When One World Ends, Another Begins

by Nathaniel Luscombe

"Words became my bloodletting. I’ve been bleeding now for years."

At times playful, at times heartbreaking, When One World Ends, Another Begins is a raw, honest look at how it feels to be alive. On the surface, these poems are an examination of what it is to be human. Underneath, they’re an exploration of body image, fear, faith, and the ways life runs in circles. They exist to peel back the tough layers and expose the softness inside.

Genres: Poetry

98 pages, Paperback

Published February 25, 2025

About the author

When Nathaniel Luscombe isn’t writing about spaceships and far off planets, he's reading an unhealthy amount of books and recharging for his next project. He grew up in Ontario, between flat fields and square patches of forest, and has been a writer for as long as he’s been a reader. Outside of his full-time job, he runs Dragon Bone Publishing with Effie Joe Stock. He is best known for Moon Soul and Human Scars on Planet Skin. He has also published some poetry collections, and has been featured in several anthologies.

You can follow him on Instagram @nathaniel.luscombe and TikTok/Substack @hecticreadinglife.

Reviews

[Effie Stock · Rating 5 out of 5]

This poetry collection left me so happy to be human and also wanting to peel the skin off my body and release my atoms so I can finally become one with the universe.

It's raw, it's beautiful, it's abrasive, it's an absolute must read

[Olivia Gratehouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW. Just wow. Nathaniel Luscombe really has a way of writing words that dig into the depths of your soul. These poems are achingly beautiful. They hurt, but they also bring hope, leaving me with a newfound appreciation for the space in which I exist. A very quick but impactful read!

[Katja Labonté · Rating 5 out of 5]

5+ stars (6/10 hearts). I've only read one other of Nathaniel Luscombe's works, in Unleash the Cosmos, and I enjoyed it so much that I had to try this collection. I'm so glad I did. I'm not normally a fan of blank/modern verse, but this is so beautiful and so well done! I deeply resonated with the themes of anxiety, fear, loneliness, grief, body image, self-worth, depression, etc. Although a good deal of the poems are sad, there's always a hopeful one that pops up eventually, and I love the repeated reminders of worth, love, and beauty. I hope to see a new anthology of his poetry soon.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.*

[Erelah · Rating 5 out of 5]

“When One Word Ends, Another Begins” by Nathaniel Luscombe is a poetry collection fit for everyone. It holds themes of time and love, sorrow and existentialism, peace and life and death. It is a collection about the stars, the universe, and ultimately, oneself. It is best described as a grouping of love letters to the human condition. Reading this was akin to an act of self care, some of the poems so touching and comforting amidst the chaos. Some of my favorite quotes include:

“Words became my bloodletting/ I’ve been bleeding now for years”

And

“Widen the cracks/ free the sea/ remember to cry/“

I might actually get this last one tattooed on me eventually, not going to lie. It had the biggest impact on me, though others certainly vied for the spot.

My favorite poems were, in no particular order: “Have You Forgotten?” “Oh” “Remember to Cry” “A Place to Feel at Home” “Time Pivots” “Some Say Prayers, Others Write Poems” “Tinnitus” “Preparing for the Fall” and “Overgrown.”

Luscombe’s poetic words touch on many aspects of existence within our brains, communities, and the world at large. How we are a small part in the bigger picture but still the picture. Is. Us. And we are the universe.

[Sera Amoroso · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nathaniel stop making me cry challenge [failed]

[lizzie ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

"oceans are meant
to mirror the stars
for those who haven't learned
to look up." -Nathaniel Luscombe
...
...
This poetry book fearfully, delicately, and truthfully combines the beauty of nature and space with the experiences of being human.

Each poem is filled with honest feelings about anxiety, physical appearance, emotional balance, and being a writer. Even if those aren't things you personally recognize in yourself, you take on the feelings and experiences as if stepping into another person as you read.

It's very well done and the reader walks away with a new understanding.

*Received an arc

[Kate Willis]

I'm a newcomer to the world of poetry and still very ill at ease. I want to love poetry, want to understand it, have all my feelings evoked, but I'm not sure my mind works quite that way. I decided to pick this up because I loved the poetic musings in Moon Soul also by this author.

I, unfortunately, didn't *get* a lot of the poems, but the ones I did blew me away. The poems on body image especially felt as if they were calling out to me, and I was so surprised to see one on tinnitus (a condition I suffer from). I enjoyed the Biblical references as well and the themes of metamorphosis.

