Book Review: I Feed Her To The Beast And The Beast Is Me by Jamison Shea

‘I Feed Her To The Beast And The Beast Is Me’ by Jamison Shea was released in 2023. It was a heartbreaking, powerful story about institutionalised racism, ambition and determination. The story follows seventeen-year-old Laure, a ballerina in Paris, the only black ballerina in the company, constantly working herself beyond her limits to try and achieve her dreams.

This book was recommended to me as being an eldrich horror take on a toxic working environment, meets budding sexuality, and the overarching unease that comes from ‘Black Swan’. I was not disappointed at all.

I really enjoyed how this book navigated many complex themes such as institutionalised racism, imposter syndrome, work ethic and isolation. Laure’s relationship with her fellow ballerina’s is so polarised with the characters that she meets through her relationship with Acheron, the eldrich creature in the catacombs.

When I started reading this book, I was terrified it was going to be a love letter to unachieved dreams, and was so glad that the heartache I felt for Laure, working so hard to always fall short, despite being something I felt I could relate to, wasn’t the crux of the story. Instead it was about connection and understanding and togetherness. It hurt to watch Laure’s friendships build up and shatter. It was incredibly heartbreaking. I really enjoyed it.

One of my favourite elements of this entire book was the sheer poetry of the prose. The way that Shea explores the idea of monstrosity and sensuality and intimacy is so evocative and visceral, almost erotic, whilst still being a YA novel. I had goosebumps reading it! It has made Shea an insta-buy author forevermore.