Kelly Andrew’s is fantastic at world building and creating such an eerie atmosphere. I would consider this horror just because of how creepy it is. This started SLOW, but it really sets the scene for what’s to come. There’s no spice, but there romance.

I so desperately wish horromance books like this existed when I was in highschool, because my macabre-loving soul YEARNED for it.

Kelly Andrew is uniquely capable of endearing her readers to her couples while also keeping the horror elements at the forefront of the story. And paired with how atmospheric the writing was?? C’est magnifique!

Also—if you want to dive into horror, but are a bit nervous of deciding where to start, I think this is a great jumping off point. The horror elements were manageable while still being insidious, and the romance + bubblegum horror vibes could definitely help bridge the gap as you jump into the genre!

This was my first Kelly Andrew title and I enjoyed it... I liked that she didn't hold back on the horror aspect of the story and while the main characters felt a bit insta -loveish I didn't totally mind it.

Overall an intriguing read that had me turning pages!

Thanks for the opportunity to read this one early!

I'm not a big horror fan, but I will read anything Kelly Andrew writes. This made me wish it was fall with all its atmospheric vibes and spookiness. Love the modern and unique take on being possessed. I can see our students enjoying the Princess/Sunshine pairing, bodyguard romance, and found family. A definite addition to our collection.

Thank you to Netgalley and Scholastic for the advanced copy of this book. I am a big fan of this one! I loved the storyline, characters, and atmosphere. I was a little confused at times with characters, but overall it was a very enjoyable read.

kelly andrew has once again created a story that pulls you in from the beginning and keeps you turning the page. the atmosphere and descriptions were so lush and vivid; she really paints a picture with her words. the premise of i am made of death was so interesting and executed wonderfully. there was such detail in everything; i'm already looking forward to rereading and picking up on all the intricacies throughout the story. some aspects of this gave me similar vibes to ninth house, which i loved. another super solid book from kelly andrew and i definitely recommend it if you've enjoyed her previous works

4.5 stars. Kelly Andrew does it again. Another beautifully poignant story. I devoured this book in two days. The characters were, once again, relatable and dynamic. I really enjoyed characters from the previous two standalones (The Whispering Dark and Your Blood, My Bones) making an appearance. The plot twists were great! The romance was cute, yet juvenile, which is appropriate because they’re teenagers.

I do think that someone who has not read The Whispering Dark would be really confused if this was their first Kelly Andrew book. That being said, I think anyone wanting to read this at least needs to start with The Whispering Dark.

Thank you Scholastic and NetGalley for the eARC.

The premise of this book was very interesting. I feel like the characters themselves were unique and the author does an incredible job with imagery. However, to me, it really dragged. By the 50% point, I felt like I'd been reading for way longer than 180 pages had said I'd been reading. I'd grown bored with the story and was no longer excited to unearth the mystery and the romance, but instead ready to be finished. In regards to Vivian's feelings for Thomas and Thomas' for Vivian, I felt 'told' rather than 'shown.'

All in all, it was a great way to pass time, but not a story that will stick with me unfortunately.

Have not posted links on social media or Goodreads yet in effort to ensure the author's release is as successful as possible.

I Am Made of Death is the third book in Kelly Andrew’s dark academia/cottagegore/bubblegum horror universe and I can’t get enough of it. Despite not being able to read this book at night, or pass by mirrors without being suspicious of what I’d see reflected, Kelly weaves eldritch mysteries with resentful bodyguard romance in the most addicting way. I couldn’t put this book down (except after the sunset)!

Vivienne and Thomas are from two different worlds, they are such an unlikely pairing, and yet they both share a connection to the supernatural in such a way that it seemed fated they’d come together. Even their communication complements each other: two hearing ASL signers with Thomas speaking and Vivienne mute, a beautiful balance of circumstance and need. Thomas is the built-like-a-brick-wall type and Vivienne is the prima ballerina archetype, and yet it is Thomas who is sentimental and warm and Vivienne who feels hollow and only allows her sharp angles to show. Everything about them would seem a mismatch, but it’s in the way that two puzzle pieces don’t match, and yet need each other to be complete.

The cameos of some of my favorite characters from Kelly’s other books were so exciting, especially that of a particular winged beast, and the connection made between Vivienne and the others makes me want a spin-off so badly—maybe a cozy little novela of found family, because of all of Kelly’s characters, Vivienne deserves it.

This book was five gore-dripping hear–stars!

If I could have had this book 10 years ago, this would have been one of the books that started me into my reading obsession!

“Inside her beat something else’s heart. Something else’s will. This time tomorrow, she’d cut it out.”

Everyone has demons—but some are worse than others. Vivienne Farrow’s, for example, lives inside her with wickedly sharp teeth and a poisonous voice. After falling into Red Rock Canyon and being claimed by the dark as a child, Vivienne has become a selective-mute in a desperate bid to maintain some semblance of control over her voice and body. Still, the face in the mirror isn’t hers, and every night is a struggle. Willing to do anything to regain mastery of her life, Vivienne has planned an illicit surgical exorcism. Her parents throw a wrench in her designs, however, when they hire Thomas Walsh to ostensibly serve as her ASL interpreter and ‘watch after her.’ That is, keep her in line. Vivienne needs to eliminate him to achieve her goals, but Thomas, in dire need of the money the job offers, refuses to be shaken. Their wills clash as the powers that be threaten to crush them both beneath their heels.

