She Who Destroys the Light: Fairy Tales Gone Wrong

by Shahida Arabi

The best fairy tales are the untold stories, the ones where the powerless take back their power and emerge as the victors, but not before enduring a long, arduous battle with the self and the world. In her debut poetry collection, 'She Who Destroys The Fairy Tales Gone Wrong,' Shahida Arabi candidly explores the themes of destruction and resurrection, unraveling the dark realities of abuse, trauma, heartbreak and the survivor's convoluted journey to freedom, healing, creativity and self-love. This collection provides an uncensored and raw exploration into the complexities of adversity and agency, offering a rare glimpse of what it truly means to survive and rise again from the impact of emotional and psychological violence.

Genres: Poetry, Fantasy, Fiction

117 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 12, 2016

Reviews

[Dev · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tell me about the boy who never grows old
His face ages but his tantrums never end
Should we call him
A lost boy
or a malicious man?
-Pan

actual rating: 3.5

As always, poetry is very hit or miss with me and I can't always figure out why I like some collections and hate others. This was definitely one of the better ones I've read and I really enjoyed it for the most part. The book is split into three sections and a lot of the poems have fairy tale or mythology influences but talk about issues women face in the modern world. I think people who like the Women are Some Kind of Magic will enjoy this one as well. Some people might enjoy it a bit more because she kind of combines the 'modern' poetry style of having a lot of short random lines with a more classic rhyming style, which I thought gave the collection a good mix.

[Maxi Bake · Rating 5 out of 5]

This poetry book is a fantastic journey off how to give self love too ourselves for a change, & this book is an excellent read for all survivors alike. Brilliant, as usual from Shahida. :)

[Kerran Olson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was drawn to this collection because it has a clear fairytale theme, and that always appeals to me. I found this to be a really strong collection of poetry, with few weak pieces, unlike some other poetry collections I've read this year that were a bit of a letdown overall (mainly Milk & Honey, and the Atticus collection, which both fell flat for me). This collection broaches themes including domestic violence, sexual assault, body image, and mental illness, while referencing mythology and fairytale lore, and despite these overarching themes each piece manages to be quite unique. Shahida Arabi gives readers some amazing lines such as "Your soul is still made out of stardust caked into the corners of your bones" that I need to bookmark because I love them so much, and a majority of pieces include gorgeous lines like this.

Favourite pieces of mine include:
Rapunzel
Paper dolls
The Artist
Karma
Hansel
Scarlet
Revolution
Stardust

Resurrection was the section I enjoyed the least, but overall this is a solid collection with some beautiful standout pieces, and I'm very impressed.

[Amanda Sanders · Rating 2 out of 5]

The subtitle "Fairy Tales Gone Wrong" led me to believe that this book of poetry would accurately impose fairy tales into the poems. I actually got the impression the author did not know the fairy tales well that she used. Rapunzel was spinning gold and Hansel and Gretel has a bad man. Most poems are deep and dark and men are evil. There is a similarity to fairy tales in that theme. The poems I liked the most are Pan p 29, The Grave p 59, and Revolution p 84.

[katherine vox · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is beautiful. you'll love it if you struggle with body positivity, domestic violence and mental illness.

stole my heart

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm honestly conflicted, I think this author has great potential, but that's all you see in this poetry collection: potential. There are some lines that are brilliant, empowering, thought-provoking, but only a tiny handful of the 100+ poems that left you feeling that way for the entire piece.

I settled on 2 stars, instead of 3, because I found the collection's title to be deceptive. "Fairy Tales Gone Wrong" does not describe the stories within. From someone who has dedicated a great deal of their life to Fairy Tales, it almost felt as if the author didn't read them herself. The references were nonsensical and there were certain poems that led me to believe the author was confused on what origin she was aiming for.

Regardless of that, this IS a collection of a woman who is desperately fighting to get over her trauma. The poems were eerily similar and repetitive, but you can clearly see a hurt, abused woman trying to piece herself back together. If you are able to relate to being abused by a narcissist, left a toxic relationship, or were physically/emotionally abused by a man, then you may find solace in this piece of literature, but go in knowing, while comforting yes, it is not profound.

[Melinda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to love this both for the subject matter and the cover. Poetry collections just aren't for me. It was beautifully written though.

[Karleah Olson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this initially because I love the cover, and it has a clear dark fairytale theme, which always gets me. I didn't expect to love it so much, because I've read so many average poetry collections lately, but I absolutely adored this one. I got through the whole collection without finding it repetitive. Each piece is unique and strong enough to stand on its own, but the collection as a whole is cohesive and flows really well. It draws on traditional fairytales as well as references to mythology and classic literature. It is a beautiful exploration of body positivity, domestic abuse, and mental illness, and about loving yourself first and foremost. It's remarkably well written, the forms and style are pretty varied which keeps the collection interesting. It bothers me a lot that poets like this who can genuinely write are talked about so much less than trendy instagram poets who have become so popular in the last few years. This is the kind of collection that should be a bestseller. I loved this.

