I LOVE a story of feminine rage. Andrew made Vivi such a vivid and angry character, and I loved seeing her anger and fury take front stage. The romance between her and Thomas was absolutely adorable and I love how he supported her. The aesthetic of pink bubblegum horror is definitely a new favorite niche aesthetic for me.

A gripping, atmospheric blend of horror and romance that really pulls you in. The premise is standout: an heiress with a deadly, supernatural affliction hires a young interpreter, leading to a terrifying and tender connection.

The tension is perfectly built, with eerie, body-horror moments balanced by really sweet, emotional beats between the two leads. Their bond feels genuine, and the characters are layered and compelling. Yes, some threads feel like setup for future stories, but the mystery, romance, and lush writing make it worth it.

If you love dark YA, slow-burn romance, and creepy supernatural vibes, this one's a winner.

Demons, death, murder, and occult A read that takes you through a girls possessed horror. An incident as a child has plagued her life - to speak causes pain and death to others. Her stepfather uses and controls her. Her mother’s greed allows it. Great read!.

Kelly is a insta buy author so when I was approved I devoured this so fast. Edgy FMC. body horror. Yearning. And found family? Say less.

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this electrifying dark romance novel! Thank you so, so much to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for allowing me to read this title!

Blurb:
Following the death of his father, Thomas Walsh had to grow up quickly, taking on odd-jobs to keep food on the table and help pay his gravely ill mother's medical bills. When he's offered a highly paid position as an interpreter for an heiress who exclusively signs, Thomas -- the hearing child of a Deaf adult -- jumps at the opportunity.

But the job is not without its challenges. Thomas is expected to accompany Vivienne wherever she goes, but from the start, she seems determined to shake him. To make matters worse, her parents keep her on an extremely short leash. She is not to go anywhere without express permission. She is not to deviate from her routine.

She is, most importantly, not to be out after dark.

A selective-mute, Vivienne Farrow hasn't said a word in years -- not since going missing in Red Rock Canyon when she was four years old. No one knows quite what happened to her out in the dark. They only know that the sound of her voice is now as deadly as a poison. Anyone who hears her speak suffers a horrible death.

Ever since that fatal family vacation, Vivienne has been desperately searching for a way to regain control of both her voice and her body. Because the face staring out of the mirror isn't hers. It's something with teeth.

Thankfully, Vivienne has a plan. She's finally found someone who claims to be able to perform a surgical exorcism. She just needs to find a way to get rid of Thomas first. But Thomas can't afford to walk away, nor is he willing to abandon the mysterious girl he's quickly falling for, no matter what dark powers threaten to swallow them both whole.

I’m really conflicted on this one. For the most I was really enjoying the writing and the plot. It was towards the end where I felt so confused on what was happening. I’m still not sure what happened in this book 😅

Wonderful book with lush prose. I loved the dynamics between the characters. I always enjoy the way Kelly Andrew writes.

Kelly Andrew does it again! I have a soft spot for the way that Andrew weaves romance and horror together, and this book was no different. There were some absolutely grotesque scenes (maybe it's just me because I'm a little bit squeamish), and the romance between Vivienne and Thomas - while it didn't do it for me the way that some of her other romances have for me - had some shining moments. As always, Andrew's flowery and descriptive writing style really draws the reader in (at least it drew me in), and I think it really added to the gothic nature of this particular story. There was a little bit of mystery, a little bit of drama, a little bit of angst (okay, maybe a lot of angst on behalf of Vivenne), and a dash of horror. Overall, a well-balanced story that I had a hard time putting down once I started reading. Definitely not my last Kelly Andrew novel.

I had seen several book folks whose opinion respect rave about “I Am Made of Death.” The premise itself is intriguing. However, the buildup into Thomas and Vivienne’s relationship is too “instalove” and never seems to earn that level of devotion — especially at that speed. Because of that, I struggled to connect with either character or become invested in their relationship.

Overall, it is fine, but it would have been better with more time devoted to developing our main characters and their connections.

