3.7/5 stars.

Amanda Lovelace delivers another sweet and heartfelt poetry book that really speaks on the experiences of many young girls growing up, the pressures of society and even close loved ones to be pretty and good and fulfil gender norms. I related a lot to many of the poems, feeling very small and insignificant, and while it's crushing that other people have also experienced those feelings it was wonderful that someone else related and I was not alone. It's a reminder to be aware of how other People are doing and be caring - as one of the poems said, "let's normalise caring about each other - not out of politeness but out of genuine compassion.

While simplistic, the poems were also succinct and to the point about what they were about. That being said, some of the really short poems felt purposeless, and like they could be added to, but that's just myself not really enjoying short two line poetry.

All in all, some really pretty poetry. I adored the artwork that went with them, it was beautiful and really added to the poems.

shine your icy crown by Amanda Lovelace is an astute and powerful collection of prose that will speak to the very heart of the female experience in a world that persists in trying to diminish the unbreakable strength of the feminist spirit. This is writing, reflection, and observation that gives voice to what so many of us keep locked away in our conscious thoughts, never daring to speak our individual truth for fear of offending the status quo. This is a relevant and empowering collection that I will return to again and again. Recommended. 4.5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for an ARC.

*Thank you very much to the publisher, Amanda Lovelace, and Netgalley for giving me an E-ARC of "shine your icy crown" in exchange for a honest review * Another amazing book of poetry from Amanda!

Beautiful poetry that makes any woman feel empowered. Amanda is a phenomenal writer that deserves more attention for these amazing poems. You can feel the emotion beneath the words which makes this book more powerful!

"We are not defined by the love our family could or could not give us. we are defined, instead, by the people we consciously become in spite of them - the kindness we show others, the forgiveness we give to ourselves, the times we speak up instead of choosing to remain silent, & the difficult yet necessary apologies we make."

I have read and enjoyed all of Lovelace's poetry collections and this one was no different. I know many struggle to relate to the sparseness of modern poetry and here, as in every anthology, not every poetry will make you feel as intended. For me though, whilst not every single poem was perfect for my specific needs, the collections as a whole felt like being wrapped up in a big, warm hug and being told it was all going to be okay. I felt so soothed by her words that they often brought me to tears.

I feared I would relate to this anthology less so than her others, once I discovered it was centred around the theme of sisters. I do not have a sister and thought that whilst I might enjoy this I would not feel those heart-tugging emotions that her other anthologies have elicited. However, I found this to focus more on the bond between women, and the way they should build each other up, rather than the specific relationship between sisters. A sister can be found in any individual, regardless of blood or gender and the empowering message behind much of these poems attested to that.

If you've read Amanda Lovelace, you kind of know what to expect with her poetry. I like the symmetry with the different covers, if that makes sense.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this so much!!! Amanda Lovelace has done it again and has written a stellar poetry collection! Every single poem was powerful and I felt the power in her words! I think everyone needs to read this because Amanda Lovelace keeps improving her poems with every published collection (and she was stellar to begin with, so she is really perfecting her craft). I HIGHLY recommend this collection and all of Amanda Lovelace’s collection. I feel so empowered and enlightened after completing this!! I am extremely excited to get my paperback version once the book is officially published.

Another beautiful and touching poetry collection from Amanada Lovelace. I loved reading the princess saves herself in this one, and reading this collection was no different. The poems were relatable, touching, inspiring, and above all else, true to self. I would highly recommend this book for anyone looking for poetry that touches the heart and the struggles that ladies have to deal with then this here beauty is for you!

*Thank you Netgalley for sending me an arc in exchange for an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Elegant and empowering. Amanda Lovelace turns unspoken struggles into beautiful poetry. Shine your icy crown is a book most women related to in one way or another.

4.75 Stars (I received an e-arc from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review)

Amanda Lovelace never fails to write poetry that sweeps me away from the real world and has some very lovely illustrations in pink tones. I do really like the format that this series where the first couple parts of the collection have a more sad and negative theme. Then placing a positive view with a you can do it and you’re strong vibe. This collection’s main theme is sisterhood whether it is a biological or found family connection. Pink illustrations give this volume a bit more of a girly vibe, which I found adorable and really brought the fairytale theme home. Out of the two volumes in this series I would choose Shine Your Icy Crown as my favourite in the series and either my second or third favourite Amanda Lovelace collection (I don’t think anything will every top The Witch Doesn’t Burn in This One).

Amanda Lovelace has done it again. Not only is her poetry beautiful but it hits hard has meaning. I could relate to so many of the poems in this book and the journey that she went on. There were also a lot of messages for me to take away which I loved.

I definitely recommend this one!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Amanda Lovelace has delivered another great piece of poetry. I loved the ''big sister says'' part, I think it's the best part of the whole book. The illustrations, I must say, are beautiful alongside the poems.

Necessary poetry book, but with some filler poems. Overall, I liked it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this before publication date.

As a big fan of Lovelace's poetry, seeing a new book available is an auto-request for me.
I loved book 1 in the you are your own fairy tale series, and book 2 - this book - didn't dissapoint either!
I could recognize myself a lot in the poems that were written in this book. I could really identify with most of them, which made my reading experience very insightful.
Lovelace's words are so heartfelt and soothing. This book will for sure be an auto-buy when it releases!

I give this book 4,5 out of 5 stars.

As usual this book is perfect, I loved and resonated with her poems and I love the illustrations.
I really enjoyed this collection which is inspired by fairytales.

I'd like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC. In exchange, here is my honest review.

I've read many of Amanda Lovelace's poetry books, and I'm always struck by the care that goes into her words. In each of her books, there have been some poems that I can relate to, and some which I can't but can appreciate for their beautiful vulnerability.

This collection of poems felt as if it had been hand-crafted for me more than any other I have read. So many of the words she wrote spoke to me on a very personal level, and reading them felt like an act of self-care.

I absolutely loved this collection. It felt like magic and witchcraft.

Also, the illustrations were a lovely touch.

I think I just found my all-time favorite poetry collection. I swear there was not a poem in this one that I didn't relate to. It was spooky actually, how all of these poems resonated with me, brought light to my inner truths and fears. I was crying throughout the whole of part 1 and now my family is looking at me all weird lol. But I was not prepared for how much I found in the poems of part one specifically. The poems on depression, anxiety and the effects they have on our relationships with our loved ones gutted me. I had to take breaks because I was crying so much. There were 2 poems about friends who leave us when we need them the most and about how it is okay if you can't be there for your friends when you can barely be there for yourself. Those two poems destroyed me emotionally. While reading them I had to relive some painful moments of my past. But then I remembered that in order to heal from something you have to confront it and be at a breaking point. And boy,was I broken after those poems. But then, once I got a chance to breathe, I had to except some truths about myself and my past. I realized that I need to stop blaming myself when some things were even my fault to begin with and I will be forever grateful to Amanda Lovelace for allowing me a chance to finally heal my trauma. I think everyone should read it. I wish I had this book when I was younger, then I wouldn't have to come to some realization by myself. Reading this felt a much needed hug after so many years of being alone and misunderstood. From the bottom of my heart, thank you, Amanda.
Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a beautiful book. Rather than ignoring the social political context within which we all exist, it leans into the curve & provides a beautiful argument in favor of body autonomy, inclusive feminism, and unconditional love.

Another fantastic poetry collection from Amanda Lovelace. Her poems hit me deep and I really relate to them. I love the artwork in this series which is done by the same artist as her oracle deck (which I am obsessed with!) The witchy bits and tarot sprinkled within makes it even more magical to me. TW: abusive relationship, misogyny, depression, suicide. She never fails to disappoint and I eagerly await the third and final installment in this poetry series. *ARC provided by NetGalley for review.

I read a few poetry collections this year that just didn't work for me.. they were either too pretentious or just a bunch of random everyday thoughts. Lovelace hit it right though!

I could relate to the poems and topics and her mix of style and media worked very well. It did get a bit repetitive with the girlpower theme halfway through but I didn't mind too much.

A great collection of poems with a strong message for any woman out there feeling like she's never enough on her own. You are.

Beautifully written and laid out. Self hope, self love, anxiety and depression mixed with self doubt. I felt like this book was speaking to me and for me. It was so beautifully written and resonated to my core. Highly recommend. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I've read a few of Amanda Lovelace's poetry collections, and they're always gorgeous.

Firstly, I have to say that the art in this book is absolutely incredible! It fits the vibe of the poetry so well.

I really enjoyed a lot of the poems in the collections, especially in the second half. Amanda Lovelace always does a great job discussing feminism and mental health in a way that makes progress feel achievable, and not like some out of reach fairytale.

My only issue with this collection is that some of the poems just felt a little similar to those in past collections, which I think is par for the course when discussing so many similar topics.

You may think what you want about modern poetry, you may like it or not, but this book definitely has several messages that NEEDED to be said.
For all those who have followed the author for a long time, they will not be disappointed with her new collection of poems, and those who have never read it before will be able to realize the messages and the style of the author, in which for me it is one of her best books.
I LOVED it, thanks to #NetGalley for the opportunity to read #shineyouricycrown and remember that although everyone may or may not, the style of the poems, the most important thing, at least for me, is the feeling during and after read it what matters most.
A feminist collection of poems, which encourages self-love, self-respect, and more.

***I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***

Lovelace’s conclusion to the 'you are your own fairy tale’ series does not disappoint. I really loved the overall theme of this collection; self-love. Lovelace makes many references in her metaphors to princesses and fairytales in a modern and realistic way. She encourages you to be your own person, your own role model & love yourself. She uses the overall theme of self love to remind the reader that you are more than what people think of you/tell you to be. She encourages the reader to stand up for themselves and not lose their voice. This was a strong collection that I would recommend to anyone who has fallen in love with any of her books. This is a strong ending to this series and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.

I am still loving Amanda Lovelace's writing. Additionally, Shine your Icy Crown has beautiful art work! The poetry is empowering and magical. I finished it really quickly and as usual, her poetry leaves some food for thought.

“the princess who wore a crown of her own making...”
Another gorgeous and empowering collection by Lovelace. I was particularly thrilled with the structure of this set, made even better by the beautiful illustrations found throughout. The alternative fairytale endings and strong princesses speak to what we all need to hear. Some of these poems will be sticking with me far beyond this first reading.
Thank you for the ARC, Netgalley!

This was incredible. As a baby sister, the first half of the poems really resonated with me. I could hear my sister saying all of these things to me, and I found it extremely moving - to the point of tears. The second half was empowering. I want all of my female high school senior students to read this. I want ALL of my female students to read this. We need more empowerment. We need to support each other.

