Even as the scope keeps expanding to cosmic levels, this story feels so personal and the internal conflicts of girlhood feel more pressing than threats against our world and the one beyond.
I had loved the first book in the series already, but this one was just short of sublime. Jamison Shea is one of the most exciting voices in YA.

Strong sequel, I’m so invested in everything Jamison Shea will put out after reading the duology!
This still had the same twisty, dark vibes that the first one had.

This was a great second book in this duology. I listened to this one as an audiobook and immensely enjoyed it. The narrator was fantastic and did some amazing voice acting from different accents to different creepy voices. I love it when a narrator can add flavor to a book like was done here, and it just made the book that much more enjoyable.

This book picked up right where the first left off. I feel like if you enjoyed the first in the series, and you were like that could be creepier, then you are going to love this one so much. This one is a little gory at times so you will want to be prepared for that. Despite that, this book does explore some interesting points, and Laure doesn’t get away with anything, she has to face the consequences for her actions. I do think that because of the things that have happened with her Laure is not a likeable character at all, she’s pretty horrible but I still enjoyed reading about her.

4.25/5 Stars

This dynamic sequel picks up running where the first book left off. I was so excited to see where these characters ended up and this delivered. We get to explore the transition Laure has undergone and how she is adjusting to those changes.  This rich, atmospheric story takes a look at what the aftermath of losing your dream means, even when it's your choice to walk away from things that no longer serve you. 

I loved how the author expanded on characters from the first book and how their deals with Acheron have impacted them. Jamison Shea paints such vivid descriptions and creates such a tense atmosphere that I couldn't put this book down. The audiobook narrator did an amazing job creating that tension, it felt like you were in the story alongside Laure. 

If you read the first book and love horror with substance, I absolutely recommend you pick this up.  Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 ⭐

A very strong sequel! It still had the dark and twisted vibes from the first book, with the same characters we got to know through book 1. I really love the writing and I'm excited to see what else Jamison has up their sleeve.

great series if you enjoy dark, gory stories set in beautiful Paris.

The audiobooks for both book 1 & 2 are very good, would recommend!

Everything I wanted from the sequel! It all felt true to Laure’s character in a way that many sequels fail! I loved it. Perfect for the spooky season.

I m absolutely in love with the narration in this one. It was phenomenal. The different creepy voices and accents! You can't top this. It was so fun!
The story was good too but I was really into the narration. There is a lot going on here.

Picking up right where “I Feed Her to the Beast…” left off, this conclusion to Laure’s “becoming” and evolution story continues as Laure grapples with the power sharing space within her. With the help of her friends - and “ghosts” from her past, Laure is forced to make peace with her new normal, and work to reclaim some of her old life.

Still featuring elements of darkness, graphic violence, and fast-paced action, this sequel wraps up Laure’s intricate tale with Acheron. As she learns the limits of her power, Laure must also figure out who is truly on her side and who seeks to take from her and keep her under foot. Laure is still just as fierce and determined to get what she deserves as in the previous book in this duology. She’s still the girl you can’t help but root for - even if she decides to embrace her villain era.

Perfect for fans of the first book and those who enjoy unreliable narrators and morally grey characters!!

Thank you NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Jamison Shea for the eAudio ARC of I Am the Dark That Answers When You Call.

Normally I enjoy the dark, the mysterious, even the outright gory as a fantasists escape from the cruelties of the real world... but this one was not for me. The pacing was off, the questions posed lacked urgency, and the gore often felt without justification or purpose from a storytelling persepctive. That, however, is just this one reviewer's taste... many others have loved this work and I wouldn't rule out giving it a try. Kristolyn Lloyd does a fine job with the narration as well.

The body horror and gore do not let up in Jamison Shea's raw and brutal ending to the story that began in I Feed Her To The Beast and The Beast is Me.

Laure is transformed because of her dealings with Acheron, and despite the powers she has gained, she continues to unravel. Her mortal desires clash with those of Acheron, and she is not the only one who has become more than human.

I loved the journey that doesn't shy from the very real consequences of Laure's choices, and the ending hit every right note.

First off, many thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this book as an audio ARC! I greatly appreciate it!

To preface: I really loved I Feed Her to the Beast and the Beast Is Me. It was amazing! It came so, so close to being a five-star read!

This one, however, was nowhere near that good. Laure has lost all relatability and all her (Admittedly few) likeable traits. I get that her becoming a monster is the point, but if I don't like a character, I probably won't like a book.

The writing is still gorgeous, though, and I still love all the ballet elements and the certain someone haunting Laure is interesting, so that's good.

Three out of five stars to I Am the Dark That Answers When You Call.

DNF after Part 1

Ok, I am in awe of Jamison Shea’s ability to craft a world. This book, and the one before it, are full of lush, dark prose and descriptions that bring the story to life in ways that floor me. This book series makes you feel things, rage, mostly, as it radiates off one of the most lovably intense protagonists I’ve ever read.

I’d recommend this book to someone who had just read the first and was dying for more details about the characters, and wanted to see intimate portraits of their lives.

However, I found this book lacking the same frantic, pushing, HIGH STAKES plot of the first book. There are, as the description says, fissures, hints of questions that may come to be big problems, but the first full third of the book is just that. Laure has this power now, and I hoped to see some like, big moves to justify the sequel existing, but I just don’t know if you can really top burning down Palais Garnier. I also felt that the lack of as much dance in this book was a detriment. I missed the pressure pot of that environment.

I may pick this up again later, but overall I was just bummed after enjoying the first book so much that this one didn’t have the same punch to me. Ah well. I still recommend the first one to folks all the time and will continue to do so.