Thanks to the author, NetGalley and Scholastic for the advance copy in exchange for my review.

2.75 stars. I struggled to finish this book, and while I might not be its target audience, I also think it fell short of expectations.
Thomas Walsh, weighed down by responsibilities after his father's death, takes a job as an interpreter for Vivienne Farrow, a selective-mute heiress with a voice that can kill. Once lost in Red Rock Canyon as a child, Vivienne's strict parents now control every aspect of her life, but she's haunted by a sinister presence that isn't her own. As she searches for a way to exorcise the dark entity possessing her, Thomas finds himself drawn into her mysterious world, despite the growing danger.
The first half of the book was engaging and had me invested in finding out what would happen next. But as the story progressed, it started to feel messy and disjointed, with events that lacked proper explanation or connection. This book is supposedly a standalone, yet it ties into another work by the author, leaving the reader to navigate characters and terms without sufficient background. For example, what exactly is the House of Hades, and why does the monster behave the way it does? Many things are hinted at but never fully explained.
The romance between Thomas and Vivienne fell flat for me. There was no real buildup or reasoning behind Thomas's feelings for Vivienne; their connection felt like insta-love without any substance.
In the end, this book just wasn't for me, unfortunately.


Than you to NetGalley and Scholastic Press for this e-archive in exchange for an honest review

Ebook/ Story Overall: 3/5
Narration: 3.5/5

I got through this book and did enjoy the narration to a degree, but I think it might have been a little too young adult for my liking. And obviously, I know it's a YA book, but plenty of adult readers still enjoy YA stories—this one just felt a little too kiddish at times for me. If I were in middle school or just entering high school, I think it would’ve felt a lot more entertaining.

What really took away from the story for me was the heavy use of insta-love. It made the characters’ connection feel sudden and shallow rather than earned. Finding out after the fact that this book is connected to other stories—even though it's marketed as a standalone—also would’ve been helpful to know upfront. At first, I couldn’t figure out what felt off about the book, but as I read and looked back, it was the disconnect between the characters. There’s some buildup, but it still feels like you haven’t spent enough time with them to justify caring deeply.

On a surface level, Thomas is a broke young man trying to support his family while struggling to figure out what his future holds after his father’s death. Vivienne on the other hand is a mysterious, mute teen seeking control over her life. One in which she has no autonomy, both internally or externally. Her parents are always watching her every move, just as the creature within her is, with secrets of their own. As readers we know this about them fairly early on, yet it feels like nothing really new is introduced beyond that. Their deep care for each other feels strange because the story doesn’t build enough foundation for it.

That being said, I still think the book is interesting, especially in its inclusivity. Having Vivienne be a mute character and Thomas be the child of a deaf parent is refreshing and adds a lot of grounding to their bond. Thomas understands Vivienne in a way others don't, which helps her feel seen. Especially since Vivienne’s fear is that her voice—the literal and metaphorical one—is not her own. It’s an intriguing idea, and I don’t dislike the characters at all; I just wish we got more depth and growth from them throughout the book, not just at the end.

The pacing also felt uneven. It was as if the author was an attempting to have a gradual increase in tension. But the book starts as a slow burn, continues in a slow pace, and then suddenly kicks into high gear toward the end. I could definitely see a middle school girl reading this and kicking her feet over Thomas, though. The story has the right elements for younger readers who want romance, adventure, and a touch of gothic fantasy, even if it didn’t fully hit the mark for me.

Thanks to Scholastic Press and that NetGalley for this read.

Let's talk about how I did not know I Am Made of Death contained horror elements. Yes. The title should have told my brain something. I. Am. Not. A. Fan. Of. Horror. So why the heck was I so glued to this book????

On Kelly Andrew's social media, she calls I Am Made of Death a “bubblegum horror”. Meaning it has sticky-sweet vibes without the darker tones. There's not necessarily blood and gore, but there is death, real-looking ghost apparitions, and mirror reflections that aren’t exactly accurate.