I really liked this one. It is about empowerment, feminism, being authentically you. It talks about self-care, anxiety, depression, feeling out of sorts, losing yourself to your mental illness and how that can be okay sometimes as long as we can get ourselves out of that place.

I’ve read Amanda Lovelace’s poetry before and I had some favorites and some I disliked, in this collection I loved all of them.
I want to start by saying I really appreciate the trigger warning list at the beginning of the book, and I still defend that all books should do this.
Also I adored the art work in this book, it is very fall, and it seems the perfect book to ready at this time of year. I related to a few of the feelings expressed in this book, and I appreciate this collection so much.
I believe this is one of my favorite poetry collections

The latest installment in Amanda Lovelace’s poetry collection, shine your icy crown, is absolutely stunning. The collection glitters with beautiful art, short and sweet poems, and an elegant balance between the voice of a younger vs bigger sister. I like that you can really interpret the voice of the big sister however you want: a friend, sister, kind inner voice? My favorite poems were the ones which encouraged bravery, kindness (to yourself and others), and independence. This would be an excellent collection for someone looking to learn more about poetry or for a Lovelace fan. Shine your icy crown releases on January 26, 2021. Thank you to Amanda Lovelace, Andrews McMeel Publishing, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For the publisher: My review will be posted on the publication date and I will publish it on Instagram, Goodreads, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble etc.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this work of poetry. I have read everything from Lovelace and I was very excited to see she had a new book coming out! Just like her others, I LOVED it. It is all about the reasoning that a princess does not need a prince. I really like the messages coming from this one. Definitely recommend.

This is a beautiful poetry collection highlighting feminist topics and learning to love yourself as you are. The art in this book is beautiful and I think all of the poems flow together really well within the fairytale theme. There is a warning at the beginning that certain sensitive topics will be discussed, which I also appreciated greatly.

I loved this book so much! I loved telling the story through a fairytale and a big sister. I am a big sister and have told my sister so many of these things. I kept sending them so many of these poems because they resonated.

This is not the first collection I have read by Amanda Lovelace, and it will not be the last. I own previous volumes and enough of the content in this one made me go "oh yeah", or want to write it down as a daily motto, that I may even purchase a physical copy of this collection too.

The structure follows a modern twist on a fairytale, with bits of "big sister" (think female to female) advice and motivation interspersed throughout.

It made me think and made me feel empowered.

Yes, some of it is stating the "obvious" but women often need reminded of things like our independence and worth.

It is also not what you'd maybe consider "classic" poetry, but more in line with the popular instagram poetry movement, and also includes prose. In that sense, it is almost like a collection of micro-essays/letters to uplift and motivate.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my eARC of this latest collection.

This collection of poems, like the others that I have read by Amanda Lovelace, has a message of female empowerment and self-love that comes very close to me.

It speaks to us of loving oneself, of not depending on the affection of others, of not allowing what others think to affect us. It tells us that it is okay to want to have a fairy tale without a prince, that it is okay not to want to reproduce it, that we should not judge each other but support each other regardless of the decisions we make.

I'm dying to keep reading more than Amanda writes and I can only say THANK YOU.

I can’t express how much I love reading Amanda Lovelace! I’d like to say this one is her best so far, but they’re all just always so good.

This collection of poetry is completely relatable and exceedingly empowering for women everywhere. Every women and girl should read these poems, because they hold strong messages that we need to know and be reminded of. This is one that I’ll go back and reread a lot!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early arc of this one! I will be purchasing it to ass to my collection.

A beautiful work as always! Lovelace has a knack for writing words to empower women. Her mix of prose and modern fairytale elements is what every woman needs when they are not feeling like their true warrior self.

I really enjoyed reading this! I loved the way magic and fairytale vibes were woven into the poems. The tone was a nice combination of melancholia but still also hope. I'm sure teenage me would've gotten even more out of this as these words didn't necessarily offer me anything new that I wouldn't have read (or realized myself) before, but it was still a very good read nonetheless.

4/5 stars
Amanda Lovelace delivers another heartfelt book that speaks about the pressures of society. I truly enjoyed the artwork that also went with poetry. This is an empowering collection of poetry that I will read again and again. Thanks to NetGalley and McMeel Publishing for this ARC.

Amanda Lovelace has done it again. I loved this installment of poetry. The illustrations were perfectly placed and not to mention gorgeous. I have to go back and read the 'prequel' to this poetry book. I overall really enjoyed it. Although much of this is very repetitive and obvious, it was very nice to read and reaffirm the values that this collection illustrates. It is okay to be alone. To have self care and more importantly it is okay to not be okay and move on from it. This was just the think that I needed to clear the pallet and bring enjoyment to what has been a rough year. Highly recommend.

I really enjoy amanda lovelace's poetry, and the You Are Your Own Fairy Tale series is my favorite of her work. This is a lovely retelling of Cinderella that isn't cliché or predictable at all. It has a lot of good "big sister advice" that I could see being especially useful to younger readers. And the illustrations make the whole thing so much more fun to read.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me an eARC in exchange for an honest review. I was so excited to get this one early!

Having read all of Amanda Lovelace’s previously published works, I eagerly awaited this one. shine your icy crown is another gem of a poetry collection and did not disappoint. Through these poems, Lovelace uses the beloved theme of fairytales to craft empowering messages of hope and encouragement. The accompanying drawings are gorgeous and perfectly fit the whimsical and uplifting (though at times melancholy) mood of the poems. even though some of the poems are quite short, Lovelace does a wonderful job of capturing what it’s like to live with mental illness and trauma, as well as struggle with self doubts/identity and the process of healing, Though I have no sisters myself, this collection conveyed a beautiful and powerful sense of the depth of a sisterly bond. I found comfort and belonging and hope in these words, and I look forward to more of Amanda Lovelace’s work in the future. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this ARC.

A moving and wonderfully fairly tale like exploration of women and social plights. Would recommend in particular to younger girls who might need a shove in the right motivational direction.

Amanda Lovelace continues to leave me speechless. In Shine Your Icy Crown, we watch the princess struggle and grow and transform from a timid girl into a turbulent emotional maelstrom and then emerge as a woman who owns her power and commands respect.

I am consistently amazed at how clearly Lovelace captures the cracks in our humanity, the tender places, but in the same breath creates space for healing and wholeness.

Wildly, unapologetically feminist, this collection of poems is a love letter to the little girl inside all of us who just wants to be loved—and it reminds us we can love ourselves wildly and unapologetically.

I always love ladybookmad poems! This was a beautiful, sisterly read! I loved that there was a big-sister relationship that was consistently referenced.

God I love this book. If I could I'd paint its words all over my walls to remind myself of my power as a woman. The artwork is also beautiful.

I liked how Lovelace juxtaposes the "negative" poems with the more positive ones that sound like a big sister giving advice in this poetry collection. I felt like this collection was pretty relatable because the themes in the negative poems were ones of fear and anxiety and sadness which are emotions that everyone has felt. The big sister poems felt like... well, a big sister lol. It felt like she was actually giving me advice on these different topics and reminding me of my self-worth.

Some poems in this collection really hit for me and made me cry which isn't usually something that happens to me with poetry. The poems on depression and anxiety were ones that I really related to and I feel like it really let me know that I'm not alone in those feelings.

**E-Arc provided by the publishers, through NetGalley. All opinions are my own***

I have been keeping up to date with everything Amanda Lovelace puts out so I was so excited to get an arc of this. I especially loved the first part with the younger sibling saying what they feel and then the big sister responding. It really hit me in the heart as a younger sister and as someone who has dealt with anxiety and depression. And as someone who has been in toxic relationships, something about Amanda's writing has always connected with me. I think that this is one of her best poetry collections. The writing is stunning as well as the artwork. I would recommend this to anyone, but please look at the trigger warnings first.

Amanda Lovelace never disappoints. I absolutely love all of her poetry books. This one was really great.

Amanda Lovelace continues to inspire with the newest of her poetry collections. I don't think there will ever be a book from her that I won't enjoy.

Once again, Amanda Lovelace hits it out of the park. Readers are once more transported into a world of their own fairy tale, and the traditional tropes of masculinity and women pitted against one another are shattered with ease. Concise but emotionally expansive, shine your icy crown is a perfect addition to Lovelace's catalog.

Every time Amanda Lovelace releases a collection of poems, I'm anticipating it and I never fail to read each of her publications.
No surprises there, I loved "Shine Your Icy Crown". Much like her previous works, her words tend to resonate and it was as if she spoke to me specifically.
This new series of collections is highly enjoyable and I very much appreciate the care that was put into the editing, such as the amazing illustrations which accompany some of the poems. The overall aesthetic is very pleasing.
I thoroughly enjoyed the poems titled "Big sister says"; they were meaningful and incredibly beautiful, they delivered powerful messages and mantras that can be useful in the everyday life.
I was particularly sensitive to the poems that dealt with the ideas of sisterhood or those about the mind of an introvert. Some of my favourites were also those dealing with toxic relationships and how to deal with uncomprehending friends.
You can also come across themes such as patriarchy, woman empowerment, domestic abuse, bullying, eating disorder, depression & anxiety and self-harm.
Amanda Lovelace has always been my favourite poet and she, once again, secured her place in my heart.

This was brilliant. It was the best book I've read so far from this author, her writing keeps getting better and better. It talks about feminism, loving yourself and how it's perfectly okay to not follow the crowd and I thought it was great! The 'big sister says' element was also interesting and I'm assuming this book was inspired by Frozen as three previously one was inspired by Cinderella but the author says it's her own experiences too! Overall this was the perfect read for winter and I loved it!

Shine Your Icy Crown by Amanda Lovelace - 5⭐️⁣
This is a modern poetry book which includes some beautiful illustrations 😍 also awesome for Amanda Lovelace to include a full list of trigger warnings. ⁣
Honestly, this book could not have come at a better time. I’ve been struggling by a bit lately with working full time and living away from home during a pandemic, and this book was exactly what I needed to hear!⁣ I love reading these books as they only take around an hour out of your day, but it really is like self care.

I have rarely felt so seen as I am by AL’s work. And this collection, centering finding power in yourself as well as the bonds between sisters, is no exception.

These pieces are short, surgical strikes of discarding the stories that people write for you. And instead, a call to action of finding your own voice, creating your own crown.

And as the eldest of 3 sisters, each piece titled “big sister says” felt pulled from my own past.

Once again Amanda Lovelace writes poetry that is beautiful and speak directly to my heart, my past, and everything I wished I could say to myself. A beautiful narrative illustrated with gorgeous pictures and details. It’s so easy to fly through her works and I will definitely continue to read each new collection. Thanks to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for a chance to read an ARC.