I don't regret picking this up, and I'll definitely read more by this author.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poetry is not something I normally read and review, but I loved Nathaniel's writing style in Moon Soul. I wanted to know more about him, and poetry often gives us more personal insight. I was not disappointed. I enjoyed the themes throughout this collection. I had a lot of these same feelings and thoughts in my young adult life. Several of the poems really connected with me. My top three are "Have You Forgotten?", "Wellness", and "Lose Yourself".

I feel like this collection is great for individuals who are struggling to accept themselves and their lives. He deals with topics around mental health, anxiety, and body image. It was a great experience and has inspired me to dig out some of my old poems from when I was his current age.

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

[V. Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite poems from this collection:

First Steps
and what is beauty
Wellness
A Slow Apocalypse
a gentle stream of necessary thoughts
Word Vomit
Questions
Vulnerability

It begins by packing a punch - immediately centering the reader in an understanding of the rat race, of the depressive cycles we can easily fall into, in what it means to merely be surviving.

I really related to the poems that reflect on self and how we treat ourselves. I found the poems on the world around us to be a fresh commentary on the global problems facing humanity.

“happiness often leads to sadness because there is a sadness in knowing that happiness ends / everything ends”

The authors note was a lovely ending to this collection. Can’t wait to read more poetry from Nathaniel.

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

[William Hoyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deeply, intensely personal-- as always, Nathaniel Luscombe has delivered a soul-expanding, heart-filling, and peace-delivering collection of words. It is raw, and gentle, and miserably beautiful. The kind of self-honesty and reflection and suffering that most people would never be so brave as to share, but that, by sharing, makes us all a little less alone. I can't read Luscombe without interrupting my family to share. This is a precious and priceless gift from one of my favorite authors.

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

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Utterly evocative and piercingly beautiful, Luscombe has proved himself to be a poet to watch with his newest collection, When One World Ends, Another Begins. His poetic skill is one to be envied. You’ll be highlighting the whole way through this collection, I know I was.

[Lisa King · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a truly special collection, embodying everything I look for in solid poetry: honesty, vulnerability, playful prose, thoughtful construction, and memorable moments. Luscombe beautifully captures the messy and multifaceted nature of being human in this touching anthology.

[Jessica Erdmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have already been a fan of Nathaniel's poetry before this collection came out, so I was extremely hyped when I finally got to read it. The poems I liked most tended to be the shorter ones. My favorites are Oceans & Stars, Silent Skin, Mindful, Screaming Bones and Still Waters.
I was especially surprised by how much I related to many of them and am already looking forward to his next collection (no pressure).

[Amelia E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, so honored that I got to read this beautiful poetry book early and endorse it!!! Here's my endorsement:

"The first half of this book’s initials spell out WOW, which pretty much describes my reaction to this stunning little poetry collection. Nathaniel Luscombe probes the depths of space and humanity alike through poems that are both gentle and powerful, with rich metaphors and relatable themes. This collection is sure to touch hearts, stir minds, and delight the souls of poets-at-heart."

I highlighted so many lines in the digital copy, probably in every single poem. I can't wait to get a physical copy so I can annotate itttttt

Update: Reading through it a second time now, published, in paperback is also an amazing experience. The way all the different themes weave together is masterful, and the words are just so gorgeous. I’m going through some approaching world-endings right now in my life and I keep saying “when one world ends another begins, when one world ends another begins” over again in my head ahahaha <3

Some of my very very favorites are Falling/Flying, a gentle stream of necessary thoughts, Mindful, and Another Begins (Postlude)

[redreads_ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deeply personal and exquisitely beautiful, “When One World Ends, Another” is my second book from Nathaniel Luscombe. Having previously read and enjoyed his science fiction novella, “The Planets We Become,” I am confident that this collection of poems will also be a good read. The difference lies in the genre shift, from science fiction to poetry.

Although I am not typically an avid reader of poetry, this collection was exceptionally beautiful and accessible, prompting me to reconsider the notion that poetry is inherently difficult to comprehend. The collection delves into profound themes such as life, mortality, the passage of time, love, and existentialism. While it mostly sorrowful in tone and talks about human experience of existential crises, it also offers glimmers of hope. This book helped me to renew my appreciation for my life and a reminder that life is short.

Among his extensive collection, my personal favorites include “Bleeding,” “Afar,” “A Gentle Stream of Necessary Thoughts,” “Oceans & Stars,” and “Have You Forgotten?” These works resonate deeply with me due to their relevance to my life experiences.

I highly recommend this book for individuals seeking a collection of accessible poetry that explores the universal themes of life.

I’m grateful for BookSirens for giving me an advance reader’s copy of this book. This review is definitely voluntary.