[Carolyn Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The cracked and shattered must remember that the very same fissures they adorn do allow light to flow back in. Making resurrection of the self-possible. That is what this book of poetry was for me. It reminds you that self-love, courage and determination are still within one’s grasps.

This book is full of encouraging renewals after heinous wrongdoings have been committed on the victim. Survivors become shrewder, resilient and unstoppable. My favorites were “Letter from an empath to a toxic person” and “Rapunzel”.

Imps receive their just deserts.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this collection. It was nice that it was a different collection than some others. Usually when poetry collections have to do with fairy tales they deal with the nice fluffy side of things. These poems are darker and deal with a lot heavier issues. They even have a feminist spin to them which I also liked about them. My favorite poems were, "Rapunzel," "Paper Dolls," "Beauty and the Beast," "Little Red," "O.C.D.," "Ever After," "The Wolf," "The Mad Hatter," "Warriors," "Revolution," "Travis," and "Evolution."

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. I was shown fairytales in a way I had never thought of them before, and they were just so magically dark that I became engrossed in them right away. Although there were some poems that as I read them I sort of lost interest, like The Edible Woman, there were so many that I kept putting little post-its on because I loved them so much.

I loved Paper Dolls, Oz (favorite!), The Wolf, Hansel, Nightmares, Stardust, and Evolution.

[Ute Weiß · Rating 5 out of 5]

For poetry lovers who know from experience what an abusive relationship is like.
I‘m certain to read poems randomly when I‘m feeling like I need the wisdom of them.
I‘ve read all the books by Shahida Arabi on narcissism. They are extremely well researched and have helped ne a lot.
I can highly recommend her books!

[Grace Hollowell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a powerful book on abuse and feminism--the story of girls lifting themselves up from different forms of abuse to become women to be feared in their own right, rather than prey to be hunted.

[Liam · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful book of Poetry that really did speak to me.

The poems, split into three sections throughout the book, helped me to feel empowered, and actually calmed me down when I was panicking. A beautiful addition to my library.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cover art was stunning and immediately got my attention. A lot of the poems are based around the same themes (feminism, abuse, agency, identity of self) but well written for the most part. The fairy tale theme was pretty cool, and I'm glad it was included.

[Twinkly Tus · Rating 5 out of 5]

still reading and savouring this gift, thank you Shahida for empowering survivor of Narcissistic abuse through your heartfelt and raw poems!

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

thoughtful.

[Emilija · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good collection of poems, but rather dark and heavy at times.

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

There were so many good poems in this collection I can't pick one favorite because I liked so many of them.

[Jennifer]

The book of poems was beautiful. Highly enjoyed reading this book!

[Japhy Ryder · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is genuinely sort of beautiful and magical. I have a hard time finding poetry collections that I enjoy, but this is one I did. Almost every poem is unique, well written, and pretty.

[Carly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful doesn't begin to describe it

The book becomes more perfect the more you continue to read it. This book of poetry is so powerful, especially for survivors of abuse.

[Reema · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful book of poetry with a fairytale/mythology theme woven throughout.

[Marco Antonio · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is really awesome.

[Naomi Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not a huge fan of poetry but once in a while it's nice to read a collection. It makes your brain think differently. It maked it work.

I found this collection to have a painful theme of difficult topics like abuse and depression but also growth and resilience.

About a dozen or so of the poems I wanted to rip out of the book and frame on my wall. So so very good.

It's a book of poetry. You're either feeling it or you're not.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. I was shown fairytales in a way I had never thought of them before, and they were just so magically dark that I became engrossed in them right away. Although there were some poems that as I read them I sort of lost interest, like The Edible Woman, there were so many that I kept putting little post-its on because I loved them so much.

I loved Paper Dolls, Oz (favorite!), The Wolf, Hansel, Nightmares, Stardust, and Evolution.

[Evangelina · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are some jewels in this collection and an admirable journey in the overall narrative (piecing yourself back together after a toxic and even fully abusive relationship). However, you get the sense at unfamiliarity with some of the tales the poems draw from (Rapunzel, not rumpelstiltskin, spins gold in the most egregious example) and clumsy and even cliché metaphors. Also very all over the place. Fairy tales. Greek myth. Christian imagery...I think I wanted a little more cohesion.

[Alison · Rating 1 out of 5]

I felt that this book had nothing that made it stand out from all other tumblr-esque several liners that plague us as "poetry" nowadays. The language is simple but even then, not powerful or evocative. Cliché, which is a pity because there was so much potential for the concept.

[The Color of Ink · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of poetry is interesting and thought provoking. I do love the idea behind the book, although I'm not quite sure that the title is a perfect fit. It's also the perfect print size to drop in your bag and take with you. Enjoy!

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable collection. Some pieces I liked more than others. It speaks much about abuse and the voice is one of strength and rebirth. An enjoyable little hour long read.