This was my first time reading poetry by Amanda Lovelace, and I have to say I will continue. I felt as if she was talking to my throughout these pomes. To wear my crown high and not worry about what others say about you! I truly wish I could hand out this book to girls everywhere! The illustrations were also beautiful through out also. I highly recommend!

I want to quote so many pages! But let's wait until the book comes out.

Damn. That's what a queen speaks to the other queens.

Seriously, this collection speaks volumes on how women see other women, how we are competing against ourselves and how we are hurting each other.

And of course, there are always douchebags, man or woman. Yes, I love in the real world even though I am being extra extra active online and every single page speaks to me.


So damn genuine and so damn liberating to read something this different and uplifting.


Expect the illustrations to bling your being.

Thank you, Amanda and the publisher, for this amazing advanced reader copy.

Again I can never get enough of Amandas poetry. I truly believe she make a difference for someone who is struggling. Her words are so dang powerful. She really knows how to hit you hard with all the emotions.

I am a huge fan of Amanda Lovelace's poetry and have been for years. I will buy any collection she publishes automatically forever, and I can say that about very few poets. I'd probably even read her grocery lists if she chose to publish them. All of this to say that I was very excited to read her latest collection Shine Your Icy Crown.

The second in a duology collection series focusing on fairytales, shine your icy crown is a collection about sisterhood, learning to love yourself, and finding your own place and power. Frankly, this is exactly the kind of poetry I want to be reading right now. Lovelace writes so honestly and beautifully about anxiety, depression, self-esteem, sexism, and the patriarchy that it's a wonder anyone else ever feels like they have to.

I particularly liked the device that she used in part of this collection: the dialogue between sisters. In this structure, a younger sister makes a statement, and then the next poem begins with big sister says, which is a response to the previous poem. And God are they good!

Shine Your Icy Crown is yet another excellent collection from Amanda Lovelace! Highly recommended!

I have really started embracing poetry recently. It’s a way for me to read and understand my own feeling through others. ⁣
⁣
I really enjoyed this piece Shine Your Icy Crown. There were so many lines that truly resonated with me.⁣
⁣
“No, hurting herself is not something she does for attention. Some days, it’s the only thing that tethers her to the earth.” ⁣
- this couldn’t be more accurate⁣
⁣
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⁣
#netgalley #poetry #books #bookstagram #shineyouricycrown

This is a poetry collection every woman should read. In the best way possible, I finished this feeling like I came out of a very successful and much needed therapy session. This was so good for my mental and emotional state. I felt empowered, understood, accepted, represented and comforted.
I saw myself in so much of this poetry book and a lot of it made me feel less alone. There were things in this book that I needed to hear- that all women need to hear!
I felt that the topics discussed were handled very well and I loved that it was done in a fairytale-esque way. An absolutely stunning and clever collection! Highly recommend this poetry collection. Especially if you need a little boost.:)
I also wanted to note that I really appreciated the list of trigger warnings at the beginning. More books need to do that!
Huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Andrews McMeel Publishing for the arc copy!!

I received a digital ARC via NetGalley from Andrews McMeel Publishing. This second volume of poetry in the You Are Your Own Fairy Tale series did not disappoint. I always look forward to being absorbed into Amanda Lovelace’s emotional, insightful and feminist messages. While this volume didn’t flow as evenly as the first volume – I still found some pages so engaging and memorable. The illustrations tie everything together with honest portrayals and beautiful colors. Another recommended addition for fans of Lovelace. If you are looking for poems of struggle and empowerment – try picking up one of her many collections.

I thought this was a really enjoyable read and I quite enjoyed it. I liked that it focused more on self-growth and sisterhood. Loved this book. The illustrations were superb as well.

Another great work of poetry by Amanda Lovelace. This work made me feel strong, powerful, and capable in myself, my abilities and my feelings.

Advance Review Copy generously provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really like Amanda Lovelace's writing style and I feel like I can relate to the poems. I love fairytales which is probably why I love the fairy tale references in Lovelace's books. This book was no exception.

There were some instances where I felt that some poems were repetitive of others that I read from her but I didn't have a problem with it. I think I actually like this series better than Women Are Some Kind of Magic.

there is a girl who
loves fairy tales
more than anything.

but no matter
how hard she searches
for an answer.

she can't understand
why there even
needs to be a prince.

"why doesn't the princess just
marry herself?" she asks,
to which they all reply.
"but that wouldn't be romantic."

I loved the theme of feminism and the celebration of girl power even though there wasn't anything groundbreaking in the poems. Still, I did feel connecting to the experiences we have as women. Plus I feel certain issues still need to talk about and we (women) need to hear certain truths more times.

What I especially adored was "big sister says" advice. This idea of women supporting women was interwoven throughout the book and I loved it. Everyone should have their big sister who is there for them.

This is not classic poetry. It is a modern take on poetry in an Instagram poetry movement. If you enjoyed Lovelace's previous book I think you will like this one as well.

This book was beautiful. I will forever support Amanda and all of her poetry, but this one especially connected to me. It felt as though I was reading a book I wrote for my own sister. And I will definitely be buying my sister a copy to read, too.

I saved so many of the poems because I want to be able to go back to them over and over. You can open this book up to any page & find some words of encouragement or a reminder to yourself. There were just so many important lessons in this collection.

Also, the illustrations were gorgeous.

Amanda’s back with another powerful prose book. I’ve read all of her other books and I am a huge fan and this one is no exception. It’s absolutely brilliant and I recommend it

Actually 4,5/5⭐.
It was a wave of emotions I can't even describe în words. I loved this book so freaking much.

The writing was excellent and I saw the evolution from the first book I read from her (The princess saves herself in this one) 'till this magnificent piece of art.

The message was more powerful than in the first volume of this series and I really loved the concept of fairytales and how it played.

I really love her writing style, her books and want to see more from this author because she is surprising me every time.

P. S. The art was from another universe. One word, stunning.

I enjoyed this collection of poetry!

I have not read any of Amanda Lovelace's poetry collections but after reading this one I would for sure pick up more of her work. I found shine your icy crown to be a great feminist collection of poetry. I liked a lot of the mantras and poems in this book, I found many to be relatable and relevant to my life. The poetry collection is telling a fairytale where the princess becomes her own queen, as well as a big sister offering advice and the little sister growing as she listens to this advice. I found the "big sister" poems got a little repetitive but enjoyed the overall message of being a strong, independent woman who makes the choices in the life that are right for her, not to please those around her.

The book is told in fairly short poems and accompanied by some great illustrations, I got very witch/princess vibes from these and loved them. I found many of the poems to be relatable and can see many people, particularly women, enjoying this but I think anyone who wants a good reminder of self-worth and choosing your own path could like this book. This is more of the modern and online style of poetry, which is what I prefer over more classic forms of poetry. The small snippets of poems that make up the book do flow nicely and build to a wonderful collection of reminders that you are worthy and to build your own life for you.

There are heavy themes dealt with in the poems, such as depression, eating disorders and self harm. Please keep this in mind if you choose to read this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. As always, all opinions are my own.

YES! LOVED IT! This is the second collection of poetry in the 'You Are Your Own Fairy Tale' series and I think this might be my favourite of the two, although I'm not completely sure because the first one was also exceptionally good. Among other things, this collection discusses anxiety, depression, self-harm, bulimia, self-love, self-growth, and feminism. I loved how all of these themes were brought up through the use of a so-called 'sister' who teaches us valuable life lessons. Further, I loved that Lovelace dedicated a couple of pages to teach us how to be a feminist while pointing out the don'ts and the wrong ideas some might have when they think about feminism. Moreover, the illustrations in this collection were again beautiful and I appreciated that they included different races and body types.

All in all, I just really really loved the messages this collection teaches the reader and the way through which they are conveyed. The only reason why I decided to rate it 4 stars instead of 5 is because it did not always feel like I was reading poetry. The 'sister' chapters mostly read like a small piece of encouraging text instead of poetry, but this certainly did not take away the impact of the whole collection and its beautiful message. I'd definitely recommend. this collection to all modern poetry lovers that really want to be touched by poetry and take something away from reading it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

"She's so tried of men/telling her how strong she is/-she already knows."

I have been an Amanda Lovelace reader since, I guess, even before she published her first poetry collection.
Her books are always so empowering and everything she writes becomes art.
These poems are written by a strong woman for her fellow women friends, and while you're reading it, it feels like she's friends with you as well.
One thing that bothers me a bit about this collection - and I think I've been saying this since the last book as well - that it feels like sometimes these poems are written from a perspective of a woman who tries to empower the ones who don't know their worth... the truth is, a lot of us do know it. We are already strong women, we don't need a constant reminder of the fact people think we're incapable.
Even though there's this one thing I have a problem with, I'll give this book a 5 star review because I think we really can never get enough of women supporting women, and it is so, so important.

Amanda Lovelace has given us another beautifully personal book. She is a gifted poet, and uses her own words and her own experience to speak to her reader on topics like emotional abuse, body image, eating disorders and so many more. Her words jumped from the page so vividly, I was brought to tears. I anxiously await her next work.

This is the second installment of poetry in the 'You Are Your Own Fairy Tale' series by Amanda Lovelace. Thank you Amanda Lovelace, NetGalley, & the publishing company for allowing me to read this divine ARC. This installment tells a story of a young woman who has lost who she is and goes through periods of rough times to finally realize that she doesn’t need a king to be a queen and that she needs to love and accept herself for who she’s meant to be. It’s a wonderful story of learning to love oneself with a feminist twist.
Trigger warnings: abuse, self-harm, eating disorders.

The best thing about the book was that the poems and confessions of the princess were something that every person can relate to on a personal level. The concept of sisterhood really resonates with me. In fact, the relationship between the two sisters is something that I absolutely adore. And here the sisterhood isn’t just representing blood sisters, but all women around us. The cover design of the book is simple, elegant and very appealing. I also loved the graphics and pictures embedded with the poems, which made the reading experience even more magical. The only thing that I did not like though was the use of small letters for the entire text, even the 'I' and letters after a period. Other than that I think it's beautifully written and a magical journey of self-love and acceptance.

i'm not a poetry fan whatsoever, but this book honestly really surprised me! it was a good mix of hard hitting, but also the complete truth about being a woman in 2020. but, i was pretty scared going into it since it's all about sisters, and i don't have a sister, only a younger brother. but, i feel like the whole story didn't really focus on sisterhood, more about things that her sister told her over the years of her life, which i honestly really cool, especially if you don't have a sister, so you can still get the sisterly knowledge. and i also really like the talk about not wanting to date, and how men can sleep with a bunch of people, but not be called mean names, but if a woman sleeps with the same amount it they get called a slut. i just really thought it was cool to actually see in a book, and not just on social media. the drawings in this book were something else honestly, they were so pretty to look at, since they told the story but in pictures.

