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novelbloglover's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Book Review
Title: Under Her Skin by Toni Miller, Linda Ryan & More
Genre: Poetry
Rating: 2.5 Stars
Now I am not a big poetry fan, I don’t read a lot of it and what I have read in the past hasn’t been too amazing with the exception of Amanda Lovelace’s first collection. However, this is dark, horror poetry collection so it appeals to more of what I like to read, I am hoping I get on better with this collection than I have with others. Out of the opening poems, one really stood out to me and that was WE by Morgan Sylvia which really highlighted both the gorier elements of this collection and the feminist stand that a lot of these poems take. The language that Sylvia uses really conjures some grotesque imagery to mind but the words on the page are hauntingly beautiful and lyrical. While I still don’t believe that poetry is going to be something that I will honestly pick up on my own but I do find some to beautiful in concept and execution but there just doesn’t seem to be enough substance for me.
Designer Girls and I Cut Away The Parts That Offend You by Elsa M. Carruthers were both amazing poems centred around female body image and how we feel pressured to conform to certain standards. The writing in both of these poems was beautifully done and conjured up some truly amazing imagery that was tainted with a dark side. I also really enjoyed Unbecoming Porcelain by Nikki R. Leigh was another haunting poem and the imagery was quite dark, the feminist elements of the collection really shine through in these poems. However, that being said a lot of the poems felt really similar with the same themes and imagery being conjured. Due to this, I found myself not really caring and feeling anything from the poems. While I did finish the collection it wasn’t anything amazing, I did appreciate the darker imagery and tones projected within the collection and the stand on feminine body imagery and how women often feel pressured to conform to certain standards and images but the collection did isolate the male side of this as men do feel the same pressure especially in modern western culture. Overall, I was a decent collection but it didn’t do anything.
bookswithbethany's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
darthizzy's review
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
herheadinherbook's review
3.0
Poetry is a bit hit and miss for me but I was intrigued around the idea of this book and cliched as it is, the beautiful cover.
Some of the poems resonated with me. They were dark and powerful, emotive and horrifying. Others didn’t do anything for me but that is down to individual taste. The style and content of the poems are varied enough that there should be something for everyone within the book. I feel like it’s a book to pick up and read for a couple of minutes and then come back to again some time later, rather than go sit and read it in one go.
Thank you to the authors, the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to review an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Some of the poems resonated with me. They were dark and powerful, emotive and horrifying. Others didn’t do anything for me but that is down to individual taste. The style and content of the poems are varied enough that there should be something for everyone within the book. I feel like it’s a book to pick up and read for a couple of minutes and then come back to again some time later, rather than go sit and read it in one go.
Thank you to the authors, the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to review an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
nerdysread's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
5.0
Thanks to NetGalley I had the possibility to read a digital copy of this book. And what can I say except. Wow. Like I loved it. Some poetry were really disturbing. But the all together was just great. And I discovered a lot of new authors and I want to read all of their work
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Body horror, and Body shaming
Moderate: Miscarriage, Death, Eating disorder, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Sexual violence, Fatphobia, and Domestic abuse
braunm580's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
isyrein's review
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.75
bostonkatebooks's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
decseptapril's review
5.0
Wow,
This is the single best horror poetry book I have ever read. Horror poetry has been pretty hit or miss for me, so I have been trying to avoid this genre as much as possible, and out of fortune I accidentally requested this book on NetGalley.
The poetry is so different from other horror collections I have read before. With the image of women placed in the center of the book, the poets waved stunning tales of violence and beauty. The verses/prose are so raw and inelegant, explicit and gory, that by the end of the book, I was just a mess drowning in the book. I understand that this is not the most polished and substantial writing out there, and it is definitely not for everybody, I recommend this book with my whole heart and soul, because I love it so much.
Note:I will update this review with my favorite poems closer to the publication day.
This advanced copy is provided by Black Spot Books via NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of this book.
This is the single best horror poetry book I have ever read. Horror poetry has been pretty hit or miss for me, so I have been trying to avoid this genre as much as possible, and out of fortune I accidentally requested this book on NetGalley.
The poetry is so different from other horror collections I have read before. With the image of women placed in the center of the book, the poets waved stunning tales of violence and beauty. The verses/prose are so raw and inelegant, explicit and gory, that by the end of the book, I was just a mess drowning in the book. I understand that this is not the most polished and substantial writing out there, and it is definitely not for everybody, I recommend this book with my whole heart and soul, because I love it so much.
Note:I will update this review with my favorite poems closer to the publication day.
This advanced copy is provided by Black Spot Books via NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of this book.