Of Elderberry, Fire, & Fables

by Odette Augustine

“Augustine’s lyrical form wraps her poems into folklore—it’s hard not to imagine the eponymous Toad, the Ice Queen, the Banshee. She braids the memories of childhood with a sweetness and a bitterness that do not contradict each other, instead forming something whole and healing. Augustine muses upon childhood—the lamps of shared bedrooms, the tangible TV static—but does not live there, does not set up shop. Instead, Of Elderberry, Fire, & Fables feels like a wise lesson from an older sister, someone who has grown and is willing to share the distant traumas of her adventures, whilst ageing with grace. When Augustine writes, “age leaves its mark”, you do not believe this is a disparaging comment—instead, it is the inauguration of a Monroe beauty spot above a smiling lip.

Love comes through like morning light in Augustine’s work, shining and giving way to reflections of life that make you feel hopeful for your own future. It’s a diverse, all-encompassing love, that spans from siblings, to lovers, to the self, but refuses to lend itself to those who do not deserve it. Augustine’s love for herself prevents destructive love for others, and it is enviable. This is as much a collection of poems as it is a set of life lessons that takes you gently by the hand.”

—Ozzy Welch, author of Toothache (Kith Books '24) and D.I.Y. BUTCH (Backroom Poetry, '23)


“Odette Augustine meets readers in all of their muck and glory immediately upon diving into Of Elderberry, Fire, & Fables. This book of poems starts in the context of healing and goes on to explore the complexities, joy, and grief of aging, power dynamics, love, and more. Augustine’s imagery is piercing. The creaking and bending of bones growing from girlhood to womanhood pulsate through the pages. Readers will feel as if they are taking a bite of fresh fruit, only to mourn the rot that sticks in back molars. Augustine contemplates the effects of time through emotive remarks on memory, what humans carry, and marks we leave behind. Her magical language tells of the lives one body can remember, hold, and become. When finished, readers will feel their hearts and remember they are still beating.”

—Kelli Lage, author of Early Cuts


“Spellbinding and entrancing, Of Elderberry, Fire, & Fables takes readers on a tale of life and death. Toeing the lines between tragedy and change, age and time play games with human nature, pushing and pulling it to its limit, and then some. A modern fairytale.”

—Elena Greer

Genres: Poetry, Contemporary

49 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 5, 2024

Reviews

[Michelle Graf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Querencia Press for the ARC.

Standard poetry. At times, violent, passionate, and gothic. At others, emotional, sedate, and reflective. Very evocative imagery, I liked it. Idk, I have a hard time reviewing poetry that I like, it feels like I'm not smart enough for it, lol.

[Emily | bookwhispererem · Rating 4 out of 5]

ℝ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 𝔽𝕠𝕣𝕞𝕒𝕥: 𝐸-𝐵𝑜𝑜𝓀

ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨: 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠-𝐨𝐟-𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐲. 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐞. 𝐈 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠—𝐦𝐲 𝐛𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐰𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫!

𝒯𝒽𝒶𝓃𝓀 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓉𝑜 𝐵𝓇𝒾𝒹𝑔𝑒𝓉𝓉𝑒 𝒱𝒶𝓁𝑒𝓃𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑒, 𝒬𝓊𝑒𝓇𝑒𝓃𝒸𝒾𝒶 𝒫𝓇𝑒𝓈𝓈, & 𝒩𝑒𝓉𝒢𝒶𝓁𝓁𝑒𝓎 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒜𝑅𝒞! 𝒜𝓁𝓁 𝑜𝓅𝒾𝓃𝒾𝑜𝓃𝓈 𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝓂𝓎 𝑜𝓌𝓃.

[Ifa Inziati · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dear Author,

thank you for writing about coming of age in late twenties/thirties in such magical, natural way.

***

Some books can see through me, but I didn't expect this time comes from this one. When I reached the age this book is talking about, it's as if everything is behind and in front of me. I feel the whole universe happens at the same time, yet I can behold clearly what's ahead and what's left. It's a peculiar novel feeling that people rarely discuss or adapt it in media (at least what I can reach and afford) because I feel it—it's hard to properly and fully describe how it is.

But this is as if these poems speak for me.

There are times when I feel really young, when I can go back easily to where I grew up. There are times I know I'm getting older and enjoy it, this is what it's like to be wiser, to be content. There are times when I find routine a comfortable space, there are times when old passions burn even wilder.

On top of that, I am amazed at how the words spew out effortlessly. Earthy, mossy scent mingles with airy imagery; Thick, deep desire pairs with mundane activities. It is people (especially women) who live at the same period of time as me. It is me. How? We have definitely different lives and we are connected. Line by line resonates like radio signals. My thoughts and heart are on air.

Crows begin to rest in the corner of our eyes. Our laughs leave residue like stardust in the creases of
our cheeks. Silver strikes strands of hair like lightning in
a rain storm, leaving us forever changed. Age leaves its mark.

But we are fables. We are legends. We are in our girlhood, forevermore in
our little corner of the
cosmos.

If you want to know how it is to be me, to be you, read the poem above and more.

***

Many thanks to NetGalley and Querencia Press for this lovely ARC of poetry collection.

[mars · Rating 5 out of 5]

"But we are Fables. We are legends. We are our girlhood, forever in our little corner of the cosmos."

I'm always looking for writing that resonates with me and it's really hard to find a lot of the time. This book hits the nail right on the head in the best way. I've often tried to put into words a lot of the feelings that this book so perfectly portrays. Being in your twenties is hard; heck, being human is hard!! Whether it's family members, romantic partners, or just the thoughts swirling in your own head, being able to connect to someone else who feels the same way makes me feel a lot less alone.

This is a beautiful collection of poetry and more than that, a powerful collection of sentiments and feelings. I'm happy to have stumbled across it.

"Girlhood was a millennium and my early twenties was a decade. Only now, at the peak of my happiness, is every year a blink. Nearly thirty and I see fifty peering from between the slants of the blinds."

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc!

[Sirah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of all the poetry collections I've read lately, this one might be the hardest to categorize. There's a strong current of witchy or natural vibes, but this book also speaks about girlhood and aging, love and loss, little moments and cosmic universal thoughts. The style is ethereal and often cryptic, making use of words that seem like they shouldn't belong together but which create a strong impression if you let them. The first few poems caught my attention immediately, and I glanced at the page count, saddened that the book couldn't possibly have more than 50 such poems. It turned out to have quite a few that didn't work for me. But the few that I absolutely fell in love with made the whole experience worth it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Dora · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful imagery though it all felt a bit... shallow? And sometimes a bit too broken with the way lines were arranged (didn't make any sense to me).

There were a few lines that stuck with me but especially the following: " I have planted roses in every pore of my body just to pluck them and put them on the graves of all the girls I used to be." 💜

(thank you netgalley for providing me with a free copy in exchange for my honest opinion)

[kaidence · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is honestly one of my new favorite poetry collections. The themes align perfectly with my interests and I love the writing style. My only issue is that it seemed to jump around between themes. I found that the language was very lovely without being overly flowery. My personal favorite is “Not a Thought in My Mind.” Overall, I deeply resonated with this collection and would love to read more from this author.

Thank you to Querencia Press and Netgalley for this wonderful e-ARC 🤍

[Jessica Esposito · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll admit I'm picky about poetry, there's a certain format that I enjoy and many that I don't. This hooked me in the ribs on the very first page.

There were many pieces that mirrored a very specific anger and captured the feeling of always having to apologize for or hide or excuse your inner child no matter how old you get. There were lines that made heartbreak easier to swallow. In between were sprinkled small, bright poems that soothed the ones that came before them. It was impactful and familiar.

It reminded me that you're never truly alone in your grief, no matter how alone you might feel.

Beautiful.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely collection of poetry that touches on what it's like to be a person who loves. I found myself rereading many of the poems throughout and taking my time with them. There's a delightful play with rhyme in some of them that made me want to read them aloud. I also really like the title! I would read more from this author and I'm glad I got to review this collection. Thank you to Querencia Press for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[MaKayla Tru 🎀 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love how the author shows that she has so much pain and hurt in her, but there’s still those itty bitty glimmers of hope speckled in between that make it worth it. Truly mesmerizing. I picked it up and couldn’t put it down. I feel like I could pick this up at a later time, and still get that emotional pull this had on me the first time I read it.
I received an advance reader copy and want to thank the publisher for the opportunity to read this prose.

[Alanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book of poetry that gave me feelings of deep longing. I enjoyed the writing style and the themes of most of the poetry. Overall I felt it worked together as a whole nicely.

