Pieces of my Heart: A dark poetry collection

by Despoina Kemeridou

"If only hearts could never break..."

The pieces of a broken heart turn into words in this dark poetry collection.

Touching on sensitive topics like mental illness, trauma, and death, this collection isn't for the faint of heart.

***

My heart bleeds into words
My mouth dare not utter
Ink and soul bonded
To express the pain inside
Poems and stories
From the depths of my being
Sorrow and darkness
I tried so much to keep hidden

***

Themes:

- Fantasy
- Despair
- Loneliness
- Trauma
- Love
- Death

Genres: Poetry, Adult

158 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 31, 2024

About the author

Despoina Kemeridou is a multi-genre author, poet, and graphic designer. She started writing in 2009 and immediately knew this was what she wanted to do for the rest of her life.

Kemeridou was born in 1996 in Thessaloniki, Greece. She studied Midwifery at the International University of Greece. Alongside writing, Kemeridou likes reading, photography, sketching, and painting.

She started self-publishing in 2018 and has since self-published three books. Currently, she is working on a dark fantasy retelling of a mixture between the myth of Hades and Persephone and the Beauty and the Beast fairytale.

Reviews

[Brian Bowyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic!

My first read by this author, but certainly not my last. This is simply an outstanding collection. I'm looking forward to reading more by Kemeridou. Highly recommended to all fans of great poetry!

[Darren Hawbrook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartfelt and touching

This is poetry that charts the depths of human emotion and frailty. The Monster, Missing, and if I Ever Find You, were my favorites in the collection. A journey of the soul.

[Mia Sanchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!

This was my first time reading a book by this author. But I know how amazing of a poet Despoina is based on her poetry on social media. So I had high expectations tbh. And this met all of them!!

The loneliness section was my favourite. I could relate to a lot of the poems in this collection. For the first time ever, I found myself highlighting tons of lines and sharing them with my best friend. They hurt a lot at times, but I also felt very seen.

It is a dark collection, so be warned. But the poems also feel like a warm hug and someone saying that they know how you feel. Definitely an amazing read. I'll definitely read more from this author in the future 💙

[Luana Giunta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptional poems from an incredible author. Dark, raw, and beautifully penned.
Bonus point for the awesome cover. 100% recommend.

[Keith Maloy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was one of the ARC reviewers for this book and I thought the themes of the poems tied in well with each other. The words set the mood for many of these, and together I felt they came together to convey a coherent story that invoked the desired emotions.
This was my first book by this author, but I am now going to search out more.

[Dalton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC for this book in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way. This is a poetry book that revels in the melancholy and despair that the world gives us occasionally. I feel there is deep misery and haze throughout the piece like the work is coming to terms with how depressing it is to make it more impact than if it didn't have this conflict. I recommend this book to poetry lovers and the sobering type of poetry that really makes you wonder.

[Lacrima Mundi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewing poetry for me is a matter of personal taste, connection to the poems, and vibes: I either vibe with it, or I don't.

I loved quite a number of the poems in this Dark Poetry Collection, there where some I didn't vibe with but found well-written, and a few that didn't do much for me.

Many poems in here will make you think, take a break, reflect; on Love, Despair, Loneliness, Trauma, Death - even Fantasy.

Some rhyme, some have metrics, some don't. Some have some of this partially.

I really liked it and enjoyed reading it.

If you like modern poetry I recommend checking this collection out.

[Βίκυ Χ. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Hypnotic Poetry Collection: Rare Soothing Power that Triggers the Senses

"Pieces of My Heart” is a hypnotizing dark poetry collection penned by my favorite poet, Despoina Kemeridou. This evocative and powerful collection is not merely a puzzle of broken heart pieces; it’s a rare atlas of scarcely navigated regions, allowing readers to locate the missing fragments of their own hearts.

