Velvet Dragonflies

by Billy Chapata

Embark on a gentle journey back to self with this wistful and inspiring collection of poetry from beloved poet and writer Billy Chapata.

Cushioned with love and tenderness, breakout poet Billy Chapata escorts readers through the oftentimes coarse path back to self-love in his latest collection of poetry,  Velvet Dragonflies . This collection is divided into five sections––“Viscose,” “Koigu,” “Damask,” “Charmeuse,” and “Landing”––with each section representing the evolving softness that is found when true, deep self-respect and acceptance is rediscovered. Much like his two previous works, Chapata writes words that will echo around readers’ minds long after they’ve finished reading.

Genres: Poetry, Nonfiction, Self Help, Audiobook

320 pages, Paperback

Published November 8, 2022

About the author

Billy Chapata is a Zimbabwean writer, author, and creative based in Atlanta, Georgia. Billy's work aims to touch on the concepts of love, healing, connections, and growth, through poetry, storytelling, and narrative. Writing came into his life as a means of sustenance, self-love, and empowerment: Billy writes to heal, he writes to grow, he writes to survive. His poetically infused words, memorable lessons, and bittersweet experiences have become a point of resonance and comfort for many across the world.

Reviews

[mas · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book read more like a self help book than poetry, I do think it would do well in that genre instead. Bu as poetry, it was rather cliché, gave me a vibe like ah yes I have read these same lines a thousand times over. There were certain poems within the book that were beautiful and emotional but those were comparatively rare than the others. I do think this writer does have real potential though. Perhaps I was just not the right audience for this book and there is a different type of poetry reader who would understand and appreciate this more, but for me, it was a total and utter miss.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

[ruthie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could give Billy a big (consensual) kiss for all the lessons he has taught me through his poems

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC audiobook provided in exchange for an honest review.

I r really enjoyed this shirt and sweet poetry audiobook read by the author himself. It had some very inspiring messages about believing in yourself and valuing your worth above any other. It felt a little “self help” messages at times, but all in all I liked the messages he was putting out in the world. My daughter loves poetry so I’ll be sure to look into purchasing the physical book for a Christmas present!

[Jenni Sauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book. It's absolutely beautiful and I wish I had words because I don't have words, it's just such a wonderful, beautiful book. It's just such a healthy perspective on healing and love and I so very much enjoyed it

I'll be adding a physical copy to my library, because there's so many poems I want to revisit again and again

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free ebook copy of this. No review was required and all thoughts are my own

[Sydney Tucker · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not the right place to look for life changing pieces of wisdom. It just doesn’t run that deep. However, it’s a great place to remind yourself of some fundamental graces you should give yourself as a human. Not profound, but very meaningful.

[Star Gater · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Audio for accepting my request to audibly read and review Velvet Dragonflies.

Author: Billy Chapata
Published: 11/08/22
Narrator: Billy Chapata
Genre: Poetry

The narrator (the author) starts this book explaining there is no order. This collection holds his thoughts and he is always growing.

I found his voice to have the same confidence as in his previous works.

The audiobook has instrumental music in the background. I found it distracting.

The presentation does not work for me. The music is too much and the short points read in dictionary format is unsettling.

I would consider gifting this. The poems are self-evaluating and gifted to the wrong person the beauty could be misconstrued. I had the audiobook. I would gift the physical book.

I'm giving 3 stars, for the music and formatting.

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listed to the audiobook while on a sunset walk/room clean. This was more of a self help/self worth book than poetry but the message of the book was uplifting and moving. Listening to the audiobook while on a walk outside was refreshing and peaceful.

My favorite quote from the book: “There’s no connection more powerful than two people bringing their own individualities to the table with no intention of diluting each others essence, but instead celebrating what makes each other unique”

This quote is so true just like everything else in the book. I feel like with a lot of my friends we’ve grown apart in interests over the years, but the connection is still strong. This is because everyone is always supportive of each other and eager to see how everyone changes and the paths they take.

[haley :) · Rating 3 out of 5]

just wasn't my cup of tea, much more of a self-help book that gives more of an advice-type of poem. totally get why others love this book, just wasn't for me and would do better labeled as self-help rather than poetry :)

[Maya · Rating 3 out of 5]

"(nothing feels better than finally giving yourself what you should've been giving yourself all along) being loved feels warm. loving yourself feels like the entire sun inside of you."

This was a beautiful poetry collection that explored a lot of relatable topics from a variety of different perspectives. There were different repeating structures of poems throughout the collection which explored themes of ego, self-love, connections and friendship, growth and self-discovery, and moving on.

There were quite a few poems that I really felt connected to, particularly those talking about moving on from past relationships. If the previously mentioned themes were interesting to you, I think you'll definitely find a poem that you really enjoy.

