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Moonbone and Memory: The Wild, The Wounded, And The Watching
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 1, 2026
Moonbone and Memory is a poetry collection inspired by Greek mythology, but calling it a collection of myth retellings wouldn’t do it justice. Instead of simply recounting ancient stories, Alex M. explores the emotional and moral essence of each myth, asking what these women, their choices, and their tragedies still have to say centuries later. Every poem transforms a familiar legend into something deeply human, making the collection feel both timeless and strikingly relevant.
At the heart of the book is Artemis. While she begins as the goddess of the hunt, the moon, and the wilderness, she gradually becomes something much larger, a symbol of freedom, self-determination, resilience, and the quiet courage of choosing your own path. Through her story and the stories of women like Callisto, Atalanta, Britomartis, Iphigenia, Niobe, and others, the collection explores themes of identity, grief, love, memory, survival, and the cost of remaining true to yourself.
One of the book’s greatest strengths is how interconnected it feels. Each poem builds on the previous one, weaving together individual myths until the final title poem brings everything full circle. By the end, it no longer feels like you’re reading separate poems,it feels like you’ve followed one continuous journey. The ending, in particular, beautifully captures the central message of the collection: that myths don’t disappear; they live on in the choices we make, the stories we carry, and the people we become.
The writing itself is lyrical and atmospheric, filled with vivid imagery without becoming overly complicated. The poems are emotionally rich, but they don’t tell you how to feel. Instead, they invite reflection, encouraging you to sit with the emotions and symbolism behind each myth rather than simply following the events of the story.
My only criticism is that the collection assumes some familiarity with Greek mythology. While the emotions are universal, many poems gain their full meaning through the original myths. Readers unfamiliar with characters such as Britomartis, Callisto, Orion, or even some of the lesser-known stories of Artemis may find themselves missing certain layers of symbolism or emotional impact. I often paused to look up the myths after finishing a poem, and each time I did, I found that the poem became even more meaningful. Because of that, I think this collection is best experienced slowly, allowing yourself the time to explore the mythology behind each piece.
That said, I don’t necessarily see this as a weakness. Rather, it’s an invitation to engage more deeply with both the poetry and the myths that inspired it. If you already love Greek mythology, this collection will likely feel like discovering familiar stories from an entirely new perspective. If you’re new to mythology, I’d simply recommend reading with curiosity and keeping a quick reference nearby; you’ll be rewarded for it.
Overall, Moonbone and Memory is a beautifully crafted collection that uses mythology not to retell the past, but to explore enduring questions about freedom, identity, memory, and what it means to choose yourself. It’s a thoughtful, immersive read that lingers long after you’ve turned the final page.
At the heart of the book is Artemis. While she begins as the goddess of the hunt, the moon, and the wilderness, she gradually becomes something much larger, a symbol of freedom, self-determination, resilience, and the quiet courage of choosing your own path. Through her story and the stories of women like Callisto, Atalanta, Britomartis, Iphigenia, Niobe, and others, the collection explores themes of identity, grief, love, memory, survival, and the cost of remaining true to yourself.
One of the book’s greatest strengths is how interconnected it feels. Each poem builds on the previous one, weaving together individual myths until the final title poem brings everything full circle. By the end, it no longer feels like you’re reading separate poems,it feels like you’ve followed one continuous journey. The ending, in particular, beautifully captures the central message of the collection: that myths don’t disappear; they live on in the choices we make, the stories we carry, and the people we become.
The writing itself is lyrical and atmospheric, filled with vivid imagery without becoming overly complicated. The poems are emotionally rich, but they don’t tell you how to feel. Instead, they invite reflection, encouraging you to sit with the emotions and symbolism behind each myth rather than simply following the events of the story.
My only criticism is that the collection assumes some familiarity with Greek mythology. While the emotions are universal, many poems gain their full meaning through the original myths. Readers unfamiliar with characters such as Britomartis, Callisto, Orion, or even some of the lesser-known stories of Artemis may find themselves missing certain layers of symbolism or emotional impact. I often paused to look up the myths after finishing a poem, and each time I did, I found that the poem became even more meaningful. Because of that, I think this collection is best experienced slowly, allowing yourself the time to explore the mythology behind each piece.
That said, I don’t necessarily see this as a weakness. Rather, it’s an invitation to engage more deeply with both the poetry and the myths that inspired it. If you already love Greek mythology, this collection will likely feel like discovering familiar stories from an entirely new perspective. If you’re new to mythology, I’d simply recommend reading with curiosity and keeping a quick reference nearby; you’ll be rewarded for it.
Overall, Moonbone and Memory is a beautifully crafted collection that uses mythology not to retell the past, but to explore enduring questions about freedom, identity, memory, and what it means to choose yourself. It’s a thoughtful, immersive read that lingers long after you’ve turned the final page.
July 21, 2026
I really love stories that re-write history/ mythology from the points of view of women that were pretty much dismissed in the original version of said myth.
I wasn't very sure what to expect of this one, as it's usually pretty hard to come across such works that are done properly and don't get tangled up in their intended message, so I must admit I was a bit skeptical at first, however this one very pleasantly surprised me.
The poems in this book are very unique, as unlike most contemporary poetry I've come across that focus mostly on raw emotions, everything in "Moonbone and Memory" is strongly visual as well. I liked this aspect of things a lot since it's a pretty tricky thing to do well in the medium of poetry, hence why most authors focus on emotion first and foremost.
This felt like a very short version of an epic story (like the Iliad) made feminist and empowering, so if that's something that you're into, I think you should check it out. <3
I wasn't very sure what to expect of this one, as it's usually pretty hard to come across such works that are done properly and don't get tangled up in their intended message, so I must admit I was a bit skeptical at first, however this one very pleasantly surprised me.
The poems in this book are very unique, as unlike most contemporary poetry I've come across that focus mostly on raw emotions, everything in "Moonbone and Memory" is strongly visual as well. I liked this aspect of things a lot since it's a pretty tricky thing to do well in the medium of poetry, hence why most authors focus on emotion first and foremost.
This felt like a very short version of an epic story (like the Iliad) made feminist and empowering, so if that's something that you're into, I think you should check it out. <3
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews