Lace Bone Beast: Poems & Other Fairytales for Wicked Girls

by N.L. Shompole

Here is emptiness. Here is a mouth after a recent excavation, black with soot, devoid of kisses. Here are hands, trembling against the soft ache of morning, here are eyes, wet, wide, half-full of sky and loneliness. Here is belly, back, femur, spine, ragged and smooth all at once, all at once. Here are dreams, ink black and speckled, lost behind the eyes. Here is a muted elegy, crow’s feet feathered over the eyes like lace. Here are the last strains of a dirge, wild, discordant, free.

Genres: Poetry, Adult, Nonfiction, Fairy Tales, Womens

109 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 10, 2017

About the author

N.L. Shompole was born in Kenya. She is a multi-platform artist whose written and photographic works have been featured in various print and online publications including Words Dance Publication, Maps for Teeth, Invitation Annual, Kinfolks Quarterly and The Rising Phoenix Review. Her latest collection Spectre Specter Blue Ravine was released November 2015.

Shompole can be found via

www. nlshompole.com
Instagram @NLShompole

Reviews

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of richly layered poems discussing forgiveness, self-worth, survival, healing, love and sorrow was a mixed bag for me. Some I liked and felt deeply in my heart, while others went completely over my head. As a result, I ended up loosing my interest bit by bit, until I’d stumble upon a new poem that resparked my love…

On that note, here are the pieces that left me with a profound feeling inside:











































That last sentence pierced right through my heart.

If nothing else, Lace Bone Beast managed to remind me of how much I love poetry collections, which I'm grateful for. I'm excited to pick up more in the near future!

Oh, and I also listened to this amazing song thanks to Skam.

ARC kindly provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Note: I'm an Amazon Affiliate. If you're interested in buying Lace Bone Beast, just click on the image below to go through my link. I'll make a small commission!


This review and more can be found on my blog.

[Hannah Azerang · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars

Lace Bone Beast is a collection of poetry by N. L. Shompole that discusses love, grief, self-worth, brokenness, and survival. And it does so exquisitely.

I read quite a bit of contemporary poetry and I can say with certainty that this is the most beautifully written collection I have ever read. The prose is simplistic yet also lyrical and deeply moving. This reads like a fantasy novel in the form of poetry because N. L. Shompole's words truly feel like they have magic in them. Every single line she writes is packed full of so much meaning and depth, but it's intertwined with her whimsical writing style which makes this collection an absolute breath of fresh air.

So many of the poems resonated with me and I absolutely loved every single one of them. It is hands-down one of my favorite collections I have ever read and I definitely see myself rereading it many times in the future. So if you're looking to get into some more poetry, I would absolutely recommend picking this one up because it is so worth the read.

And because there's nothing I can say to properly close this off, I'll just leave you with my favorite line from the entire collection:

"Darling, here is a secret, beauty comes after the disaster, after the haunting, after the hours spent lost among the salvage, beauty comes in the midst of survival, of reconstruction, of revival."



Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. So thank you to Kingdoms In The Wild for sending me this copy, however all thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Kaylin (The Re-Read Queen) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

Overview

"Oh darling, loving and staying isn't always the same"

Gorgeous words covering many facets of life and the emotions that go with them.

I received a copy in exchange for an honest review, thanks to the publisher Kingdoms in the Wild for the opportunity!

Pros:

Again, the language here was just spectacular. I don't usually enjoy more abstract poetry, but the grit and polish of the word choices really pulled me in. There was a strong emotional element laced into every line of prose that made it all seem completely real, tangible and visceral-- even if the specific poems were not.

Cons:

At times the formatting made things almost difficult to read or seemed to change the meaning. This was especially true when large portions of the text would be bolded or italicized, and it just seemed too much emphasis. I wish the words had been left to stand on their own.

In Conclusion:

Beautiful collection filled with exquisite wording and phrases, albeit with some odd formatting.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lace Bone Beast: Poems & Fairytales for Wicked Girls is a collection of poetry written by multi-platform artist: N.L. Shompole. It is a guide, a manual, a wealth of experience, but also the sincerest of written empathy of how it feels to be broken. To have a broken heart means that you allowed yourself to love, and that vulnerability is what makes you beautiful. N.L. Shompole uses her poems to tell all the girls out there: Your softheartedness is not a weakness, it is the very thing that gives you life and allows you to feel, hope, and dream. But when your heart breaks, it's also OK to process the dark emotions that come along with that – you'll survive the rage and fury too – but remember to come back to yourself. Don't stay in the devastation.

Emotional survival is at the center of this collection and it was lovely to read. Through this collection, Ms. Shompole shows her readers that breaking is not the same as dying... breaking is a source of strength because you survived and now you know you can.

N.L. Shompole's collections of poetry include the following titles as of January 2017. She is a talent to take note of. Check her out!
2013-Cassiopeia at Midnight
2014-Heaven Water Blood
2014-Anatomy of Surrender
2015-Phantoms as Euphemisms for Disaster
2017-Lace Bone Beast


Thank you to Kingdoms in the Wild for sending me a complementary digital ARC of Lace Bone Beast in exchange for an honest review.

[Puck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Remember, everything that matters comes slowly,
the teeth, the bravery, the strength,
the softness.

Meditations for the soft-hearted

January didn’t only bring cold temperatures, but also this beautiful poetry collection to my door. Lace Bone Beast is a mix of poems and short pieces of prose about love, grief, self-worth and survival. I had a bit of a hard time getting into the poems - some were too short or I didn’t got the message – but the more I read, the more I got into the flow of the writer.
Like an old blues song, Shompole’s lyrical writing got stuck in my head and her words started to resound in me. Maybe it is the bleak weather, or my own low spirits, but the poems started to itch and burn in a heart-wrenching way.

This is how to un-remember, this is how to keep the ghosts at bay- walk away and don’t look back. Not until the memories have been reduced to ash, to dust. When the sadness comes creeping in, and it will, it will, it will, take a bath. Wash the blue tint of phantoms from your skin and choose the dawn, no matter what, choose the dawn.

Dirge for the dreamer

In my mind I often pictured a cold room with a sleepless women lying in her bed, watching the lights play on the ceiling and bitterly mourning her lost relationship. Why did things go wrong? Was it her fault? Was it her partner’s? And did the relationship truly made her happy?

Perhaps you have never spend a night thinking like that, but I suppose we all are familiar with days where you walk around with a heavy head, or nights when you try to fall asleep while your mind is filled with dreary thoughts. Shompole captures that heaviness in her poems, but offers you at the same time a way out. A little (night)light to hold on to.

The softness in your bones is
not / has not / will never be weakness

The tears that burn to the surface
In the face of grief or affront are not / will never be
Signs of a faint heart

It’s only right that some days you will be more
Storm than sky
More rage than softness
More fury than forgiveness

&
that’s alright,
that’s alright

forgive the softness in your bones.

So personally, because poetry is always personal, I was really moved by "Lace Bone Beast" and gladly give it four stars. However, the writing style - with a lot of line breaks and short sentences - looks similar to that used by contemporary writers like Amanda Lovelace and Rupi Kaur in “Milk and Honey”, so if that is not your cup of tea, I don’t think you’ll like this either.

But if you’re looking for poetry about loss, courage, heartbreak, and finding your inner strength, that this book is definitely one for you.

There is no revolution,
like the revolution of a heart
for itself.



This is the second book that I read for the #DiverseAThon, which ran from the 22nd to the 29th of January 2017.

Disclaimer: I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I want to thank Kingdoms in the Wild for sending me this, however, all my thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Jenny (Reading Envy) · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Love the body
for it has housed you
through the collapse, and
the catastrophe."

***

"Forgive
the softness
in your
bones."

If you like those two bits, you will love Lace Bone Beast. For fans of Milk and Honey, with a little more fantastical description, but short poems, passionate sentiments, beautiful words. I also liked looking at the poet's Instagram, which has paintings and bits of other volumes of poetry.