“Like a thousand colorful lanterns in the night sky,” these poems of unparalleled beauty and depth cast soothing and healing light into the darkest corners of the readers’ minds and souls. Despoina Kemeridou’s freshly sharpened pencil traces her thoughts on paper. The graphite whispers secrets, and the paper cradles them gently. Each stroke becomes a bridge between imagination and reality, nightmares and dreams. Each letter transforms into a note composing a spellbinding melody for the enchanting dance of hope and despair. Each verse reflects the deep longing of humanity for love and home.

All the poems in this enchanting collection resemble children holding hands and dancing a whimsical Tarantella as the sunlight and moonlight mingle, convincing life and death to stop lurking in the shadows and come forth to be embraced by the readers’ aching hearts.

As a passionate enthusiast of poetry in general and of Despoina Kemeridou’s exceptional works in particular, I feel lacking in words to praise enough her newest work of art that showcases her brilliant talent, sensitive heart, and sharp mind. “Pieces of My Heart” is a warm embrace that no poetry lover should miss! This collection is a must-read for anyone who appreciates the profound beauty and emotional depth of dark poetry.

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Despoina Kemeridou for generously providing me with the eARC of this mesmerizing book. I eagerly anticipate more literary gems from this talented author in the future.

[Michael C. Haymes · Rating 5 out of 5]

In her latest collection of poetry, PIECES OF MY HEART, Despoina Kemeridou skillfully explores the depths of the human experience with profound simplicity, sincere honesty, and luminous grace.

Kemeridou divides the book into six sections: Fantasy, Despair, Loneliness, Trauma, Love, and Death. Each section, along with every poem, stands apart yet still contributes to the overall theme of the work: these poems are the secret pieces of every heart. From the opening lines of "The Way of the World," Kemeridou wisely and ironically introduces readers to stark realities in Fantasy, letting us know that she will not be holding back in this collection. And she doesn't. Themes of loss, heartbreak, longing, hope, and love fill these pages in masterful ways. Kemeridou is so damned good that I wanted to throw this book across the room because she reminds me of the grief I have tried so hard to forget, but she also becomes our guide along this emotional journey, showing us the secrets we cannot bear while reminding us that we are not alone in our own private agony. Her words are the light we have longed for to escape the darkness. It's not just good poetry; it's great poetry. It's why we live and how we grieve and who we love and long for and why. Most of all, this book is a candle, supportive yet fragile, a flickering flame that illuminates that the deepest darkest caverns of our hearts.

I received an advanced reader copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. I have not been compensated in any way for doing so.

[KateJoanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some nice pieces of poetry with lovely formatting and cover, a refreshingly different poetry book. Not the most technically skilled writing, but still lovely to read and the effort and passion is clear. Poems centred on fantasy isn’t something you see often, and I liked to see them here.

‘If only love could not turn to hate‭ ‬
If only people could never change‭ ‬
If only hearts could never break’

Some of the poems don’t quite follow through, lovely description, metaphors and ideas but no rhythm.

The Despair section was lovely, lots of meaningful poems in there. Trauma was also nice and I absolutely loved ‘Haunting of the lost’ and ‘Time passes us by’

‘Nothing remains‭ ‬
Of the child I left behind.‭ ‬
No more joy, no innocence.‭ ‬
Only longing for all the things‭ ‬
I couldn’t have
These walls hold only the sorrow‭ ‬
Of a family that could never be‭ ‬
And a child that could never belong.’

[Mae Setrova · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars 🌟

this is a truly beautiful & creative poetry book and i am so grateful i was chosen so be an ARC reader for such a unique collection. "death" was by far my favorite chapter but "trauma" is close second for this spot, (btw, it is so difficult to choose because they're all soooo good and hook you immediately). i read fantasy novels quite often so to find a fantasy POETRY collection was like christmas morning for me, i was over the moon and it did not disappoint. if you're a fan of poetry and fantasy, this book is 100% for you (or maybe a gift for a fantasy/poetry lover) 🩶

[Mr. Kreher · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a phenomenal collection of poems. Despoina Kemeridou is a great poet of our time, so don't miss out on reading one of her books. My favourite part of this book was the common themes of grouped poems. I especially loved the royalty themes with a poem for separate entities like a king, queen, princess...