I received an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

[Amanda E · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the book of poetry that you read on one of those long hot summer's afternoons with a slight breeze that offers no relief.
Of Elderberry brings the longing the heartbreak and the yearning of love, life, death & loss.

[Tawheeda Rufah Nilima · Rating 4 out of 5]

"But we are fables. We are legends. We are in our girlhood, forevermore in our little corner of the cosmos."

Finding an author whose writing resonates with you is a surrealistic feeling and I just found Bridgette Valentine. I am grateful to #netgalley for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review.

I started reading this book and I felt the beauty of it.

I love poetry. I love the rhythm that poetry brings, I love the beauty that poetry shows, I acknowledge the pain that poetry offers. This book has most of the things that I search in a poetry book. I love it when poem feels like poem. When verses are verses and nothing else.

'Of Elderberry, Fire, & Fables' is a short collection of poems and verses: about nature and beauty, hopes and dreams, love and life, fables and fairytales.

The word choices, the sentences and everything are so beautifully put together. I read this book and now I know I want to read more from this author.

There is this poem called 'Crowing'. This poem is stunning. It's my favourite. There is another poem that I loved. 'Tuesdays belong to us.'

"And if there's a chance of a forever someday, it looks a lot like your freckles and feels a lot like a Tuesday."

The poem called 'Wiser' made me awestruck. Because,

"We are grave dirt, we are hand picked wildflower bouquets resting on the mounds of fresh earth. We are wise when we know to be."

Dear author, I appreciate your hard work. I see the beauty that you put here in the book. A book that makes me think is a book that gets my love.

"I wonder in how many life times I've made time for the stars. That I've looked to the heavens for fellowship. Our bones hold traces of stardust. The very structures that hold us up are molded in folklore and creation.
I think I am homesick."

- these lines! these lines! oh my god! so poetic, so beautiful. I don't mind living my days thinking about some verses that I read in a book. After a long time, I read such good modern poetry.

These days, some regrets visit my door. And do you know why is that? I didn’t have enough words to describe it. I am no author. So I couldn’t talk about it. Then I read this book and I read,

"Life felt so long until late. Girlhood was a millennium and my early twenties was a decade. Only now, at the peak of my happiness, is every year a blink. Nearly thirty and I see fifty peering from between the slants of the blinds."

Nothing resonated with me the way these lines did. I will go back to this book again, to read the lines that I highlighted. Because,

"I feel nothing and everything. Words and feelings drip out in agonizingly slow motion. Stretched out like a yawn."

4.75 stars!

[Emi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Publishing date: 05.07.2024
Thank you to Netgalley and Querencia Press for the ARC. My opinions are my own. 

The book as a meal: I am foraging in the forest with my lifelong partner, eating a few berries as I pick them
The book left me: Smelling petrichor

Negatives:
Lacks depth
The way the lines were arranged felt a little broken

Positives:
Beautiful imagery 
Deals coming of age in a very unique way 

Features: 
Witchy and natural imagery, would fit well with the Tumblr girlies (affectionate), themes like coming of age and grief of who you used to be

Why did I choose this one?
More poems. And I judged the book by its cover again (it is very pretty). This just seemed like something I would like

Pick-up-able? Put-down-able?
Pick-up-able. The poems are very short and there are very few of them. It could be devoured in one sitting or scattered over a period of time. I decided to finish it in one day. 

What was the vibe and mood?
Witchy, foresty, I can smell berries and petrichor, I am crying because I wish I could comfort the girl I used to be, but I am also happy for the woman I became

Final ranking and star rating?
3 stars, C tier. Although this is a beautiful collection, it is a little disjointed and shallow. This is more vibes than anything else. It touches upon a lot of themes that would hit home, but it just barely scraped me instead. I think it might work for newer readers of poetry. 