Thanks to the publisher for a review copy!

[Tori (InToriLex) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Find this and other Reviews at In Tori Lex

I was wowed by many pieces in this collection because while they were short they conveyed a lot of emotions. The poems go back and forth between profound meditations on life, and metaphorical musings. The author puts the titles at the end of her work, leaving the reader to find their own point before she explains what it is. I liked this format it was different and supports each readers own thinking and interpretation.

This book made me think of my future and offered more tools for me to forgive my past. The poems included recognize life's turmoil and offer practical suggestions for women to stay above the fray. This was a memorable work of art, I'm happy I was able to read it. My only criticism is that the use of chapters or parts would have made the poems feel more cohesive. The way the poems were presented they seemed fragmented on their own. I would recommend this to everyone looking to read more poetry and look into themselves.  You may be surprised with what you see when you are able to reflect.

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Eunice (nerdytalksbookblog) · Rating 5 out of 5]

For big fans of milk and honey by Rupi Kaur you will definitely enjoy this one, or even more. Lace Bone Beast isn’t something you come across often, it was truly a gem. The way the author painted each scenario is impeccable, enough for you to devour every thing that is written. The poems were sincere and raw, it had the power of enthralling its reader without overdoing it. It was perfectly digestible, every meaning of each poem was not lost on me. It has the ability to draw you in, it has the ability to elaborate something so profound and offer it to you in a different light. It empowers just as much as it accepts you as your true self. You don’t encounter something like this on a daily basis, it was an affirmation of life’s ever mysterious ways such as grief, love, forgiveness, self-worth and everything in between. It was truly something one should read at least once in his lifetime.

NL Shompole has the talent on making you feel the impact of her every word. And I now consider her as one of my favorite poets. I love that her poems are something you can identify with and is also something that only gets better each time you read them. Her poetry is brimming with wisdom. They say poetry is the highest form of literature, and NL Shompole did an amazing job in this collection. It was subtle when it needs to be, and assertive when it must. You wouldn’t miss the message it was trying to send across. It had a keen observation to details without missing the essence of each poem. It wasn’t overwhelming. If for anything, it offers comfort and support.

It was surely a pleasure to read this poetry book, I can highly recommend this one to readers who want to venture out on poetry. NL Shompole’s writing style will hit you straight to your heart, and yes it will linger. Her poetry is the kind of poetry you’ll crave once in while.

[Hristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first favorite book of 2017.

"Write yourself into existence because no one else will."

I don't think it's possible for N.L. Shompole to write a single line of poetry that I won't fall in love with. There's a certain sophistication in her writing, a beauty that is hard to explain.
This collection is filled with amazing one liners that are presented as meditations and small truths (for the soft-hearted; for the broken hearted).

"Remember, we don't stop loving the ones who betray us."

These lines hit me a bit harder than the longer poems, left me stunned throughout (this is something that happens every time I read Shompole's writing). It's why I was once again unable to read her collection just once. Her ability to translate emotion into her work is one of a kind, and it left me speechless once again.

I recommend this collection to every poetry fan out there. I think the uniqueness of Shompole's collections can capture anyone's attention.

"There is no graveyard more haunting than a former lover's eyes."



A huge thanks to Mrs. Shompole's team for offering me an e-ARC of this book in exchange for a fair review.

[Warda]

Review to come!

[Marta :} · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a digital copy of this collection by the editor (L. Naisula) for review, but this influenced in no way my rating, nor my review. Thank you again for the copy!

"Remember, we don't stop loving the ones who betray us."

This book is very powerful and I loved the concept that it presented, I really loved it from the beginning, the title is so beautiful and interesting. I will most probably re-read this book at some time because I felt the period when I read it (amidst exams) wasn't really the best time to read such a book. It's a book that you need to savour, to let the words kick in, to really think about the emotions the author is trying to create. I really loved it nonetheless. Very amazing.

