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The Lamb

The bestselling literary horror sensation

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The Lamb

By: Lucy Rose
Narrated by: Emma Rydal
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Summary

 THE #2 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
A gripping, sinister folktale set in contemporary Cumbria for fans of Sophie Mackintosh, Angela Carter, Daisy Johnson, Margaret Atwood and Julia Armfield

'A new generation of literary horror begins with Lucy Rose'
GENEVIEVE JAGGER

'Deliciously dark and shockingly bold. One of my favourite debuts in a long time'
KIRSTY LOGAN

'Superbly creepy . . . at heart it's about dysfunctional family dynamics, female rage and empowerment'
FINANCIAL TIMES

'An unforgettable, nightmarish tale. I ate it all up'
ANNA BOGUTSKAYA

A FOLK TALE. A HORROR STORY. A LOVE STORY. AN ENCHANTMENT.
Margot and Mama have lived by the forest since Margot can remember. When Margot isn't at school, they spend quiet days together in their cottage, waiting for strangers to knock on their door. Strays, Mama calls them. Mama loves the strays. She feeds them wine, keeps them warm. Then she satisfies her burning appetite by picking apart their bodies.

But Mama's want is stronger than her hunger sometimes, and when a white-toothed stray named Eden turns up in the heart of a snowstorm, little Margot must confront the shifting dynamics of her family, untangle her own desires and make a bid for freedom.

With this tender coming-of-age tale, debut novelist Lucy Rose explores how women swallow their anger, desire and animal instincts - and wrings the relationship between mother and daughter until blood drips from it.

'Stunning, shocking and surprising at each turn'
BENJAMIN MYERS

'A modern Grimm fairytale'
SUSAN BARKER

'Dark, poetic, gothic, folky and full of courage and beauty'
TIM DOWNIE

'Dear reader, I predict you will be as obsessed as me' 
MOLLY AITKEN

'Lucy Rose can certainly write . . . The Lamb grips all the way to an unexpected denouement'
GUARDIAN Genre Fiction Horror Literary Fiction Scary Emotionally Gripping Heartfelt
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Critic reviews

Deliciously dark and shockingly bold - someone needs to make this into a film right now! Lucy Rose is one to watch. This is one of my favourite debuts in a long time (Kirsty Logan, author of NOW SHE IS WITCH)
Stunning, shocking and surprising at each turn - everything one would want from a novel, and so much more. Lucy Rose's fearful and fantastic imagination is a powerful weapon (Benjamin Myers, author of CUDDY)
Outstanding and disturbing and transformative. A new generation of literary horror begins with Lucy Rose. Brutal yet tender, The Lamb is a book that refuses to offer its reader the easy way out. A masterclass in suspense with an unflinching focus on intergenerational violence, The Lamb will leave you with a twisting feeling on the inside. Sensational. Read now, before everyone you know gets there first (Genevieve Jagger, author of FRAGILE ANIMALS)
Lucy Rose weaves together flesh, bones and mommy issues with unsettling deftness to create an unforgettable, nightmarish tale. I ate it all up (Anna Bogutskaya, author of FEEDING THE MONSTER)
This is the book I've been waiting for. Dark, twisted and utterly enthralling, The Lamb is a novel I will never forget. Lucy Rose's prose gave me chills, perfectly capturing the horrors and beauties of girlhood. Dear reader, I predict you will be as obsessed as me (Molly Aitken, author of BRIGHT I BURN)
Wild, evocative, and deeply felt, I was hooked on The Lamb from the first sentence. Reading Lucy Rose is like gently sliding your hand into the open mouth of a wolf - tender, terrifying, and exhilarating all at once (Sarah Rose Etter, author of RIPE)
A dark, fearsome novel that sticks between your teeth. Rose writes about daughterhood with poetic clarity and tenderness (Amy Twigg, author of SPOILT CREATURES)
The Lamb is one of the most horrifying, beautiful, and memorable things I've read. It's gorgeously written, deeply disturbing, and incredibly moving . . . I was so invested in this strange, dark, coming-of-age tale. Its landscape hums with a sense of threat, but is also shot through with an unsettling beauty. Read it, and see nature, family, and humanity through Margot's eyes for a while, and you'll come out of it changed (Sarah Brooks, author of THE CAUTIOUS TRAVELLER'S GUIDE TO THE WASTELANDS)
A modern Grimm fairytale. Heart-wrenching and sensuously lyrical, yet sinister, depraved and stomach-churningly good (Susan Barker, author of OLD SOUL)
Lucy Rose is extraordinary. I devoured The Lamb in one evening and I have not stopped thinking about it since. Poetic, visceral and wildly addictive, I dare you not to fall in love with Rose's imagination. Consume this book and prepare for it to consume you (Catherine Joy White, author of THIS THREAD OF GOLD)
All stars
Most relevant
I loved this book. It's grim and beautiful all at the same time. If you are easily upset avoid it. But if you love horror I couldn't recommend it highly enough.

Finger food..

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This book is not for the faint hearted.
It becomes very clear, very early on, that we are listening to a very unusual story, told by a child, about their very unusual upbringing.

Without giving too much away, I absolutely loved this modern day horror story.

The way that Emma Rydal narrated was perfect and she managed to sound childlike without resorting to baby voices. I think that was because of Lucy Rose's excellent writing.

Lucy Rose must have quite a .... creative mind, to have imagined this book. (At least I hope it's imagined?)
Part old school Fairy Tale, part modern day story of neglect. It is sad, shocking and gruesome, yet delicious at the same time.

If I had one tiny criticism, I would have liked a slightly different ending, but other than that, I really enjoyed it.

P.S. A Social Media 'Friend' couldn't read it and had to return it :) be warned.......

A Gory,Ghoulish,Slightly Depressing Book,Loved It!

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not to give to much spoiler i would say that book surprised me in few instances, it's close to being uncomfortable to listen especially with such a good narrator that adds this "Earie" vibe to it.
it's definitely worth listen if you, as i was, new to this genere.

as of story i would have my remarks, mostly that characters were mostly two-dimensional but i would let that slide given that this book is closer to fairy tale rather than real life.

disturbing but immersive

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The narration was fantastic. I enjoyed the story, it did drag at times, but beautifully written to an horrific crescendo. Fascinating, and abhorrent in equal measure. Recommended for those interested in the darker side of the human psyche.

Wonderfully grim

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Folksy horror. Freaky and well grounded without ever being a proper horror story. It has a JRPG thing going on with food sections.

One of the best of 2025

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