It was okay. Maybe this type of poetry is just not for me. I do like some of the passages and it really is dark for the most part. Stephanie is good with her words.

While this poetry book is not for everyone, some people will absolutely love it. I found it absorbing, evocative, and thought-provoking. The subject matter can be difficult and disturbing, and it's very personal, yet some readers may find deep resonances. Also, along with all the verbal and mental imagery, the accompanying illustrations are lovely in a charmingly old-fashioned way.
I was privileged to interview Wytovich for the Skiffy and Fanty Show, and that podcast should be posted this month or in January. For now, I'll just link to the website.

A very short read, but nonetheless wonderful! It is a grotesque, dark, stunning collection of poems! I absolutely adored this & the gothic elements added into the poetry.

While this seemed to mostly be a miss for me I still really enjoyed most of the works within this collection. I don’t necessarily think the style was for me even though the description and title of the book is what heavily drew me in. Some poems seemed more abstract and as the reader were hard for me to fully grasp while others were very straightforward. I hope the right people find this collection because I do truly believe that this is for a specific audience. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this collection!

Stephanie M. Wytovich is an American poet, novelist, and essayist. Her work has been showcased in numerous magazines and anthologies such as Weird Tales, Nightmare Magazine, Southwest Review, Year's Best Hardcore Horror: Volume 2, The Best Horror of the Year: Volume 8, as well as many others. Wytovich is the Poetry Editor for Raw Dog Screaming Press, an adjunct at Western Connecticut State University, Southern New Hampshire University, and Point Park University, and a mentor with Crystal Lake Publishing. She is a recipient of the 2021 Ladies of Horror Fiction Writers Grant and has received the Rocky Wood Memorial Scholarship for non-fiction writing. Wytovich is a member of the Science Fiction Poetry Association, an active member of the Horror Writers Association, and a graduate of Seton Hill University’s MFA program for Writing Popular Fiction. Her newest poetry collection is On the Subject of Blackberries.
On the Subject of Blackberries is a collection of poems that the author describes as “meditations on female rage, postpartum depression, compulsion, and intrusive thoughts. They pull from periods of sleep deprivation, soul exhaustion, and nightmarish delusions, and each is left untitled, a nod to the stream-of-conscious mind of a new mother.” This is a collection of horror poetry, therefore, grounded in the reality of a new mother, but through a lens of myth. Using found poetry techniques and bibliomancy, Wytovich created a collection layered in images. The poems here read as spells, incantations almost, but dark and surreal.
Into an air of change, I lay
like fog refusing the clouds
underneath my boots, my hand
held against the thin things
with splintered hair,
their watchful gaze
a sliced shadow on creeping walls,
a crooked ocean waving
to a doll with your face.
These are nightmares illustrated, dreams that one begs to wake from. The confusion and grief is palpable in these lines, found in the shadows that Wytovich explores with her language.
As if Wytovich’s poetry weren’t worth the price of admission itself, the presentation of this book is really quite something to behold. It’s a hardcover text with Victorian illustrations, but filled with poems of magic and rage, steeped in darkness. The whole aesthetic of the book makes for an experience for the reader, almost like they were prying into the grimoire of some haunted witch.
Stephanie M. Wytovich is a name that every horror reader should be familiar with. They are an outstanding author and editor with too many accomplishments and awards to list. It should be no surprise that On the Subject of Blackberries is a solid collection of poetry because Wytovich is a solid poet. However, this book is so different than previous collections, in ways both intimately personal and deeply magical, that it’s almost like discovering a completely new poet. If you know Wytovich’s work, then you are in for a dark surprise that is gripping and haunting and elegiacally beautiful. If you have not read a book by Stephanie M. Wytovich, this is the book to correct that mistake with, because this book needs to be on the shelf of every horror reader.

This book is inspired by Shirley Jackson's We Have Always Lived in the Castle. I absolutely love poetry, and what's better than poetry dripping with feminism and female rage and emotions. A must read for any feminist. I love the emotion that is written into these poems.

A very visceral collection of poems that takes the human condition and weaves it into an image we can all recognize.

