Sign in with Facebook
Theo Logos's Reviews > Black Sheep
Black Sheep
by
by
Black Sheep continues my early-onset Spooky Season reading. This book was a slam dunk choice for me after reading its synopsis � ”left home at 18 and never looked back�, ”staunchly religious community she grew up in�, ”forced to reckon with her family’s beliefs and her own crisis of faith� � I mean, damn, that’s MY story! As a proud black sheep myself, I was eager to read a horror novel built around that premise.
But just as I disappointed my parents, Black Sheep disappointed me. It was written well enough, and the dysfunction of family built around fanatically committed religious community even hit a few right notes, but this book and I had issues. I just didn’t jell with the protagonist. An affectation of cynical remoteness was her only defense, and once that was pierced she was incredibly weak (and none too smart, either). My expectation of someone strong enough to break away from the fanatical cult they were raised in and strike out on their own at the tender age of 18 is that they would be stronger and more resourceful than the protagonist was. Maybe it’s just me, since, as that was essentially my own story, I took it personally.
I had other issues. The story felt derivative. Not derivative in its specifics, but in its bones, its concept. In many important ways it felt like a rip off of a certain disgraced Polish director’s famous horror film. And then there was the twist. Not the first twist that came early on � no, that one was done well and worked. But that second twist � the big, plot altering twist � that one came too soon to work well. Had it come closer to the book’s climax it could have worked for me, but coming close to the midway point it not only lost power, but actually subverted the protagonist one strong point � the clear minded rationality that gave her the impetus to leave her toxic faith and family in the first place.
Black Sheep wasn’t a bad book. It was a quick read, and had its moments. It just didn’t deliver what I was expecting. Your mileage may vary � 2 1/2 stars rounded up.
But just as I disappointed my parents, Black Sheep disappointed me. It was written well enough, and the dysfunction of family built around fanatically committed religious community even hit a few right notes, but this book and I had issues. I just didn’t jell with the protagonist. An affectation of cynical remoteness was her only defense, and once that was pierced she was incredibly weak (and none too smart, either). My expectation of someone strong enough to break away from the fanatical cult they were raised in and strike out on their own at the tender age of 18 is that they would be stronger and more resourceful than the protagonist was. Maybe it’s just me, since, as that was essentially my own story, I took it personally.
I had other issues. The story felt derivative. Not derivative in its specifics, but in its bones, its concept. In many important ways it felt like a rip off of a certain disgraced Polish director’s famous horror film. And then there was the twist. Not the first twist that came early on � no, that one was done well and worked. But that second twist � the big, plot altering twist � that one came too soon to work well. Had it come closer to the book’s climax it could have worked for me, but coming close to the midway point it not only lost power, but actually subverted the protagonist one strong point � the clear minded rationality that gave her the impetus to leave her toxic faith and family in the first place.
Black Sheep wasn’t a bad book. It was a quick read, and had its moments. It just didn’t deliver what I was expecting. Your mileage may vary � 2 1/2 stars rounded up.
Sign into ŷ to see if any of your friends have read
Black Sheep.
Sign In »
Reading Progress
September 7, 2024
–
Started Reading
September 7, 2024
– Shelved
September 7, 2024
– Shelved as:
audiobooks
September 7, 2024
– Shelved as:
horror
September 9, 2024
– Shelved as:
reviewed
September 9, 2024
–
Finished Reading
