How do you review a collection of poems by dozens of poets, each pouring their hearts onto the page? To me, a good poem makes me feel something, while a great poem leaves a lasting impression, stirring something special within me. But what feels special to me might mean nothing to someone else. Poetry is so subjective, how do you even begin to rate it? Well, let’s try.

This anthology evoked a wide range of emotions in me. With its variety of styles and themes, I believe anyone reading it would find at least one poem that stays with them.

The collection is divided into sections, Journeys, Phantoms, and Bonds, each separated by a simple yet elegant illustration. After each poem, there’s a brief section about the author. While informative, I found that it disrupted the flow of reading. I imagine if that information were placed at the beginning or end of the book, many readers might skip it altogether, I certainly skimmed through it.

The Phantoms section stood out the most for me, with dark and intense themes that deeply resonated. Although I found myself highlighting quotes from poems throughout the entire collection.

Overall, this is a fantastic anthology. While some poems weren’t to my personal taste, they were all skillfully crafted. I think anyone interested in poetry, especially those seeking fresh, emerging voices, would enjoy this book. These poems undoubtedly capture the pulse of the human experience.

***I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review

*****My enjoyment rating is 4.5/5, and I’ve given it a 5 star rating on Goodreads, which I’ll also add to Amazon once the site permits.

There are some really good poems in this collection, and I liked that they were separated into different themes.

I did find it a bit odd how the same information was repeated for recurring poets. I think it might have made more sense to link all the poems up rather than giving the poet's background multiple times over.

Overall, it's a good collection and I would recommend it to fans of poetry.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC