Decompose

by S. Fey

Our life contains several lives as well as several deaths; we attempt to understand these little rebirths through poetry.  decompose explores pruning our past to make room for future growth; the expanse we are offered through the crush of heartbreak, discovering family beyond our original home, finding new meaning in our own name – S. Fey picks these timeless themes like roses from a flourishing garden to compose a thorny and succulent bouquet of living, loss, and rebirth throughout the rejuvenating pages of their debut poetry collection.

Genres: Poetry, LGBT

88 pages, Paperback

Published April 2, 2024

Reviews

[Sherry Newton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn’t stop reading once I started! The talent S Fey shows with this collection is unreal! I could barely breathe by the last poem! I felt each word and was in awe of how words I knew could be arranged so artfully to make me feel such a range of emotions!

[Shelby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so stunning. It was an honor to read this ARC, and I can’t wait for y’all to explore it! It is such a beautiful this debut, and wow do the line breaks in this collection have my heart.

decompose releases March 26, 2024, and is available for preorder now!

Synopsis:

Our life contains several lives as well as several deaths; we attempt to understand these little rebirths through poetry. 

decompose explores pruning our past to make room for future growth; the expanse we are offered through the crush of heartbreak, discovering family beyond our original home, finding new meaning in our own name – S. Fey picks these timeless themes like roses from a flourishing garden to compose a thorny and succulent bouquet of living, loss, and rebirth throughout the rejuvenating pages of their debut poetry collection.

[Bryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

S. Fey is truly a portrait artist with words. Many times I found myself absorbed into his world, feeling the pain and growth of conflict and resolution. While grappling with the past, S. Fey sows seeds of hope and I am right beside them through this journey. What a beautiful collection of poems - especially Dinosaur Spine which stopped me in my tracks.

[Brian Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I starved out the flames. Which grew, hungry, so hungry, in resistance." -S. Fey

In his debut poetry collection, S. Fey masterfully encapsulates the sweet floral scents and the prickly thorns of love, family, and self-preservation. Fey fiercely unleashes his creative prowess, but nothing about this collection is belligerent or forceful. It's rather the opposite. Like a fencer, Fey depicts his pain and joy with deadly precision. While reading this book, I often caught myself wincing or laughing when I wasn't expecting it. Fey has much reverence for not only his work but also for the work of artists who've inspired him and the craft of poetry itself. That is to say, Fey is not afraid to mess with the established norm and go his own way. You'll find many comforts and many turns as you read this book; "Something wild between primaries."

[Joanne Juenger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Decompose does just as it promises, breaks down what was, to grow what is meant to be. An experience that has me reading, rereading, and then reading again, S. Fey creates an opportunity for readers to take a quiet moment for explosive self-reflection. Intimate, humbling, and altogether beautiful, Decompose is a stunning debut with a refreshingly artful approach to exploring vulnerability, self-discovery, and healing within the world we know today.

[Lilyelloranewton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!! I’ve been following S. Fey’s writing on twitter for years and was highly anticipating this debut. I was not disappointed! I read this in one sitting the night it arrived and already know I will re-read often.

Decompose hauntingly illustrates the way abusers can sink their claws directly in your heart followed by an arc that stunningly captures growth and rebirth. This novel shares the depths of loneliness and the power of finding your people and of course, finding yourself. While his poems are deeply personal, Fey manages to write in ways that any human can connect with. I recommend this novel for anyone who is a lover of poetry and anyone who has been wanting to get into poetry but doesn’t know how - S. Fey will draw you right in.

Thrilled for the world to know the talent of S. Fey. What a phenomenal debut!

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful collection of poetry that will break your heart and then put it back together again multiple times. A must read for anyone that has ever experienced heartbreak or just wants to know how it feels to journey through life and love and come out at the end a better person.

[Maggie Warren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely poems that feel like an adventure. This is contemporary poetry at its strongest. There are so many lovely moments of fresh and surprising language. I felt seen in this book!

[Jennifer Beard · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite children's books features a bear picking pears to eat for a snack. It must be read in a British accent (I don't make the rules). My favorite line is when Bear says, "Scrunch-munch. Delicious."

Fey has me scrunch-munching this collection of poems that is equal parts raw, wild, gut-punching, and, of course, delicious.

