Reviews with content warning for Religious bigotry - Black Sheep

Reviews tagging 'Religious bigotry'

Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison

16 reviews

mikathereviewer's review against another edition

challenging dark slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

The book wasn't as good as I hoped it to be. I know that it was about a religion and family issues, but I didn't know that it was about Satanism.

Satanism is a religion I know a lot of, and also know that many people misinterpret it or have theories that aren't true. Satanists don't do cults, they also don't worship evil. They have Satan as a symbol of a 'Fallen Angel', not as 'Ruler of Hell'. The religion is all about doing things when asked or when allowed and not doing it otherwise. And that if one is rude to a Satanist they will face normal consequences, they won't get their ribs taken out and be forced to seal something. Satanism isn't bad. Or let's say, they aren't acting like everyone thinks and reading this book was really exhausting. There was even a scene where Vesper said that she don't know the difference between Catholics and Satanists. That already shows how stupid the book is and that no research was done. One believes in Jesus and one believes in Satan or rather in no one. Satanists don't have to believe in Satan. He is only a symbol in the Religion. As Satan is a fallen angel for things he did that he considered right, he became a symbol. A symbol to stand against authority and do what one condemns right. Most Satanists are non-violent and use Satan as an inspiration for their moral beliefs. So this book is highly offensive for Satanists and also people who as me think that one shouldn't support wrong accusations against any Religion. I am an atheist and I don't care that much, but it's sad to see that due to wrong or bad research before writing the book once again people belief that Satanism is bad and evil. I know it's only fiction and that it shouldn't be taken so seriously, but moments like 'I failed to see how Satanists were any different from Catholics' and 'Satanists didn’t have the tooth fairy' made me think that the author really didn't know what Satanism actually is outside of this fiction. That's the main reason I gave this book 1 star. Here's a short summary of the other points:

- Slow pace
- Weird wording (sometimes)
- Triggered me a bit (sexual assault)
- Too many references of other fandoms (Star Wars, Netflix Shows, etc.)
- Too many Anapher phrases (no other methods were used to sympathise the words)
- Flat characters
- Stupid decisions made by the MC (shares her trauma with someone she just met and gets mad when he tells it everyone)
- Too many things unexplained (why did the dog tried to eat her when she was a baby? Dogs don't do that usually. No explanation as to why Brody changed his mind on Vesper and married Rosie instead. Why did Brody cheat on Rosie?)
- MC is an escort (wants to kiss an almost married man)
- Emotional states were wrong (numbness doesn't make you feel anything, including boredom)
- Cringe (Man says he is Lucifer and all-mighty and they want to make Vesper a sacrificial offer)
- Simple + boring ending + too often used already (unoriginal)

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mirandalikesbooks's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I liked it. Great if you like funny, personal first person POV. Vesper, the main character, is quick & snarky and the story moves super quickly so it's an easy read. Fun.

I thought some of it was a little cliche and unbelievable. Mild spoiler:

So many pentagrams.

It's not doing anything deep really. Reads a tiny bit YA for me.

I would have trust issues for life if I was Vesper.

Would recommend for an easy palette cleanser

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anissawren's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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karalynaa's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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amandalorianxo's review against another edition

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challenging dark funny tense medium-paced

4.0

I have read Cackle and Such Sharp Teeth prior and (so far) I think this is close to being my favorite out of the trio of supernatural meets modern ish times that Ms. Harrison is known for. It was a little predictable but I thought the message that was being portrayed still felt the same. I didn't feel the epilogue was fully needed but minus that this was enjoyable albeit a tad bit more dark, body horror/bloody than I originally anticipated.

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madelinequinnee's review against another edition

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emotional mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This was a fun read, but kind of predictable

I guessed that Satan was Vesper’s father a few chapters before the reveal, and I then again guessed she was going to be sacrificed at the end

However, this was still a fun read, and I think anyone looking into getting into horror, this would be a good start!

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tiddlerrr's review against another edition

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dark funny mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

I bought this book on a whim to keep me occupied for an afternoon train journey, which it succeeded in doing. However, I think it struggles to decide whether it is a comedy-horror or not, and personally I didn’t find it particularly scary/horrifying. After going into this blind about anything that happened I do think that’s the best way to experience it, as it is VERY predictable in places. The MC is also not likeable and I don’t think she is meant to be, however all of the progression/development/action seems to happen at the end whereas the first two thirds are largely filler. It was a decent read and kept me occupied for an afternoon, but I don’t think I’d ever read it again.

I do also think the satanic cult “twist” was a bit overdone and would have been scarier if it was a Christian cult or something else entirely. Lucifer being her absent father felt very tropey, and as a someone who is normally lover of tropes, I mean that in a bad way.

I also didn’t really understand the point of the epilogue, the whole thing just kind of…ends.

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rachaelwho's review against another edition

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dark medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Repetitive. Pacing issues. Didn't quite make sense. Protagonist is characterized as tough and difficult, but there's really no evidence of her being outwardly hostile (though she is often judgy, resentful and sullen internally) or fighting what she's supposed to do at pretty much any turn, other than leaving the faith and

dressing inappropriately at her cousin's wedding to passive-agressively outshine her (but even then, she pulls her punches and brings a cardigan to cover up)

. If this is supposed to be happening (a la being a lamb)... It's not particularly impactful or clear bc it's not consistent; she's constantly described as being a massive bitch who doesn't think about others' feelings or expectations, but she almost never acts out

until the final conflict

. CW for

cults and religious abuse

, which I didn't see available in the section for that.

Content Warnings