I don't know what it is about ballet specifically, but any time someone makes it creepy, I am IN. I think pitching it as Black Swan meets Ace of Spades is the absolute perfect way to describe it. I loved the atmosphere and the slight supernatural feel, mixed with the real world politics of Black women having to work twice as hard to get where they want to be. This was the perfect blend of the horrors of today and black magic and really gets into the dark underground of the drive for perfection.

This was an incredible story about rage and ambition and desire. Laure is one of the only Black ballerinas in her class and has to fight hard for what everyone else seems to get handed to them. When she finds out she can make a deal with a demon to get what she deserves, she takes it (and I don’t blame her.) But everything has its price, and soon her friends are turning up murdered, while others around her slowly descend into madness. I loved the unexpected turns this story took and everything it had to say about taking what you think you deserve. 5 stars!

This is a hauntingly terrific story. Set in the cutthroat world of professional ballet, we get a glimpse I to the world of ballerina's and the pressure that is put on them to be perfect in order to achieve their dream. But what happens when perfect isn't enough? This book explores this question and the lengths people go to in order to fit in and earn a place in society.
This book is beautifully written and boasts strong characters. Archeon and his world are creative, breathtaking, and terrifying at the same time. But so is the world of the Paris ballet. Wonderful read!

3.5 rounded up. I liked a lot here but at a certain point, the writing became SO repetitive. The same phrases and metaphors were used over and over again to the point that my eyes started to glaze over.

I'm going to be completely honest I wasn't in the best mood to be reading this, so I often spaced out in very important moments to the plot. But from what I did really take in, this book was great. There is a great mix of fantasy and realism, to the point that the reader doesn't quite know what is real or not. Putting this plot in the world of ballet was also great, very Black Swan despite me never seeing that movie, I just know. If you love to watch a character become the villain, you will love this book. It is dark, it is violent, and it was really fucking fun.

Wow, this was an utterly stunning and captivating story. The characters, the vibes, the writing was lovely. I loved everything about this.

Ace Spades meets Black Swan: Jamison Shea takes us on a wild, dark, and thrilling journey into the cutthroat world of ballerinas, where politics and traditions outweigh real talent and hard work. In this unique universe, the race, privilege, and wealth open doors, allowing the faults and flaws of performers to be swept under the rug.

Lauren Mesny, a neglected daughter from humble beginnings, strives to survive and become the best ballerina in the fiercely competitive Parisian ballet scene. However, she faces an uphill battle as her privileged, white competitors are supported by powerful families who have the luxury of making mistakes, often unseen by biased judging committees that hold their futures in their hands.

Lauren has no money and no family support. She's all alone, working tirelessly until the floors become slippery with her sweat and blood, all in pursuit of perfection. She can't afford the slightest misstep, fearing it may cost her place in the competition. But even when she lands her dream role, she realizes that staying on top is a constant struggle. She's judged not only for her performance but also for her background and appearance. The question haunts her: What if she's not enough?

Intrigued by the whispers circulating among the girls, Lauren discovers a secret behind the success of the power couple, Josephine and Ciro. Rumors suggest they engage in rituals involving drinking blood and stealing girls' hair to cast spells that enhance their magnetism. Josephine, too, hails from poverty, having no one to rely on, yet she has achieved everything she ever dreamed of—power, wealth, respect, and success.

One day, Josephine approaches Lauren for a friendly talk and an invitation to drink that leads them into the depths of the Catacombs. In a moment of desperation, Lauren makes a deal, offering a drip of her blood to draw closer to the power she aims to gain. Little does she know that this deal will take her to unimaginable places and push her to do things she never thought possible. She realizes that there may be far worse things than losing her place in the Parisian ballet world.

Overall, the story skillfully portrays the rivalry between ballerinas, exploring themes of nepotism and racism while capturing the immense pressure that turns individuals against one another in a ruthless pursuit of victory. The integration of fantasy and horror elements is masterfully executed. Although I had concerns that the conclusion might be unsatisfying, the author proved me wrong by delivering a logical and satisfying resolution.

For fans of YA thrillers, horror, and mysteries, this book is an excellent choice with its riveting pacing. The dark and claustrophobic atmosphere of Paris' underworld is vividly brought to life.

I extend my heartfelt thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group/Henry Holt and Co for providing me with a digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

With its monstrous ballerinas, beautiful monsters, and writing that drips with both beauty and gore, I Feed Her to the Beast and the Beast Is Me is a glorious debut. I would follow Jamison Shea down any dark path.

This book is for the monstrous girlies, the art-lovers, the horror fanatics.

“The art I loved and would keep with me, but the place would kill me if I let it.” As a former ballerina, this book resonated on so many levels. Shea perfectly captured the experience of a jaded dancer, and has my whole-hearted respect and admiration for such a beautifully-painted portrait of the tragedy that is falling out of love with toxic art.

More than that, our main character Laure is allowed to be angry. She can be vicious, cutthroat, and power-hungry and it isn’t automatically treated like a bad thing. She can have her transformation into monstrousness, can defeat her enemies with violence, and she’s not hated by her peers for it. We need more so-called “unlikeable female characters” like Laure, because frankly, they’re the best.

My only issue with this book was how quickly everything seemed to happen. Sometimes, the plot was moving at such a clipped pace, it felt like I couldn’t quite keep up. I appreciated the breadth of this novel, but felt Laure’s motivations would rapidly switch, or the choices she made felt very sudden. I know this is a debut novel, and word counts are often limited for debuts, but I feel like transition chunks might’ve ended up on the cutting room floor—chunks that would’ve added breathing room.

Nonetheless, it’s incredibly well-written and it’s something I think anyone with remote interest in ballet absolutely must read.

