I dnf’d this book it felt discombobulated and fragmented. I read the first three entries and I don’t remember a single thing from any of them.

I don’t have a rating for it. Unfortunately it was not the type of book I was looking to read and I don’t want to give a false review when I couldn’t get into it.

A beautiful collection of poems that offer a journey through the process of grief, denial, acceptance, and the courage to overcome illness.

a lovely collection of poems to read and enjoy when life weighs you down. it helped me connect with the larger human experience in this world.

Raw and deep and dark. While these are thoughts and feelings of the writer, I feel like the pieces that spoke of the pandemic were condescending and hurtful to readers who share different opinions and values.

The pieces speaking of illness, pain and trauma did bring tears to my eyes, as you truly do feel the pain of the writer within the pages.

I received this advanced reader copy from NetGalley and Querencia Press in exchange for an honest review.

Raw. Honest. A truly stunning collection of poetry that hit me in the chest and made me feel noticed in the sea of my own trauma.

Niziolek is a poet that does not hold back and for that I am grateful.

«I strip my skin a thousand times, string it up like a canvas and place it in the museum for greedy fingers to touch”

atrophy is a stunningly, thought-provoking poetry collection where Shilo Niziolek discusses everything from trauma to illness. I’m a big fan of poetry that doesn’t shy away from the gritty stuff, and this collection certainly delivered that.

I’d recommend this to people who like me, love reading “depressing” poetry. (This collection goes extra hard if read with a sad music playlist in the background). This being said, if you are sensitive to dark topics in poetry, this collection probably isn’t the best fit for you.


Big thanks to Netgalley, Querencia Press, and the author Shilo Niziolek for allowing me to read an e-arc of this poetry collection.

A talented and honest voice, and an exemplary use of poetic form. There is much in this collection that resonates.

I don’t particularly like to give 2* reviews, especially for someone’s art I may simply be misunderstanding, but I also hate lying. So here it is.

I have lifelong chronic illness. I understand pain quite well, and am grossly familiar with feeling betrayed by my own body.

I found this mildly disturbing.

I’m certain it will appeal to those whose inner monologue is similar, to those who need to know and hear that they’re not alone in their suffering, but apparently that’s not me.

This is listening to dark music when you’re already in a dark place. The music is undoubtedly made with love and no small amount of talent, but it’s still just not that good for you. Sorry!