Kelly Andrew’s spine-tingling narrative left me simultaneously giggling over Thomas and Vivienne’s relationship and adamantly avoiding my mirrors at night, and I couldn’t have asked for more. Coming into I Am Made of Death, I certainly expected the horror and suspense prevalent throughout the novel, but I did not expect to become as fond of Thomas and Vivienne as I did. Somehow, while slowly suffocating both characters and readers with mounting dread of the thing taking up residence in Vivienne’s blood and bones, Andrew crafts a believable, heart-warming relationship between the main characters with the help of alternating POVs. The appearances of certain side characters may be more significant or enjoyable to readers who have completed Andrew’s other books, but the central cast of I Am Made of Death is lovable all on its own. Adding to the endearing elements of the book were the many references sprinkled throughout the story, which never felt awkward or outdated as they so often do. As a Classics student, I particularly enjoyed Andrew’s use of Greek mythology and Homeric epigraphs. I also appreciated her nuanced storytelling, which paid attention to things such as the tone of Vivienne’s signing, how interpretation gets abused, and the various difficulties of managing chronic illness. I would have liked some of the world-building to be a little more fleshed-out (although Andrew’s other books may lay the groundwork for this one), but I adored this story nonetheless.

This book was the sole reason behind my sleepless nights this week.

Andrew is a wizard at crafting horror elements within an otherwise regular world and created a heroine dressed in pink with the most horrific evil companion.

After a traumatic incident as a child, Vivienne refuses to talk and uses sign language and other visual & written cues to communicate with the outside world. Thomas is hired as her interpreter but soon realizes that he might've bitten off more than he can chew.

There were so many moments in this story that I literally wanted to crawl out of my skin. Nights become longer and the evil was portrayed in such a visceral way that bathrooms became a space of dread.

While this book can be read as a standalone, for the best reading experience I recommend to read it after The Whispering Dark, as there are multiple side characters making an appearance from TWD.

4.25⭐️

Thank you so much to Scholastic Press for the eARC of I Am Made of Death by Kelly Andrew in exchange for an honest review. This book was my final of 2024, and it did not disappoint.

From the very beginning, I was enthralled, staying up way too late reading. Vivienne was fantastic - a ballerina possessed by an evil entity who can make people die just by speaking. So great. I felt her rage and terror through the pages. And Thomas! He really was her ride or die, and if I’m ever possessed, I’d want someone like him on my side.

Like I said, I was obsessed with this book for the most part. It gave me Ninth House meets Lady Macbeth meets The Metamorphosis in the best way. The one issue I had with the book is that I was confused about the societies and Thomas’s friends until I realized that all of Kelly’s books tie together. While you can definitely read I Am Made of Death as a standalone and enjoy it, the addition of new people and abilities may throw you a little. I’m going to do myself a favor and pick up her other books too.

All said, I Am Made of Death was a great way to round out the year—lyrical prose, rage, Eldritch terrors, possession, and bubblegum horror? So so good.

O.M.G. ‘I Am Made of Death’ by Kelly Andrew is like if ‘Twilight’ and ‘The Exorcist*’ had a baby, and that baby was the most electrifying dark romance of the decade that CHANGED my entire brain chemistry in the best way possible.

Kelly Andrew is an absolute mastermind. The TENSION? The BANTER? The CHEMISTRY? The SUSPENSE??? I was holding the edge of my seat for probably 90% of the time. And the romance…. gosh when I tell you it was BURNING in the best way possible.

Can we talk about how Vivienne is on a mission to find a “surgical exorcism”? The fact that that’s even a plot point makes me feel like I’ve fallen into some wild fever dream and I don’t ever want to wake up😫

All I need to say is this book SHOULD NOT be slept on. I need this to be the book of the CENTURY. That’s how GOOD it was. It was a perfect dark, and twisted love story that will have you at the tip of your toes and edge of your seat. Trust me when I say you DONT want to miss this😏

First let me say if you haven’t read The Whispering Dark by Kelly Andrew you really should before reading this because there is a big overlap between these books!!!

The aforementioned overlap/tie-in to TWD is phenomenally done and I was squealing and gasping at the reveals. Of Kelly’s books (I’ve read them all!), this was the best written in terms of plot pacing and story development. I couldn’t read fast enough! I am not a big horror girlie and yet I was hooked from the start.

Literally my only qualm is I would’ve loved more relationship development as it felt very sudden. Which is a bummer cause it’s not a long book & I would have gladly read more chapters to expand upon this!

