The Lamb follows Margot who lives with her mother in a homestead in the forest. When Margot is a home with her mama they wait for strangers known as strays to knock on their door. Margot’s mama looks after the strays and then kills them. She eats them and shares them with Margot. That is until a stray called Eden turns up and starts up a relationship with Margot’s mama. This means the dynamic between Margot and her mama changes and Margot needs to make a bid for freedom.

4.5 stars rounded up to a 5. This isn’t a perfect 5 star book for me in that it didn’t absolutely wow me but it has made me think. It did everything I expected it to do, it was gory and the whole time I was extremely uncomfortable with the dynamic between Margot and her mama particularly when Eden was introduced. It was a fast read even though the story was quite slow. I enjoyed the experience of reading this and I would recommend it. It’s a novel that creeps up on you.

Wow, this book was a simply amazing way to kick off my foray into e-book reviews. Excuse the pun but I just ate it up. Devoured in a day. The writing was incredibly atmospheric, the language was dreamy and luscious, and the concept (though of course not for everyone) was completely up my street. This is horror as I love to read it: stripped back, brazen, and quietly brutal. But it was also a wistful story of childhood and coming-of-age, of found family, and trauma. So many multitudes were contained within Lucy Rose’s work and I am excited to see what’s next for her.

Ironically (or aptly) completely consuming. Dark, disturbing, honestly flat out disgusting at points, The Lamb is such a gripping and complex story that is difficult to turn away from, even as hope ebbs away. Unbelievable book.