“Black Sheep” is author Rachel Harrison’s fifth book release, following her debut novel “The Return” and fan favorites “Such Sharp Teeth” and “Cackle”. Since the publication of “Black Sheep” in 2023, Harrison has also written “So Thirsty”, her 2024 release.
“Black Sheep” revolves around Vesper, a young woman working at a dingy restaurant and actively ignoring her family trauma. Until the trauma shows up on her doorstep, in the form of a wedding invitation. Who’s the happy couple? None other than her cousin (and only real friend) and her ex-boyfriend (the only man she ever loved). With this development, Vesper is forced to return to the life she left behind…the one with the mother who can’t stand her, the absent father, oh, and the Satanic cult. Can she, the black sheep of the family, survive her own homecoming?
This is Harrison’s fifth novel in the horror genre, and her experience shows. Her pacing is perfect for the plot and her descriptions are often as horrific as they are entertaining. She fluidly inserts her sense of humor into every scene, and does it in a way that manages to not take away from the horror aspect. Throughout the novel, Harrison also provides commentary on religion, the fervor that can come with it and how it can shape family dynamics. She seeks to pose the question: how much does our family experience impact who we become?
Of course, she does all this with a horror-esque twist complimenting her writing style and commentary impressively well. Her characters are lively–while perhaps a little vague or archetypal, they still engage in enough interesting and witty dialogue to make this flaw forgettable. The book doesn’t take itself too seriously, yet it appeals to the reader with fulfilling social commentary that easily outlasts its 304 pages.
Although I appreciate Harrison’s horror, I also have to admit that it isn’t really that horrifying. There was some gore and suspense, and it was a good time, but it had nothing I felt was innovative or even just generally scary. “Black Sheep” is, to put it bluntly, short and sweet, and while that isn’t necessarily a bad thing, I tend to like my horror books with a little more intrigue and, well, horror. Hence, why I ended up giving “Black Sheep” four out of five stars, instead of a perfect five.
If you’re a fan of Grady Hendrix’s campy, personable writing style, or have any interest in a readable mix of “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” and “The Addams Family”, Rachel Harrison’s “Black Sheep” is for you. Even if you’re not usually a horror fan, this book is the perfect page-turner to get yourself into the genre. Plus, if you end up liking it, you’ll have a handful of other books by Harrison to keep you busy for the foreseeable future.
