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mary_soon_lee's review
This short, beautiful book won the 2021 Elgin Award for the best speculative poetry chapbook. It contains only a dozen poems, but they are *good* poems: lyrical, imaginative, articulate, emotive, wide ranging. I loved the dragon poem (of course), but liked the cat poem ("Watch") still better. There's a scifaiku that paints its otherwhere in three scant evocative lines. The poem "Metis Emits" is a wonderfully-crafted revisiting of Greek myth with an immensely satisfying ending. "Sisko" passionately expresses what the actor Avery Brooks achieved in his portrayal of the captain of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. "Mysticeti" powerfully, hauntingly weaves together Inuit, whales, and ghosts of those thrown into the sea from slave ships, reminding me of another excellent poem by Akua Lezli Hope, not included in this collection, "Igbo Landing." Overall: highly recommended.
About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved). In the case of poetry books, for various reasons, I often omit a rating altogether.
About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved). In the case of poetry books, for various reasons, I often omit a rating altogether.
divadiane's review
4.0
Nominated for the 2021 Elgin Award
This is an excellent collection of fantastical poetry. It seems to me it should’ve been called Otherwhos, because many of the poems are about hybrid people/beings. There’s a lot of wonderful imagery in this book. More like 4.5 stars
This is an excellent collection of fantastical poetry. It seems to me it should’ve been called Otherwhos, because many of the poems are about hybrid people/beings. There’s a lot of wonderful imagery in this book. More like 4.5 stars
edebell's review
5.0
This is a wonderful, short, and beautiful collection of poetry. Stirring and suited to be read aloud in a room with a pleasant echo or over a warm tea. Content notes of gentle womb and death references.
I hope this book gets more eyes on it. This poet is absolutely lovely, and I will look for more of her work.
I hope this book gets more eyes on it. This poet is absolutely lovely, and I will look for more of her work.
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