The Fragments of Shadow & Sound
Prose & Poems
by Richard Risi
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Pub Date Aug 01 2025 | Archive Date Sep 18 2025
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Description
The Fragments of Shadow & Sound: Prose and Poems is a genre-defying debut collection that fuses lyricism, vulnerability, and visceral honesty in a powerful journey through identity, longing, disability, love, mental health, and becoming.
Told in five evolving sections- Faultlines, Reflections, Thresholds, Descents, and Ascents- this collection offers a poetic mosaic that captures the trembling fault lines of youth and the climb toward selfhood. From confessional verse and formal structures to free-flowing prose poems and haunting haiku, every piece contributes to a dynamic narrative arc of fracture and reconstruction.
This is poetry for those who've lived at the edges:
- For the romantics trying to make sense of broken connections
- For the neurodivergent, disabled, and overlooked who still reach to be heard
- For those drawn to midnight cityscapes, orchestral metaphor, and the echo of the unsaid
With influences of musicality and kintsugi-the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold- The Fragments of Shadow & Sound leans into the beauty of imperfection. These poems are stained with ink, moonlight, silence, static, and flame.
You'll find reflections on:
- Living with visual and hearing impairments
- Navigating autism and emotional communication
- Unrequited love, infatuation, grief, and the resilience of friendship
- Mental health, self-worth, and the poetic body
"May you find yourself in the fragments-
and discover that even broken things can sing."
Perfect for readers of Ocean Vuong, Sabrina Benaim, Blythe Baird, Sierra DeMulder, or Clint Smith, this is a collection that invites you to read aloud, underline deeply, and return to the poems when you need a voice to echo your own.
A Note From the Publisher
Readers who connect with lyrical, vulnerable works (Ocean Vuong, Sabrina Benaim, Blythe Baird) may find resonance here. Honest feedback is welcome and deeply appreciated.
Advance Praise
"Beautiful poems that hit the right spots. I had a fun time with this one and would definitely recommend.” — Goodreads Reviewer
“Stunning, soulful, and unforgettable. A poetic symphony of emotion, memory, and healing. Each piece feels like a fragment of a larger whole—beautifully broken, lovingly mended.” — Amazon/Goodreads Reviewer
“A captivating work where shadows and sounds intertwine in powerful imagery. Suspended between mystery and beauty, this book leaves an echo that lingers long after the final page.” — Amazon Reviewer
Marketing Plan
- Social media promotion via Instagram, Facebook, and Reddit, with quote graphics and teasers.
- Early reviews from BookSprout and BookBounty readers.
- Distribution through IngramSpark (hardcover & paperback), available via major retailers (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org).
- Outreach to book bloggers, poetry reviewers, and library networks.
- Targeted promotions timed around official release date (August 1, 2025).
Available Editions
| EDITION | Ebook |
| ISBN | 9798218743888 |
| PRICE | $17.99 (USD) |
| PAGES | 174 |
Links
Available on NetGalley
Average rating from 8 members
Featured Reviews
Rida Z, Reviewer
This collection beautifully highlighted the feelings of being imperfect, broken, and vulnerable. The 5 sections of this collection showed an evolution that includes emotion, grief, and healing. I enjoyed many of the poems in this collection, but the ones that stood out to me most were 'Shatter' and 'Steady', 'How To Conduct', and 'What If...?'. I loved how the epilogue poem captured each theme of this collection in its entirety and showed the change from part to part. Overall, this is a beautiful collection and anyone will be able to connect to the verses.
Hiranmai M, Reviewer
Thanks to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for providing me with an eARC.
This was a great collection of poems about the imperfections and emotions of being human -- written as a set of fragments. I especially think the epilogue was a brilliant touch, merging all the fragments together into one beautiful poem. I couldn't connect with all of them, but I especially liked all of the small quote-like poems with the illustrations. My favourite ones were almost all of the poems in the longing and ascent sections. Chrysalis was the one that resonated with me the most -- about how much better your life is made by your loved ones around you. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a beautiful collection of poems.
Jessica S, Reviewer
The Fragments of Shadow & Sound by Richard Risi is a beautifully crafted and deeply moving collection that blends poetry and prose with remarkable honesty and artistry. Each section carries its own rhythm and emotion, yet together they form a powerful exploration of identity, vulnerability, and resilience. The writing is lyrical, thought provoking, and full of raw feeling, making it a book that lingers long after reading. I truly enjoyed this collection and rated it five stars.
Ilgaz C, Reviewer
Haunting and enchanting.
I normally pick poetry collections by female authors, I connect with them more. However this one seemed interesting so I gave it a try. An amazing decision! My only complaint is that it isn’t longer.
This book is filled with emotional, striking and tragic poems. If you enjoy modern poetry, give The Fragments of Shadow & Sound a chance.
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