MOTHERDEVIL

by Kailey Tedesco

On a darkmoon night, deep in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey a woman screams out piercing the eerie silence, “let this one be a devil!”

Enter, MOTHERDEVIL by Kailey Tedesco, a spellbinding collection of poetry that reimagines the legend of the New Jersey Devil through the eyes of Mother Leeds. In these hauntingly visceral poems, Tedesco draws out the spirit of Mother Leeds & intimately infuses it with her own truths & experiences with mental health, postpartum depression, & the often-overlooked struggles of motherhood, making this an enduring collection of myth, magic, & powerful storytelling.

Genres: Poetry

90 pages, Paperback

Published October 31, 2024

Reviews

[Nick Mehalick · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Theogony for the major mythos of New Jersey, Tedesco’s “Motherdevil” explores myth making and the fears and realities that come with first becoming a parent. Beautifully arranged with mother and offspring represented (note: the twelfth child has BARS) this collection carries a haunting intonation and aesthetic while also capturing the vulnerability one experiences when the reality of taking care of a new human presents itself. (My favorite poem is one of the last, “Martyr” for this reason). A layered and complex narrative that needs to be read and re-read.

[Liv Mammone · Rating 5 out of 5]

At once lush and barbed, these poems sweep the reader into a brand new world in their own American backyard. Scary, sensuous, laden with quiet inconspicuous sound devices that create ghostly afterimages of rhyme. A riveting introspection into the dark psychological underbelly of feminine sacrifice. The narrative that is teased out invites repeated readings and brand new words are stitched together, Frankenstein like, from words I thought I knew. This has opened my mind to the kind of fantasies that can be created in poetry. There’s nothing like this. It’s a delicious thrill.

[Josh Dale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kailey Tedesco’s poetry continues to haunt in MOTHERDEVIL. Choice vocabulary and execution of stanzas makes this collection devilish and poignant. While I’m not keen on the folklore, scores of other readers will find this collection satisfying.

[Daniel DiFranco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful collection of poems that explore motherhood from the point of view of the Jersey Devil's mother. I've been a fan of this poet for some time and this is a natural evolution of Tedesco's ouevre. 666/666 recommend.

[Vick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big fan of the “interlude from the first children” sections of the book. I never thought of writing from the perspective of a cryptid or folkloric character before being apart of Kailey’s workshop. Super glad I purchased her work, definitely something I’ll go back to reread.

[Danielle Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a gorgeous collection on motherhood, myth, monster, and identity. Especially enjoyed the interludes from Mother Leeds' other children.