Laure Mesny dreams of earning a coveted spot as an apprentice at the Paris Ballet Company. Night and day, she practices, until, one night, she accidently rolls her ankle and fears she might be out at least a season to recover. However, a new hope comes along. A prima ballerina lures her into the Paris Catacombs with the promise that she can have anything her heart desires … if only she exchanges her blood with the primordial entity below.
Laure strikes a deal with them, but, as she finds herself achieving her wildest dreams, she begins to question the true cost of her fame.I Feed Her to the Beast and the Beast Is Me by Jamison Shea transports readers into the cutthroat world of ballet in a glittering dark tale of ambition and Faustian bargains.
The story spotlights the literal blood, sweat, and tears that goes into ballet training as well as the additional obstacles and racism that black ballerinas face in the industry. In the best possible way, it also delivers bucketloads of blood and fellow Fannibals might recognize a certain Swiggity Swag the Nightmare Stag’s influence of the book’s grotesque imagery.
However, my largest issue is its pacing and lack of flow. The scene hopping between chapters feels choppy at times and there are time jumps that completely skip over pivotal opportunities for character development.
I’m hoping though that since this is a debut novel and the first in a duology that Shea will continue to grow as an author.
Overall, I Feed Her to the Beast and the Beast Is Me paints a cutting dance thriller that’s sure to satisfy fans of Suspiria or Black Swan and I’m excited to see what this author comes out with next.
Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Book Details:
Publication Date : August 29, 2023
Publisher : Henry Holt and Co.
ISBN: 1250909562
Pages : 352
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