This is like a fever dream! Incredibly atmospheric and you can feel the sensation of these words. There is also some nice artwork throughout the book.

I am definitely on the hunt for some more by Stephanie Wytovich. Wow, the words still linger.

#NetGalley #OnTheSubjectofBlackberries

Just absolutely beautiful and lyrical . One of the best poetry collections I’ve read all year .

Thank you for the arc NetGalley.

Goodreads link
“ I was a ghost existing in the corner of my house”

Let me begin by stating that this review is entirely subjective and based on my own personal experiences but
Stephanie Wytovich’s On The Subject of Blackberries was one of those books you read at a time in your like when you need it the most and it speaks to your life, souls and heart.

“ perhaps I’ll sleep on a bed of shattered glass, read the books of empty minds, shut myself away in a room without noise

The sense of sadness, isolation, loneliness and anger as well as bitterness she fellt all spoke to me on a personal level and resonated with my experiences recently due to my illness and mental state.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I received this book from RDS Press as an arc copy besides that it was a feminist horror poetry collection filled with beautiful illustrations. It was beyond what I expected and will for ever be one of my favourite poetry collections.

“ I am the ghost Responsible for all that fell apart, a blank page, the smash table, scattered
Splintered”

Stephenie’s work depicts the horrors of her experience as a new mother, the mental torment of postpartum and her love for gothic fiction. Inspired by her go to book We Have Always lived In The Castle by Shirley Jackson, and her favourite fictional literary character Merricat, as well as her (inability to sing sweet disney songs to her newborn daughter) tendency to whisper rhymes about blackberries and poison to her newborn daughter. Stephanie writes about domestic horrors that many women are forced to endure in silence and does so with anger and hunger for change. She herself is willing to become the catalyst for the change and it won’t be done quietly or peacefully the way society expects women to react.

“such a quiet body twisted in great pain, overstaying it’s welcome losing track of time..
. I pretend not to understand”

I also really resonated with her writing about physical pain and her body. Although I didn’t almost die giving birth nor have I ever even had a child, I struggle with my own body due to disease.

“ I promise to leave, The night I swept piled glass, stuck glittering in my teeth: feral, this lingering sparkle, my laughing outright lie.”

She discusses the double standard of being woman and mother with a newborn and men. The feeling of being alone and lack of assistance. The overall lack of support and love within her relationship.

“ I left in red, the first symptom of violence. Oh, I’m quite comfortable now.”

I like her attitude and her attitude-rebellious personality and doesn’t want to take the hits and roll over.


“ the house was not a key to pay for hate. Perhaps it belong to the dance of the ghost, all the secrets lodged in dresser, drawers, in congested basements I did not visit.”,”
Feminist text
Dealing with feminist issues
Inspired by her love of gothic fiction and writing style
Pays homage to the genre

On the Subject of Blackberries is an excellent book of poetry. The energy shown through the imagery of darkness and thorns empowers people to get out of the thickets and stand up against life’s greatest challenges. Stephanie Wytovich describes her experience with postpartum depression. It represents one of the most severe forms of mental and emotional suffering. The text indicates she is not weakened. Because of her state, she is able to pull out tricks, spells, poisons, and weapons. All vibrant through the strength of roots and tightly woven structures. Her enthusiasm never dissipates. As if anyone who didn’t become a witch, withers and falls into oblivion. Her language is full of surprises. Her sense of commitment to realize the hells of suffering shows courage. Blackberries are prized for their fruits. But scorned for their pricks. A witch can tell you what you don’t see in the thickets. Stephanie’s descriptions of her state, both physically and mentally, set the tone at the beginning. She describes herself as recovering from postpartum depression. Her clothes were covered in vomit and urine, not leaving her home for several days, lying in darkness and despair. She finds her escape by reading and playing with her daughter. Personally, I find blackberries to be an excellent subject for poetry. The polarities of gentle and harsh nature, softness versus toughness, sharp and dull, different shades. All making for good slashing. The ideas are tough to uproot without destroying the fruits of the poet’s labor. Berries and thorns, good and evil. They were the subject of my problematic unfinished dissertation. What people consider weeds, despised and destroyed until they are extinct. They’re not a hindrance unless a person conjures a dislike through their intention. Stephanie can find positive energy in befriending and endearing a beautiful plant, which is also considered a nuisance.

