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A review by bookcravings
I Feed Her to the Beast and the Beast Is Me by Jamison Shea
5.0
There will be blood.
Well, I dipped my toe into dark fantasy and it didn't kill me, lol! Was I thirst-trapped by the cover? I'm not gonna lie - it is truly mesmerizing. But beyond that, Jamison Shea understands the beauty of words and the power they have to transport us. They were able to describe the setting so well, that even people like me who understand very little French, and ballet even less, can viscerally feel every pirouette, arabesque, plié, and jete. We can feel the calloused heels, the broken toenails, and the aching in the calves.
Shea also expands on what it is to be "other" - a brown-skinned girl in a sea of pale, blonde, privilege. Where for her, perfection is not enough. They also take us down the road of greed, longing, jealousy, and sacrifice. There is mythology, allusions to the River Styx, to blood sacrifice, and to dark rituals.
Despite the heavy topics, this book flowed effortlessly and beautifully. However, please do note the TWs. If you like books like Black Swan, Ballerinas (Kapelke-Dale), or books by Carlos Castaneda, you will enjoy this.
Huge thanks to Bookish First where I won a paperback version, and to the publisher.
Well, I dipped my toe into dark fantasy and it didn't kill me, lol! Was I thirst-trapped by the cover? I'm not gonna lie - it is truly mesmerizing. But beyond that, Jamison Shea understands the beauty of words and the power they have to transport us. They were able to describe the setting so well, that even people like me who understand very little French, and ballet even less, can viscerally feel every pirouette, arabesque, plié, and jete. We can feel the calloused heels, the broken toenails, and the aching in the calves.
Shea also expands on what it is to be "other" - a brown-skinned girl in a sea of pale, blonde, privilege. Where for her, perfection is not enough. They also take us down the road of greed, longing, jealousy, and sacrifice. There is mythology, allusions to the River Styx, to blood sacrifice, and to dark rituals.
Despite the heavy topics, this book flowed effortlessly and beautifully. However, please do note the TWs. If you like books like Black Swan, Ballerinas (Kapelke-Dale), or books by Carlos Castaneda, you will enjoy this.
Huge thanks to Bookish First where I won a paperback version, and to the publisher.