I will say that whilst there were poems I really loved, overall I think the collection had more misses than hits for my personal taste. This collection had a lot of poems, but a lot felt very similar as they all explored similar themes through reoccurring motifs. These motifs included imagery of keys, ocean/waves, light, wings, mirrors, gardens, poison, and cups. I will say that once I had noticed these motifs a few times throughout the poems, the later poems didn't feel as special as the motifs were used in the same way each time. This is my largest complaint with the collection - it repeated a lot of topics, conversations, and imagery without adding onto these themes or developing a new perspective. Whilst there was some beauty to focusing on similar concepts, the magic of reading did slowly drain away as I kept reading.

Another issue I had with the collection was on a structural level, as I felt like the five chapters didn't have a purpose. As the poems all were building on the same themes and motifs with the same tone, there wasn't enough to separate the different chapters from one another. For example, if you put a poem from the 'damask' chapter and the 'viscose' chapter, I would not be able to distinguish them. I would have liked the poems to be separated from the 'flight' chapter at the beginning, a middle chapter, and then the short 'landing chapter, as this would be reflective of the overall theme without adding unnecessary chapters.

Overall, if you enjoy poems of self-discovery and reflection, this could be a great choice for you. Whilst I think certain poems lacked the same depth shown in other pieces, it was generally enjoyable altogether.

"We may have come into each other's space at a time when comfort eluded us and found peace in each other. we may have come into each other's space at a time when we needed direction and drew maps to each other's soul. we may have come into each other's space at a time when life had us on edge and gave each other rope...the universe never aligns two paths together for no reason, and even though it was temporary, the lessons i took from our connection are written in permanent ink."

[Chaunce Schell · Rating 3 out of 5]

It reads like I got tricked into reading a self-help book that offered somehow even less substance.

There were a few poems worth remembering, but for the most part it is… almost arrogant.

You cannot build up without first being torn down. There was no relatable darkness in this, which makes it feel like a facade. The writer was not vulnerable enough with the readers for this to be meaningful poetry.

[Risa · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF

Unfortunately, I’m not the right audience for this volume of poetry; it’s not my style of writing right now, but there are definitely other readers out there who will appreciate it much more.

An ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Kari Napier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Knocked this one out of the park!! I love the books about self love and happiness. This was one of my favorite books of poetry on self love and keys to happiness. Not worrying about others liking you or being right for you because it all comes down to loving yourself. Great read!

[Amber Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a beautiful book of poetry. It gave me self help vibes. I loved that the author was the narrator. There were so many relatable topics that the author covered. Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Audio for the audio arc in exchange for my honest review.

[Braylee Dubs · Rating 5 out of 5]

<3

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful writing, a book of poetry and pomes for everyone. My heart and soul felt the words.

[Bryanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favourite poetry books of 2023!

[Fiona ☆~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ich finde insgesammt war es mehr ein self love Buch als Gedichte. Trotzdem fand ich inspirierend und habe mich angesprochen gefühlt. Allerdings wurden einige Sachen ziemlich oft wiederholt was es ein bisschen langweiliger gemacht hat.

[Rachel J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5.

[Jenn Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent listen. I enjoyed listening to the affirmations. They were hard hitting and will be getting more books by this author.

4 stars

[Jenny Leitsch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thankful to have been gifted this book by a dear friend at just the right time. Chapata's verses were straightforward and powerful in their simplicity. I see this as a book I'll return to in times that call for quiet introspection and self-reflection.

[Lucy Gould · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection is the literary embodiment of a hug.

[mena ౨ৎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars ★

um, where has this book been all my life? i wanted to highlight every single page. almost all of the poems resonated with me in some way or another, effortlessly managing to make me feel seen and understood. this collection of poems was right what i needed when i read this.

[Courtney Ferriell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is beautifully written. It is like a warm hug for your soul and a therapy session wrapped all together. It restores the parts of you that you thought were lost and gently heals the deep-seated trauma in your heart. Can't wait to read more!

[Haley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was able to listen to this on NetGalley for free in return for an honest review!

Wow! For a shorter audiobook these poems really packed a punch! Hearing the author read this, rather than a different narrator, was so cool because it's truly how they should have been read. A lot of these stuck with me, and I feel like anyone would feel uplifted reading/listening to these. I'll definitely be getting a physical copy of the book so I can sink them into my brain more. There were several times one of the poems would stand out to me and I would rewind and listen to it several times to really let it sink in. Very powerful, indeed!

The audiobook has background music, which was cool at first (not used to hearing music in an audiobook) but I found it distracting the longer the audiobook went on. Overall, I really recommend this to anyone who's looking for a boost in self love!

