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Member Reviews

It seems as though I haven't been able to recapture the magic I felt with the first couple of Lovelace's poetry collections. This one felt like a miss to me. I didn't really get any of the fairy tale/witch themes that were supposed to be present. Although she always does an amazing job with looking at difficult themes and writing with honesty, there was just something missing for me.

I found it hard to connect with these poems, many of which were based on a sister relationship. I have a sister but still couldn't quite relate to the writing. On the plus side, I did love the illustrations - there were some full color ones and other sketch-like drawings that I felt really did complement the poems really well.

At the end of the day, I'll still probably read Lovelace's collections in the future - I'd love to get back to the vibe of her original works, which felt fresh and daring. But I most likely wouldn't recommend this one to someone unless they were huge fans of Lovelace or of this type of 'Instagram poetry.'

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Again I can never get enough of Amandas poetry. I truly believe she make a difference for someone who is struggling. Her words are so dang powerful. She really knows how to hit you hard with all the emotions.

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I want to quote so many pages! But let's wait until the book comes out.

Damn. That's what a queen speaks to the other queens.

Seriously, this collection speaks volumes on how women see other women, how we are competing against ourselves and how we are hurting each other.

And of course, there are always douchebags, man or woman. Yes, I love in the real world even though I am being extra extra active online and every single page speaks to me.


So damn genuine and so damn liberating to read something this different and uplifting.


Expect the illustrations to bling your being.

Thank you, Amanda and the publisher, for this amazing advanced reader copy.

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This was my first time reading poetry by Amanda Lovelace, and I have to say I will continue. I felt as if she was talking to my throughout these pomes. To wear my crown high and not worry about what others say about you! I truly wish I could hand out this book to girls everywhere! The illustrations were also beautiful through out also. I highly recommend!

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Every time Amanda Lovelace releases a collection of poems, I'm anticipating it and I never fail to read each of her publications.
No surprises there, I loved "Shine Your Icy Crown". Much like her previous works, her words tend to resonate and it was as if she spoke to me specifically.
This new series of collections is highly enjoyable and I very much appreciate the care that was put into the editing, such as the amazing illustrations which accompany some of the poems. The overall aesthetic is very pleasing.
I thoroughly enjoyed the poems titled "Big sister says"; they were meaningful and incredibly beautiful, they delivered powerful messages and mantras that can be useful in the everyday life.
I was particularly sensitive to the poems that dealt with the ideas of sisterhood or those about the mind of an introvert. Some of my favourites were also those dealing with toxic relationships and how to deal with uncomprehending friends.
You can also come across themes such as patriarchy, woman empowerment, domestic abuse, bullying, eating disorder, depression & anxiety and self-harm.
Amanda Lovelace has always been my favourite poet and she, once again, secured her place in my heart.

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Once again, Amanda Lovelace hits it out of the park. Readers are once more transported into a world of their own fairy tale, and the traditional tropes of masculinity and women pitted against one another are shattered with ease. Concise but emotionally expansive, shine your icy crown is a perfect addition to Lovelace's catalog.

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This was brilliant. It was the best book I've read so far from this author, her writing keeps getting better and better. It talks about feminism, loving yourself and how it's perfectly okay to not follow the crowd and I thought it was great! The 'big sister says' element was also interesting and I'm assuming this book was inspired by Frozen as three previously one was inspired by Cinderella but the author says it's her own experiences too! Overall this was the perfect read for winter and I loved it!

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Once again Amanda Lovelace writes poetry that is beautiful and speak directly to my heart, my past, and everything I wished I could say to myself. A beautiful narrative illustrated with gorgeous pictures and details. It’s so easy to fly through her works and I will definitely continue to read each new collection. Thanks to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for a chance to read an ARC.

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I have rarely felt so seen as I am by AL’s work. And this collection, centering finding power in yourself as well as the bonds between sisters, is no exception.

These pieces are short, surgical strikes of discarding the stories that people write for you. And instead, a call to action of finding your own voice, creating your own crown.

