What do you think?
Rate this book
I Call Upon the Witches: a poetry collection by Chloe Hanks
- GenresPoetry
50 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 14, 2022
23 people are currently reading
117 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
November 14, 2025
I savoured this as long as I could, reading one new poem every night and rereading the rest. This is powerful stuff!
May 26, 2022
"𝙾𝚑, 𝚍𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚖𝚢 𝚏𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍,
𝚑𝚎'𝚜 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚜𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚑𝚜;
𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚊 𝚖𝚊𝚗
𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝙸 𝚏𝚊𝚒𝚕𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚘𝚗𝚌𝚎."
- 'Your Tinder Match is a Witch'
I was so excited when Chloe reached out & asked if I'd be interested in receiving a review copy of her book. I'd read her work in the 'Elements' anthology from @fawnpress and adored it so I couldn't wait to read more.
'I Call Upon the Witches', Chloe's dissertation project, is an examination of the various stereotypes we associate with the word 'witch', as well as an exploration of the tragic history of those who have been tarred with this brush. Chloe seeks to remove the 'patriarchal lens through which literature has been observed' and examine what it truly means to be a witch: "to be a person at peace with the authenticity of oneself in spite of all else."
I have always been, and continue to be, fascinated by all things witchy, so I loved everything about this book. Chloe writes in a variety of different poetic structures, and references both well known historical figures like Joan of Arc and Elizabeth Southerns, and lesser known ones such as Petronella de Meath. Her poems range from beautifully sad to more tongue in cheek, but they fit together perfectly to form a fascinating little collection. My main criticism of this book was that it wasn't longer, as it definitely left me wanting more. Overall, a stunning book that I would recommend to anybody with an interest in poetry, feminist literature, or history.
Thank you so much for inviting me to read your work Chloe 🖤
𝚑𝚎'𝚜 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚜𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚑𝚜;
𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚊 𝚖𝚊𝚗
𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝙸 𝚏𝚊𝚒𝚕𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚘𝚗𝚌𝚎."
- 'Your Tinder Match is a Witch'
I was so excited when Chloe reached out & asked if I'd be interested in receiving a review copy of her book. I'd read her work in the 'Elements' anthology from @fawnpress and adored it so I couldn't wait to read more.
'I Call Upon the Witches', Chloe's dissertation project, is an examination of the various stereotypes we associate with the word 'witch', as well as an exploration of the tragic history of those who have been tarred with this brush. Chloe seeks to remove the 'patriarchal lens through which literature has been observed' and examine what it truly means to be a witch: "to be a person at peace with the authenticity of oneself in spite of all else."
I have always been, and continue to be, fascinated by all things witchy, so I loved everything about this book. Chloe writes in a variety of different poetic structures, and references both well known historical figures like Joan of Arc and Elizabeth Southerns, and lesser known ones such as Petronella de Meath. Her poems range from beautifully sad to more tongue in cheek, but they fit together perfectly to form a fascinating little collection. My main criticism of this book was that it wasn't longer, as it definitely left me wanting more. Overall, a stunning book that I would recommend to anybody with an interest in poetry, feminist literature, or history.
Thank you so much for inviting me to read your work Chloe 🖤
June 23, 2022
For my full review, please visit Small Leaf Press's blog: here
One of my most anticipated poetry chapbook releases was Hanks’ I Call Upon the Witches published by small press Sunday Mornings at the River in 2022. I have avidly researched the concept of the witch and its historical interpretations when I was an undergrad so thinking that a poet has managed to debunk this myth and offer a new place for the thousands of women wronged and executed under patriarchal influence, stirred my heart. And for good reason. What you get from Hanks’ chapbook is a feminist manifesto, a reappropriation of the myth, only to peel it back, inch by inch, and giving it back to the rightful owners: the historical witches that were burnt, drowned or suffocated.
Reading the ‘Foreword,’ I understand that the chapbook is the poet’s dissertation project, something that sets the tone for a more academic investigation of the archetype of the witch. Chloe doesn’t only refer to the female victims of the historical craze; she explicitly states that the project is also about “the estimated of 50,000 people who have been executed under the weaponized label of the witch” and this inspires me to look forward to poems that will do justice to those victims, will reinstate their voice and agency against a backdrop that has perpetually stigmatized them. Thus, the journey to I Call Upon the Witches begins—we’re academics looking for rightful answers, historians looking for lost testimonies, and fellow witches looking for our stolen history.
In one of my favourite poems of the collection ‘Call on Twilight,’ the persona peers into a sacrifice by a witch’s hand. We read “your blood stains the incantation bowl/ she lapped each drop with a serpent’s tongue/ she traced your body with your own/ superficial wand, spread her poison through/ your lust, you never should have pinned/ her down, you belong to the witches now.” There’s an evident connection between bloodlust, raw passion and sexual desire, and a need for the persona to get back at male gaze, to get back at the victimizers by using the same means they used to kill innocent witches—blood will be shed because witch hunters first draw it.
I want to personally ask Chloe to continue writing about witches and their stories, and to include many more witches across the world; victims of the patriarchy across South America and Asia, too. Their stories are worthy of being known and Chloe Hanks’ exquisite talent in letting them shine is unique—such an ambitious project will enhance the existing collection by paving the way for further exploration of the myth, and by inviting other poets to engage in Hanks’ poetry. What she has truly managed to create is a safe space for more work like this, more socially informed and daring poetry like her own.
