My first read of Amanda Lovelace and I have to say her work is beautiful. Just a stunning read which also emits the powerful energy of women through her prose.

My favourite is the dedication which reads ‘for those who wish to raise hell elegantly’.

I loved the princess saves herself in this one & I feel like her others just haven’t been the same. I loved the illustrations throughout the book. In my opinion, the poems were better towards the end. I didn’t feel like they flowed well, they were just all over the place.

When I first saw Lovelace's newest book, I knew that I HAD to read it immediately! I love Lovelace's work and the artwork featured in her books, so I was super excited to dive in and see what Flower Crowns and Fearsome Things had to offer.

As always, I'll start with first impressions. I absolutely ADORE the cover art and the back cover. The mixture of blooming and burning flowers are lovely, and as I read further do an amazing job of representing this poetry collection and theme as a whole. I wasn't blown away by the title, but my opinion has since changed as I now know what this collection is all about.

I'll also note before I dive into my review that yet again Lovelace included a trigger warning page the beginning of this book, as she always does, which I believe is super important for readers to have, especially with sensitive topics that Lovelace (and many poets and authors alike) tend to explore. More authors should be including trigger warnings, so I'm always very pleased when I do see it.

Now on to the nitty gritty (but spoiler free!).

Right from the beginning, Lovelace explains that this poetry collection is somewhat inspired by Persephone (aka my love, aka the best goddess), the Goddess of Spring and Queen of the Underworld. Aka, a total badass with a lot of duality in her nature, hence the duality of Flower Crowns and Fearsome Things. I was already excited to read this collection, but the mere mention of Persephone made me squeal with delight (quite literally & out loud) and giddily ready to begin reading.

This collection 100% delivers by expressing the duality of people and their nature in true Lovelace fashion. I'm 99% certain that if I saw any of these poems alone, I'd be able to point them out as a Lovelace poem which not only am I proud of, but also serves to show Lovelace's unique and personal style of writing and poetry.

Without mentioning any spoilers, I can say that so many of these poems really spoke to me on a personal level, almost as if Lovelace was reaching into my past and writing poems just for me and my experiences. Many of these poems made me feel as if I was having a personal conversation with Lovelace rather than simply reading her poetry collection. There were also a few topical poems that VERY LOSELY related to the current pandemic, but I love the fact that they could be taken more generally, such as a figurative or literal "mask" as Lovelace mentioned in one poem.

While I did love this collection, I do have a few aspects that didn't thrill me. This collection reads very quickly. I wish there were more, a lot more to read and digest, but it's over so quickly it left me wanting more. This can be a good thing, as I'm excited for Lovelace's next collection and they have many more collections currently published, but I would have been a bit sad to spend the money on a physical book with it being so short.

I think it also feels very quick because every other page is filled with artwork, which normally I would love but it was filled with the exact same two images-growing and burning flowers. The artwork is beautiful, but I'd love different or changing artwork to break up the poems.

In the end I am very happy I read this collection, and I eagerly await more of Lovelace's work.

Rating: 4/5 stars

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

I love the style of Amanda Lovelace's poetry so much. It's short and lyrical, and so beautiful to read. Having the same artwork repeated between each poem got a bit old after a while but it is beautiful.

Amanda Lovelace’s poems light up my social media feeds by always managing to take a clever, beautiful way to articulate something I didn’t even realise I was feeling. Read all in one go, however, I found that they quickly become repetitive and lose their impact. As we see more and more poets coming out of social media, I think this reading experience is going to become common. Given the chance to reread with fresh eyes, I'd make sure to take regular breaks while reading.

Love this collection of fearsome and beautiful poems. My only complaint is that I read it too fast. Will have to read again!

3.5

I have to admit, this one was a bit weaker compared to Amanda's other poetry collections. The theme woven throughout poems is inspired by Persephone and her complexity. It showcases polar opposites of women's personalities but, in my opinion, fails to do so in a relatable and honest way.

Some of the poems felt a bit recycled and repetitive, but I appreciated themes explored. Amanda stays true to writing, covering feminism, abuse and toxic relationships. The artwork in this was lovely, but I'd still appreciate more poems instead of it.

Nice read all in all, but if you're new to this author's work, I'd rather recommend some of her other collections.

Thanks to the Netgalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for providing me with eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

a beautifully empowering collection from lovelace that will inspire you and incredible artwork to get lost in and mesmerized by!

My high school students loved Amanda Lovelace. I liked the princess saves herself in this one. While I wasn't able to complete the witch doesn't burn in this one, I seem to remember liking what I did read even more.

flower crowns & fearsome things left me disappointed. Lovelace is more defensive than fierce. The raw vulnerability I remember from her earlier poetry is largely absent. The poems become inaccessible in their generality. This work feels like an attempt to coast on fame rather than offer much substance. "never will i roll over for anyone" insists she isn't easy to command, but the very next poem directs, "tell me who your dream girl is. . . . i'll be her. <i>i'll be anyone you want me to be.</i>--i don't mind." However, "what's it like to be so bold" resonates: I am reluctant to place myself in conversation at many junctures. I have not been so lucky as Lovelace in "at last." The mask has not protected me from insistence on smiling.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! I liked this collection of poems. I felt there were some really strong poems that talked about strength and feminism, showing the strength of Persephone. On the other hand I feel like the poems to show the weakness side of Persephone could have been better than just saying things along the lines of doing and being anything for a man. I enjoyed the couple poems about a mother’s strength and love.

