3.5 stars

This is probably her best collection yet. I loved how she explored trauma so powerfully and beautifully.

Some poems I found to be great while some I questioned why they were put in at all if they lacked so much substance.

The last part of the book was comprised of contributing poet’s works, which I thought was really nice and worked perfectly with the message of this series.

the mermaid’s voice returns in this one is a return to form and theme for amanda lovelace. Just like her first book, the princess saves herself in this one, tackled some tough issues so too does her third book. Don’t be worried about being surprised by this content as the book itself begins with a trigger warning that outlines the issues that the book explores and advises people that some parts may be difficult.

lovelace’s poetry books are somewhat themed around fairy tales and tackle a number of associated issues – You will find poems that deal with abuse, survival, and issues of non-consent. Surrounding these issues and poems are the narrative of the little mermaid, which is used to highlight the larger issues surrounding womanhood and survival

The typical structure of Lovelace’s poems involve un-capitalised lines intersected with line breaks, that typically end with italicised final thoughts. the mermaid’s voice returns in this one is a quick and engaging collection of poetry, while you may struggle with the issues being discussed, you won’t struggle with understanding the poetry. All imagery used is beautiful and poignant, but also accessible.

Best Bits: There were a few stand out poems for me, if you do have a copy of the book check out the below poems:

‘he immediately lowers his umbrella’ – pg 116.
‘today i love the way i look in my sundress’ – pg 131.
‘a victim or a survivor?’ – pg 133.

I will admit that the first book in the ‘Women are Some Kind of Magic’ series, is the more powerful of the series. It wasn’t that the mermaid’s voice returns in this one was weaker or any less poignant than the first, it was just that I wasn’t as enraptured with the poetry.

I would still recommend this book for any fan of lovelace or poetry. the mermaid’s voice returns in this one is a great starter book for poetry readers and an enjoyable read for poetry pros.

I received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I don’t usually read a lot of poetry and I haven’t read the authors 2 previous works, but this was really beautiful and thought provoking. She hits on so many emotions using various references to fairytales. As a woman reading this, it was quite powerful and her message was empowering.

Well done. I’ll definitely be reading more of her works.

Amanda Lovelace never fails to write lovely poems that make you love poetry even more. I have honestly loved it with my whole heart.

I'm a diehard Amanda Lovelace fan. I will buy anything and everything she writes.

True to form, this collection of poetry is altogether fierce and vulnerable. I connect on a personal level to its references to a particularly unhealthy and dark relationship; instead of feeling triggered, these poems are offering me a lifeboat comprised of catharsis.

To paraphrase Ms. Lovelace, when I read these poems I can reside somewhere between forgiving and forgetting my past.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36297088-the-mermaid-s-voice-returns-in-this-one?ac=1&from_search=true

This is the first book by Amanda Lovelace that I read, and I was expecting so much more because of the title (and the trigger warnings). Much of the idea which the book is articulated around (that of mermaids and books/fantasy/stories) I found boring and stale, appart from the fact that (ironically) they are not that present in the actual poems. However, there are (a few) gems hidden between all that fantasy.

I didn't like so many poems by other people in her book. It didn't feel as she was using it to inspire her own writing and the readers.

I haven’t read any of Lovelace’s other works yet. So, when I jumped into this book, all II knew was that it would be a poetry collection that told a story.

I never expected it to tear me apart and put me back together.

I don’t know which was a bigger factor – the story or the writing itself – but I can say for a fact that, if I could, I’d rip some pages from this book and keep them with me at all times.

I have no words to express how much I loved this book.

Rating: 5 stars

Amanda Lovelace is my favorite poetry author. Since her first book, I felt every poem hit inside my heart. It made me feel like I wasn't alone in the pain I went through in my life. It made me feel like my past and what happened to me, doesn't define me, and I can overcome anything. The Mermaid's Voice Returns in this One did just that and more. This one took my breath away just as much as the previous two. There were so many moments where I had to put it down and just feel.

I didn't realise that this book was the third in a series when I requested it, it only dawned on me when I recieved it. However, I found it to be quite enjoyable as a read. I enjoyed how some poems were modernised fairy tales almost with a feminist twist.

I have never really enjoyed reading any sort of poetry, until I found Amanda's books. The topics they address are so relatable and easy for someone like me (someone who doesn't really find enjoyment in dissecting poems) to digest and understand. There's such a wide range of topics she addresses in these poems, all about the female experience; all the joy, pain, suffering, wonder, possibilities, and everything in between. But the most prominent feelings I felt throughout were hope, empowerment, and a sense that I was not alone. She also includes trigger warnings at the beginning of her book and I appreciate that so much. There were several poems in this book that I had to stop and reread several times, not for lack of understanding, but because I felt it resonate with me so much and that's something that didn't really happen when I read poetry in school. I also found it wonderful that she had different people contribute to this book, but they all shared a similar tone/style that I didn't realize it was someone other than Amanda until I reached the end. I'm confident to say that Amanda's poetry is poetry that I actually enjoy immensely, and find myself purchasing to keep with me in a physical sense because her words are going to stay with me for just as long, if not longer.

The Mermaid's Voice Returns in This One is the third book in Amanda Lovelace's poetry trilogy Women Are Some Kind of Magic. I have been a huge fan of the trilogy until now, and this book definitely lived up to my expectations and satisfied my needs.

