⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

i have read Akwaeke Emezi's novels in the past and adored their writing, but this is the first that i have read of their poetry. i am not usually a huge poetry person, i dabble in it here and there, but these were so, so powerful.

i wasn’t expecting some of the topics that were discussed, so please check the trigger warnings before reading as i probably wasn’t in the best headspace to be reading this, but overall this was such a beautiful set of poems and i will definitely read more of this authors work.

(thank you to netgalley and Bloomsbury Publishing UK for the EARC in exchange for an honest review 🫶🏻)

I'm not usually a poetry person but I really enjoyed this collection. I have read and enjoyed other books by this author so am not surprised I liked this.

I really enjoyed this poetry collection. Akwaeke can evoke an entire story and history in very few words.
My favourites were ‘self portrait as a cannibal’ and ‘sanctuary’.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury for the eARC.

Powerful poetry, thank you Netgalley and Bloomsbury for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
These poems dive into our emotions and have a unique way of making them into words. The subjects are delicate and it is beautifully done. There is no right and wrong in poetry but this is just pure. They have succeeded in publishing an honest collection which will stick with me for a while (if not ever)

I haven’t read any poetry in such a long time. I used to be obsessed with it when I was younger so when I seen Akwaeke had a poetry collection, I knew I had to read it!

The imagery that Akwaeke manages to paint a story with, was absolutely incredible as it is with everything they create. They incorporated so many different themes within the different collections, that ranged from sexual assault, identity, grief, loss, abuse, rage to religion. It made me think of their other books that I have read by them and the overarching themes that they all share. They have such a way with words that make you feel so many emotions, which is certainly what I experienced when I read this collection. I even went back and re-read the poems just to truly let them marinate within me. The way that they are so fluid between genres never fails to amaze me. They’re an artist who is a master of their craft.

Please make sure to check trigger warnings because as the title suggests, there are quite a few.

My favourites were: folding for a cruel man, Conf e ss ion, self-portrait as an angel & self-portrait as an abuser.
Some honourable mentions: “but why did you feel you had to kill yourself, baby love?”, he aling, when the hurricane comes the men protect their b ro t her s, p ar allel & m ou rning.
(Although these are my favourites and I have mentioned honourable mentions, I really loved all of these poems, but for different reasons.)

⚠️ CWs: physical abuse, blood, cursing, rape, self harm, derogatory language, child abuse, suicidal ideation and attempt, death; mentions biphobia, child loss, sex, animal death, domestic abuse, grief ⚠️

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Bloomsbury for the opportunity to read this ARC!

As a fan of Emezi's previous work I was thrilled to get an ARC of Content Warning however, I think I will stick with their prose as this poetry collection didn't quite land with me.
I am unsure (as this was a proof copy) if the formatting and layout of the poems would be different in the published version but I did struggle with reading these on my e-reader. Perhaps the style is intentional but it lost some of the flow for me that way.

I do think this would be an incredible collection to hear read aloud / in audiobook format as the themes and topics covered are important and Emezi handles them with care.

"when the hurricane comes the men protect their brothers" ——

wow, i absolutely loved this heart-wrenching set of poetry. the author does such a good job at weaving words together - i felt so tumultuous while reading this. the author highlights a lot of hard hitting themes in these books: rape, sexuality, religion, self-awareness, etc. they did a great job at creating a set of poems that make you feel a little feverish.

I've read a few works from Akwaeke Emezi, and after finishing each one I have been left with a lot of food for though. Emezi is a powerful, lyrical writer - which was on full display in this poetry collection. Confronting themes of religion, marriage, family and identity (amongst so many other subjects), Emezi does not hold back on the emotion. The poems are an experience.

I did give this collection 3 stars and I do not think that is a reflection upon the poetry collection itself, and I would encourage you to read it and form your own opinions, but on me. Despite having studied literature at university, poetry was always something I struggled with and at times I did struggle with understanding these poems. So when it comes to this review I would encourage you to seek out other reviewers opinions.

I'm not really sure how to rate this.

On the one hand, I read it in one sitting, Emezi's writing style is gorgeous and I could feel their passion pouring out of the page. On the other, I didn't connect with it.

There was a lot of biblical imagery in this and that is the sort of thing I will typically avoid as I am not religious and have complicated thoughts and feelings around it so it's always difficult for me to read anything that veers in that direction.

The synopsis mentions this "renegotiating the contract between poet and reader" which really intrigued me but after reading, I don't really know what that meant and it's left me feeling confused about what this was meant to be (or is, that I'm failing to pick up)

I realise I am perhaps simply not the intended reader, and that's okay, but it does leave me at a loss for how to rate it.
Normally I'd go down the middle with a 3 but that feels harsh.

This is the first I've read of Akwaeke Emezi's work, and I will certainly be reading more. The first word that comes to mind is visceral- each of these poems deals with complex subject matters in a way that strikes the balance between appropriately horrific and subtly nuanced, and Emezi's ability to wrench the reader from emotion to emotion is held together by a strong core: the impulse to heal, to process, to mourn and put away. Yet there is space for anger within this- there is nothing passive about their work. By concluding the titular poem with 'I am a f*cking miracle', Emezi sets the tone for a stunning collection of poetry.

Particular favourites include 'f*ck me in a fresh grave', 'disc l os u re' and 'self portrait as an abuser'.

Favourite line? the one line poem 'm ou rning'- "i only know the softness that is cherished before the small violences set in."

Overall, a 9.5/10. Fantastic!

A powerful collection of poetry, exploring vivid religious themes as well as contemporary every day influences.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC.