I struggled HARD with this book. I thought the horror elements were really intriguing and enjoyed the take on exorcism. However, I felt emotionally distant from the horror, as in I wasn't scared. Shouldn't I be scared? Shouldn't I feel haunted? Instead my enjoyment came from a literary analysis standpoint and that was a bummer.

The romance was also a bit difficult for me to buy into.

This story hooked me from the very beginning. Chilling, enthralling, and heartfelt. Bubblegum horror is now a staple genre for me! The representation of ASL and selective mutism was incredibly well done and one of my favorite aspects of the story. Thomas and Vivienne are incredibly compelling main characters. Their arcs flourish as their relationship does, crafting a delicious tension alongside the inevitable horror they are barreling towards. I hope to see more of this world, which I now know is related to Andrew’s other novels. The prose is also incredibly evocative, a feature that only made me fall more in love with this story. Thank you to Scholastic and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my honest feedback.

I am made of death has somehow dethroned Whispering Dark in my Kelly Andrew loving heart. It’s both creepy and raw while being written with such beautiful prose you tend to forget your knees deep in a horror novel. Our FMC is the witty smart girl with a wealth of talent all of us who grew up in dance classes wished we were…and our MMC? Just as swoon worthy as all of Kelly’s love interests. I would prefer all of my in real life love interests were written by Kelly *sigh*
Thank you so much to Kelly and Netgalley for this early reader. I absolutely adored this book and I know any one looking for romance in their horror(who isn’t honestly) will too.

I wanted to love this, but I think that the prose and I just didn't mesh. I was really looking for more straightforward language, but the prose did pull me out of the story a little bit. I can appreciate, though, that the horror elements did remain pretty firmly in the foreground of the story, and though it was a bit instalovey, the romance wasn't terrible. I think the pacing, for me, was just a little too slow. It could have been that I was just really not vibing with the prose, which made it a bit of a slog for me, but yeah it just took me forever to get through it.

3.5 stars

I was intrigued at the start, and lost a little interest along the way. I wanted a bit more dance and horror. It started to feel a touch too dramatic prose for what was going down. It does end with some unanswered questions. The vibes seemed Flatliners mixed with a monster Rumplestiltskin fairytale. If that is something that interests you, I would check it out.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for a copy to form opinions from.

4.5/5
I love Kelly Andrew's paranormal horror. I was surprised by how much this is a mesh up from her first book The Whispering Dark. It reads more as an interconnecting stand alone than just a standalone with plots pulling from the original book as well as characters.
I do love the sassiness of Vivienne and the protectiveness of Thomas. This is a great body guard style romance (even though he's the interpreter). The representation of ASL users is prominent in the store which I absolutely love as well. The chaotic style of Thomas with the manipulative Vivienne is amazing. I absolutely loved this story I just wish there was more about the demons in this book because I don't remember much from her first book since I read it when it came out. Amazing as always and she's becoming an instant buy author for me.
Thank you NetGalley and Scholastic Press for the opportunity to read this book!

Hello I am back again screaming, crying, throwing up over a Kelly Andrew book! This book makes me feel like I’m my own demonic reflection in the mirror! In the best way possible!

Come for the bubblegum horror and immaculate vibes. Stay for the story about female rage, strangling patriarchal societal and familial structures, questions of who exactly the true monsters are and the I Will Always Come For You kind of romance.

When Vivienne Farrow (socialite) (ballerina) (possessed) has Thomas Walsh foisted on her by her controlling stepfather to be her translator (bodyguard) (babysitter) (parental spy), she is resolved to do everything she can to get him to quit. Thomas on the other hand, is in dire need of the paycheck and the ensuing war of wills is incredible. Vivienne is a ruthless girl, desperate to rid herself of what lurks inside her. Thomas is at loose ends, trying to support is family and find his place.

I loved Vivienne’s ruthlessness. Thomas’s steadfastness. The call backs and crossovers and old friends and found family. I loved every minute of this book even as I screamed into my pillow.

I recommend having read The Whispering Dark and Your Blood, My Bones before diving into I Am Made of Death - both because they’re excellent and you should just read them and also For Reasons.

Thank you to NetGalley and Scholastic Press for this e-arc!

