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A review by booksamongstfriends
I Am the Dark That Answers When You Call by Jamison Shea
3.0
2.5 Rounded up. I was so excited to receive an audiobook ARC of I Am the Dark That Answers When You Call by Jamison Shea, thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley. Unfortunately, this sequel didn’t quite capture the magic of its predecessor for me.
The first book had such a powerful ending that I wasn’t sure where the story could go from there, but I was curious to see how Shea would expand this world. While there were some intriguing elements—especially the lore and exploration of the entity—the story as a whole didn’t feel as compelling this time around.
One of the standout aspects of the first book was how Shea captured the main character’s struggle and sacrifice against racist and blatantly unjust treatment. It was passionately resonant while delving into discussions of class, expectations, and race in the intriguing ballet world. We were able to see her determination, desire to belong, and ascension all. leading to her ultimate sacrifice. In this sequel, however, that theme isn’t as present, and I found myself missing the emotional depth and rawness that made the first installment so impactful.
That said, there are things to appreciate in this sequel. If you loved the first book and are eager to dive deeper into the lore and the character’s life with the entity, there’s still value in picking this up. Additionally, the audiobook narration was excellent. The narrator did a fantastic job bringing the darker, more atmospheric parts of the story to life while skillfully introducing new characters. I enjoyed tandem reading the audiobook alongside the e-book (shoutout to Libby!), which added to the overall experience.
Still, the story itself felt a bit aimless at times. With so much happening, it was surprising how flat and bland the narrative felt in certain moments. It left me wondering whether this sequel was truly necessary, as the first book stood so well on its own.
That said, I remain a fan of Shea’s writing. Their voice and storytelling have such potential, and I’d love to see them venture into adult fiction and experiment further. While this sequel didn’t fully land for me, I’m still excited to see what they create next.
The first book had such a powerful ending that I wasn’t sure where the story could go from there, but I was curious to see how Shea would expand this world. While there were some intriguing elements—especially the lore and exploration of the entity—the story as a whole didn’t feel as compelling this time around.
One of the standout aspects of the first book was how Shea captured the main character’s struggle and sacrifice against racist and blatantly unjust treatment. It was passionately resonant while delving into discussions of class, expectations, and race in the intriguing ballet world. We were able to see her determination, desire to belong, and ascension all. leading to her ultimate sacrifice. In this sequel, however, that theme isn’t as present, and I found myself missing the emotional depth and rawness that made the first installment so impactful.
That said, there are things to appreciate in this sequel. If you loved the first book and are eager to dive deeper into the lore and the character’s life with the entity, there’s still value in picking this up. Additionally, the audiobook narration was excellent. The narrator did a fantastic job bringing the darker, more atmospheric parts of the story to life while skillfully introducing new characters. I enjoyed tandem reading the audiobook alongside the e-book (shoutout to Libby!), which added to the overall experience.
Still, the story itself felt a bit aimless at times. With so much happening, it was surprising how flat and bland the narrative felt in certain moments. It left me wondering whether this sequel was truly necessary, as the first book stood so well on its own.
That said, I remain a fan of Shea’s writing. Their voice and storytelling have such potential, and I’d love to see them venture into adult fiction and experiment further. While this sequel didn’t fully land for me, I’m still excited to see what they create next.