I Am Made of Death is the first book I’ve read by Kelly Andrew. It also happens to be a blending a genres I don’t see together often enough, horror and romance. Vivienne was an instantly fascinating/engaging character. She’s a mute. Not born that way but rather by choice because she can’t risk the tragic implications of others hearing her voice. But she has a plan to ‘cure’ herself. But she can’t do that with Thomas, the new sign ‘translator’/‘babysitter’ her parents around. Of course it also doesn’t help that they’re beginning to develop feelings. While I felt a few of the storylines were more convoluted than they needed to be, overall this was a satisfying and engaging story and I’ll definitely be looking into Ms. Andrew’s other books. Thanks so much to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me access to an ARC of I Am Made of Death.

Kelly Andrew’s YA fantasy is an exciting horror story that follows Vivienne, a mute FMC, and Thomas, the person tasked to translate for her. This was my first foray into a story that portrays sign language on the page and I loved it! More books with this please. Most characters either understood sign or could sign themselves which made what would have been a somewhat generic love story far more interesting.

Vivienne’s slow decline into the monster she is struggling to destroy is beautifully written, yet it feels as if necessary exposition and development is happening off page. Wonderful characters are added to the story as it progresses, but the additions are clunky and the reader is left wondering if they missed key scenes. Many answers are left for the reader to assumes or conclude on their own, which is fun as an adult reader, but the romance doesn’t match the maturity of the rest of the plot. It’s almost as if the love story is written for middle schoolers, with many of the scenes feeling overly dramatic, while the rest of the novel is for NA readers. Don’t get me wrong, I love when YA writers don’t underestimate their audiences, but this felt disconnected.

There is still a lot to like in this book. The banter is fun, the communication is interesting, and the conflict between Vivienne and her mother is complicated. I certainly enjoyed reading it and think others would too.

Favorite character: Reed and/or Thomas’ sister
Favorite dynamic: Lane and Colton, I want so much more of their story!

🎀💀I am made of death💀🎀

This was a new genre to me, romance with horror, horromance? Romaorr? No, it's called Bubblegum horror.

"Inside her beat something else's heart. Someone else's will. This time tomorrow, she'd cut it out."

This is a YA novel in which we follow Vivianne Farrow, a young rich girl in college, that loves ballet, pissing off her parents, her two dogs and the color pink, oh and has selective mutism after a incident she suffered at a young age, along with a dark and dangerous side.

With her parents who are over baring and have her in constant watch we are introduced to Thomas Walsh, who after having to drop out of college after his Dad's passing to make sure he can take care of his Mom and little sister, he is funny, protective and a voice of semi-reason.

Vivianne and her family are full of secrets, some of them too dark to come to light, but Thomas doesn't care. He is there for a job, or maybe more, even when things come out to play at night.

There is so much banter and tension between the two MC, the mystery and suspense of Viv's "conditons" kept me hooked for 3/4 of the book, gave me k-drama vibes.

Overall, I enjoyed this, and it's a perfect romance for teens and young adults. No spice but romance to make you all giggly, and enough creepiness to make it horror.

I want to thank NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this e-book ARC.

4.5⭐️

I loved this! I loved watching the way Thomas and Vivienne's relationship grew from Vivienne resenting Thomas for 'spying' on her to being indifferent to each other to a tense friendship to more. I liked that Thomas wasn't a total pushover while trying to get close to Vivienne and how hit seemed that he was the only one to stand up to her. I loved the way that even in her silence, Vivienne seemed to have an almost siren-esque power to control everyone and how well that transitioned into her actual power. With Thomas' ability to stand up to Vivi, it made sense that her power might not work on him.

I loved the cult aspect of this story and the way the power they were seeking was found. Vivi being willing to undergo such experimental methods to get rid of the power before the cult could get their hands on it kept me on the edge of my seat. The only reason this wasn't a 5 star for me was because I feel like things got a bit convoluted around Thomas and his frat brother's 'walking' ability. I even went back and reread a few chapters and I'm still kind of confused how they had that power and what the 'walking' even meant. Other than that, this was wonderful!

Thanks Netgalley and Scholastic Press for providing this ARC to me.

