The Lamb is a disturbing but engrossing tale of a mother and daughter serial killing duo, living an isolated existence in the woods and enjoying a particularly despicable diet. The exploration of love and dependence is thoughtful and eye-opening, and whilst there are scenes of a more graphic nature which many would find hard to stomach, if you can handle the gore then there is a lot more to this novel than just senseless violence. Rose creates a protagonist who is deeply flawed, but as a reader, we still see hope in her and want things to work out for her. This is a story of abuse and power and the horrifying side of humanity. An absolutely excellent read.

I absolutely loved this and finished it in 2 nights. This is a gory, folksy tale centred on a mother/daughter relationship and their insatiable appetite for human meat. This absolutely felt like a fever dream and I could picture the whole story so clearly, which is a testament to the author’s writing.

Haunting is the only way to describe this. Eerie, unsettling and deeply disturbing. The writing was breathtaking and upsetting and the story itself is one that will stick in my brain. At first I was invested in Margot and Mama’s story, but when Eden came into the picture I found myself losing interest a little. Eden was cold and unforgiving and I found myself hating her more and more as the story progressed.

Without giving spoilers, I’ll just say that the end was full circle. My heart broke but I still found myself thoroughly engaged with the writing. There’s no way for me to accurately describe the writing, it was dreamlike and uncomfortable all at once. I will be eagerly awaiting future writing by Lucy Rose.

The Lamb is a modern-day folktale of a twisted mother-daughter relationship, and how everything changes when this fragile harmony is interrupted by the arrival of a stranger.

Rose's prose is utterly consuming, vivid and visceral, her imagery and the atmosphere she conjures is magical and horrifying in equal measure. The characters are wonderfully realised, warped by hunger and yet wholly believable in their (in)humanity. The shape of the story follows the traditional horror framework, but it is so compulsive you can't tear your eyes away.

Creepy and compelling, The Lamb is a coming of age story bathed in blood.

The Lamb by Lucy Rose is a haunting waltz through the eerie and the unknown, perfect for a Halloween night when shadows seem to breathe. Rose's writing is steeped in gothic allure, casting every scene in moonlit silver and blood-red tones. The protagonist’s journey unearths secrets buried in mist-laden forests and forgotten graves, each chapter building an atmosphere that feels alive with whispers and ghostly presences. Rose masterfully weaves themes of innocence and darkness, making The Lamb a tale where horror and beauty entwine—a chilling, poetic ode to the macabre that lingers long after the final page.

okay i was beyond excited about this one. it’s very gothic. think hansel & gretel meets cannibals with a more fucked up mother-daughter relationship than the one in gillian flynn’s “sharp objects”. the prose is soft and lyrical and it juxtaposes against the harshness of all the gore and horror and many descriptions of human consumption. maybe it was the main character’s innocent/naive/young point of view but it diluted the exploration of the main themes for me personally, nothing felt too impactful or gave me the wow factor like the few twists, i saw coming and the greater themes of belonging and loneliness and the complex relationship between mothers and daughters seem to falter for me. otherwise, greatly written, a tender story that just misses the mark for me, but still one to keep an eye out for next year.

Many thanks to the publishers and netgalley for supplying me with an arc in exchange for my honest review.

A vile little book that is one of the best things I’ve read this year. Horrifying and unapologetic for its gruesomeness, The Lamb is utterly unique as the author deftly draws you into the twisted world she's created. Not for the faint of heart, but you’ll never look at your fingers the same way again.

The Lamb by Lucy is a haunting exploration of motherhood, daughterhood, and love in all their raw, messy forms. This novel delves deep into the beauty and horror that accompany human relationships, guiding readers through an emotional landscape where every feeling is heightened and every bond intricately analyzed. Lucy masterfully challenges our perceptions of love, forcing us to confront the complexities that often lie beneath the surface of our closest connections.
The characters are crafted with remarkable care and nuance, each one burdened by their struggles and desires. Margot, a sweet little girl, longs for nothing more than her mother’s love and affection, while Mama, in her desperation, is searching for a love she cannot seem to find—or give. These characters feel incredibly human, relatable, and achingly flawed, making their stories all the more compelling.
Lucy’s writing deftly balances moments of tenderness with those of unsettling vileness, weaving together a narrative that is gripping and poignant. The result is a powerful examination of the human condition, exploring the lengths we go to find connection, understanding, and, ultimately, love.
From the moment I picked up The Lamb, I was captivated, breezing through it in a whirlwind of emotions. Thought-provoking, disturbing, and touching in equal measure, this novel is rich with vivid imagery, layered emotions, misery, and hope. It’s the kind of book that lingers in your mind long after the last page is turned—an unforgettable read.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group for this ARC in return for an honest review.

*Spoilers ahead*

I was delighted to receive this ARC, I had seen Lucy Rose promote his novel on TikTok and knew it was right up my alley.

I really enjoyed the novel being from the point of view of Margot. I always find novel fromt he point of view of children really enjoyable to read however it is not easily done. I think Rose did an amazing job writing from the point of view of a preteen.

