Welcome to Litsy!

I got this book for free, in exchange for my honest opinion via NetGalley.
This was my first Rachel Harrison novel, and it certainly won‘t be my last.
I devoured this book. I‘ve read my share of cult style horror, but this is by far the best one…

Read more at: FictionLux

1. a.) Write cards and b) Read in the evenings after work
2. Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison
3. Horror

#MotivationalMonday @Cupake12

This was a fun take on the “prodical child” trope, and I particularly loved the reveal of exactly what beliefs Vesper did not share with her family and how Harrison incorporated appropriate symbolism without falling into cliché.

Black Sheep was the perfect answer to my book hangover that Rosemary‘s Baby caused. Honestly, it had some of the same vibes as Rosemary‘s Baby. and I enjoyed that immensely. I‘m not going too deep into this because I think you need to go in without expecting anything.This book was perfection. And I‘m afraid to admit it but I might have liked it even better than Cackle.

https://wildwoodreads.com/2024/02/27/black-sheep-review/

I love Rachel Harrison‘s voice, and this book was no exception. Great mix of horror, humor, with a casual, conversational style that she‘s honed to a razor‘s edge over the last 3 books.

I‘m reading pink and red books in honor of Valentines Day. They‘re not even remotely close to romantic but at least they fit the aesthetic. I can eat chocolate and read scary books just as well as I can with a romance. So, anyhow, here‘s my February 2024 tbr.

What are you reading this month?

https://wildwoodreads.com/2024/02/02/february-2024-tbr/

Santa brought books and the most gorgeous bookends 😍😍😍😍

Did you have a good Christmas?

https://wildwoodreads.com/2023/12/27/santa-brought-books/

This is the second of Harrison‘s novels that I‘ve read in as many months. Her work is more horror-lite, than terrifying. There‘s plenty of humor here that keeps the plot from being dark, yet without going over into camp. It‘s a nice balance. I enjoyed the story and I really liked Vesper, the MC.

I really enjoyed this book. I like this author‘s writing style. If you‘ve read a book by her you know what I mean.

Spunky sarcastic MC. A bit of a possibly supernatural mystery.

It reminded me of Rosemary‘s baby … not in plot but cult & sacrifice.

Not scary but kept me riveted to my seat & I read it straight through. Easy fast fun! Keep ‘em coming!! I wish I read it for Halloween!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/3

I‘ve seen some mixed reviews and people noting they DNF‘d. for me this helped me through my reading slump. I really enjoyed the humor mixed with horror. An entirely creative concept and a fun read for me.

In October, we read PINK and SPOOKY!!💗👻😈

This was really fun, dark and a bit gory. Our main character returns home, after leaving its cultish atmosphere, to attend a wedding. There is more to this than just a stereotypical religious cult. Our main character was a lovable loser, her sarcasm was great. I think this is my favorite of this author‘s books so far. 4.5⭐️
5 hrs of reading, 127 word search words
#Scarathlon #HHC

As I stood singing the birthday song for the fifth time that evening, I realized I was wrong for not believing in Hell. #FirstLineFridays

🤣 I freaking HATE when the birthday song gets sung by staff in restaurants. It's my nightmare.

The premise of this book was fun, but the execution felt ambling without really going anywhere substantive. The character development was lacking and our protagonist wasn‘t always likable, but not in a particularly interesting way. The cult itself felt like a caricature born of the Satanic Panic. I knew, and wanted this to be a lighter read, but while I think it aimed at campy, I don‘t think it necessarily succeeded for me.

Just meh for me 🤷🏼‍♀️

Starting tonight. #aardvark

Woah! The first chapter hooked me. Then, as it set the scene, I was wondering where the first chapter magic went until the twist came and set the entire story in motion. It was a story this chicken couldn't read in bed at night 🙃.

3⭐
After listening to Such Sharp Teeth a few weeks ago and loving it…I really don‘t want to admit how much I didn‘t click with this. Honestly, it was just so boring. It also lacked the energy and heart that SST had. It wasn‘t bad by any means just not what I was expecting or hoping for. Jeremy Carlisle Parker's narration was okay…it‘s possible my feelings towards this book were exacerbated by the narration…I‘m not really sure.

What the what?! I'm 3 chapters in and this is already taking an unexpected direction... and I'm here for it!

It‘s hard to read when someone knows it‘s pushing dinner time. 😑🤪

Book 175📚 4.4⭐️

Another fantastical book from Harrison! I love her stories and her mix of horror & comedy🖤

Anyone else feel like the black sheep?🐑

A cynical twentysomething must confront her unconventional family‘s dark secrets in this fiery, irreverent horror novel from the author of Such Sharp Teeth and Cackle.

#aardvarkbookclub #blacksheep #horror #thriller

Black Sheep was a dark and twisted novel that was not at all what I expected it to be after reading the synopsis; thankfully I did not look closely at the cover, otherwise I think I would not have had the surprise I did. I really liked Vesper. Not only is her character well-developed, she is presented as a woman with honest emotions and reactions to the situations that she faces within the narrative; she is resilient and tough.

The story is fine. Most will love it. This author has a distinct style that I‘m just not excited about: campy horror-lite. It felt more like silliness to me than dark comedy.

There are big themes of church trauma and toxic relationships. It was a tough read for me from the halfway point on, just from the perspective of someone deconstructing. I don‘t want to spoil anyone‘s good time here, truly, but (👇🏻)

If you‘re looking for a kooky, suspenseful, atmospheric horror novel with a heroine with a lot of snark then this is your jam! This is the reason why Rachel Harrison is my favorite horror novelist! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🤩

October #aardvark books are up and picked! I went with three this month.

#Aardvark REALLY came through for October. I am so excited!!!!

Vesper left her devoutly religious family when she was just 18, but a wedding invitation tempts her back, and things take a sinister turn.

Religious zealots come in all kinds, but they all have some commonalities. This book went in a really interesting direction. Dark humor. Sufficiently scary and gross. I loved it. Very good for Halloween.

Picked this one up today and I am trying to figure out of it's more horror or thriller. This will be my first book from this author but so far it's shocked me already 🤣😂 I am excited to see where it goes. Vesper is a young woman who left home to get away from the religion she was born into. When she mysteriously receives an invitation to get best friend and ex boyfriend's wedding, she decides it's time to go home... Very intriguing