This felt like a reminder of all the things my heads keeps trying to say to myself but I keep buffing them and being abosrbed by all the darkness looming inside my head. Beautifully written and a harsh reality.

What a sweet and enjoyable read.
I loved this modernized princess-like fairytale. It tackled current, real-life issues and responded to them with sass and a little touch of magic in poetry form.

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

This one was so amazing. So very well-written that packs a beautiful and inspiring punch. I very much enjoyed this one, and the art inside of it was so aesthetically-pleasing. I love the message that this one has, that to be a queen, you don't need a king, and you'll still shine as bright. For my first Amanda Lovelace, this one was divine, and incredible. I loved this, and I think anyone who reads this one will also love it.

Once again, Amanda Lovelace's poetry is beautiful, haunting, empowering, and tear jerking all at once. There is something about her poetry that made me feel seen, like I was looking at my emotions unspooled across the page. Her poetry is incredible, and there's a reason she is one of my favorite poets.

Amanda Lovelace is the poet that keeps on giving. With each book she releases, more magic is unveiled into the poetry world. It is as she waves a magic wand across blank pages, and words of self empowerment and wisdom straight from the heart appear on the pages. Words that we all need to hear and feel, especially in these dark times. Her writing is truly a gift, and I for one look forward to each and every collection that she releases.

Shine Your Icy Crown is yet another stunning, divine collection of poetry. It’s both an ode to self love, and sisterly love. And even if you do not have a sister, don’t feel sorrow, because many of the poems are written in a way that feels as if you are receiving warm, loving advice from a sisterly figure.

This collection is empowering, haunting, tear jerking, and beautifully endearing. It was a beautiful, important reminder that all of us queens need no king, only the crowns upon our own heads to stand strong and prevail, no matter what life throws our way.

The gorgeous, enchanting works of art illustrated throughout the book only made this collection that much more spellbinding and enjoyable.

Another magical collection filled with beautiful, powerful prose. If you are ever in need of a reminder of the crown that always sits upon your head, pick up this book for some inspiration and empowerment!

*Arc provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

TW: child abuse, sexual assault, self harm, suicide, eating disorders, mental illness, sexism, trauma.

This is a beautiful conclusion to Amanda Lovelaces You Are Your Own Fairytale collection. This volume uses illustrations and the blending of various fairytales motifs to tell a story of both self love and sisterhood. I loved the first half of this collection, it has longer poems as well as beautiful writing, touching on many hard hitting topics such as family, mental health and self harm. I think this half had the most whimsical writing and hit me the hardest. The second half focused much more on self love, overcoming self doubt and embracing confidence. This was done with shorter poems and less whimsical language. While this half had many relatable lines, it left me feeling more hollow and less wowed with the language use. Overall I think this is a great collection with anyone struggling with self love as well as anyone who likes beautifully illustrated books! If you like Lovelaces previous work, you will love this. (3.5/5)

Shine Your Icy Crown is the first poetry collection by Amanda Lovelace that I've read.

“make them rue the day they underestimated you.”

This is a strong collection of poems about self-love, empowerment, feminism, strength and pride. The poems follow a fairytale storyline about a young princess who gets advice from her big sister. I enjoyed reading the novel, but I must say the poems felt a bit repetitive.

A quick read that I would recommend to a younger audience.

I loved the artwork in this! This is the first collection I've read from Amanda Lovelace and I enjoyed my time reading. I found most poems to be relatable and those that weren't, are still good and will connect with others. They are earnest, passionate, and encouraging. I will definitely need to go back and read her past work after this

I've read all of Amanda Lovelaces collections and I think this one is just as good as all the rest if not better. I know a lot of people hate this new style of poetry for whatever reason but I love it because sometimes I love short, sweet and to the point it is. I feel Amanda Lovelace is getting better with each new she release she puts out. I loved the illustrations in this collection. They were so beautiful. I may not have a sister so these poems felt like sister advice that would be great for a younger reader even so I did really love a few of them. The tone of this was hope with a little melancholy.

Thank you to Netgalley and Andrew's Mcmeel for my copy to read and review.

I loved this book. Honestly, I've loved most of Amanda Lovelace's books - there is just something about her words, her poetry, that burrows deeply into my soul and grips parts of me that I hadn't realized could be touched in that way.
Reading this book is like holding a mirror to my soul and seeing all the dark, hidden parts of me reflected back; though it hurts sometimes in the end it feels like a relief that someone else understands.
Her words are if she isn't speaking to my soul but had ferreted them out of my soul and put all of the things I couldn't say on a page. I feel seen and heard.
For those that identify as Asexual or Aromantic (or somewhere on the spectrum/under the umbrella) I would highly recommend this book.
The artwork by Janaina Medeiros is beautiful and complements the book wonderfully.
Truly, I recommend this for anyone. I cried. I smiled. I laughed. I loved it.

I’m not usually a poetry fan but something about Amanda Lovelace’s “shine your icy crown” intrigued me. I am so glad I clicked on the title because this collection of poems is a true gift. Lovelace is able to keep a storyline going throughout her work while sending out all the self-love vibes. These are amazing not only in the self-love but feminism category as well. I will be recommending this collection to every single person I know, I will be checking out more of Lovelaces work as well. Also this book will work well in classrooms just to have or as part of a poetry unit. I can’t recommend enough.

It comes as no suprise that Amanda delivers another wonderful poetry collection. This series started of strong with the first instalment Break Your Glass Slippers, and I loved the second one even more. I like how she uses a constant theme for this series, and the characters of two sisters were really well written.

She stays true to her writing, and some of the topics explored here are the ones she already covered magnificently. I like first part so much, especially the way it explores sister relationship in an unhealthy family. The second one was a bit weaker to me, because it's about feminism, but I felt like it simply offered nothing new. It's a small complaint, even though it still lowered my rating a bit.

However, Amanda stays consisent and I know I can always look forward to whatever she's writing. I hope this wasn't the last part in the series.

she beging to think something very, very dangerous: maybe, just maybe, she'll find the happiness she wants if she loses herself in someone else.

- reckless.

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

Amanda Lovelace writes real fairy tales for grown women and I loved it
No virginal heroine. no prince that makes everything better. And no perfect ending set in stone.
Her Collections to me I always read as a beautiful Story told in poems and shine your ice crown is no exception its Whimsical and real
I felt a warmth and a little sadness in my chest while reading this plus the art work was beautiful

Thank you so much to net gallery and Simon & Schuster
for sending me Advanced copy

I love poetry so I had no trouble diving into these works. I felt inspired every page and if not inspired, the words resonated with me. I'm looking forward to getting a physical copy for my shelves!

Amanda Lovelace has continued to be one of my favorite poetry authors for years! Her collections are always timely and delightful. I love how in shine your icy crown, fairy tales served as the framework for her poetry. Fairy tales are such an integral part of growing up female, and felt like she was able to use them to perfectly convey the metaphor that the true female experience is a far cry from the fairy tales we grow up hearing.

There is so much heart and depth to her writing, and I truly think anyone could read the collection and would walk away feeling very inspired.

These were great stories and poems that pondered sisters and self-esteem and depression. In between writing, there were pages of beautiful artwork of a bird and gems in a forest. Also artwork depicting small things out of the writing and themes. They were such a great addition and absolutely beautiful. I loved the strong themes coming out of this one and how much heart was in it.

I honestly have never been disappointed by Amanda Lovelace and this book of poetry is no different. I don’t know what it is but I will devour anything that is a modern, feminist kind of retelling of fairytales, I just love them so much.

I was so excited to snag this ARC as I’ve been leaning into reading poetry recently. This collection was so empowering. The fairytale theme was interwoven so well within these poems and the illustrations. It played beautifully into the ideology that women do not need a prince for rescuing and happily ever afters are uniquely their own, not what society deems it to be. I enjoyed the back and forth conversation from “big sister” it felt wildly intimate and inspirational. I look forward to reading more from this author!

A lovely addition to the growing bibliography of one of my favorite poetesses. This edition managed to take us on a whirlwind magical ride while still remaining true to the themes of body positivity and self-love that epitomize Lovelance's poetry.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!

I always enjoy Amanda Lovelace's poetry, and really enjoyed this second installment in the You Are Your Own Fairy Tale Series. Frozen is one of my favorite Disney movies, so I was already excited for Shine your Icy Crown—although it mentions it is inspired by many fairy tales, this influenced was the one I picked up on the most. The collection focuses a lot on the relationship between two sisters trying to be true to themselves, find and embrace their power, and support each other. The illustrations are beautiful, the poetry and prose flow naturally and tell a compelling story, and the whole book came together magically, which is something I think Amanda Lovelace's work always does so well. I'll keep reading anything she writes, and look forward to the next installment in this series!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the free copy of this book in exchange for a review.

Loved this short collection of poems! I could relate to so many of the poems.

Just wow! This collection is amazing, and speaks volumes!
I want to quote so many pages, but I wont.

Now this is what I needed, this resonated with me so deeply, especially the first part. I felt it was written as the messages I would give to my sister if I could only help her see her own worth.

The second part filled me with self worth mantras that we all need reminding of once in a while.

I felt this one deeply

Beautiful illustrations too

“The only one stopping you from holding the moon in your own two hands, is you”

Shine Your Ice Crown is a story about not letting society dictate the limits of your potential. It’s time to take back your power & realize that you don’t need a king in order to be a queen.

When I saw this book available on NetGalley I immediately started to read it. I am a huge fan of Amanda Lovelace´s work. Like most of Amanda Lovelance´s work I adored this poetry collection. The author is starting to become one of my favorites. The poetry isn’t groundbreaking or a masterpiece but it makes me feel things no other poetry has ever been able to do. It makes me reflect and appreciate everything that surround me, including myself.

Every time I read Lovelace´s work I feel good and this was no exception. This poetry collection makes me feel like I matter and even though this is Lovelance´s story I feel seen and represented. These are words you need to hear no matter at what point in your life you are. I can see why some people see this as a Twitter/ Tumblr post, and maybe it is, but even a Twitter / Tumblr post can be beautiful and inspiring.

What made this collection extra special for me was the different points of view on different topics, one from the younger sister and the older from the older sister. The poetry is empowering and promotes self-love above all. I truly recommend you read it.

I had to take one star not because this collection wasn’t great but because compared to other collections by the author and especially comparing it to the first collection in this series I believe this one felt a little short.

Overall it was an amazing poetry collection, the poems are raw and promote self-love which I think is crucial. I highly recommend it if you are looking for a short, powerful poetry book that is easy to read and will definitely make you love yourself a little bit more.

Finally, please read the trigger warnings at the beginning of the book.

Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

“As painful as it may be, it is always easier to walk away from the villain than to try to convince them of their villainy”

This poetry book was a mother exceptional piece by amanda lovelace. It focuses on feminism and family with a slightly different format than her previous books. In addition, the artwork in this book is stunning.

Another collection from Amanda Lovelace and another five star review from me. I really don't think it's possible for Lovelace not to write such emotional, thought provoking work that i connect to on such a deep and very real level. It's incredible what her words can do and how they make you feel. Reading her work is always a massive highlight for me.

amanda lovelace’s newest poetry collection, shine your icy crown, is another stunning collection. It includes poems which speak to the heart of women who have suffered at the hands of a society which constantly tells them they are not living the 'right' way. Lovelace has taken another fairytale and made it her own through a feminist lens which works beautifully. This collection also includes amazing artwork which partners perfectly with Lovelace's poetry.

Like always, like any other Amanda Lovelace books this one talks lots about women. It talks about modern woman fears, problems which is relatable and have experienced on one or the other time in our own life.

With strong message on woman's life , great collection of poems.

For the second part of Amanda Lovelace's "You Are Your Own Fairy Tale" series, she once again subverts the genre, turning cannon on its head. This time around, a downtrodden and abused princess realises she doesn't need a prince to validate her existence and that she can be a queen all by herself.
Lovelace's wonderful use of language continues in this volume, with powerful affirmations that should resonate with all women, regardless of whether they view themselves as a princess or not. Personally, I found the heroine slightly less sympathetic than the Cinderella-esque protagonist of "Break Your Glass Slippers", hence 4 stars rather than 5 this time around. I believe there's a 3rd volume in the series due - can't wait!

Five incredible, bright and shiny stars!

I stumbled across Amanda Lovelace a little over a year ago, and I have absolutely fallen in love with her poetry. This is my 5th book by hers, and its just as fantastic as her others.

I think what makes Lovelace's poetry so amazing is that it's so relatable and uplifting. It's deep and emotional, but without the comprehension struggle that comes along with other books of poetry.

I really enjoyed this poetry collection, despite poetry not typically being my thing. I had heard great things about this author, and had seen excerpts of her work, and decided to give her newest collection a try. I will be getting the rest of her work for myself at some point because of how much this collection captivated me. It definitely is not for everyone, and is distinctly feminist and anti-patriarchy while not being anti-men, but will not satisfy everyone's tastes. This collection is a short read if you are looking for something quick to read, but with all of its self-contained themes could also work perfectly to read a little bit at a time, poem by poem.

Shine Your Icy Crown is book #2 in Amanda Lovelace’s You Are Your Own Fairytale series. It could totally be read as a stand-alone. I gave this book 5 stars and would totally give it more if I could. Never have I ever related to a book like I have with this book of poetry. It was magically and beautifully written. This book left me all in my feels. It’s been like two weeks since I read this one and I can’t stop thinking about it. Can’t wait to gift a physical copy of this one to my daughter.

I highly recommend this one. I was given an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

As always Amanda Lovelace weaves a beautiful collection of poetry with empowerment, heart tugging emotion, and the bond of sisterhood in shine your icy crown. Some topics in Lovelace’s poetry can be hard to read about but at the end of the collection I always have a sense of hope, like I’ve just been given a warm hug and was told that everything is going to be okay. I loved the messages of acceptance and how Lovelace breaks down the double standards and stereotypes pushed onto women. I just absolutely loved this collection and as with every other collection I can’t wait for more.

Thanks to Andrews McMeel Publishing for the DRC!

I love Amanda Lovelace's books. They all have important, feminist messages. Her poems are so empowering and relatable. I believe every introverted person feels understood reading these pages. It's a little repetitive at times, but it's a great read. It's the kind of book I wish I could have read when I was younger. And also, I loved the illustrations showing how all women are beautiful.

I'd say it's one of her best books so far. Totally recommend it! :)

This collection is even better than Break Your Glass Slippers or the other books I read by Amanda Lovelace. Here, we don't have a fairy-tale retelling, we have a all-new fairy tale. Here, the heroin takes charge: she will be queen. No need of a king.

What I particularly love about Amanda Lovelace's poetry is that it's never about misandry: there's no hating men. There's only accepting, loving and supporting yourself. There's only falling in love with yourself, loving you before you love someone else. It's about understanding that your life is only your own, not anybody else's, and so that you're the only one deciding, nobody else does.

The author doesn't shy away from hard topics, topics that are sometimes avoided. I loved that she included some poems about motherhood and not wanting children: it's your decision only, it's never a topic anybody else has anything to say about to you.

This collection, like the others, was both inspiring and empowering, but also moving. Some poems particularly resonated with me. There are some verses that I want to write down somewhere to keep them in mind. And the author deals with sisterhood in a healthy way which is so comforting! She writes about girls empowering girls and not shaming them for whatever reason: that was great!!

Bonus: the illustrations! I loved them and they added a little something to the collection.


So, probably one of my favorite book by Amanda Lovelace so far!

I loved this book so freaking much! Amanda Lovelace is an insta buy for me but I was so thankful to be able to read this early!! This one oddly was NOT my favorite of hers but it was still really really good.

5/5 Diamondbright stars!

Lovelace has continued to mature and master her art since Princess, and I must say, I loved Crown as much as I loved Slippers (which so far has been my favorite of her collections).

Slippers & Crown pair so wonderfully - Lovelace became my fairy godmother, the big sister I always needed but never had, because I, am the big sister, and held my hand and my heart with her words.

Empoweringly feminist, as is Lovelace's brand, Shine your Icy Crown is a fantastic addition to this fairytale duology.

As always, Lovelace discusses mental illness, body image, gender disparities and romantic and familial relationships in the form of elegantly modern prose, so distilled, so concentrated into a few lines, that the reader is left feeling utterly seen, warmingly embraced, wholly understood.

I cannot wait to see what Lovelace gifts us with next!

I received this eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Andrews McMeel Publishing and Amanda Lovelace, for this opportunity.

Amanda Lovelace is one of my favourite contemporary poets and my eagerness to read this new volume was not disappointed! Readable and yet profound, I found myself wanting to gobble up the whole volume in one sitting while bookmarking almost every page to return to and properly digest. I will absolutely be picking up a physical copy when it comes out in January to keep on my nightstand with my other favourite volumes of verse for doses of inspiration and strength.

Reading Amanda's new book is like talking to a good friend. The big sister we all need to guide us through hard times and remind us of our own worth. Some poems felt like a warm blanket over my shoulders. Others, like a guardian angel whispering in my ears. It's like sitting for coffee with someone who knows what you are going through and let you spill your heart out, showering you with love and compassion until you feel hopeful again.

Beautiful and lyrical, Lovelace has once again created a timeless tale that is guaranteed to become an instant classic. Great for lovers of poetry and fiction, Lovelace is able to blend her genre into a beautiful story of whimsy while maintaining a gritty underbelly of truth. Beautiful, heartbreaking, and uplifting, SHINE YOUR ICY CROWN, has it all. Love it!

I loved this collections of poems. I have read every single one of her collections and this one, like the rest did not disappoint.

“Make them rue the day they underestimated you.”

This is a story about not letting society dictate the limits of your potential. it’s time to take back your power & realize that you don’t need a king in order to be a queen.

...

I loved this. Lovelace has written a collection of poetry and prose that is beautiful, haunting, uplifting and fearless. It discusses some heavy topics (and comes with a full list of trigger warnings: amazing!) in a way that is both supportive and badass, supported with whimsical illustrations. I also really loved the way that most of the collection was written as dialogue between sisters. If you're looking for a collection of poetry that is encouraging and supportive, uplifting and hopeful - this is the one for you. I can't wait for it to be released so I can buy a physical copy.

*Big thanks to Netgalley for my ARC in exchange for an honest review*

I don't even know where to start. I can't even describe how important this book is. "Shine your icy crown" is an anthem to feminism - Amanda Lovelace tells us how important it is for us to love and appreciate ourselves. She always surprises us with her magnificent writing, although I'm never expecting a masterpiece. I totally recommend this book to anyone who's new to poetry and wants something amazing to begin with. Rating: 5/5 stars.

shine your icy crown by Amanda Lovelace is most definitely a feminist work. From the description: This is a story about not letting society dictate the limits of your potential. it’s time to take back your power & realize that you don’t need a king in order to be a queen. I wish the description was more accurate to the amount of female only representation because I do feel like society also places undue restraints on males as well (but that may be a topic for another book). True to the description, there were many phrases and whole passages that were dedicated to stating how women do not need a king in order to be a queen. There were many items that I would have underlined or highlighted in a physical copy of the book. However, towards the middle of the collection, I felt it was a little ham-fisted with the feminist overtones. I preferred the slightly quieter fairytale of a big sister telling her little sister all of the things that young women should be hearing - that self love does not make you selfish, that anything you dream of can be possible in some way or another, that you do not need anyone else to be happy, etc. In my opinion, this is where the book really shines.

Another amazing collection from Amanda Lovelace! I'm a long-time fan of her poetry and this latest installment in the You Are Your Own Fairytale series did not disappoint!
The sisterly advice in the poems is beautiful and raw, and it's the advice we should be giving to ourselves. The poems are in Lovelace's signature style and the book is filled with beautiful pictures.
I especially love the inclusion of trigger warnings and reminders for self-care to go along with some of the heavier themes in the book.
It is definitely one of the top poetry collections of the year - perfect for those new to the author and longtime fans.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the advance copy.

l “every night she hears
a small persistent voice
that tries to convince her that

no one has ever felt
as sad or as lonely
or as insignificant

as she does right now

— snow princess”

lovelace’s work has always had a special place in my heart. it often feels like exactly what i need to hear. shine your icy crown was absolutely beautiful and i have more than half of the poems bookmarked for how amazing they are.

i especially loved the “big sister says” poems and the way you could just tell that this is exactly what she wishes she could say to her younger self. she is trying to help her readers and herself and that is incredible.

I was given the opportunity to read an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley.

This poetry collection is something that every girl should read. It hit home with so many topics such as how we as women interact with each other. I really loved it.

I really enjoyed this novel. I've never read anything else by Lovelace, so I didn't know what to expect, but I'm so glad I was able to read this one. She weaved an incredibly cohesive story throughout with characters I could wholeheartedly relate to. And the art! The artwork featured throughout was amazing and broke up the monotony of the poetry beautifully. I will definitely be grabbing a copy when it comes out!

I'm a longtime fan of Amanda Lovelace's empowering and vulnerable poetry. This collection is a much-needed pep talk from an older sister and features beautiful illustrations. I was very grateful to get my hands on an early copy.

