Review of I Am Made of Death by Kelly
I’m not sure what I expected when diving into I Am Made of Death, but this wide-eyed book blogger found her expectations utterly transformed within the first few pages. Kelly has crafted a tale that’s not merely a concluding chapter in a series, but rather a profound exploration of identity and trauma wrapped in a cloak of fantasy. It’s been about 72 hours since I finished this emotional rollercoaster, and I can’t help but feel like I’ve been handed a piece of art that’ll stick with me for a long time.
From the very start, Kelly’s writing strikes a haunting balance between beauty and horror. The complexity of Vivienne’s character—complicated, dark, yet reflective of our shared human experiences—really set the tone. The exploration of trauma through the motif of bones as control devices within the story is particularly compelling. Vivienne’s internal struggles resonate deeply as she navigates the connotations of both her grotesque reality and her search for self-acceptance. "The thing inside her is curled up behind her ribs" perfectly conveys the visceral nature of this battle, and I was quite literally glued to the page.
The narrative is punctuated with gut-wrenching honesty about the fears of becoming our parents or struggling with the weight of expectations. The lines that reflected the challenges of girlhood—like when Philip mentions "allowing her to play at girlhood"—cut deep. These moments of emotional depth paired with dark humor made my reading experience an intricate dance of laughter and sorrow. Kelly masterfully articulates relationships that are both messy and beautiful—how the love between Thomas and Vivienne escalates amid chaos is both angsty and sweet.
Speaking of relationships, Thomas quickly became a standout character for me. His emotional intelligence shone through the playful banter—each exchange ping-ponging between witty lightheartedness and aching vulnerability. His line, "Please don’t ask me to leave, because I’ll go if you tell me to, but I won’t feel good about it," sent me into a spiral of giggles and heartache. The juxtaposition of his gentleness with the darker thematic elements—like Vivienne’s monstrous metamorphosis—adds layers that enrich their evolving bond.
Across all three stories in this series, the atmosphere is consistently evocative. I mean, who could resist a line like “A sunken horror wrapped in shipwreck silence”? It brings vividly to life the otherworldly settings while maintaining an underlying tension that leaves you breathless. Kelly doesn’t shy away from delivering heart-pounding moments, weaving them beautifully with stark imagery. The juxtaposition of ballet’s grace against goblin horror is executed with finesse, creating an unforgettable experience.
If you’re a fan of stories that blend heart-stopping thrill with poignant explorations of personal demons, I Am Made of Death will be a feast for your senses. This book should resonate especially strongly with those who appreciate a narrative that doesn’t just tell a story but invites introspection and a deeper connection to the characters.
In conclusion, I highly recommend this read for anyone willing to explore the darker corners of human experience through the lens of extraordinary storytelling. It’s a testament to our resilience and the monsters we all carry inside, and it’s one I’ll be revisiting to extract more layers from Vivienne’s journey. Thank you, Kelly, for gifting me a proof copy—I’m off to reread the earlier books in the series because honestly, I need more Thomas in my life!