I became a die-hard Kelly Andrew fan when I read her sophomore novel, YOUR BLOOD, MY BONES, and I'm so happy that I can continue to be so with I AM MADE OF DEATH! I loved this book so much. Andrew does a phenomenal job of blending romance and horror in this novel. I was swooning in every scene with Thomas and Vivienne and thoroughly creeped out by the horror bits. My one tiny gripe is that I don't entirely understand why Thomas is so quickly into Vivienne? They don't have much of a foundation before he's pushing guys up against the wall in defense of her, so it's a little insta-love-y for me, but I tend to forgive that in YA. And, Andrew is such a talented writer that I didn't think of this until after I'd finished reading. While I was in it, I was in it! I also love how Andrew has woven her three novels together—loosely. You don't have to read them in order, but I think it's a better reading experience if you do. 10/10 would recommend!

Series Info/Source: This is a stand alone book. I got a copy of this on ebook from NetGalley for review.

Thoughts: This was an odd read for me. It was engaging and I read it quickly, but when I finished, I was left trying to figure what the point was. I suppose there doesn't have to be a point, but this is a bit of an odd story. The whole thing left me feeling confused and ambivalent. It's also the type of story that I probably won't remember in a few months.

Thomas Walsh needs to make money, and the fact that his mom is deaf means he is proficient in ASL. Vivienne Farrow can't speak for fear of killing people with her voice. Vivienne's father hires Thomas as an interpreter for Vivienne, with a side job of babysitting her and spying on her every move. What no one, but Vivienne, seems to realize is that Vivienne isn't alone in her body anymore...she's been possessed by something evil...something that will use her voice and body to kill.

This book alternates between Vivienne and Thomas. Thomas is trying to keep this well-paying job so he can support his chronically ill mother and his younger sister. Vivienne is trying to make him quite. Both characters were okay but a bit shallow. Thomas was just kind of a "stick with it to get it done no matter how tough it is" kind of guy. Vivienne was supposed to come across as vicious, but when she was herself, she was pretty tame. I think the peak of her viciousness was shredding some clothes Thomas's that weren't even ones he bought?

I think what pulled me through the story was the fact that this book is like a train wreck waiting to happen. You just know that Vivienne is going to loose the battle with her possessor and blood and mayhem will result. That and there is a romance between Thomas and Vivienne which I didn't quite understand. Their romance was a bit to insta-love for me, and they really didn't seem to have much in common. I was confused about Thomas's dedication to Vivienne's well-being; I guess he had a serious white knight complex.

Things start to get defocused as the book continues. Suddenly, there are strange cults and generations of supernatural peeps involved (or were they dead peeps? maybe both?). Then there is a house that needs to be fed...the whole thing kind of went of the rails for the last bit. I ended up a bit confused about what the point was and why the story went that direction. It ended fine I guess.

I think I would give the first half of this book 4 stars and the last part 3 stars, so we're averaging 3.5 or so. The first two thirds was really engaging and really sucked me in, but as the mystery and story was unraveled, I got a bit confused and disillusioned. I finished it, so I guess that says something.

My Summary (3.5/5): Overall this was decent. The first part is really engaging, but as the story continues it gets a bit odd. I am not sure what I expected going into this book but I don't think this convoluted story of hungry houses and weird cults was it. The writing style is okay, and this was a fairly quick read. I don't think I will pick up future books by Andrew. If you are into YA romance with dark supernatural elements like demon possession and cults you might enjoy this.

Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I Am Made of Death by Kelly Andrew is a bubblegum horror tale following a possessed ballerina and selective mute whose voice terrorizes any who hear as she tries to cure her curse will giving her new interpreter the slip.

Wow, what an incredibly refreshing story! It was sharp, endearing, and disturbing. I absolutely ate it up. It was a wonderful mix of yearning—for love and normalcy—with the thrilling elements aligned with body horror, dark family secrets, and exorcism. This is absolutely a story in its own genre and unlike anything I’ve ever read.

I rated this 4.5 stars because it was so refreshing and unnerving. It made me uncomfortable while still hitting the marks of what I love in books—romance, fresh plots, fast paced, good writing. You definitely need to add this to your tbr even if it will take you out of your comfort zone.