*recieved a copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

I was so lucky to receive a copy from Netgalley because this is one of the books I have been looking forward to since it was announced. This book continues the new poetry series that Amanda Lovelace has started, the first book being Break Your Glass Slippers and I really enjoy the poetry that Amanda writes. I also love the illustrations that go along with some of the poems which I find to be a really nice added touch to the story. If you are a fan of poetry I definitely would recommend giving this a go. If you already love Amanda's work I think that you would probably also enjoy this one at least as much.

This beautiful poetry and prose collection is so pure and serene. The theme is of empowerment, self-love, self-acceptance and sisterhood. There is a light plot that is followed, that the girl is a princess and with that come attached certain expectations and how a girl breaks those barriers and chooses how to define herself rather than letting these constraints define her.
Although it’s a small book, it really hits hard and you will take a while to read and absorb its impact. I definitely recommend this!

I end up loving most of Amanda Lovelace poetry books. They are deep and opens my eyes with stories that break your heart or builds your strength. ❤

This is the second book from this author that I've read and I came with the conclusion that everything that Amanda Lovelace writes is wonderful and touching! I wish I had that big sister to help when I was younger.
The illustration is also a piece of art itself.

Thank you NetGally for letting me review this book.

Like the first book is this called poetry series, Break Your Glass Slippers which consists a lot of relatable and empowering verses that I relate to so much and it most of it was inspiring that I have a lot of bookmarks and notes to reread and get back on

Shine Your Icy Crown is the 2nd book of the collection series which I must admit, I enjoyed. Like the 1st book, Shine Your Icy Crown also tackled topics such as equality, toxic relationship between lovers, family and friends, self worth, identity crisis, depression, anxiety, body shaming and many more that I might have missed but those topics I mentioned above are the topics that I really relate to.

The book is not only empowering but also inspirational, relatable and eye opening and is really just screaming of SELF LOVE and SELF ACCEPTANCE just like the previous book..

However, there are parts that would just throw off the vibe, the atmosphere the previous collections has build and seemed inconsistent.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and poetry collection series. Highly recommend.

I think the description says it all. "This is a story about not letting society dictate the limits of your potential. it’s time to take back your power & realize that you don’t need a king in order to be a queen." Another beautifully written poetry collection from Amanda. The artwork is stunning. The physical copy will be a pleasure to hold in your hands for sure.

I absolutely loved this book. I’ve read another of Lovelace’s books and it didn’t really connect with me. But this one seemed to be written just for me. Which is the beauty of poetry. It’s always a great reminder that what you feel about yourself and the world around is shared by others and you are truly not alone.

This latest collection from Amanda Lovelace is full of the kind of indispensable advice and words of wisdom that the best big sisters give. A great fit for YA readers and anyone in need of some sisterly advice.

★ 3.5 stars ★

this is classic amanda lovelace, deceptively simple and direct yet poignantly honest, accompanied by lovely illustrations too. unapologetically feminist, with an emphasis on both solidarity and self-actualization; the themes and messages will be familiar if you've read lovelace's other works, but each iteration is framed and/or phrased differently enough to bring different nuances and resonance.

while i would've liked to see the fairytale theme a bit more prominently developed (as it was in "break your glass slippers"), this is still an enchanting collection with some gentle reminders that most if not all of us need to hear.

Beautiful words as always, amanda. I love the big sister persona as I have said those words in my own way to my sister and friends. I do hope that she expands on the sex/slut shaming as those are topics I feel need represented. Overall, lovely work.

I was a bit sceptical about this book because when I read the previous one, Break Your Glass Slippers, it wasn't exactly my cup of tea, even if I really liked Amanda's previous work. But with Shine your Icy Crown, I was pleasantly surprised :)

I still feel like these poems are more self-help mantras than poetry, but I really liked them, so what the hell.

This book has two main parts, the first one feels like a very useful psychotherapy session, where one person is telling all its troubles and the second person (big sister) it answering. The second part of the book contains a lot of uplifting and empowering messages.

it is your divine right
to heal as messily
& as inconsistently
&as loudly as possible


i'm afraid i don't have time to go into the kitchen & make you a sandwich - you see, i already have my hands full, for i'm busy saving the world.
-my sincerest apologies.


if i decide to be with you,
it's not because i think you complete me

i'm already a complete
spiritual being
without anybody's help.

if i'm with you,
it's because i think you
let in more stardust than storm clouds.

-what i look for.

I felt so much better after reading this book. I think that it's the main purpose is to open it whenever you are feeling low and it will help you feel better.

When a collection of works speaks to you and lightens you, not only on an intellectual, but on an emotional, and spiritual and self- healing level, it weasels its way into your heart and shoves open the stiff windows to let in the starlight.

I don’t think I’ve ever been so profoundly connected to a writer’s work like I have with Amanda Lovelace’s ‘Shine Your Icy Crown’. The writing is elegant and honest. It’s angry and overwhelmed, yet so strong and empowering.

“Make them rue the day they underestimate you.”

“I’m afraid I don’t have time to go in the kitchen and make you a sandwich - you see, I already have my hands full, for I’m busy saving the world.”

The book comes with a trigger warning page which highlights content of trauma, sexual assault, child abuse, toxic relationships, eating disorders, mental illness, self-harm, suicide, and sexism, but the poet also reminds the reader to practice self-care techniques before, during and after. As a reader, that element makes me feel safe, included, and valued.

The illustrative work throughout the book was nothing short of stunning. The books main theme was the colour pink, and that was a clap back at the main issue being tackled with the poet’s work; fighting for equal rights, fighting against toxic society standards, toxic relationships, etc.

I cannot recommend this book enough and I feel incredibly honoured to have had the opportunity to review the ARC of this book thanks to the publisher via NetGalley

Right off the bat of starting this book, it’s feminist and talks a lot of princess sisters and how much the big sister loves the little sister. It’s mostly the little sister telling us what the big sister is saying to her to motivate her, I love it. I’ve never had a sister and this motivates me in a lot of ways. It switches between “big sister says” and the main protagonists perception of something she feels. There’s quite a few references to life being like a book and it gave me a positive perspective. “...You’re only at the beginning of the very first book. Give the rest of your story a fair chance to unfold.” Chapter 2 is the best in my opinion, it’s empowering and the feminism is really there encouraging and explaining how we all have magic and to let it shine. The art is beautiful in this book

I absolutely love all of Amanda Lovelace’s poetry books and this one is no exception. Amanda has a way with words that really makes you question what you know and believe about feminism. It also makes you think deeper and critically about feminism.

Another empowering fairytale installment from feminist poet Amanda Lovelace 🙌

I always feel so empowered after reading Lovelace's poems! This latest book of hers was no exception. Once I saw it on Netgalley I jumped at the chance to read it.

I appreciate looking at the classic fairytale tropes through a modern lens, and while I didn't agree with every sentiment expressed within this slim book of poetry, it was still a refreshing read.

Big thank you to Andrews McMeel Publishing for sending me an ARC copy of this book!

I've read a few of Lovelace's collections before and love her creativity when it comes to reimagining fairytales to tackle heavier subjects with a feminist perspective. In shine your icy crown, Lovelace writes poems centred around an independent princess who does not need the approval of others and around a pair of sisters who happen to be princesses. The rejection of the familiar expectations of princesses or feminine characters known to many through fairytales is a great vehicle for examining gender stereotypes that Lovelace uses well.

What I loved about this collection were the poems from an older sister's point of view in response to a younger sister's. This collection felt like it juxtaposed insecurities and obstacles with wisdom for strength to get through the difficulties girls are faced with when growing up facing sexism in societal interactions. I loved the focus on self care and empowerment. I would definitely have loved reading these poems in high school.

The poems were concise and felt like meditations on empowerment, resilience, and supporting other women. Reading through the collection I enjoyed both the artwork and the writing for creating a space to explore the power women can exert in their own stories.

Shine Your Icy Crowns by Amanda Lovelace was my first book of 2021, and I'm so glad that it was. This book is book #2 in the You Are Your Own Fairytale series. This book was beautifully written and full of encouragement for finding yourself, embracing yourself, and falling in love with yourself. The book is woven together with pieces of a non-traditional fairytale, poems, and words of advice from big sister. It was extremely easy to connect with all pieces of this. I read this book cover to cover because I didn't want to stop, but I think it would also be wonderful broken down and savored. It is so powerful and encouraging and uplifting for women young and old. I will definitely by buying a copy to share with my daughter.

I received a digital copy of this title from NetGalley, which did not affect the content of my review. All opinions are my own.

I really liked Amanda Lovelace's poetry and this poetry book was no exception. I liked the direct message and her twist on fairytales. Illustrations were gorgeous as always too.

Book Review

Shine your Icy Crown by Amanda Love Lace (You are Your Own Fairy Tale #2)

Poetry book about realizing your own potential and strength and not letting society have a say.

Review: This has quickly moved its way up to one of my favourite poetry books. It’s empowering, emotional, and uplifting. I loved the “big sister says” poems the most, it felt like she pulled everything I wanted to tell my sister out of my head and put it on paper.

Thank you Netgallery and Andrews McMeel Publishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Pub date is January 26, 2021!

i love amanda lovelace's poetry. not just the style, but the things she talks about, so beautifully, in her poems. the feminist, encouraging and warrior in us thank her.

This poetry collection was so freaking good. I know why Amanda Lovelace is one of my favourite author !! I need my physical copy like now!!!
Thank you to Netgalley for the e-arc.

big sister says:

begin with
your wildest dreams.

accept nothing less.
nothing.

I’ve said this before and I’m sure I’ll be saying it again in the future, but Amanda Lovelace is the reason I love poetry. Her poems always grip something in me and leave an impact.

I really loved the first part of the book with the big sister advice and how it echoed the fairy godmother in Break Your Glass Slippers. What I love most about her poetry is that she often manages to put into words emotions and feelings that I don’t know how to express. But not only that, there’s also always poems that are what I want/need to hear. Especially in the collections in this series.

The second part of the book focuses on feminism- not only how we treat and judge ourselves but also how we pass judgments on others. Lastly, the illustrations in this are just gorgeous. I’m excited to see what the next collection will hold.

The book was very relatable and made you feel things from such short words. The trigger warnings, in the beginning, was a really nice touch that I think all books should have.

This book was received as an ARC from Andrews McMeel Publishing in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review.

I absolutely loved the sentiment of this book and the message it carries across throughout the book. I have not read break your glass slippers but shine your icy crown was so empowering that Amanda Lovelace had the mindset that women can run their own lives. This may not include a prince at all but the love she has for herself and/or for her sister. Anyone can be a princess, it is all a matter of perception and how you define a princess thanks to the work of Amanda Lovelace.