[Dare Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Using the Tarot as a guide, S. Fey takes us on a journey of locating the self inside multple relationships and how emergence from those relationships can bring about exciting and terrifying changes. Like the moth that inhabits the cover, these poems feel situated inside the chrysalis from which the speaker draws our attention, uncomfortable places we must put ourselves inside of in order to grow and honor our authentic selves. Through clarity of language and thought-provoking nonce forms, these poems have changed me and made me view my world differently. We are made better by engaging with this work.

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Decompose is an incredible collection of poems from start to finish. S.Fey takes you on a journey of growth, you can feel the raw power in every poem. So much vulnerability in ways that are digestible and relatable. One of my favorite lines has to be, "rain is just drizzle / & nobody publishes any of it." (S.Fey, lines 13-14). When you get to "when you encounter the devil" know that you have truly completed several cycles of regrowth, walked through the painful journey of what it takes to decompose and let it be nothing more than that - simply let it be and write what it is. This book of poems is heartbreaking and inspiring and I hope you get as much enjoyment out of it as I did.

[Hallie Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

read this in one sitting as part of the Sealey Challenge. this book was stunning, heart-wrenching, relatable, real, queer, contemporary, accessible (in a good way), gripping, and heartbreaking. some of my favorites were “Wings,” “Everyone calls me their husband,” “I can’t focus right now but who can blame me?” “Pop,” (love pop references in poetry, i want more!!), “I want to text you but I’m tired,” “Beach day,” “Edwin says I deserve to be loved with precision,” “good” (wowww), “Lightless” (woww!!!),” and “Zora gives me a new middle name.” absolutely great collection, highly recommend!!

[Gerda · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a gorgeous collection. Vulnerability, humour, force – this book has it all. I haven't felt so moved by poetry in years.. Each poem pulled me in a different emotional direction: 'Dinosaur Spine' made me cry, 'lesbians are exhausting' made me giggle, 'Pop' made me feel very seen.

Big thanks to Séamus Isaac Fey for single-handedly reawakening my drive to seek out contemporary voices in poetry. Will be recommending this to everyone!

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

S. Fey is an incredibly talented young writer. Their willingness to be vulnerable makes for an engaging and intimate read. My favorite poem is "When You Encounter the Devil." S. Fey is a great person and a fantastic D&D player.

[Winny Murillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are looking to get mad and laugh at the same time this book is for you.
This is a wonderful collection of poems that have the perfect mix of vulnerability, intensity and humor.
Shout out to S. Fey!

[NWReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

S Fey's debut book is a cohesive collection of poems, an all-encompassing journey. By the end the reader can envision the first shoots of green emerge, and sense an unfolding. This is a stunning debut, and I can't wait to read what comes next from this talented author.

[luna rey hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

favorite poem: I want to text you but I’m tired

[AK Painter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning. Fell in love with these poems. Took me on a whole journey, the inner child healing energy is palpable.

[KB Brookins · Rating 5 out of 5]

beautifully crafted and wonderfully queer!

[Gaby Benitez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved Decompose! Such a heartwrenching collection that leaves you wanting more. Got me writing again as well which is just about the highest compliment I can pay. 10/10 would recommend!!!

[R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly an amazing read. S. Fey has delivered a wonderful collection of raw and inspiring poems. My favorite being Bad Ideas. You won't regret diving into Decompose.

[Mya Matteo · Rating 5 out of 5]

"there's gotta be a hand out there that doesn't cost so much to hold"

[Jennifer Loschiavo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a beautiful journey.

[Nikolai Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nobody told me that the ultimate Sad Boy poetry book had already dropped!

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked a few of these and loved the cover

[Mairyn McGilvray · Rating 2 out of 5]

This had all the makings of something I would love but it just didn’t land with me. Maybe it’s the Taylor Swift references

[Ardy Ted · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful! Poignant! must read; must have your own book to reread!

[Jaziya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked how much the authors voice comes through I could practically hear it!

[Mel Ng · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I’m finding here is the writer’s willingness to give space to his feelings and experiences with frank humor, soulful honesty and wry acceptance - from the quotidian to the cosmic. Poetry is often and always confessional, yes; and this collection goes a flight beyond and invites you into a living, breathing conversation.