[EM Harding · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's hard to accurately rate this book.

Most of it was a little... ordinary. Nothing wrong with it per se, but nothing that really caught the attention or said anything new. And that got a bit tedious.

I did however mark out 7 poems out of the 68 that hit me a better than the others. 'April 8th, 2024' for instance caught a shared moment of humanity, life, looking up at the skies together in a very poignant way. Others like 'Orbital Bones' and 'Who are you to judge me?' had strong opennings with clever lines, but didnt quite stick the landing for me.

It's one of those where if you stuck those 7 poems in a pamphlet and gave that to me, I'd probably rate it higher, but this collection was so full of the same thing, and it never quite got it's teeth into a lot of the topics it was chewing on. Everything felt 5 steps removed from the emotion it was pointing at, a little too telly not showy, and a little too wordy not pitcurey.

I'd never tell someone not to read a book, and reading through reviews I see someone mention it might work better for a younger audience, and that could certainly be true. I can see the kind of exploration done here act as a jumping off point. But if you're the kind of person who likes something crystaline to hang onto in a poem, some image that sticks with you, this is probably not the collection for you.

[Adella Quick · Rating 5 out of 5]

"These words taste of honey, of blood, of rage, of desperation to be seen, yet desperation to remain unseen"

When One World Ends, Another Begins was a beautiful collection of the author's words, thoughts, and heart. I felt invited in, to bear witness to his emotions and growth as a person, to "stay on the pages that feel like home."

There is a mix of raw and hopeful poems that made me feel for the author but also empathizing at times.

This collection reminds me of a time in my life when I was questioning my purpose, while clinging to hope and faith.

My favourites were often the ones that were a bit more on the brighter side, mainly because of where I am in life now. But I definitely appreciated some of the more questioning, painfully honest poems as well. "What I feel won't please everyone" - a line I found myself silently applauding the author's bravery for publishing this outpouring of his heart.

A few favourites include:
First steps
Syzygy
The Whole of Our Existence
Oh
Poetry
my body is not me (except it is)
A place to feel at home
Some say prayers, others write poems
Oceans and stars

Thank you, Nathaniel for the early copy to read. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[liskowanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a journey! When One World Ends, Another Begins by Nathaniel Luscombe might join the list of my favourites. Dare I say it might have left quite a big impact on my own writing process…

The author speaks about ideas and topics with such ease; the words are full of beauty but also simplicity, so feeling is not disrupted with lack of understanding (English is not my first language; my language level is quite high but I still face a challenge when it comes to reading poetry).

I found myself resonating with the poems a lot. Especially with those on the subject of writing as a process. I felt like my eyes and heart opened to the idea of trying with creating poetry - and simply CREATING - again. That is definitely a big big plus in my rating.

Honestly, even though I enjoyed reading the poems from the start, I did not expect to be impacted by them so much. I always liked the topic of space but at the same time I never felt too connected. After finishing the book I can certainly admit that I see my life and myself in a new, beautiful light.

I feel at home.

I plan to leave reviews on my Instagram account on later date.

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

[Bekah Stegner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I stared at the wall a record amount of times while reading this (high compliment). It was such a beautiful collection that it had to be read and reread slowly so as to digest every poignant word. I absolutely adored it. Choosing favorites out of it is nearly impossible because of how many poems brought me to tears and made me feel seen. Nathaniel has such a gift for writing both prose and poetry that makes you feel like you aren't so alone in the world or in your head.

This is my new favorite poetry collection by far & I will be recommending it to every human being for the foreseeable future.

[Cat Bowser · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book and am leaving a review voluntarily.

This author has become one of my “immediate read” authors. I have never been disappointed by his books and the trend continues with this book.

Poetry is always such a fun genre because there’s so much variety and when you have someone with such a gift for prose as this author, there’s a grandness and depth to the pages.

Much like his other works, the words really are an amazing tool into the human soul. You will encounter some heavy themes in here but they are here for a reason. It’s there to make you think, reflect, and connect.

We are all sparks of stardust but we can create beautiful galaxies together

[Melody · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely beautiful debut collection! Sprinkled with stardust, hope, love, faith, and care, this collection encapsulates so many human emotions. There were so many poems that resonated with me, and I can’t wait to read more poetry from him!

[Abby Draper · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciated the way all of these poems explored the universe, God, and what it means to be human. Some of the poems are really beautiful and their verses are going to stick with me for a long time. There were others I didn’t love, but I think that will happen with a collection of any kind.

