TIMEDEATH is the first collection I have read which is solely visual poetry and Jennings’ talent for the written word and their eye for visuals is a poetic, artistic treat. Only twenty pages, TIMEDEATH is a deliberate pacing of loss, trauma and grief. There is courage and sheer brilliance in how purposeful each piece is. … Continue reading Review of TIMEDEATH, Melissa Jennings
MANEATER by Jean-Marie Bub goes beyond being a collection of poetry and prose. It is art. It is a safe space. It is a tool for survivors and it is a voice in itself. A voice which loudly proclaims, despite the pain, ‘I am here and I intend to stay.’ Bub treats her work and … Continue reading Review of MANEATER, Jean-Marie Bub
Meyer’s second poetry collection, Tempest, is an absolute joy to read. A departure from the Gothic, horror style of Haunt, Tempest cradles its reader in bittersweet nostalgia and Meyer’s storytelling and surrealism come into their stride. In the preface, Meyer talks about the dichotomy between the beauty of imagery and underlying pain often conveyed in … Continue reading Review of Tempest, Ryan Meyer
I Saw Myself Alive in a Coffin, Kait Quinn's second poetry collection, begins with a wonderful author's note detailing Quinn's honest intentions. Through her experience with depression, grief and suicidal ideation, Death and thinking about death became ever present in Quinn's consciousness and so in her poetry too. And yet, Quinn does not seek to … Continue reading Advance Review: I Saw Myself Alive in a Coffin by Kait Quinn
Wolfe's second collection, released to coincide with Black History Month in the United Kingdom (in October), embraces and embodies the voices and histories of people who demand to and deserve to be heard. Wolfe openly admits she cannot tell every story and can only write from what she knows but across this collection her words … Continue reading Review of A Mockingbird On Blackity Street, Tenae Wolfe
First published on Reedsy Discovery. Beginning with ‘core’, Neutron Star by Kevin Charles Johnson II, focuses on identity, family, love and legacy. Johnson grounds his identity in his blackness and in the power of his spoken and written word. ‘Birthday’ is fantastically honest and shares with the reader who Johnson is. It is also a hallmark piece, … Continue reading Review of Neutron Star, Kevin Johnson
Today, on Thursday, 1st October, (aptly National Poetry Day) Olivia Snowdrop celebrates the release of her debut poetry collection, Snowdrop: A Collection. Below is an interview with Olivia and there will be details about where you can buy the collection and follow Olivia, as well as a link to my advance review. KRISTIANA: Snowdrop: A … Continue reading An interview with Olivia Snowdrop
When I read a poetry collection I always look for honesty. I search for the raw and brutal truth which comes with being beautifully human and complex. Only a few ever meet this expectation for me. Too often, poets try to be clever and value style over substance. Too often, contemporary poetry collections focus on … Continue reading Advanced review of Snowdrop: A Collection by Olivia Snowdrop
Jillian Richardson's The Virtue of Doubt is fresh and different yet harnesses poetry and playwriting with the skill of the old greats. Richardson's words on love and family were Shakespearean in their poeticism and rhythm. Whilst Avaricia's words put me in mind of Euripides' Medea and Beloved recalled Sophocles' Antigone. Richardson's storytelling is stunning. A … Continue reading Review of The Virtue of Doubt, Jillian Richardson
The Language of Ghosts is Lauren Poole's tremendous debut, raising the bar for 21st century poetry. Divided into three parts, 'preterite tense', 'imperfect tense' and 'present tense', Poole's deliberate and purposeful structure reminds the reader healing is not linear and nor is trauma. Similar to A. B. Cofer's Not Enough, Just Enough and Kait Quinn's … Continue reading Review of The Language of Ghosts, Lauren Poole
