Beautiful verse and imagery. Loved every poem. Beautiful story in every way. Definitely worth a read.

I didnt realize this was poetry or something like it. I did not enjoy this.. maybe my fault for not understanding what the book was but ehhh

Antonia Rachel Ward's The Patron is an intoxicating journey through a world where words are as powerful as the emotions they conjure. Written in dreamy, evocative verses, this collection captivates from the very first line, drawing readers into a dark and sensual landscape where fevered thoughts and shadows intertwine.

Ward's mastery of language shines through in every poem, each one a vivid image, a burst of emotion that lingers long after the page is turned. The verses pulse with life, offering a rich tapestry of feelings that range from desire to despair, from longing to fulfillment. It's a siren song that beckons you deeper, urging you to lose yourself in the beauty and darkness that pervades these pages.

The interplay of light and shadow in Ward’s writing creates a haunting atmosphere, one that is both alluring and unsettling. The emotions here are raw, the imagery powerful, and the overall experience unforgettable. The Patron is more than just a collection of poetry; it's a visceral experience, a lush, fevered dream that leaves an indelible mark on the soul.

For those who seek poetry that resonates with depth and sensuality, The Patron is an essential read. Antonia Rachel Ward has crafted a masterpiece that will captivate and haunt readers, leaving them yearning for just one more verse.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this eARC!

Stars: 5 stars!

"he offered himself
like a banquet,
for her to dine on"

"The Patron" by Antonia Rachel Ward is a collection of poetry depicting a toxic relationship between a man and woman, his patron. The first poem in the series has you tumbling right into the dynamic between them. There is depictions of beauty, ugliness, the differences of sexes, and horror.

I really enjoyed the flow of the poems as they intertwined and connected as I read. My favorites of the bunch was Creation, Ripper, Invader, and Vulture. If you're into poetry, horror, and depictions of feminine rage and women in horror, I would check this collection out!

A gorgeous book full of beautiful prose.
The Patron weaves poems together to create a story about an Artist and their Patron,
At times dark and somewhat bleak, the poems deal with love and loss in a beautiful way.

I found these poems to be highly emotive, thought=provoking and incisive. Thank you to the author, the publisher for the opportunity to review.

Beautifully written narrative told in verse and incredible that this correction, Caileigh by the fashion of Alexander McQueen. Each poem was written to correspond with an correspond with fashion editorial images from the book ‘Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty’ yet are entirely unique Not know the images are out poetry, standalone, and unrelated to the original book.. I love the exploration by Antonia The darker side of Interpersonal relationships, emotional connection, relationships, love between couples parents, and children ,strangers, etc. I enjoy that she wrote poems from both male and female perspectives.

I went into this completely blind; only choosing it from NetGalley because I loved the cover. It’s a short collection of poems conveying a toxic romance and the trauma of it all with gothic vibes that my little goth-cancer 🌞 heart loved.

I especially enjoyed (con)fusion and home - poems that were actually quite relatable even with their mythical and sometimes horror-esque elements.

I will definitely pick up more from this author🖤

I really liked this book! The poems were really good and laid out nice however I did loose track of the plot at one point but that may have just been me

This was definitely evocative and I loved the prose. It was a compelling dive into a toxic relationship and was beautifully written.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc ebook in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Lovely, dark, and lyrical, The Patron captivated me as soon as I began reading. This title not only appeals to my love of poetry, but also my love of horror, which I don’t often find together.

Truly a haunting and powerful collection of poetry. The writing can feel a bit confusing at times, but man, is it beautiful. A few timeline and voice style issues prevented this from being a five star read for me, but I still really enjoyed it regardless.

Poetry is written beautifully to tell a captivating and quick elegant read. With its haunting paranormal aspect one is entranced by the rhythm of this book. I was pleasantly pleased and would read another by Ward in this same context. I also enjoyed the to different points of view and how they both came together.

Publishing date: 12.07.2024
Thank you to Netgalley and Querencia Press for the ARC. My opinions are my own.

The book as a meal: No food, just a cigarette thanks
The book left me: Curious ...

Negatives:
Overall "plot" lost some steam underway

Positives:
Explorative topic

Features:
Numbered poems, evocative and sexual themes, toxic/dangerous love

Why did I choose this one?
Poems! Poems about women? I am a woman and would like to read poems about women.

Pick-up-able? Put-down-able?
Devourable. This book is bite-sized and is easily eaten up in a single sitting. That is exactly what I did.

What was the vibe and mood?
It had a sense of betrayal, some regret, feeling like what you are doing is wrong, maybe a bit of a mistake.

Final ranking and star rating?
3 stars, C tier. Another title I couldn't quite connect with. I found the contents fascinating, but I also found myself to maybe not be the correct audience. I also think some more coherency and length would help me connect a little. But maybe I also should admit that there are others who would enjoy it more as is. Will recommend to a certain someone who eats this kind of stuff up.

Favorite poems:
vii: bloom
xi: pride

The combination of poetry and horror is a match made in heaven. In this poetry collection this becomes so evident. It’s haunting and chilling because I’m free to interpret the words my own way. I can make the relationship between the young artist and the older patron as hellish as I like.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this free arc.

i thought this was extremely beautiful - if not haunting. the push and pull throughout really influenced emotions as the poems went on. can’t wait to read more by this author

I am not a huge poetry fan but I really enjoyed this short poetry book. I read it twice back to back and I think the more I read it, the more I will understand but I really liked the short and sweet poems. The way it was written is beautiful and almost haunting. I am slightly disappointed that it was so short but I am looking forward to reading more by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC.

I’m not normally a poetry gal, but I absolutely loved this collection. Telling the story of a toxic relationship through a collection of poems is just the kind of thing I wanted and needed. I did get a little confused during some of the poems, but I chalk that up to my lack of experience with poetry. I do wish that there was some indicator outside of the afterword that the poems were inspired by real pieces designed by one of the most influential names in fashion. Even something like the addition of the year that the piece was made would’ve piqued my interest enough to make me google it before reading the poem. Overall, I really loved this and I definitely want to add a physical copy to my home library!

Thank you to NetGalley, Querencia Press, and Antonia Rachel Ward for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

"The Patron" is a collection of alluring poems that show two perspectives. The poems are eloquent and sensual, and there's even this kind of paranormal demise feel to them. An enjoyable collection for poetry lovers liking for a more unique craft that contains individual works that connect to make a collective whole.

A beautiful and haunting story of love and loss through lyrical and gothic verse. Each poem connects to a larger story that presents how love and loss change and shift in each situation or memory. The gothic atmosphere stitches the themes perfectly and brings an almost vampiric feeling to the larger story. I highly recommend The Patron to any dark fantasy/romance fan who is looking for a small collection of poetry & verse.

Thank you, NetGalley and Querencia Press for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.