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.

Feels like déjà vu.

** Trigger warning for violence against women, including rape, as well as depression and self-injurious behaviors.**

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.

###

you are sad now.
you are not sad forever.

###

this is me
pressing
my finger
to the sand,

delicately
drawing
your name
there,

& then
stepping back
so i can
watch

you
as you’re
finally
carried away.

– goodbye.

###

The third and final poetry collection in Amanda Lovelace’s WOMEN ARE SOME KIND OF MAGIC series, THE MERMAID’S VOICE RETURNS IN THIS ONE engages with many of the same subjects and themes as THE PRINCESS SAVES HERSELF IN THIS ONE and THE WITCH DOESN’T BURN IN THIS ONE: rape and sexual abuse, interpersonal violence, depression, self-harm, eating disorders, mental health, and sexism and misogyny. The result is both biting and beautiful, if a little repetitive: it feels like we’ve been down this road before.

To be fair, my expectations might be to blame: with the book’s fairy tale-esque title, I was hoping for more retellings in this collection. Maybe in the vein of “Small Yellow Cottage On The Shore,” Lovelace’s contribution to the [DIS]CONNECTED anthology. *Especially* nautical-themed poems featuring mermaids … and perhaps a narwhal or two! But the mermaid imagery is kept to a minimum, and there aren’t really any reimagined fairy tales or fables to be found.

Yet, in the afterward, Lovelace describes THE MERMAID’S VOICE RETURNS IN THIS ONE as the denouement in a series meant to help her come to terms with her experiences of abuse and violence, and perhaps commune with other survivors and potential survivors. I’m not entirely sure she hit the mark with each book – because, again, they kind of all blur together for me, rather than representing separate and distinct pieces of a larger whole – but, clearly, my expectations going in were way off the mark.

One way in which THE MERMAID’S VOICE RETURNS IN THIS ONE deviates from its predecessors is by featuring pieces by guest contributors in the final section of the book, which is a nice change of pace. If you’ve read [DIS}CONNECTED, you’ll recognize some of the names right off the bat; if not, you might just discover a few new poets to check out.

This book is okay, probably my least favorite one out of the trilogy. There are some strong poems (I list some below), but some seemed similar to the first two books and there are a lot written by other poets.

Favs:
Swan Song I
a pebble i cannot get down.
(because i do.)
(because i do II.)
for my childhood friend.
rip this page out & keep it with you

I received a copy of this ebook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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!

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.

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!

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.

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.

Disclaimer: I received an arc copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the third installment in Lovelace’s Woman are Some Kind of Magic series.
The series is filled with empowering and emotional poems. I was surprised to see the book feature poems from other female poets as well.

I’m not a huge fan of her writing style, and some of the poems didn’t resonate with me, but there were some powerful messages mixed in.

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.

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).

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.

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.

Amanda Lovelace’s poetry is really hit or miss for me. Some of them just bore me, but some of them really hit home, which is why overall I do enjoy reading her poetry books. Plus, I love the empowering titles! I feel like she’s really trying to show the srength and fluidity of what it means to be a woman. I hope you enjoy this book too!

these poetry books have been hit or miss for me and i liked this one a lot more than the previous ones. i'm still not sold on the format of them but i think the subject matter is important and i'm glad it's resonated with a lot of young woman even though it's not my favorite.

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.

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.

**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.

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.

I liked the concept and the women-empowering themes, however, the writing style disagreed with me and I found it too jerky and disjointed which affected my enjoyment whilst I was reading.