This isn't poetry. This is a collection of midnight tweets at best. Lovelace tries and fails at maintaining flow and rhythm, so the so-called poems read as sentences put together by sheer coincidence. Whilst at least,
Kaur makes it feel as every word has a purpose, I didn't get the same feeling from Lovelace's books.

It's a decision that should've been made 2 books ago, but this is the last time I will read something from this author. I understand people are touched by her poetry, but for me, she lacks a lot of flair and taste.

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Flower Crowns and Fearsome Things
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: Amanda Lovelace
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Poetry
𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

My first time reading Lovelace poetry and I enjoyed it.

𝐆𝐔𝐒𝐇:
• I liked the concept and themes
• Likeable, inspirational quotes
• Loved the formatting and accompanying illustrations—they were gorgeous and sweet, very befitting to the tone and text

𝐆𝐑𝐈𝐏𝐄:
• A little repetitive at times with the theme and sentences
• Whilst I liked the writing, I felt like it wasn't memorable, as if I had read this before
• Despite exploring certain topics, I felt like some poems scratched the surface and I wished it delved further

𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫: fans of Rupi Kaur, fans of poetry highlighting feminism

𝐂𝐖: abuse, trauma, violence, sexual assault, cheating, eating disorders

Thank you to @NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 𝐌𝐲 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐛𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐠: 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐣𝐨𝐲.𝐜𝐨𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝐮𝐩𝐨𝐧 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞.

I am so happy I got to read this early thanks to netgalley. I love Amanda Lovelace, and was so excited to see that she has another collection coming out. There’s something about her selection of words and the placement of her poems that I love. I also loved the way she connected Persephone, one of my favorite goddesses, into some of these poems, just like she does in some of her other collections. I always look forward to reading her poetry, and this book was no exception. If you’ve read and liked her other collections, I definitely suggest picking this one up.

Flower Crowns and Fearsome Things is the first collection of Amanda Lovelace's that I have read. I was particularly interested in this one because it is based on the Persephone of Greek mythology, who I adore. The poems are short, lyrical, and pack a punch, moving between themes of abuse, femininity and power.

Lovelace writes poems about independent and fierce females alongside love letters to men. This might read as confusing to some, but a woman can be feminist and independent and also be in love. They are not mutually exclusive qualities. This is the strength in Lovelace's collection; as a whole, a woman (Persephone) is not just one thing. She is flower, she is fire, she is powerful, she is gentle, she can love and still be her own person. She is complex.

Definitely worth picking up if you love the short style that can often be found on social media (think Rupi Kaur).

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Amanda Lovelace's poetry collection "Flower Crowns and Fearsome Things" focuses in a very empowering and honest way on the true beauty of being a woman - being soft and fierce at the very same time. What makes the poetry collection and, in fact, Lovelace's writing style so fascinating is the presentation of the truth about the complexity of being a woman in such a raw way, there is no sugar-coating, no white lies. The image of the Greek Goddess Persephone is implemented wonderfully into this poetry collection as she is truly someone we should learn from - we, not only as women, but as human-beings, deserve to let ourselves be both gentle and ferocious. The poems are accompanied by flower illustrations which are incredibly aesthetically pleasing. The trigger warnings include cheating, eating disorders, trauma, domestic and child abuse, sexual assault, and more. Lovelace's strong and realistic poems manage to come together and become a whole, a poetry collection that is not simply a beautiful must-read, but an experience.

i've learned that not everyone is worthy of a redemptin arc
-make sure they know consequences are real-

I sincerely love this poems, the lyrical form of eriting of the autor was beautiful to read, it's a series of poems that I think that everyone should read, expresses what many women think but do not say, this book helps and comforts you.

I loved this poetry book. The only thing I wish was different were the pictures. They were the same. I was expecting them to be all different and go along with the poetry.

The collection reminds us of the complexity and duality of women: that we can be both strong and soft; confident and in need of reassurance; loving and seething with hatred; and waiting for your Prince Charming while still being a strong independent woman. It’s aimed at a younger audience than me but I think I would have really enjoyed this accessible poetry in my early highschool years.

It’s written well and has nice artwork to match the message, alternating both poems and artwork between wildflowers and wildfire – much like emotions, especially in our teenage years. It might not be the kind of book every young woman would pick up but will make a great gift for those in your life.

Inclusion of a list of trigger warnings in the opening pages was a nice touch.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I will always read Amanda Lovelace, but this one didn't sink in quite as deep for me. I LOVED the concept of fierce but soft, but most of what I read just didn't quite hit all the way home like some of her others.

This collection did not blow me away. I have read one or two of Amanda's collections in the past and it felt like I was reading them again. I think she just has a different style of poetry than what I prefer. The formatting was beautiful and the idea was clever but the execution did not inspire me. Part of the fault could be me following a lot of poets on social media, including the author, so seeing these short formatted poems everyday makes this collection blend in.