Also, the narration was excellent. No notes.

A deliciously dark ending to Laure's story. This book takes place shortly after the events in I Feed her to the Beast and picks p right away. Laure is such a fun character. In this book, she begins to spiral out of control and sets into motion events she didn't intend. The dark and monstrous atmosphere is perfect for Fall. One thing I did miss in this book was the ballet. The descriptions of ballet in the first book were both brutal and beautiful. Dance doesn't play as big a role in this book. If you are in the mood for some dark fun - this duology is perfect.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an advance listening copy of this book for review.

Thanks to netgalley and Macmillan audio for the early audiobook! I did not think it was possible to top the first book and this one exceeded my expectations! It was non stop action from beginning to end! I especially loved the revelations and interactions with Laure and her mother. By far, my favorite thing about this, was seeing Laure fully embrace "the monster" inside her and truly become her own. I also really enjoyed the narrator of this. She truly kept me captivated throughout the whole book and the way she changed her voice for each character really made it easy not to get lost.

The first book was excellent, bringing dark dealings with eldritch gods to both survive and thrive in the cutthroat world of ballet. So, I was super excited to see what Laure has been up to with her new powers as the vessel of Acheron after the destruction of the Palais Garnier. I mean after all that, it is no wonder that Laure is struggling, trying to find purpose in life as ballet is not quite as important anymore and figure out what Acheron wants with her has a vessel. I understand the rage she feels, from the lies of people tell to rationalize the tragedy of the Palais Garnier, the way her mother abandoned her, and now there are new acolytes vying for the power to rule the world. Also, you get some nice history explained (via Laure's mother) about the truth of Acheron and Lethe and Elysium. Again, I do not think Laure is the villain in this book. She cares too much about others, struggles hard to not to give into Acheron and wreak havoc, and is trying to save the world she loves (Elysium).

I love the friendships she has (and maybe a bit more) with her fellow Acheron monsters, Andor and Keturah and how they are willing to stand with her as she makes the choice of whether to let her inner beast free in order to stop the true monsters seeking the destruction and power of gods in the world of mortals. I totally loved the ending and what Laure chose to do which made her totally badass (that bathroom scene!!!!).

This was a very worthy sequel and I enjoyed it all. Jamison Shea did justice to this morally grey but still can make good choices character and it provided nice closure with a sweet ending that Laure deserved for all that she had to go through.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me a chance to listen to this audiobook and review it. The narrator did a wonderful job bringing the characters and this dark world to life!

Death, destruction, and cosmic horror is a lot for anybody to deal with. Laure Mesny is only a teenager (albeit one with incredible dark powers) and she isn't dealing well.

Laure is drifting aimlessly, struggling to cope with a life completely divorced from what she expected and haunted by grief. But things will get worse before they get better - dead bodies are turning up, and something is horribly wrong in Elysium.

Book two in this horror duology delves into relationships and emotions full force as Laure grapples with the dichotomy of her monstrous side and her ordinary life. She yearns for connection and acceptance while fighting guilt and grief, afraid to trust in love after too many betrayals. In particular Laure's anger and hurt toward the mother who abandoned her is beautifully done. Her struggle to rediscover purpose, to move forward after fighting so hard and losing so much anyway is the quiet thread underpinning the story.

In contrast, the bloody eldritch forces are the brash attention-grabbing megaphone. Dark powers in unscrupulous hands leave pain and death in their wake, filling pages with bloodthirsty gory horror. Laure is forced to decide quickly what lines should not be crossed and what she's willing to do to maintain those boundaries. The author includes a list of trigger warnings which should not be taken lightly!

Ballet plays a significantly less important role in I Am the Dark than in I Feed Her to the Beast, and I felt the detriment. I was drawn to the duology in the first place because of the focus on dance and was quickly enthralled by the intense and beautiful world of Parisian ballet. Dance is not absent by any means and the choice fits well with the story being told however, so this is more of a personal disappointment.

Kristolyn Lloyd encores her great performance for the audiobook version. I did notice a bit of affectation and oddly spaced breaks that I don't remember from the first book, but overall I genuinely enjoyed the audio experience.

I'm excited to see what Jamison Shea will write next!

The gasp I let out at the line that went something like ... "If a god dies on a bathroom floor, does it even make a sound?"

Ugh, this was such a great sequel. I thought the first had a standalone ending so I was very interested to see where this would go and I am very satisfied. The most excellent progression of a story about insatiable ambition and the deals one makes with eldritch monsters for perfection and power.

An action pack sequel to end the series and it definitely did not disappoint. From the beginning we get to know the mysterious girl from book 1 that Laurel has now called her protégé but little does she know that protégé is thirsty to take Laurel spot and have the power of the god. I also loved that in the end that she got closure from her mother that abandoned her.

I Am the Dark That Answers When You Call picks up a few months after I Feed Her to the Beast and the Beast Is Me left off. I was a little nervous for this, but I think it was a pretty seamless transition. I also think the book started with a bang and did not slow down. I still loved all the ballet aspects of this book, all of those references were so well done. I loved the extra lore we got on the Elysium. The pacing definitely wavered in the middle of the book, but there was enough going on between the characters that I didn’t lose too much interest. Laure is an amazing character and I really enjoyed her story. This is a great horror duology!

Thank you to NetGalley for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you for a chance to listen to this audiobook before its official release. I really enjoyed the first book in Jamison Shea's series "I Feed Her to the Beast." You will definitely want to check that one out before reading this one. This book is horrific, gruesome, mesmerizing, and just so good.