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A review by mikathereviewer
Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison
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)
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)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Gore, Toxic relationship, Violence, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror, Death, Infidelity, Blood, Cannibalism, and Murder
Minor: Addiction, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment