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The Savior and the Shadow Queen: A Fantastical Tale Told Through Sequential Poems
The Savior and the Shadow Queen is a story told through poetry, unfolding in layers that mix fantasy and raw human emotion. It begins as a mythic tale of Eselli and Nabseatsi, two friends who set out to defeat a terrible enemy called the Shadow Queen. Their world feels ancient and mystical, full of prophecies, weapons, and dark magic. But as the story progresses, that fantasy begins to fade, and the truth emerges. Eselli is Leslie, a young woman living in the real world, grappling with grief, guilt, and the haunting weight of loss. The Shadow Queen becomes something much deeper than an external enemy; she is the darkness inside us all, the reflection of our pain and self-hatred.
McAfee writes with such openness that it’s hard not to feel what Leslie feels. Her pain, her confusion, her desperate hope for healing, it all comes through in the rhythm of the poems. The fantasy world works beautifully as a metaphor for mental illness and self-discovery. I loved how the story shifts from myth to memory, from sword and prophecy to hospital rooms and recovery. That transition hit me hard. The writing itself is simple, almost deceptively so, but it carries deep emotion. It’s the kind of poetry that doesn’t need fancy words to make you feel something, it just does. The pacing feels natural, the imagery vivid, and the emotions raw enough to make you pause and sit with them.
I could feel the compassion in McAfee’s voice. The book doesn’t wallow in sadness, even though it’s born from it. It offers forgiveness, for oneself, for others, for the past. I appreciated that McAfee didn’t sugarcoat the pain, yet she gave it meaning. The real-world sections are written with quiet strength. There’s hope tucked between every line, and I found myself rooting for Leslie as if she were someone I knew. The author’s choice to end the book with a direct message to the reader was perfect. It felt intimate, like a friend reaching out to say, “You’re not alone.”
I’d recommend The Savior and the Shadow Queen to readers who loved The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. Both books explore inner transformation through journeys that seem external at first but reveal themselves as deeply personal. Like Santiago’s search for his treasure, Leslie’s quest to defeat the Shadow Queen becomes a metaphor for finding meaning after loss. But where Coelho’s story leans on destiny and spiritual discovery, McAfee’s feels more grounded in real emotion like grief, guilt, and the slow rebuilding of self-worth.
Pages: 102 | ASIN : B0CH411ZSP
Unheard
Unheard is a heartfelt exploration of the emotions and thoughts that often go unspoken, yet profoundly shape our lives. Through this compilation, Bhavini Bhargava offers an intimate look into her soul, capturing the raw and unfiltered feelings that arise as she navigates various seasons of life. Each poem serves as a window into moments of passion, determination, love, hate, belief, and faith, inviting readers to reflect on their own unvoiced emotions. The author’s words resonate with a universal truth, taking readers on a poetic journey where the unsaid is finally given a voice.
Bhargava’s writing is undeniably powerful and deeply evocative. With remarkable brevity, she manages to encapsulate a vast range of emotions—whether it’s the sting of disappointment, the quiet resolve of self-belief, the enduring strength in the face of adversity, or the raw ache of heartbreak. Each piece is a testament to her ability to connect with the reader on a profoundly human level. Her clear and concise style doesn’t just communicate feelings; it resonates deeply, echoing the shared experiences that bind us all.
The visual elements interspersed throughout the book add another layer of meaning. Though simple, these images are carefully chosen and perfectly complement the themes explored in the poems. They serve as a quiet, yet powerful, backdrop that enhances the reader’s immersion into the world Bhargava has crafted. The synergy between the visual and the verbal creates a holistic experience that is as aesthetically pleasing as it is emotionally stirring.
As I read through the collection, I was struck by how immersive the experience was—it felt akin to sitting in a cozy café, enveloped in the warmth of intimate surroundings, listening to an artist passionately share her innermost thoughts and feelings. The conversational tone and genuine emotion in Bhargava’s writing make the collection both entertaining and deeply thought-provoking. One poem that particularly stood out to me was Stigma. In this piece, Bhargava addresses the complex and often challenging issues surrounding gender roles and societal expectations. She deftly explores the pressures and limitations imposed on individuals based on their gender, offering a poignant reflection on what it means to navigate these roles in today’s world.
Bhargava’s Unheard is a compelling collection that speaks to the emotions and experiences we all carry within us. Through her eloquent and insightful writing, she invites readers to confront these feelings, offering a sense of solidarity and understanding. This book is not just a read; it’s an experience—one that is sure to linger in the minds and hearts of those who delve into its pages.
Pages: 111 | ASIN : B0BY2X7397
Judgement Day
Judgement Day, by Angelica Stevenson, is an intriguing epic poem infused with supernatural themes, moral complexities, and striking depictions of conflict in a realm dominated by angels and demons. At the heart of this poem is Angel, a character who exemplifies the strength of a warrior and the insight of a leader, navigating a universe filled with conflict and upheaval.
