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I Feed Her to the Beast and the Beast Is Me
I Feed Her to the Beast and the Beast Is Me | Jamison Shea
16 posts | 10 read | 1 reading | 3 to read
There will be blood. Ace of Spades meets House of Hollow in this villain origin story. Laure Mesny is a perfectionist with an axe to grind. Despite being constantly overlooked in the elite and cutthroat world of the Parisian ballet, she will do anything to prove that a Black girl can take center stage. To level the playing field, Laure ventures deep into the depths of the Catacombs and strikes a deal with a pulsating river of blood. The primordial power Laure gains promises influence and adoration, everything shes dreamed of and worked toward. With retribution on her mind, she surpasses her bitter and privileged peers, leaving broken bodies behind her on her climb to stardom. But even as undeniable as she is, Laure is not the only monster around. And her vicious desires make her a perfect target for slaughter. As she descends into madness and the mystifying underworld beneath her, she is faced with the ultimate choice: continue to break herself for scraps of validation or succumb to the darkness that wants her exactly as she ismonstrous heart and all. That is, if the god-killer doesnt catch her first. From debut author Jamison Shea comes I Feed Her to the Beast and the Beast Is Me, a slow-burn horror that lifts a veil on the institutions that profit on exclusion and the toll of giving everything to a world that will never love you back.
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kdowli01

This was so dark. Every character is horrible, the only difference between them is that some know it and some don't. As a horror lover, I really liked how atmospheric it was. I think I would have liked to see a bit more character development in Laure before she makes her deal. That made it hard to root for her, or to even believe she deserved the success she was taking. But other than that, this was a fun horror novel!

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Eggbeater
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Pickpick

This was a good YA horror story that centers around racism and white privilege in the cutthroat world of a young ballerina who makes a deal with a river of blood for some recognition and power. It was a little bogged down in places, but I really enjoyed it overall. It makes me relieved I never tried to take ballet.

34 likes1 stack add
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xicanti
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Tiger Malt + YA horror. I dunno how I feel about the book. It‘s got a compelling premise and it does interesting things with the notion of the unlikeable protagonist, but there‘s a lot of unnecessary repetition and the relationships don‘t quite ring true to me. It reminds me of early Libba Bray in that respect. Intellectually, the connections should work, but in practice I want a bit more depth than Shea has put on the page.

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coffees
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Mehso-so

Tbh, idk how to feel about this book. I didn't realize this would be a book centered on ballet, a topic I really don't like and this book touches on the reasons I don't. The MC was also ok, a very angry black girl who is tired of being ignored and belittled by her white counterparts and white society in general. Still, I was kind of meh about it. I think bc nobody in the book was very likeable I just didn't care abt their fates lol

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coffees
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Considering how fast I was finishing books a few days ago, I can't believe I'm not going this slow 😂 that's fine tho, currently reading both the tagged title and 1000 steps. I should have also already finished batcat since it's short but I keep putting it off. Maybe I'll finish all three by Sunday! There was a snowstorm so I don't plan to go out lol (it's semi-cleared up, but Wed was Bad) #netgalleybacklog

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mom_of_4
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Going to try this one out. Still got a headache. Just took some meds.

dabbe Hope you feel better soon. 💜🩶💜 10mo
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I hope you feel better soon ❤️‍🩹 10mo
32 likes2 comments
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BookBelle84
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Book Advent Day 11!

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lurkykitty
Pickpick

This unique debut horror novel is creepy, unsettling and deliciously dark. The story explores themes of racism, privilege, nepotism, entitlement and power. The Paris setting was atmospheric and vivid, alternating between the beautiful Palais Garnier and the gloomy depths of the Paris catacombs.
The writing skillfully weaves fantasy, horror and real-world elements creating a compelling, haunting, tense and exciting story. I could not stop reading.

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TheMushroomForest
Pickpick

Wow. I Feed Her to the Beast is one exhilarating ride, I honestly couldn't put it down. Laure Mesny is the flawed MC I have been dying to meet for a long time. I had high expectations for this book when I picked it up, and it met so many of them head on.
If you are looking for an unapologetic and fierce main character, then this book is for you.