Told from multiple points of view, I Am Made of Death is the story of eighteen-year-old Vivienne Farrow and her unlikely hero, eighteen-year-old Thomas Walsh. At the age of four, Vivienne was on a trip with her family when she got lost and ended up missing for three days. No one knows what happened to her, just that she now doesn’t speak. While Vivienne can hear people just fine, she prefers to use sign language to respond when spoken to, as her voice leads to excruciating pain and death. Her stepfather, Philip, has very strict rules for Vivienne. She is to be accompanied at all times when she leaves the house, she isn’t to be out after dark, and not doing what he tells her to do isn’t an option.

Philip hires Thomas to be Vivienne’s summer interpreter and his pseudo-spy. Not that Thomas plans on spying for Philip. After a rocky start, Vivienne and Thomas become reluctant friends, while their attraction grows. Thomas doesn’t trust some of Vivienne’s friends. At the same time, he starts to notice strange things about Vivienne and the Farrow household.

Things come to a head when Thomas connects with his past after he is attacked, and Vivienne is kidnapped. He learns Vivienne is planning on undergoing a never-before-done surgical exorcism to finally rid herself of the demon who’s been a part of her since that faithful family trip all those years ago. However, there are those who do not want Vivienne to succeed and have other deadly plans for her.

I LOVED everything about I Am Made of Death. Vivienne is, in my opinion, a morally gray character. She typically only associates with people she can bend to her will. Those in her orbit are either people she's paying or people she's blackmailing to get what she wants. Unfortunately, she's this way because of her parents. Thomas is straight-laced and always tries to do what's right. Well, now he does. He isn't afraid to go toe to toe with someone and get his hands dirty. He says what he means, and he means what he says. I loved them both. The plot was phenomenal. There were a lot of moving pieces, but they all came together to make an amazing story. There were several twists and turns that were a little shocking and left me wondering how I missed some details, because I definitely missed details.

Kelly’s three books, The Whispering Dark, Your Blood, My Bones, and I Am Made of Death, are all interconnected but standalone reads. This is good because if you have read The Whispering Dark, you will see some familiar faces. And if you haven’t, you’re going to want to go and read the book. I definitely do.

~ Favorite Quote ~

“I’ll always come for you.”

**Received a copy of the book from the publisher and voluntarily reviewed it. Personally purchased the hardcover edition of the book.**

Kelly Andrew has done it again. I don’t think I’ll ever not like a book written by Andrew. I Am Made of Death was perfect. There was not one thing that I didn’t enjoy. The plot was well executed, the characters well developed and the romance… wow.

I became a fanof Kelly’s after reading Your Blood, My Bones. This book has just locked in my love for her stories. I loved the characters (and the characters who make an appearance from her other books!) and how they were both strong independently, but they were also strong together and watching that play out had me full of feelings and emotions. I loved the medical gore aspect, without it being over the top nasty, it had just the right amount to be a horror. I loved how the lore of the demon connected all of her books. She is a mastermind and I will immediately be reading any book she puts out in the future.

Kelly Andrews is quickly becoming an auto buy author for me! I absolutely loved every part of I Am Made of Death. The characters were fleshed out and well rounded, each with their own hang ups and scars, the plot and pacing were both really well done and I hung on to every single word! I'm normally not a fan of relationships that move quickly but with the two MCs, it felt natural and well thought out! Overall, I really loved this one and the author's note at the end hit me right in the gut. I'd give I Am Made of Death 6 stars if I could!

This book delivered such a great balance of intrigue, intensity, and wistfulness in a delightfully-pretty package. I have never really delved into the realm of 'Bubblegum Horror,' and this was such a neat and unique entry point for me. It has the fear-factor of a psychological thriller, yet it delivers a softness and sweetness in the romance that offsets it very well.

Thank you to Scholastic and NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC!

I Am Made of the Death is a spooky bodyguard romance with all of the things that have made Andrew's books popular. The inclusion of CODA's and ASL was really lovely while the voices and body horror elements were just terrifying enough without overtaking the entire book. Fans of Andrew's other books will adore this follow up and the easter egg teasers to previous books.