[Alix · Rating 3 out of 5]

(really needed to read this right now)

forgive
the softness
in your bones

// when the night grows teeth

favorite poems:
- the traveler
- water spirits & other things that lurk beneath the waves
- meditations for the lost
- lamb for slaughter
- to the wolf i say
- caught downriver during flood season
- metamorphosis, a manual
- the birdwatcher's wife & other fairytales for wicked girls
- a diary of lost things

[mags · Rating 5 out of 5]

Refuse the drowning, refuse the pull of salt water on your skin, refuse the tide, refuse the storm. Write yourself into existence because no one will. -- the historian

Holy shit.

Look, I'm seriously picky when it comes to poetry. I've never been super fond of the genre (probably thanks to years spent dissecting it in school) so it takes a lot for me to give a poetry book a high rating. But Lace Bone Beast absolutely blew my expectations out of the water. I'm super disenchanted with the current trend of short poems where it seems like the "enter" button was hit after every word, and for whatever reason, I was expecting that when I started this one. I was instead incredibly described to be greeted with these gorgeous, lengthy poems that went straight to my core. There's always a few poems I find myself not enjoying in a collection, but looking back on Lace Bone Beast, I honestly can't think of one that didn't garner some sort of reaction or emotional response from me. They're were all breathtakingly beautiful.

The collection was lovely and empowering in its entirety, and the view it provided on the human journey of suffering was something that resonated strongly with me. I've definitely got a renewed sense of faith in poetry.

*4.5 out of 5 stars*

[Gina · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Won in a goodreads giveaway.

My favorite poet of all time is Miller Williams. I could go on and on about why he's my favorite, but at the core it has to do with how he combined everyday interactions with technically complex poetry to elevate words into art. Yeah...I'm a fan. I need to tell you that because Lace Bone Beast seems to be almost the opposite of Williams' work. Shompole takes raw emotion and lets it dictate the words on the page - style, form, order, etc. I'm not saying that's wrong, but it does put this work outside the kind of poetry I typically enjoy. Of course, I'm sure it has an impact on my rating and review.

I read through this collection three times. The first time through was for a general feel/overview. I didn't connect with it the way other readers (see other reviews) have. Because it is so raw and emotional, I think I would need to be in that same place to fully connect. I'm just not in that headspace right now. The following two times I read it, I did so for more technical reasons. It is for this that I'm giving the collection 3 stars. I appreciated the order, flow, and use of title (or lack of) for each poem to guide the reader through each work. In summary, I appreciated this collection, but I'm not sure I "get" it.

Side note: The cover is beautiful. It is so pretty in person.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first note I took while reading this book was as it follows, "tingling sensation, so much life; becoming painfully aware of everything; holding your breath for so long, holding your head high…"

It is exceptionally simple to forget how to breathe. One thing leads to another and suddenly the distractions have become the sole purpose of an existence you end up forgetting is yours to live.

Lace Bone Beast is an empowering reminder that we are the ones writing the story, that we are the ones holding the pen that will lay down the moments that will become constellations of who we are. We may run out of ink for a moment, we may need to take a break to refill, but the script will eternally be ours to return to. Lace Bone Beast is a poignantly written reminder that interludes are just as crucial as infinite chapters, that silences carry as much of our being as words do.

"Truth,
I am a museum
of ruin
&
resurrection."

Lace Bone Beast by N.L. Shompole is a beautifully bold step into a gravity zero that has us floating through life without judgment, without a scale.

"& if you want it
there will be hope
bright and ravenous
but only if you want it,
only if you want it."

Forgetting is the first step to remembering. A path, no matter the length or course, is a path, and is ours to take. Life is a rollercoaster, the highs would be nothing without the lows. No matter what, live. No matter what, feel. No matter what, dream.

"Be, be all of it, warrior with a wildflower heart and a spine like steel, sharpen your teeth but don’t forget the dreamer just because the world called you to war. Dream, dream, dream all the dreams."

I would like to thank the publisher for kindly sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review. I will certainly be recommending this collection of poetry, this constellation of life.

