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Melodia
“…Acquisition of enigmatic ephemera is the melodia of a beautiful birdsong.” -Mockingbird, MELODIA
Poems and art of music, darkness, and dreams. Melodies that haunt, heal, and seduce. An eerie and lyrical journey through sound and silence. Let MELODIA stir your soul, awaken the past, and unleash the arcane.
Poems and art of music, darkness, and dreams. Melodies that haunt, heal, and seduce. An eerie and lyrical journey through sound and silence. Let MELODIA stir your soul, awaken the past, and unleash the arcane.
- GenresPoetryHorrorDark Fantasy
52 pages, Hardcover
Published April 14, 2024
3 people are currently reading
9 people want to read
About the author
Wyrd Lea
4 books15 followersMy writing leans to weird, haunting, grotesque, and surrealist, and gothic, influenced by childhood trauma, ecology, and a neurodivergent mindscape. In the same vein as Laurie Halse Anderson, Ocean Vuong, Franny Choi, and Katherine Dunn, I’m passionate about poetry featuring narratives based upon regaining voice, autonomy, familial trauma and history, both autobiographical and drawn from modern tales and mythology.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
October 25, 2025
This is truly an amazing, cohesive collection of hauntingly beautiful and horrifying art surrounding many aspects of life. Each piece was so different, and yet they flowed so well together. I really loved this and the gothic macabre feel to each piece.
December 29, 2025
✨ ARC review ✨
3.75 stars
"Darling, nest my neck in the warm, black magic saliva glistening on your canines."
– Wyrd Lea, 'Necromancy'
"Melodia" is a thoroughly weird and fascinating poetry collection. If you crave poetry that challenges and surprises you, broadens your horizon, gives you a sense of belonging and creeps you out at the same time — this is definitely worth checking out.
I loved the dark themes with a bit of twisted tenderness strewn in here and there, the unique metaphors and phrasings, and the utter strangeness of it all. My favorite works from this collection were Chimera Fish, Mother of Wyrd, Riddle Me This, There Are No Fathers In This House, How To Enchant A Woman, and Necromancy.
Personally, I struggled to keep my focus during the poems that relied heavily on unique formatting and/or included lots of unusual words (e.g. niche scientific terms or neologisms); that may be due to 1) my ADHD-related focus issues, 2) English not being my first language, and/or 3) simply personal taste. So those were mostly not as good of an experience for me as the more traditionally formatted and/or linguistically slightly simpler works. Still, each one was an interesting read since Wyrd's ideas, perspective, and implementation of techniques are so creative and intriguing.
While I received an e-ARC from the author, I also purchased the audio book and often read along while listening, and I must say that Wyrd's style truly shines in audio format all around. Their performance greatly enhanced the reading experience for me, both by setting the perfect mood and making the uniquely formatted poems easier to follow / translating their intended rhythm and vibe perfectly for my brain. Therefore I'd heavily recommend the audio version, either as an addition to the written word or as a replacement if you prefer/require that. Absolutely amazing narration/performance!
3.75 stars
"Darling, nest my neck in the warm, black magic saliva glistening on your canines."
– Wyrd Lea, 'Necromancy'
"Melodia" is a thoroughly weird and fascinating poetry collection. If you crave poetry that challenges and surprises you, broadens your horizon, gives you a sense of belonging and creeps you out at the same time — this is definitely worth checking out.
I loved the dark themes with a bit of twisted tenderness strewn in here and there, the unique metaphors and phrasings, and the utter strangeness of it all. My favorite works from this collection were Chimera Fish, Mother of Wyrd, Riddle Me This, There Are No Fathers In This House, How To Enchant A Woman, and Necromancy.
Personally, I struggled to keep my focus during the poems that relied heavily on unique formatting and/or included lots of unusual words (e.g. niche scientific terms or neologisms); that may be due to 1) my ADHD-related focus issues, 2) English not being my first language, and/or 3) simply personal taste. So those were mostly not as good of an experience for me as the more traditionally formatted and/or linguistically slightly simpler works. Still, each one was an interesting read since Wyrd's ideas, perspective, and implementation of techniques are so creative and intriguing.
