Witchcraft and Monsters

I received this from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I wasn't sure about this when I seen the title and when I requested it I did not know it was poems but once I started reading it, I could not put it down.

It was broke down in to 5 sections. The poems to me where great. They seem to be someone fighting there own fears and troubles in life. It brings out the monsters in life that we can sometimes face as well of other small poems.

I really enjoyed this. After reading this, I may try to start picking up more poetry readings.

I love everything about this book of poetry, the rhythm, the feeling. I feel like I was able to experience some things through her, which in my opinion, is what poetry should do. It should allow you to feel for that moment, to be moved by the authors passion, madness, etc. Honestly, if you couldn't connect or be moved by at least 10 of these, there is something seriously wrong with you because KALA GODIN IS A GODDESS, and her work is the epitome of MAGICAL. Dark, brooding, beautifully twisted magic and I love it. It's the book I didn't know that I needed and now I don't want to be without it. It's one I want to put in the hands of every teen girl that comes into this library, followed by "Don't be afraid of your own magic or your monsters!" It's the book I want to put in the hands of teen boys, followed by "Don't doubt the strength of any girl or woman, and be sure to praise her and appreciate her for both her monsters and her magic!" I wish I could hug Kala Godin for writing this!

Wow the book of poetry was raw and real and heartbreaking. I knew nothing about this poet going in, but I love her work. I got a Nikita Gill vibe from a couple of her poems, which was nice.

4.25/5 stars

I don't really read poems or books in poetic styles of writing, but this was actually nice. Using a more dark, macabre style of writing actual helps the topics the author is trying to address. It was a quick read as well, so makes it good for those who like to read in short bursts or just all together. I also enjoyed that it was seperated into 5 different parts, each one addressing a different theme and topic, with the last part being a really good closer. This is one I can see people enjoying and to just read on their own time in bed or even at school.

This is the highest I’ve ever rated a poetry book
I loved the different themes and how unique each poem was even if they’re talking about the same topic. This collection really speaks to the heart of a woman. Feminism is a really big issue in today’s society (I too am a feminist), and this book shows how much women can succeed without a man by her side. Every poem expresses the inner strength we all have.
I would definitely recommend this book

I knew when I saw that title of this collection that I would love it, and I was right. This was a short, wonderful read that I had a hard time putting down when life forced me to take a break. The poetry was dark and wonderful. Kala Godin weaves beautiful imagery into her poetry and I cannot wait for whatever she writes next.

Book Review
Title: Witchcraft and Monsters
Author: Kala Godin
Genre: Poetry Collection
Rating: *****
Review: So I don’t read poetry often but most collections I do read I end up enjoying and since this was fantasy based, I thought I’d take a chance on this. This collection is broken into five parts; Witchcraft, Fairytales, Bodies, Bad ideas, and Endings which was really intriguing for me. The first part Witchcraft was actually a lot darker than I was expecting but there are one or two light poems but not light as in happy but just a lighter kind of dark. My favourite poem in this part of the collection had to be Call me Sin because of the brilliantly vivid description it gives of the embodiment of Sin.
Part 2 is entitled Fairytales, and it a mash-up of Fairytales and mythology rolled into one. I loved a lot of poems in this section, so it is a three-way tie for favourite. I Hold Olympus in my Palm was the first one as it likens the reading to the Greek Gods in ways specific only to certain gods and evokes feelings of pride and importance which was interesting to say the least. The second was The Big Book of Mythology which is also about the Greek Gods but rather than liken themselves to the God the person instead questions them, for example, the person questions why Hera stayed with Zeus when he was always in the bed of another and the simple answer is loyalty. I found this to be great as it does answer some questions, we have about the legends of the Gods but also makes them seem more human as they do have flaws and weaknesses. The last poem I really loved in this section of Man versus Beast and it the comparisons between this story and Beauty and the Beast is clear, but it throws a whole new perspective on the classic fairytale that I really enjoyed. I also have to mention Teeth and Flying, Teeth is a short poem on the fairytale Red Riding Hood which manages to be both nostalgic and extremely creepy at the same time while Flying looks at the narcissistic God Apollo at it was perfection.
The third section is entitled Bodies, and it deals with the body, both illness and inflicted injuries. My favourite poems in this section were The Tale of a Gorgon, which deals with a woman who is in a wheelchair and how she likens herself to Medusa as she knows people feel that if they look at her, they will turn to stone and how this affects her. I also enjoyed Witching Hour which is about a person who is paralyzed in some form and the crushing panic they feel at waking up and not remembering they can’t move, the panic, fear and then crushing pain and disappointment felt so real it was amazing. I also have to give credit to Dear 17 which is a letter of sorts to the past version of this person and how they desperately tried to form themselves into a new person, but I also got the feeling that it was about self-harm as well.
The fourth section is entitled Bad Ideas, and this section focuses on the theme of lost love. The two poems I really have to talk about here are Pity was his Only Power which is about a relationship where the boy feels like he is a God that can own and possess the girl, but he doesn’t see the difference between boy and God, but she sees him for what he really is. This was just a striking poem empowering the girl to take advantage of this information she knows and leave him alone the way he deserves to be. Haunted Houses Look a Lot Like People is also a great poem as it turns the loss and aching of a newly lost love into a story about ghosts and haunted houses which just fit so well, and I think that everyone can relate to this in some way.
The final section is entitled Endings, this section is about endings and what comes after. The only poem I have to shout out in this section is Small Absolutes. It is about how some things in life, no matter how small seem like the biggest things in the universe and nothing will ever change that. I really liked this poem because despite the dark feeling of the whole collection this stood out as a tiny ray of sunlight just breaking through the cloud.
Overall, I really liked Witchcraft and Monsters and it is probably the best poetry collection I have read in a long time and I highly recommend you read it. It is short but so provoking that I couldn’t stop thinking about some of these poems for a long time afterward and I am sure that I will return to it again at some point in the future.