Lovelace is a talented poet and she excels at combining real-world traumas with fairy tale magic with a feminist twist in a blend that is intensely cathartic to read (and I assume to write). Some of the poems hurt, some of them make me smile, all of them are worth reading. The inclusion of poems from other writers in the final section was a nice touch, and I think it helped bring the conclusion together.

I definitely recommend the whole trilogy in order, but each one is worth a read as a stand-alone as well. I can't wait to see what else Amanda Lovelace has to offer as a writer in the future.

Amanda Lovelace's "Women Are Some Kind of Magic" series...There aren't enough words to describe how much these poetry collections have touched my heart. Women share their voices and experiences in many ways, but it's also others who need the listening ears, the open mind, and accepting heart.

This poetry series comes to an end with the emphasis to express your voice in the best way you know. It's got heart and strength. It was great to see work by other folks in this collection. It was a wonderful way to end the series with a chorus of voices.

This collection comes with a few trigger warnings such as violence, child abuse, and self-harm. But it's worth the emotional read, just to hear the story within the poems.

I wanted to give Lovelace another try just because I enjoy torturing my reader self and yup, I still don't like. Most of these poems did not make sense to me and I suppose it's because I'm not a feminist or a poet but I didn't enjoy ANYTHING in this book. I feel like I didn't gain or learn anything by reading this book but at least it's a quick read. Overall I rated this book 1.5 stars.
FTC DISCLAIMER: I received this book in exchange for an honest review

The core subject matter of this collection is important in a time of women reclaiming their agency and becoming transparent in the abuses they’ve suffered. That being said I liked it but didn’t love it which isn’t a bad thing. Like is still good. I just want something that feels completely new from this author and this was timely but not new.

I have not always been the biggest poetry fan, but Amanda Lovelace and Rupi Kaur The Mermaid's Voice Returns in This One by Amanda Lovelaceare up there amongst my favourites. When I found out that Amanda was coming out with a new bind up, I HAD to get that book badly. It arrived on my doorstep and I dove straight in. Her poetry is raw, builds up and sometimes is all too familiar. Her lines are so beautifully written and I can’t wait to find out more.

The Mermaid's Voice Returns in This One is the final installment to Amanda Lovelace's Women Are Some Kind of Magic series, and I enjoyed it. I will admit this one wasn't my favorite and that I LOVED her 1st book in the series the best. I've rated it 3.5 Stars. I find it hardest to rate poetry than another other genre. Without a doubt the author gave this book her all. My heart breaks that she has endured what she has. I'm so glad she didn't let that define her. We hear her voice loud and clear in this installment. I'm thankful that she shared her life with us. I'm sorry that her and so many other women have had similar paths. Amanda's Women Are Some Kind of Magic series offers hope and knowledge that we aren't the only one. She's beyond inspiring and creative.

Thank you for an advance copy for my honest review.

I loved the first book in the trilogy, thought the 2nd was ok...but this one? Eh. Seemed very redundant...not sure if that is the word. Just didn't speak to me like the others did.

Thank you to netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

After reading the previous two poetry collections in the Women are Some Kind of Magic series, I knew I needed to check out the conclusion, the mermaid's voice returns in this one. Amanda Lovelace continues on with many of the same themes from her previous collections as she pulls from her personal experience as well as many others'. While it deals with an important and powerful subject, it did seem similar and almost repetitive of what we saw in the previous collections. One different aspect was that there were several poems included from a few different guest authors. I had not previously read anything from these poets so it was neat seeing their styles. Of the three poetry collections, the princess saves herself in this one is my favorite.

Amanda Lovelace has returned with another relatable, empowering collection of poetry. There are several gems throughout the book. Fans of Rupi Kaur will enjoy this volume.

Wow! Amanda, you did amazingly.

For anyone not familiar with my review of the second book in this poetry series I had a few issues with its repetativeness and even though I enjoyed it I wasn’t convinced I’d pick up the third. But as I loved the first so much that it left me in tears on a train and this one did capture my eyes a fair bit I decided hey NetGalley is free and I’ll give her writing another chance.

I‘m so glad I did! This book did flatten any doubts I had about reading more of her work.

(In fact a week after reading this I bought to make monsters out of girls which I loved just as much)

The Mermaid’s Voice Returns in this One caught my attention cause not only do I love the colour purple but I also love mermaids so I was very excited to see how Amanda incorporated them into the theme of her poetry about survival and healing.

As with the previous book we are graced with beautiful colored font to match the cover, which is seriously making me consider purchasing a physical copy.

The book strongly focuses on surviving sexual assault and I think Amanda approaches it in a way that really worked for me. They made me feel recognised and accepting that actually its ok to have to journey to find yourself again after traumas. That you might not always feel as strong as the front you’re putting on to the rest of the world, but you can get there.

6It really makes me think of how many of us consider what could’ve been. How our lives are two seperate timelines. The before and the after. The doubt you feel at trusting people again, especially should the trust be misplaced. Can you event trust yourself?

Now obviously not everyone is going to be at a stage in their lives where they can read poetry that they find themselves relating too strongly and revisiting emotions you’d previously bottled up or dealth with but honestly I did feel it kind of theraputic.

I think I felt like this as there is a power to her words as she battles off her own nightmares (physical or mental) and comes to the realisation that yes I can do this.

So yes, I really enjoyed this powerful colection from Amanda. And I loved the fact towards the end poems from other creators were included too which really makes you see you’re not alone in finding your voice again. Maybe you’re not a writer, but you are a reader and maybe these will help guide your voice to return to you.