I Am Made of Death is a young adult paranormal fantasy about a college dropout hired to translate ASL for a wealthy heiress only to discover she’s hiding a horrible secret.

Thomas Walsh is forced to leave college to support his chronically ill mother and teenage sister, but odd jobs aren’t enough to stop the flood of overdue notices. His ability to speak sign language attracts the attention of a wealthy lawyer whose rebellious daughter, Vivienne, is nonspeaking and in need of both a translator and a handler. Slowly, Thomas uncovers the truth: beneath her ballerina-perfect image lurks a darkness that has haunted her since she was four years old. As he’s drawn deeper into her world, it becomes harder for Vivienne to keep him from seeing who she really is.

I Am Made of Death is a gripping and wildly romantic novel about a girl willing to go to incredible lengths to stop the demon destroying her life. I loved everything about this book: the eerie vibes, Vivienne’s pair of Dobermans, the banter between side characters, and the solid strength of Thomas and how he showed up for Vivienne again and again. Kelly Andrew’s writing is atmospheric, and her dialogue is clever and witty. She also includes characters from her debut novel, which adds a fun sense of familiarity. Kelly Andrew is quickly becoming an auto-buy author for me.

Recent and reluctant college drop-out Thomas Walsh is afraid that the rest of his life will just be taking odd jobs and scraping by just to make ends meet. Since the death of his father, he's been the one looking out for his chronically ill and Deaf mother and his younger sister. So when he gets a job offer from a wealthy family to serve as the interpreter and somewhat handler of Vivienne Farrow, a selective mute and girl with a lot of secrets, he can't say no. He gets drawn into Viv's dark and mysterious world, and moreover, into Viv herself. Viv is hiding demons of her own: when she was only four, she was lost in the desert for two days, and when she came back out, she wasn't alone anymore. Her reflection, her voice, aren't her own anymore, and in fact, can kill. Thankfully, she's found a man willing to perform a surgical exorcism, to cut this evil out of her physically. However, there are worse things out there, and as Thomas and Viv develop a relationship, things only grow more complicated.
What a stellar gothic/horror romance. The tension. The messy characters. I love how sharp they both are, just brutal edges and barbs. The magic (?) was interesting, and the dramatic developments were fantastic. This story was one I hurried through, to try and see what new bends would come. Also, if that's not enough to convince you, there's also good dogs who survive the book happily.

All the books I've been reading lately seem to have an unfortunate theme: they leave me utterly confused. I Am Made of Death was no different. Don't get me wrong. The atmosphere was exceptionally well done and there was a creepiness that permeated the whole book. I enjoyed that aspect of the story and found the author's writing very easy to read. The plot was gripping, and I didn't want to stop once I started reading.

However.

What was actually going on here? This is a genuine question because I have no idea. It really felt like a bunch of ideas were just thrown together. Significant bits and pieces of information would come out of nowhere and smack me across the face, angry that I hadn't known about them the whole time. More than half of the backstory doesn't come until after the book's halfway point. By then, I was invested, but I wish a lot of that information had come sooner, as it would have made many plot points make way more sense.

The characters were decent. Again, if the backstory had come sooner, I think they would have been more interesting, but because we don't know anything for a significant period of time, it's hard to relate to them. They were bland, for lack of a better word. Also, where did all of those random characters come from? Thomas's friends had absolutely no context, and his background was even more confusing than Vivienne's, and she carried around a creepy monster thing inside her. It didn't make any sense. Also, the romance felt ... weird? I don't know if that's the right word, but it was very out of the blue. Not that I didn't see it coming, of course, but it felt like there was no actual development, and then they loved each other. It was very quick.

In all, I Am Made of Death was confusing. It was very atmospheric and still a decent read, but confusing nonetheless. If you can look past that, however, I think you will really enjoy this book.

I received an advanced copy of I Am Made of Death from Netgalley and the publisher and am leaving this review voluntarily.