Kelly Andrew has done it again. I Am Made of Death has to be my new favorite of her books, when I don’t think anything could top Your Blood, My Bones. This is a Bubblegum Horror, a subgenre with bright colors and glitz, rather than just darker tones. The images of blood and rot are broken up by ballet shoes and pale pinks, a pillow of safety in the storm.

After the death of his father, Thomas Walsh has had to take many an odd job in order to keep a roof over his mother and sister’s heads. Anything to pay the bills, and keep his sick mother off of her feet. When he’s offered a high paying job as an interpreter for an heiress who doesn’t speak, Thomas doesn’t question it. As the hearing child of a deaf parent, he can sign in his sleep.

But something lurks under Vivienne Farrow’s pastel pink exterior. A selective mute, she hasn’t spoken a word in years, after a traumatic experience as a child left her unable to. Not only this, Vivienne is determined to shake her new babysitter, swearing she’ll drive him to quit. He’ll tell all of her secrets to her stepfather, including something she’s been searching to find for years- a cure to her little paranormal problem.

Thomas is thrust into a world of new money and secrets, ballet moves and the occult, and it seems like he and Vivienne are the only ones who can trust each other.

Kelly Andrew’s imagery is so VIVID. Every description seems to drip off of the page. I Am Made of Death was absolutely incredible, and I am so very grateful to the folks over at Netgalley and Scholastic for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book early! It publishes on March 4, so place your preorders and look out for it in stores!

I am made of death is a YA bubblegum horror that features bodyguard romance and dark family secrets. Ever since Vivienne went missing in the Red Rock Canyon when she was four years old, she hasn’t spoken a single word. No one knows what happened only that her voice is deadly as poison. Thomas, the hearing child of a deaf parent was hired by Vivienne family to be an interpreter for her. He also is expected to go with Vivienne wherever she goes.

This is the second Kelly Andrew book I’ve read and I really enjoyed reading this. She has such a gorgeous writing style and excels at the horror aspects of this book. It was haunting and an eeriness throughout the book. I enjoyed reading both POV’s and it was done very well. I love the development of Thomas and Vivienne relationship and how it grows and develops. I had such a fun time reading this book and I throughly enjoyed the characters, the plot, and the horror aspect.

I love the idea of interconnected standalone books and even though I only read your blood, my bones, you do not need to read her other books to fully understand this one. I need a map or a spreadsheet of all the interconnectedness between these books (I’m a visual learner).

I loved the sign language ( American Sign Language & Signed Exact English) representation in this book! I love how seamlessly this was incorporated into the story and how Kelly would describe the movements that the characters were making. This was a beautiful addition that I just loved so much.

I’ve been reading author note and acknowledgments more recently and one thing really stuck with me. “Maybe someday, people like Vivienne and I won’t have to choose between language and isolation. One can only hope.”

Thank you Scholastic & Tessa for sending me the final copy of this book!

Another hit from Kelly Andrew!

I love how Kelly writes horror- I’m not a big horror fan, but I like how atmospheric the genre is! Kelly is able to create such tension without me actually being scared or grossed out by gore and still maintaining that horror atmosphere. I also love her character work!

If you haven’t read The Whispering Dark, I highly recommend reading it before I am Made of Death.

Thank you for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

I Am Made of Death was fresh and unexpected! Vivienne and Thomas are unique characters you want to root for and explore with. Their romance is sweet.

The best part of this book is the weird occult happenings. A girl with a monster living inside her. A boy that slips through the sky. A house built on an ancient monster. It all came together in a very interesting way and definitely kept me wanting to know more.

My only small complaint was the way minor characters jumped into the plot suddenly and ended up being critical without much development. But I also get that this is YA and fast-paced, and it did all come together at the end.

I would absolutely recommend this!

Thomas Walsh dropped out of college to support his chronically ill mother, but he desperately needs a consistent, well-paying job. When a wealthy businessman recruits Thomas, the child of a deaf adult, to be an ASL interpreter/wrangler for his daughter Vivienne, who's only a year younger than Thomas, it feels like a perfect opportunity. But Vivienne Farrow doesn't want anything to do with Thomas. She doesn't want him to discover the deadly secret that's kept her from speaking since she was four years old, not when all of her research, scheming, and blackmail are about to pay off. Thomas needs this job enough to stand stalwart at Vivienne’s side as she tries to push him away. But as he begins to understand her and her dark inclinations, he realizes he’s in too deep to walk away, even if he wanted to.