I admire Stephanie for her courage, strength and determination, but especially for her creativity in describing a dark and troublesome time through beautiful imagery and poetic verse.

Thank you Net Galley and Raw Dog Screaming Press for this advanced readers copy.

I think most poetry is just not really for me. I was intrigued by the description and I read about halfway through. What I did read was interesting and felt.... visceral? I just couldn't fully get into it. I imagine anyone who's into dark poetry and horror-laced prose would devour this, though.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book. I initially requested this book as I was intrigued by both the title and cover. Unfortunately, I did not understand this book. Maybe I am not smart enough to appreciate the poetry in this book, but I was unable to connect to or have any real feelings towards it aside from confusion.

I do not wish to leave a bad/negative review for this book as I feel like this is honestly a ME problem, so I will rate it 3 stars and just say thank you again for the opportunity to read this collection and I am sure there is an audience for this book. Unfortunately I was just not not a part of that group.

Beautiful cover and title for sure, though!

Dark, haunting poetry surrounding topics of womanhood. I've never experienced childbirth so I felt a bit disconnected from the subject matter but would love to read more from this author in the future.

While my comprehension may have been lacking for the meanings of the individual poems as I am not the best poetry consumer, they – and the work as a whole – were captivating in their energy and the style (how each word was used incredibly particularly) made the emotions behind them all very vivid. I think this is where I was really captured by the work, as it conveyed each mood the author was feeling in such an intense and all-encompassing way.
I think if you are looking for an emotionally intense, deeply personal journey told in the most direct yet abstract way, this is the collection for you.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an eARC for me to review.

I think this collection was just not for me, so I don't want to fault it for that. I enjoyed reading Wytovich's preface, I think it provides important context for the themes explored in her work. I found it hard to connect with for two major reasons:
1. I am not a mother
2. I have not read Shirley Jackson's "We Have Always Lived in the Castle"
If I had been someone who experienced childbirth and/or someone who had read that novel, I may have found this more digestible. That being said, I respect it for what it is and I don't think poetry has to click for everyone, especially work as personal as this collection.

There were some shining lines/stanzas in here for me, but it mostly felt like wading through really disjointed, abstract ideas. It was increasingly difficult for me to parse out any "story". And again, poetry absolutely does not need to have a narrative, but I found it hard to visualize anything in this.

I think this collection could really hit home and make someone feel less alone in their struggles as a new mother, it just wasn't me.

This dark, horrifying, and hopeful book of poetry was meditative to read. It was written as an outlet during the author's postpartum period, and for anyone who has experienced a traumatic delivery or postpartum mental illness it will be a familiar set of ideas. The fear, perseveration on death, deep love for a child - these thoughts carry through the imagery inspired by Shirley Jackson's We Have Always Lived in the Castle. Even without having read that book, the evoked concepts and world are present. This is not an easy set of poems to read, but they may be comforting for those who feel connection to the thoughts of the writer. Parenthood is a lonely endeavor even as it brings people together, and grieving the process of bringing a child into the world is a common but not well recognized reaction. This book is heartbreaking and hopeful, and that contradiction is something I will be thinking about long after reading.

Equal parts beautiful and grotesque. Wytovich has a lyrical, gothic voice in this collection. My first experience with her writing, but absolutely not my last. Her poetry is vivid, and I was enthralled with not only the poetry itself, but also her author notes. The inspiration and connection to 'We Have Always Lived in the Castle' is deeply felt in every line.

I have gotten really into reading poetry more so than I ever have before, and this collection really hit the spot of exactly what I was looking for!

This is a good poetry collection! It's short and was enjoyable. I enjoyed all the illustrations and I think they really enhanced the book. I would recommend this! Special Thank You to Stephanie M. Wytovich, RDS Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.