I Am Made of Death by Kelly Andrew
🎀💋🩰🪞🩸

I Am Made of Death is SUCH an original book with an intriguing haunting storyline that’s completely its own. I adored the contrast of dark horror elements with the sunny picturesque setting.
I loved @kayaydrew unique portrayal of possession and how the story slowly reveals fragments of the many secrets until everything is unearthed at the end. it’s such an immersive experience from the first page to the last.
Andrew’s use of sign language by formatting the text and describing the hand motions of the signs made reading the dialogue even more interesting and easy to visualize.
also THE YEARNING. perfection. there’s just something about romantic horror that I can’t help but eat, sleep, and breathe for. a ballerina heiress who pushes everyone away and her new interpreter who is the only one who truly SEES her?! yes please!
Thomas is steadfast and determined and would do ✨anything✨ for those he loves…and Vivienne would do ✨anything✨ to carve out the evil that has made a home of her since childhood.
I’ve heard that Kelly Andrew’s books are standalones but also interconnected if you read them all. I can’t wait to dive into her other works!

my rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ . 5

thank you @netgalley and @scholastic press for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I had fun reading this one! It is a YA Bubblegum Horror. It was deliciously creepy and suspenseful while also being sweet and romantic. Our FMC, Vivienne, is delightfully chaotic. In some ways, she is dark and monstrous but she is also frilly and feminine. She is a tortured soul who is trapped in a terrible situation. After having a traumatic experience as a child, Vivienne no longer speaks. When she does, people die. Our MMC, Thomas, is hired as her interpreter. He is protective, kind, and devoted. Despite Vivienne’s efforts to push him away and get him to quit, Thomas is steadfastly in Vivienne’s corner and gives her the unconditional love and understanding that she’s never really received from others. They were cute, I liked them together! The author said she wrote this book to have Christian and Satine vibes and I feel like she delivered on that with this couple! (Which I definitely appreciated because Moulin Rouge has been one of my favorite movies since I was probably too young to be watching it lol!). This book would make a great movie, I think! 😍

This was my first book by this author and I am definitely interested in checking out her other books after this one! I will say that I really wish I had read her other books, or at least The Whispering Dark, before this one. I hadn’t realized that it was a companion novel to that one! 🙈 I wish that had been more clearly advertised. The characters from that book do show up in this one and play an important role. Also, around 80% in, there is a lot going on with the supernatural elements and I feel like I probably would’ve followed along a little easier if I had the background of the lore/world-building from the last book. You can absolutely read this as a standalone, but I highly recommend that you read The Whispering Dark first to have the best experience. Just a heads up to others considering reading this one! 🫶

Thank you to Kelly Andrew, NetGalley, and Scholastic for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I Am Made of Death is Kelly Andrew’s third inter-connected standalone and it is bubblegum horror at its finest. As usual, Andrew’s lush prose evokes the perfect tone for a story full of dark twists and turns. If you have never read Kelly Andrew’s books, I highly recommend reading The Whispering Dark before picking up I Am Made of Death.
Every time I pick up a book by Kelly Andrew I am immediately sucked into the story. Her characters are always multi-layered and full of secrets you’ll be desperate to uncover. Not to mention, her romances are always beautifully vulnerable.
In this installment, we follow two characters who have a lot of stress and pressure on their shoulders. Thomas needs to find a well-paying job to help pay his mom’s medical bills and Vivienne needs to find someone who can perform an exorcism. You see, when Vivienne was four years old she went missing in Red Rock Canyon and she hasn’t spoken since because her voice is as lethal as poison. After all these years, Vivienne finally has found someone who can perform a surgical exorcism and hopefully save her from the face she sees staring at her in the mirror. Only Thomas is paid to go with Vivienne everywhere which throws a wrench in her plans. Oh well, that just means Vivienne will need to get rid of him. But will she be able to do that before she loses her heart to him?
Kelly Andrew has cemented herself as an auto-buy author for me. Her stories are a perfect blend of horror, fantasy, mystery, and romance. There’s never a dull moment and her characters always steal my heart. The stories always stick with me long after the last page. If you’re looking for an author who will captivate you with atmospheric writing, complex characters, and dark mysteries, Kelly Andrew is perfect for you.

Kelly Andrew’s is fantastic at world building and creating such an eerie atmosphere. I would consider this horror just because of how creepy it is. This started SLOW, but it really sets the scene for what’s to come. There’s no spice, but there romance.