It's been a long time since I read a book that leaned into its horror elements as unrepentantly as I Am Made Of Death, and I loved it! It was a deliciously creepy take on demonic entities that actually had gory real-life consequences for the characters, wrapped in a layer of originality that felt so refreshing.

This made for really excellent pacing, too! There was one sequence in particular that was so good I assumed it was the climax of the book, only to realize I was only about halfway through. So much action had already happened, but thankfully there was also a lot more to come. In a bookish landscape with a lot of unnecessary duologies, it was nice to have one book pack in all the thrills.

Thomas and Vivienne were an intriguing pairing, but I do wish we got a scene or two more that showed their relationship developing. Just a smidgen more. Individually both characters were interesting and multifaceted, but in ways that may not work for everyone. Vivienne, in particular, has some truly morally grey moments that are a bit hard to swallow. However, they had some great moments and their relationship really made everything cohesive.

Kelly Andrew is a deaf author and, in a foreword, writes about how her experiences as a deaf woman shaped (and sometimes misshaped) her own relationships and inspired this story. Keeping that in mind really made Vivienne and Thomas’ relationship and struggles even more potent. Vivienne is a selective mute for reasons that become obvious pretty quickly, but I enjoy seeing how for her, silence and sign language are not a disability, but an actual deterrent against evil.

Unfortunately, I didn't know that this novel is loosely tied to Andrew’s debut, The Whispering Dark. While I don't think you have to read The Whispering Dark to enjoy I Am Made Of Death, the characters from that novel come into play and the writing definitely treats the reader as if you're already supposed to know them, with very little explanation despite the pretty significant role they play.

This is my first read from Kelly Andrew, but I enjoyed it so much that I'll definitely be checking out her previous works!

This was a wonderful dark romance that kept me gripped until the end! Check this out of you love a badass princess FMC! I also particularly loved Andrew's use of sign language and how she portrays it in this book!

4.5🌟

While “Your Blood, My Bones” is still my favorite of her books and Colton Price is still my favorite of her MMCs, I love the way Andrew builds her worlds within our familiar one. And then weaves them together effortlessly. This is technically a standalone, but I suggest starting with The Whispering Dark and moving your way down Andrew’s publications—you won’t regret it.

First, the imagery. It’s just so beautifully done. The world is practically three-dimensional with the amount of sensory details we’re given. And with the dual-POVs, she doubles down with the unique and relatable characterizations.

For Buffy fans, this is quite similar, only focused on demons and the darker horrors of hell mouths. Which, as a Buffy fan who can quote WAY too much from the show, finding Andrew’s work has scratched an itch I didn’t know I had. Who knew demons would do it for me—🙋🏻‍♀️.

This is the first book by Andrew I haven’t given 5 stars, but that’s solely because it’s more insta-love than pining for me—this is a personal preference of course. But that said, Thomas and Vivienne’s story is well paced and wonderfully arced, and I will forever preorder her books and beg rather excessively for arcs until I can no longer do either.

Also. Loved the return of some characters too. Because who doesn’t.

After devouring Kelly Andrew's "My Blood, Your Bones," I couldn't wait to dive into "I Am Made of Death." Let me tell you, this book takes supernatural to a whole new level, and I was here for every spine-tingling moment.

The story revolves around Vivienne, and oh boy, does she go through it. The internal horror she experiences had me on the edge of my seat. Every scene fades to black, leaving you hungry for more, wondering what's really going on with her. And then there's Thomas - talk about a mystery wrapped in an enigma. What makes him so special? I found myself constantly guessing.

One thing that really stood out was Andrew's portrayal of sign language. It's woven into the story so seamlessly, adding depth to the characters and their interactions.

The atmosphere in this book? Absolutely chilling. Picture a mausoleum mansion, old churches, and dark basements. Every page oozes with an ominous feeling that something wicked this way comes.

Now, let's talk about the romance. Vivienne and Thomas start off as enemies, and their tension is palpable. She wants him gone, he's paid to stay - classic recipe for sparks to fly. Watching their relationship evolve organically was a treat.

