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Tender Teeth
Tender Teeth is a book full of ghosts, both real and imagined, interwoven with gripping poems about death, grief, identity, love and survival. The language is uncomplicated yet striking, the poetic voice unflinching yet gentle. Eden strips herself bare and invites us into the ache and ardor within her heart. Relentless and honest, Tender Teeth will haunt you - in the best way - well past the final page.
- GenresPoetry
49 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 6, 2025
4 people are currently reading
53 people want to read
About the author
Valeria Eden
2 books18 followersValeria Eden is a poet, fiction writer, and editor currently residing in Colorado who loves getting lost in fantasy worlds, circuses, and the color green. She has a BA in psychology from Boston University and is pursuing her MFA in the Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics at Naropa University. Her work has been published in Bombay Gin, The Tongue is Sharp anthology, and is otherwise floating around on the internet. Val has three dogs, two therapists, and one boyfriend who try their very best to keep her grounded. In her free time, she can most likely be found curled up in a patch of sunlight with a fantasy book and a sweet treat.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
January 18, 2025
Honestly, there are no words but I will try to throw some together. First, I’d like to say that I have followed Val’s journey from the beginning. Her growth & healing has been a remarkable thing to witness. She consistently has given me hope over the years. I am so proud to see how far she has come & I know she will go even further.
The poetry in this book is … raw, captivating, eloquent, gentle yet blunt. I didn’t want to stop reading but at times had to put it down to process. It was masterful, beautiful, heartbreaking & heartwarming all at the same time. I found myself resonating with the words on the page so many times.
I feel so lucky to have been an ARC & street member for this amazing book of poems.
I will go back to reread this time and time again!
WELL FREAKING DONE VAL!!!!!!!
January 19, 2025
Oh. My. Gosh.
All I have is tears.
It has been some time since I’ve read poetry, but this right here reminds me why I love it. Poetry has so many different ways to word the things we go through. I am so honored to have been able to ARC read this wonderful work. This piece was absolutely breathtaking and heartbreakingly beautiful.
All I have is tears.
It has been some time since I’ve read poetry, but this right here reminds me why I love it. Poetry has so many different ways to word the things we go through. I am so honored to have been able to ARC read this wonderful work. This piece was absolutely breathtaking and heartbreakingly beautiful.
January 18, 2025
Thank you for the arc 🤍
Tender Teeth will rip you open, pour salt in your wounds, and then close you back up with gentle kisses. Val has a unique way of bringing emotions to the surface that are otherwise repressed and purposefully forgotten.
Beautifully woven together with grief and love, a deadly combination, Val shows us perfectly the duality of a woman. A woman scorned. A woman so full of love for the very life that’s trying its best to beat her down.
Make sure you are adding this to your 2025 poetry list.
Tender Teeth will rip you open, pour salt in your wounds, and then close you back up with gentle kisses. Val has a unique way of bringing emotions to the surface that are otherwise repressed and purposefully forgotten.
Beautifully woven together with grief and love, a deadly combination, Val shows us perfectly the duality of a woman. A woman scorned. A woman so full of love for the very life that’s trying its best to beat her down.
Make sure you are adding this to your 2025 poetry list.
February 3, 2025
I am so beyond thankful for this amazing opportunity to read this masterpiece.
I read these stories that steal away your breath each word that Val writes.
You can tell her soul was put into these poems and when I say there wasn’t a word that didn’t ring true.
This was beautiful, heart wrenching and heartbreaking in the most wonderful way. I felt seen heard and loved in her words.
Val shares her soul and it shows in every single word.
I read these stories that steal away your breath each word that Val writes.
You can tell her soul was put into these poems and when I say there wasn’t a word that didn’t ring true.
This was beautiful, heart wrenching and heartbreaking in the most wonderful way. I felt seen heard and loved in her words.
Val shares her soul and it shows in every single word.
March 24, 2025
“i am beginning to think it is possible to feel things language can’t reach.”
tender teeth is absolutely gutting. Eden weaves grief into something so achingly tangible, i found myself clutching my chest, breathless. grief has an iron fist & unpredictable cruelty & she captures this feeling so intimately.
“you left her with her love out, sleeves ripped and wrists raw.”
she has this way of nonchalantly dropping these earth-shatteringly poignant lines that just crawl inside & captivate me. the imagery throughout this book is so fresh & rich.
“all moth tongue, velvet teeth.”
there is such precious tenderness, too. pockets of self love & hope that feel like the moment where the wind stops blowing long enough for the sun to settle on your cheeks; the warmth slowly consuming your whole face - it is the sweetest & most fragile relief. valeria’s words are truly, a treasure.
