I Feed Her to the Beast and the Beast is Me by Jamison Shea (ARC Review)

Title: I Feed Her to the Beast and the Beast is Me
Author: Jamison Shea
Type: Fiction
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Horror
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Date published: August 29, 2023

A complimentary physical copy of this book was kindly provided by Raincoast Books in exchange for an honest review.

Laure Mesny is a perfectionist with an axe to grind. Despite being constantly overlooked in the elite and cutthroat world of the Parisian ballet, she will do anything to prove that a Black girl can take center stage. To level the playing field, Laure ventures deep into the depths of the Catacombs and strikes a deal with a pulsating river of blood.

The primordial power Laure gains promises influence and adoration, everything she’s dreamed of and worked toward. With retribution on her mind, she surpasses her bitter and privileged peers, leaving broken bodies behind her on her climb to stardom.

But even as undeniable as she is, Laure is not the only monster around. And her vicious desires make her a perfect target for slaughter. As she descends into madness and the mystifying underworld beneath her, she is faced with the ultimate choice: continue to break herself for scraps of validation or succumb to the darkness that wants her exactly as she is—monstrous heart and all. That is, if the god-killer doesn’t catch her first.

⤖ My Review ⬻

I typically find that my thoughts get really organized and my opinions solidify as I write my reviews for books. However, with I Feed Her to the Beast and the Beast is Me, I already knew it was going to be one of my top reads of 2023 before I even sat down to write this review! Right from the first chapter, I was drawn into Laure’s world and her character—what drives her, her goals, her history, where the story would take her.

What captivated me most was the darkness that permeates the story. I was yearning for a gritty, dark YA tale, and I Feed Her to the Beast and the Beast is Me met my expectations in delivering that atmospheric intensity. I was also happy to read a book focused on a character typically considered a villain, without them being a side character, or someone you were supposed to root against. It’s a narrative that sinks its claws into you and refuses to let go until the final page.

Initially, I had believed this to be a standalone novel, which I would have been find with. So, imagine my delight upon discovering that there are more books to come once I was experiencing and loving the last of the book! I hope to dive into I Am the Dark That Answers When You Call when it comes out later this year, in late August!

I Feed Her to the Beast and the Beast is Me did not only met but exceeded my expectations. Its gripping darkness, compelling protagonist, and immersive storytelling make it an unforgettable read. I look forward to spending more time in the world and with the characters if they make a reappearance (I won’t mention any names as this may spoil the first book for some of you). Have you read this one? Do you plan to? Let me know!

⤖ About the Author ⬻

Jamison Shea was once a flautist, violist, anthropologist, linguist, choreographer, dancer, professional fire alarm puller, digital producer, and account executive—but they’ve always been a writer. Born in Buffalo, NY and now surrounded by darkness and gloom in Finland, when Jamison isn’t writing horror, they’re drinking milk tea and searching for long-forgotten gods in eerie places.