[Monique V · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hauntingly beautiful, Truthful and inspiring

I am very picky with poetry. This book was like Art. It moved me. It made me feel. This book is a collection of poems and phrases. I found my self wanting to have some of these quotes on my wall to remind me that there is always a way out, that the people we love can betray us, but that only you can save your self. I am definitely going to put some of these quotes on my wall. I highly recommend this book!

[Caroline Talton · Rating 4 out of 5]

an enrapturing book of poetry. I was hanging on every word.

"it's only right that some days you will be more
storm than sky
more rage than softness
more fury than forgiveness

& that's alright
that is alright"

[Tania Duarte · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was approached by the publisher a couple of weeks ago and they very kindly sent me this book in exchange for a review, but please know that that's not going to have any effect on my thoughts on Lace Bone Beast.

I feel like this is the perfect mix of softness and badassery (is that a word? If not, it should be). I honestly think this book is kind of a how-to guide for life in general. It makes you feel like the way you decide to heal and lick your wounds will be the correct one. There's no wrong way. The author constantly lets you know that it's perfectly fine to be vulnerable, but also that it doesn't mean you're not fierce or strong. As she says, there's nothing wrong with your softness. That's life. But at the same time, I love love love the references to wolves and teeth.

That being said, I read it on my Kindle and I took so many pictures with my phone that it is now basically Shompole's phone. I liked it that much.

[Yeldah Yousfi (Beautiful Bibliophile) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poetry books are my favourite, because even though they are quick reads they have so much meaning to me. Just loved all the poems in this collection!

[Alaa Bit Hashim · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Forgive
The softness
In your bones”


Forgiveness is the first advice N.L. Shompole gives wicked girls and women in “Lace Bone Beast” book of “poems and fairytales for wicked girls”. Don’t let the title fool you though, she did not mean to dismiss us adult women who pride in their adulthood, she merely wanted to remind us of who we really are deep down inside, who we have always been and who we will always be.

“Oh, darling
Loving &
Staying isn’t
Always
The same.”


Throughout this self-help, or better yet self-discovery book of short poems and little words with grand meanings, “Lace Bone Beast” left me quite more than often at awe, with the beauty of N.L. Shompole’s rhythmical semi-prose poetic musings, lessons and insightful meditations! This is a book to reflect upon, to find your empowering mantra, to contemplate to envision your future and forgive your past.

“There is no
Revolution
Like the revolution
Of a heart
For itself.”


If you love nayyirah waheed’s poetry, if you are a fan of Warsan Shire, or if “preparing my daughter for Rain” by Key Ballah is your bible, then consider this book your must-have survival guide. You will also notice the parallels. N.L. Shompole writes the titles at the end of the poems {Just as nayyirah waheed did in Salt and Nejma}, and I personally love this format, as I genuinely believe that poetry should not have titles, in order for the reader to find and stick to their own interpretation rather than trying hard to relate to the title.


“Abracadabra
He says
&
My heart sparks
A full-bodied
Nubela
Onto the
Kitchen floor”


As a fervent reader and passionate lover of poetry and specifically contemporary poetry, I acknowledge with absolute impartiality and ample confidence that this book is one of the most heartfelt, eloquent and superbly well-written poetry books I have ever read. As I have fell in love with every single poem in this - generous with love- book and I would totally recommend it to any poetry/ love enthusiast!

Disclaimer: The Publisher of “Lace Bone Beast” poetry book “Kingdoms in the Wild” generously offered me a copy in exchange for my honest review, and I am very appreciative of this gesture, however, above review and opinion is solely and unbiasedly my own.

[BookBlerd · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are not enough words for me to describe how magical & tender the poems in this book are. Some are a paragraph long, while others are just a few sentences. Yet, there is a lyrical quality to these poems that create gorgeous imagery that is as vivid as a fireworks show. These poems speak to those who have a sensitive heart that is either broken or lost in darkness, encouraging them to acknowledge their pain and know that someday they can heal.