“there is no difference between god
and the color green.
tender teeth is absolutely gutting. Eden weaves grief into something so achingly tangible, i found myself clutching my chest, breathless. grief has an iron fist & unpredictable cruelty & she captures this feeling so intimately.
“you left her with her love out, sleeves ripped and wrists raw.”
she has this way of nonchalantly dropping these earth-shatteringly poignant lines that just crawl inside & captivate me. the imagery throughout this book is so fresh & rich.
“all moth tongue, velvet teeth.”
there is such precious tenderness, too. pockets of self love & hope that feel like the moment where the wind stops blowing long enough for the sun to settle on your cheeks; the warmth slowly consuming your whole face - it is the sweetest & most fragile relief. valeria’s words are truly, a treasure.
“there is no difference between god
and the color green.
February 3, 2025
Thank you Val for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
All I can say is, wow. The vulnerability Val has in producing this work is extraordinary. We are able to follow along with Val through her life; the good, the bad, and the just trying to make it. The relatable moments from adolescence to being able to discuss hard topics that elicited such emotion. This was extraordinary and truly a magnificent piece.
All I can say is, wow. The vulnerability Val has in producing this work is extraordinary. We are able to follow along with Val through her life; the good, the bad, and the just trying to make it. The relatable moments from adolescence to being able to discuss hard topics that elicited such emotion. This was extraordinary and truly a magnificent piece.
January 17, 2025
the poems in this brought about so much emotion. I’ve never felt more connected to some words on a page. There were times where I had to take a moment to collect myself because something resonated with me so deeply. I will be coming back to this time and time again, gifting it to friends and loved ones, and encouraging everyone I meet to get their hands on this.
“and that's how i knew he was human;
larger than life yet still bound to the whim of it.”
“and that's how i knew he was human;
larger than life yet still bound to the whim of it.”
January 20, 2025
I got the absolute GIFT of being on the ARC team for this absolute GEM of a poetry book where you want to read and reread each poem carefully, slowly, and with care. The poems written in this are the kind that make you FEEL. The ones you want to put up somewhere and read every day until it no longer feels like a Mac truck has hit you so hard (in the BEST way). I'll be coming back to this book over and over again because each one of these poems had a moment or, as an entirety, are the kind I felt in my bones and speak so loudly!!
Basically my short review is - DEFINITELY READ THIS WORK OF ART🫶🏻🫶🏻
Basically my short review is - DEFINITELY READ THIS WORK OF ART🫶🏻🫶🏻
April 3, 2025
I feel truly lucky to be living at the same time as Valeria Eden’s collection of poems Tender Teeth. I had the pleasure of seeing a few of these poems in their infancy but seeing the finished product is something like no other. Eden gives the reader a glimpse into trauma and healing, metaphorically bleeding all over the readers. Ultimately, this helps all of us; the more we allow ourselves to be vulnerable around others, the easier it becomes to everyone. While I, too, have a dead father, there are many happenings in this collection that I have not experienced for myself but Eden writes them in a way that makes my heart clench anyway. Not only does Eden play with sound, both on a word-by-word and long form basis, Eden masterfully explores space/empty space on the page and pushes at the envelope of grammar while she tries to find language for the unspeakable. Even each line break feels successfully purposeful. A few of my favorite lines are as follows: “what does it say about us that we wouldn’t recognize / our own faces while passing by? / what does it say about me / that I can’t even look mine in the mirror” (“everything looks identical” 41), “this is it. the ouroboros of losing and losing” (“echo” 16), “your heart yawns open” (“on fear of abandonment” 13), and “the kitchen knives are tucked away but they are / begging for something to butcher” (“boston” 11), amongst many more.
This collection feels like girlhood—the good, the bad, and the ugly. When we see Valeria Eden’s name on the shelf again, I hope it still continues to make me feel like we’re gossiping at a sleepover. Everyone should read Tender Teeth.
This collection feels like girlhood—the good, the bad, and the ugly. When we see Valeria Eden’s name on the shelf again, I hope it still continues to make me feel like we’re gossiping at a sleepover. Everyone should read Tender Teeth.
January 22, 2025
Tender Teeth by Valeria Eden is an intricate weaving of pain, resilience, and startling beauty, crafted with a rawness that refuses to shy away from the darker corners of life.