And as the eldest of 3 sisters, each piece titled “big sister says” felt pulled from my own past.

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Shine Your Icy Crown by Amanda Lovelace - 5⭐️⁣
This is a modern poetry book which includes some beautiful illustrations 😍 also awesome for Amanda Lovelace to include a full list of trigger warnings. ⁣
Honestly, this book could not have come at a better time. I’ve been struggling by a bit lately with working full time and living away from home during a pandemic, and this book was exactly what I needed to hear!⁣ I love reading these books as they only take around an hour out of your day, but it really is like self care.

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Amanda Lovelace continues to inspire with the newest of her poetry collections. I don't think there will ever be a book from her that I won't enjoy.

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I was approved for this title, downloaded it, and read it immediately. amanda lovelace is a hit or miss author or me, and I didn't love this poetry collection as much as other collections I've read. Some of the poems resonated with me and were absolutely beautiful, and others missed the mark for me. I loved the illustrations and how the full page graphics separated the three sections of the book.

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Amanda Lovelace never disappoints. I absolutely love all of her poetry books. This one was really great.

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I was not as impressed with this collection as I was with Amanda's previous work. I felt it was not quite as deep as I have come to expect from her and it did not seem to stick with the ice queen theme.

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I liked how Lovelace juxtaposes the "negative" poems with the more positive ones that sound like a big sister giving advice in this poetry collection. I felt like this collection was pretty relatable because the themes in the negative poems were ones of fear and anxiety and sadness which are emotions that everyone has felt. The big sister poems felt like... well, a big sister lol. It felt like she was actually giving me advice on these different topics and reminding me of my self-worth.

Some poems in this collection really hit for me and made me cry which isn't usually something that happens to me with poetry. The poems on depression and anxiety were ones that I really related to and I feel like it really let me know that I'm not alone in those feelings.

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**E-Arc provided by the publishers, through NetGalley. All opinions are my own***

I have been keeping up to date with everything Amanda Lovelace puts out so I was so excited to get an arc of this. I especially loved the first part with the younger sibling saying what they feel and then the big sister responding. It really hit me in the heart as a younger sister and as someone who has dealt with anxiety and depression. And as someone who has been in toxic relationships, something about Amanda's writing has always connected with me. I think that this is one of her best poetry collections. The writing is stunning as well as the artwork. I would recommend this to anyone, but please look at the trigger warnings first.

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God I love this book. If I could I'd paint its words all over my walls to remind myself of my power as a woman. The artwork is also beautiful.

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I always love ladybookmad poems! This was a beautiful, sisterly read! I loved that there was a big-sister relationship that was consistently referenced.

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Amanda Lovelace continues to leave me speechless. In Shine Your Icy Crown, we watch the princess struggle and grow and transform from a timid girl into a turbulent emotional maelstrom and then emerge as a woman who owns her power and commands respect.

I am consistently amazed at how clearly Lovelace captures the cracks in our humanity, the tender places, but in the same breath creates space for healing and wholeness.

Wildly, unapologetically feminist, this collection of poems is a love letter to the little girl inside all of us who just wants to be loved—and it reminds us we can love ourselves wildly and unapologetically.

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Having read all of Amanda Lovelace’s previously published works, I eagerly awaited this one. shine your icy crown is another gem of a poetry collection and did not disappoint. Through these poems, Lovelace uses the beloved theme of fairytales to craft empowering messages of hope and encouragement. The accompanying drawings are gorgeous and perfectly fit the whimsical and uplifting (though at times melancholy) mood of the poems. even though some of the poems are quite short, Lovelace does a wonderful job of capturing what it’s like to live with mental illness and trauma, as well as struggle with self doubts/identity and the process of healing, Though I have no sisters myself, this collection conveyed a beautiful and powerful sense of the depth of a sisterly bond. I found comfort and belonging and hope in these words, and I look forward to more of Amanda Lovelace’s work in the future. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this ARC.

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