As a sensitive Black femme, I can't tell you how much it means that a Black woman wrote poetry about accepting your soft heart & gradually processing personal pain. Black femmes, especially Black women, are often told to be strong to the point where they don't acknowledge personal pain & mental illnesses. I'm grateful to have a book of poetry that shows me that being sensitive isn't a bad thing and that my personal darkness can be filled with light.

[Anisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

A crazy good collection of prose and poetry dealing with self love, self worth, love & heartbreak and eventually survival. The poems are empathetic. It champions the readers to hold your head up high even when the going gets tough.

Written in a metaphorical geniusness, it sometimes feels like reading a fairy tale of a warrior princess dealing with the ups and downs of her life not so different from ours. Some of the verses are so simple and raw that it's breathtaking. 

The poems encourage you to feel pain when you are hurt and not run away from it.. as long you get back right up and fight for YOU. 

An empowering read.

I was provided a copy of the book by the publisher for my honest opinion.

[Melinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

A beautifully written collection of poetry. Even though I loved the writing, some of the poems just were not for me. Also, there was repetition in quite a few poems, word and description wise. Otherwise I could of rated it higher.

[caramels · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Darling,
I have grown
accustomed
to getting lost,
to wandering so far from home
the sky no longer resembles
anything I know.”

[Jess Kline · Rating 5 out of 5]

"When you are offered magic, take it. When you are offered joy, curl your fingers around it, revel in it. Drink, until your stomach is stretched full against the ragged edge of your ribcage. When you are offered love, accept it. Even if it is only for a day, an hour, even if it's only for a second." I devoured this collection of poetry by NL Shompole - not moving from my seat until I read them all. I was so thrilled to get a copy in advance for my honest review because this collection is so powerful. These poems will resonate with those who refuse to harden themselves in the face of harsh world. Heartbreak is a certainty - but Shampole explores the relationship between staying soft through pain while growing stronger with every blow life gives. And that it's okay to feel - never deny yourself the ability to feel the joys and pain life brings. "The softness in your bones is not/ has not/ will never be weakness."

[Kaitlyn Red Wing · Rating 5 out of 5]

Are you sheep, or wolf? That is the question, and N.L. Shompole makes it clear that sometimes we are both. That the process of healing takes both the sheep and the wolf.

“It’s only right that some days you will be more
storm than sky
more rage than softness
more fury than forgiveness”

Shompole teaches us that it's okay to be soft, but it's also okay to be rough and "rage with all fury of a typhoon." This collection of poetry is one of the most raw, beautiful, sophisticated, and empathetic collections of how it feels to be broken and to have to put yourself back together again; because no one can fix you, but you.

I felt each of these poems on an emotional level; more-so than any other poetry collection has. It read like a symphony, each poem having it's own part. Some parts so loud, and unpleasant you want to look away. But eventually it dies down and what you have is the softness because N.L. Shompole reminds us that we will be okay. That things will get better. Contrasting these two types of poems creates a beautiful melody you never want to end.

Here's a sample of one of my favorite pieces in this collection. She references Icarus in a couple poems and that intertwining of mythology and poetry came out whimsical and enlightening.

“Truth,
I was Icarus
once, drowning
beneath the waves.
 
Truth,
I was Icarus
once, soaring
above the clouds.
 ”

Disclaimer: I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. So thank you Kingdoms In The Wild for sending me this copy, it is now one of my favorite pieces of poetry and literature.

[Gina · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Won in a goodreads giveaway.

My favorite poet of all time is Miller Williams. I could go on and on about why he's my favorite, but at the core it has to do with how he combined everyday interactions with technically complex poetry to elevate words into art. Yeah...I'm a fan. I need to tell you that because Lace Bone Beast seems to be almost the opposite of Williams' work. Shompole takes raw emotion and lets it dictate the words on the page - style, form, order, etc. I'm not saying that's wrong, but it does put this work outside the kind of poetry I typically enjoy. Of course, I'm sure it has an impact on my rating and review.