Andrew's take on the supernatural is something else. The way she describes these otherworldly elements had the hairs on the back of my neck standing up. It's visceral, it's visual, and it's downright creepy in the best way possible.

In the end, "I Am Made of Death" was a fantastic read. Vivienne and Thomas stole my heart, and their chemistry combined with the supernatural elements? Perfection! If you're looking for a book that'll keep you up at night - both from fear and from not being able to put it down - this is it.

Thank you, Scholastic and NetGalley, for my free book.

"She'd never been the damsel. She'd always been the monster. And so, she'd behave monstrously." - I mean COME ON, if that quote alone doesn't make you want to read this then I don't know what will.

I'm going to preface this by saying that horror isn't even a genre that I tend to gravitate to. Young Adult is also hit or miss for me at times. But boy did Kelly Andrew say 'hold my ballet slippers' and prove me wrong.

I requested an ARC of Your Blood, My Bones on a whim because I thought the premise sounded intriguing - little did I know I would still be thinking about it over a year later. That was the beginning of my Kelly Andrew obsession. When I saw that I Am Made of Death was coming I knew I was in for it - I don't think I'll ever stop thinking about this book. Kelly is literally incapable of writing a bad book.

The idea of bubblegum horror with a rough princess FMC that somehow manages to be Metamorphosis meets Mean Girls meets Jennifers Body is something that works so wonderfully well is absolutely baffling.

There is some medical horror/gore/body horror but I didn't feel that it was *too* bad even for those who are sensitive to those triggers (as always though, take care of yourself first).

The entire time I was reading this book all I kept thinking is how well it would translate to the screen - it would make a ridiculously good movie. I can just see it being an immediate classic, its the story all girls need right now. It reminded me a lot of how A24 makes their movies - intriguing and thought provoking with just enough to keep you on the edge of your seat.

I do recommend reading her other works as well since you may or may not see some pop ups from there (hehe)

I truly can say that at this point Kelly is an autobuy author for me and I literally cannot wait to see what she comes out with next.

Kelly must be just looking at this book thinking, “IAMOD must be a vampire because I just Buffy the Vampire slayed the hell out of this one”. And you know what, she would be right.

I absolutely ADORED this book! Kelly Andrew knocked it out of the park again with this romantic, thrilling ride of a book. I loved getting answers to the overarching story from books 1 and 2 and of course, I am absolutely feral for Tommy and Vivian. All the stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Scholastic for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.

"I'm glad you exist."

What can I say? Kelly Andrew never ceases to amaze me. I have been obsessed with what I dub the Kellyverse ever since The Whispering Dark. The cameos were especially rewarding in this book, and I found myself grinning from ear to ear as the familiar melded with the new.

I am convinced Kelly has a secret magical power that enables her to mold the written word to her liking. Every book leaves me breathless and awed. The prose is always the perfect balance of cutthroat and beautiful, the cadence of each sentence flowing like water until you're dragged under and lost for air. It's no surprise I inhaled this book in a single day.

I knew this book would be my favorite of Kelly's so far. I am a SUCKER for a bodyguard x spoiled princess romance trope. Throw in possession and bubblegum horror and it's 5 stars for me. No questions asked.

I LOVED Thomas from the very first line. But Vivi hit a rawness in me that I haven't felt in a long time. I could feel the frustration of not being able to communicate and feeling trapped in every page.

I think now more than ever we need books like Kelly's. Books that teach us perspectives we aren't familiar with. Books that show us what's at stake. Not just for Vivi and Thomas, but in reality as well. Everyone deserves a voice. And everyone deserves to feel love.

Wait, how on earth have I gone this long without reading one of Kate Andrew’s books?! One of the many reasons I’m so glad I received this ARC is because it introduced me to a new favorite author—and I couldn’t be more thrilled about it.

As for this story… Whoa. The pace is lightning-fast, keeping you hooked from the first page. The plot is not only unique but also deeply fascinating, drawing you in with every twist and turn. The humor is perfectly timed, the spook-factor is on point, and the writing itself is beautifully done—it’s a real treat to read. I honestly couldn’t put it down, and I’m already craving more. Honestly, I couldn’t have loved Thomas and Vivian any more if I tried. They were perfection!

I cannot recommend this book enough. Get your hands on it the moment you can—it’s a must-read!