Like Fire and Ice by Eli is a raw and honest collection of poems written by the author to provide a way to cleanse the mind of difficult experiences and the emotions accompanying them. These poems delve into many challenging and sensitive subjects, including traumatic experiences involving sexual assault and physical, mental, and emotional abuse. Eli writes explicitly about their personal experiences and how they left a significant impact, as writing about them provides a way to heal while offering a therapeutic effect for readers.

Eli doesn’t hold back from the rawness of their emotion, including expressing a complex, love-hate relationship with their mother, feelings of unworthiness, and idealization of self-harm. The author frequently relates the darker side of life and parental relationship and their impact throughout one’s existence. While Eli presents a well-written collection of powerful and riveting poems, they are not an easy read and will take the reader on an emotional roller coaster. While some readers may find the reading poetic and healing, there are trigger points for others that leave a strong impression. Overall, I found Eli’s presentation thought-provoking and realistic, a refreshing take on subjects that are typically avoided or censored from the mainstream.

I personally found the book to be relatable and therapeutic. Eli uses symbolism and powerful words to convey difficult yet potent emotions. The author’s creativity brings a sense of clarity and dark beauty to a sometimes tough read while giving the reader a sense of how trauma can emotionally impact a person for a lifetime. I highly recommend Like Fire and Ice for its courageous presentation and the ability to capture both the horror of trauma, complexities of the human experience, and the beauty of healing at once.

Pages: 144 | ASIN: 1639884335