While I received an e-ARC from the author, I also purchased the audio book and often read along while listening, and I must say that Wyrd's style truly shines in audio format all around. Their performance greatly enhanced the reading experience for me, both by setting the perfect mood and making the uniquely formatted poems easier to follow / translating their intended rhythm and vibe perfectly for my brain. Therefore I'd heavily recommend the audio version, either as an addition to the written word or as a replacement if you prefer/require that. Absolutely amazing narration/performance!
October 22, 2024
It might seem silly to label this collection a good spooky-season poetry read when some of the themes and imagery are heavy, but reading a collection like this with horror elements in October feels right!
The last poem has a satisfying full-circle moment that makes this collection feel cohesive. I found this book to be about finding your place, your people, and your voice. It challenges the reader to dream and imagine with the poet, to go along on an adventure in storytelling down creative avenues that sometimes feel like traditional poetry and sometimes like grotesque adult nursery rhymes. And I mean that in the best way!
I enjoyed this collection and look forward to reading more from this poet.
One thing did catch me a bit off-guard, not in the collection itself, but in the forward not written by Nona Lea. There was a remark discrediting other talented poets that might have set a tone of negativity for me, personally. After chatting with the poet, I have a better understanding of the intention behind the comment, but I did feel compelled to mention it in my review!
All that said, it was an honor to read this collection and chat with this poet! Thank you @poet_nona_lea for sharing it with me! 🫶
The last poem has a satisfying full-circle moment that makes this collection feel cohesive. I found this book to be about finding your place, your people, and your voice. It challenges the reader to dream and imagine with the poet, to go along on an adventure in storytelling down creative avenues that sometimes feel like traditional poetry and sometimes like grotesque adult nursery rhymes. And I mean that in the best way!
I enjoyed this collection and look forward to reading more from this poet.
One thing did catch me a bit off-guard, not in the collection itself, but in the forward not written by Nona Lea. There was a remark discrediting other talented poets that might have set a tone of negativity for me, personally. After chatting with the poet, I have a better understanding of the intention behind the comment, but I did feel compelled to mention it in my review!
All that said, it was an honor to read this collection and chat with this poet! Thank you @poet_nona_lea for sharing it with me! 🫶
January 2, 2025
Thank you so much to the author for sending me a copy of this collection to read and review!
If you enjoy poetry and all things spooky and horror, then this collection would likely appeal to you. The themes can definitely get to be a bit grotesque at times as the description states, so just be aware of that going into the experience. I was honestly fine with it for the most part but certainly squirmed at a few moments that were intended to be surprising or dark.
The word choices were elevated and the structure was always changing, which made it both visually and intellectually interesting. Some of the diction was a bit challenging for me to get through because of its complexity, which would make it less accessible to an inexperienced poetry reader, but rereading lines can help with this.
Oh, and on the topic of visuals and structure, I think the collages might have been my favorite part! They were creative and unexpected from a traditional poetry collection, which I loved.
Kudos to the author for putting this out into the world (and cheers to us for finally getting this onto Goodreads lol). Definitely be sure to support her in her writing endeavors :)
If you enjoy poetry and all things spooky and horror, then this collection would likely appeal to you. The themes can definitely get to be a bit grotesque at times as the description states, so just be aware of that going into the experience. I was honestly fine with it for the most part but certainly squirmed at a few moments that were intended to be surprising or dark.
The word choices were elevated and the structure was always changing, which made it both visually and intellectually interesting. Some of the diction was a bit challenging for me to get through because of its complexity, which would make it less accessible to an inexperienced poetry reader, but rereading lines can help with this.
Oh, and on the topic of visuals and structure, I think the collages might have been my favorite part! They were creative and unexpected from a traditional poetry collection, which I loved.