[Evelyne · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5/5 stars

I really wanted to love this but its so cliché

[Kelly Jarvis · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title and description of the poetry collection, Velvet Dragonflies, drew me in, but when I first started reading, I wasn’t sure I would love it. The book opens with the word “flight” and the phrase “the path back to yourself will be unique”. The collection seemed like a self-help book written in verse with advice like “nostalgia will keep you renting space in toxic places”, “honesty is like cardio for the soul”, and “love for yourself can never arrive too late”. But, as I continued reading the poems, which are surrounded by large amounts of white space, I did realize that the book offers some beautiful words and worthwhile ideas.

The book is divided into sections labeled “viscose” (a solution used to manufacture rayon), “koigu” (a type of yarn), “damask” (a patterned fabric formed by weaving), and “charmeuse” (a lightweight fabric with satin weave). The content in each section seems to build and replicate rather than being distinct, and with this structure, the poet implies that a tapestry is being woven from ideas about self-love and forgiveness. The last section, called “landing”, brings closure to the opening “flight” and states that life has no order of events. This made me realize that the repetition in each section is purposeful, allowing for the reader to flip back through the pages and read the small poems without worrying about narrative order.

The collection offers thoughts on how fear and ego can hold us back and on the importance of letting go of relationships that no longer serve us. The focus lies with courting self-love and appreciation through the healing of personal wounds and the acceptance of individual faults. The poems speak to the necessity of boundaries and propose some phrases that will stay with me such as “home is not a place, it’s a feeling”, “do not waste ink trying to rewrite someone’s narrative of you”, and “the universe reacts to your intentions, not to the opinions others have of you”.

Self-help books are not my favorite genre because they often operate with the absence of passion found in real world relationships, but I did enjoy this interesting collection of poems and will certainly circle back to pages which spoke to me and helped me to see my life and the world through a new lens. Velvet Dragonflies is a beautiful read for those who enjoy innovative poetry and philosophical thinking.

Thank you to NetGalley for a free copy of the book in exchange for a fair review.

[Isabel Tyldesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

Thanks to NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Velvet Dragonflies is poetry for the soul and mind. It's poetry to heal your inner-self. It's poetry to remind yourself of much needed, loving truths.

loneliness won't make an old flame burn differently

I always think writing works better when you give you yourself over to the words. When you give over your emotions and let them feed your work. Billy Chapata does this beautifully. His poetry is raw and thoughtful, truthful and soft. It's poetry to dip your toes into, to let it hydrate you, to let it feed you.

empathy becomes expensive / when you have empathy for / everyone but yourself

I took my time with this collection, reading it in short bursts to cherish each poem and let it take root, giving it the space it deserves. I recommend doing the same. Open it when you're feeling low, open it when you need cherishing, open it when you need honesty. You will find words that resonate with you. Words that you didn't know you needed to hear.

Poetry like this.

[Kate Dickinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first book I read in 2022 was The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck. It was interesting and a fresh take on the self-help genre. I thought about reading a self-help book to start 2023, but decided on a book of poetry I grabbed for myself while Christmas shopping instead.

Joke's on me, though! Velvet Dragonflies is a self-help book masquerading as a book of poems. The general theme is about loving yourself, improving boundaries, and letting go of connections that are no longer serving you.

I won't lie; some of the poems hit pretty hard... but they weren't the typical types of poems I'm used to. The collection didn't tell a story, and most of the individual poems just read like paragraphs rather than, well, poems.

It was pretty enjoyable overall, and I do feel like I was lightly inspired to make some life improvements for 2023... I just wasn't inspired to write poetry, you know?

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This poetry book contained some absolutely gorgeous passages, passages that felt like comfort or a truth, a conversation and advice from an older friend. Although I have to say it felt more of a self help book and some poems did feel like I read 20 other same ones with a change in wording but nonetheless it was a great book.

‘A woman who is art cannot be replicated. You cannot trace an image of her soul and make it your own. She runs deeper than the eye- she’s a feeling’

Now if that isn’t a masterpiece then I don’t know what to say. Because some passages hit so differently and with a very relatable air too. I definitely think most poems were written in mind for older people than a 15 year old teenager who hasn’t experienced love yet, so maybe I’m not the best audience to read it and judge! But I did really enjoy his works in this books, the cover is simply GORGEOUS and it read so quickly and yet meaningfully and deeply 🤍

[Ridley Zarate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received a gifted copy of this book from Netgalley, and I'm in return providing an honest review.

This book is a collection of poetry about mental health, trauma and healing. A lot of it reads like Instagram poetry, and if you like that kind of writing, it's probably for you. Myself, I'm a bit neutral about this book. I think its because this book doesn't make me feel as much as I would like it to. There are some good poems in this book, Dose of Honey being one of my favorites. But I tend to gravitate towards poetry that evokes emotions. This one didn't really do that for me, it read more like affirmations you might find in an app on the apple or android store. The poems are validating, and I can appreciate that. But some of it just fell flat for me.
This book comes out November 7, 2022.
Thank you for the ARC, Netgalley.