I so desperately wish horromance books like this existed when I was in highschool, because my macabre-loving soul YEARNED for it.

Kelly Andrew is uniquely capable of endearing her readers to her couples while also keeping the horror elements at the forefront of the story. And paired with how atmospheric the writing was?? C’est magnifique!

Also—if you want to dive into horror, but are a bit nervous of deciding where to start, I think this is a great jumping off point. The horror elements were manageable while still being insidious, and the romance + bubblegum horror vibes could definitely help bridge the gap as you jump into the genre!

This was my first Kelly Andrew title and I enjoyed it... I liked that she didn't hold back on the horror aspect of the story and while the main characters felt a bit insta -loveish I didn't totally mind it.

Overall an intriguing read that had me turning pages!

Thanks for the opportunity to read this one early!

I'm not a big horror fan, but I will read anything Kelly Andrew writes. This made me wish it was fall with all its atmospheric vibes and spookiness. Love the modern and unique take on being possessed. I can see our students enjoying the Princess/Sunshine pairing, bodyguard romance, and found family. A definite addition to our collection.

Thank you to Netgalley and Scholastic for the advanced copy of this book. I am a big fan of this one! I loved the storyline, characters, and atmosphere. I was a little confused at times with characters, but overall it was a very enjoyable read.

kelly andrew has once again created a story that pulls you in from the beginning and keeps you turning the page. the atmosphere and descriptions were so lush and vivid; she really paints a picture with her words. the premise of i am made of death was so interesting and executed wonderfully. there was such detail in everything; i'm already looking forward to rereading and picking up on all the intricacies throughout the story. some aspects of this gave me similar vibes to ninth house, which i loved. another super solid book from kelly andrew and i definitely recommend it if you've enjoyed her previous works

4.5 stars. Kelly Andrew does it again. Another beautifully poignant story. I devoured this book in two days. The characters were, once again, relatable and dynamic. I really enjoyed characters from the previous two standalones (The Whispering Dark and Your Blood, My Bones) making an appearance. The plot twists were great! The romance was cute, yet juvenile, which is appropriate because they’re teenagers.

I do think that someone who has not read The Whispering Dark would be really confused if this was their first Kelly Andrew book. That being said, I think anyone wanting to read this at least needs to start with The Whispering Dark.

Thank you Scholastic and NetGalley for the eARC.

The premise of this book was very interesting. I feel like the characters themselves were unique and the author does an incredible job with imagery. However, to me, it really dragged. By the 50% point, I felt like I'd been reading for way longer than 180 pages had said I'd been reading. I'd grown bored with the story and was no longer excited to unearth the mystery and the romance, but instead ready to be finished. In regards to Vivian's feelings for Thomas and Thomas' for Vivian, I felt 'told' rather than 'shown.'

All in all, it was a great way to pass time, but not a story that will stick with me unfortunately.

Have not posted links on social media or Goodreads yet in effort to ensure the author's release is as successful as possible.

I Am Made of Death is the third book in Kelly Andrew’s dark academia/cottagegore/bubblegum horror universe and I can’t get enough of it. Despite not being able to read this book at night, or pass by mirrors without being suspicious of what I’d see reflected, Kelly weaves eldritch mysteries with resentful bodyguard romance in the most addicting way. I couldn’t put this book down (except after the sunset)!

Vivienne and Thomas are from two different worlds, they are such an unlikely pairing, and yet they both share a connection to the supernatural in such a way that it seemed fated they’d come together. Even their communication complements each other: two hearing ASL signers with Thomas speaking and Vivienne mute, a beautiful balance of circumstance and need. Thomas is the built-like-a-brick-wall type and Vivienne is the prima ballerina archetype, and yet it is Thomas who is sentimental and warm and Vivienne who feels hollow and only allows her sharp angles to show. Everything about them would seem a mismatch, but it’s in the way that two puzzle pieces don’t match, and yet need each other to be complete.

The cameos of some of my favorite characters from Kelly’s other books were so exciting, especially that of a particular winged beast, and the connection made between Vivienne and the others makes me want a spin-off so badly—maybe a cozy little novela of found family, because of all of Kelly’s characters, Vivienne deserves it.

This book was five gore-dripping hear–stars!

If I could have had this book 10 years ago, this would have been one of the books that started me into my reading obsession!