We will consider adding this title to our Poetry collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

At some point I think I’m going to have to stop saying I don’t like poetry. Like Nikita Gill and Rupi Kaur, Lovelace makes poetry accessible to those of us who don’t particularly take an interest (or understanding) to it.

I’m a self declared Princess; I have a tiara necklace and when I play Among Us my go-to name is “Princess” partnered with the crown (obviously!), so I felt like I had to read this collection. In fact, this is my second Lovelace collection- I read the princess saves herself in this one my sophomore year in college. I shamelessly devoured the collection; the poems really hit home and when I finished I just had to take a moment to breathe.

I want to say the same is true for this collection, the second in her you are your own fairytale series but I cannot. While the poems were very good, and easy to read, I felt like they rehashed a lot that she’s said before. That being said, I really do like Lovelace’s poetry because it reads more like prose, which is what makes me willing to read her poetry in the first place. I do like that there’s a theme connecting them all- sisters mostly in this one. I honestly read it like a dark take on Frozen where Elsa is helping Anna become a fierce badass so she doesn’t have to hide away like Elsa; I can’t exactly tell you why, but that imagery stuck with me, of one woman helping and teaching another about the brutalities of life.

There’s also some gorgeous minimalist illustrations and art in this collection, and one thing that just absolutely made me giddy was the inclusion of fat girls and women! It really brings the whole collection together and makes it seem not only more approachable but also softer.

This makes me want to visit the rest of Lovelace’s collections, so I just might end up reading more poetry in 2021 after all!

Shine your icy crown is a very touching poetry collection about different girls with different dreams. A lovely and beautiful book. Thank you NetGalley!

Completely touching, although it doesn't surprise me! Amanda Lovelace always writes beautiful sentences.

Another of the gorgeous arcs granted by publishers I meant to read earlier this year, but COVID times really have gotten into my reading habits and turned everything askew. I wanted to make sure I got through this one before the end of the year, and it was one of the best decisions ever.

I ended up reading this in bed, long into the night, finding piece after piece I wanted to share with friends and family members. Lovelace continues to march her way through the worst lies the world, as we ourselves, tell us, and to show the way through that darkness in the true light. I am incredibly glad to see this second series of her doing that in every way and cannot wait for the next piece in this series already.

Amanda Lovelace is my favorite "modern poetry" author I like to go back to. I did not enjoy all of her collections, but they are most relatable, at least for me.

Shine your Icy Crown is a sequel in You are Your Own Fairy Tale series, which is fairly inspired by fairy tale tropes. It also heavily focuses on Sisterhood in the first part (in both healthy and unhealthy way), so if you have a sister, you might relate more and on feminism in second part. Some of the topics discussed were used in her previous collections, though I still enjoyed them.

Amanda's poems are consistent through whole collection and her growth as an author also shows. I coudln't relate to everything but I really enjoyed poems focused on self-worth and self-love. I can't wait to see more from Amanda in the future!

Amanda Lovelace is back with another beautiful collection of poems in her "you are your own fairy tale" series, and I love it! This book was filled with inspirational poetry encouraging women to loves themselves as they are, and I just loved all the feminist messages: from embracing who you are to loving all the parts of yourself, I think these are such needed messages for so many people! I only wish it could have been longer because I did not want to put it down!

I was given an advanced Readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

"embrace every part of you they told you to hate."

This is actually the first book of Amanda Lovelace's that I have read. It was a lovely collection of poems-- mixed between an overall narrative device of the fairy tale genre with some other poems that are more general in between.

Spoken in a plain language, there is no purple prose to be found anywhere in this book. Interspersed with lovely thematic illustrations, its a page turning quick read.

The narrator takes on the moniker or "Big Sister." Doling out advice and sentiments to the reader in that narrative voice. As in every poetry collection, some will stand out more to you than others and there is no right or wrong way to like poetry.

Really enjoyed this-- will be keeping an eye on whatever comes after this.

I have devoured each of Amanda Lovelace's poetry collection and this one continues to impress. Lovelace tells a compelling story in verse throughout the book and this one is especially poignant since it's about sisters and the bond between them.

You don't have to have read any of the previous collections to get something from this collection, and her prose is the perfect introduction to beginners finding their way into poetry. Not because her poems are simple but because they are true and honest that anyone can relate to.

This was the perfect read to start off the new year. 2020 was a tough year for everyone and I was feeling down on myself and Amanda Lovelace made me feel powerful again. She brought back the spark in me that I needed to start this new year off with. 2021 is about self-care after 2020 being such a horrific year. Thank you, Amanda Lovelace for this perfect poetry collection that is not only relatable but also includes gorgeous graphics.

Lovelace really has the gift of creating work that connects emotionally to her audience. I really enjoyed this collection and I had no clue this was coming out until I saw it on my netgalley homepage.

Amanda Lovelace is one of my all time favorite modern poets. Almost all of her works are relatable and fit the time and age she is writing in. From "The Princess Saves Herself in this One" to her newest collection "Shine Your Icy Crown", Lovelace inspires women to take up arms against society and fight for themselves and for others like them. Her words spread love and empowerment to anyone who picks up a copy of one of her books. Her words show not only that we can get through whatever, but that we as readers aren't alone in the heartbreaking things a lot of people go through from day to day. Her works show that the road to self love isn't easy, but that it is there and we can help support each other along the way. Wonderful work! I highly recommend!

*Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this in exchange for an honest review*

This is the Amanda Lovelace I adore. I read her two collections in this new series back to back and the difference in how the stories resonated with me was stark.

This one felt more complete to me, like there was a more finished story to tell. The themes felt more mature and maybe that's part of it.

The illustrations throughout were gorgeous and made the poems feel more compelling.

If you enjoy feminist poetry that tackles challenging topics then I do recommend Amanda Lovelace. She lists trigger warnings in all the works of hers I've seen so far and encourages self-care. It's not quite a 5 as there were no poems that stood out to me as a new all time favourite but the collection overall was strong and bolstered me as I read it

I did not like Lovelace's latest poetry book but this one surprised me. I like it way more, it felt a bit more polished and different and I found that I could relate way more to those poems than the ones in her previous books. I love the formatting of the poems just as much though! And the art between them was very beautiful and added something unique to them.

This book encourgaes girls to be themselves and not let people tell them they have a prince. This book is full of advice to a younger sister from a older sister on how she can love herself.

This book has changed me deeply, made me think why it's important to love yourself.

Loved this collection of poetry, Lovelace really has poems that can really relate to in daily life and personal life

Another amazing poetry collection by none other than Amanda Lovelace.

This is the second book in the series called 'You are your own fairy tale'. It is mostly directed to females and has lots of advice on how to self-improve, love yourself to the fullest and become who you are.

I found this book to be quite inspirational and motivational too.

I highly recommend this, or any other collection by Amanda Lovelace.

Thank you Netgalley and Andrew McMeel Publishing for this e-arc of this book.

This book is for all the women out there. I do mean all. If you battle with you as a person this is for you. Mothers, daughters, sibling. If you battle with any health issues or body issues or day to day life isues this book is for you. I went in reading this not expecting what I thought. This is such a hard hitting book of poems that is perfect for what is going on. Perfect for the ladies of today.

The illustrations in stis book are amazingly well done.

Thank you again for this book and it is a mst read for all the ladies out there. Remember your perfect just by being you.

Amanda Lovelace has done it again. I love her work and I am so grateful to have received an arc copy in exchange for my honest review! I knew before I opened this that I would love it and I was not disappointed. Some of these poems were relatable for me and I strongly believe that's what makes poetry so beautiful, while at the heart of it can be sad, it makes the world feel less horrible knowing other people feel the same way and experienced the same experiences. Beautifully written, front to back with amazing artwork.

I've enjoyed all of Amanda Lovelace's books i've read. Shine your icy crown is no exception. Her writing is so relatable and inspiring. Every woman who has a sister, blood or otherwise should read this.

Fairytales are nothing if not an entry point. They give us a mirror that is sometimes hard to face, and this compilation of poetry by Amanda Lovelace does exactly that. It tells us not to fear the darker parts of ourselves and the darker parts of womanhood. It is laced with truth and honesty in beautiful allegory.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing this book in exchange for an honest review. .

My first book by the author, I finished it in a day, I heard several times mentioning the books of this author and finally I decided to read one, to start the edition of the book I thought it was beautiful, with its set of illustrations it made a very Nice, as for the poems, some I liked more than others, others are deeper, others are simpler, but without a doubt they maintain a thread and a structure from beginning to end, and that is appreciated, it was a great read without a doubt I am amazed the author.

I’ve been seeing more poetry in TBR piles, read lists and on Goodreads, and I’m not sure if that’s because I’m looking out for it more or we are reading more poetry as we start a new year in this strange, half lockdown, new normal life.

I was lucky and pleased we watched the live stream of Max Porter read ‘Grief is the thing with feathers’ (although I feel like we have been haunted by crows ever since, in real life and they seem to be following me through my books too).

When this collection popped up on Netgalley, I was drawn to the blurb but also the simple formatting, the well curated design and thought through typography.

I read this through, trying not to write all of the poems down as quotations I wanted to remember. In this story, the princess does not need a prince to be the best she can be, and part of it is a conversation between sisters which was lovely to read.

Amanda Lovelace has published a huge amount, and I am sad that I haven’t come across her work before. She writes about modern women, the balance between being perfect and beautiful but also strong and supportive.

I can’t wait to read more of this modern fairytale theme of hers, with other titles such as “the witch doesn’t burn in this one” and “the princess saves herself in this one”. This one, in fact, is book two of the series “ you are your own fairytale”.

A great read for poetry lovers who like their lines free flowing and slightly tongue in cheek, but genuine and heartfelt.

I loved this so much! Amanda Lovelace is such an amazing and inspiring poet and I've loved everything I've read from them! This one focuses a lot on independence which I really loved. Im not very good at reviewing poetry but I would highly recommend this!

Shine Your Icy Crown is the latest poetry collection from Amanda Lovelace, a staunchly feminist take on the idea of fairy tales. In her eyes you are your own fairy tale, there is no need for a charming prince to come to the rescue, you have the power to do what needs to be done and the strength to do it.
The poems may seem sparse but that does not diminish their impact on the reader, and the theme of sisterhood and women supporting and strengthening other women is one that deserves more attention.
I also loved the beautiful illustrations throughout the book, especially the large scale ones dividing the book into sections.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

* I was provided a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review *

CW: First of all, the author herself gives a content warning, which is unusual and very welcome. So CW for abuse, sexual violence, family abuse, eating disorders/body dysmorphia, sexism, self-harm, suicide, etc.

So I'm going to preface this review with a couple of frameworks.

