First, I want to thank the author and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for a review.

I was hopeful about this book, as it is the kind of poetry that I admire. The subjects are raw, vulnerable, and challenging. Though there are stanzas that I did enjoy - overall I found these difficult to follow. The author's thoughts seemed to go from place to place, rather than in a linear story in her poems. I could tell that each poem was meant to tell specific stories, but most of them I struggled to follow.

I do think Lauren Martin is a talented poet and writer, but the organization of these pieces made it difficult to connect with as a reader.

"So the choice is
Lonely alone
Or lonely with
And How many women
Feel this
Or are discounted for their
Substance"

It was ok. I'll be honest, nothing really outstanding or amazingly eye-catching but there were some good, emotional pieces in here.

In the evening, especially when it's cold outside and I can light the fireplace, I enjoy reading a collection of poetry. The last poetry collection I read was "Night of the Hawk." I admit that what mostly convinced me was the cover and the title; somehow I found them interesting before even reading the content, and undoubtedly, it was an intriguing choice that made me wonder what lay beneath such a beautiful cover and that particular title.

As I delved into the heart of the text, I was rather taken aback. The author gathers various poems on diverse themes, without bothering to somehow unify the various sections of the collection. Inside, there are poems ranging from very long (some are two or three pages) to extremely short (some only have four lines). I found the shorter ones more fitting and profound as if the author could better strike her reader in this type of poetry, embedding deeper meaning in a few lines rather than embroidering a narrative around a central theme over several verses.

Similarly, I admit to finding some poems distant, and detached. The sensation I felt was that the author was discussing a theme simply because she "had to," because it "apparently was a theme that had to be addressed since it fit well within the context," but in doing so, she failed to imbue it with true depth. As a result, some poems "bothered me" because I found them superficial or treated too lightly to be considered genuine expressions of profound thought.

I'm truly sorry because at least the first five poems (plus a few scattered throughout the collection) deserve much more, and perhaps they are the ones that truly make the entire book worth reading. I expected something a bit different, something more engaging that conveyed in every poem the deep thought and personal attachment the author feels towards those words and themes.


(Reviews related to this book will be posted on my social media profiles on the following days: Goodreads, Instagram Post (@inabookhole), Medium Blog, Reel, Reddit Post)

"Night of the Hawk" by Lauren Martin is a riveting and atmospheric tale that seamlessly blends elements of mystery, suspense, and the supernatural. Set against the backdrop of a small, picturesque town nestled in the woods, Martin weaves a spellbinding narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish.

At the heart of the story is protagonist Sarah Walker, a young woman haunted by a dark secret from her past. When a series of mysterious and grisly murders rock the peaceful town, Sarah finds herself drawn into the investigation, compelled to confront her own demons in order to unravel the truth. As she delves deeper into the mystery, she discovers that the killings may be linked to an ancient legend surrounding the legendary Night of the Hawk, a night when the boundaries between the living and the dead are said to blur.

Martin's prose is evocative and richly descriptive, painting a vivid picture of the town and its inhabitants. The sense of atmosphere she creates is palpable, drawing readers into a world where shadows lurk around every corner and danger lurks in the darkness. The pacing is brisk, with plenty of twists and turns to keep readers guessing until the very end.

One of the novel's greatest strengths lies in its characters, who are as complex and multi-dimensional as they are compelling. From Sarah, whose strength and resilience are tested at every turn, to the enigmatic and brooding Detective Jameson, each character is expertly drawn and imbued with their own motivations and desires.

Overall, "Night of the Hawk" is a gripping and satisfying read that will appeal to fans of mystery, thriller, and supernatural fiction alike. Lauren Martin has crafted a truly unforgettable tale that will linger in the minds of readers long after the final page is turned.

The book as a meal: I have not been eating today because I have been at rallies for human rights
The book left me: Wanting to go out and help people in tough situations

Why did this call out to me?
I was in a mood for some stories about people in tough situations, this seemed to fit the bill, and indeed it did

Pick-up-able? Put-down-able?
Pick-up-able. Devoured in one sitting.

Issues:
Might need some more refining
A lot of filler material ...

Good things:
Solid collection of poems
Touched more upon spirituality, which I am very open to learn more about

How did it feel to read?
Felt like another reflection around my relationships with people in my life. This time it was a reflection on the toxic ones, but also the most nuanced and complicated relationships

What mood would I read this in?
A very specific angry and disappointed kind of mood, where I wish people would treat each other better and maybe stop judging each other for things they don't understand

Where does this fall in my tier list ranking?
B tier, good collection and lots of diverse poems.

Favorite poems:
as the bow breaks
my experience as a post meonpausal woman
as the bow breaks, part two
the waiting tree
of times travelled
ziggy
a sea of kisses

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read and review this book.

Ultimately, this collection wasn't for me. At times the poetry comes off as a bit immature and I found myself a bit uncomfortable with some poems such as the one on post menopausal women. I don't really care if men feel emasculated and that as a term to use feels a bit weird; yes they need to be educated out things, but you do need to hear the discomfort of younger women when you want to say it like that.

Thank you to NetGalley for the review copy. Most of this collection was not written for me, which is more than okay; not everything is for everything and poetry is subjective. I will say "Ode" is a phenomenal poem, one of the best I've read, really, and I wish this collection had had more of that energy.

"A Sea of Kisses" was a cute very brief poem that felt stylish, fun, and playful. "Wolves" was a beautiful memorial for a friend and the grief at the loss of their presence, humor, and wit. I felt touched by it.

That said, a lot of these poems very much felt like they could have been refined or rewritten. At one point in the poem "Ziggy" where the author laments a relationship that ended with a man who accused her of "needing always to be right" and "being judgmental" and I cringed because that's actually mostly how this poetry collection had made her come across up to that point.

In a lot of these poems Lauren Martin feels like she has something to prove, and also like she needs you to know what the poem is about and what the proper takeaway for it is; like you're being guided along by the hand. There's little to no trust in the reader.

It also has turns of very delicate and personal writings about her family like the "As The Bow Breaks" poems about her father or father figure. Part four was particularly touching, painting a vivid picture of a complex and nuanced relationship with a lot of love and tenderness along with regrets, baggage, and looming grief. Or the poem Mother, which was a sweet love letter to the poet's mother.

Unfortunately it also takes dives in several poems, where we're confronted with boomer-ish fake deep platitudes, complaints about the hypocrisies of woke culture, and the likes. I was particularly annoyed at the poem "Montera" because honestly the author clearly goes to lengths to talk about her spirituality, talk about her shamanistic journey, than dedicates a poem to complaining that people ask her about it. I mean, maybe don't base your entire public identity around your shamanism and then people won't ask you about it? Also how can you guide anybody along a shamanistic path or healing journey if you're unwilling to engage in conversations where your shamanism is brought up beyond scoffing and rolling your eyes that people are asking you about it?

Overall there is talent here and a worthwhile poetic voice that bleeds through in several of the pieces but it could have used more refining and tailoring before publication. I would love to see Lauren Martin continue to write poetry and evolve her voice because when she lets herself tap into something real, she can hammer out a magnificent poem like "Ode" or pop out something cheeky and cute like "A Sea of Kisses" but there's a lot of obnoxious filler material that could be cut here, too.