The collection feels both deeply personal and universally resonant, as though Eden is reaching into her soul and pulling out truths we all recognize but seldom articulate. Each poem holds a delicate balance: the language is lyrical yet brutal, tender yet unrelenting. The words invite you to lean in, to sit with the discomfort of grief, loss, and love, while also offering moments of quiet understanding and connection.
What stands out most is Eden’s ability to approach these heavy themes with such grace. There is no melodrama here, only honesty, laid bare with a kind of courage that takes your breath away. These poems don’t simply recount; they inhabit, drawing you into a space where you’re asked to confront your own feelings, your own experiences, and perhaps even your own wounds.
This is not a collection you rush through, nor is it one you leave behind easily. The poems stay with you long after the pages are turned and the book is closed, the kind of weight that demands reflection and lingers in the quiet moments.
Tender Teeth is a testament to the power of poetry, not just as art, but as a lifeline. It’s a reminder that even in the hardest, most unbearable parts of life, there is a kind of beauty in survival. Valeria Eden has written something unforgettable, something brave, and something that will speak to anyone who has ever felt broken, lost, or simply human.
The collection feels both deeply personal and universally resonant, as though Eden is reaching into her soul and pulling out truths we all recognize but seldom articulate. Each poem holds a delicate balance: the language is lyrical yet brutal, tender yet unrelenting. The words invite you to lean in, to sit with the discomfort of grief, loss, and love, while also offering moments of quiet understanding and connection.
What stands out most is Eden’s ability to approach these heavy themes with such grace. There is no melodrama here, only honesty, laid bare with a kind of courage that takes your breath away. These poems don’t simply recount; they inhabit, drawing you into a space where you’re asked to confront your own feelings, your own experiences, and perhaps even your own wounds.
This is not a collection you rush through, nor is it one you leave behind easily. The poems stay with you long after the pages are turned and the book is closed, the kind of weight that demands reflection and lingers in the quiet moments.
Tender Teeth is a testament to the power of poetry, not just as art, but as a lifeline. It’s a reminder that even in the hardest, most unbearable parts of life, there is a kind of beauty in survival. Valeria Eden has written something unforgettable, something brave, and something that will speak to anyone who has ever felt broken, lost, or simply human.
February 4, 2025
I don't read a ton of poetry, but every now and then, I come across something that makes me wonder why I don't. Tender Teeth by Valeria Eden is one of those books.
This collection is raw, beautiful, and full of emotions that hit in ways I didn't expect. Some poems feel like a punch, others are like a warm hug. This book is about grief, love, loss, and healing - things we all experience, but somehow Val puts them into words in a way that makes you feel seen.
Her writing is lyrical without feeling overly complicated, and even if you're not typically a poetry person (like me), this book is so easy to connect with. I highly recommend this book if you're looking for something that truly makes you feel!
Some of my favorite poems:
- A mother’s love
- Friday, July 14th
- The depth of things
- thank you for choosing me. i’m sorry i had to choose me too.
- i don’t want you to buy me flowers anymore
- midnight monologue
- ode to my dead dog
- in which i stop thinking about endings and only consider right now
- seven.
Thanks to the author Valeria Eden for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. Tender Teeth releases Feb 6, 2025!
This collection is raw, beautiful, and full of emotions that hit in ways I didn't expect. Some poems feel like a punch, others are like a warm hug. This book is about grief, love, loss, and healing - things we all experience, but somehow Val puts them into words in a way that makes you feel seen.
Her writing is lyrical without feeling overly complicated, and even if you're not typically a poetry person (like me), this book is so easy to connect with. I highly recommend this book if you're looking for something that truly makes you feel!
Some of my favorite poems:
- A mother’s love
- Friday, July 14th
- The depth of things
- thank you for choosing me. i’m sorry i had to choose me too.
- i don’t want you to buy me flowers anymore
- midnight monologue
- ode to my dead dog
- in which i stop thinking about endings and only consider right now
- seven.
Thanks to the author Valeria Eden for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. Tender Teeth releases Feb 6, 2025!
February 6, 2025
Valeria's poems do not just tell of grief--they bleed it.
The words ache on the page, fierce and tender all within one line. They carve deeply, exposing the marrow of what it means to love, and what it means to lose.
"inside you there is a
quiet hunger.
you don't know
how to feed it,
so you both starve."
Valeria does not flinch.
She does not soften the edges.
Instead, she lays bare the forces of love and grief, the foundation of the human soul.
"don't think of the
open window, how far the
drop is to the ground. leave
the belt unbuckled, for now."