I read through this collection three times. The first time through was for a general feel/overview. I didn't connect with it the way other readers (see other reviews) have. Because it is so raw and emotional, I think I would need to be in that same place to fully connect. I'm just not in that headspace right now. The following two times I read it, I did so for more technical reasons. It is for this that I'm giving the collection 3 stars. I appreciated the order, flow, and use of title (or lack of) for each poem to guide the reader through each work. In summary, I appreciated this collection, but I'm not sure I "get" it.

Side note: The cover is beautiful. It is so pretty in person.

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think I'm one of the only people who didn't really like this poetry collection. It's nothing against poetry in general- I really enjoy poetry. I don't know what my deal with this one was.

It could be that I read it on my kindle and the formatting doesn't translate well to ebook. It could be that I wasn't in the right point at my life for these poems to be hard hitting. Or it could be that I just didn't GET this poetry, the themes, anything.

Whatever the reason, I think I'm going to come back to this book in a year or two. I'll see how my opinion changes with time.

[Eleanor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't really have any words other than holy fucking crap. My copy has been post-it-noted and highlighted to heaven, and that only happens with books I absolutely adore. This is such an honest, beautiful, validating read that perfectly explores how the darkness of human nature breaks forth in our suffering and growth. Anyone who likes Rupi Kaur or Amanda Lovelace will absolutely adore this. <3

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Lace Bone Beast is far from being a traditional poetry collection. The pieces are short, beautifully placed on the page, with artful use of punctuation and indentations. Many poems feel like fleeting thoughts and feelings, private meditations, which creates a sense of immediacy and intimacy in the reader. Lace Bone Beast is thus a celebration of human emotion: of love, of loss, of melancholy, of fury, of wonder, of identity collapsed and reconstructed.

I read the collection twice and enjoyed it both times. I may read it again to experience that particular state of mind, or to gain a better sense of how the poems fit together. However, I went into this collection entranced by the imagery and style, and I was surprised to find some pieces were hit or miss. Certain pieces, especially the shorter ones, were direct statements of thought and emotions, which I personally found too vague to be deeply impactful. My favorite poems tended to be the longer, more narrative or imagery-based ones (such as “I Use One Language to Devour the Other”, “Here Comes the Wolf”, or “Water Spirits & Other Things That Lurk Beneath the Waves”) though there were a few shorter pieces I found particularly evocative (such as “Meditations” or “Salt & Shadows”). This is mainly a matter of taste, as the shorter and more general pieces were still genuine and well-stated. However, it’s worth noting that Lace Bone Beast has several different types of poems, which may vary in appeal based on the reader.

Lace Bone Beast has a strong focus on emotion and aesthetic. There are stylistic choices throughout that I think illustrate this mood pretty well: (I'm only putting a spoiled warning for those who might prefer to discover these for themselves) referring to the reader as love or darling, frequent use of the word devouring, descriptions of obsidian eyes, italicizing and repeating a statement for emphasis, etc. As per the subject of the collection, there were also many descriptions of animals, monsters, and the night, which created a common thread throughout the different poems. If you’re a fan of these stylistic choices, and find they carry strong emotional weight, then this collection will likely resonate with you. If these choices sound bizarre or remote, this may not be the collection for you. For the most part, I personally loved these choices and found them to be beautiful and lyrical: however, I felt as if certain elements were overused, and some of them felt unconvincing when paired with the more general pieces.

N.L. Shompole is clearly an author confident and talented in her craft. Her experience as a visual artist shines through in this collection, and her pieces are thoughtful and expressive. The main question for the reader is to determine whether or not their tastes align with Shompole's. The straightforward, familiar tone reminded me a bit of Rupi Kaur’s Milk and Honey. Though, the imagery was quite different, and reminded me a bit of the lyrics of the band Purity Ring. I would recommend reading a few pieces of this collection to get a sense for it (the Goodreads description is pretty accurate to the tone). Overall, I enjoyed reading through this collection, and hope to experience more of N.L. Shompole’s work in the future!

I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review