Angelica Stevenson skillfully depicts scenes of grand battles and supernatural abilities, presenting them not merely as displays but as profound reflections on the eternal struggle between good and evil. This concept of conflict goes beyond mere physical confrontations, engaging with ideological battles, thereby imbuing the narrative with both thrill and depth.
Stevenson’s poem thoughtfully explores themes of forgiveness and redemption, offering a nuanced portrayal of these concepts as transformative forces that can change the course of events. These themes introduce a relatable human aspect to the otherworldly setting as characters confront their errors and strive for atonement. Angel’s character journey, evolving from a revenge-driven warrior to a compassionate leader, mirrors the book’s shift from darkness towards light. This transformation is both credible and uplifting, presenting a character arc that resonates with readers and elicits support. The conclusion adeptly ties together various storylines, providing resolution to ongoing conflicts while also hinting at future possibilities. This balance of finality and open-endedness is skillfully executed, leaving readers satisfied yet intrigued about what lies ahead for this universe.
For readers fond of fantasy and supernatural themes, Judgement Day offers a richly crafted world, multifaceted characters, and a plot that balances dynamic action with thoughtful reflection. It presents a tale of endurance and the significance of forgiveness, marking a distinctive contribution to the genre.
Pages: 99 | ASIN : B00AQ2RTPG | Website: https://solo.to/angelicastevenson
Euphoric Wonderland
Music is an incredible force, with the power to unite people of all backgrounds over universal themes and make every kind of situation seem valid and surmountable. It also can inspire, as it does here for Ryan Becker in his poetry collection Euphoric Wonderland. Sprinkled with great references to many bands and a plethora of iconic songs, Becker creates a roadmap through his imagination, using the music he loves as the most important landmarks.
The book’s prologue is an open letter to the music and the artists that sparked the journey for Becker, giving a brief idea of what clicked for him as he listened. It focuses heavily on The Beatles, who have been well-known inspirations to countless writers, artists, and other musicians since their time. These open letters, which contain their own distinct rhythm and read as times like confessions, continue to pop up periodically throughout the book, simultaneously praising and paying homage to the music Becker has discovered.
The poetry itself is expressive and captivating. I feel that the rhyming pattern was distracting, and I would’ve liked the poems to be more free-flowing. One of the appeals for writers and readers alike is the freedom to construct a thought outside the traditional writing restrictions, especially when it comes to poetry. Becker does a fantastic job conveying emotions in his poems, making them a powerful read. One key thing the author does well is references the music that has presumably inspired his writing. There is a great deal of music history hidden here, called out either in names, song titles, and personal stories of the artists. He is masterful in discreetly incorporating things that may not be obvious in his writing. This is a nice treat because there is something new to find in Becker’s poetry, especially when read more than once.
I immensely enjoyed finding all the musical references throughout though I am sure I may have missed some. Poetry is hugely subjective and personal when it comes to the level of enjoyment, for any music lover these entertaining poems will inspire you.
Euphoric Wonderland is a humorous and engaging collection of poetry. The musical reference will bring on feelings of nostalgia for older generations, and serve as a rich and diverse introduction to younger generations that may not be as familiar with the music that inspired the works here.
Pages: 96 | ASIN : B09WHG11FP
Archer
The poetic style used by Carl Hare in Archer: On the River of Time is not only appealing to read, but also striking. The author’s sophistication when writing, and the flow of the narration display a different level of literary writing. As a lover of poems, I was amazed by how exceptional Carl Hare is when linking narratives and arranging the words. Every poetic line gets one to appreciate literature and gets the reader deeply immersed in the book.
We follow the life of Ray Archer, who is a fictional Canadian actor and director. His life revolves around overseeing productions, analyzing performances, giving directives and seeing through acting projects among other things. As Archer follows the King Lear tour across Canada, he experiences a variety of curious events that will inspire the readers imagination and keep you coming back to see what could possibly happen next (I suppose much like Odysseus’s story). Things get progressively more interesting as he tours Ireland where Archer must face the changes taking place in his life. His life changes dramatically and that transition is something I was enthralled with; and was certainly something that called me back to this book again and again. The author uses both modern and traditional poetic styles in this spellbinding story, which was a great concept that was executed well, as this made the reading more colorful. The vibrancy in the authors words, tender narration and composure can be felt from the first page.
I enjoyed reading Archer’s story as much as I loved Odysseus and Spenser. It is incredible how Carl Hare managed to intertwine stories from the three characters while still being able to give each character their individual story.
