Saved

by Prudence Brooks

Welcome to SAVED, Arcana Poetry Press's Debut Full-Length Poetry Collection. SAVED by Prudence Brooks is a powerful collection of poems by a half-orphan, former Catholic altar girl navigating life as a neurodivergent woman caught in the wreckage of religious dogma, patriarchal control, and chronic illness. In defiance of toxic positivity, these poems don’t seek to inspire; they seek to tell the truth. With fierce honesty and lyrical precision, this book bears witness to survival, refuses silence, and finds clarity in the brutal work of becoming.

109 pages, Paperback

Published November 7, 2025

Reviews

[Kaitlyn M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished reading this collection for the first time and am almost too stunned for words. Prudence Brooks uses evocative, visceral imagery that scratches the metaphor itches deep within my brain. I loved the placement of the poems within the book, as her sentence and stanza structures vary amongst her poems. It’s truly enjoyable to read as a whole, and I can’t wait to dig deeper into the themes of the individual poems.

As a reader, I relate to her mentions of late night sporadic and vastly different hair changes, resilience as a disabled women navigating medical care in a country that hates poor people, and the calls back to Catholicism and its prevalence throughout her life. One of my favorite lines is from the poem, “It’s Quittin’ Time”:
“When the apricot dawn begs me to take a bite, I dutifully open my mouth. I nibble on her crisp ascent and schlep across town to sell my wellness. Abandon my autonomy.”

This is definitely a collection I see myself reaching for multiple times and sharing amongst my friends! Thank you, Prudence and Arcana Poetry, for creating such a beautiful book!

[Amber Hope · Rating 5 out of 5]

“No one heals without redefining sacrifice”

Every poem is simultaneously an uppercut to the jaw at the crack of dawn & a forehead kiss to get you through the night. Prudence writes with the type of grit, humility, & unflinching honesty that is both comforting & utterly jarring.

SAVED sticks sticky fingers inside the wound, lets it fester & ooze, & then shows you how to crawl out on the other side. It is survival as a ritual; the hope embedded in the bones of trauma, & the horror of living through it intact enough to reflect.

I know I will revisit this collection several times over, & will continue to add thoughts with each read through, but what you need to know is that Prudence is a brilliant poet. She absolutely blows me away with her tenacity & raw imagery. It is a honor & a privilege to read her work.

If you like poems that get your hands & your heart dirty; if you like poems that remind you what it is to really feel, SAVED is for you.

[Michelle Awad · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the immense honor and pleasure of reading an ARC of SAVED by Prudence Brooks some time ago, and revisiting it in its final form felt like a baptism—something sacred and entirely new. I can’t praise this book enough. Every poem carries a weight that should be heavy enough to crush anything beautiful, yet Prudence’s writing allows the beauty to shine through every line. This collection is gloriously painful, hauntingly macabre, and endlessly healing. It reveals all the sordid truth of the world; it tells the story that needs to be told. If you’re searching for a life raft in the chaos—or simply need to feel less alone, to believe in something bigger—read this book.

I feel a little bit holier for getting to exist at the same time as Prudence and her work.

[Mark Wilhelm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brooks is extremely talented at writing in a way that is easily comprehensible but still very thoughtful and evocative. The subject matter of the book is primarily Brooks' difficult childhood and young adulthood, but what I found really interesting is that Brooks intentionally avoids leaning on shock value. It's actually remarkable how much she doesn't explicitly show. She's more interested in expressing the emotions behind shocking, violent acts and exploring the repercussions of those acts, which I think speaks to her maturity as a writer. If any of this sounds like the type of writing you enjoy, I encourage you to pick it up "SAVED". I don't think you'll be disappointed.

[Diane Bridges · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this book the moment I got it. I have never seen someone flay themselves alive on the page as beautifully as Prudence did here.

This is a book for people who:
- want poetry to break and rebuild them
- want the words to make them do a double take
- want raw wounds and polished metaphor to live side by side

SAVED has earned a permanent place on my bedside table. I absolutely will keep coming back to this one.

[Bryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's hard to believe that Prudence could top her last book. SAVED is a gripping collection of poetry that explores many aspects of trauma and loss. The juxtaposition of beautiful imagery with dark and intense themes is something only a master of the craft could produce.

SAVED will have you re-reading and re-visiting poems, especially choice cuts like The Editor and Side Effects. I highly recommend this book to anyone who isn't afraid.

[Jessica Aure P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prudence has a gift for metaphor. Saved explores difficult themes around family, trauma, ED, mental health, and disability, but it feels like a friend lyrically explaining something hard they've been through.

Some favorite lines from
Poem In Place Of A Sedative:

I look at my hands
and see scars of my ancestors
white moonflowers drenched in starlight.
This desert between my ears has been
colonized a million times,
but not a single flag can get a grip
on my cracked soil.

[Cypher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prudence Brooks has this way of writing that just guts you alive (in the best way possible). You’re there with her in each of these poems, feeling her sorrow as if it were your own. It’s approachable, but it’s not simple, and I think that there’s something in this collection for everyone 💜

[Catherine Miele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prudence Brooks is a master crafts(wo)man. Her poetry is a sharp punch to the gut, but she serves truth with each metaphor and turn of phrase. This collection is a journey. It’s not an easy one, but once you’ve made your way through it, you are glad you took the risk.

[Ashtyn Faye]

Prudence Brooks never fails to be BRUTAL!!! Couldn’t put this down