Favorite poems: 
Tuesdays belong to us
Saturn Return
Crop Circle
Telephone Poles
Taurus

[Kerry]

With a dedication “For those who feel too rotten and too sweet and know the two are sisters,” Of Elderberry, Fire, and Fables by Bridgette Valentine offers a collection of forty-three poems. The first, “Toothy,” sets the tone, where “cavities become missing molars.” The author explains in the acknowledgements that the collection centers around grief. She used it as an avenue of “coming to terms with parts of myself.” At its heart, these bits of the author’s experiences and essence embrace even the unpleasant as she approaches changes and inevitable transformation, as in the poem “Snake,” “growing into and out of yourself,” shedding a skin. It isn’t the author alone who’s in flux. A little taurus grows horns, a sister elderberry fruit. My favorite of the collection, Crowing, sees “...our laughs leave residue like stardust in the creases of our cheeks…” As the title suggests, there’s lots of fiery imagery, be it burning olive branches or family trees. In the end, though, the author acknowledges “I am not all bramble and the smothering of dead leaves,” as she expresses in “Horse Girl.” She has “...planted roses in every pore of (her) body just to pluck them and put them on the graves of all the girls (she) used to be…” like in the poem “Despite.” The collection has lyrical moments of longing, too, and quiet declarations of much more to come.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Querencia Press for this Advanced Reader's Copy in exchange for an honest review.

This collection earned its affiliation with folklore. With a focus on the human experience and reflection on her younger self, Valentine carves an image of her young-adult experience that resonates beyond the subject matter at hand.

"Not a Thought in My Mind" stood out quite early in the collection. It casts an image of regret that feels universal. Valentine captures a sentiment, perhaps shared among all metacognitive beings, that we regret the faults we develop throughout life. This poem captured the author's awareness that in another universe, she may not be too much for even herself, that she may be a better version of what she is. The second to last sentence resonated: "in another universe, I've never crossed paths with someone like me."

Above all, Valentine's collection is a brief treatise on the multifaceted nature of longing: how we hunger for passion, to change the past without changing how we have grown, to become delicate without being fragile. For those of us who carry the experience of life on the tips of our tongues, it's satisfying to find a poet who captured it in words.

[Cwellere · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have planted roses in every pore of my body just to pluck them and put them on the graves of all the girls I used to be.

This collection is for people who like poetry with very visceral writing, that takes you through both tender and vivid emotions. The author’s wording has a depth of feeling and a powerful imagery that makes it easy to be embarked on this journey of change.
I was especially moved by the pieces talking about anger or loss and longing, which were the ones I felt had the most beautiful lines.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this e-ARC.

[Ana Sofia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The imagery the author conjures up in this collection is goosebump inducing. I was enthralled by the metaphors she found for everyday feelings and circumstances. It's a great collection for anyone looking to dive into contemporary poetry, definitely recommended for students looking for examples of analogies and use of language. Let your imagination take you where the author wants and you shall enjoy this very much!

I just wish it was a longer collection.

[Kamilė | cobwebshelves · Rating 3 out of 5]

"in another universe, my words are always wrapped in lavender and a gentleness that spreads like kudzu. in another universe, i've never crossed paths with someone like me."

2.5 rounded up. i'm not generally too picky with poetry but this one fell flat for me. something about it felt incomplete and lacking depth, like it was more of a compilation of tropes and styles the author likes than something uniquely personal. i did enjoy a few of them, namely "not a thought in my mind" and "alice". but overall, it was pretty bland.

thanks to netgalley and querencia press for the arc.

[Caitlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection of poetry is simply beautifully written. It’s fluid and also has depth.
I weaved in and out of each story, loud with vivid imagery of life and nature.
A quick read that I devoured.

Thank you to NetGalley and Querencia Press for allowing me to read and review Of Elderberry, Fire, & Fables.

[Chloe Maria Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

among my list of favourite poetry collections i've read so far this year. so hauntingly beautiful and the imagery is perfect - bridgette valentine's poetry is like talking a stroll in a garden where the flowers have started to wilt, but they've never smelled more alive. stunning!

[Devin McIntyre · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this collection of poetry. I found myself impressed by the cohesiveness of the imagery over the entire collection. This book explores heartbreak, disappointment, and resentment with grace and beautiful imagery.

Thank you Netgalley and Querencia Press for the ARC.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully evocative collection of poems that brought me painfully back to my early 20s. The repeated imagery of bones and fire and berries all wove together and will linger in my mind for a while.

[Isayda Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the imagery in this collection of poetry. I liked the connections with astrology and nature.

[Rin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this in return for an honest review.

This was a beautiful collection of poems using floral language covering themes like nature and love. I think it would pair really nicely with illustrations or as a prompt for an art piece. My personal favourites are: Olive, Saturn return and For Eve.