Overall, this is a great collection and I think the poems will affect others in different ways based on where they are in their lives. I think that’s the beauty of poetry, that it will hit you differently depending on who you are and what you’re going through.

[K.J. Haakenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cling to hope even when it shakes me off.

I read this poetry collection compulsively in one sitting, each poem leading to the next and the next, until I was caught up in the flow of its river - lingering on some for a while as if they were an oasis and rushing through others with the desperation of one parched for water.

The author lets us see raw pieces of his heart strewn between stunning poems that invoke wonder, grief, and tenderness. "When One World Ends, Another Begins" is such a gift to read and a true treasure to cherish for many years to come. I cannot wait to reread and annotate every line that simultaneously broke my heart and put it back together.

I loved this entire collection, but some of my top favorites include:

and what is this beauty
Afar
Soft Hearts
Heatwave
Still Waters
a gentle stream of unnecessary thoughts
frantic scrawling of one who will be forgotten
The Burst
My Body is Not Me (except it is)
Lose Yourself
Tinnitus  

*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review*

[Madison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn’t settle on a favorite poem. Every time I thought I found one that was my favorite, I’d read the next couple and decide that one was my favorite


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

[Loveday · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing was not bad yet it did not particularly stand out to me either. On a personal level, I failed to connect with any of the poems. It felt as if the author was trying to send a message, generally positive or about how life can be tough to deal with, but at the same time did not have new ideas on the topic. It felt a little hollow, like whatever experiences or feelings prompted the writing were not shining through the actual poems. The poems were nice overall but they lacked impact for me.

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

[labibliofille · Rating 5 out of 5]

A genuine collection of relatable and reflective poems straight from the author's soul.

[Krystel Dallas · Rating 3 out of 5]

This collection presents an interesting range of poems, with some that resonated more deeply than others. While I understood the themes explored, I found myself struggling to relate to certain pieces due to where I am in my own life. My mother has mentioned something similar before, and though I understood, I didn't fully experience the feeling until now—this book feels more suited to a younger version of me. I think my own experiences and existential reflections have evolved in ways that made it difficult for me to connect with the content. I can see how this collection would have spoken to me much more strongly twenty years ago, and I do think it could be incredibly impactful for younger readers in particular.

I also found myself a bit bothered, maybe more than I should have been, by the formatting of the book. Stanzas work better when all the lines are kept on the same page, as it can disrupt the flow when they break across pages. It’s a small detail, but for me, it took away from the reading experience and the visual rhythm of the poems.

Note: I received a free copy of this book from BookSirens in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Kate Lawhon · Rating 5 out of 5]

TW: anxiety, body dysmorphia, blood

"Do not be reduced to common dust
When you have thick roots in an endless universe."

"We are soft on our own, not because of our surroundings
And we can continue so
Even when the universe has blades
And we have blankets."

"Heaven hasn't turned it's back
Because we live in it's shattered reflection
While walking toward its glorious reality.".

"I cling to hope
Even when it shakes me off "



The above are just a few of my favorite annotated excerpts from an amazing poetry collection from Nathaniel. I honestly don't have words that can fully grasp the emotions I felt reading it. I cried from pain, being understood, and that there is joy and hope, we just have to hold onto it and don't give up. With all the desperation and hopelessness in our world, this collection offers you a hand to hold and guides you to a warm beckoning light and tilts our faces to see the stars.

[Abigail Hawthorne · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐

A beautiful collection of poetry.

Reading When One World Ends, Another Begins feels like a deep inhale on crisp midnight. Your lungs might burn, but you don’t care because it’s a beautiful night surrounded by stars and clarity.

This is short collection of poems, all themed around the ideas of endings and beginnings and acceptance. While there isn’t a single bad poem in here (Nate is an amazing poet), my favorites included “First Steps,” “Falling/Flying,” “Have You Forgotten?”, “The Whole of Our Existence,” and “Languages of Hurt.” However, my very favorite was “a gentle stream of necessary thoughts.” My favorite line was “I cling to hope / even when it shakes me off.”

I highly recommend this poetry book!

(Thank you to the publisher for a free eARC. A positive review was not required. All thoughts and opinions are my own.)

[Avra Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

When one World Ends Another Begins took me on an emotional journey. I feel like I can return to this collection again and again, depending on my mood or situation, and learn something different about myself each time. This book covers a wide variety of themes, and yet each and every poem is relatable and beautiful. I feel like the poems are easy to read and understand (not overly abstract) making this book very accessible to people new to reading poetry. At the same time, I feel like I need to read this collection again, looking for “the secrets…left in all the white spaces” as one poem says.

Great book. I highly recommend!