Womanhood is created by steel and softness, shattered and whole. Valeria is not only incredibly gifted in her ability to write pain, but how she transforms it into something sacred.
"i do not know how to burn quietly.
god left
a long time ago but his anger
stayed."
Her words cut deep, yes, but they also mend, stitching together old wounds with a grace that almost feels impossible. They stole away my breath, then gave it back, changed.
I've read White Noise too many times to count.
"imagine us dancing past the last page."
The words ache on the page, fierce and tender all within one line. They carve deeply, exposing the marrow of what it means to love, and what it means to lose.
"inside you there is a
quiet hunger.
you don't know
how to feed it,
so you both starve."
Valeria does not flinch.
She does not soften the edges.
Instead, she lays bare the forces of love and grief, the foundation of the human soul.
"don't think of the
open window, how far the
drop is to the ground. leave
the belt unbuckled, for now."
Womanhood is created by steel and softness, shattered and whole. Valeria is not only incredibly gifted in her ability to write pain, but how she transforms it into something sacred.
"i do not know how to burn quietly.
god left
a long time ago but his anger
stayed."
Her words cut deep, yes, but they also mend, stitching together old wounds with a grace that almost feels impossible. They stole away my breath, then gave it back, changed.
I've read White Noise too many times to count.
"imagine us dancing past the last page."
June 10, 2025
Valerie Eden’s Tender Teeth is a haunting and beautifully wrought exploration of vulnerability, strength, and transformation. With her deft use of language, Eden crafts a world where raw emotion takes center stage, each poem biting down with precision and refusing to let go.
The collection deftly balances themes of tenderness and ferocity, weaving narratives of self-discovery and resilience with a dark, lyrical intensity. Eden’s voice is unflinching as she delves into the complexities of human relationships, the pain of loss, and the quiet triumph of survival.
What sets Tender Teeth apart is its ability to be both deeply personal and universally resonant. The poems feel like intimate confessions, yet they speak to the shared experiences of longing, healing, and reclaiming one’s identity.
This is a collection that lingers, leaving readers marked by its sharp insights and poignant beauty. Valerie Eden’s Tender Teeth is a masterclass in poetic vulnerability and power—an unforgettable addition to contemporary poetry.
The collection deftly balances themes of tenderness and ferocity, weaving narratives of self-discovery and resilience with a dark, lyrical intensity. Eden’s voice is unflinching as she delves into the complexities of human relationships, the pain of loss, and the quiet triumph of survival.
What sets Tender Teeth apart is its ability to be both deeply personal and universally resonant. The poems feel like intimate confessions, yet they speak to the shared experiences of longing, healing, and reclaiming one’s identity.
This is a collection that lingers, leaving readers marked by its sharp insights and poignant beauty. Valerie Eden’s Tender Teeth is a masterclass in poetic vulnerability and power—an unforgettable addition to contemporary poetry.
January 21, 2025
Now, I don't read a lot of poetry usually, mainly because I feel I have a hard time finding things I relate to, but when I found Valeria on Instagram, I really connected with one of her poems. So when the chance to arc read her book came up, I jumped on board so fast! This book spoke to my soul as if Valeria knew me, as if she'd been there through the thick and thin as I grew up. I couldn't hold back the tears of relief from someone finally understanding and putting my soul into words❤️ Beautifully done!
January 20, 2025
This is a beautiful collection of poetry about loss, grief, love, breakups, growing up, and so much more. It is intense and emotional but also healing and meaningful. I loved the writing style, it is partially metaphorical, descriptive, but straightforward and easy to understand. It's a short collection but every word has impact so it gives you what you need (while wishing there could be more). You should absolutely read it!!
February 3, 2025
I am so beyond thankful for this amazing opportunity to read this masterpiece.
I read these stories that steal away your breath each word that Val writes.
You can tell her soul was put into these poems and when I say there wasn’t a word that didn’t ring true.
This was beautiful, heart wrenching and heartbreaking in the most wonderful way. I felt seen heard and loved in her words.
Val shares her soul and it shows in every single word.
I read these stories that steal away your breath each word that Val writes.
You can tell her soul was put into these poems and when I say there wasn’t a word that didn’t ring true.
This was beautiful, heart wrenching and heartbreaking in the most wonderful way. I felt seen heard and loved in her words.
Val shares her soul and it shows in every single word.
January 20, 2025
It is difficult to articulate how beautiful this book is. It explores the deep sense of grief in humanness, the beauty of healing, and there is a gratefulness you leave feeling. The words and structure of the poems evoke such deep emotion that I was left in my thoughts for a long time (in the best way). I could not recommend this book more.
