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readingundertheradar's review against another edition
4.0
I understand why so many have not enjoyed this one. It’s a book that asks more questions than it answers, which I generally love, but it can be frustrating. There are definitely parts that I’m still thinking about and wondering what exactly happened.
It surprised me by folding in some mystery and some horror for a genre-blending novel about trust and paranoia.
Recommended for fans of I’m Thinking of Ending Things—the two have very similar slow-build narration styles with a lot of strange and confusing actions. Millet’s prose was gorgeous and I can’t wait to read more of her work.
CW: gaslighting, domestic abuse, toxic partnership and toxic masculinity,
It surprised me by folding in some mystery and some horror for a genre-blending novel about trust and paranoia.
Recommended for fans of I’m Thinking of Ending Things—the two have very similar slow-build narration styles with a lot of strange and confusing actions. Millet’s prose was gorgeous and I can’t wait to read more of her work.
CW: gaslighting, domestic abuse, toxic partnership and toxic masculinity,
Spoiler
arson, car accident, kidnapping of child, cancerabstrace's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
baearthur's review against another edition
3.0
Beautifully written but lacking a compelling ending or twist.
kjboldon's review against another edition
4.0
Bizarre and enthralling, a metaphysical literary thriller that entwines narratives about hearing voices and the nature of God and reality with what might be a conventional plot about a woman and child hiding from an abusive guy. There are sentences and ideas that I would stop to savor but then I forged ahead, wanting to know what happened. A tantalizing literary hybrid.
jasonfurman's review against another edition
4.0
A genre defying novel that ends up almost like a humane, decent version of Lovecraft. On the surface a woman is taking her daughter to flee an abusive marriage, holed up in a Maine hotel while her husband and his hired goons pursue her. Part domestic, part thriller, it also has a psychological/supernatural aspect in her hearing voices and a strange interconnection between people, animals, and a range of voices. Sweet Lamb of Heaven is well written, oddly unpredictable, but still left me a little disappointed relative to the expectations from some of the reviews..
jrboudreau's review against another edition
5.0
If you’re into mysteries, quasi-religious overtones and a creeping sense of dread, this book is right up your alley. The central character, Anna is a complicated and strongly written character. Her narrative voice balances clear expression of the story with graceful meditations on faith, motherhood and the void that exists outside of ourselves. Excellent!
breesays's review against another edition
3.0
I was interested. I was invested. I was engaged. And then what happened? I couldn't tell you. It unraveled.
eric_roling's review against another edition
3.0
This was a decent piece of light horror, sort of a woman's take on Stephen King. The protagonist is a woman who marries an inaffectionate man and moves to Alaska. Once she has a baby, the man essentially abandons her. She starts hearing a voice, and tries to figure out if the voice is real or if she's mentally ill. Eventually, she takes her child and flees to a motel in Maine. The man has started running for office, is a true-believer evangelical (or pretends to be), and starts looking for her because he needs his perfect family image to get elected. Think Ted Cruz.
At points there are some light supernatural plot points. Maybe it was the intent of author to be unclear as to whether this was really happening or if the character was delusional. But it felt a little hinky or off. I often find this to be the case when a "literary" author decides to write or appropriate genre elements. They get the broad details, but fail the "uncanny valley" test - you kind of get thrown out of your immersion because things don't add up holistically. A good genre author gets these details right, and usually is more willing to commit to the genre - sort of jumping or wading in rather than dipping a tentative toe.
Overall, I enjoyed the story and the main character's detached experience of some pretty horrible events. It was a short read, so the shortcomings weren't nearly the issue they'd be in a longer book.
At points there are some light supernatural plot points. Maybe it was the intent of author to be unclear as to whether this was really happening or if the character was delusional. But it felt a little hinky or off. I often find this to be the case when a "literary" author decides to write or appropriate genre elements. They get the broad details, but fail the "uncanny valley" test - you kind of get thrown out of your immersion because things don't add up holistically. A good genre author gets these details right, and usually is more willing to commit to the genre - sort of jumping or wading in rather than dipping a tentative toe.
Overall, I enjoyed the story and the main character's detached experience of some pretty horrible events. It was a short read, so the shortcomings weren't nearly the issue they'd be in a longer book.
em_jay's review against another edition
4.0
Sweet Lamb of Heaven is a very interesting book. The story developed nicely and the pages kept turning with interesting characters, twists and surprises. The story left me with unanswered questions - and I'd like to know more! I wonder if there will be a follow up? A nice summertime read. I'd recommend it to someone who likes a suspense story with a bit of eclecticism.