Kudos to the author for putting this out into the world (and cheers to us for finally getting this onto Goodreads lol). Definitely be sure to support her in her writing endeavors :)
October 16, 2025
For those who hear beauty in the ache between notes.🥀
Melodia-by Wyrd Lea
🖤Blurb🖤
Ready for playful horror?
Take a journey through a fantastical landscape with an Ugly Egg, fall in love with seductive nonsense of necromancy, listen to gothic horrors of mundane nature, and watch an emerging grotesque self-acceptance. Let MELODIA stir your soul, awaken the past, and unleash the arcane.
🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀
A hymn for the haunted…where every line drips with shadow.
I am a Horror fan, and I am also a Poetry Fan. But I’ve never experienced Horror Poetry the way Melodia delivers it.
Filled to the brim with chilling imagery, and gothic visuals that will leave you with goosebumps. The themes can definitely get to be a bit grotesque at times as the description states,but it is a very well written and engaging collection of dark, gothic, and haunting elements.
These poems are a dark mirror: they reflect what you’ve buried and hum it back to life in spectral notes. Each page is a coffin of sound, yet within it, something alive stirs, singing a lullaby only the brave will follow.
It would be hard to not come away with a favorite in this anthology, My favorites of the prose were Lullaby Rot and Mockingbird.
Melodia lingers long after the last line, a shadowed melody that haunts your dreams, awakens forgotten echoes, and whispers that some music is meant only for the night.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to Author for allowing me to read and review your beautiful work.
Melodia-by Wyrd Lea
🖤Blurb🖤
Ready for playful horror?
Take a journey through a fantastical landscape with an Ugly Egg, fall in love with seductive nonsense of necromancy, listen to gothic horrors of mundane nature, and watch an emerging grotesque self-acceptance. Let MELODIA stir your soul, awaken the past, and unleash the arcane.
🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀
A hymn for the haunted…where every line drips with shadow.
I am a Horror fan, and I am also a Poetry Fan. But I’ve never experienced Horror Poetry the way Melodia delivers it.
Filled to the brim with chilling imagery, and gothic visuals that will leave you with goosebumps. The themes can definitely get to be a bit grotesque at times as the description states,but it is a very well written and engaging collection of dark, gothic, and haunting elements.
These poems are a dark mirror: they reflect what you’ve buried and hum it back to life in spectral notes. Each page is a coffin of sound, yet within it, something alive stirs, singing a lullaby only the brave will follow.
It would be hard to not come away with a favorite in this anthology, My favorites of the prose were Lullaby Rot and Mockingbird.
Melodia lingers long after the last line, a shadowed melody that haunts your dreams, awakens forgotten echoes, and whispers that some music is meant only for the night.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to Author for allowing me to read and review your beautiful work.
October 14, 2025
A really good short poetry collection. My favourites were: Ancestral Sin, Earworms enter intrusively, Mother of Wyrd, Funeral Fire for the Fathers, The Ugly Egg and Community Park Haikus.
October 7, 2024
"On threads of grass the cracked egg crawls, behind a rolling shadow began to sprawl, the harder the egg smiled without words, the more friends it made with meek little birds,..."
Melodia is a wonderful compilation of poetry and art. It is haunting and captivating. While each poem is separate, Nona Lee does an amazing job in putting callbacks to each one. Whether it is an image or a word, as you dive deeper, you will feel the connectedness of it all.
The diction in Melodia is beautiful and fascinating. Words and phrases you don't normally see together are done so expertly.
Each piece of art is very interesting. They're all very different from one another and it really shows the author's varying skill and ability.
My personal favorite poem is "The Ugly Egg" which plays on classic fairytales and also attaches it to real life people and events.
I highly recommend this, especially when you're feeling up for a spooky read.
Melodia is a wonderful compilation of poetry and art. It is haunting and captivating. While each poem is separate, Nona Lee does an amazing job in putting callbacks to each one. Whether it is an image or a word, as you dive deeper, you will feel the connectedness of it all.
The diction in Melodia is beautiful and fascinating. Words and phrases you don't normally see together are done so expertly.
