the mermaid's voice returns in this one

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Pub Date 05 Mar 2019 | Archive Date 05 Mar 2019

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Description

Goodreads Choice Award-winning poet and USA TODAY bestselling author Amanda Lovelace presents the mermaid’s voice returns in this one — the third and final installment in her “women are some kind of magic” series, featuring a foreword from Lang Leav and 13 guest poems from leading voices in poetry such as Nikita Gill, KY Robinson, and Orion Carloto.

The mermaid is known for her siren song, luring bedroom-eyed sailors to their demise. However, beneath these misguided myths are tales of escapism and healing, which Lovelace weaves throughout this empowering collection of poetry, taking you on a journey from the sea to the stars. They tried to silence her once and for all, but the mermaid’s voice returns in this one.
Goodreads Choice Award-winning poet and USA TODAY bestselling author Amanda Lovelace presents the mermaid’s voice returns in this one — the third and final installment in her “women are some kind of...

A Note From the Publisher

We regret that this electronic galley is not available for Kindle viewing.

We regret that this electronic galley is not available for Kindle viewing.


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EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9781449494162
PRICE $14.99 (USD)
PAGES 208

Average rating from 448 members


Featured Reviews

Powerful poems, modern writing style and sensitive topics; Lovelace delivers once again both emotional and sincere poetry that mends the reader's heart.

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Empowering, healing, brutal.
What an amazing reading. I had to stop sometimes and just process what I had just read.
I really appreciate the warning the beginning.

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From the start, Lovelace weaves a story of female defiance with the opening warning 1 and it never stops. The topics are dark but as a sometimes lover of poetry, there wasn’t a poem that didn’t entice me. The metaphors were well crafted and in some cases general enough that they could apply to a range of situations for a variety of readers the daunting “you” in the poem could sometimes be an ex, a parent, a mental illness, or an addiction; giving new meaning with each reread. Others gave a look into the inside Lovelace’s head during a specific time in her life, focusing heavily on sexual assault. I loved the use of contributions from other poems as it rounded out the power of the collection.

I don’t think I’ll ever get over her ability to craft sad and beautiful poems from fairytales and a love of books.

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Evocative poetry, inspired loosely by the tale of the little mermaid and focusing on the topic of abuse in relationships, how we treat ourselves in the wake of it, dealing and healing.

This was a very recognisable and empowering read for me, it's hard to find the words to explain. It made me feel I am not alone, I am not the only one struggling with these things. Voices like these are so important.
The prose is beautiful in its simplicity, and perhaps rings even more true because of that.

truth
& love
& pain

condensed
contorted
shattered

into c r u m b s

to mark
the path
of healing

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I have read all of Amanda Lovelace's books so far and was very excited to have the opportunity to read this one two months before publication. I greatly enjoyed this third installment of Amanda's "Women Are Some Kind of Magic" series, especially the collaborations with other poets in part four. Definitely a must read for all fans of modern poetry. Four stars.

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Amanda Lovelace wraps up her Women Are Some Kind of Magic series with a beautiful and heart-wrenching collection of poetry, "the mermaid's voice returns in this one". Lovelace's poetry packs a punch, in large part due to her ability to write pain and strength succinctly. This collection focuses on sexual violence, rising from the ashes, and getting your voice back. She asks readers, "Victim or Survivor?" and eventually lands on the answer, "Both." The back cover of this book reads "and she tore the stars apart". This collection of poetry is an empowering and important read.

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This is such a perfect conclusion to the ‘women are some kind of magic’ series. So many moments that feel just like a perfect strike to the funny bone... you’re laughing but it also hurts like hell. I already know I’m going to wear out this book from flipping back to my favourite pages.

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Amanda Lovelace wraps up the Women Are Some Kind of Magic series in spectacular fashion. It lives up to the evocative and exceptional language of the first two books. And as always with her poetry, I'm left feeling cleansed and calm.

I loved that she included poetry from other writers in the last section of the book. It's given me a whole list of poets to check out.

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What a moving book of poetry. But I'd expect nothing less from Amanda Lovelace.
This book, I feel is targeted towards bookworms and shows us that it is okay to want to dive into our fictional worlds as an escape. But there is the point of knowing when we aren't using it as an escape anymore, when we are using it to cope, to hide how we are really feeling. Knowing when to seek help.

Incredibly written as always. A great read.

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"when I tell you i'm still waiting for my hogwarts letter, what i mean to say is i never meant to be here for so long"

Firstly I'd like to thank Netgalley for the oportunuty to read this amazing book by Amanda Lovelace, with amazing poems by amazing woman as well as hers about abuse, recovery, and loving it's self. Would like to thank Amanda and the other's that participated in this gorgeous book of poems for bringing this story to life with a few poems but that speak so much.

"can't
a prince
a princess
a n y o n e
just
come along
& gaze
upon me
with such
adoration
it's
as if i'm
the gem
of the deep,
not the rubble
of pompeii?"

It's not the first I hear about this books of poems from Amanda Lovelace, 'the witch doesn't burn on this one' was such a big name in 2018, even in Brazil, everyone was talking about. But this is the first one I'm reading. And now I'm for sure having to go and find the first ones.

the mermaid's voice returns in this one is separated in parts, all very moving, all very touching, with great poems that all together bring forth the story of abuse and slow recovery, of struggle. all with beautiful and well written little poems.

"today, i love the way i look in my sundress & its not because someone else convinced me too"

The first part is the start, how it all began, how she feels, the second is the aftermath, then we have the struggle of the recovery, of the trying to recover, and then we have the return of the mermaid voice.

It's not a easy read, and at the same time it is a easy read. the writting, the how the book was made, makes it easy and smooth to read, but it's the story behind that makes it hard. The fact that so many mermaids lost it's voice and still didn't recover it, the fact that it's really quite possible as how the world is that so many will lose it still. But it speaks of being strong, of being the Ariel of your own story and getting your voice back from Ursula, of the villain. Not to say it says it's easy, that it will be Disney and in a snap of fingers it will all be happily ever after. Oh no. But it speaks to you, even if you haven't been through it, and it moves you. And I think it's a very recommended read for sure.

"be stronger then than the villains.
be every storybook heroine come to life"

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The third installment is as beautiful, heart-breaking and empowering as Amanda's first two poetry collections.
What a treat Netgalley!
All about finding your voice again after horrible things happened. Trigger warnings at the beginning of the book (which I think all books should have) for abuse, assault, gun violence, eating disorders and more.
If you like Andrea Gibson and Roxane Gay, please pick this up. You won't be disappointed.

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I haven't read the two previous in this series, but now I think I'll go check them out! This book was able to stand on its own, but also feels like the final chapter of a series.

I can only offer a lay[wo]man's perspective on poetry, but once I got use to her style, I found the collection quite moving. It starts off especially heavy, heavier than I thought it was going to be, but we're broken down so we can be built back up by the author. The additional works by other contributors really added to the solidarity of Part 4. I appreciate the confessional quality of Lovelace and I enjoyed this glimpse into her personal journey thus far!

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Reading this book is like taking a journey through recovery, for Amanda Lovelace tells her truth and speaks about her own experiences. But she’s not alone. In the last part of this poetry collection, “the surviving”, different poets contribute sharing their own pieces about surviving and healing.

“the mermaid’s voice returns in this one” is the third and final poetry collection in the “women are some kind of magic” series, and it’s a fantastic way to end this series.

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I absolutely love Amanda Lovelaces poetry collections. They are so beautifully written. She is raw and brutally honest about the struggles that women face. It is absolutely heartbreaking but done so well. It has made me feel empowered as a women. I would highly recommend this and all of her poetry collections. I have already pre ordered this to add to my collection.

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I read and really enjoyed Amanda Lovelace's first two poetry collections. While I hardly ever read poetry, these collections really spoke to me. I know these might not be for more 'classical' poetry lovers but I think these types of poetry can open up the genre to a whole new audience. And with topics like the one's Amanda is discussing I think these are so important to young people.

I liked the different types of formatting we got in this third collection. This was a bit different compared to the first one, as I only listened to the second one as an audiobook I'm not sure how the formatting was there. But here we not only get the 'enter after a couple of words' format, but also one where the whole poem is written like a paragraph without any enters.

In the last part of this collection there are some poems by other people included. The font for these is a bit different so you can easily tell which ones aren't by Amanda. Unfortunately I wasn't as interested in most of these. I think there were two I really loved but the others weren't really for me. I do like what the author tried to do there.

While reading the mermaid's voice returns in this one I am once again amazed at me not liking Rupi Kaur's work as I think most people will either like or dislike both authors. They have a similar poetry style, but while I find Amanda's work so heartfelt and it really resonates with me, I just don't click with Rupi's work. Or at least not when I listened to Milk and Honey (did I see a little reference to that in one of the poems here? or was that just me haha?), I might give her work another shot after once again enjoying this one.

I also just had to share one poem, because it brings together a heartbreaking message and my greatest fandom <3
"when i tell you i'm still waiting for my hogwarts letter, what i mean to say is i never meant to be here for so long.
-forever wandering lost & wandless."

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once again, Amanda has outdone herself. She is someone I look up to a lot in the poetry community, and I loved every second of this collection. She's the type of poet that makes you think, "I wish I wrote that." Each book in the "Women Are Some Kind of Magic" series followed the same pattern, but each brought something new to the table. I was so enchanted the entire time I was reading this. It is definitely something everyone should read. I wish to be at least 1/4 of the poet Amanda is <3

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The title for this one worried me because I am very much part of team "grown people should stop calling themselves mermaids" but she has honestly taken back the term for me a little. This is beautiful. Her collections are always very pro-woman and make the reader feel empowered and proud and so good in a vicious way? They make me want to rip throats out with my teeth and rage and cry but it feels fucking great.

There's sadness, too. A lot. This has a lot about abuse, both from herself and from others, and it's very emotional.

"i've always fancied myself a mermaid of sorts. i must confess that i haven't swam since long before I started punishing my body for all the things that were never its fault."

I felt that. And that's the thing for me. Even if this style of poetry is far from my favorite and even if there's more filler than I'd like, Amanda makes me feel things, and that's what I need from poetry.

Also, she includes several poems from other amazing lady poets that go so well with the collection and I love that she's promoting others this way. Especially others who, if their featured poems are any indication, are also mermaids learning to find their voices.

*All quotes are from an unfinished review copy and may not match the final version. Thanks SO much to NetGalley for advance access to this collection in exchange for an honest review.*

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Take a breath. You’ve been through a lot. You started as a princess, trapped. You found yourself a damsel, distressed. Then you made yourself a queen, took back your magic and raged at the world that did this to girls and women like you. It’s time to take care of yourself now. Think of this as a therapy session – it won’t all be soothing, some of it will be upsetting, but at the end, you’ll feel so much better. You’ll feel heard.

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I will admit that before I started this book of poetry, I already knew it would speak to me. Amanda Lovelace’s mermaid voice has sung throughout her books in this series and each one has found a different part of my soul and spoken directly to it. I am lucky enough to say I haven’t experienced some of the worst of what Amanda writes about, but that doesn’t stop it from being impactful. This book will make you think of your broken parts in new ways, and I left it with a determination to sing my mermaid song in ways I am able. This book had poems by additional authors and some of them spoke to me, others were not my style, but all built themselves into Amanda’s story and helped to make the tone universal and broader than even her other books. Overall, I recommend this to fans of this series, to those who have ever been hurt, who are healing, who need hope, who want to help others find their voice, and most of all to the princess/witch/mermaids inside us all.

Thank you NetGalley for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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I’m not always a poetry person, but I have really enjoyed all three of this series. The Princess Saves Herself in This One is still my favorite, perhaps because it was most relatable to me, but perhaps because I listened to the audiobook and got a better understanding of how it was meant to sound. To feel.

I’ll try to remember to pick this up as an audiobook when my library gets it.

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I have always been a fan of Amanda Lovelace and have read every single one of her poetry collections. I find that she provides an intimate portrayal of womanhood, in it's raw, real form, the one that's irrevocably beautiful and utterly damaged by society.

Each of her collections has a different theme, and this one was based around the mermaid analogies and sexual abuse. Her narrator, presumably herself, experienced a great deal of violence and abuse in her relationship with a man who can be assumed deceased, based on her narration. It was as if she took to paper and wrote her experiences and poured onto what she had not yet dealt with internally. It was painful to read, but gave a voice to victims of all abuse and will hopefully spark social change.

I was surprised to see this come after "To Make Monsters Out of Girls" because I felt as though this was a painful reveal that should come BEFORE her more empowering novel to show the optimism moving forward. However, perhaps Lovelace had other intentions, and far be it from me to criticize someone who is clearly more in touch with femininity and vulnerability than myself!

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This book has a very storybook feeling, but for adults. It has many darker themes, as there is a trigger warning in the beginning. It definitely resonated with me and made me feel like I didn't have to guess the meanings. It was relatable with pop-culture references, like Harry Potter and fairy tales. Sometimes it felt romanticized and starry-eyed, and other times it felt hopeless and helpless. It is definitely worth reading.

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Amanda's writing always evokes a certain feeling in me. There's vulnerability and strength, hurt and healing, rawness and beauty in it. She opens up herself honestly and tells her personal story bravely. Not every poem speaks to me, but as a whole, this book reminds me about healing, hope and better days ahead.

Thank you for NetGalley and the publisher for providing a review copy.

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This eARC was provided through NetGalley from Andrews McMeel Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

When I saw the third installment of Lovelace's "women are some kind of magic" collection, I squealed. A high pitched, girly, super exited squeal. I loved the first two of the collection- (read my reviews here and here) and I was pumped to find that NetGalley had the third, ready to download, no request required. It immediately jumped to the top of the TBR line, which I figured was perfectly fine because I knew I'd devour it in a day.

In The Mermaid..., Lovelace (as usual) starts the collection with a trigger warning, which moves on to a forward from Lang Leav that introduces the rest of the collection. Leav mentions what power the voice has, and sets the preface for what is to come while reading. Next, Lovelace tosses in a few "from the poet" stanzas that grab the reader's attention. Then, the collection is broken down into four parts: the sky, the shipwreck, the song, and the surviving.

The Sky kicks off with some powerful poems of what I interpret to be Lovelace's past traumas. There are poems of abuse, rape, and childhood molestation, which transition into how she escaped there terrors as a child with books and fairy tales. Though clearly affected by the past, the author still finds solace in the idea of love, of the fairy tale endings, even when she is struggling to believe in their true existence.

The Shipwreck is a continuation of The Sky, but progressing into adulthood and relationships. Still dealing with abuse, still trying to find solace in fairy tales, still trying to find love but only finding the heartache. I felt this section is where Lovelace is showing her loss of voice. She knows she should have spoke up, but wasn't able to find her voice to do so.

The Song is the return of the voice. It is where Lovelace calls out those that have done wrong, and stating that they will never take from her again. There is also forgiveness and closure, which I've noticed as a trend in Lovelace's work. The reader can see the therapy in the poetry and the power behind it.

Finally, The Surviving starts out:

"a chorus of mermaids cried out to her then, "DON'T BE AFRAID TO SING..."

Lovelace calls upon her fellow poets and together, they compose the last section of the collection, sharing poems from Caitlyn Siehl, Clementine von Radics, Trista Mateer, Gretchen Gomez, Noor Shirazie, Jenna Clare, Ky Robinson, Yena Sharma Purmasir, Morgan Nikola-Wren, McKayla Robbin, Sophia Elaine Hanson, Orion Carloto, and Nikita Gill. It's a strong roll call, and every other page is from Lovelace, filling in with "morals of the story"-style poetry.

Lovelace has yet again nailed it. At first, I wasn't sure if I enjoyed The Mermaid... as much as I enjoyed The Witch... because the latter was such a strong battle cry, but the more I read into the poetry, the more I understood that even though it's a quieter voice, it is still extremely powerful. I will be purchasing a finalized copy for my collection, and I encourage others to do the same.

Expected Publication Date: March 5, 2019

(This review will be posted on my blog (www.thelexingtonbookie.com) at a future date.)

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There are not enough words in the world to explain how much I adore Amanda Lovelace! When I saw that she had written another book, I was ecstatic!

The Mermaid's Voice Returns in This One was an absolutely stunning ending to her trilogy. Her poetry detailed some serious subjects, much about abuse, consent, and violence, and it was poetic genius. I am so lucky to have read this book. It is a keeper for sure.

While this book can be read on its own, I HIGHLY recommend reading the previous two books that she has written. It really ties everything together. Amanda Lovelace writes powerful, deep poems for everyone living in the 21st century. She is the voice we need!

*I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.*

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Content Warning - Please refer to one of the first pages of the book for a full list.

"She didn't kiss frogs... She kissed great white sharks." - The Mermaid's Voice Returns In This One (Amanda Lovelace)

I think that this book was the best in the Women Are Some King of Magic series. I am a male teenager, and I think it's important for both males and females to indulge in this book. (There is a trigger warnings page in the front of the book) I think Amanda Lovelace is an amazing poet and writer of out time, and she expresses the empowerment of women in this series beautifully and creativity while also telling her own story. Personally... This was my favorite of the series.

Please read this book. Please. While I only gave it 4 stars as opposed to 5 I think it has so many amazing aspects, and the 4 was just for my personal enjoyment level.



I received an ARC of this book/poetry collection from NetGalley. I was not forced to review this. All opinions are my honest thoughts.

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A noble ending to the astonishing and groundbreaking predecessor books. I was a bit disappointed that this felt more like an analogy, though, since Lovelace is entirely capable of sustaining the narrative solo.

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3.5 stars.

There are still striking images and important messages of recovery and self-care, as with the previous two books in this series, but as a collection it felt scattered. Part of it might just be the different voices (part IV features several other poets), and various literary references are made throughout, and while the effect is far from unpleasant I was a tiny bit disappointed.

The Princess Saves Herself in This One remains my personal favorite of the series, but I have simultaneously enjoyed following Amanda Lovelace's journey through each installment; based on the afterword she seems to be in a good place now — and to have told her story in a way that rings true and brings peace to her — and so for that alone I love this book just for existing.

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Amazing book. loveLace’s poetry spoke to me unlike any other poetry I’ve read before. Her poetry was real and not over used. I felt so many emotions while reading this. I can’t wait to read her other books.

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This is a wonderful conclusion to Amanda Lovelace’s Women Are Some Kind of Magic series! The Mermaid’s Voice returns in this one seemed more intimate than Witch, but still with the burning emotion laced through it. The parallels to fairytales we all know and love are woven through seamlessly and the book was a fantastic read. There were also poems from other poets laced through that added a new layer to her collection. 4.5 stars.

I received a copy of this book from netgalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

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What a fantastic way to end this series of poetry collections. I have been a fan of Amanda's writing ever since I first encountered one of her poems on tumblr. Her words resonated immediately with me - her struggles so familiar to way too many women out there. I loved how Amanda found her way out of the apathy and rage, and this collection is no different.
Told in separate parts, it is the story of survivor and victim, someone scared and someone able to heal nonetheless.
Amanda has created something truly powerful that will resonate with readers who need to hear that, in the end, they can save themselves.

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I can safely say that I finally understand the hype around Amanda Lovelace's books.  It wasn't that I thought her undeserving--the total opposite.  I'd just never read her poetry before.  The way it's organized, compiled, the design choice, the themes.  It's all resonant of today's contemporary emotional minefield.  

In this book, through using mermaid imagery to tell her story of survival, she discusses the dichotomy between victim and survivor, analyzes it, comes to terms with it.  It's a heavily weighted dichotomy, yet she deals with this topic in a satisfying and respectful way.  Not only that, but she also includes poetry from guest poets, showing how supportive she is of other women in similar shoes not only in theory but in practice, too.  

This was a great book filled with beautiful poems.  I'm so excited to read the first two of her series, and more so understand the sheer wondrousness of Lovelace and her mind.

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Thank you to Netgalley and Andrews McMeel for sharing a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Once again, Amanda Lovelace has blown me away. This is the third book in this series, women are some kind of magic, and it's a fantastic conclusion. Both stylistically and linguistically beautiful, this book features both Lovelace's original poetry as well as thirteen guest poets and some homages to other works of literature.
⭐⭐⭐⭐​⭐
Amanda Lovelace is one of my favorite poets for a reason. Her imagery surrounding abuse, violence, and mental health speaks to a scary truth for women, but is also empowering and encouraging. Women are often subject to objectification, assault, and then disbelief from others, which can quickly overwhelm. Lovelace's poems are hard to read sometimes, and should be, but I often marvel at her intense focus on growth even when it could be so easy to sink instead. I always come out feeling inspired, and I am so grateful for the bravery Lovelace infuses into these tales.

Some of my favorite poems focused on escapism, and the role of books and stories in growth. I feel that extensive reading is beneficial in self-discovery and exploration, so I was glad to see that echoed in this collection. My favorite is Lovelace's homage to Blood Water Paint by Joy McCullough, which I read last year. That story became one of my favorites, and I'm not surprised that Lovelace connected with Artemisia. Both are incredibly powerful women who use their voices and stand up proud.

In summary, the mermaid's voice returns in this one is a hauntingly beautiful collection and a fitting end to the women are some kind of magic series. I highly recommend these stories and urge you to read all of Amanda Lovelace's work. You will not be disappointed. 5/5 stars.

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Once again I've been left without words while reading Lovelace's poetry. I read it in one sitting as I couldn't look away. Honestly cannot wait to have a physical copy of this book. As always Lovelace's book starts with trigger warnings, she deals with massively difficult topics throughout her poetry. It hits you right in the feels, and is very important topics.

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The final book to join Amanda Lovelace’s collection Women Are Some Kind of Magic. I’ve read the previous two books and if I’m being honest I didnt enjoy them as much as I wanted to. This one on the other hand I liked more. I love how she includes trigger warnings in the beginning of her books, and I really appreciate how she deals with different themes. I loved the guest poems that she had included in this collection too.

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This collection spoke to me in a way a collection of poetry hasn't for years. I'm glad there was a trigger warning because some of these poems were difficult to read, despite not being explicit. The poems have a great way of leading you in a little bit and making you take yourself the rest of the way. It's a really powerful reading experience. Playing with fairy tales and existing fictional characretrs isn't new but this is is doing something different by playing with the lightness and the darkness in those characters and texts.

This collection feels hopeful. There are some poems that absolutely don't fit that description but as a whole there's an optimistic hopeful current there. This is the kind of collection that upon finishing I'm making a list of the people I want to recommend it to. Gifts I want to give to show people I see them and they see me. This made me feel seen.

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A promise -
When you read this book you will feel the raw emotion and the intensity spill out of the pages and drown in your soul.

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This was absolutely beautiful! I loved this final book in the Women are some kind of magic series. This was amazing and gentle in a way although the content would not suggest such, it still was. This poetry was incredibly graceful and strong- I suppose that's the real magic. I loved the other contributors! This was absolutely amazing and might even be the best in the series yet!

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This is a great wrap up to the women are some kind of magic series. I've enjoyed the whole collection. Amanda's poems are so raw with emotions, and relatable.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this in exchange for an honest review.

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Once again, Amanda Lovelace has written a powerful poetry collection. This book focuses on what happens after merely surviving. In the final chapter, she includes work from other poets - as well as herself - once again reinforcing that there is no "right way" to survive.

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I recently read the other two books in this series and I just had to request this next book of poetry. I haven’t read a lot of modern poetry but I find Amanda’s to be full of heartfelt and heartbreaking meaning.

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Loved this one just as much as the first two poetry collections by AManda Lovelace. The poems are so full of feelings that resonated with me a lot.

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This book of poetry is themed around taking back control and healing after abuse. It uses fairytale imagery, especially from The Little Mermaid. I didn't always understand what was going on, but I did enjoy reading it. It is sad and beautiful and optimistic all at the same time.

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I'm a Amanda Lovelace Fan, so the minute I saw this book I knew i had to read it. The book is called“ the mermaid’s voice returns in this one” from the “women are some kind of magic” series which includes “the princess saves herself in this one” and “the witch doesn’t burn in this one” books

Amanda’s voice returns once again with a lot of pain a resilience. For those who had read one of her books before you can spec to find a similar style which creates this beautiful, heart-breking book. it's a MUST REED for sure.
I'd like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing a review copy and give me the opportunity to read this amazing book by Amanda Lovelace

Soy una Fan de Amanda Lovelace, por lo que en el minuto que vi este libro sabía que tenia que leerlo. El libro se llama "la voz de la sirena vuelve en este" de la serie "las muejeres son una clase de Magia" que incluye los libros "La princesa se salva sola en este" y "la bruja no arde en este".

La voz de Amanda vuelve una vez mas con mucho dolor y resiliencia. para aquellos que ya han leido uno de sus libros antes, pueden esperar encontrar un estilo similar a los anteriores que crea un libro hermoso y desgarrador. de serguro es un MUST REED.
Quisiera dar las gracias a NetGalley y la editora por darme una cipia avanzada para hacer una review y darme esta oportunidad de leer este maravilloso libro de Amanda Lovelace

Cages (Jaulas)
are (son)
still cages (todavía jaulas)

even (incluso)
when they’re (cuando son)

designed (diseñadas)
to (para)

look (verse)
just like (igual que)

castles (castillos)
- Illusionist. (ilusionista)

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As a fan of Amanda Lovelace this collection of poetry did not disappoint. It was very moving and made me think. I could relate to some of her words and feel her hurt and healing in others. I really appreciate the beginning with Lang Leav doing the forward as well as the other poets who had snippets that were added. Cannot wait for next book.

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This was the first poetry collection by Amanda Lovelace (and others, in the third part) that I've read, but based on my enjoyment of this one, I plan to check out the first two! Not having read a lot of poetry, I was unsure what to expect. I feel like this walks a fine line between the "Instagram-poetry" that I do not typically want to read in book form and true free verse, however the words and imagery are so power and beautiful and deeply personal. She wrote of her past experiences with abuse and the strength needed to persist - it was shocking how clearly she could convey these reflections in so few words! Highly recommend.

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5 stars!!!
I was looking forward to this collection of poetry! I'm really happy to have read it. He was extraordinary, beautiful. The words were touching and powerful!
Thanks to Netgalley for this e-arc in exchange of my honest review

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The trigger warnings at the beginning of this book let me know that I was in for a potentially emotional time while reading this book. While those trigger warnings are well deserved, I am happy to say that the overall message and tone of the book is one of empowerment and strength and identity recovered. Every page makes the reader stop and think, while the inclusion of pieces by other writers besides Lovelace shows the unfortunate commoness of their experience. Brief but beautiful, this book had an impact on me that will not fade any time soon.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

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First of all, the purple theme in this collection is absolutely gorgeous and my personal favourite compared to the red-theme and black-theme from Amanda Lovelace’s earlier collections.

I’ve always appreciated the format of Amanda’s poetry collections, with the storybook format of a beginning, middle, and end. I feel like she has always been able to paint a story with her words and this collection does not fall short of this.

I love the how much thought goes behind every single word and the placement on the pages, which allows the reader to feel every single word with Amanda.

Like the two collections before, the mermaid’s voice returns in this one is filled with such raw emotion and heartbreak. Although this may be my least favourite from the series, that is at no fault of this book. I love the relatable poems, and the ones you can connect with, even if you cannot personally relate.

I have loved everything Amanda Lovelace has written, and look forward to many more collections in the future.

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Wow What a way to end this series of poetry.
I’ve loved all the other books in this poetry series and this one was no different.
This book was full of very serious topics which Amanda Lovelace writes about exceptionally well about in all 3 books from the series and they are so hard hitting and gets u all in the feels that they are so important to read about in this day and age.
Amanda Lovelace is in my opinion one of the best poetry writers in our generation and it just shows throughout her writing.
My favourite things about this poetry collection is that she incorporated poems from other well knows poets into this piece of work and also what I loved was Amanda Lovelace writing poetry based on poetry that has been around for a while and getting inspired by that peice.
Overall for the whole series and this book on its own this is a 5/5 stars for me.
Can’t wait for more Amanda Lovelace poetry collection to come our way.

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This is the final book in Lovelace's women are magic poetry trilogy and though I didnt love it as much as I did the last one, there is still some very hard hitting pieces that I just loved. A cool thing about this one, is that Lovelace has added pieces from other poets as well! Made for a nice change of pace since a couple were in a different style, clearly representative of the guest author themselves.

This style of poetry is definitely not going to be for everyone, but it is definitely for me, and this was a good addition to the collection!

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Having read all the three books of "Women are magic" series, I felt this book was somewhat between a 3.5 - 4 for me.
The fantasy element in this one is beautifully placed and I loved all the three other parts except the first part ie. "the sky" as I couldn't connect with the pieces at all.
But,I am certainly awed by AMANDA LOVELACE 's words once again.

#themermaidsvoicereturnsinthisone #netgalley

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This was my most anticipated poetry book of 2019 and it definitely did not disappoint.

Such a magical collection of poem exploring themes like abuse, healing, finding yourself and fighting back. It also gave small tributes to readers and books like Chronicles of Narnia which was really sweet :)

I definitely recommend it to everyone and I'm so sorry to see this series end. As usual, please read the trigger warnings before reading the book and as Amanda Lovelace says, practice self-love before and after 💖

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This book was a perfect ending to the Women are some kind of magic series. It was jarring, and some what difficult to read (due to subject matter) but, it was also beautiful and empowering. I especially enjoyed the additional poems from other authors throughout the book.

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I  received a free digital copy of this book from Netgalley for an honest review.

This is the third installment in Amanda Lovelace's "Women Are Some Kind Of Magic" series. I was not disappointed. Another great work by Amanda.

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This is the last book in the “women are som kind of magic” series. I really love that she starts her books with trigger warnings. This book deals with heavy topics that may not be for everyone. Even though I enjoyed this book the least out of the series i still really loved it.

This collection also includes some guest poems from other poetry authors.

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I don't usually read a lot of poetry, but this may be the book that changes my mind! It's the third in a series, but the first one that I've read. I'm sure it won't be the last. The poetry style had a modern flair with topics that focused on recovery, loss, and other sensitive subject matter. I cannot wait to read more by this author.

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Another empowering and beautiful poetry collection from Amanda Lovelace that once again made me feel a lot of feels. I will forever of her honestly, and the raw vulnerability she brings with each poem. The imagery was once again fantastical, but perhaps not as strong as her past works. I really enjoyed the inclusion of various contributors each bringing their own voices to the table. Though, I think this my least favourite in the trilogy, mostly due to me not being able to personally connect to it as much as to her other collections. It was still an amazing read that I would of course recommend if you're a fan of Lovelace's other works.

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Have you ever felt like you've been stabbed by a book, and the poetry is written in your lifeblood? Do you want to? Cool. Buy this book.

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Believe me, no one is as surprised as I am with this rating. I strongly disliked Lovelace's first book of poetry, finding the verses generic, shallow and just all around uninspiring; the second one I found better on the aesthetic part, but resented the strong misandric undertones; this one, however, was just up to my liking.

The calmer tone of this one, combined with themes of sexual harassment and self-acceptance woven through the poems in ways both subtle and not so subtle, suited me just fine. I was skeptical when I came to the part with contributions, but although different in both technical and writing style from the rest of poems, I thought they were fitted in rather well. Also, I really appreciated how Lovelace did less of splitting a word into six lines and more of actually putting a message behind those words.

So I would recommend trying Lovelace's poetry out, as this is a most welcome departure from her Tumblr-like works to date, yet would like to dissuade people from reading the first two in the series. Writers need some time to develop; this is what, for me, feels like Lovelace reaching her full potential.

Thank you for an ARC!

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Review to be posted at the end of February to all sources mentioned on my profile.


I read the other two books by this author not that long ago and I was excited for this book. So, when I saw it on Netgalley I couldn't resist requesting it, it meant I could read it immediately and not have to wait a few more months.

First up, I love the content page: The Sky, The Shipwreck, The Song, The Surviving.

This was for me the weakest book of the three. Which also has to do with my own comfort levels. I saw the warning at the beginning (thank you for that), I knew what would happen, but as a year resolution I wanted to push my boundaries a bit more. Now I am kind of crawling back and wishing I hadn't done it. There are just a few things that I truly cannot read, never will be able to read. Child abuse. Rape.

There were still other poems/verses/whatever you want to call it that this was, and while I did like them at points, they didn't strike an emotional chord as the second one did so so much. Which is a shame, I was kind of hoping that would happen again.

I did like that not only were these poems about things that happened (in childhoods or through the years), but also about healing, about getting better, about getting stronger.

I adored those Romeo and Juliet stories though. I loved those various worlds, various situations.

I loved the (broken-up) poems/verses/etc. more than those lumps of text without much punctuation.

This book also features work by others on the theme. I did like their messages, but... and how to explain this, it just didn't work for me. Poems/verses/etc. are still hit and miss to me, and with Amanda Lovelace I found someone whose poetry I liked, she writes in a style that is perfect for me, however the guest writers just didn't have that spark, or at least most of them. That feel. Maybe someone else will love them, and again, I did love their messages, but the poetry just missed something.

All in all, I still was fascinated and in awe of this book, it is an important one to read, and I am sure that, while it didn't strike such a chord with me, it will for someone else. Someone else will be able to use the words written down in this book.

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4.5
I was sent this book as an advance copy by the publisher via NetGalley for reviewing purposes, but all opinions are my own

The Mermaid’s Voice Returns in This One is the conclusion to Amanda Lovelace’s series of poetry collections, Women Are Some Kind of Magic. I had read the previous two books right at the beginning of last year (I had also read the second volume as an advance copy), and I absolutely loved the both of them and this one was no different.
This finale manages to end the series fantastically, it brings back themes, phrases, ideas of the original two books in a brilliant way that manages to leave you satisfied after finishing it. Because of that, I think the best way to read the series is to binge read all of them at once, it would end up being an incredible experience, I will definitely be trying that when I manage to get a physical copy on March 5th.
The Mermaid’s Voice in This One also does something new compared to the other books in this series. In the final part of the collection, alongside Lovelace’s poems are poems from new authors. That was by far my favorite part of the book, it gave a fresh air to the collection, I loved all of those poems and as I was turning the pages I got more and more excited to read each one. I can’t wait to read more of those authors in the future.
My favorite book in the series is still Th Witch Doesn’t Burn in this One but this one came close.

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OMG!OMG!OMG! Amanda lovelace is my queenn🖤. She's written these poems with so much care,love and admiration for her readers. Few poems were so exceptionally written, i had to stop for a second and collect myself for the selection and string of words😍. Im going to read every book of amanda lovelace and im sure as hell going to buy the book.Thanks alot for writing such a masterpiece

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This is my first time reading Amanda's work in its entirety and though I don't frequently read poetry, I was totally smitten with her style and message, how she easily flitted between the autobiographical and the general, and between the passages that made me want to tear my heart out with startled grief and those that brought out a small smile and a warm nostalgia. She alludes to mermaids and princes/princesses but also book lovers, and how escaping to books helped at least one little girl (herself?).

Among my favorite passages:
"sometimes
she cannot
tell the
difference

between

the days
she's walked
this earth
as herself

&

the days
she's walked
through paragraphs
as someone else.
-no one noticed & she liked it that way."

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Another good collection of poetry in Amanda Lovelace's final book in her "Women are some kind of magic" collection.

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Powerful poetry by Amanda Lovelace who is such an amazing poetess mending hearts with her words. This is a fantastic end to the Women are some kind of magic series. Her collections are always very pro-woman and make me feel empowered and proud and so good in a ferocious way. There's sadness too and this has a lot about abuse, both from herself and from others, and it's a very emotional read.

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This was my first time reading Amanda Lovelace’s poetry collection and I must say I really enjoyed it. I never enjoyed poetry back in school as it did not relate to me in any way and at times I found it tedious. However with this poetry collection I found that I could relate to a lot of the poems in one way or another and could interpret them in a way that could relate to myself. I love how all of the poems were connected through similar themes which flowed really nicely throughout the book. I’m definitely inclined to go back and read the first two books in the collection.

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Well, one of my new year's resolution was to read books outside my comfort zone. And hence this. I am not fond of contemporary poetry or free verse poetry, and from what I can think of, it's because of my need for long verses and flowery language.

The Mermaid's Voice Returns in This One is the third book in the Women are Some Kind of Magic series and this particular book talks about the Mermaid who had been a witch who had been a queen. A story that has themes of survival and longing, healing irregularly but hearing whatsoever.

My favorite bits were the verses told by these women from fantasy land and the ode to some famous poems and novels.
The verses are about raising your head and continue living because healing is a slow process. The verses also talk about the importance of speaking up or how toxic life can get. It is important to find one's voice and not lets others walk all over you.
I will definitely be picking the first two books up. Amanda Lovelace is a strong voice, and I am sure she has helped a lot of people through her stories.

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I've read a lot of Amanda Lovelace's work but I never connected with her words. This is the first time, her work got me excited and I couldn't be more thrilled. I got this book from NetGalley in the hope that I'd love it and I did. Some poems are so beautifully done, it makes you want to re-read them.
I'm going to buy the book for sure and gift it too.

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I've already read other works by the same author and the peculiar thing about them is that I can always find myself in some tiny bit. As usual, I saved a lot of quotes and sentences, since I've loved them. However, even though I like poetry (it's easy and quick to read), I feel I don't always completely appreciate it. I really liked the concept of princess/queen-witch-mermaid, and I must admit I was positively surprised with the presence of other authors in this book.

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from Andrews McMeel Publishing through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
The Mermaid’s Voice Returns in This One is the last book in Amanda Lovelace’s poetry collection. This book deals with very difficult topics and also includes guest poems from other poetry writers. This book was definitely a page turner. I have not read the first two books because I didn’t know it was the last book in the series, but after reading this copy, I can’t wait to read the others.

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This is a beautiful conclusion to the Women Are Some Kind of Magic Series. The style is the same as her previous works. I appreciate that Lovelace's poems aren't wordy. Her power lies in the exact words she chooses to use, since there aren't many. The tone here is slightly different from the other two in that it's a bit calmer, there's more focus on healing and moving forward. Also, in the last section, there are poems from other poets which fit the theme of recovery.

As I've I said about Lovelace's previous two books in this series: To witness any form of art which is so obviously part of the creator's healing process is a gift. Any reader will likely find something in each of these books aide in healing and foster a sense of belonging.

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What I have loved about Lovelace's poetry since day one is the way that she finds ways to write about some of the ugliest and most awful parts of life in ways that are so beautiful and inspiring.  She genuinely finds a way to turn what has happened to her into words and pure feelings to be shared among readers.  That, in itself, is a true talent.  There was never a moment when reading the mermaid's voice returns in this one where I was bored or over it.  The pieces are so engaging and packed with emotion that it is hard to turn away or leave it. 

Something that I really enjoyed was the short letter at the end to the readers that described the journey of this series of poetry and connected the pieces together.  The fact that this poetry collection, while it has its own parts and pieces, fits into a larger storyline is so much fun to read.  I admired that she put this letter at the end of the book to make this connection clear.  One thing that I would have liked better is if this was at the front of the book.  I know that putting it at the end probably helps to leave the poetry collection without preconceived notions about the larger storyline between the three pieces, but for me, it would have helped me see the connection in the beginning.  At first, I was slightly confused because I was expecting mermaids, but there were a few of them.  Because of this, the beginning and first section were a little confusing.  It wasn't until getting into later sections that I realized that this collection is broken into its own story of hurt, healing, and becoming.  This set up is brilliant! 

Along with this, the final section, which is about finding your voice, is even better because between poems written by Lovelace are poems written by others!  It truly works as it shows the transformation of the author from the beginning of the book and then her later transformation and discovery of not just her voice, but of others who have overcome some ugly hand being dealt to them in life.  It is in this final section that the mermaid allusion is clear; it is not about leaving the water and being human, but about finding your voice after it has been taken from you.          

Speaking of pure aesthetics, I really like the plain cover with just the text and then the back cover.  I think that, while it is plain, it makes a strong statement as there is nothing else to look at besides reading the words.  The message is clear, there are no frilly pieces of art or pops of color.  This text is about poetry and its messages.  The writing inside is very colorful and imagery is rich and lush.  Lovelace has honed the ability to use such strong adjectives and nouns to describe intangible things.  Being able to paint these poems with your mind is a work of genius and creates a bond between writer and reader.  In the end, there were several short poems that I literally wanted to copy or rip out and tape all over the walls to make sure that I read the words every day.  Words can be powerful, especially when written like these.          

On Goodreads, I gave this one four stars just because the beginning could have been a little more clear about what was happening and I really think that for me, perhaps reading the back letter in the beginning or having something up there first would have helped tie the piece together more quickly for me.  I did love reading this and falling back into Lovelace's world of beautiful writing, strong imagery, and connections to the soft and beautiful places from fairytales and childhood.

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I was sent an eARC of this novel from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. This does not change my view in any shape or form.

Oh my God, this was brilliant and moving. Amanda Lovelace does it AGAIN. And this may be her best, most intimate, most poignant release yet. I have chills. I'm positively smitten with how minimal the prose is in Lovelace's work because in spite of how short it appears, it really packs a serious and emotional punch that will leave readers breathless.

It's no secret that I adore poetry and that Amanda Lovelace is one of my favourite modern poets. It's even less of a surprise that The Mermaid's Voice Returns in this One was one of my most anticipated releases of 2019. Thankfully for us, the conclusion to Lovelace's beloved and bestselling Women Are Some Kind of Magic series lives up to everything the prior installments set up. I loved literally every thing about this collection because, once more, it accomplished exactly what good poetry should: all the complex emotions that come with being women and reclaiming your own voice.

What's most outstanding about The Mermaid's Voice Returns in this One is how far that Lovelace has come. I don't mean only growth as a writer, I mean... how she's been able to take the past, capture its volatile and cruel elements, and channel that intensity it into something beautiful. Herself. One of the biggest parts in writing is being able to open yourself up, express all sides to your own story, and to showcase how much you've grown in the days and weeks and months and years that follow.

As readers, we've been able to watch Lovelace not only reclaim her voice and her power but become the woman she was always meant to be. And always has been. And it's something that cannot be described in a simple review.

Whether you've been following her writing process from the time she'd self-published her first poems or are only just getting to know her now, it's a treat to be able to see such strength blossom and grow and continue to do so.

The Mermaid's Voice Returns in this One sets the stage for the year in poetry. This is the collection you need to be reading; this is the voice that needs to be heard. Armed with some contributions from other talented voices in poetry, Amanda Lovelace has already taken on 2019 in a way that will be quick to send shivers down the spine and demands to be annotated.

I can't wait to see what comes next for her. I'm so ready.

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I have absolutely loved these poetry collections and I’m sad this is the final one! Beautiful poetry. Definitely a future reread.

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A solid follow up to her other poetry, This is a quick and thoughtful read. It made me think. I love her approach to twisting fairy tales into feminist messages

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The third book in the poetry collection by Amanda Lovelace is written in the vein of modern poetry. Personally, the final section of survival was the best part of the collection.

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Thank you for the early copy.

It is hard for me to assign a star rating or review poetry because it can be viewed differently with each reader. It was a solid collection.

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Lovelace's third and final book in her "Women are Some Kind of Magic" collection serves as a satisfying ending, overall improving my opinion of the collection as a whole. I enjoyed the first book immensely and found the second somewhat lacking. "The Mermaid's Voice Returns in This One" seemed to fill in those gaps.

Short poetry books like this basically deliver what you expect, and there were as many poems that landed for me as poems that decidedly did not. Overall, it was a quick read. I breezed through it, but the poems that ended up getting me had me holding my breath.

Lovelace's depiction of various harsh issues wrapped in fairy tales and hope hits hard when it does manage to hit. She writes candidly about various issues, such as abuse, eating disorders, and self-harm. The format depicts growth in parts, moving away from abuse and towards hope. Empathy and simple human experience made me ache while reading, in a good way.

The book includes poems by several different guest authors, and while the poetry itself was fine. I didn't particularly enjoy it. I felt there was a bit of dissonance between Lovelace's voice and the voices of the other writers involved. However, there were some guest poems that I enjoyed.

Overall, this is poetry about healing, hope, and survivorship. Even if things aren't okay right now, it will leave you feeling like they will be someday.

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I have become a massive fan of Lovelace’s work. I enjoyed this title the most from her Women Are Some Kind Of Magic series. It’s darker than the other two books which is probably why it’s my favourite. I like dark poetry. These poems use domestic abuse and violence as themes and are raw and brutal at times. This collection is certainly not light-hearted. I enjoyed every poem and enjoyed the fact that the lengths varied. I also enjoyed the poems included by other poets that tackled similar themes.

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This was such a powerful, compelling read that puts words to Lovelace's deeply personal and traumatic experiences. As a reader unfamiliar with Lovelace's earlier work, this collection definitely made me want to read the first two in her "Women Are Some Kind of Magic" series. I so admire and respect the way that she chose to share her stories with this work and believe it will resonate with any woman who has ever felt that her voice or her agency was taken away. I particularly loved one of the poems in which Lovelace said that her experience is not mine, and mine is not hers, but we can pull out shared pieces from each other to make a sort of stained glass pattern. I found that to be a good depiction of the many stories of the #metoo era and how each is unique and different yet there is still a sense of community found in the sharing. I will definitely recommend this book to all of the poetry fans and women in my life.

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Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher I was able to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
***
I like Amanda Lovelace. I enjoyed her second book and when I finished that I grabbed her first off my shelf and read that too. I thought, I really enjoy her writing. After finishing the mermaid’s voice returns in this one I need to amend my statement to I love Amanda Lovelace’s writing.
Mermaid’s voice is a very personal collection, all of her writing has been personal, and I have always felt it in reading her work but I really felt it in this one. I find her to be incredibly brave to write the things she does and share that part of herself with her readers.
The poetry isn’t for everyone, I know there are some people who don’t enjoy the style in which has become quite popular the last several years and don’t think of it as poetry still. I love it though, I think it allows a different form of expression and I love how it gets played with.
The work that makes up mermaid’s voice is short, sweet, beautiful, painful, and just so incredible. It tells a story of healing, overcoming, and surviving. I love the use of fairytales and othe stories inside the poems, and the last section of the book that includes other writers work that helps further highlight what this collection is about is wonderful. I recognized some names but others I wasn’t sure about but you can bet I want to see if they have more out there.
I’m sad that this will conclude Amanda’s Women Are Some Kind Of Magic series but I can’t see what else she comes up with and shares in the future.

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I have always enjoyed Amanda Lovelace and her amazing writing. This book falls in perfectly with all of her previous books. Something that was very special about this book is that there were many other poets that contributed to this book. This was amazing because the poems fit flawlessly in the books but also because this exposed the reader to even more wonderful poets. I love how Lovelace writes poems that make woman feel strong. She gives them strength in any situation. Thank you to NetGalley and Amanda Lovelace for the chance to read this wonderful book.

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t is very rare to find poetry books that do not make me cringe and I relate to mostly. This is one of those rare ones. Amanda Lovelace and her feminist poetry collections is one of my favorite collections ever to had stumbled upon. They were easy to read for me and easy to understand, but they really sunk deep. There is not much to say aside from this was also my favorite out of her Women Are Some Kind of Magic series. This was the least cliche, it was cohesive, and ultimately the one that made me feel the most nostalgic while sticking to me long after I have read the passage.

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The Mermaid's Voice Returns in this One is the final book in Amanda Lovelace's Women Are Some Kind of Magic series. It was a powerful end for a powerful series.

These poems, inspired by the #metoo movement, are haunting and invoke such anger and fear and hope from the reader. It's a collection of poetry about healing and relearning to love yourself and how you are worthy of love from others.

I really enjoyed the inclusion of poems from other popular poets. Their poems brought me to tears, and I think each writer dealt with trauma and survival in different & unique ways.

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I'll preface this by saying I haven't read the first two collections in the "Women Are Some Kind of Magic" series, or anything else by Amanda Lovelace. That said, I would consider The Mermaid's Voice Returns in This One a fairly solid introduction to this poet's work.

The first thing that struck me as noteworthy was the poet's use of a trigger warning at the beginning of the book. Given the majority of this focuses on themes of sexual assault/abuse, I thought this was very thoughtful, and demonstrated a certain amount of care for potential readers.

Considering the content—and after reading the synopsis—I had expected the collection to have an angrier, more aggressive tone. Rather I found the collection's tone to be subtle and uplifting as the poems are also laced with themes of personal growth and change.

I enjoyed seeing the guests poets featured in this collection and I found their poems to be appropriately placed within it. They were just as impactful as Lovelace's, without taking the focus away from her work.

I didn't love every single poem though—where some were lyrical and overflowing with insight, others felt generic. However, this was a beautiful collection overall and one I would highly recommend.

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i don't write
what i write
to hurt you.

- i write what i write to heal me

Disclaimer: I was granted an e-ARC of this book by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Amanda Lovelace did it again. I've only read a few poems from her previous poetry collections (making a mental note to read other books in the Women Are Some Kind of Magic collection), but I would say that the mermaid's voice returns in this one is a culmination of all the past two books -- powerful, heart-wrenching and full of hope.

This book doesn't only tell Lovelace's story, but it is a collective effort of women who wanted their voices to be heard. It's so beautiful to see that even mermaids who lost their voices can find serenity from words they've been longing to speak. Recovering from the past may be a long process, but talking about it is one step closer towards self-healing.

I couldn't recommend this book enough. I hope you pick this up once it's released on the 5th of March. Pick up the other books from the Women Are Some Kind of Magic collection too. Because poets like Amanda Lovelace will change the world, one poem at a time.

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This is the final installment to Amanda Lovelace's Women Are Some Kind of Magic series, and I freaking loved it. The author poured her heart and soul and her voice into this one!

I don't know about you guys, but I *always* used to pretend that I was a mermaid when I was younger - whether it was in the pool, at the beach, bath time, the living room floor (wait, I might of been doing the worm). Anyways. Somewhere along the way many of us lost or had our voices weakened - we lost our fearlessness to just be ourselves. We've become so heavily weighed down with the burdens of society nowadays and what is and isn't considered acceptable. We're told not to speak up, voice our concerns/opinions, to act our age (me: nevaaaa), or we're told to just "forget about it." So, often times (and I don't think this applies to just me), I would immerse myself in books to escape reality. Cuz let's be honest, I'd rather be living a world full of elves (oh heyyy, Legolas).

star light,
star bright,
first star
i see tonight;
i wish i may,
i wish i might
flee my skin
for but a night.

- bibliophile

Amanda Lovelace reminds us that it's okay to trust (again), it's okay to speak up, to be yourself, and it's okay to escape reality and pretend to be a mermaid, too. So, if you're looking for an inspiring collection of modern poetry, then give this a try <3.

PS. Please practice safe reading. This book contains triggers of sexual assault, abuse, depression and suicidal thoughts.

Thanks a million to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC. Quotes are subject to change upon publication.

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“The mermaid is known for her siren song, luring bedroom-eyed sailors to their demise. However, beneath these misguided myths are tales of escapism and healing, which Lovelace weaves throughout this empowering collection of poetry, taking you on a journey from the sea to the stars. They tried to silence her once and for all, but the mermaids voice returns in this one.”
This book was sent to me by the wonderful people at NetGalley. Thank you!
This is book 3 in the Women are some kind of Magic series. Poetry is one of my favorite things to read. Especially when I’m in the mood for something quick. However, this is one of the first ones that have truly spoken to me. I love hearing other women’s stories of how they’ve survived sexual assault/abuse and become stronger women because of it. It happened to me as a child and honestly it took me years to come to terms with it. But ladies taking the stand to tell their stories has really helped.
One of my favorite quotes from this collection was “I don’t write what I write to hurt you. I write what I write to heal me.” That line YELLED at me. That she wasn’t doing this for any other reason than to make herself feel better and to start to heal.
I definitely recommend this to any woman out there to pick it up and read it. Take the words to heart. Realize that it’s ok to talk about sexual assault and to heal. There are so many resources available. Take advantage and don’t let it hurt you anymore. You got this. 💕
5 out of 5 stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Amanda Lovelace is my queen and she has yet again slain my soul. Her prose is so powerful that I feel truly vulnerable while reading her words but at the same time so very seen. I can’t wait to have the physical copy of this title to add to my collection.

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I love that she had other poets write their own story and the road to healing in this. Added just a little something extra. A good way to end this poetry trilogy.

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I loved this book. It’s the third in the series and what a fabulous series! Love,love,love this poetry and story!

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I never really know how to react to Amanda Lovelace's collections yet every time I see it on NetGalley I can't help but pick it up. I read this collection while currently in a women's voices in literature class and it's honestly been such an interesting experience to analyze the conversations in class in relation to the poems. Amanda Lovelace has a very fiery style of writing that cuts and highlights all the truths in a way that can be very inspiring from some readers. Personally, it's a bit too harsh but that's just personal preference and sometimes people need that slap of reality. As always with poetry, it's hard to really form a judgment because the genre is so subjective. I just picked this up because I was interested to see how the poetry trilogy would conclude but if you've been a fan for a while there's no reason that you wouldn't love this.

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I think everyone should read this series. They’re so impactful and powerful. I don’t normally read poetry but I loved this.

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The writing in Lovelace's collections is so beautiful and "the mermaid's voice returns in this one" is absolutely no exception. I knew as soon as I saw this on NG that I had to request it and I'm so glad I did! I think this was my favorite of her three fairy tale-type medlies so far. Her words are like the waves and they are so beautiful. The only thing (and I have said this about the other two books as well) is that I wish she would write a full book in verse rather than a series of poems put together. But alas, not my book. Not my publishing. Still beautiful.

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I adore Amanda Lovelace and will continue to read and suggest everything she puts out to all the women I know.

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Amanda Lovelace is back with another collection of very brave, personal poems that rival that of her previous collections in this series. This is the final collection in her Women are Some Kind of Magic series and I have to say, it might be my favorite. It handles very dark topics such as sexual assault and self-harm. I absolutely adore the collaboration with her fellow poets on the topic of healing and overcoming. Mermaid gets a spot on my favorites shelf!

I received my copy of The Mermaid's Voice Returns in This One from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. It releases March 5, 2019.

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I could still not relate to the poems in this collection at all. However, the positivity of the majority of the poems was really inspiring. What I did not like about this collection at all was the poetry from other writers. Those poems were usually longer than Amanda Lovelace's and they actually distracted me. Still, I think this collection was a beautiful ending to the Women are some kind of magic series.

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I enjoyed reading the first two poetry bundles last year, so it was an easy decision whether to read the third and final bundle of the Women Are Some Kind Of Magic series. Where Amanda Lovelace's poetry might lack in style, complexity and elaboration, it outshines other poetry with its overwhelming and powerful emotions and strong messages. It's actually combination of the simplicity of the words and the overpowering message they are able to communicate that turns her work into something special for me. I admire her for being able to speak this openly about the past and what happened to her. The bundles talk about the three stages she had to go through (the princess, the witch and finally the mermaid) to be able to start healing herself and keep working on the future. As someone who has been in an abusive relationship herself, it's really easy to relate to her words and those who have had or are having a more recent experience will find comfort. What made The Mermaid's Voice Returns In This One stand out from the others is that Amanda Lovelace mixes fantasy with reality this time, using not only poems but also short paragraphs with odes to famous stories by other authors. And that is not all: in the final part of this bundle you can find thirteen guest poems by other poetry writers with a similar topic mixed in between her work. An original touch and something I could really appreciate. I think the second bundle is still my favorite, but The Mermaid's Voice Returns In This One is without doubt a wonderful addition.

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Thank you to NetGalley and Amanda Lovelace for the opportunity to review this poetry collection.

I thoroughly enjoyed/loved Lovelace's first two collectuons; The Princess Saves Herself In This One, and The Witch Doesn't Burn In This One.

The Mermaid's Voice Returns In This One is another hardhitting inside to the healing peocess of one traumatized by horrible hands. While I did not love it as much as the first two, I still thoroughly enjoyed it, and anyone who's had their dark days, or are going through their dark days, should open this collection and let the words speak to you.

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Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

I found this difficult to rate, as I don't often read poetry, and when I do, I'm very picky. As other reviewers have pointed out, poetry is so subjective, and it's not often that poems speak to me or resonate with something I've felt. I had a couple of issues with some of the ways the poetry is presented (I'm not a fan of some of the very short, choppy lines, and the lowercase letters for everything a la Tumblr), but for certain poems it does work well, and it makes sense, given Amanda Lovelace was first known as ladybookmad on Tumblr anyway. Despite these minor reservations, I think this book deserves four stars.

Amanda Lovelace's poetry—and the poetry of the other contributors to the book—is so accessible and so beautifully written. Everything oozes feeling and sincerity. I liked the fairy tale themes and the storytelling (so whimsical and lyrical), and there's so much deeper meaning behind every word and every story. It's a beautiful way to tackle a difficult theme like sexual abuse/assault. There's something to relate to in every poem—even though I haven't been through sexual abuse, many of the messages and themes of the book reminded me of other struggles, such as coping with a mental health problem, or feeling like you've lost or missed out on something because of circumstances/life events that were outside your control. It's a book that can really speak to everyone—it's both sad and comforting, and one of those books that makes you feel less alone.

I'd really like to give the first few instalments a try now, as I never got round to it before, and I've surprised myself by enjoying a collection of poetry for the first time in years.

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I never read poetry, mostly because I don't usually like it. But I know that Amanda Lovelace's other two books in this series were Goodreads Choice Awards Winners, so I really wanted to sample her latest book before it is released.

All I can say is that I am amazed. Considering how few words are really contained therein - the power they tell is astonishing. I felt all the highs and lows and doubts and uncertainty surrounding a victim of sexual violence. I want to weep for any woman who has had to deal with these too frequent assaults.

I'm glad the mermaid found her voice in this one, and I hope it encourages more women to find their own voices.

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This book is about women, about life, about childhood, about the unspoken. This collection of poem is made to be savoured and will linger with you for a long time. I read it, come back to it, annotate it, I use it when I need a little bit of hope and clarity. Should you decide to read this book and should it connect with you, it might end up being part of your story, a companion along the way.

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As always, I love love loved this newest poetry collection by Amanda Lovelace. I will read anything this author writes. Her poetry is always so impactful and emotionally hard-hitting. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an E-ARC of The Mermaid’s Voice Returns in This One.

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**Thank you Netgalley and Andrew McMeel Publishing for a digital copy in exchange for an honest review**

nobody
has
the right
to lure
your voice
out of
you-
not
even if
they’re
a sea witch
looking
to make
a bargain.
-rip this page out & keep it with you

I know I’ve said this in my previous reviews of Amanda Lovelace’s works, but it always amazes me how much emotion she manages to pull out of me. This collection of poetry was much gentler than Witch, in a way that I loved. It was none of the anger while still keeping with the inspirational message Amanda Lovelace puts into her poems. This collection will make you sad while also giving you hope for your future. I feel that the theme of losing and then finding your voice is one many women can relate to, even if you can’t relate to the types of abuse worked through in these poems. Often women are told to be quiet and one of the things I love so much about this series of works (and the title for Mermaid in particular) is the constant reassurance that your voice deserves to be heard. Which is something everyone needs to be reminded about sometimes.

I especially loved that other poets were included in the last section. I liked that not only was the mermaid finding her own voice, but also helping other voices be heard. Plus, it gave me some new poets to look into.

Going back and reading all three of these collections together, I think Mermaid was the perfect ending to the Women Are Some Kind of Magic series. Princess feels like the start of a journey into yourself, Witch is finding the strength and the will to be angry at the injustices you’ve had to endure, and finally Mermaid is learning to embrace your voice and the path you choose to find it.

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This was my first poetry collection and my first book by amanda lovelace. I adored it. I read it in one day, though I had to take some breaks to process what was written between the lines in this book.

I loved how the title added a new dimension to the poem itself.
I loved the topics, it is so important to speak about them.
I appreciated the contributional work of other poets and how they tied in with the overall topic.

I obviously loved the writing style.
I love how strong and empowering and powerful the poems are, how lovelace tells the story with all it's up and downs.

Thank you for writing this.

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I always love Amanda Lovelace’s poetry books. She’s one of my favorite poets and her poems always have that real edge to it. Like she’s not trying to be trendy she’s just literally expressing herself through her poems. I love the mystical fairy tale elements that she adds. Really creative. Very beautiful.

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Amanda Lovelaces’ Women Are Some Kind Of Magic series is an amazing and truthful, emotional and capturing series of poetry collection that can make you sad, but also lift you up with a mix of harsh reality and vivid imaginary.

For me, it is really worth it to buy those books as paperback, because the color schemes they are made with and the way the poems are composed on the pages is amazing.

The words not being capitalized, the word constructs on the pages transport both pictures and reading rhythms, the last lines feeling like they are both the last word and the title – all of it.

I actually love the idea of putting titles at the end. While I was curious in some cases after I started reading a poem and skipped to the end of it to know what it is about and then rereading it, in general I feel like the metaphors have more impact when the title/meaning/last word/summary is at the end.

Still I have to mention that I liked The Mermaid’s Voice Returns in This One least in comparing with the first two books in the series.
The reason for that is for one that I feel like the metaphorical side of it wasn’t as strong with the mermaid imaginary as it was with the Princess, Queen and Witches.

And the last chapter has a lot of 'guest poems'. Since the chapter has the title 'surviving' it makes sense and is a great concept to have different voices of survivors in there alongside the main perspective. I applaud that decision, but I still have to say that I would have liked it more if the collection had stayed with Lovelaces’ work, since that was the ‘voice’ and most of all the aesthetic I signed up for when reading this book, so to say.

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This was mY first poetry by Amanda Lovelace (and others) but not my last. This was a powerful read, heartfelt and poignant. I felt like a bystander, powerless to help but willing to witness.

I loved the way the author was able to interweave the hideous hurt with restoration, healing and positivity, in just the right amounts. Nothing about any of the prose was flippant, even the healing better times were impactful.

I would call this inspirational but real. I was moved, I felt the emotions and I enjoyed reading it. I can definitely see myself re-reading this.

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

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Oh gosh, I just finished this and it was just so damn beautiful. Seriously. This is the first Amanda Lovelace poetry that I have read (I have 'the princess saves herself in this one' at home, but I haven't picked it up yet but I totally will do that SOON).

Her writing is beautiful. Of course not every poem worked for me or touched me the same that all the others did. BUT MAN, everything was just beautiful and so heartfelt and just everything!!!!

As soon as it's out, I'm going to buy the book and highlight the shit out of it.

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Inspired heavily by the #metoo movement, this final book in the poetry memoir trilogy takes us into the experiences of a woman suffering abuse and surviving the aftermath. I especially appreciated the ode to "Blood, Water, Paint" by Joy McCullough (a fantastic story) and the poems by other survivors at the end. I'm so blessed to be married to an amazing, selfless, and respectful man. My heart goes out to those who have found villains when they're meant to have princes (or princesses).

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The Mermaid's voice returns in this one is the third installment in the poetry series by Amanda Lovelace, Women are some kind of magic. I found this just as powerful as her previous collections. I identify with her struggle and pain, and her path through it all. I am a fan of her poetry style: poignant and to the point. I love how she weaves fairy tales into her poetry. Plus there are bonus poems at the end by other authors.

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Raw & magical.

The Mermaid's Voice Returns In This One is the third and final installment in the poetry series by Amanda Lovelace, Women are some kind of magic. Unfortunately I haven't read the previous collections, but have heard so many positive reviews about them that when I got the chance to receive an e-arc of this one, I didn’t even blink before getting it.

Every time you have high expectations for something, there’s this underlying concern that the work will not live up to your expectations, but from the very first page of this collection, I had no doubt It’d live up.

I loved Lovelace's writing style and poetry. And I really liked that poems by other authors were included.

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As always, Amanda Lovelace does not disappoint! I loved this book as much as the previous two in the series and I'm sad this series is over. Her writing is powerful and gripping. A few poems brought tears to my eyes too. I look forward to other books by the author. I will definitely recommend this title.

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Lovelace has a way of creating simple, yet evocative poems. I like this third installment way better than the previous two. You can see that she is mastering the craft of poetry writing.

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Amanda Lovelace is one of the top poets in capturing the voice of women through poetry. In "The Mermaid's Voice Returns in This One" we are taken through the journey of someone who has lost her voice. It's the story of failing miserably but getting back up and kicking ass!

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This is simply amazing. This was the first time I have read Amanda Lovelace and she definitely lives up to the hype. I can't believe I haven't read her previous two books. I loved the stories that followed each poem, I loved the retellings of the fairy tales we know, the feminist twist to them were amazing. I loved to nods to book lovers everywhere. Lovelace is able to deliver poetry that truly resonates with a depth of feeling that is sometimes hard to translate into words. I am in love with this book now and I am definitely going to go back and read her other two books.

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you
don't
get to say
it's
my fault
for
staying.
it's
his fault
for
making me
afraid to
stay
or go.

After how much I struggled with the middle book in this 'trilogy', I wasn't sure I wanted to read this newest and final installment, but friends' reviews were so positive that I finally decided I had to give it a try, and I'm glad that I did. I still feel like Lovelace's poetry lost its luster for me after the first collection and none of the rest have quite lived up to it, but I do appreciate that this one isn't as repetitive as Witch was (and doesn't feel as heavily borrowed from mid- to late-2000s emo band lyrics as that one did, either).

Mostly, this collection is about surviving sexual assault, and it's got a lot of good stuff going on in that regard; it wasn't the most powerful or empowering thing I've read as a survivor, but it was comforting and nice regardless, and had a few poems I really appreciated. Otherwise, there are some happy pages to give you that soft, soothing hug after the painful bits, and overall, it feels like a very natural and well-done ending to the series.

he exists.
therefore,
i know
for a fact
that
humanity
is not
dissolving
before
my
eyes.

All quotes come from an advance copy and may not match the final release. Thank you so much to Andrews McMeel Publishing for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

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This might be the hardest to read of the three collections in the "women are some kind of magic" trilogy. With a well-deserved trigger warning at the front (thank you for including that), it shouldn't be a surprise that these poems are heavily tinged with sadness and pain, but there is also hope and support for those who have been sexually assaulted. The mermaid has found her voice, despite everything.

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Really enjoyed this, I find Amanda's style of poetry is really powerful. Lived up to the previous two in the series, not necessary to have read those first but reading in order gives a lovely journey through emotions and experiences.

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Amanda Lovelace returns in yet another haunting poetry collection. This one is definitely on my recommended list, along with anything else you can find by this author/poet. Soak it up and enjoy it - rich, delicious poetry!

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Another incredible, moving journey from Amanda Lovelace. Will be perfect to add to library poetry collections.

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Lovelace does it again! I love her words, and this was another wonderful collection. I didn't enjoy it quite as much as the previous two books, but it is still an enjoyable and worthwhile read.

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[Review will be posted on Reader Voracious Blog on February 21, 2019.]

"you are sad now
you are not sad forever"

There are some books that take you by complete surprise. That make you feel a wide array of emotions, make you feel seen. They seem to find you when you need them the most. the mermaid's voice returns in this one was that book for me.

I honestly feel like I went through an emotional purge through reading this collection of poems and feel a sense of peace that I realize now has been missing for months of my life. While the poems were written as amanda's way to process and regain her voice following sexual assault, I found comfort and power in her words as I struggle with depression and my own trauma.

"the
only way
i can
foresee
surviving
you
is by
finding
that place
between
forgiving
& forgetting,
if it even
exists.

- this is how i choose to douse my fire"

Friends, I honestly cannot recommend this collection enough. I feel like it found me when I needed it the most, and I am so incredibly thankful for it. This was my first time reading anything by the author, and I look forward to reading the prior two books in this "trilogy." If you have ever been made to feel powerless, this collection will speak to you. What does it mean to be a victim and a survivor, and what lessons can we learn from princesses?

I, too, believe in endless worlds.

<i>Many thanks to the publisher for sending me an eARC via NetGalley for review. Quotations are taken from an uncorrected proof and may change upon publication.</i>

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Amanda Lovelace will forever be apart of my favorite poets list. Her words are always gripping, raw, and powerful--and this poetry collection is no exception. Unlike previous collections in the series, this one felt more...everywhere--like their wasn't a set direction we were heading but rather it was jumbled and all over the place. I am not sure if this was intentional and a way to imitate how life can be jumbled and messy; but I don't think I was a huge fan of this aspect. Lovelace also incorporated poetry from other poets within this collection which is also a new aspect within the series. I didn't mind this integration of other's works as it brought a fresh and different perspective to the heavy topics that Lovelace tackles in her poetry. Overall though I really did enjoy this one and found several of her poems that spoke to me on a deeper level than others.

CW: child abuse, gun violence, intimate partner abuse, sexual assault, eating disorders, self-harm, suicide, alcohol, trauma, death, violence, fire.

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Another great collection of poetry by Amanda Lovelace. The poems are accessible and reads with ease without losing their impact.

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"will I have to spend the afterlife
finding ways to hide from you? "

I have recently started reading poetry and I can't seem to stop. I was able to relate to this book and couldn't stop reading (I read it and then reread it in one sitting...yes it's that good).

Amanda Lovelace seems to capture my innermost thoughts without me knowing they were there. She was able to put words to feelings I didn't know how to describe. It is unfortunate the number of people that will be able to relate to this book, but none the less they will be able to relate.

*I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

#TheMermaidsVoiceReturnsInThisOne #NetGalley

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3.5/5 stars
As always, amanada lovelace’s poetry brings vivid imagery to the page, and continues to tell a similar story to Princess and Witch. Some of the major themes were harder to relate to than others because of my experiences in life, but that can be found in most poetry. This book is about staying strong and healing after trauma; that is okay to let yourself feel the pain and grow through it. Unlike the other two books in this collection, didn’t develop a strong connection to many of the poems. I did like that she had other authors cameo in Mermaid, but I just wished that they had been better spread out. It seemed like 85% of the cameo poems were in the last of the four sections, which threw off the flow of the writing for me. Overall, I think this is a good conclusion to a collection that has helped so many people acknowledge their trauma and heal from it.

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"she didn't kiss frogs.
she kissed great white sharks."

Thanks to Netgalley I am voluntarily reviewing this book after receiving a free copy.

When I first saw that this book was coming out I was excited but sceptical because I really enjoyed the first book in this series but I didn't enjoy the second book. I am really happy that this book was as good as the first one. It flowed so well as we read through an Amanda we haven't read before. She expresses each emotion flawlessly and has such a tactful way of writing about dreadful topics.
I love how as I read through I could see that different poems related to other books and films, such as Othello, Tangled, Maleficent, Sleeping Beauty, Romeo & Juliet etc. It really showed me how well read the author is and to use such great authors in her own work just showed how much she appreciates good writing.

"will i have to spend the afterlife
finding ways to hide from you?"

On page 53 she writes a poem relating to Tangled the Disney film. I have a special place in my heart for this film and to see poetry about it really made my day.
I also enjoyed the fact that to last chapter was filled with other poets' poetry as well as Amanda's. All the pieces were brilliantly written and related to the topic of the book exactly.


"i'm deciding my firsts from now on."

Overall, I found this book incredibly engaging and one that I will probably read again. Amanda Lovelace has done a brilliant job on this trilogy and I wish her every success when this book is released in a couple of months.


"you are sad now.
you are not sad forever."

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The final chapter to Lovelace's poetry anthology and this one just gets deeper and darker than before. A great set of poems dealing with various personal issues that are relatable to many of its readers. I will definitely be on the look out for a box set of this anthology to purchase for my home library!

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This was one of the many anticipated reads I had for this year. It wasn't until early last year that I've come across this authors poetry and has been devouring her work as well as her opening my eyes to poetry. I will admit I was never into poetry until this author reading her captivating words and getting that feeling of being understood.

This is the final book the Women are some kind of magic trilogy (Not even sure if that's the right word for it?) If you loved the first two books you'll love this book as well as much as I did. But there is the bonus feature of getting a couple of other authors which surprised me and I was pretty pleasantly surprised how seamlessly all the poetry worked together from different artists. It even now got me wanting to know more and branching out to see whats out there. I was already becoming a fan of Nikita Gills work but there was a couple of other names I was unfamiliar with that I'm now going to look out for. Back to the book I just loved it not much to say without spoiling it but it is in connection with the previous books but could be read as a standalone if you are new to this series or author. But I do recommend reading this book but even more so pick up the first book to it. This series is heart breaking, uplifting, and empowering an your not going to want to miss it.

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(please please PLEASE Read the trigger warning before starting this book)
The Women Are Some Kind of Magic poetry series is one ofmy absolute favorite collections. This was probably my least favorite of the three. It's a very good collection however it's VERY dark. This was not the empowering and uplifting collections I was used too. The Mermaid's Voice Returns in This One deals with child abuse, violence and self-harm. It's a hauntingly beautiful collection of poetry that will stay with you for a long time.

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I received an e-ARC of this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I give this book 3.5 stars which rounds up to 4.

This book is really similar to the other two books in this series. So if you liked those, then you’ll probably like this one. That being said, I still think her first book is the strongest.

The subject matter of the book is very timely. A large majority of the poems center on the Me Too movement.

The theme of this book is mermaids/The Little Mermaid story. However, there wasn’t a lot of actual mermaid inspired poems. She seemed to revert back to princesses/queens and fairy tales in general. Given the focus on Me Too/sexual assault, there could have been a lot done with The Little Mermaid theme. To me it felt like a missed opportunity.

This collection also contains some guest poems from other poets and I loved that addition. It added some variety and it worked well with the Me Too message because it showed strength in numbers.

I did enjoy a lot of the poems. There were some that really spoke to me. I did love that one of her poems was an homage to The Chronicles of Narnia, which is one of my favorite book series of all time.

Overall, this collection is perfect for fans of Amanda Lovelace. If you’re looking for something different from her, you may want to skip this one.

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I received an e-ARC of this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I already heard a lot about amanda lovelace and her poetry, so I was really excited when I received an e-ARC of this beautiful book - and it didn't disappoint me. Instead, lovelace's poetry left me speechless. I especially liked the fairytale metaphors! But be careful: please read the trigger warning before starting this book. Some of the poems are very dark and emotional, but I liked that a lot.

I really want to buy amanda lovelace's other books now, and I'm looking forward to reading them!

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This book was so powerful. Keep in mind of the trigger warnings and practice self care when involved with any of her books. They are moving, powerful, and thought provoking. 5/5 every time!

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While I know I should have picked up the other two before this one, I noticed it was available for me to read via Netgalley (Thank you♡), so I decided to try out poetry.
I loved it.
Not the best poetry I've read but still impacting and beautiful.
I liked how Amanda let other people put a poem in The Mermaid's Voice Returns In This One, such as Jenna Clare and many others.

"can't
a prince
a princess
a n y o n e

just
come along
& gaze
upon me
with such
adoration
it's
as if i'm
the gem
of the deep,
not the rubble
of pompeii?"

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I reviewed this book on my blog bookishlaurenblog.wordpress.com I really enjoyed this collection of poetry. I gave it a 3.5 🌟 review. I'm not a poetry expert at all but I would of loved maybe more poems I think my only complaint was the book wasn't long enough. I wanted more. The book does have quite a few triggers too and I'm so glad it pre warns. This poetry collection has empowered me and made me feel strong. Thank you.

My review from my blog.

This poetry collection by Amanda Lovelace I was lucky enough to have discovered on netgalley to read before release . You should check this out its the third book in the colkection. The first is The Princess Saves Herself in this one and the sequel is The Witch doesn’t burn in this one. The whole collection in this trio are just brilliant and they are written beautiful, painful and honest. Women fight back, women are badass , we save ourselves, we are strong. These books are so empowering. I just found that I would of liked even more poems in this book. It’s a great series of poetry books to check out. Also trigger warning these books touch on a lot of unspoken but important hard-hitting issues and some of the topics include self harm, abuse including sexual abuse relationship abuse, and other topics that may be triggering.

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I haven't read the previous two books, The Princess Saves Herself in This One or The Witch Doesn't Burn in This One, although when Princess was released I was dying to get my hands on it. Now after reading more poetry, this one included, I'm even more likely to pick up books 1 and 2.

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It's not only mermaid's who get their voices back. It's all of us who have ever had it taken away. From the little ways we get it back by speaking to ourselves. To the big ways we take it back by sharing our stories. No matter what form sharing takes place, big or small. It's our story to tell no matter how it's told.

This book was a beautiful conclusion to the "women are some kind of magic" series. The first two, I picked up in a bookstore and couldn't put down until I finished them. The magic of the words wouldn't release me until I made it to the very end. This was no different. I ignored the laundry, the doorbell, the chirps on my phone until I finished this. It spoke to me. Some passages brought tears and others I had to read again in an attempt to commit to memory.

I like the flow of the author's poetry. The book is incredibly moving and freeing to me. The addition of the contributors poems sprinkled in at just the right spots, add additional voices and perspectives. I enjoyed this collection. It helps me see how far I've come in getting my own voice back.

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I've been following this series from it's inception, and truly feel that this is a beautiful end to the journey. Each book walks the reader through the feelings of the author in such a relatable way, and adds such empowerment in the idea of sharing stories of trauma. This particular book is so interesting because, it's not as upfront as the first two, but what makes it so beautiful is the ambiguity of it. You as the reader appreciate it more, because you can tell it's so deeply personal.

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Wow. In the amazing conclusion to the “women are some kind of magic” series you get a powerful ending to a powerful series. Amanda delivers strong poems that honestly take your breath away. Whether she is packing a punch or making you cry, it is delivered beautifully. She includes a chapter with poems about survival by a powerhouse collection of female poets that alone make the book amazing. Each poem made me fall in love with her writing all over again.

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“she didn’t kiss frogs
she kissed great white sharks.” - Amanda Lovelace

This was my first Amanda Lovelace poetry collection and definitely not my last! the mermaid’s voice returns in this one is the third book in the Women Are Some Kind of Magic trilogy. I will be picking up the first two collections after reading this one.

Amanda Lovelace has a gift and I am so immensely grateful that she is sharing it with the world. Each poem feels like it’s written for the reader. There is something magical about connecting with poems. This kind of poetry is what keeps the genre alive and breathing. the mermaid’s voice returns in this one centers around finding one’s voice. The title referencing to the Little Mermaid made me smile. It was like having my younger self gift me with a new voice. Reminding me how much my voice matters. The emotion I felt while reading the collection stayed long after. My favorite piece in the collection made me SO nostalgic.

“when i tell you i’m still waiting for my hogwarts letter, what i mean to say is i never meant to be here for so long.” - forever wandering lost & wandless.

My eyes watered after this piece. I grew up with Harry Potter and all its magical goodness. It made me sad, yet also carried so many possibilities. Growing up in a small town, not leaving has always been one of my biggest fears. Reading this, I knew I was not alone. It’s such a grateful and satisfying feeling.

I 100% recommend this poetry collection if you like modern poetry or liked previous collections by Amanda Lovelace. It’s going to take you on a journey of self-acceptance and finding your voice.

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

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Getting to read this book early was really special for me. I don’t remember how exactly I stumble across “the princess saves herself in this one” but I was hooked from the very first line of the dedication. Amanda’s writing had a great impact on the writer I am today. It opened a door for me into a world of poetry I didn't know I belong to. I’m honored for the opportunity to watch this little princess fights dragons and grows up into a series of empowering books. This isn't a book that shies away from hard topics. Taking courage from the #metoo movement, The mermaid’s voice returns in this one is a story about finding the strength to tell your story. In her own, unique, fairytale-like style, Amanda is not only talking back her own voice she also encourages her readers to do the same. This book is for every (not so little) girl who still dreams of the day she would claim back her kingdom. It’s for everyone who struggles to find their voice. To tell their truth. To write their story. Whatever it is. The book also includes many poems from other contributors that make it even more special and deserve their own shout-out.

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This compilation of poems by @ladybookmad is about women who have gone through abuse, women who are suffering heartbreak and women who are healing. It's what you'd call minimalistic poetry. It is the last in the series, and how I wish I could read the other two!
I really enjoy this genre of poetry, while the debate of how poetic it is stays. It is wonderfully written and appeals to the sad, broken part of us that is tucked away somewhere. We often just push our broken pieces aside and instead of focusing on healing, we just go on with life assuming everything will be ok. Perhaps, it's books like this that remind us that we still are broken, parts of us remain unhealed. If you enjoy this genre of poetry, pick this one up!
Overall, a book that I enjoyed reading and would recommend you pick it up too! I

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I loved This! Amanda's poetry is so so powerful and amazing! This poetry collection is something I feel like everyone should read.

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Amazing! Amanda Lovelace does it again! Heartbreaking, real life, so vulnerable, but yet so good. As good/even better than her other two works. Would definitely recommend. A few triggers nodding to rape.

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So,this is third book in Women Are Some Kind of Magic series,and it is still on powerful course.
This one is a little bit complicated cause the main theme is sexual assault. And if you ever experienced that this could be little pinch on the skin when you go into reading.
Verse is good,on point. It is simple but still says so much.
I personally didn't liked the homages to some classic works of prose and poetry. For me,it was cute but maybe it should have been saved for something else.
For some,thing poetry could be hard to swallow,because we all have different tastes.
I enjoyed it cause it is real,it is about how you can survive so much,and continue with your life. It is about how that defines you and about it doesn't at the same time.

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While books of poems are not usually my thing, the themes Lovelace uses speak to me.
Not your traditional poem book. It certainly works for me.

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This was pretty similar to her other two previous books. I see this one hitting the bestsellers list like the two previous in the series. While it may not be my cup of tea, I see many teenage girls and young women loving this. Especially those drawn towards the mermaid theme, however I do wish it had a tiny bit more mermaid theme included and not just Ariel. A few of the poems were a sentence long and very basic and I’m not sure why they were included into the book but despite that I overall enjoyed the poetry and some spoke to me personally. I will be recommending it to those looking for a title in this genre for sure.

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🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5

I was provided with this arc by netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was my 1st experience reading Amanda's work and I really connected with her poems. Some of them felt like a real punch to the gut and often I had to take a moment to process what I had just read. It was raw and powerful and empowering. I will deffinatly be getting my hands on her other works.

"I am magic
all the days I am
a woman
& I am magic
all the days I am
not."

Tw: abuse, sexual assault, selfharm.

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<b>Lovelace Is Helping to Lead a Poetry Revolution</b>
Friends- a revolution is happening in the poetry community and writers like Amanda Lovelace and Lang Leav (who writes the forward for this collection) are helping to lead the way. For years, poetry has been the dominated by white men (the Western cannon is decidedly and resoundingly male), but Amanda Lovelace is helping to break down those barriers. Her “women are some kind of magic,” series has helped to inspire an entirely new generation to read and write poetry. Any writer who inspires young people to read and write is a star in my book.

Lovelace continues to help to lead the poetry revolution with her final installment in the series, “the mermaid’s voice returns in this one. This book is a heartbreaking and beautiful conclusion to groundbreaking series.



<b>Amanda Lovelace Inspired Me to Write My Own Chapbook</b>
I absolutely love Amanda Lovelace. I can honestly say that her first book, the princess saves herself in this one, had a significant impact on my own life and my own writing. Lovelace’s straightforward and direct style inspired me to pick up my pen once more and to allow myself to explore my love of poetry again.

As a young person in college, I had an encounter with ableism and racism that silenced my pen for years. I knew that I could never write like Shakespeare, Chaucer or Milton. “Why,” I thought to myself, “should I bother writing poetry if I can’t write good poetry? What point is there in writing at all if I can’t write like one of the greats?”

Then, I stumbled across Amanda Lovelace’s the princess saves herself in this one. In the poetry section at Barnes & Noble. I was amazed by Lovelace’s style and deeply moved by her words. In that book, and each book in this series, Lovelace writes in a way that is unabashedly and unashamedly herself. She takes the reader on a journey from brokenness to hope. Then, she invites her reader to pick up their own pen and start their own story. “This is the sign that you’re looking for,” writes Lovelace.

I”m so glad that I listened to her.



<b>Lovelace Does Not Disappoint</b>
I eagerly awaited the mermaid saves herself in this one the way some people wait for the next Star Wars movie. In fact, this little purple book is a big part of the reason I signed up for a Net Galley membership a few months ago. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this book, and Net Galley offers readers the opportunity to preview advanced copies of books in exchange for an honest review.

I thought that I would breeze through this book in a day. I devoured both of the previous book in this series in one sitting. But in her final installment, Lovelace hits hard and she hits fast. She pulls no punches. Her writing left me in tears within only the first few minutes of reading this book.



<b>A Chorus of New Voices</b>
I was so moved by Lovelace’s story and her words that it took me four days to read this book. It’s not long- but it’s full of feeling. It was a stroke of brilliance for Lovelace to invite other poets to join with her in writing this closing book to her series.

Throughout the first two books, Lovelace encourages her readers to the hero of their own stories. Now, she shares the stage in this final act and invites a chorus of other sirens to sing with her. Their song will continue to haunt me. I can’t wait to read more of their work.



<b>I Would Eagerly Read Amanda Lovelace’s Grocery List</b>
Thank you, Amanda Lovelace, for your beautiful poetry and for your writing. I don’t care that people call you a hack (a cruel accusation that she addresses in this book). I love you, and I would eagerly read even your grocery list.

If it wasn’t for Amanda Lovelace, I wouldn’t have had the courage to write my own chapbook. I’m so glad that I found the courage to share my own story and I hope that many others find the courage to reclaim their own narratives. May we all be warrior mermaid star queens together.

I hope that Amanda Lovelace goes on to write many more books filled with many more references to Disney, Pixar, fairy-tales, Shakespeare, and mythology. I will happily read them all.

Don’t let the haters get you down, Amanda. You really are some kind of magic.

I strongly recommend this book to EVERYONE!



Note: I received a free digital copy of this book from Net GalleTy in exchange for an honest review.

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Amanda Lovelace's third book in the Women Are Some Kind of Magic series is just beautiful. I loved The Princess Saves Herself in This One, and I have The Witch Doesn't Burn in This One (though I haven't read it yet - soon!), and I can't wait to read To Make Monsters Out of Girls. Amanda's poetry is gorgeous and heartwrenching - filled with both pain and hope, despair and love. I particularly liked that she had some guests write a few poems that she added into the collection, including poets such as Nikita Gill (who I also love). I definitely foresee myself reading this again in the future.

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This is one of the most beautiful collections of poetry I’ve read. The journey from losing yourself to finding yourself is beautifully written in this book. Everyone who’s ever lost themselves because of someone else needs this book.

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I've loved Amanda Lovelace's poems way before I read the collections. I've known her from Tumblr and Instagram. I was extremely happy wen I got approved for this one and it did not disappoint.

So this was just as much about selfdiscovery and self care and choosing for yourself after a really hard time (or times) as the two other books. While I did love that this books featured other poets, it felt less personal, which is logical since you know. It's someone else. But what I loved most about this book, and the other ones, is that it's an immense journey of getting to a place where you're happy, despite the things that happend in the past, or maybe because of them. From tho book and the things I see online, Amanda seems to be happy. And I'm glad that she has found a way to voice her feelings, not just for herself, but also for the readers. Maybe it can bring the some peace like it seemed to bring her.

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I have really enjoyed reading the first two poetry collections by Amanda Lovelace, so when I saw this third collection for review on NetGalley I knew that I wanted it right away.

I really enjoyed seeing how Lovelace's voice and writing has changed over the three collections and how all three gave different views of using your voice and taking control of your life. While these poems can be hard to read due to their nature dealing with sexual assault, rape, power, and self harm they also paint a picture of hope and finding one's voice.

I can't relate to everything that is said in these poems but I can't relate to the feeling of powerlessness that she writes about and working to find the voice that we all have inside of us.

Poetry like hers is not for everyone, but I really enjoy the experience I have from reading her words.

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This book comes at pivotal point in the history of women's rights. It's undeniable importance, as well as my experience with the two previous books in the trilogy made it possibly my most anticipated book for this year. Was it good? Definitely. Was it as good as the other two? Not quite. My feelings towards this book are hard to pinpoint and even harder to explain. The start of the book was the area I had the most trouble with, as I felt that the quality of poems just didn't quite match up to what I was expecting. Where were the hefty one liners that made you grab your pen to jot them down? Or the intricately shaped poems that you had to reread three times before fully comprehending their message? Despite this, the second two thirds of the book was significantly better, with a number of poems that really spoke to me. While I would have liked more on the theme of mermaids, the guest poems were a new and welcomed addition. 4 stars!

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Find this review & more on my blog: https://ahappylittlebookworm.wordpress.com/2019/02/24/only-the-ocean-emergency-contact-and-the-mermaids-voice-returns-in-this-one-the-best-new-books-ive-read-in-2019-so-far/

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I received an ARC copy of this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review. All thoughts feels and opinions are my own.

After reading all three books in her Women Are Some Kind of Magic series, this would have to be my second favorite. I was definitely hesitant going into this book since her last installment I was not the biggest fan of. Yet this book exceeded my expectations. The parts I enjoyed most were two and four and I liked that Amanda Lovelace brought in guest poets as well. To me, I could relate to those poems on a personal level and it made me stop and think about that time in my life. I only found a few bland poems or ones I didn’t necessarily care for which made for a great read. Overall I would give this ⅘ stars.

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I saw this poetry series all over the social media. I didn't read the other books but when i saw this on Netgalley i wanted to give a chance. It was definitely worth to hype. This book was full of beautiful and powerfull poems. I really enjoyed reading it. I will read the other books too.

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I absolutely love this and plan to order it right away. It is so heartbreaking but at the same time, it makes me feel like she did it she made it. Yes, there were struggles all the way through but somehow she was able to get through it all. I think I could read this over and over it is inspiring. The part where she uses reading as an escape reminds me of myself. Maybe not escaping from the same thing but escaping none the less. She is an incredible poet, writer. Read this and listen to the words. They are beautiful and painful all in one. Thank you, Amanda Lovelace, for this piece of you and allowing me in.

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As an avid fan of Amanda Lovelace's poems I couldn't wait to read the last in her 'Women are some kind of Magic' series, She certainly hasn't left me disappointed. This book feels like the end of a series. Though the poems still deal with difficult topics (especially sexual assault) her writing style is calmer than in the first two books; as if she has come to terms with the fire and strength inside her and fully embraced herself, flaws and all,

I gave this book a 4-star instead of 5-star rating more due to personal preference than anything else - as someone who has never suffered sexual assault but has suffered from various mental disorders, I found 'The Witch Doesn't Burn in this One' to be more relatable and thus more enjoyable.

I have immensely enjoyed immersing myself back into Amanda Lovelace's prose and would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of her previous works or poetry in general.

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As the third part of the Women Are Some Kind of Magic collection, this stands as a work that makes the exploration of abuse, violence, and survival come full circle. It not only features brand new work by the author, it also includes poetry by a handful of contributors who all have written about victim/survivor issues that complement the author's work.

Since I have read all three books, I still think that the second in the collection is the strongest, but it also may be because it contains harder imagery than this one or the first one. I think that anyone who enjoyed reading the first two will also enjoy this one.

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While I have never been a particularly huge fan of poetry, for some reason I can’t stay away from Amanda Lovelace’s books and they are ALWAYS 5-stars reads for me! “the mermaid’s voice returns in this one” was no exception. I requested, read, and reviewed “the witch doesn’t burn in this one” last year and so just could not help myself when I saw this up on NetGalley. One of the most exciting parts about these books for me, is finding out who the dedication is for. The first one was to Harry Potter, the second one was to Katniss Everdeen, and this one is dedicated to her younger self, as “the little bookmad girl,” and thanks her past self for surviving everything she experienced. This finale largely centred around the Me Too movement and it’s release feels like exactly what 2019 needed. It deals with heavy but IMPORTANT topics like abuse, sexual assault, the symptoms of surviving trauma, and learning to speak up for yourself. If you liked Amanda’s works in the past, then I am sure you will fall in love with these final words.
(Bonus: I loved the Forward by Lang Leav and am thinking of picking up some of her works in the future).

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I enjoyed the poetry and the references to other books and characters in the poems. Everyone will find a poem he/she can relate to in this book.

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It’s been a hot minute since I read The Witch Doesn’t Burn in This One, the second poetry collection in Amanda Lovelace’s Women Are Some Kind of Magic series. While I’ve still yet to read the first book, The Princess Saves Herself in This One, and therefore don’t have the full picture of this journey of growth, The Mermaid’s Voice Returns in This One still delivers on Lovelace’s trademark poetic voice in all its vulnerabilities and harsh truths.

I’ll go ahead and say now that The Witch Doesn’t Burn in This One ranked higher for me simply because I related to its anger, ferocity, and zeal more than I did this collection’s emphasis on trauma and healing. I also enjoyed the former’s greater usage of imagery more, since here, the imagery surrounding mermaids and their returning voice held more of a subtle place than downright literal usage. (I actually felt there was more imagery used with stars than anything else.) But that’s because this collection’s imagery was more figurative, and it encompassed the entire journey, namely that of a woman (or any reader) reclaiming their voice and at last speaking openly about the traumas of their past and how tough the healing journey is.

As the trigger warning at the beginning indicates, Lovelace’s poetry continues to deal with heavy subjects: eating disorders, intimate partner violence, sexual abuse, self-harm, gun violence, and much more. What’s important to note, too, is how these can all transcend genders and traditional expectations and also how the healing process itself can be intensely traumatic.

That latter realization struck me hard as I continued to read through the poems. So many of us view healing as the breath of relief, the sudden calmness after the thunderstorm. Healing is that moment where we let our dark pasts go and start fresh, like a blank canvas bereft of any paint or ink. The truth is, we often don’t realize how ugly and awful healing can be. We don’t think about the regressions, the self-flagellation, the scars made out of reopening old wounds again and again. We don’t think about the lies we tell ourselves that masquerade as healing, so we don’t have to face our pain, and we certainly don’t think about the depression or anxiety we experience because of it.

I’m glad Lovelace was so honest about her healing journey and the many faces it can take. That’s why I can still appreciate this entire work, even though I’m not currently struggling with something so heavy and consuming of myself. Because I know someone who has or is currently going through something terrible. Because I know the history of violence women have had to experience as a collective over the centuries. Because I know that violence extends to other genders, and as a result of that, healing cannot go down easy.

However, the situation is not all doom and gloom. There are plenty of empowering moments, too, and this is one that particularly resonated with me:

the
first person
who touched me
was not my
first.

– i’m deciding my firsts from now on.

The symmetry of this poem alone is beyond pleasing. Reading it from the top down, it takes us somewhere we didn’t expect, almost to a shocking conclusion. If we’re looking at this sideways pyramid from the bottom up, we can view each line as a stepping stone of sorts. It will obviously be harder to climb these stones if you started from the bottom, just like it was hard for Lovelace to embrace the idea that her so-called “first” doesn’t deserve that honor, that whoever they were didn’t touch her the way she as a human being deserves to be touched: with love and without abuse of any kind. Once she’s discovered this idea, though, that she doesn’t have to conform to society’s definition of “first,” that she can decide that definition instead with all her agency, then the steps become easier to climb, the idea easier to adopt and apply.

For my part, I think it’s a shame that I found “i’m deciding my firsts from now on” to be such a powerful, radical declaration, but that’s the trapping of society, isn’t it? So much emphasis is placed on firsts: first kiss, first date, first anniversary, and then that tired saying, “You never forget your first,” as if the first time you have sex with that one person should matter so exponentially more than any other time, no matter how good or traumatic it was, that you will always remember that person. So I love the pushback this poem gives, that if something or someone wasn’t up to par, it doesn’t get added to my personal historical record. Instead, it gets struck from the record until that first comes along who actually measures up.

Readers are also in store for plenty of other surprises. For instance, I was delighted to see a poem dedicated to Maleficent, one of my favorite villains of all time–and thanks to Angelina Jolie’s performance, one who can also now be considered both a tragic and powerful figure. Lovelace pays homage to other characters and creations, too, such as Medusa, Artemisia in Joy McCullough’s Blood Water Paint, and C.S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia.

The real standout quality of this particular collection, however, is how Lovelace also reached out to other female poets and included their words and feelings about their own lives and struggles here as well. Readers can expect to find poems, each written gorgeously and earnestly, by poets such as Trista Mateer, Gretchen Gomez, and Nikita Gill. That latter made me clap with excitement because there’s just something about the way Gill writes poetry that truly holds my attention and makes me enamored with it. (And unsurprisingly, her poem was my favorite, but I’m also incredibly biased.)

If you’re on the fence about this one, don’t be. I definitely got a lot out of it. My only suggestion would be for you to maybe not start here if this is your first foray into Lovelace. The Women Are Some Kind of Magic series is definitely a journey, one of a princess-turned-queen-turned-witch-turned-mermaid, and it’s best started at the beginning (and I’ll be taking my own advice about that soon and finally reading the first book).

Above all, I recommend this series for the same reason that Lovelace wrote it: to give victims and survivors courage to tell their own stories. The way Lovelace has chosen to do so was like broken glass: a harsh but beautiful reflection within, but it’s not the only way to tell a story, and may not even be the right way for you. Still, this series can encourage you, embolden you, maybe even help you find your voice. In the end, there’s no wrong or right way to tell a story. Only your way.

take my words,

but
expand upon them.
argue with them.
change them.
twist them.

– make them yours.

It’s safe to say I’m feeling inspired today. Thanks, Amanda.

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Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an earc.

I gave this a four out of five stars, I really enjoyed reading this but it wasn’t a favorite of mine by the author. I still really liked it though. There are quite a bit of lines I did enjoy though. I do plan on buying myself at least one copy if not more. I do recommend you to pick up this poetry collection and the others she has out too.

Some lines I enjoyed are:

“All this time, I thought myself a motherfucking queen”

“You’re still everywhere I don’t want you to be”

“what if he just does it to another girl?”

“I. When they say ‘no.’ II. When they can’t say ‘no.’ -they’re both assault”

“the first person who touched me wasn’t my first. -I’m deciding my first from now on”

“Traveling through eras we haven’t yet seen until Romeo can hold hands with a boy & Juliet can hold hands with a girl without fear hanging over their heads.”

“Show them exactly what a mermaid-witch-queen like yourself can accomplish”

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I have been following Amanda Lovelace's Women and Some Kind of Magic series since it first came out and this was a beautiful conclusion to the collection. I especially like the last section of this poetry collection where Lovelace incorporates the work of other poets with her own.

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I love Amanda Lovelace and will devour everything she writes. This collection did not disappoint. It was neat that she had different contributors poetry sprinkled throughout.

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I received an e-ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I gave this book a 4 out of 5 stars, not my favourite of this collection but I love anything Amanda Lovelace writes and will read anything she releases in the future.

The theme of this book in the collection is Mermaids/The Little Mermaid, however there wasn’t as many Mermaid poems as I would have liked. She stuck with her usual Princesses/Queens, which I don’t mind but I think The Little Mermaid tale would have corresponded well with the #MeToo commentary.

It still gives well love fairy-tales and other well known stories, a dark twist with themes of rape, eating disorders, mental health issues and abuse, I appreciate the way these subjects are approached and dealt with, especially the trigger warning given at the beginning of the book.

I really enjoyed the parallels with Romeo & Juliet lovingdifferent lives.
It also is full of verses filled with female empowerment as usual with both of her other books.

This collection also contains guest poets displaying their poems within the same themes, it’s a great addition to the collection and added a lot of variety and I think it really worked well with the addition of the #MeTop movement & message.

If you have previously liked Amanda’s other work you’ll also love this one.

#themermaidsvoicereturnsinthisone
#netgalley

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This was such a powerful poetry collection, and I just flew through it. The messages in the collection are inspiring and leave me in awe every time. I always love reading Amanda’s poetry because so many of the poems speak to me. I understand her pain and suffering, and her finding her self in the midst of everything. I still think that the first poetry collection in this series is my favorite, followed by the second one, and then this one. It’s not that I didn’t like this one, it’s just that there weren’t as many poems that I just fell in love with. There were several that were frankly just repetitive or had no meaning whatsoever. I can’t say this is a bad poetry book, simply because of the trauma and healing that is shared within. Those are important stories to share, and with each poem, you learn a little bit more of the story. I just didn’t like all of the poems. I thought that the additions from other poets was a really nice touch, and I loved those poems. I will be sure to check some more of their work out. Overall, it was a pretty good poetry collection for those that liked her first two in this little series.

Thank you NetGalley for providing an advanced copy of this collection for me to read. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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I was gifted the first book in the "Women Are Some Kind of Magic" set and though I liked it, it didn't blow me away. In fact there was just one poem that really struck me (it involved sisters). That being said, I saw "the mermaid's voice returns in this one" on NetGalley and was interested enough to request it. So happy that I did.

Not only did more of the poems grab me but I really enjoyed that this was a collaborative effort with a couple other poets. It gave the whole collection a little extra. Poems are so hard to judge though. While some were great for me, others not so much. I also think their was a lot of missed opportunity in tying in the mermaid theme into the overall collection.

3.5 stars round up to 4

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I truly enjoy reading Amanda Lovelace’s poetry and I was very excited when I was able to read this one. I admire Lovelace’s bravery throughout the entire trilogy and I found it very inspiring to hear her story and how she merges popular fairy tales with modern day reality. The conclusion to this series was very powerful and I love the inclusion of other poets. Through this book, Amanda Lovelace helped other poets find their voice, as well as her readers, find their voices. This was an amazing conclusion to the Women Are Some Kind of Magic series.

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I am writing this post on sunny afternoon while eating a bowl of frozen yogurt and listening to Lana Del Rey’s Lust for Life album. Indulging myself with poems and words by Amanda is always amazing so obviously I was thrilled to be able to receive an e-copy ARC of her new book! Right off the bat I got sucked into the pages. I cried, smiled, and empathized with Amanda through her writing. It felt as though I was talking to myself and all the things that I desperately hoped someone would understand and relate to was looking straight at me from the page. I felt understood.

Amanda Lovelace adds another beautifully well written book to her women are some kind of magic series. I can say that Amanda is one of my favourite authors and I would recommend the mermaid’s voice returns in this one to anyone who is interested in poetry or is just looking for a book to dive into. I would highly recommend you make a space for this series on your bookshelf. Add it to your tbr pile this spring and you can enjoy poem after poem with a bowl of fresh fruit outside.

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I've had a kind of weird relationship with Lovelace's poetry. I consider The Princess Saves Herself In This One to be one of my favourite poetry collections of all-time, but I really didn't get along with her second book. I like this one better than that, but it still didn't quite stand up to the first one. I really liked the inclusion of other poets—I liked seeing poets I already like such as Nikita Gill and Clementine von Radics, while also giving me a few new names to check out.

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This was a great final book in the series. I think it might be my second favorite. I loved the inclusion of other poets that Lovelace chose to incorporate. While I lost myself with the second book because it just didn’t click with me, this one more than made up for it.

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The Mermaid's Voice Returns in This One is the third and final book in Amanda Lovelace's Women Are Some Kind of Magic poetry trilogy.

On the surface Mermaid's Voice goes along in the same vein as the previous two books dealing with tough to talk about subjects such as abuse, assault, loss, etc. with moments of triumph on a pathway leading out of the darkness.

But as I went along I really felt like Mermaid's amped all of the emotions up tenfold. This wasn't a read I could charge through like I did with the other two books. This was one that I had to take longer breaks in between reading.

I enjoyed the inclusion of guest poets. I felt like it was almost a statement of "you're not alone" that these other authors were showing support. It was interesting and nice to hear some different voices within the running narrative.

No matter how difficult and raw I found some of these passages there's always a sense of the weight lifting off shoulders when you get to the end. Like you've poured so much of yourself out that you feel lighter. I definitely felt lighter after getting to the end of Mermaid's.

Overall this trilogy has showcased the strength and perseverance of the body and mind. How life can throw all sorts of things at you, but you can live through it and there can be happiness on the other side.

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Unfortunately I can't read this because the format is not compatible with my laptop. Very sad, I was really looking forward to reading it.

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This collection of poems has had such an impact on me over the days i've been flipping through it's pages. Amanda Lovelace is so gifted at merging the fantastical and the real raw vulnerability of her work. This collection centers around trauma, survival, self-love, and empowerment, but her struggle is reinforced with the magical power of fairy tales and happy endings. For those struggling with trauma a happy ending or even a happy present is so hard to see, even if it is right in front of you. This books tears those blinders off, and refocuses the attention on the possibility of better. It inspires so much hope, and offers so much validation for the hardships of recovery, all without being too triggering, too graphic or too self-loathing. I received an egalley copy of this, but am definitely going to go out and purchase a copy for myself. Though I have not read the first two installments of this collection, I can without a doubt say that I will soon.

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I liked this installment best in the collection. The title <I> The Mermaid’s Voice Returns in This One </I> couldn’t be more apt - Lovelace takes her back her power, through her words and healing.

I liked the way Lovelace organized and themed the individual books and the series. There are many stories of strength told within these pages and I really appreciated the words for where I’m at in life right now.

Overall, this was a great three-book series of poetry. The individual poems within were mostly great, but together they were something special.

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I am a huge fan of amanda's work and credit her poetry for getting me into modern poetry. Despite loving the overarching narrative of the mermaid finding her voice and becoming strong, the individual poems were not as strong as some of her previous work. However, since this is a collection about healing it is hard to make critiques about it. Who am I to say she didn't present her healing the right way? But, I will say that despite feeling her pain in certain poems, I could not connect to this collection in the way I connected to her previous works.

I also was not a fan of intermixing the other poet's poems in the last section. I liked their poems, but going into this I thought they would be in a separate section. It was jarring to keep switching from amanda's narrative to another. I do like the idea of so many poet's showing different ways of healing and overcoming one's demons, but intermixing them lost some of the value of both their words and amanda's.

I also always forget that I should not read eARCs of poetry because the formatting is usually weird. The formatting of this collection was pretty good, but I still think I need to reread it to truly get meaning out of some of the poems.

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The Mermaid's Voice Returns in This One is a beautiful conclusion to this Trilogy of poetry collections. It is filled with emotional poems, but also has enough positive, strong and hopeful ones sprinkled in there to not make the whole book too depressing.

I really enjoyed most of these poems and bookmarked quite a few, but overall I didn't feel a strong enough connection to give it the full 5 stars. I would still recommend anyone to check these poetry collections out. There are some very special gems in this one and I was definitely touched.

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I read the first two books in this series and like them, this one didn't disappoint. I always love reading Amanda's writing and it's just the kind that resonates well with me. It's encouraging and motivational.

As always, there's a trigger warning at the start of the book, which is much appreciated.

This one dives more into sexual assault and the MeToo movement but also healing and surviving and finding your voice again. It's beautifully written and at the end, I like that she said we should take her words and twist them so they fit our story, so even if what she's written about herself doesn't resonate with you, you can still read it in a way that will.

I'm very much looking forward to the next one that comes out. I'd give it 4.5/5 stars.

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I received book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first book by Amanda Lovelace. I'd skimmed through some of her books before while browsing through bookstores but never fully committed because of how bad I've been burned by poetry books lately. I've always loved her titles though so I was excited to read this.

It held up ! I love the fairy tale vibes she emits in her work, having grown up a Disney kid and obsessed with the brothers grimm and other tales. There wasn't a lot of things relating back to mermaids surprisingly but that was completely fine. Very feminine based, very big in the metoo movement, and very relatable.

If you're familiar with her work you'll like this.

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Having read the past two books in the Women are Some Kind of Magic series by Amanda Lovelace this book ranked very highly on my to-be-read list! And it did not disappoint! I read the whole of this book within two sittings, it would have been one but I had to go to work!
I really enjoyed these poems and I believe it created a nice conclusion to this trilogy. I also thought it was cool how she tied in other authors this time that wrote about similar experiences. As well there seemed to be more nods to literary works and I really like those, especially since the author is an avid reader she is going to be inspired by other works.

One of my favourite poems is "I believe in endless worlds" and man does it ever hit home. I'm excited to continue reading her work in the future!

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I’ve never been a huge fan of poetry despite my best efforts. In the past few years this trauma porn/recovery genre makes me feel... something. In Lovelace’s three volume collection, vague allusions to fairy tales and their dismantling frame her narrative. I’m on board.

My complaint with the final installment is “the surviving” – the final section with a chorus of voices, but no conclusions. I’m all about giving talented up-and-comers a foot in the door but I didn’t want or need this to be a compilation. The author I wanted to read has very sparse, waterfalling prose and some of the extras are literal walls of text. The subject matter may fit but the interjecting styles are jarring and unnecessary. I rate this 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.

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I received an ARC e-book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

*trigger warnings are given at the beginning of the collection, sexual abuse/harassment being the biggest theme throughout the works.

I love poetry, especially on topics that I can connect to, and these poems are amazing, full of thoughtful and inspiring pieces it is definitely heavily inspired by the "Me Too" movement, and have a few other authors works that add a nice addition to the collection.

I've read the other two in the trilogy by Lovelace and loved them just as much as this one. The poems made me think of my own life, as a woman I felt I was able to connect to what the author is saying, as I have experienced some of the things she is talking about. This collection of poetry made me feel many different emotions, while simultaneously making me feel like I could take on whatever the world throws at me. I would highly recommend.

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Another beautiful collection of poetry by Amanda Lovelace in her Women Are Some Kind of Magic series. She puts her heart and soul into her words and you can feel her emotions on every page. I also really loved the guest poems that were featured in this book.

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Amanda Lovelace always delivers! Again, she tells her story with grace, but this time she's added something new! She's collaborated with some of her talented contemporaries, including poetry by them in this book as well. Honestly, if you want or need more poetry about being a survivor, or are just a fan of Amanda, definitely read this. She is one of the loveliest voices in poetry out there. I'm excited to see what she does next and now I've learned about new voices in poetry to research as well!

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I’ve read all of this author’s books and have never been disappointed. They always bring tears to my eyes, even sometime sobs. This one was no exception, it was extremely beautiful and moving. I looked forward to this installment for what seemed like forever and was beyond excited to get approved to read it early.

This book was so empowering and really made me want to take back my voice. I’m usually the type of person who hates conflict and kind of goes in a hole instead. After reading this one I really want to change that, I wasn’t to take my voice and actually use it.

If you love poetry or are just getting into it I highly suggest this set of books. It is very easy to follow and makes a huge impact. Another thing I love is the covers, they are perfectly simple and outstanding at the same time.

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the mermaid’s voice returns in this one,

undulating with uncertainty,

the high tides of hope receding with the thoughts

that this has happened.

it can happen again.

the waves of righteous anger

a siren song

to other survivors

we can hear you

and we are singing too

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In this third volume in her "Women Are Some Kind of Magic" poetry series, Amanda Lovelace revisits popular childhood tales with an adult's critical eye. She re-examines how these stories vilified or victimized the women in them, simultaneously telling the story of her own abuse. The poems are harrowing, and especially in the early parts, sometimes hard to read as the abuse takes its toll on the narrator's self-worth. But as the title of the collection proclaims, the mermaid's voice returns in this one, as the poems reconstruct those fairy tales to give their heroines the happily forever afters they deserve. Guest poets fill out the collection, and the voices gives the book a welcome solidarity and hopefulness.

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I LOVE IT!!!! A bookworm like me can relate to a lot of poems.. The poetry collection is divided in four parts and the best thing is that poet has included some poems written by some other poet...

"When I tell you i'm still waiting for my Hogwarts letter, what I mean to say is I never meant to be here so long.
-forever wandering lost and wandless"

"Be
stronger
than the
villians.
be every
storybook
herione
come to life"

I am in love with these two poems

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So sad.. I have tried many a hundred different ways but I just couldn't open the file that I received. I was so looking forward to reading this story.

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I've read the previous installments in the Women Are Some Kind of Magic series and while I enjoyed them, they weren't favorites. Lovelace was definitely one of my favored voices in modern poetry and I was willing to give anything she put out a chance. This installment in the trilogy blew me away.

One thing I love about Lovelace's collections is that she always includes trigger warnings in the beginning. This is so appreciated and valuable when it comes to the type of content being discussed. Her language is beautiful while the emotions and subject matter are very raw and real. The way she phrases and formats her poems lend to the style and the expert use of language.

Perhaps it is my own experiences, but this collection just spoke to me. The progression of the story felt like a real progression of healing and learning. The guest poems from other poets perfectly melded into the collection. While they were different voices being added in, they fit in and belonged there. It was wonderful and heartbreaking at the same time.

I definitely recommend this collection for anyone who enjoys her writing or anyone looking for modern poetry that touches hard hitting and difficult subjects.

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I received this as an E-ARC from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

My rating for this book is 3.5 (rounded to 4) out of 5 stars.

Having been a fan of Lovelace's previous books in the series, I was very excited for this one. The content of her writing is not an easy subject to talk about, and is intense at moments, but extremely relevant none the less. That being said, this one did resonate with me in the way the others did, but still allowed me to feel deep emotions and sadness for the stores she told. Amanda Lovelace does have immense talent in telling stories and giving readers hope for better times ahead. Overall, I would recommend this books to others and am grateful for the work that Amanda Lovelace produces.

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I have been a fan of Amanda Lovelace for many years now and she has not disappointed with the final installment in her Women Are Some Kind of Magic trilogy. I was yet again blown away by her poems and loved her inclusion of poems from many other female poets. I think that Lovelace has an amazing story and message to share with the world. I was yet again captivated by her work!

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This collection is the third and final installment in a series of poetry collections. Each one tells a story of the strength and resilience of women in a world that does not allow them the equality they deserve. Lovelace uses her own life experience and her personal story throughout the course of the collection. She truly weaves her words and themes together into a tale that is captivating and threaded with raw emotion. Out of the three collections, this one fell in the middle for me in terms of my enjoyment of it.

I absolutely adored the first one and felt such a deep connection to it. She primarily focused on her own life journey, which I found fascinating to read. In the second one, she strayed away from this and, while she did include personal stories, is felt much more general. It was a bit more difficult to connect to on a personal level. This one is a great blend of the two, mixing poems about her experiences with poems that give a broader look at women’s rights and their strength. In all three, she does a beautiful job of demonstrating these themes in a passionate and inspiring way. I really enjoy her work and I cannot wait to read more in the future.

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♥ "When I tell you i'm still waiting for my hogwarts letter, what I mean to say is i never meant to be here for so long" ♥
The reason why Lovelace's collections are so good and feel so comforting is because they are so relatable and so honest.
Even as someone that has never gone through an abusive relationship (at least not a romantic one) there is a lot of subjects that i really relate to and even the ones i don't are written in such a honest and brutal way that i still feel a lot.
It is a sad reality that most women can relate to Lovelace's experience but it is good to see that we aren't the only ones and to hear that it is okay to speak out and that everything will be okay
This book wasn't my favorite in this series but it was still a really good time and i would really recommend reading these.

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I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. These thoughts and feelings are my own.

This was another gelreat collection of poetry by Amanda Lovelace. I was so excited when someone told me her third book was available on Netgalley!

I love that the central theme in this book was hope and healing. Yes, terrible, horrific things happened, but there’s always a chance for healing. It’s such a great message that’s so pertinent today.

I did have a harder time connecting with this book, but I think that’s because the issues discussed have never happened to me. The poems were still beautifully written and I liked the inclusion of other poets. The subject matter did not take away from the book at all, even though it wasn’t something I had experienced.

This was another amazing book of poetry that empowers women to take back their lives after tragedies and gives them hope to be able to heal. I would definitely recommend this book, along with her others.

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Poetry isn’t something that I read an awful lot of and it’s definitely something I want to get into more. I’ve read the first two instalments in Amanda Lovelace’s Women Are Some Kind of Magic series and was incredibly excited about reading this powerful and inspiring third book.

Much like the previous books, the poems Lovelace creates are so emotional and raw. The poems are written in a very minimal way, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t pack a punch. So many of her poems have given me food for thought and I definitely felt the same with The Mermaid’s Voice Returns in This One.

While I did really enjoy this book, it did feel a little bit disconnected from the two I read previously. I didn’t connect with this one as much as I did The Witch Doesn’t Burn in This One and for me it didn’t feel as powerful. Though still a thought provoking and timely read, I definitely preferred the first two books in this trilogy.

It’s been fascinating to read Lovelace’s work as she has grown and honed her craft with each book, It was also interesting to read the guest poems from a variety of guest poets. Some of these I liked more than others and I think this might be part of the reason I didn’t love this book as much.

Overall the Women Are Some Kind of Magic series is a hauntingly beautiful and thought provoking series and The Mermaid’s Voice Returns in This One is an excellent addition. If you’re a fan of poetry or interesting in feminist writing, this is a must read. I for one am excited to see what Amanda Lovelace does next.

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i really love this series. they definitely are some of my favorite poetry collections. i first read the first one, the princess saves herself in this one, last year and i really loved it. it was this strong, empowering, feminist poetry collection that spoke to you. i really loved every bit of it. i do think my ranking of the books are like, the third one as my favorite, then the first one, then the second one as my least favorite. nevertheless, i love this series so much and i would 100% recommend it to anyone looking for a fierce, quick read!

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This third collection of poetry, and conclusion, to Amanda Lovelace's Women Are Some Kind of Magic series, did not disappoint. I felt that this book was just as powerful as the first two in the series and I like the addition of guest poets. It lent different voices to important topics in society and also proved the point that you are not alone. I'm sad that this series is over.

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This was a strong conclusion to the Women Are Magic series and I love Amanda Lovelace's voice. This is the pick me up many survivors could use to just face another day.

*Thank you to Netgalley for this review copy. All opinions expressed are my own"

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Title: The Mermaid's Voice Returns in This One
Author: Amanda Lovelace
Pages: 210
Release Date: March 5, 2019
Genre: Poetry
Series or Stand Alone: Can read as a stand-alone with no problems, but is #3 in the "Women are Some Kind of Magic" series that I cannot recommend enough
Bechdel Test: Yes!
Trigger Warning: healing from the trauma of a sexual assault is in the background of some of these poems. I found it cathartic but others should be aware of the prevalence of the topic.

I received a free eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Visit https://fiercefemalereads.wixsite.com/fiercefemalereads for more.

Amanda Lovelace gives birth to a set of beautiful, fierce, and vulnerable poems. She rereads stories and fairytales that give women their voices back and does not force them to say anything they do not want to say. For instance, she has a short poem on the women in the Chronicles of Narnia that was absolutely fantastic! She gives a voice back to a woman who was silenced and never given her day in court. I have loved the CoN since I was very young, but it never occurred to me how Lewis stifles what it means to be brave and good when it comes to women. She can do more with a few sentences then many can in an essay. She has several of these that are brilliant critiques and powerful poems. All women are worthy of a voice whether you wear lipstick or hide between book pages.

Lovelace also speaks to past acts of violence against her that she is still healing from. It's cliche to say she is "brave" to do this, but I am in awe of her vulnerability and willingness to share the eternal process of healing.

Though I was given this book as an eArc to review, I will be buying a copy for myself. I suspect it will also become a gift for many friends in the future. Although this is the third and final installment of "Women are Some Kind of Magic" series, I hope she will continue to bless us with more of her work. I will strive to live my life as the mermaid-witch-princess her series envokes.

I would recommend this to anyone who loves poetry. This is also a great book for those who aren't "into" poetry. Fans of Rupi Kaur and Nikita Gill will love this work.

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I have read and own every single one of Amanda Lovelace's poetry books. The emotion, truth, and personal experience she transcends in every verse, sentence, word, and poem is truly magnificent.

The Princess Saves Herself in This One was my all time favorite.. until now. So much of this novel resonated with me as a female in todays society. The comparisons to mermaids was a fantastical element that added so much vision and imagery to her collection. I can NOT wait to purchase this novel and annotate/document all of the poems I loved.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me an advanced reader copy for free in exchange for an honest review.

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When I saw that there was an advanced reading copy for amanda lovelace’s last poetry collection in her series “women are some kind of magic” I was extremely excited. I first found lovelace’s work through a friend of mine who kindly gifted me the first book in the series.

Her first book in the series is probably my favourite as it came to me at a time when I needed to be reminded of my own strengths and abilities. The collection of poetry is something I often return to in times of struggle and I find lovelace’s words comforting and uplifting.

Her third collection aligns with her previous works and centres on themes of self (re-)discovery, how to find your own voice again, and the struggle with remembering and letting go of the past. The four part collection (the sky, the shipwreck, the song, and the surviving) starts, interestingly, with a swan song—which comes from the ancient Greek belief that swans sang beautiful songs as they died. Whilst this is the last book in her series, I doubt that this will be the last we will here from lovelace. This swan song, therefore defies narrative norms where the end—the swan song—is actually just the beginning.

lovelace’s honesty and poetic style proffer the question again and again, How do we come to terms with the past? On the one hand, talking about the past is vital to heal, yet on the other hand it can be extremely dangerous in that the past can creep into the now and take over our present and future selves. Healing also just takes a lot of time and it isn’t easy. With poetic lines like when will it be my turn to be “the gem/ of the deep/ not the rubble of pompeii” (p36) we see the way lovelace contemplates healing, learning, and growing from the past, but also being frustrated with how long everything takes.

Throughout the collection, lovelace also twists the meanings and narrative conventions of traditional fairytales and love stories like The Little Mermaid and Romeo and Juliet. She looks for new meanings and interpretations as well as coming up with alternative endings. In doing so, she asks the reader to question the status quo and to also demand different endings for themselves. Her poetry is also helpful in the way that it reminds the reader to trust their instincts and to learn “how to/ recognize/ the warning/ flares” of toxic and dangerous people. Her new alternate interpretations of tried and true stories therefore, goes a step further by asking the reader to be aware of not just toxic people, but also toxic narratives.

lovelace slips between first and third person blurring the lines of self and other as she recounts some of her past. By doing so she distances herself from her experiences, but also takes hold of her own narrative. Her musings on the terms victim/survivor and which one is more ‘appropriate’ also ties in with the ending of her collection where she states that there is no one way to be a survivor/victim. Often times, people can be both and that is okay. She embraces the multifaceted nature of her identity and this is accentuated throughout the (re-)telling of her own stories.

In the last section of her collection, lovelace mixes the poetry of other authors with her own and creates a mini-anthology of survivor stories. By including these new voices she further reinforces the idea that there is no one way to remember, survive, or talk about assault. And in the final pages of the collection she asks the reader to “take my words,/ but/ expand upon them.” in her poem ‘- make them yours.’ (p171).

Overall, lovelace’s poetry is important in a time of #MeToo where more and more people are talking about sexual violence and stigma. I still believe that her first collection in the series was her best, but I can also appreciate the way that each poem builds on the ones from before creating new meanings and interpretations of remembering trauma.

Are you a fan of poetry? Will you be picking up lovelace’s poetry collection when it hits the shelves? As always, share the reading love.

NOTE: This novel was was accessed through Netgalley and Andrew McMeel Publishing for review purposes. Expected publication is 5th March 2019.

https://bound2books.co/2019/03/06/re-defining-survivor-victim-stories-a-review-of-amanda-lovelaces-new-poetry-collection/

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I chanced upon an ARC of this book because I was browsing through the poetry section of Netgalley on the right day, at the right time. And I'm so glad I found it!

The Mermaid's Voice Returns In This One is the third book in the Women are Some Kind of Magic series, and I loved it just as much as the other two books, maybe even more.

The Mermaid's Voice was about speaking up, about getting through the pain and still continuing to live, about fighting your demons. It was a collection of poems that inspired me, at the same time bringing me face to face with the reality.

"today
i love the way
i look in
my sundress
& it's not
because
someone else
convinced
me to."

This is one of the many beautiful pieces in the book. And what's more? There are even poems by some really amazing poets, including one of my favourites, Nikita Gill.

All in all, The Mermaid's Voice Returns In This One was a power-packed collection of poems that left me breathless and in awe.

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When I first discovered Amanda Lovelace's "The Princess Saves Herself in This One," I was blown away by the eloquent prose harrowing content. Her poem's continued to impress me in both , "The Witch Doesn't Burn in This One," and "The Mermaid's Voice Returns in This One." Her poems are simplistic in design, yet profound in form. I hope she continues this series of poems because she is now an auto-buy author for me.

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Another incredible, heartfelt collection from one of the best modern poets of this age. It's always a treat to dive into Amanda's head. There are not many poets that make me feel this seen and understood.

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Wow, this was heavy. I think that’s why I enjoy Amanda Lovelace’s work so much. She doesn’t hold back. For me, that’s the allure with her entire “Women Are Some Kind of Magic” series. All three books feel so personal.

It’s no secret that I love poetry, but I don’t often find the most popular poetry books alluring. It’s personal preference, of course. But these? I adore. Lovelace’s voice and words are magical for me because they have a way of being the exact words I can’t always find for myself. Does that make sense? I think the most powerful poets are capable of pulling out emotions from you that you were unaware even really existed.

It’s hard to give a concise reason for enjoying poetry, because there are no characters or plot lines. There are just words that you either connect to, or don’t. Sometimes it’s more about you than the poetry. With that being said, this poetry (in my opinion) is fantastic. I’d like to own the entire series and I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys beautifully strung together poetry.

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The third book in her trilogy, and similar to her other two books. I really liked these poems. A few pages have poems from other people which the other books don't have.

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If you loved the other books in the series, you'll love this one. It's raw. It's poignant. It's a different way of talking about healing from abuse than you may have experienced before - and it's beautiful.

I knew this going in but there are a lot of guest poems. I love that she's highlighting other authors, although sometimes I felt like it disrupted the flow a little. I suspect that will depend on how you read the book - I tend to sit down and devour the whole thing at once, and then come back again to dive into specific areas/themes at a time. If you're more of the latter type, it likely won't bother you.

The mermaid theme was interesting. At times it seems to dance just below the surface and you're not sure how clear it is...and then it'll rise up and remind you that it's been here the entire time.

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I can only review part of this one, since I didn't realize it never sent to my kindle and now can no longer be downloaded. I'm SO mad at myself for not noticing, because I really love Amanda Lovelace's writing - she has an uncanny ability to take the savage thoughts that sneak through our heads wreaking havoc and wrestle them onto the page, exposing them to the harsh light of day... This collection seems to continue again in that vein, although I was only able to read a sampling of it. It's on hold at the library now though, and I'll update my review when I can - although strongly suspect my feelings won't change!

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The last book in the trilogy of poetry by Amanda Lovelace is The Mermaid’s Voice Returns in This One. So if you’ve been a fan of the previous two, you would definitely love this one too. This one like the others focuses a bit on folklore. This one focuses on mermaids and sirens. About how they can lose their voices and what they can do to have them returned to them. Sirens sing and to men and as such often get blamed in fairytales for luring men away from their beloveds. Victim blaming is something that goes on this world and this is what Amanda LoveLace is trying to convey. Victim Blaming happens in the most blatant of places, as it is so ingrained in our society. From facebook comments to what women wear to work. It happens a lot in this world and the #MeToo tries to combat this. And I believe this poetry could help these people understand it is not them. It is the people that rape and sexually assault people that are to blame. It is about regaining that voice from those people that steal it. I seriously love this premise behind this book but I do feel she relied on the previous themes as well a bit too much. The Witch and the Princess were mentioned much more than the Mermaid but this could be due to the fact that this is the last book in the series.

In addition to this, we got some guest poets in this edition. From Nikita Gill who is the author behind Wild Embers to Jenna Clare who some people may know from her infamous photography of the booktube community, but is such an amazing poet with her debut book out this year. Honestly, this series has given me life to move on and I will march on with the knowledge that Amanda Lovelace gave me.

#gifted

i refuse
to
believe
you took
something
irreplaceable
from me
in
that
moment.
- i still have every part of myself.

4 out of 5 stars.

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Many thanks to NetGalley, Andrews McMeel Publishing and Amanda Lovelace for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are 100% my own and independent of receiving an advance copy. Rating 3.5 stars.

This is the third volume of poetry from Amanda Lovelace and 13 other guest artists and is the final offering that follow the “women are some kind of magic” theme. In this one the mermaid has found her voice…

“nobody
has
the right
to lure
your voice
out of
you-

not
even if
they’re
a sea witch
looking
to make
a bargain”

The poetry deals with heavy subjects like sexual assault, violence, death, and child abuse, but really relates to all kinds of trauma. I don’t think you have to have necessarily have to have gone through something horrendous to get these poems. Just being a woman qualifies you get it. I love taking these fairy tale tropes that we have all grown up with and turning them on their heads, challenging them. A castle or a cell - both can be cages. Some of the poems I loved, some were okay, some pulled at my heart strings, others broke my heart, some spoke to me. My favourite:

“trauma didn’t change you all at once
it carved slowly every day
like rivers do
it was patient while it hollowed you out

so it’s a sculptor or it’s a knife
you take your pain and you other it
you give it a new name
and a new face

you say this might have helped shape me
it it is not a part of me

you say i meant to break open
to make room for stars”

untitled by trista mateer

Lovelace encourages us not to stay silent and to write your own story. Find your voice and state your truth. Any way you see fit. I will add, whether you decide to share it or not. Shout it from the mountain tops or lock it up and throw away the key. It can be a valuable path to healing. That is what these women share in this volume, it might help you.

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This book taught me something about myself, and though I can’t articulate quite what it is, it’s a lovely and powerful thing. Amanda Lovelace, by speaking her own story, speaks to every woman in this poetry collection. Even if you’ve never gone through similar things as she has, you can still learn and understand something by reading this book. Her poems put into words emotions I didn’t even know I had — and I can’t thank her enough for it. I want to hide these words in my heart forever. I adored getting to hear the poems from other women as well. No critiques literally at all.

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Thank you to Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed reading this collection. It was the first Amanda Lovelace collection that I've read. I really loved the character of the mermaid and how she became the vessel for Lovelace to express herself as a survivor of sexual assault. The raw honesty in this collection was very compelling and her journey to healing resonated with me because it was a journey that is all too familiar to me.

My favourite parts about this collection are the references that Lovelace makes to Shakespeare, fairy tales, or whatever. I especially loved the poems in which she imagines the different worlds where Romeo and Juliet have different and happier endings.

I'm looking forward to reading more of her work in the future.

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Well, I was right- these books shine their brightest when read in their physical format. There’s just something about written poems that is so much more impactful- perhaps it’s the fact that they allow the reader time to ponder over what they’ve read, how they interpret it, why it affects them.

The Mermaid’s Voice Returns in this One is the third book in the Women Are Some Kind Of Magic series, taking the Little Mermaid tale that has erupted in contemporary literature in the past couple of years and transforming it into an empowering story for women. If there’s one thing I learned when reading poems by Amanda Lovelace, it is that it doesn’t matter how other people define you- if they use diminishing or insulting words, condescending looks and patronizing smiles directed at women of all shapes sizes ages and ethicalities; it’s what you decide to make of them that matters. A word has the connotation we decide to give it. We are part of the society, but we don’t have to act as dictated; we make a choice. The only redemption arc that we are here for is ours. We redeem ourselves. We take the broken and fix it, because it wasn’t broken to begin with. The first step towards self-respect is realizing exactly that: Your self-worth is always there, untarnished and waiting for you to claim it. No one else can take it away, if you don’t let it go.

This collection also felt like a love letter to the readers that have been here for the past years, the bookworms and nerds that were called weird in high school (I dare you to tell me it hasn’t happened to you). She calls to them and tells them: You are awesome. Hear that girls, women and madams, daughters, mothers and granddaughters? WE ARE AWESOME. I also once again appreciated the trigger warnings listed meticulously in the beginning of the book, and I have to caution that sexual abuse and assault play a dominant role in this narrative, so please proceed with caution and stay safe.

Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!

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The Mermaid's Voice Returns in This One was a powerful and emotional read! The writing is very beautiful and powerful!

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As usual, a beautifully written book! Poetry is becoming more and more popular and they are always such emotional, but quick reads. I was so excited to get a copy of this book because it was one of the books that I was highly anticipating this year (since the last two collections absolutely blew my mind and pulled all the heart strings). This series is one of my favorites and the poems in this book is touching and revealing of how many women face so many different situations.

I honestly recommend this book, and the series as whole, to anyone who is even remotely interested and especially for all the fans of Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur. This has a similar vibe, so it will definitely be a great read to experience a whole range of emotions!

It is hard for me to even express with words what a book like this can do and the importance of the stories shared in these poems. Poetry is lyrical, but also effective in a world where everyone is short on time! Seriously, it is so quick to read so anyone can pick up a copy and fit in poem or two even in the busiest of schedules!

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This one legit brought tears to my eyes. Some of the topics in this book made me really anxious because I've never actually been in a relationship and this made me terrified of the types of relationships I could find myself in one day. I'm a romantic on paper but when it comes to real life I don't want to touch it with a ten-foot pole. This review makes me feel pretty vulnerable because I wouldn't usually put so many of my personal deep-seated feelings out there like that on the norm. Since it is a poetry book about baring your soul and stuff, I feel like I should. To honor the source material.

I feel like Amanda Lovelace really hit home with a lot of women (and maybe some men) out there who have gone through similar events. Obviously, I'm not one of them per my earlier ramblings about my deep-seated terror of being in a relationship with another human.

As always I flew through this. It wasn't hard, it's not long. Also, the format of these books is the best. I love colored text. I loved it with the Wolves of Mercy Falls series and I love it now. It fits with the vibes.

I loved how she had a little spot at the end of the book where you could start writing your own poetry. It made me smile a little bit. I mean I myself would never write in one of my books unless it's for school and it's already been written in. It was a cute gesture though. Still wouldn't do it.

Verdict: would spend my money on.

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I received this book in exchange for an honest review which has not altered my opinion of the book.

I have been in love with amanda lovelace's poems since I first read the princess saves herself in this one. These poems really hit deep and approach to mental health and the difficulty in recovering. This one deals with addiction and rape and there are triggers for just about everything. There is no sugar coating done, which I usually find to be terribly difficult to read, but these poems capture the feelings and justify the fact that when someone with mental illness has issues and people don't believe you, it's not you, it's them.

I really can't recommend this series enough. While I do advise caution because it is not an easy thing to read about, this collection specifically is very relevant and centers around the Me Too movement. Five out of five from me.

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An astoundingly incredible collection of poetry!

The third book in Amanda Lovelace’s poetry series (first one being The Princess Saves Herself in This One and second being The Witch Doesn’t Burn in This One), The Mermaid’s Voice Returns in This One is a carefully crafted and beautifully arranged collection of poems that together deliver a powerful and empowering message.

This novel is fearless and daring, urging women worldwide to stand up for themselves whilst showing solidarity, and emphasizing zero tolerance for abuse.

The way that the author has creatively used punctuation, alignment and editing tools to convey her feelings is unique and impressive. The way she writes the last lines of her poems add more dimension to her writing.


Some poems are contributed by other authors and their renditions are equally thought- provoking and remarkable, intricately adding their own viewpoints and making the book more inclusive and holistic. It was so engrossing that it seemed that I finished it way too quickly.

Recommended.

Rating- 3.5/ 5

Review is now up on my blog, fb page and instagram. It might be posted to my twitter in a couple of days too.

Links:
Review has been posted to blog here: https://adoctorsmemoirs.wordpress.com/2019/03/13/book-review-the-mermaids-voice-returns-in-this-one-by-amanda-lovelace/
Fb: https://www.facebook.com/adoctorsmemoirs
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adoctorsmemoirs

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So powerful and right in line with her other two. If you like Lovelace's writing, then you'll love this one. Still think her first release is her best.

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The Mermaids Voice Returns in This One
By: Amanda Lovelace

What a beautiful book as her final installment to her Women Are Some Kind of Magic series! Not only is the regular purple covers stunning, but if you get your hands on a target edition, it has a sparkled mermaids tail across the cover. Very stunning. I must say that I enjoyed the poems in this one more than the "Witch" book. If you haven't yet, make sure you check out my reviews of her other books.

Anyways, I just want to say that if you enjoyed her other books, then you would probably enjoy this one as well. I feel like this one is in sync with the "ME TOO" movement as I noticed that many poems centered around that.

Some may get confused by the title and how it could correlate, but this book was all about speaking up. Not cowering within yourself and your struggles. While someone may have taken something from you (dignity, confidence, "voice"), you are strong enough to get it all back.

While I felt alot of the poems in this one felt simple in comparison to her others, they sure DID NOT lack the powerfulness of them. Each word was striking and empowering. Amanda definetley went out with a bang as she ended this series. The Mermaid's Voice Returns in This One is going to fix broken hearts, souls, bodies, everywhere.

Please note that there are multiple trigger warnings in all her books, and that goes just right along with this one.

Contains sensitive material to:

child abuse, gun violence, partner abuse, sexual assault, eating disorders, self-harm, suicide, alcohol, trauma, death, violence, & fire.

So just make sure you are in the right head space to go into this book. Most are powerful and help the reader move on, but the idea of the sensitive material is still present, so just be aware.

Just know that you are stronger than what your past (or present) has made you deal with. Practice self care and talk to someone if you need to.

I did get this as an ARC through NetGalley, but am only showing photos of the finished copy I purchased.

Until Next Time,
DauntlessReading

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Powerful words , Unique writing style , awesome feels. Amanda Lovelace doesn't disappoint this time. I loved every minute of this book.

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I received an e-ARC of this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the final poetry collection in a three book series. Amanda has been my favorite poet since her Tumblr days, and I will forever support her. This collection focuses on sexual assault and her healing journey. Her writing is so raw and powerful, you can see she pours her heart and soul into each word.I really loved this collection.

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Wow! Amanda, you did amazingly.

For anyone not familiar with my review of the second book in this poetry series I had a few issues with its repetativeness and even though I enjoyed it I wasn’t convinced I’d pick up the third. But as I loved the first so much that it left me in tears on a train and this one did capture my eyes a fair bit I decided hey NetGalley is free and I’ll give her writing another chance.

I‘m so glad I did! This book did flatten any doubts I had about reading more of her work.

(In fact a week after reading this I bought to make monsters out of girls which I loved just as much)

The Mermaid’s Voice Returns in this One caught my attention cause not only do I love the colour purple but I also love mermaids so I was very excited to see how Amanda incorporated them into the theme of her poetry about survival and healing.

As with the previous book we are graced with beautiful colored font to match the cover, which is seriously making me consider purchasing a physical copy.

The book strongly focuses on surviving sexual assault and I think Amanda approaches it in a way that really worked for me. They made me feel recognised and accepting that actually its ok to have to journey to find yourself again after traumas. That you might not always feel as strong as the front you’re putting on to the rest of the world, but you can get there.

6It really makes me think of how many of us consider what could’ve been. How our lives are two seperate timelines. The before and the after. The doubt you feel at trusting people again, especially should the trust be misplaced. Can you event trust yourself?

Now obviously not everyone is going to be at a stage in their lives where they can read poetry that they find themselves relating too strongly and revisiting emotions you’d previously bottled up or dealth with but honestly I did feel it kind of theraputic.

I think I felt like this as there is a power to her words as she battles off her own nightmares (physical or mental) and comes to the realisation that yes I can do this.

So yes, I really enjoyed this powerful colection from Amanda. And I loved the fact towards the end poems from other creators were included too which really makes you see you’re not alone in finding your voice again. Maybe you’re not a writer, but you are a reader and maybe these will help guide your voice to return to you.

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Amanda Lovelace has returned with another relatable, empowering collection of poetry. There are several gems throughout the book. Fans of Rupi Kaur will enjoy this volume.

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After reading the previous two poetry collections in the Women are Some Kind of Magic series, I knew I needed to check out the conclusion, the mermaid's voice returns in this one. Amanda Lovelace continues on with many of the same themes from her previous collections as she pulls from her personal experience as well as many others'. While it deals with an important and powerful subject, it did seem similar and almost repetitive of what we saw in the previous collections. One different aspect was that there were several poems included from a few different guest authors. I had not previously read anything from these poets so it was neat seeing their styles. Of the three poetry collections, the princess saves herself in this one is my favorite.

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The Mermaid's Voice Returns in This One is the final installment to Amanda Lovelace's Women Are Some Kind of Magic series, and I enjoyed it. I will admit this one wasn't my favorite and that I LOVED her 1st book in the series the best. I've rated it 3.5 Stars. I find it hardest to rate poetry than another other genre. Without a doubt the author gave this book her all. My heart breaks that she has endured what she has. I'm so glad she didn't let that define her. We hear her voice loud and clear in this installment. I'm thankful that she shared her life with us. I'm sorry that her and so many other women have had similar paths. Amanda's Women Are Some Kind of Magic series offers hope and knowledge that we aren't the only one. She's beyond inspiring and creative.

Thank you for an advance copy for my honest review.

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I already read the first book "The princess saves herself in this voice" and absolutely loved it.
I think this one is not as strong as the first one but still very good.
This book is about healing and recovering after a trauma and that it is okay to feel the pain. You can't change the past, it always will be there, it all still happened but every day you wake up is one day further away. It is about finding your voice and see that even if we don't all have the same pain, everyone struggles.
This collection makes you feel understood and seen. The words are so refreshing , reading them is like being refreshed by the salt water. Beautiful, powerful and magical.

There seemed to be a lot of filler poems. Two sentences and not much meaning to it. That was a bit sad.

I love that the titles all fit together so well, although this time there wasn't too much connection to the mermaid theme.

I think this book is perfect for every Amanda Lovelace Fan but if you look for something new and different that may not be your cup of tea.

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I have not always been the biggest poetry fan, but Amanda Lovelace and Rupi Kaur The Mermaid's Voice Returns in This One by Amanda Lovelaceare up there amongst my favourites. When I found out that Amanda was coming out with a new bind up, I HAD to get that book badly. It arrived on my doorstep and I dove straight in. Her poetry is raw, builds up and sometimes is all too familiar. Her lines are so beautifully written and I can’t wait to find out more.

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The core subject matter of this collection is important in a time of women reclaiming their agency and becoming transparent in the abuses they’ve suffered. That being said I liked it but didn’t love it which isn’t a bad thing. Like is still good. I just want something that feels completely new from this author and this was timely but not new.

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Amanda Lovelace's "Women Are Some Kind of Magic" series...There aren't enough words to describe how much these poetry collections have touched my heart. Women share their voices and experiences in many ways, but it's also others who need the listening ears, the open mind, and accepting heart.

This poetry series comes to an end with the emphasis to express your voice in the best way you know. It's got heart and strength. It was great to see work by other folks in this collection. It was a wonderful way to end the series with a chorus of voices.

This collection comes with a few trigger warnings such as violence, child abuse, and self-harm. But it's worth the emotional read, just to hear the story within the poems.

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The Mermaid's Voice Returns in This One is the third book in Amanda Lovelace's poetry trilogy Women Are Some Kind of Magic. I have been a huge fan of the trilogy until now, and this book definitely lived up to my expectations and satisfied my needs.

Lovelace is a talented poet and she excels at combining real-world traumas with fairy tale magic with a feminist twist in a blend that is intensely cathartic to read (and I assume to write). Some of the poems hurt, some of them make me smile, all of them are worth reading. The inclusion of poems from other writers in the final section was a nice touch, and I think it helped bring the conclusion together.

I definitely recommend the whole trilogy in order, but each one is worth a read as a stand-alone as well. I can't wait to see what else Amanda Lovelace has to offer as a writer in the future.

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I have never really enjoyed reading any sort of poetry, until I found Amanda's books. The topics they address are so relatable and easy for someone like me (someone who doesn't really find enjoyment in dissecting poems) to digest and understand. There's such a wide range of topics she addresses in these poems, all about the female experience; all the joy, pain, suffering, wonder, possibilities, and everything in between. But the most prominent feelings I felt throughout were hope, empowerment, and a sense that I was not alone. She also includes trigger warnings at the beginning of her book and I appreciate that so much. There were several poems in this book that I had to stop and reread several times, not for lack of understanding, but because I felt it resonate with me so much and that's something that didn't really happen when I read poetry in school. I also found it wonderful that she had different people contribute to this book, but they all shared a similar tone/style that I didn't realize it was someone other than Amanda until I reached the end. I'm confident to say that Amanda's poetry is poetry that I actually enjoy immensely, and find myself purchasing to keep with me in a physical sense because her words are going to stay with me for just as long, if not longer.

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I LOVE THIS SERIES SO MUCH! I find a lot of comfort in some of the trauma she describes overcoming having gone through it myself. It makes me feel powerful and like if she got through it, then so can I. I hope to see so much more from her.

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I didn't realise that this book was the third in a series when I requested it, it only dawned on me when I recieved it. However, I found it to be quite enjoyable as a read. I enjoyed how some poems were modernised fairy tales almost with a feminist twist.

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Amanda Lovelace is my favorite poetry author. Since her first book, I felt every poem hit inside my heart. It made me feel like I wasn't alone in the pain I went through in my life. It made me feel like my past and what happened to me, doesn't define me, and I can overcome anything. The Mermaid's Voice Returns in this One did just that and more. This one took my breath away just as much as the previous two. There were so many moments where I had to put it down and just feel.

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I haven’t read any of Lovelace’s other works yet. So, when I jumped into this book, all II knew was that it would be a poetry collection that told a story.

I never expected it to tear me apart and put me back together.

I don’t know which was a bigger factor – the story or the writing itself – but I can say for a fact that, if I could, I’d rip some pages from this book and keep them with me at all times.

I have no words to express how much I loved this book.

Rating: 5 stars

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I'm a diehard Amanda Lovelace fan. I will buy anything and everything she writes.

True to form, this collection of poetry is altogether fierce and vulnerable. I connect on a personal level to its references to a particularly unhealthy and dark relationship; instead of feeling triggered, these poems are offering me a lifeboat comprised of catharsis.

To paraphrase Ms. Lovelace, when I read these poems I can reside somewhere between forgiving and forgetting my past.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36297088-the-mermaid-s-voice-returns-in-this-one?ac=1&from_search=true

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Amanda Lovelace never fails to write lovely poems that make you love poetry even more. I have honestly loved it with my whole heart.

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I received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I don’t usually read a lot of poetry and I haven’t read the authors 2 previous works, but this was really beautiful and thought provoking. She hits on so many emotions using various references to fairytales. As a woman reading this, it was quite powerful and her message was empowering.

Well done. I’ll definitely be reading more of her works.

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I've thoroughly enjoyed all of Amanda's previous works from The Women are Some Kind of Magic series, To Make Monsters out of Girls, and even her self published book Dragonhearts. Amanda really opened a new perspective on poetry and has redefined what it means to write it. As an English & Creative Writing student, I have to get my hands stuck on creating some of my own, and it used to be my most dreaded part. Her poetry has completely switched that around for me. And The Mermaid's Voice Returns in This One s no different.


It very much centres around the #MeToo movement, surviving sexual assault and finally being able to speak up and receive support. And it caters this idea of including others' stories into this as it features several other poets such as Gretchen Gomez and Trista Mateer. And with such a heavy subject matter it offers both more painful reads and then follows with a lighter poem as if to hug and comfort.

There is a slight fairytale theme in this collection and offers imagery of Alice and a sense of the 'looking glass'. There's also (obviously) hints at Ariel / The Little Mermaid. The fairy like style was mixed in well with the more harder subject that the collection followed. Also whether Amanda's inspiration came from Disney, Fairy tales, or wherever else, it was exciting to see characters or previous stories that everyone universally knows and used in such ways.

Even though I was given a free e-book arc of this collection, I will be going out and buying it. Some of the poems have really stood out and with all other of Amanda Lovelace's work, they're a collection that needs to be read and re-read all over again.

"Cages are still cages even when they're designed to look just like castles."

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Amanda's poetry collections are always so strong and powerful! I find myself wanting to cherish her words, but end up devouring the pages and next thing I know I have finished the book. I always know her collections are ones I can count on to show not only her strength, but the strength that anyone can have- survivor or not. Her collections speak volumes and are so empowering!

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I have read each of Amanda Lovelace's books of poetry, even purchasing the others in the Women Are Some Kind of Magic collection after reading the witch doesn't burn in this one here on Netgalley. I am a fan of Amanda Lovelace's voice and style of writing, as her words move me, shatter me, and often leave me thinking of pain and healing I've experienced in my own life. So when I learned of the mermaid's voice returns in this one, I could not wait to read it.

And I devoured it all in one sitting. I enjoyed the well-crafted metaphors, got lost in the beautiful way she weaves the most brutal experiences, and was even triggered a few times. While I can appreciate an authors brilliant use of words to share her story and pain, sometimes I found myself rushing through a poem or two. It's like you know something bad is about to happen and you don't want to see it, but you take a deep breath and prepare for the coming. I applaud Lovelace to be able to share her story with us readers, even though I found myself racing through the poems discussing sexual violence.

I also liked that this time around, Amanda Lovelace included poems from other authors sharing similar experiences as a survivor. It showed that many women share these experiences and through their strength, have been able to rise from their pain and claim their voices with these words.

While it is probably not a book of poetry I will purchase, I do appreciate the message Lovelace conveyed here. And I thank her for sharing her voice with us, giving other women the courage to use theirs as well.

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I love Lovelace! Her ability to take some of humanities worst experiences coupled with the emotions and feelings that come with those situations and put them into words is unparalleled. When feeling overwhelmed or alone, grab a Lovelace book. It may not ease your situation, but you won't feel alone any more.

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Amanda Lovelace's poetry is once again the perfect comfort I need in such troubling times. I've read her two other poetry collections and this one showcases her growth as both a person and a writer of poetry. I love how simplistic some of her poems can be, yet they pack a huge punch.

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Beautiful voice and compelling storytelling. Always love to find a new author and a mermaid. Thank you!

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Wow. I am going to miss this collection. I thought it was well done, empowering, and full of emotion.

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I have no idea how this book ended up slipping through the cracks. I read this book earlier this spring, or last Christmas as an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review. I madly love everything about Amanda's trilogy of books and how they come round to the women regaining their voices, their tails, and their crowns. About how even the worst in the world, which is discussed in the earlier books and is so important and clear and painful, cannot actually bring them to their knees or bellies for long.

I truly cannot wait to see what poetry and prose come out next from her.

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My Thoughts:
Amanda Lovelace is one of my favorite poets. She is the reason that I started reading modern poetry, and liking it. When I heard that she was coming out with a new collection of poetry in her Women are Some Kind of Magic series, I knew I had to read it as soon as I could. I just finished the book, The Mermaid's Voice Returns in This One. I really enjoyed it.

There's something about the poems in The Mermaid's Voice Returns in This One that speaks to my soul. While I was reading, I found myself being able to identify with more and more of the poems on such a personal level. Some of the poems made my cry because I knew the trauma that the author had been through because I had gone through similar situations myself. Other poems inspired me. They made me want to stand up and take action, not just for myself, but to help those around me. I especially enjoyed a poem entitled Slay Those Dragons II. It was my favorite in the book.

There is only one reason why I'm not giving The Mermaid's Voice Returns in This One a full five stars. In this book, Amanda Lovelace decided to do something different than her previous books. She also included poems from other people. Now, I understand why she did it. It did fit with the theme of the book perfectly. However, I found my self being unable to identify with some of those as well as I could her poems. There were a couple that I even skim read because I just wasn't feeling them. It took away from the enjoyment of my reading experience at times.

Despite the one issue I had with The Mermaid's Voice Returns in This One, I really loved this book. I found it to be relatable, and incredibly inspiring. The Women are Some Kind of Magic series is completed with this book, which makes me sad. I do hope that Amanda Lovelace continues to write more poetry. At this point, I will read anything she writes.

I give The Mermaid's Voice Returns in This One: 4/5.

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The Mermaid’s Voice Returns in This One is the third and final poetry collection in the Women Are Some Kind of Magic series and contains poems about abuse, assault, addiction, self-harm, …

I think that this collection wasn’t my favourite of the three books in the series. There were still some beautiful poems, but I couldn’t really relate to a lot of them. Some of them felt a bit weird or just not something for me. However, the collection was still beautiful, I really liked reading it and I cannot wait to read more poetry books by Amanda Lovelace.

Something also really liked was that there was a foreword by Lang Leav and there were poems written by other poets in this collection. I think it’s a nice way of discovering new poets. I also really liked that at the end of the book she inserted all of the social media details of all the poets that wrote a poem for this collection.

Favourite poems
Wanted
Shrinking violets like us
My Midas
Titanic
They’re both assault
I’m deciding my firsts from now on
Goodbye
The good kind of drowning
For my childhood friend
Don’t touch the stones
You are worth spoiling

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Such a powerful collection. I felt my voice was heard, I felt this book really got it. Very motivating and certainly opens up conversation.

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“becoming
your
own
savior
sometimes
means
knowing
when
you
need to
ask for
help.

- therapy session no. 1”

Truly love amanda lovelace's poetry and the themes around each book from this series. my favorite remains the witch doesn't burn in this one but still enjoyed this one, a lot.

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<b>In <i>the mermaid’s voice returns in this one</i>, the final installment in her <i>women are some kind of magic</i> trilogy, poet Amanda Lovelace speaks to the importance of agency and creative power as a means to recovering from trauma.</b> I will be honest: I loved <i>the princess saves herself in this one</i>, but <i>the witch doesn’t burn in this one</i> rubbed me the wrong way in a few places and came across as very repetitive, so I didn’t know what to expect in this volume. I was pleasantly surprised.

<b>Lovelace’s growth as a poet over the course of this trilogy is exponential.</b> Her voice is strongly developed and clearly her own—an especially fitting statement, given the title of the collection—and her metaphors and imagery are clearer and sharper than ever. While there are still some moments that feel like “Instagram poetry” (i.e. “deep” statements with line breaks to make them look artsy), her poetry feels far more like…well…poetry! In terms of subject matter, she manages to build a compelling collection that articulates variations on similar themes, especially sexual trauma and self-love, without sounding grossly repetitive or redundant. It is artful but still compulsively readable. And as always, I love her stylistic technique of putting each poem’s title as more of an autograph at the end of the poem, rather than a precursor to the poem itself.

<b>That said, I did have one gripe with this book, which is the primary reason for the 4-star rating: the chorus of other voices.</b> Incorporated in this book are a series of poems by other poets, whom Lovelace asked to contribute to this book. I am not saying that the others’ poems are bad, by any stretch of the imagination; they are, for the most part, well-crafted and fairly on-topic. What bothers me is that this is a book about finding your <i>own</i> voice in the aftermath of trauma, and while it is important to recognize the importance of other survivors as well, and to share with them, these extra poems pulled some of the focus out of the collection. Stylistically, they are also obviously different from Lovelace’s writing, and it was painfully easy to tell when a poem wasn’t written by her, even without looking at the name of the author. Had those poems been omitted, this would have been closer to a 4.5/5-star rating from me.

<b>All in all, this is an important collection from an equally important voice in poetry.</b> For anyone who likes poems, feminism, mental health, or highly-Instagrammable content that still has actual substance, this is a must-read.

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As always a great read from Amanda! Loving the empowering and feminist themes and links to fairy tales. Cant wait for more work from this author .

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I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book (the mermaid's voice returns in this one by Amanda Lovelace) from NetGalley in exchange for a review.

This is the third poetry book that I have read by this author. Her writing is powerful and emotional. Her writing deals with difficult topics. It is a book that you could read multiple times and still find new things to feel from the writing.

Poetry is definitely a genre that I usually don't read in one sitting but with her books I have found it impossible to put it down. I have devoured all three of her poetry books as quickly as possible. I will definitely be scheduling a reread for each of them as I feel like there is so much more that I can gain from reading them again.

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As usual I really liked this one, I love that she does these themes each book, it just makes it so fun to read!
She makes me feel so good about myself, thank you Amanda, people like you are the ones keeping these genaration together.

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Finally, he is among us: the last book of Women are some kind of magic trilogy: the mermaid's voice returns in this one, written by Amanda Lovelace. I've been waiting for this release since last year when I read the second book of the series. I was really anxious about it.

Well, I had contact with the book through the NetGalley platform and I was very happy to know that it was available for reading. I downloaded it at the same time.

But let's talk about the book The mermaid's voice returns in this one: when I start reading the book the author already leaves a trigger warning for those who are sensitive to the topics that will be presented in the book. The subjects you will find on the pages follow the same pattern as the previous books. Anyone who has read the previous books when they reach this third and last will realize that the book is more mature, both in content and structure of poetry. It is noticeable through writing that the book has the proposal to complete a cycle, to show that a battle has been won and the author’s purpose has been reached with this trilogy. I really enjoyed the book and the way Lovelace conceived this great finale for the collection Women are some kind of magic.

The book follows the same proposal as the predecessor's editorial project. The chosen colors, title, font and etc, maintains a pattern for easy collection identification. I love the fact that the font is colored because it breaks some of the seriousness of the topics covered in the book.

The mermaid's voice in this one is an incredible poem book, empowered and powerful and super current. It's that book you need. This book will always be on my recommendation list for all those who want to know modern and feminist poems.

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Powerful, inspiring modern poems. I was surprised because I usually don't read poetry but I really enjoyed them.

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These poems are short and concise. The first time I read this, it felt like the poems were to short and simple for my liking but maybe I just need more time to digest them and think them over. They're certainly modern and the theme of mothering and being a girl are strong throughout the book.

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