Archer: On the River of Time is an entertaining novel that will get readers to appreciate poetry, mythical stories, and historical fiction as well. The phrases, literary stylistic devices, diction and engrossing tales make this book a must read. This brings a fitting end to an epic trilogy that I found to be eloquent and insightful. With an enchanting writing style and intriguing characters this is easily a book, and series, I would recommend to fans of epic, or ancient, poetry.
Pages: 583 | ASIN: B0852R27DK
Organic eMotions
Organic eMotions is a thoughtful poetry collection by Lali A. Love. In the opening section, the author presents a myriad of emotions that emphasize the mighty force within every individual; the raw power held within the Divine Feminine is one of the recurring themes which the author majestically illustrates with her verses. The following section, Emotional Vortex, focuses on intrusive feelings and their impacts on one’s well being. The third part is entitled Clarity and contrasts the negative emotions that are introduced in the pieces from the former section with insights on solidarity and human nature. Especially touching are the validation of one’s journey in Reciprocity and the dismantling of virile stereotypes in Divine Masculinity, as well as the positive affirmations throughout the latter poems in this part. Finally, Purity paints several tranquil pictures – from the cleansing provided by a running current in Water to the grounding and sensible words in Complete Being – that illustrate its namesake.
This stirring piece of literature is a fantastic read for those seeking a rousing and incredibly relatable poetry anthology that reminisces of Rupi Kaur and Amanda Lovelace. The cheerful, upbeat attitude conveyed in the collection will feel familiar to readers who struggle with daily life issues such as anxiety and insecurity, as well as collective problems that permeate modern society.
Readers will be thoroughly refreshed with Lali’s contagious positivity, a welcome surprise that, more than once, drew an inconspicuous smile on my lips. Delight, one of the final poems, perfectly conveys the uplifting power of this book.
Furthermore, one cannot fail to mention the masterful paradox that is constantly approached as a central motif in several moments in this collection: Lali notes how small humankind is when compared to the vastness of the universe, while also praising the universe within every person.
Organic eMotions is a simple but vastly compelling read that is sure to appeal to readers of all ages who seek a gateway from the routine and a dash of positivity.
Pages: 208 | ASIN : B09LTJ469Z
The Empty One: The Fallen Conviction
If there’s one thing I can guarantee about this book, it’s that you’ve absolutely never read anything like it before. And that’s no small thing—fantasy as a genre has a bad habit of being predictable, and this book certainly is not that. If you’re looking for new form, experimental writing, and a very unique voice, then this is the book for you.
The form is really intriguing: it’s written like a cross between the Bible and Beowulf, with annotated lines and a very deliberate rhyme scheme (all the lines are end rhyme, which is certainly unique in the modern fantasy genre market). The book is biblical in the sense that a lot of the sentence structures seem to mirror the historical books of the Bible, i.e. “1.2.29 For whosoever believed in other than Lialthas was surely deviant, as was the plain truth as seen by his narration!” The text is also reminiscent of Beowulf in that it has a very tried-and-true formula of an “epic”, with a lot of focus on character development throughout the story. Quite a few of the names have pseudo-Scandinavian roots and the focus is very much on masculine honor, value, etc.
The actual plot is a bit hard to follow, which is the only thing I wasn’t crazy about in this book. Typically, fantasy novels are very plot-driven and follow a certain pattern, but this book completely breaks that pattern (which, don’t get me wrong, can be very good sometimes, but I’m not sure if it works here). The central idea is that there are two groups of people who worship two different gods: the Alakans worship the goddess Akala (who are presumably the good guys), and the others worship Lialthas (definitely the bad guys), and they wage a centuries-long battle that, on the surface, looks like a religious war, but, as we continue to read, we learn the reasons for their fighting are much more complicated. The plot moves incredibly quickly, with at least one major plot event per five pages, so anything beyond that will be a spoiler alert. Suffice to say there is quite a bit of action—it is an epic, after all—and definitely not for the faint of heart, since there are definitely some violent and gory scenes. If you’re a fan of old Norse mythology or Anglo-Saxon epic poetry, you’ll feel very comfortable reading this.
That typical “pull” you get from regular fantasy books is still lurking here, but it’s a bit more obscured than, say, Lord of the Rings or A Game of Thrones. I found myself staying up late because I was so engrossed in reading the book; however, not for the typical reasons I would with other novels… more because I appreciated the uniqueness of the structure and freshness of the author’s voice than the fact that I was attached to the characters or really cared about the movement of the plot. Readers who feel bored with the current state of the fantasy genre: this is for you.
Overall, I’d absolutely recommend this book if you love fantasy but would like to move outside of the typical fantasy novel and into something more unique (“avant garde fiction”, if you will). Even if it’s not something you may personally enjoy, I can definitely see this being a great read for a reader who wants to learn more about using narrative poetry and other old-school fiction elements in modern fantasy.
ASIN: B0198UC43I
LITERARY TITAN 