Each piece of art is very interesting. They're all very different from one another and it really shows the author's varying skill and ability.
My personal favorite poem is "The Ugly Egg" which plays on classic fairytales and also attaches it to real life people and events.
I highly recommend this, especially when you're feeling up for a spooky read.
January 24, 2025
Thank you to Nona Lee for sharing her collection of poetry with me. This collection was unique, emotional and thoughtful provoking in all the best ways.
Nona Lee plays with form, rhythm, and words like she’s playing a piano. What appears as a random set of keys plunking away leads you to a beautiful and impactful collection.
I think this was one of my favorite lines:
“I was the laugh after weeping,/ a fleeting salve teasing the ache,/the amorphous in medias res metempsychosis,/the amen in Odin hymns,/ oscillating among moans of shadow/archetypes” - Mockingbird
I loved the word play in Necromancy, I loved the way the words felt like marbles in my mouth — really making the reading (particularly out loud), a full experience.
There’s an epic-esque poem, The Ugly Egg, that I also thoroughly enjoyed.
If you enjoy experimentations within poetry absolutely give this collection a read!
Nona Lee plays with form, rhythm, and words like she’s playing a piano. What appears as a random set of keys plunking away leads you to a beautiful and impactful collection.
I think this was one of my favorite lines:
“I was the laugh after weeping,/ a fleeting salve teasing the ache,/the amorphous in medias res metempsychosis,/the amen in Odin hymns,/ oscillating among moans of shadow/archetypes” - Mockingbird
I loved the word play in Necromancy, I loved the way the words felt like marbles in my mouth — really making the reading (particularly out loud), a full experience.
There’s an epic-esque poem, The Ugly Egg, that I also thoroughly enjoyed.
If you enjoy experimentations within poetry absolutely give this collection a read!
September 15, 2025
This anthology is a magical journey through ones perception of the very harsh world we live in, spun in lyrics and gothic whimsy. Although all individual poems, there is a collective cohesiveness and everything is brought together by the final piece. Themed with nostalgia all the way through with call backs to fairytales, you feel at ease as you tumble through Leas wonderful eldritch inspired tales. I found poem 10 to be very relatable, it flowed extremely well and is one of my favourite poems from this collection. Equally poem 11 was also really powerful, to me it shone a light on the need for a "perfect body" and the pressures from society to look & be a certain way.
December 21, 2025
A dark collection of poetry written in the most beautiful language. I didn't just read this poetry. I saw it, smelled it, felt it, the aching and oozing that seeped from between the words. I'm excited to read more from Wyrd Lea.
Read
October 20, 2024Don't let the playful horror fool you: Nona has important things to say.
September 2, 2025
4 stars for MELODIA by Wyrd Lea!
TW (for my review, there are different content notes in MELODIA): Mention of abuse
The brains, body parts, and relationships depicted in these poems were intriguing. The writing and phrasing was vivid when it sought a visceral tone and at other times it was mysterious which aligned with the feel of the given poem. I appreciated the themes explored, for example what it means to have a parent who commits abuse, as well as consuming things into one's body literally or figuratively.
My favourite poem is number 11, you will discover what the title is once you read it, and I really enjoyed the repeated word in this poem. I am trans so I related to the descriptions of the body in this poem. I also really liked the poem with content pertaining to parental abuse because it was moving and it made my heart hurt.
One of the poems that has a content note about it depicting Harm OCD (Harm OCD was stated amongst other content notes for this specific poem) made me anxious. My interpretation of this poem is that it poem seeks to show Harm OCD and help others understand what kind of visualizations or phrases are thought. I felt scared and I think I was triggered reading this poem, however, that is me and my reaction to the imagery in this poem and other readers may feel differently. Also, saying that I felt anxious and triggered in my reaction is not meant to antagonize Harm OCD, but please let me know if my wording is insensitive.
I admire the ending poem because it ties together the ideas. There was a theme fighting against oppressive figures, like the father figure in one of the poems, and a sense of feeling trapped or stuck that I felt in other poems. So, I like how the ending provided hope and freedom.
