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arnzen's review
I was on the jury for the selections that made it into this book, and I can tell you: there is a wide and diverse selection of poems by established poets, fiction writers sharing their verse, and newcomers alike -- all tackling a wide spread of topics and tropes relevant to dark dreams and the horror genre. My favorite pieces are those we selected as "featured" poems, all by writers who tackle some deep and powerful topics that are especially pertinent to women's issues. I particularly was fond of Sara Tantlinger's mind-shattering "Amalgamation" poem, which blurs together gender identity issues and desire with werewolf tropes, combining brutal visceral actions with a strong poetic voice and cadence. Rhonda Jackson Joseph also contributes an outstanding apocalyptic scene that eviscerates our contemporary society in "So She Burns it All Down", while Donna Lynch drives home the terror with an outstandingly poetic and take on haunted and vengeful femininity in "Dolls." Others I really thought were first rate included "On the Verge of Sleep, At the Edge of a Shadow" by James Ebersole, "I Am" by Cynthia Pelayo, "Some Velvet Mourning" by Frazer Lee, "Thirst" by Annie Neugebauer and "Psalm" by Peter Adam Salomon. But they are all wonderful, and I think this volume accurately represents both what today's horror poets are exploring, and just what poetry can do well when it turns a dark eye to the world of shadows. I do not just recommend this book; I recommend you look into following every volume the HWA has put out.
exorcismofemilyreed's review
4.0
"The cemetery season is always open." -Simone Volponi
I really enjoyed read the new HWA Poetry Showcase. If you're looking for somewhere to start with horror poetry, this anthology is an amazing introduction to a lot of writers. I had only read a few of these poets before (RJ Joseph, Sara Tantlinger, Annie Neugebauer, etc.), and I appreciate the opportunity to find new people to read (Cynthia Pelayo, Susan Snyder, Marge Simon, etc.). It's a fun set of horror poems.
I didn't love all of the poems in this anthology, but so many of them were fantastic. My top 5 poems were Doll by Donna Lynch, Blood Work by Carina Bissett, If I Only... by Lisa Lepovetsky, These Dreams by Randy D. Rubin, and The Joy of Sewing by Christina Sng. It was refreshing to read a horror anthology that had a ton of women writers in it.
I really enjoyed read the new HWA Poetry Showcase. If you're looking for somewhere to start with horror poetry, this anthology is an amazing introduction to a lot of writers. I had only read a few of these poets before (RJ Joseph, Sara Tantlinger, Annie Neugebauer, etc.), and I appreciate the opportunity to find new people to read (Cynthia Pelayo, Susan Snyder, Marge Simon, etc.). It's a fun set of horror poems.
I didn't love all of the poems in this anthology, but so many of them were fantastic. My top 5 poems were Doll by Donna Lynch, Blood Work by Carina Bissett, If I Only... by Lisa Lepovetsky, These Dreams by Randy D. Rubin, and The Joy of Sewing by Christina Sng. It was refreshing to read a horror anthology that had a ton of women writers in it.
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