[Logan Veynar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pieces of My Heart pulled at parts of me I don’t often revisit... the silent ache, the weight of loss, the raw, jagged edges of grief. Despoina’s words are unfiltered and honest, hitting with a quiet force that stays with you long after reading. It’s a painful kind of beautiful. How is it that her words can resurface old wounds so well? And this is not the first time either!

[Bethany Fisher · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good collection of poetry. Some poems had pretty good imagery while others felt generic. I'll probably reread some of the Love poems as I feel that was the best section.

Thank you to Netgalley and the author for the ALC

[Tasmin Bradshaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is exactly what poetry I love! The dark, the depressing. It just hits harder than all the others.
I very much enjoyed this.

"My world's set on fire. No place to belong. The saint was a liar. I was never strong."

I was granted a copy from book sirens for an honest review

[Ed Corbett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartfelt Pieces

This book takes the reader on a journey through the many feelings that one goes through in life. The author invites the reader to feel each word written. I look forward to reading more from this author.

[Maniyah Pulley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am in love with every poem from this collection. This is the type of book you hope to find when on the hunt for thought provoking poetry!

I have been on search for poems that make you stop and think. After almost every poem I was left trying to decipher the meanings.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sophie Bowns · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely collection!

First of all, I really love the front cover and the text. It is very striking. The poetry collection is a great one, the poet writes really well.

[Rowena Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully dark collection of poetry touching on everything from loneliness to love, fantasy and death. The collection takes you on a roller coaster ride of emotions and makes you think about your very existence as the tears flow down your face.
There is a poem in there for everyone. Each poem will have you looking at yourself, the people around you, and the world around you with a new perspective.

[Mona Monty · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.8 out of 5 Stars

Review

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for providing this ARC.

This collectoin of poems is a deep exploration of pain, sorrow, and the dark corners of the human soul. It illustraits the turmoil of mental illness, trauma, and death that tortures ones soul from loss, pain and tragedies in out life.

The author has led bare the pain and suffering we go through behind close doors, verbalising the way our heart bleeds behind fake smiles. This is not a collection for the faint of heart, but rather for those who are willing to confront the shadows that lurk within us all.

The poems are a blend of rhymes and free verse and each one leads into the other. Till the very end the author stays true to the theme of the book, never letting a single ray of light pass through the murky depths of a heart suffering pain in silence.

Pros:

Emotional Depth: The collection has raw emotional depth, offereing a look at struggle with mental health, setbacks, pain and loneliness.

Variety of Styles: The mix of rhyme, free verse, and varying metrics caters to different tastes.

Cons:

Subjectivity: As with all poetry, personal connection is key, and not all readers may find themselves resonating with the content. Though many will feel seen and acknowledged in its verses others might be forced to face their pains.

Conclusion

This is a dark, evocative collection of poetry that explores some of the most painful aspects of the human experience. The poems raw intensity may not be for everyone and it is advised to read this with caution.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark Poetry collection separated into 6 parts

Part 1 Fantasy
At first it wasn't clicking, but after a few poems I began to see what it was trying to do and really got into it. As soon as I finished, I immediately went back and reread it all before moving onto the next part. OMG, it's even better the second time! If you're like me and sometimes skip the title of each poem, don't do that with this part.
Favs-
Hades
Fallen Princess

Part 2 Despair
Didn't love this section as much as Part 1.
Favs-
Embrace the Madness
Modern World

Part 3 Loneliness
Started out fine, ended with me in tears.
Favs-
Alone
I wander, Drowning
Abandoned Home

Part 4 Trauma
Still crying, I'm not okay.
Favs-
Tear me apart
The Monster
My Pieces

Part 5 Love
STOP ITTTTTTTTT! Lulled me in with a false sense of security, just as my tears are receding, it manages to break me even more!
Favs-
Follow my Lead
My Safe Place
Missing

Part 6 Death
My least favourite part but still good.
Favs-
Letting Go


Why does this collection kind of remind me of the Folklore and Evermore albums by Taylor Swift??
I'll definitely be buying myself and my bestie of this when I can get my hands on the physical copy.

