanswered.

Ultimately, “Black Sheep” is a testament to Rachel Harrison’s ability to blend the supernatural with the profoundly human. It is a story of returning and reckoning, of facing the darkness both within and without. Despite some flaws in pacing and plot, the novel stands as a compelling read, offering a haunting exploration of what it means to confront one’s past and the eerie realities that can lurk beneath the surface of small-town life and familial ties. Harrison’s fans and newcomers alike will find “Black Sheep” a worthy addition to the canon of contemporary horror, spiked with enough suspense, emotion, and insight to keep the pages turning long into the night. show less

"That’s the thing with damage. It can’t be undone."

This was such a great story! I love the twists and the surprises. Go into this one blind! It's the best way to let the secrets reveal themselves. I liked our main character even when she was prickly and mad. I thought this would be just another story about a cult but it really did have unique twists.