Thank you Wyrd Lea for the eARC!
Edited Sep 02 2025
TW (for my review, there are different content notes in MELODIA): Mention of abuse
The brains, body parts, and relationships depicted in these poems were intriguing. The writing and phrasing was vivid when it sought a visceral tone and at other times it was mysterious which aligned with the feel of the given poem. I appreciated the themes explored, for example what it means to have a parent who commits abuse, as well as consuming things into one's body literally or figuratively.
My favourite poem is number 11, you will discover what the title is once you read it, and I really enjoyed the repeated word in this poem. I am trans so I related to the descriptions of the body in this poem. I also really liked the poem with content pertaining to parental abuse because it was moving and it made my heart hurt.
One of the poems that has a content note about it depicting Harm OCD (Harm OCD was stated amongst other content notes for this specific poem) made me anxious. My interpretation of this poem is that it poem seeks to show Harm OCD and help others understand what kind of visualizations or phrases are thought. I felt scared and I think I was triggered reading this poem, however, that is me and my reaction to the imagery in this poem and other readers may feel differently. Also, saying that I felt anxious and triggered in my reaction is not meant to antagonize Harm OCD, but please let me know if my wording is insensitive.
I admire the ending poem because it ties together the ideas. There was a theme fighting against oppressive figures, like the father figure in one of the poems, and a sense of feeling trapped or stuck that I felt in other poems. So, I like how the ending provided hope and freedom.
Thank you Wyrd Lea for the eARC!
Edited Sep 02 2025
September 19, 2025
I've read a lot of horror and a lot of poetry, but I think this is the first 'horror poetry' I've encountered. The imagery was chilling, maybe even more so than a book of prose. I highly recommend it for spooky season!
My favourites were Ancestral Sin (a relationship between mother and daughter with both love and trauma) and The Ugly Egg (what's it going to hatch into?).
There were many poems in this book, all with different styles, such as haikus, rhymes, and even one that read like those fridge magnets you can move around to create your own poetry, although some of those words would definitely not be placed on magnets!
My favourites were Ancestral Sin (a relationship between mother and daughter with both love and trauma) and The Ugly Egg (what's it going to hatch into?).
There were many poems in this book, all with different styles, such as haikus, rhymes, and even one that read like those fridge magnets you can move around to create your own poetry, although some of those words would definitely not be placed on magnets!
September 19, 2025
I've read a lot of horror and a lot of poetry, but I think this is the first 'horror poetry' I've encountered. The imagery was chilling, maybe even more so than a book of prose. I highly recommend it for spooky season!
My favourites were Ancestral Sin (a relationship between mother and daughter with both love and trauma) and The Ugly Egg (what's it going to hatch into?).
There were many poems in this book, all with different styles, such as haikus, rhymes, and even one that read like those fridge magnets you can move around to create your own poetry, although some of those words would definitely not be placed on magnets!
My favourites were Ancestral Sin (a relationship between mother and daughter with both love and trauma) and The Ugly Egg (what's it going to hatch into?).
There were many poems in this book, all with different styles, such as haikus, rhymes, and even one that read like those fridge magnets you can move around to create your own poetry, although some of those words would definitely not be placed on magnets!
September 24, 2025
I'm not much of a poetry reader, but I really like Wyrd's vibes so decided I was going to check this one out and I'm so glad I did. Some of it still went right over my head, but I would still *feel* something as it happened, which I can't say has happened before. The word choice, the cadence, I don't know what it was but it was like a little spark every time and I felt like "oh I get it" for the first time.
January 18, 2026
wombs parasites defiled christ fangs and worms... the craft is just so rich in a way that i know i'll be re reading often for inspiration n this is why i love poetry it leaves me in awe shshshhs THIS IS GENIUS AHHH i love the unique structure and play agghhh this got me feeling my own discomfort of the body and girlhood
i do love the word dulcet
i do love the word dulcet
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews