Severe(d): A Creepy Poetry Collection

by Holly Riordan

Whether you’re trying to claw your way out of depression, are suffering from extreme heartbreak, or just enjoy reading disturbing writing, Holly Riordan's first poetry collection will remind you that you’re not alone. That everyone has a darkness hidden inside of them that’s screaming to escape.

Genres: Poetry, Horror, Nonfiction

Paperback

Published September 15, 2017

About the author

Holly Riordan is a senior staff writer for Thought Catalog.

Reviews

[Krista · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let’s try this again… I had an entire review written, but Goodreads (or my computer?) stopped working and erased it all..

So, I received a copy of “Severe(d)” as part of a Goodreads Giveaway (thank you!!), and when my copy arrived in the mail, I started reading immediately. Right off the bat, I appreciated the author’s attitude as noted in the anecdote of her repeatedly using “whilst” in her writing just to annoy her creative writing teacher who instructed her to not use it.

As I started reading, I noticed how raw and graphic the poetry was-- not really my “typical” style when it comes to poetry. The topics very much centered around anger, death, anxiety, depression, abuse, etc. However, the more I read the more I became intrigued. Although quite gruesome in some instances, I think the concepts Riordan explores are all emotions that we experience at some point whether we act on them or not.

In terms of structure, I like how she has the collection separated by common theme, and I especially enjoyed the last portion titled “healing.” My favorite line came from this section: “Write away your madness./ Don’t live it./ Write it” (122). I think this is exactly what she has done through this publication, and I applaud her for that. I’ve tried to express the cathartic use of writing to my own students, but this is simply a beautiful way of phrasing it.

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised, and I look forward to reading more by Riordan in the future :)

[A · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I prefer pets to people,because they leave teeth marks deep in your skin for the world to see, whilst people scratch you up from the inside and act like the damage doesn't exist."

when you devour this tiny book in an hour and have trouble picking which quotes to use in your review because all of them were perfectly relatable.

"My parents warned me about horror movies
Blood and guts and Stephen King.
They told me to stop reading such disturbing stories
Stop playing such cutthroat games
But when I swapped my novels for newspapers
Changed the channel from AMC to CNN
My thoughts only grew darker
The world only seemed icier
AND I WISHED I HAD STUCK TO FICTION."

I want to tattoo some of them on my skin!

[Amelia Vegan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book just arrived and I already read it on my way back home and loved it, some poems even made me tear up, some were too relatable, some made me angry, this was exactly what I needed at this moment.
Also, it has cute art all over the book 💀 and the cover GLOWS IN THE DARK! This is one badass book!
The dedication is one the funniest and nicest ever ❤

[Breanna Lockwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book from a Goodreads giveaway. it was very interesting and addicting. if you love Gore dive in!

[George · Rating 4 out of 5]

Won this in a giveaway. Loved the cover art and pictures included inside. The publisher sent a cool "creepy" newsletter too. I love that extracurricular shit.

Poetry isn't my usual thing, but I liked the visceral style of the author. It's like if Chuck Palahniuk did poetry. Some recycled themes, but overall entertaining.

[Bridget · Rating 2 out of 5]

Goth Milk & Honey

[Molly Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sublime.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Goodreads giveaway winner (thanks!)

I adored this little book. The collection is very haunting, but anyone who has felt those overwhelming anxieties about life/relationships/waking up in the morning when all you want to do is sleep can find some relation to these poems. Wonderful.

[Simon Sweetman · Rating 1 out of 5]

It gives me no great thrill to say this was very bad.

[Tomas Zubiri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Albeit dense at times with what seems like an archetypal suicidal teenager attention-seeking behavior, the author continues to play this single note instrument until the reader is forced to both realize the authenticity of the threats of self-violence and self-hatred; and to distinguish the subtle tones of black in what feels like an autobiographical collection of carefully ordered poems.
After realizing that self-destructive behaviour is abound and transparently flaunted in society, ranging from women's fascination with changing the way they look, often destroying their bodies, to smoking functioning alcohol addicts, (one of whom fathered the Author), it seems that the initial skepticism for the human's tendency to inflict damage upon itself was uncalled for.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little disturbing, but very creepy and well written. She writes a lot about self-destruction and self-hatred, which could be triggering for some people, but I think it really encapsulates the contradictions and complexities of the human condition.

[Jesse Doorn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this collection of poetry. Half of it felt beautiful and half of it felt forced for shock value. I wish it was creepier? I think in high school I may have liked it better than I do as an adult. I wish we could leave half stars because my rating would be more of a 2.5.

[Destiny Q · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was happy to be one of the winners of this book.

I love poetry, but only the ones I can get drawn into and this is one of them. It is amazing! Hoping for more poetry from the author.

[Samantha · Rating 1 out of 5]

Kind of stalkerish and a bit concerning. There were a few that were profound, however.

[Arunkanth Yadav · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twisted yet complying

[Echo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Devastatingly bloody. I absolutely adore this poetry collection.

[Kyle Hendricksen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Creepy

This is entertaining and creepy. Warning to those who are light hearted, this is a very dark collection of poems. But I really enjoyed it because I like dark literature.