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MidnightBookGirl
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Enjoying my Cinnamon Crunch Latte which is my #FavoriteFallDrink(although I will also be enjoying the seasonal Spooky Margarita from El Cap this weekend). #AutumnPlease @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs #Scarathlon @StayCurious @Clwojick #SkeletonCrew @Emilymdxn

Bookwormjillk Love those! You have inspired my coffee break! 13mo
Eggs The combo of book cover and cloth underneath is impressive 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 13mo
Emilymdxn Sounds like a fantastically autumnal drink! 13mo
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Sounds delicious 😋 13mo
Clwojick Stunning cover! 13mo
44 likes5 comments
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Read_By_Red
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Pickpick

This is a wonderfully twisted novel. There were some slow moments, but I still consumed this work, wanting to know what would happen next as quickly as I could. Some themes that are extremely relevant to today are explored within the pages, making this more than just a horror. The symbolism was quite powerful as well. I enjoyed the characters; they are diverse and well developed/rounded. I do wish I was more surprised with the ending.

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OutsmartYourShelf
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Pickpick

Laure Mesny has wanted to reach the top in the world of classical ballet & has worked hard & sacrificed so much, but Laure is Black & it seems no matter how hard she works, it will never be enough. Instead she watches her best friend receive unwarranted preferential treatment because of who her mother is, so when the opportunity arises for Laure to receive the power to control those around her & gain an advantage, she takes it. (Continued)

OutsmartYourShelf It involves blood sacrifice to Acheron, the ancient river of Hades, which presents as a river of blood flowing in the Paris Catacombs. At first things seem to improve, but there are several strange deaths, & Laure struggles to contain the darkness within which is rising to the surface.

For the first half of this book it was a solid 5 star read. I was entranced by the descriptive prose of the ballet scenes & the author conveyed so well
1y
OutsmartYourShelf Laure struggling to succeed in a world which is determined to reject you. The author also neatly reminds the reader of all the microaggressions involved in racism, such as the complimentary cosmetics always been several shades too light. Laure is a great MC, she is tough, but you want her to succeed against the odds, to make up for having to pickpocket to afford the leotards & tights needed, & for having to put up with the snide comments 1y
OutsmartYourShelf & looks from other less talented dancers. The second half of the book didn't quite live up to the first half for me though. The first half worked so well as the author kept a balance between the real world & the Elysian underworld in the Catacombs. This balance tipped too far in the fantasy direction in the second half (perhaps illustrating Laure's loosing control at times) but it became a little too flowery & overly descriptive at times & 1y
See All 6 Comments
OutsmartYourShelf & the ending took too to conclude. It was like a Hollywood fight scene where the baddie keeps on getting up way after they should have died. Overall, the book was a really good read though & I enjoyed it although I think the horror side could have been played up a little more. 4🌟

TWs: blood, murder, death.

My thanks to #NetGalley & publishers, Bonnier Books UK/Hot Key Books, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

Read 21st -24th Aug 2023
(edited) 1y
DieAReader 🥳🥳🥳 1y
28 likes6 comments
review
Lizzie69
Pickpick

Laure Mesne seems to have it all, a talent for dance and a place at the Paris Opera Garnier
Bit the truth is far different, she is a black girl from the wrong side of the tracks with a tough background while growing up.
She is set amongst the privileged elite of the dance school, moneyed titled white girls.
No matter how hard she tries she doesn't seem to get a chance
In frustration she strikes a bargain with an evil, twisted supernatural being.

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peta86
Pickpick

Laure Mesne is one determined girl, she is ambitious and determined to succeed in the tough world of the Paris ballet.
But she is battling coming from a poor background and also a talented black girl up against the privelaged white girls she experiences prejudice and scorn.
It doesn't matter how good she is it doesn't get a chance.
Out of seeing the life she wants slipping away from her she cuts a desk with a primordial being that is pure evil.

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lazydaizee

A story set in Paris where Ballet meets Horror. A young ballerina goes to unbelievable lengths to get the success that she feels she deserves.
#ballet
#horror
#newbooks
#fiction
#paris