Look I’m going to be honest here, when I requested this one on Netgalley it was 100% because I loved the cover. It’s absolutely beautiful and if we’re being honest, I’m pretty much interested in any genre of book if it has a cover like this. Very on brand for me. It turned out to be a stunning poetry collection and is definitely one of my new favourites.

The book isn’t very long, but it still manages to pack a punch in the 54 pages it does contain. The collection is divided into sections and each focuses on a different theme or topic. All the poems are really beautiful to read, there were obviously some that I enjoyed more then others but poetry is so personal and reviewing it is so difficult so we won’t get into that mess. Part two, Fairytales, did contain some of my absolute favourites though.

This is just a beautiful, lyrical and vivid poetry collection. Each poem tells a unique story and it’s definitely a collection that I’ll be going back to again and again.

I'm so, SO glad I didn't realise this was poetry until I started reading it. If I had I might not have requested it and then I wouldn't have had the pleasure of reading this amazing collection of poems that deal with fears, inner demons, lost love, self-empowerment, feminism, healing, and hope. My absolute favourite in the collection is Spending My Borrowed Time, followed closely by Millennial Warfare.
I don't often read poetry but based on how much I enjoyed this collection, if it's ever available in physical form I will be buying it asap and I will definitely be reading anything else Kala Godin publishes in the future.

“They tell me
I'm more witchcraft than girl.
More wolf than woman.”

Witchcraft and Monsters is a quick read, it took me one sitting to finish this collection and though it's only 54 pages long, it tells so many things and relays feelings that will tug at you.

It's broken down into five parts; Witchcraft, Fairytales, Bodies, Bad ideas and Endings. The third part, Bodies, is my favorite of all because there was just something in that part that hurt, something that made me sad. This book is really a good read, it has topics relating to acceptance, love, anger and power. The first two parts were a little darker but I like how the book closes with Shipwrecks and Salt Water with the author telling us that sometimes we don't need to get drowned, sometimes we just need to learn how to swim.

I lucked out getting an advanced reader copy and i'm glad I did. Witchcraft and Monsters is a definite quick read. The title alone intrigued me. Part two was my favorite. It was about Greek Mythology and fairy tales, which I totally love! I feel like reading it fed my soul. If you're looking for something different to read, this collection of poetry is it!

I LOVED THIS BOOK.
This was a poetry book I have been in search of all my life. Beautifully written, relate-able, audacious, and different.

I normally don't highlight when I read, but I found myself highlighting almost every line of this book.
I flew through this book and adored every page.
I enjoyed the distinguished parts of the book each related to witches, monsters, and fairy tales.
This would be a perfect poetry read for Halloween but personally I would read this anytime of year over and over again.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys beautiful and dark poetry.

