The Lamb

Bookseller recommendation

“A terrifying and unsettling tale told through the voice of a 12 year old girl raised as a cannibal by her abusive and murderous mother. The two take in a stranger, thinking she will be their next meal, but Mother has a change of heart and falls in love. The Lamb explores the change in the family dynamic and its terrible impact on everyone. With beautiful language describing the forest and bogs surrounding the cottage they call home and the authentic voice of a 12 year old girl dealing with pre-teen struggles and so much more, this is a must read for lovers of gothic horror. A+ audiobook as well.”

— Christy • Quail Ridge Books

Bookseller recommendation

“A story that will stick with you for a while. A story about the dynamics of mother and child, with a grisly twist. A dark, delicious dish of folk horror to get you through a winter storm. Highly recommend. ”

— Angela • Aunt EEk’s Books & Curiosities

Bookseller recommendation

“Coming-of-age folk horror for fans of Bones and All, Ethel Cain, Carmen Maria Machado, gay stuff & cannibalism in general. Margot lives with Mama in the woods. Together, they lure in lost travellers, "strays" who are killed and consumed to satiate the hunger that rules Mama's life. Mother and daughter are bound by flesh and blood, inseparable-- that is, until a mysterious woman turns up and Mama's affections begin to shift. The Lamb touches on themes of motherhood and queerness while not flinching from brutality or gore.... weak stomachs beware.”

— Ryan • Quail Ridge Books

Bookseller recommendation

“Margot and Mama have lived in a remote, decaying cottage ever since Margot can remember. The two take in strays who’ve wandered too far off the road and need help before they can go on their way. When the strays are comfortable and full, Mama then takes them apart and cooks them to satiate the little family’s hunger. Mama and Margot live happily with their routine until Eden, seemingly a stray, comes into their lives. Eden awakes a desire in Mama that overtakes her hunger. Margot’s place in the family becomes less certain in the shifting dynamics. This horror novel is thrumming with swallowed rage and is definitely not for anyone with a weak stomach.”

— Becky • Backwater Books

Bookseller recommendation

“A coming-of-age story meets the cabin-in-the-woods cannibalism trope. The senses are engaged for a moody, atmospheric ride spattered in blood and rot as Margot makes sense in a world of neglectful trauma and relative isolation.”

— Danielle Smith • Auntie's Bookstore

Bookseller recommendation

“A gothic coming-of-age story that simultaneously turned my stomach and made me giggle. Margot and her mama live in the forest and have a taste for something a bit more exotic than a forest-dwelling rabbit. "Strays" are those who have ventured too far into the woods and seek sanctuary from the overly welcoming mother and daughter. They receive comfort and wine. What they lose is what makes this book so disgustingly fun. ”

— Suzanne • Underground Books