Poetry Book Reviews | Self-Publishing Review

Review: The Alchemy of Blood by Richard LaBrie

Raw, unguarded, and ultimately hopeful in the face of harsh reality, The Alchemy of Blood by psychologist and poet Richard LaBrie transmutes the creeping despair of an observant healer into a striking collection of sensitive artistry.

Divided into four distinct sections – Nigredo, Albedo, Citrinitas, and Rubedo – these poems mirror the progressive spiritual path outlined by Carl Jung. The work does not strive for clinical distance or assume authority in its proffered wisdom; instead, the speaker(s) in these poems are curious, playful, flawed, and often accidentally profound.

The first section, Nigredo, is marked by themes of self-destruction, anger, regret, […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2026-03-24T11:03:21+02:00March 24th, 2026|Categories: Book Reviews, Latest Book Reviews|Tags: Poetry Book Reviews|

Review: The Ape Who Gazed Beyond by Fernando Reich

A heady exploration of our collective past, future, and the pathways in between, The Ape Who Gazed Beyond: A forgotten story of humanity guided by what has not yet occurred by Fernando Reich is an illuminating poetic reflection on humanity’s potential.

Penned by a tech veteran fascinated with quantum connections and species consciousness, this is a remarkably accessible and inviting collection of ideas on where we came from, where we’re headed, and how we’re actually going to get there. From walking upright and discovering the function of fire to developing language and sharpening the tools that would build our future, […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2026-03-27T17:26:12+02:00February 10th, 2026|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Poetry Book Reviews, Social Science Book Reviews|

Review: Entropy Loop & Other Poems by Jeffrey Heath

An ambitious but unassuming collection of quietly brilliant verse, Entropy Loop & Other Poems by Jeffrey Heath runs the gamut of raw human experience, transcending the tropes and familiar emotions of contemporary poetry.

Cascading through visceral recollections of heartbreak tangled in abstract metaphor, these pieces explore the mercurial landscapes of memory. At first glance, it feels as though the author is processing grief and uncertainty right along with each reader, while hesitantly striving toward a more hopeful future. Using simple, accessible language to express profound and existential feeling is the telltale sign of a masterful poet, and Heath demonstrates that […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-10-24T11:52:01+02:00October 24th, 2025|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Poetry Book Reviews|

Brautigan’s Blue Moon by Jack Phillips Lowe

A poetic catalogue of observations and musings from deep within memory, Brautigan’s Blue Moon by Jack Phillips Lowe is an unassuming and original collection.

Channeling a conversational, storytelling style of verse, these poems comprise a kaleidoscope of style, seriousness, and ideas, exploring modern life, the pursuit of creativity, and the timeless experiences that unite us. Eclectic poems weave through nuanced emotional themes, from the silent artistry of motherhood and the survivor’s guilt of domestic migrants to the twisted closure of outliving your enemies and the importance of staying humble and present.

Lowe also pays tribute to the titular titan of […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-10-22T10:33:44+02:00October 21st, 2025|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Poetry Book Reviews|

Review: La Fête de la Vie by Jacqueline Miller Bachar

A well-curated collection of powerful stories and poetry that celebrate life without ignoring its painful realities, La Fête de la Vie: Stories & Poems by Jacqueline Miller Bachar is a literary testament to human resilience.

The characters that populate these fraught and unpredictable tales often wear strong emotions on their sleeve, unable to contain hard truths that they have been hiding from or holding inside. As the Foreword explains, much of this collection was written while the author was supporting her husband as he battled and overcame cancer; themes of grief, mortality, regret, self-reflection, and a weighing of life’s scales […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-07-14T16:18:06+02:00May 28th, 2025|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Poetry Book Reviews, Short Stories Book Reviews|

Crossing the Sea of Shattered Glass by R.B. Bunn

Poignant and painful in its clarity, Crossing the Sea of Shattered Glass: A Voyage Through Grief by R.B. Bunn is a powerful collection of poetry that explores the universal experience of regret and loss.

Writing specifically about his uncle’s death and long struggle with addiction, Bunn’s poems range from deeply personal memories and anecdotal reflections to lyrical abstractions with dense metaphors about emotional processing. Pieces such as “Double-Edged Pill” and “The Price of a Bottle” are unflinching examinations of addiction and self-destruction, while “The Fishing Rod” and “Smoke” tenderly peel back the poet’s life and memory, as though longing for […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-05-22T15:12:22+02:00May 22nd, 2025|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Poetry Book Reviews|

Review: Good Pastures by Sylvia Anne Pollard

Steeped in contemplation and the solace that only time can bring, Good Pastures: A Place to Feel Ones Deepest Heartaches by Sylvia Anne Pollard is a moving testament to the human spirit and the healing power of the divine. As a devoted mother and a powerful warrior of faith, this resilient poet has alchemized pain into stark and empowering verse.

The loss of a child is an unimaginable tragedy for parents, and the weight of Pollard’s loss is heavy on these pages. The poet’s stated purpose is to transmute the grief over Payton’s death into words of comfort and encouragement […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-07-15T11:36:23+02:00July 14th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Poetry Book Reviews, Religious Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Brisk Verse by Garrison Keillor

The legendary storyteller of Lake Wobegon, Garrison Keillor, shows his inimitable skills once again with Brisk Verse, an acerbic and entertaining collection of inspired poetry. Simultaneously playful and profound, these clever, hopeful, and wide-ranging poems are imbued with perfect comedic timing and smirking irreverence.

As Keillor explains in the book’s foreword, he’s in the “age of gratitude,” meaning that he doesn’t have time to complain or spend his attention dwelling on the evils and pains of the world. For that reason, this collection isn’t driven by heartbreak, grief, existential crises, or loss, apart from the occasional brutal aside: Life […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-07-29T12:43:00+02:00June 18th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Poetry Book Reviews|