Ever since Rupi Kaur and Lang Leav came to the scene, they’ve officially made poetry cool and the rise of poetry collections that can be found today are astounding. Poetry is having a golden age again, mostly thanks to Instagram where people share and repost bite-size poems. Since so many poetry collections have adopted the simplicity that made both Kaur and Leav famous, I was expecting to get relatively short poems in Kala Godin’s Witchcraft and Monsters poetry collection, but that wasn’t the case at all. These poems are a bit lengthier than what the Instagram crowd is used to, but they’re way more up my alley than the tiny four sentence poems that are being vastly shared today over social media.

The book itself is relatively short (roughly 54 pages) but the poems contained within those pages are powerful and thought-provoking. Godin has broken down the collection in five parts: Witchcraft, Fairytales, Bodies, Bad Ideas, and Endings. Many of the poems found within this collection are dark (again a plus for me as I enjoy darker literature) and very relatable and well-written. I have a soft spot for Fairytales and Myths, and in Part 2, Godin explores certain Greek myths and popular fairytales. In The Big Book of Mythology, the poet questions Hera’s decision on remaining with Zeus when he’s a serial cheater and it all boils down to loyalty.

Another section that I enjoyed a lot was Part 3 that dealt with how we see ourselves (our bodies) and how that relates to how we relate with others. One poem in this section explored how someone in a wheelchair likens herself to Medusa because many avoid eye contact with her, just like people did with the Greek monster.

This was a very solid poetry collection, and I actually look forward to reading more poems or any other writing from this author in the future. If you’re into dark and sinister literature, mythology, or feminist-themed poetry, then this collection is simply perfect to add to your shelf.

I love poetry and this was such a unique collection that I hadn't read the likes of before, each poem was different covering a range of themes, My favourite part was the mythology and lore , fell in love with the feminism and it really spoke to me as a woman.

**Thank you to NetGalley and Patchwork Press for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!**

Witchcraft and Monsters by Kala Godin is a love song to a lot of things, but primarily what I get from it is a celebration of the type of woman that I am - the outspoken kind who won't sit down, look pretty, and be quiet. Godin writes with a mastery of quick, punch-you-in-the-face phrases, from "And I burn my bridges, if I have to" to the entirety of the poem "Teeth." Then, in turns, Godin offers a poignant view of life for someone with a "broken body" (I have one of those too), and how loving yourself is a hard thing to do.

My personal favorite poem is "Millennial Warfare," or perhaps "Bone Queen." I also enjoy the little nuanced nods to modern day witchcraft - rose quartz mentioned in a poem about love spells, for example.

All in all, this is a powerful debut collection from a very talented poet, and I only wish that there were more to read - I blew through this collection quickly. I will be on the lookout for more from Kala Godin.

I'm not always the biggest fan of modern poetry collections, but I could resist checking out this title when I saw the cover and description and I'm so glad I did. Though this book is very short, the author's writing is lyrical and descriptive. There were phrases that literally made me suck in a breath because they were so impactful. I can't say that there were any poems within this collection that I disliked and found myself identifying with so many of them.

This collection is broken up into different sections that feel like a natural progression. Not only do the themes evolve and change as you make your way through it, but as you make your way through the poems become more reality and less fantasy. It's obvious that the author has poured herself into this work and truly laid out many of her emotions and thoughts for the reader. That kind of vulnerability is not an easy thing to do and all the more beautiful for it.

I definitely recommend picking this collection up and giving it a read and hope to see more from this author in the future.

This is my first time reviewing a poetry book so bear with me.
I was on NetGalley and this book cover caught my attention. I ended up requesting the book and even though I’m not a big poetry reader this was a good read.

Some parts of the book hit me more than others but overall it did get me to think and I found myself shaking my head as I read. Even though book is short it still packed a punch. If you’re a fan of poetry, I think you will enjoy this read.

Listed below are quotes that stood out to me.

“I'm like Hermes, In the way I wander. No one place is home, They all are, So long as the ones I love are close.”

“So when you are walking alone, And a wolf greets you with too much sly and not enough soft, Show him your teeth and tear him to shreds.”


Sent from my iPhone

The publisher, Patchwork Press, kindly offered me an advanced reader copy (ARC) of Witchcraft and Monsters by Kala Godin via NetGalley. Yet, this is an honest review of the book expressing my humble opinion.

I found Witchcraft and Monsters to be an exceptionally original and feminist poetry book. The author's passion for each word and need to write this book are easy to see. Kala Godin has taken myths, gods, and tales and span poems that reflect not only her emotions but her the society norms, as well. Some of favorite poems are Predator, Small absolutes, Pyro, The Big Book of Mythology, among many others. The author's ability to take society norms and expectations and retell them by the perspective of a woman is outstanding. The author has really impressed me, and I am truly looking forward to reading more poetry from her.