One of my most anticipated poetry chapbook releases was Hanks’ I Call Upon the Witches published by small press Sunday Mornings at the River in 2022. I have avidly researched the concept of the witch and its historical interpretations when I was an undergrad so thinking that a poet has managed to debunk this myth and offer a new place for the thousands of women wronged and executed under patriarchal influence, stirred my heart. And for good reason. What you get from Hanks’ chapbook is a feminist manifesto, a reappropriation of the myth, only to peel it back, inch by inch, and giving it back to the rightful owners: the historical witches that were burnt, drowned or suffocated.
Reading the ‘Foreword,’ I understand that the chapbook is the poet’s dissertation project, something that sets the tone for a more academic investigation of the archetype of the witch. Chloe doesn’t only refer to the female victims of the historical craze; she explicitly states that the project is also about “the estimated of 50,000 people who have been executed under the weaponized label of the witch” and this inspires me to look forward to poems that will do justice to those victims, will reinstate their voice and agency against a backdrop that has perpetually stigmatized them. Thus, the journey to I Call Upon the Witches begins—we’re academics looking for rightful answers, historians looking for lost testimonies, and fellow witches looking for our stolen history.
In one of my favourite poems of the collection ‘Call on Twilight,’ the persona peers into a sacrifice by a witch’s hand. We read “your blood stains the incantation bowl/ she lapped each drop with a serpent’s tongue/ she traced your body with your own/ superficial wand, spread her poison through/ your lust, you never should have pinned/ her down, you belong to the witches now.” There’s an evident connection between bloodlust, raw passion and sexual desire, and a need for the persona to get back at male gaze, to get back at the victimizers by using the same means they used to kill innocent witches—blood will be shed because witch hunters first draw it.
I want to personally ask Chloe to continue writing about witches and their stories, and to include many more witches across the world; victims of the patriarchy across South America and Asia, too. Their stories are worthy of being known and Chloe Hanks’ exquisite talent in letting them shine is unique—such an ambitious project will enhance the existing collection by paving the way for further exploration of the myth, and by inviting other poets to engage in Hanks’ poetry. What she has truly managed to create is a safe space for more work like this, more socially informed and daring poetry like her own.
October 25, 2022
I loved the concept and the poet clearly cared deeply about the subject and the work itself. However, the collection itself just wasn’t for me. I struggled to connect with any of the poems and none of the really stood out to me as fantastic. It was tragically forgettable, in my opinion.
That being said, I look forward to seeing what the poet does in the future as I can see her growing into a very strong poet. I will definitely give any new releases a try, especially if they are of similar themes.
I also enjoyed the Hanks’ academic insight in the foreword.
That being said, I look forward to seeing what the poet does in the future as I can see her growing into a very strong poet. I will definitely give any new releases a try, especially if they are of similar themes.
I also enjoyed the Hanks’ academic insight in the foreword.
March 11, 2023
Hypnotic and feminist poems questioning what does it mean to be a witch and what it means to be treated as one. The collection follows lives of those who were called witches and were mistreated for it, as well as contemporary references (such as Your Tinder Date is a Witch).
"Oh, don’t mind my friend,
he’s been sat there for months;
just the bones of a man
that I failed to love once."
"Oh, don’t mind my friend,
he’s been sat there for months;
just the bones of a man
that I failed to love once."
April 20, 2022
2.5 stars
This was a rough one for me. I loved the authors intention and you can clearly tell this comes from a place of passion on the subject but the poems for the majority just didn't do it for me unfortunately.
This was a rough one for me. I loved the authors intention and you can clearly tell this comes from a place of passion on the subject but the poems for the majority just didn't do it for me unfortunately.
April 10, 2022
This is honestly one of the best poetry collections I've read in some time- it's beautiful and powerful. Read it.
July 9, 2022
Beautifully vivid and haunting poetry - Chloe Hanks is definitely someone to keep an eye on for her future work!
August 6, 2022
If you love women who challenge the status quo, this poetry book is for you.
October 29, 2025
"We all have as much villainy in us as we do main character moments."
I loved this and the only reason I gave this four stars instead of five was because I wished it was longer. Giving voices to women who have been villainized and weaponized as tools for patriarchal oppression is how we heal and how we reclaim our power. This collection of poetry was so empowering and so raw and I loved every bit of it. I could feel the visceral feminine power and energy flowing from page to page. It was fantastic. I wished it was longer. I could have kept reading and reading.
"There's comfort in the forest for here we take our leave. I call upon the witches and so, they come to me."
I loved this and the only reason I gave this four stars instead of five was because I wished it was longer. Giving voices to women who have been villainized and weaponized as tools for patriarchal oppression is how we heal and how we reclaim our power. This collection of poetry was so empowering and so raw and I loved every bit of it. I could feel the visceral feminine power and energy flowing from page to page. It was fantastic. I wished it was longer. I could have kept reading and reading.
"There's comfort in the forest for here we take our leave. I call upon the witches and so, they come to me."
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews