A sequel that rarely shines as much as its predecessor, sadly. The book doesn't really pick up until over 60% in. I was hoping to find more had built on itself but mostly it's a lot of spinning wheels followed by an abrupt ending.

A fitting end to this duology, this sequel takes a lot of the themes and character development from the first book book and expands on it. I appreciated the move away from quite so much ballet and deeper exploration of the situation with the eldritch power, as well as Laure’s growth as a character.

Woah! This was a really great story.
An engaging and thought-provoking YA horror. This book had me from the beginning. I was hooked and kept turning the pages.

4/5 stars

“I made the devil fade away. And this dark is mine.”

With terrifying body horror and captivating prose, I Am The Dark was the perfect end to Laure’s journey.

Laure, more or less, is crashing out after the events in I Feed Her To The Beast and is coping with the aftermath in destructive ways. In Dark, we’re not only delving deeper into the internal struggle with her monstrous side and humanity, but how she’s grieving the loss of almost everything she’s ever loved — including herself.

Laure’s arc has such a gratifying conclusion and shows that Shea is a master in writing character growth. I was frustrated with Laure, yes, but I was always rooting for her, even in her villain era. I also appreciated that we got additional lore, as well as expanded on the other characters, their interpersonal relationships, and how Acheron affected their lives.

Dark also didn’t skimp on the graphic imagery and twists. I love body horror and I cringed at certain parts (which is a good thing in my book!) and was consistently kept on my toes until the last page.

I genuinely couldn’t have asked for a more satisfying ending to this duology. I can’t wait to see what Shea has for us in 2025.

I Am the Dark That Answers When You call is a sequel to I Feed Her to the Beast. I Am the Dark... dives deeper into a world of chaos, danger, and twisted emotions. I haven't read I Feed Her to the Beast but I'll definitely be picking it up to learn more about what makes Laure tick.

Thanks NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC!

This book kicks even more ass than I Feed Her to the Beast, and I wasn’t sure that was possible. I loved every second of it.

I Am The Dark That Answers When You Call follows Laure (and Acheron) as it becomes clear that something is wrong with Elysium, and it’s bleeding into the streets of Paris. I love the rage, violence, and monsters that fill this series. Laure’s anger is tangible and raw, as she faces trial after trial. Again, Andor is one of my favorite characters. I love how Jamison Shea can write characters that balance both sharp and soft edges. Through describing horrifying images, they write it so reverently that you can’t help but see the beauty in it.

This is a very worthy, stunning sequel to "I Feed Her to the Beast, and the Beast Is Me." It's a great duology, full of rage and beauty, and I can't wait til everyone can read the completed series!

I wish this book had come out before Halloween! It would’ve been a great recommendation for kids looking for something spooky. I did miss the heavy involvement of ballet that was in the first book of this series; the development of the horror elements’ lore was spectacular, though.

Not feeling this as much as the first book. And honestly that could have been a standalone with a sufficient enough ending.
2 months after the incident at the Palais Garnier, Laure is spinning out of control. She's drinking and partying and basically just being one with Acheron. Until Laure discovers that Elysium is dying and Acheron and Lethe's influence starts spilling out onto the streets of Paris. Who better to save the day than the monster they made?

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Co. for this e-arc.*

I really enjoyed how Shea extended the influence of Elysium in this second book and complicates the world Laure lives in unawares. As Acheron and Lethe's discipline continue to wreck havoc, Laure becomes aware of her legacy and the afterlives of her career. A great second installment that left me craving more.

I enjoyed the first book a lot, the second not as much. There wasn't anything necessarily wrong with "I Am the Dark That Answers When You Call", the writing style was still solid, the ideas engaging, however, it wasn't until 40% in that anything really happened. Certain events that occurred in the first 2 chapters were almost completely forgotten and took me off guard when it finally popped up. . . 70% in. For a book that boasts about dark subjects and a never before MC, this book was mildly disappointing. I did push through and I wouldn't say it was necessarily worth it, but I would keep reading if you can.

The female rage in this series is so absolutely compelling set against the backdrop of high stakes ballet and I will be reading any other books the author puts out

I love when I sequel truly picks up where it left off seamlessly and this one does exactly that. The world building is very strong and the pacing while went up and down worked because it gave the reader more time to appreciate the characters and the plot. This is definitely the perfect young adult horror/fantasy book.

I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it.

Having just finished reading I Feed Her to the Beast, I was excited to read this ARC of I Am The Dark that Answers When You Call by Jamison Shea. Sometimes it takes a sequel a few chapters to pick up where the first book left off. This is not the case for I Am the Dark. The continuation of the previous storyline, despite time passing, is fairly seamless. This story follows Laure, returned from the dead in the new form after the conclusion of I Feed Her to the Beast. She is living a new life while still trying to hold on to elements of her old. Soon she realizes that Elysium is dying and there is trouble with other acolytes forcing her to reckon with herself, who she is, and what she wants. The plot and character building are the same as in the first book, fairly steady paced. There is enough action and character conflicts to sustain the plot. The world building remains fairly strong although sometimes the pacing felt a bit off about halfway through. That being said, it is a worth sequel and a solid horror book for teens. Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for the ARC.