Witchcraft and Monsters is an amazing poetry book, and I couldn't recommend it more. If you identify as a woman, you'll find a companion and a friend in this book. If you don't, this book will open your eyes to what women face in this world, no matter where you live..

Some her lines will stay with me forever, and many have resonated with me as deeply as a book can reach. Kala Godin and Patchwork Press, THANK YOU. Witchcraft and Monsters is a must-read.

4.5 stars - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Author: Kala Godin
Publisher: Patchwork Press

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley for free in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Oh god. This book. It left me in tears, there is so much pain throughout and so many words that hit home with me. Pyro spoke to me the most out of them all, so much so, that it sparked the first tears.
That first line, "I love aggressively" and "Why did nobody burn with me?" ending with "I am too much of myself for them, But never enough, Of What they want." I know all too well what its like to be too much of myself for someone. Many someones. Heartbreak after heartbreak, bridges built and burned all while I'm left standing in the ashes alone.

I've never read poetry, and am not usually a fan because finding the meaning or being able to related is hard sometimes. I had no problem relating to 90% of this book and feeling the anguish the author felt.

Such an amazing book of poems, and so heartfelt. I will be recommending this to everyone.

"They hate that I wear The title 'Wolf,' like a crown. Like I'm anything other than the predator."

This is an absolutely beautiful book of poetry. Full of metaphor and magic, the words transport you to a fairytale world, transform you into a sword wielding heroine. This though, is not the fairytale of your bedtime stories, but the fairytale of Anderson, or the Grimms. This is a fairytale world where darkness bubbles in the shadows and evil has real presence. The stakes are high, and the good guys may win on the surface but ultimately lose, as everyone in these situations loses something in the end.
I relate to so many of these poems, vaguely relate to some more, and found some I cannot relate to and hope never to relate to. I find myself and people I love between the lines, I find joy and heartbreak in every page.
Standouts: Bone Queen, Ophelia, Man Versus Beast, Teeth, Dear 17, Small Absolutes.

ACTUAL RATING: 4.5 STARS

I received a copy of Godin's debut poetry from Patchwork Press  and I'm so glad I requested it. Coming in at just 54 pages, I didn't expect a great deal of internal response; such a short publication would usually lead to a lack of character development. Instead Godin masterfully weaves the short verses into a emotional rollercoaster.

Upon opening the file, I found myself enthralled. I would have expected to take 2-3 sittings to read this short work, instead I sat and read it cover to cover. The work, although having a generalised theme, speaks of monsters and men, witches and women. At one point she speaks of Cinderella, at another the words flow from the page discussing her being differently abled and her failing body.

Although it was short, this collection of poems made me run the gamut of emotions. Concise but powerful, I loved every page.

I received a review copy from Netgalley and Patchwork Press in exchange for an honest review. Opinions within are that of the author and have in no way been influenced by the publisher or its affiliates.

“Because changing your appearance is easy,
But you can’t rearrange the furniture of your head so simply.”
– Kala Godin

WITCHCRAFT AND MONSTERS was something else. I was drawn in by the vividly dark cover. The fact that it was a poetry collection intrigued me even more. This collection was right up my alley; it was dark but still had the soft edges of emotion. Each poem was interwoven with magical elements and imagery, making the collection even more enjoyable.

My Favorite Poems:
- Predator
- Devil’s Candy
- Labyrinth
- I Hold Olympus in my Palm
- Bone Queen
- Teeth
- Dear 17
- Haunted Houses Look a Lot Like People
- Small Absolutes

I loved the different references to mythology, magic and creatures. It was the perfect combination of poetic thoughts and magic. The collection was broken into five parts: On Witchcraft, On Immorality & Fairytales, On The Body, On Bad Ideas and On Endings. Each part had a variety of themed poems. The writing itself was poetic, yet laced with a darker undertone.

Predator
“They tell me
I’m more witchcraft than girl.
More wolf than woman.
Like it’s a bad thing
To be a predator,
And not the prey.”

The only aspect I didn’t like was the length of the collection. I would have loved if there were more poems. It was 54 pages long and came to an abrupt end. Maybe this will change in the final print, but I’m not sure. I do however recommend this collection to anyone who likes magical elements and mythical themes in their poetry.

* Thank you NetGalley for providing me with this arc in exchange for an honest review.