A review by jacksons_books_and_music
I Feed Her to the Beast and the Beast Is Me by Jamison Shea

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I Feed Her to the Beast and the Beast is Me is an emotionally raw YA contemporary fantasy horror. As the cover implies, expect blood and body horror!

I have been looking forward to reading this book for a long time and I was NOT disappointed! This was an excellent read! The characters are all fantastically written, whether in a “good for her” way, a “love to hate them” way,” or in every way in between.

The villain was set up very well. Even if you guess the villain early on, all the reveals and breadcrumbs are still fun, exciting, and tense.

I was not expecting the romance subplot, and definitely not expecting to be so moved by it. I loved the characters’ love in all its interchanging tenderness and monstrousness. 

It can be difficult to describe a visual art like ballet without sounding clinical. This author, though, wrote it perfectly! Let this book be an example to any author writing dance choreography!

The narration was fantastic! I also loved the beautifully creepy intro and outro music.

I strongly appreciated the social and political commentary of the story, in both the critique of the ballet world and the Western world at large. I was only ever on the fringes of the ballet world, never going en pointe, but I know what happens in this book (minus the fantastical elements) is horrifically common and needs to be called out.

I am about to dive in to this book’s sequel! I’m excited to learn where Laure’s story goes. I will definitely be reading even more by this author!
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