Jamison Shea

Laure Mesny is a student at a prestigious ballet school in Paris, relentlessly pushing herself to the point of being bruised and bloody, aiming for a coveted spot as an apprentice in the Paris Ballet Company. No matter how much effort she makes, her fellow students and teachers constantly dismiss her because of her race and upbringing. Worn down by their prejudice and angry about being overlooked and powerless, she makes a bargain with a mysterious being in a bloody river deep in the catacombs.
Suddenly she has unprecedented control and influence and becomes unable to resist using her newfound power to advance her career, hurting those who stand in her way. The story follows Laure's transition from being a victim of monstrous treatment to becoming a monster herself.
This unique debut horror novel is creepy, unsettling and deliciously dark. The story explores themes of racism, privilege, nepotism, entitlement and power. The setting was atmospheric and vivid, alternating between the beautiful Palais Garnier and the gloomy depths of the Paris catacombs.
The writing skillfully weaves fantasy, horror and real-world elements creating a compelling, haunting, tense and exciting story. I could not stop reading and am thrilled to hear there will be a sequel.… (more)

It was not bad, do not get me wrong. It really was not awful! But I could not get through this. It felt like I was dragging my feet and I didn't want to keep reading it after about half way. It may have just been very well outside of my comfort zone for reading, and thats okay! I just could not do it. I can see how someone would really love this book though. Its a story of competition, proving your worth.
My positives though! The way racism, peer pressure, eating disorders, and toxicity were approached in the novel felt very authentic. It did not seem watered down at all, and that I really enjoyed. The author treated heavy topics with the care and seriousness they deserve, and all the props in the world for that.
Overall, I did give the novel 3 stars. The cover is outstanding, and the writing style was genuinely enjoyable but the characters (aside from Laure) felt very surface level and kinda static. I really was just expecting more from this story, especially with the overwhelmingly positive reviews I saw on Goodreads.… (more)

This book is set in the world of ballet. The main character Laure wants to achieve even if it means selling her soul to the devil.

I tried really hard with this book but it just wasn't for me. I managed to get to 100 pages and decided to DNF. The section I did read was all about ballet with it seems a lot of research has gone into it. However I felt this bogged me down and I know very little about ballet the best of times.

The main story about selling your soul to the devil has been done many times before and in lots of situations so I did feel I wasn't reading anything unique.

The book is aimed at the YA audience but did feel that if this is your thing then anyone can read it.

Thank you to the author and Readers First for the opportunity to read the book. I'm sure the book is more worthy than the two stars I have given but as I didn't finish it I can't rate it any higher. Overall a no no for me.… (more)

This incredibly written and thought-provoking story takes you deep into the cutthroat world of professional ballet, where a determined young Black ballerina, Laure Mesny, is ready to do whatever it takes to reach the coveted 'etoile' rank. Laure is incredibly talented, works tirelessly, and is driven like no other, but her efforts always seem to be ignored and overlooked.

So, when darkness calls out somewhere from the depths of the Catacombs of Paris, Laure decides to answer. She makes a bargain with a pulsating river of blood that flows deep through those underground tunnels. What are the costs and consequences of power that cannot be denied? Also, will Laure’s soul be enough to satisfy its hunger?

“I wasn’t sure anymore who was in control: me or the sliver of Acheron nesting in my blood. It grew less clear every day where I ended and the wicked darkness inside of me began.”

The writing and character development are impressive, and the story pulled me into the dark, cruel world of ballet, where politics, privilege, and wealth often overshadow true talent and hard work. The novel explores important themes such as racism, classism, and nepotism within the ballet industry. I loved how the author integrated the Paris Catacombs into the story. These underground passages hold the remains of over 6 million people, making them undeniably one of the eeriest places on Earth. This absence of the living (and the presence of something else) added to the already haunting atmosphere that invades every page of this novel. I also loved the ending – it was spectacular, but I won’t spoil anything.

I wanted to see more of Laure’s relationship with other characters, specifically Andor, Julien, and Coralie. I loved the slow, tension-filled romance between Laure and Andor, and I needed more of it. Laure's relationship with her parents probably had a big impact on her personality, so I was curious to see more of that too. I also feel like Laure’s friendship with Coralie was already strained, and I wanted more flashbacks to understand how they became so close in the first place. It would explain why Laure was willing to risk everything to save her once-close friend, even after she tried to take everything from her. I'm also interested in learning more about the Lethe, and hopefully, some of these questions will be answered in the sequel.

However, aside from these issues, this was an astonishing debut! It’s a gripping, powerful tale that will play with your heart and mind. This story is about monstrosity in all of its forms – whether it manifests within the ballet industry, the city of Paris, the complex characters of Laure Mesny and Coralie Baumé, or the primordial darkness - Acheron. I couldn’t put it down. I’ll keep an eye out for future books from this author!

Thank you, BookishFirst, the publisher Henry Holt and Co. (BYR), and author Jamison Shea for the gifted copy! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.… (more)