I really enjoyed the writing style and the level of description this novel had. I love descriptive writing but some times it can take away from the story and this had the perfect balance. When it came to the gorier/more disgusting scenes I was stuck between being disgusted and being in awe of the writing which I think is perfect mix for a horror novel such as this. I felt as if I was stuck on the house myself which made my skin crawl. An incredibly atmospheric novel.

As for the story itself I really liked it. I had kind of guess early on what had happened to Margot's dad early on, however the reveal itself to Margot was done really well. Part of me wished there was something more to Eden, posing her more of a threat to Margot and Ruth or for there to have been a bigger conflict between her and Ruth at some point but I also understand we only see what Margot sees. As for the ending it made me sad but I was kind of happy it made me sad??? I had been hoping so much for a happy-ish ending, that the bus driver would save Margot but I also appreciate not getting that happy ending. I did think the whole ghost Margot bit was a bit jarring. The whole novel was quite grounded in reality and I just found for her to become a ghost in the end out of place. I get throughout the whole novel there is folklore and stories hinting to supernatural elements but why out of all the people they killed is Margot a ghost? Not any of the strays or the gameskeeper or her father. It still works it just threw me for the last few chapters.

All in all I really enjoyed reading this novel and cannot wait to read more from Lucy Rose. I would recommend this for fans of Earthlings by Sayaka Murata.

A beautiful, intense debut! Like many reviewers here, I first heard about The Lamb on TikTok and I was sufficiently intrigued - I love horror books, especially ones featuring cannibalism. The Lamb is a slow burn, literary horror tale that is beautifully written, heart-breaking, and utterly haunting. Margot's voice is so compelling and I loved reading her story and journey. This is the kind of book that will have you staring at the ceiling for hours after you finish.

Thank you to Netgalley, publisher and author for an advanced copy.

This is my book of the year. Seriously disturbing and incredibly sad in equal measures.

5/5

A dark, gothic, feminist novel about becoming both a woman and something else. Bold, biting and fresh. Angela Carteresque.

I've seen the author, Lucy, post on social media saying 'cannibalism is a metaphor for love' in this book...and I can absolutely see that!

It's a heartbreaking story, but told so beautifully and hauntingly that I almost didn't want it to finish. I'm still thinking about it now, and I probably will for a while to come.

It's quite bloody and packed with gore, so if that's something you're sensitive to, you might want to read with care!

This book consumed me. So hauntingly beautiful it gave me nightmares. (for like three nights straight.) Loved this book so much and will be recommending it to every single person I know.

This book is just *chef's kiss*

The story follows Margot and mama, who live in their little cabin in the woodland in Scotland, mama likes to take in 'strays' and make them happy.
They taste best when they're happy.


I LOVE a well written story about unhinged women.
The Lamb is an excellent mix of folk horror, a love story and something far darker. It is haunting and horrifying in equal measure, and it is utterly feral.
Lucy is a wonderful writer and the way she writes is beautiful and you really feel the emotions of the characters.
I ripped through The Lamb. Once it got it's hooks in me I was all consumed, I couldn't put it down.

I'm already recommending The Lamb to my Horror loving customers, and will absolutely be filling my shop with the book once it publishes!

A very visceral, disturbing read. It was a great concept and the characterisation was strong but it did feel a bit one-note at times.

I absolutely devoured The Lamb. It was macabre and wickedly captivating from the opening pages. It reminded me of Strange Sally Diamond and Dog Rose Dirt. Twisted, cunning, and deliciously dark, I ate it all up.

After seeing this book all over TikTok I knew I had to try and read it before publication as I was too excited for it. Lucy Rose has written an exceedingly beautiful and enchanting book which is now one of my all time favourites. The exploration of the relationships between mothers and daughters was raw and true and I personally felt extremely moved and heard by this story. People who love ‘weird girl’ books will love this and I cannot wait to add a physical copy to my shelf.

Thank you to Lucy Rose, Orion Publishing Group, and NetGallery for allowing me to read this book.

This book had me enthralled the entire way through. Such a beautifully written story about Margot and her mother and their messy, complicated relationship. My heart broke for Margot - I loved that character so much. The book was intense (in many ways 😅) but I loved it so much,

Firstly, I loved the way time is blurred within this book, sometimes I felt I'd been enveloped into medieval gothic age and then someone mentions a phone and I'm yanked back into the present, making this so much more impactful and agonising.

The way characters are portrayed is beautifully done, our protagonist Margot has clear thoughts, kept childlike and real in their tone, she is easy to love and empathise with. The relationship dynamics between Margot, her mother and Eden is a delicate triangle of desire, regret and duty. This exploration of motherhood is also extremely interesting and thorough, something I'm not used to enjoying.

This book is a spellbinding tale of a family, they are unconventional and unbothered by the world (or perhaps overly bothered by the world 🤔). This story treads a balance of macabre and melancholy, it's enticing and kept the pages turning throughout.

I could blabber on and on about this forever, but just know I loved this book.