3/5 Stars – Thoughtful and Atmospheric, But Uneven

Lightning from Clear Skies by Stephanie Stephenson is a collection that lives up to its name—surprising bursts of emotion and insight delivered through moments of quiet reflection. Stephenson’s voice is introspective and lyrical, often leaning into natural imagery and subtle emotional shifts to carry her themes forward.

There are poems in this collection that truly shine. A few lines stopped me in my tracks with their clarity and resonance, capturing complex feelings in just a handful of words. Stephenson is clearly in tune with the quiet moments that shape us, and she has a gift for evoking atmosphere—whether it's a still morning, a heavy silence, or the sting of memory.

That said, the collection as a whole feels a bit uneven. Some poems lack the emotional weight or specificity to fully land, and at times the language can drift into familiar territory. While the tone is consistently gentle and reflective, it occasionally borders on repetitive, making some sections blur together.

Still, for readers who enjoy poetry that leans into nature, introspection, and subtle emotional undercurrents, Lightning from Clear Skies offers moments of quiet beauty. It may not leave a lasting thunderclap, but it does leave you with a few sparks worth remembering.

A disappointingly juvenile collection of love poems. In the vein of Rupi Kaur, Stephenson writes micro poetry about heartbreak and hope, but the collection falls flat with it's lack of nuanced metaphor and amateur rhyming schemes. I will admit I seem to be in the minority with this review, but this type of poetry is overabundant and overdone. There are poems few and far between that capture some attention, but most are nothing more than repetitive platitudes that can be found in many other poetry collections of the same vein.

The poems I did like are: "Lighthearted and Heavy-Footed", "5-18-9-3", and "The Sun and Her Admirers."

Lightning from Clear Skies is a moving collection that beautifully captures the tension between heartbreak and hope. The poems are tender and reflective, offering quiet moments of emotional clarity amid life’s chaos. I found myself lingering on certain lines that felt like they were written just for me—especially the ones that captured grief in such a raw, honest way. It’s the kind of book you pick up when you need to feel understood. The only thing I didn’t like about the book is the book cover, it doesn’t do the collection justice at all!

Holy emotional gut-punch in the best way—this book gave me feels I didn’t even know were hiding in me! 💥 One minute I was like, “aww love,” and the next I was curled up thinking about the fragility of life like a tiny poetic philosopher. If you’ve ever cried under a starry sky or smiled through tears, you need this book in your hands yesterday. It’s like a weather forecast for your soul, and yep, there’s lightning. ⚡📖