January 29, 2025
As always Valeria writes with precision. Every word in every line of her poetry is thoughtful and filled with purpose that pierces straight through the soul. Her work is both challenging but accessible and a perfect read to be kept on the table beside the bed, digested slowly and thoughtfully. Even if you’re not an avid poetry reader this is a must!
February 5, 2025
this book left me feeling breathless, anguished, enamored & dare i say, tender. the author’s rich prose is unlike any other i have read & is so beautiful and engrossing. i haven’t felt so seen by someone else’s words in my life, nor had such a vivid sequence of snapshots into someone else’s through poetry. i highly recommend this read & ill be reading again many times over
January 21, 2025
An absolute breathtaking poetry, such raw unfiltered emotion should be treasured -- love and loss, grief, pain so deep it can make your chest ache with about a million regrets. Such profound emotions. I adored this, and definitely give it 5 stars, it's a must read!
February 6, 2025
I can’t wait to read this again, and again!
Wow. Just wow. Parts of this brought tears to my eyes as I sipped my morning coffee on its release day. Other parts made me chuckle, while others made me angry; all of it is wonderful and REAL and so well done.
I can’t wait to get my physical copy!
Wow. Just wow. Parts of this brought tears to my eyes as I sipped my morning coffee on its release day. Other parts made me chuckle, while others made me angry; all of it is wonderful and REAL and so well done.
I can’t wait to get my physical copy!
February 17, 2025
This book is so incredible. The raw emotion that Valerie puts in really puts every single piece of her art on another level. I feel incredibly blessed she shared pieces of her soul with us. Really well done!
February 5, 2025
*cues applause from the audience* beautiful. absolutely beautiful from beginning to end. I am sobbing now. Amazing read. Val captures your soul.
February 14, 2025
“our sunday worship is in the forest; hummingbird hymns & synchronicity with the trees. there is no difference between god & the colour green” (37,38)
beautiful:)
beautiful:)
February 14, 2025
You guys have to read it hit home it’s emotional 😭 and she is an amazing writer be sure to check it out 👏
December 26, 2025
Tender Teeth by Valeria Eden
5/5 Stars
"I know there is something holy in becoming whole."
I read the entirety of Tender Teeth in one night thanks to my ARC, and I was left a raw, sobbing mess when it was over and done with. Never before has my life been thrown into such clarity; never before have I felt so seen.
Valeria Eden has a special knack for putting the deepest, darkest emotions into words that cast them in shades of light and healing; she transforms not only her own grief and pain, but also that of the reader. Reading Tender Teeth reminds you that you are not alone, that your lived experience is shared, for better or for worse, by both strangers and those you love.
Her poetry is stunning yet accessible - it's grounded in a way that makes it perfect for newcomers to the genre and experienced readers alike. "in my dreams", "seven", and "in which i stop thinking about endings and only consider right now" stand out to me in particular, but there's not a bad poem in the bunch.
She embraces even the most serious topics with clarity and grace, and her willingness to play with punctuation, capitalization, and spacing keeps the book from ever growing stale; there's something new for the reader to discover with each turn of the page and (perhaps more importantly) with each re-read. I can't wait to see more from Eden; I await her next work with baited breath.
5/5 Stars
"I know there is something holy in becoming whole."
I read the entirety of Tender Teeth in one night thanks to my ARC, and I was left a raw, sobbing mess when it was over and done with. Never before has my life been thrown into such clarity; never before have I felt so seen.
Valeria Eden has a special knack for putting the deepest, darkest emotions into words that cast them in shades of light and healing; she transforms not only her own grief and pain, but also that of the reader. Reading Tender Teeth reminds you that you are not alone, that your lived experience is shared, for better or for worse, by both strangers and those you love.
Her poetry is stunning yet accessible - it's grounded in a way that makes it perfect for newcomers to the genre and experienced readers alike. "in my dreams", "seven", and "in which i stop thinking about endings and only consider right now" stand out to me in particular, but there's not a bad poem in the bunch.
She embraces even the most serious topics with clarity and grace, and her willingness to play with punctuation, capitalization, and spacing keeps the book from ever growing stale; there's something new for the reader to discover with each turn of the page and (perhaps more importantly) with each re-read. I can't wait to see more from Eden; I await her next work with baited breath.
March 27, 2025
I loved every poem written. The emotions I felt and how I could relate to some of them made me love this book so much!
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews