I'm kinda torn between 3.5-4. Regardless, Jamison Shae writes with the prose of a seasoned writer in their debut novel and I can appreciate that. And phewwwww this is one hell of a villain origin story 😈 if you love blood this book is for you ya freak (it's okay me too) 🩸 and this COVER ART??? ARE YOU JOKING????

I LOVELOVELOVELOVEDDDDDD the setting and tone of the entire book. VIVID imagery in a dark academia setting. The first half did move slowly so I wouldn't consider it fast-paced but man the last 20% I was really wondering how the story was going to go. How much is Laure willing to prove and lose of herself to move up in a world that wouldn't even notice her absence?

My favorite horror movie is As Above So Below so anything about the Paris catacombs catches my attention. Laure Mesny is a Black ballerina at an elite ballet academy in Paris that Time and time again proves herself better than her classmates and Shae doesn't beat around the bush as to why she isn't the crown jewel, she's not affluent, she's not rich, and she's not white. She's everything a ballerina "shouldn't" be.

Laure is beginning her professional career when she makes a blood pact with a new friend in the Paris catacombs. How is this power going to impact Laure? Is her sacrifice worth the power she's attaining to quickly work her way up to fame? Will she lose her humanity?

I think if the entire book was a tad bit of a faster pace it would have been a solid 4. However, Shae did incredible with this book as their debut novel and I can't wait to see what they do next <3