2026 WINNER
The Lamb, by Lucy Rose
Deliciously dark, twisty and utterly enthralling, Rose’s multilayered folk horror tale is a visceral coming-of-age story that explores power, desire and the unsettling bonds between mother and daughter. Set in an isolated cottage at the edge of a forest, it follows Margot as she begins to question the life she has been raised in, in a novel that is as tender as it is deeply disturbing.
From an exciting new voice in fiction, 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.
Congratulations to Lucy, all at W&N, and all the wonderful readers who have fiercely championed this wonderful book!
2026 Finalists
The Nota Bene prize is all about championing rising talent and powerful stories that readers love, and this year’s list is a wonderful example of just that. The thirteen finalists, selected in coordination with a panel of notable readers, are thought-provoking and relatable reads that have received organic, word-of-mouth recognition and are deserving of a wider readership.
