The Death of a Showgirl

by Willow Bowery

Did she leave the stage in silence?
Was it candle, was it blade?
Was it love turned into violence,
Or some darker masquerade?
No witness ever certain,
No voice will quite agree;
The truth lies hid behind the curtain,
Not yet revealed to thee.

232 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 3, 2025

Reviews

[Ellen McMahon]

This will just be more AI drivel meant to make us think it's Taylor Swift. Do not fall for it.

[Randi Himes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know the author is trying to make us think it's Taylor Swift, but I didn't see "car" rhymed with "bar" once, so I doubt it's really her.

[franklinia ☦︎]

Update for everyone:
A girl on TikTok said the author of this book might actually be Taylor Swift.

[Cindy Neighbors · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excited to read this. Alas, someone will always come up with a better idea than you... <3 I'm sure it will be sizzling!!!! Already 5 stars.

[Rachel O’Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story follows a performer who’s built her whole life on being what people want, until she realizes she’s disappearing behind the glitter and the smiles.

The writing feels like a Shakespeare play. So if you’re not into that, you may not enjoy this. But it’s about fame, love, and losing who you are trying to please everyone else. I enjoyed it.

[Kylie Swift 31 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye. But also... hello?

The concept of the seven deadliest sins is almost as old as time, but Willow Bowery invites us to contemplate which one would ultimately be the deadliest?

Pride? Envy? Wrath? Sloth? Greed? Gluttony?
Or perhaps the most deceptive of them all: lust?

"Their love can bruise the very thing it chases."

The death of a showgirl provides a Shakespearean peek behind the curtain to reveal the seedy underbelly of Ophelia's life as a showgirl.

The catch?
Her success as the star of the show hangs in the balance of the cast and crew.

This long-form poetry book is a continuation of the metaphors and rhythmic prose embedded within Willow Bowery's previous book—Clownerie. Objects such as rivers, mirrors and crowns serve as a historic take on the give and take nature that exists—but remains unspoken—between the star of a show and the audience that consumes it.

"They'll learn to love the plain of me," she tries,
"to take the marrow, not the lacquered guise."

It leaves us asking ourselves: is what the star of the show has to offer a reflection of ourselves, or are we inherently a reflection of the star of the show? And if we left our expectations at the door, would who they are at their very core be enough? Or are they expected to perpetually bend and snap like a glow stick in order for us to be truly entertained?

Willow Bowery has utilised the concept of Taylor Swift's song 'mirrorball' to showcase—and advocate for—a performance where pride, envy, wrath, sloth, greed, gluttony and lust no longer govern the life—and death—of a showgirl.

This is both a fictional work of art and a heart-breaking commentary on the universal experiences many artists are faced with when they're working within the entertainment industry. Let this book not be an argument over authorship with it's potential connections to Taylor Swift, but instead an opportunity for us all to reflect on our role in authorising the death of a showgirl.

In slanted ink that leans like hunger's ache,
a marginal threat: "You're brightest when you break."

[Brooke Schroeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Opalite is about Fourth Wing

And this just further cements in my mind that Opalite is about Fourth Wing. You cannot convince me otherwise! Haha

[Saf]

The rhyme scheme bored me as much as a Shakespeare play. I quickly lost the point of what this was about.

[kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

new read for me

Complex and interesting. If it comes from where I think, it combines the ages of drama summarized into a comprehensive behind the scenes look of the biggest show and all main characters involved including those we often divide ourselves i to as people to compartmentalize and get through life as a boss…human…and partner. Coming to terms with acknowledging our complexities and how we rely on our loyal friends to help us succeed and be honest and how we react to the challenges around us and still show up to perform our due diligence and expectations in life. Of course this is to a greater scale than most…but the same pressures many can relate to.

[matthew peavy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was decent and a good mystery I suppose. Not 100% sure this isn’t AI. Multiple times in the rhyming did words not rhyme just because the words ended the same. Multiple times I wanted to stop just because I know it’s not Taylor but I felt I had committed this far and wanted to see it through.

[Lauren (Lo) Jozefat · Rating 4 out of 5]

not my typical read

But once I got past the tension and unease of reading prose and the pacing, I really enjoyed the story. I wish I could have flipped back to the character descriptions but on kindle it’s a challenge. It took time to read and re read to follow and what resulted was an unfurled telling of the show and showgirls. Enjoyed, would recommend

[Kaira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Taylor. Girl - did you write this?

[Amy Lifshack · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars.

I enjoyed reading this book, while I was reading it.
Will I remember much, no. Will I be reading the others from this author, probably not.

[Carole Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every single word has weight. She is the poet of our generation. WOW.

[Alexander Gonzalez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clearly poetry is not my strong suit. It took me quite some time to go through the story and several reread of sections to understand what was being told.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This could reaaaaally be TS, although I think it sounded slightly too simple for her.

[K · Rating 2 out of 5]

Better than the album

[Alex Yebra · Rating 5 out of 5]

1000% ts, so fun to read

[Shannon Hoffman · Rating 1 out of 5]

my first official DNF. just no.