If you’re sleeping on Kelly’s books idk what to tell you but you’re MISSING OUT! Do yourself a favor and start with TWD then honestly just work your way forward or skip right into IAMOD 🎀

Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Blood, Medical content, and Classism
Minor: Animal death, Child abuse, and Confinement

I grew up as a ballerina AND a horror movie girlie, so as soon as I picked up I Am Made of Death I felt cosmically intertwined. I don’t typically pick up horror and thriller adjacent genres-but I Am Made of Death has a little bit of everything: a delicious touch of dark academia, a gruesome calling card of body horror, a bit of gossip girl, a touch of classic horror and suspense, and ROMANCE, of course-I loved all of it.

I Am Made of Death opens with our MMC Thomas Walsh accepting a job to interpret for Vivienne Farrow, a mute ballerina surrounded by caretakers who hardly give her the time or attention to truly listen. Thomas is hoping to sustain his tuition and his family with his work, but the curious nature of his job and his clients-the Farrows, prove to be thorny and difficult. The relationship between Vivienne and Thomas quickly escalates past interpreter and ballerina-and the story unravels in a maelstrom of curious deaths, a raving Gatby-esque party, and stark consequences. Vivienne is hosting a horde of secrets, and Thomas is bent on uncovering each of them.

Not only is Thomas a root-able character, but the story told between the two POV’s (Thomas/Vivienne) does SO much for the narrative. I love the limited perspective we get of the story from Thomas, and all of Vivienne’s thorny edges. Their romance is so pure and sweet-the perfect contrast for the dark spikes and crooked corners of this story. As a fantasy reader, I savored the fantastical elements but thoroughly enjoyed the twists and turns and creatures that littered the pages. And I LOVED the representation for the ASL community-yes, yes, all of it!

Also, I would be remised to leave out that I devoured this book in all of one evening-it was so bingeable.

Fans across genres will love Andrew’s writing-her characters are compelling, the prose is intriguing, and the story-addicting. I hope that you get the chance to pick up this lovely little novel!

He's her new bodyguard/interpreter... and he has no clue just what he's signed up because she might look like a delicate rich ballerina... but there's a demon inside of her with a bodycount and she'll do anything to get rid of it before it's too late. Part bodyguard romance, part Orpheus/Eurydice and all dark romance. Thomas Walsh has had to grow up quick after the death of his father looking after his younger sister and taking care of his mother's medical bills... and with debts piling up he doesn't think twice about securing a job as the new sign language interpreter/body guard for the wealthy Farrow family's selective-mute daughter, Vivienne. Vivienne hasn't said a single word since she went missing at four years old and nobody knows what has happened to her. Vivienne might come off as a spoiled rich ballerina but she's hiding a secret... she has no reflection and there's a demon inside her body that takes over and kills people/ Vivienne will do anything to get it out. With more people dying and her control slipping.... she needs a way out, it doesn't help that her step father has been using her to kill off his competition and the only people she can turn to to possible get out the demon is a dark occult house and an amateur med student... and the only person stopping her is her new bodyguard who is paid to watch her every movement. Vivienne has spent her days manipulating, bribing, and blackmailing everyone just in the hopes of getting rid of her demon... but what she's not prepared for is how caring and genuine Thomas actually is. Having spent her life with her guard up, Thomas might be the only person to crack her wall.... but if he finds out the truth of what she is and what is inside her, will he still love her? Thomas has never really done anything for himself... but finds himself breaking all the rules to have Vivienne... and he'll go far, possibly even to hell, for her because not even hell can keep them apart. This is the sequel to her previous book and I loved the cameo of the original characters in this one. I adored the relationship between Vivienne and Thomas so much, she's volatile but he's the perfect steadfast person for her. He's such a great love interest, with so much patience and persistence and no matter how much Vivienne tries to push him away he constantly proves that he will go to any lengths for her. I adored the touch of Orpheus/Eurydice vibes in this so much and the demon/exorcism aspect was such a delightful touch. I can't wait to read what Kelly writes next and just know she's become an auto-read author for me!

Release Date: March 4, 2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Scholastic | Scholastic Press for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

I think it’s safe to say if you enjoy Kelly’s other books you will enjoy this one. This was an excellent continuation of the world she has been building and I think she has done a fantastic job interconnecting her books without making them dependent on each other. I do wish this book were longer, the relationship development took a backseat to the plot and seemingly came out of no where, however the plot was excellent. Kelly has this fever dream like writing style for the climax of her books which is hard for me as someone who likes to understand everything but I also appreciate that it’s the Vibe and completely in line with her other works.

I don’t think this had a strong enough aesthetic to be named (i.e. establishing the term bubblegum horror) - something I thought Kelly really nailed with YBMB. There was much less ballet in this book than I was led to expect as well.

Overall would definitely recommend!

I read the authors prior 2 books for this interconnected standalone but I really dont think it did any justice for me. Based solely on this book i felt there was a lack of character development, especially the relationship between the MFC and MMC. Just overall fell flat for me.

Thank you to the author for an ARC. All thoughts are my own. I read it in one sitting if that says anything. It was a fun and unique take on a possession. It had secret societies, medical themes, fun banter, and just all around interesting plot. If you enjoyed One Dark Window or Belladonna you’ll really enjoy this.