Thank you NETGALLEY for the ARC

[Sarah Sims · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this collection as an ARC but am receiving no incentive from author or publisher beyond the free copy of the ebook.
I think I may be the wrong audience for this collection. It reminded me a good deal of the kind of lyrics from the kind of music I listened to in high school (Evanescence would probably be the most popular band of this genre) so it felt somewhat immature to me. I'm not sure whether this is an accurate reflection on the works or a bias on my part due to the reminder. There were definitely some good turns of phrase and imagery involved but I think it could benefit from some editing in terms of spelling, punctuation, etc.
I think for a different person it may be much more impactful as it dealt with heavy topics but it just wasn't for me.

[Shelby · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first section you can see the elements of how it is fantasy and not just the names of each poem, but also how each poem's name relates to what is being talked about. For the second section the poem I related to the most was embrace the madness it describes how I feel, it feels like accepting the dark and things you do not want to accept. For the third section I related to abandoned home, it felt like growing up in a not-so-great way and how everything has changed. Overall, these are my types of poems I like the deep meaning of things even if you don't know that it was about mental illness, you can feel the pain in it, and these are ones that I feel have the real heart and keep my interest.

[Lola Jansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very powerful collection of poetry. Some better then others, some of the poems seemed a bit generic and more like emo music lyrics, but that doesn’t spoil the vibe of the book.

The last section of the book was my favorite, but I really enjoyed all of the themes except for

Love

I personally didn’t like the “love” section because I couldn’t resonate with that (never been in love) so I can’t properly review that part of the book.

Still a 5 star read and very good example of moving poetry

[Eve L-A Witherington · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was drawn to read this collection for the fact it is themed to be darker from the tagline on the cover and having previously enjoyed Despoina's other moving poetry collections.
From the start there is a fantasy edge to the writing with knights and ladies, a hero's theme too, before moving on to haunted house theme too.
The poem, Me As I Am, was relatable and so simple the way it was written just stating facts and I love when you can really relate to poetry to get you thinking about life and situations too.
Darker but still deeply moving!

[Alana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this one quote from the poem "child of my past" that goes "The distant, familiar smell of a dream." For some reason it stuck and resonated with me and I think that feeling describes the rest of the book.

I loved it had different categories like fantasy or despair. Then being organized and not just thrown at you in a humble can really prepare you for more, and you'll want more.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Hannah Wolfram · Rating 4 out of 5]

DISCLAIMER: I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

I thought this book, despite some of its darker undertones, was quite well done. The poetry was beautiful and honestly, I didn't find it overwhelmingly dark (but that might just be me and my perceptions; if you have multiple triggers, please do some more research before jumping in).

Overall, I enjoyed this collection and would recommend it to fans of contemporary poetry.

[Kitty · Rating 5 out of 5]

A poetry book perfect for the fantasy and spooky girls .🤎🧡👻

With topic like death , fantasy and trauma . I read in less than an hour and I feel every poem . I connect really fast with the writting style and highlight each page in my PDF because all the meaning aún the poems . I love it .

I received and arc for this books .

[Elise (Taylor’s version) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I enjoyed this poetry book, I could relate to some poems and find other ones interesting.
But it didn't grip me the way I expect a poetry book to grip me if you know what I mean.
It was still a great experience and the author had potential.

[Danielle Meier · Rating 3 out of 5]

I either vibe or I don't vibe with poetry and this one I just didn't vibe with unfortunately. There were a handful of pieces that I did enjoy and made me feel connected to the writing though, which is why I am giving it three stars. Most of them, just didn't reach out to me like I am used to with poetry.


I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.