Article contributed by Amerie Diaz
In Jamison Shea’s debut novel I Feed Her to the Beast and the Beast Is Me, readers are transported to the competitive and cutthroat world of Parisian ballet.
The story follows Laure Mesney, an aspiring Black ballerina who dreams of stardom. Despite working twice as hard as the other dancers, Laure’s talent remains unseen. Laure will do anything for recognition, so when the opportunity arises, she seeks out a magical river of blood known as Acheron that grants its users anything their heart desires. With her newfound power, Laure can manipulate others and get them to do anything she wants. As a result, she becomes the centre of attention and receives offers for top ballerina roles that she wouldn’t have otherwise received. However, as she gains more control over others, she must confront the question: how far is she willing to go for fame?
What makes this book stand out is its compelling commentary on power, privilege, and fame—highlighting how these factors can lead to the corruption of both individuals and institutions. The novel also exposes the toxic environment that exists in the world of ballet, where race and class play a significant role in determining a dancer’s success.
The most intriguing aspect of the book is the main character, Laure. She is a beautifully written character full of rage who teeters on the edge between good and evil. While Laure is not the most likable or perfect character, her experiences and struggles feel raw, which readers will surely appreciate and relate to. Laure’s character development is intriguing and adds complexity to her character, plus it’s satisfying to watch her descend into darkness and embrace her monstrous side.
The novel also excels in its writing. The author has a beautiful way of crafting sentences that transport readers into the story as the prose is vivid and richly detailed, which adds to the overall enjoyment of the book. The plot is highly entertaining and intense and stands out from other young adult novels.
The only major shortcoming of this novel is that the side characters pale in comparison to Laure. Rather than feeling like realistic people, they feel underdeveloped and lacking in depth. However, the writing, unique plot, and themes make up for this.
I Feed Her to the Beast and the Beast Is Me is a deliciously dark story that will leave readers pondering the limits of their own desires. It is difficult to compare this debut to anything else I’ve read before, but fans of morally grey characters and young adult horror/thriller are certainly in for a treat.
I Feed Her to the Beast and the Beast Is Me is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of August 29th 2023.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
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 she’s 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 continue to break herself for scraps of validation or succumb to the darkness that wants her exactly as she is—monstrous heart and all. That is, if the god-killer doesn’t 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.