To be seen is all Laure Mesny has ever wanted. But as a Black girl in the elusive world of Parisian ballet, things are challenging. Tired of being swept under the rug, Laure will do anything to be recognized. So when the beloved ballet star Joséphine Moreau introduces her to a dangerous realm of magic where a river of blood grants her anything she desires, Laure does not hesitate to make a deal—and asks for power. 

The novel’s premise is riveting and unlike anything I've read before. Shea explores the topics of control, power, and privilege in a thought-provoking way. If you're a fan of murderous women, supernatural elements, and moral ambiguity, definitely check this book out.

I FEED HER TO THE BEAST AND THE BEAST IS ME is a thrilling ride, and while I did enjoy this debut, I do have a few issues with it. At times, I noticed multiple repeated phrases or sentences that were said previously but in different words, which I am sure could have been fixed with some extra editing. The plot twist was also obvious, and I guessed it from the beginning.  While the writing could use some refinement, the story itself is entertaining and clever and this flaw should not steer readers away.

This is a unique story about getting what you want. I know very little about the world of ballet, but many aspects of it were depicted in this book-the rigor, the pain, the sacrifice. As a spectator, I suppose that’s the point, I’m not supposed to see that. This story was brutal. I cringed in pain often as injuries and devastation were brought to the characters. I wanted more of the friendship story between Coralie and Laure, but instead I was left not liking either of them. The characters fell flat for me, not enough depth or reasons for their actions. The plot moved along well, but dragged a little for me in the middle.

Laure Mesny, Black ballerina at the top of her class, but constantly overlooked, is tired of being powerless. So, she bathes in a river of blood and makes a deal with an eldritch god for power. But is the power worth everything she has to sacrifice for it?

I have SO MANY thoughts about this book that it’s so hard to narrow down what all I’m going to say, but, long story short, this is definitely my FAVORITE book of the year and it is also one of my favorite books of all time! I need everyone to preorder it, request it from your library, do whatever you have to do to make sure this book gets in your hands on August 29th!

There are countless things that I loved about this book! Our main character, Laure, is one of my all time favorite characters. I will defend her to the very end! She can do no wrong! We LOVE monstrous Black girls over here! I relate to her so much because after being powerless for so long, it’s easy to become a “villain”. (I use the term villain loosely because, as I already said, my good sis can do no wrong!) And every character in the story was developed very well. You either loved them or hated them, but you were indifferent to no one and understood everyone’s motivations and personality!

I also have to mention how GORGEOUS the writing is! I think this is the most I’ve ever annotated a book. I honestly could’ve highlighted the whole book (I almost did🤭) There is absolutely no way that this is Jamison Shea’s debut. The writing style is so engrossing, it’s so descriptive, I would even say the writing is straight up CINEMATIC! And speaking of cinematic, this needs to be adapted into a movie ASAP.

Everything about this book was just so amazing: the story, the characters, the writing, the cover, the HORROR of it all, the way the story came full circle at the end, just everything! This book just left me speechless, but simultaneously, I wanna say EVERYTHING about it! I need more people to read this, so that I can gush about it with others! MAGNIFIQUE✨🖤🩸

P.S. knowing that I will be getting more of this magnificence when the second book in the duology comes out makes me so happy🥰🥰🥰

Thank you so much Macmillan Children’s/Henry Holt and Co. and NetGalley for this arc. All opinions are my own.

TW: racism, classism, parental abandonment, ritualistic self harm

I would've finished this last night, but I was tired and wanted to sleep. Still fucking loved this, though.

Laure's transformation was so satisfying to watch. Her desperation for perfection and forced compliance in order to appease her superiors, her peers, her own best friend, really dug into your skin with how horribly it all weighed on her. But when she dives into Acheron, the blood river, and emerges being able to control others at will, Laure gradually realizes all the talent and dedication she had was nothing compared to the cut throat, uncaring corporate industry which has consumed the artistry of ballet. Watching Laure embrace her monstrosity had me celebrating because she needed it and those who tried to keep the down deserved to be wrecked by her.

Girls who embrace their monstrosity is something much needed in fiction, and, oh boy, not only does Shea deliver, but they served a full course meal, with an appetizer, main course, dessert, and all. Their writing fully encapsulates the uncomfortable and the grotesque that is impossible not to be sucked into. Their descriptions, especially, painted every horror and bloodcurdling scene so beautifully; such envy I have of their skill.

I wanna keep gushing, but it's really better just if you just went ahead and read this yourself. Trust me, it's so worth it.

What would you give up to have everything you’ve ever wanted? For Laure Mesny, an aspiring ballerina who has had to prove herself over and over to her peers, especially since she is a Black girl who gets overlooked, she is willing to do anything to get what she wants. When a fellow star ballerina takes Laure into the depths of the Catacombs and offers her the chance to strike a deal with a pulsating river of blood known as Archeron, Laure takes it. Laure is tired of being invisible, of not being accepted for her skills and her talent, she wants it all, she wants to be a god, to be given the same opportunities and surpass her bitter and privileged peers. But she’s not the only person who has struck a deal, and monsters are lurking in every corner, waiting to strike her down and steal her spot. Laure will have to be just as vicious, to accept her inner monster and it’s darker urges to get what she wants. There will be blood to pay and it doesn’t help that there is someone out there killing people who have made bargains with Archeron. In a world filled with monsters, Laure will have to prove she is the most monstrous of all and that she will survive. This was a DELICIOUS book, I absolutely adored Laure. The commentary on privileges, especially when it comes to people of color was well done and I absolutely adored our monstrous morally grey protagonist so much. Laure has my entire heart. She is willing to do whatever it takes to make a name for herself, she’s monstrous in the best way possible. I can’t wait to see where the second book goes, but this book was absolutely fantastic and perfectly hit the mark for me!

*Thanks Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*