First -- I'm a poet who's been in the indie publishing scene a while
Second -- This poet gets A LOT of hate in that world (like Rupi Kaur and other "Instagram poets")
Third -- Social media and internet clout are inventions we use to put people into boxes
Fourth -- If you hate on "Instagram poets" perhaps examine whether or not you are trying to be a poetry gatekeeper.
Fifth -- Poets of all disciplines are allowed to exist and the fact that some poets are accessible and successful at social media marketing doesn't make their work less valid.

So with those five Caveats in mind, here we go!

I requested this ARC specifically because I have seen so many OMG SRS POETS make really unkind comments about this poet and their work and honestly, I was just curious to see what all the fuss was about.

Do YOU get to be the arbiter of what is or is not poetry? No.
Is this poetry simple and accessible? Yes.
Are there more complex works of poetry out there? Sure.
Will a fan of this author pick them up? Maybe?
Is it anyone's job to make sure that people are reading "good" poetry? No!

So I get the critique about it being "Instagram poetry". Every page is pretty and perfect to post a pic of next to a coffee cup or a kitten or a deck of oracle cards or whatever. But here's the thing: that's where most people are, and poetry, even under the best circumstances, tends to be a tough sell. So, congrats, Amanda Lovelace and other "Instagram poets" -- you've figured out how to market effectively and that is just awesome. You're living The Poetry Dream. We don't all have to be starving artists to be considered "real writers" and I'm glad to see poets who are able to live off their work.

But here's the other thing, and omg I'm going to get run out of town for saying this, but poetry doesn't have to be inaccessible or challenging or harrowing or unpleasant to read. Sometimes direct is most effective. You know how I know this? She sells a lot of books.

You don't get to debate someone else's art. She wrote it, presented and published it as poetry, so whether or not YOU think it's good or valid, guess what, it's poetry. You don't have to have a chapbook or an MFA to know that something becomes a poem when the person who made it says it is. As a reader, you only get to decide if you want to read it. Remember that line from Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray? “Books are well written, or badly written. That is all.”

If I'd been given this book as an angsty teen in the 90s, I would have been STOKED and it would have made me feel like I could also be a poet.

And people (especially girl people, people who identify as girls, or fall outside of the binary) *DESERVE* books that meet them where they are, invite them into the work, and tell them that as readers, as people, as creators themselves, they're good enough. To be honest, the poetry world can be mean, petty, and ugly and it's refreshing to read a writer who so clearly wants her work to go out into the world and DO GOOD.

Sometimes it reads like a journal or diary with sketches and doodles. There's a theme that ties this all together and that theme keeps getting revisited and re-imagined, and that's solid writing. There's a lot of meditations on gratitude and learning how to be present in your body and all sorts of squicky bad feelings that we all feel from time to time. Sometimes it reads like therapy pages. Also ok and very relatable. Sometimes it's like a tarot journal and a grimoire. All valid and honestly things I see in a lot of other "serious" poetry.

The writing feels very real and authentic and it's unpretentious and humble in how it meets the reader and that, too, can be a valuable thing in poetry.

I like her use of ampersands, emdashes, and unconventional typography, viragules, and other poetical devices that tend to get ridiculed by SRS POETS. I like the "big sister says" refrain poems (nocturnes? I don't remember the poetic device that uses the same title across multiple poems) -- these poems are kind, and for everyone who's never had a big sister looking out for them, it fills in something that your heart may have been missing.

she uses the lower case "i" in a lot of poems, which is HUGE pet peeve of mine, but I have to say....in these poems it honestly didn't bother me. That's some high praise for me, because I freely admit I an irrational in my hate for the uncapitalized "i."

There's a lot of magic and tarot references in here and I like that too, I especially like that these poems have the potential to reach readers who might not have otherwise been interested in poetry or magic or tarot, and that those folks might go on to read more. Or not. That's up to them, and THAT, I think, is the whole point of this book (and probably other books in the writer's series and duology, which this book is one part of). The whole point is YOU, the reader, gets to decide what, if anything, YOU want to do next.


The art included in the book is pretty (sigh, and yes, very Instagram-able) and it truly complements the work. There are bodies that are not usually depicted with love, fair representation, or compassion rendered with care and joy, given page space to stretch and just be.

So: have I read "better" or more substantial poetry that deals in fairy tale tropes and tarot archetypes? Sure, probably. But that doesn't mean this one is bad. Just because its entry point is accessible and a lot of its content is universal -- well, for most readers those would all be marks in the good column.

Anyway. I'm rambling. I don't know why this author gets so much hate, except for possibly the fact that she's a successful poet.

I'm going to end it with a quote from the book that I enjoyed & I feel sums up this author's whole body of work:

"Big sister says/ Make them rue the day they underestimated you."

when I was 20 - I was dating a guy that bought me a copy of "The Princess Saves Herself in this One" for valentines. he also bought me flowers and chocolates but thats beyond the point. and while the relationship might not have lasted, but my love for Amanda and her words definitely did.

shine your icy crown reads like a book of advice. many of the poems themselves are titled in the form of a big sister. i like to think that's Amanda talking to us directly. i adored the illustrations and how the full page graphics broke up the book into 3 sections, each with their own glimpse into the story of a princess. while I didn't love all the poems - some of them were a tad juvenile for me - i know that younger me would have needed them. i read this book in one sitting and found myself bristling with emotions by the end.


The ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Another amazing book by Amanda. She is so inspiring and encourages girl power in all of her books and shows us that we can be the own saviors of our fairytale. She takes many tales and makes it her own. Very lovely poems and I am looking forward to her next book. One of my favorite poets ever!

This book centers around two sisters and the fairy tales that little girls read as they grow up. The prince will come to sweep you off your feet and live happily ever after. The book starts with, but what happens after the story ends. Is life happily ever after, probably not. Is life as shiny and romantic as the rescue and marriage, probably not. What Lovelace conveys is "that is okay", find your happily ever after. Will that be without self-doubt and ugly times along the way? Probably not. One of the other topics in the book is about how women are not always kind to each other. I was just having a conversation with friends about how we do not always lift each other up and support each other.

This is the second Lovelace book I have read. In all honesty, I was lost in places in "the princess saves herself in this one", not so in this book. It is the second installment in the You Are Your Own Fairy Tale series. I did not feel as if I missed any content in this book because I did not read the first book in the series. This is definitely one of those books that is inspirational, a take care of yourself and love yourself for who you are. Work on your self care, be a beast, it is okay to be alone with who you are. I definitely enjoyed this book much more than the first one of Lovelace's I read. My rating 4 ⭐.

Thank you netgalley for providing me with a review copy. All opinions are my own.

This book tackled themes that I have personally struggled with throughout my life. The only reason I did not give this title a 5/5 star rating, was because I feel that a few poems were just thrown in there to add length to the book. I have read other books by this author and it seemed that a few poems were not as authentic. I recommended this book to a friend already, though, and ate it up in one sitting. Overall, it was a very touching collection of poetry. I may read this collection again in the future to annotate a physical copy.

"For every girl who's ever been called a bitch for speaking her mind. So, like, every girl."

Please check the trigger warnings for her books before reading them!

First of all can we talk about the cover?? Simple but stunning!
Also, there are illustrations throughout the book and they're GORGEOUS. Couldn't stop staring at them.

This poetry book was excellent and absolutely what I needed!
Lots of poems about recognizing your self worth and learning to be proud of this amazing person that you are.

I already read 4 of amanda lovelaces books, this being the 5th. I will pick up every book she writes because I simply love her poetry.
This was the perfect book to start the new year with!

"don't be scared to trust, but don't take that to mean that you
need to trust every single soul you meet on your journey --
that's naive, not to mention unsafe, it's good to be on guard
sometimes, for not everyone has your best interests at heart.
get to a point where it's enough for you to have those few loyal
people who stand beneath the tightrope ready to catch you if
& when you slip."
-- minimalism.

ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

So, I wanted to give Amanda Lovelace another try after reading The Princess Saves Herself in This one and The Witch Doesn't Burn in This One years ago and I'm glad I did. I liked Shine Your Icy Crown. It's obvious that Amanda improved a lot. Her poems her are beautiful and empowering. I related to many of the poems and loved the small drawings throughout the book which were done by Janaina Medeiros.
Looking forward to new poetry collections by Amanda and to continues improvement and growth,

No matter how many of her books I ream, I am always amazed by lovelace's ability to reach into my chest and pull out my beating heart.
Another beautiful collection of heartfelt poems, compiled in a new and magical way.
The art work in this was also just *chef's kiss*.

I love this new thematic series, and I think it's such a new and exciting way to approach what feels more and more each day as an oversaturated genre.
lovelace's voice is clear and bright, echoing genuine and heartfelt feeling to any who care to listen.

"This is your fairy tale darling - you're the only one who has to live it, so you're the only one who has to be happy with it."

As I continue to read Amanda Lovelace's poetry the more I love and appreciate her work. I read her previous poetry collection (series) called "Women Are Some Kind of Magic", and her shorter duology poetry collection, "Things that h(a)unt." There is something about how Amanda Lovelace crafts her art. The way she makes a connecting storyline through-out her poetry, the images/illustrations she uses, and just some of her poems that stand out apart from the entire book. I read the first in this series, "Break Your Glass Slippers", and loved it. I saw her newest installment, "Shine your icy Crown" and I auto-read it in one sitting on the same day of seeing of it.
I highly enjoyed the three parts in this collection and with the poet Amanda stating in the beginning best describes her collection. "This collection is inspired by several icy and witchy tales, both old and new, some familiar and unfamiliar, though making this an entirely new fairy tale of its own." The illustrations are stunning and at each new section, I noticed more things then my first or second time I looked at the illustrations, giving me a little magic to her art. My favorite part in the collection was the first section, but on the whole it was beautifully done. I can't wait to see where this poetry series will go, or what the poet Amanda Lovelace with create next.

" Big Sister Says
when other people choose not
to believe in your magic,

you must take it upon yourself to believe in your own magic.

there will be no greater satisfaction
than proving them wrong.

Shine Your Icy Crown is the second collection in the You Are Your Own Fairy Tale. An inspirational collection of poems letting us know that women are their own people and do not need to be pigeonholed by those around them. As with all of Lovelace's other poetry collections, I really enjoyed this.

I have read all of Amanda lovelaces poetry this far and this one is just as great at the others. Everything flows well and there are many many peoms that resonate deeply. I definitely enjoyed this one a lot.

I received an ARC of this poetry collection from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!
Amanda Lovelace never disappoints me. The illustrations were beautiful, the messages were so important, and it just kept getting better as I went along!
"Less girl-on-girl hate. More group protection spells. "

3.5 STARS (rounded off to 4)! I have always love Amanda's works and this is not an exception. In the second installment of the You Are Your Own Fairytale series, she explores the magic of sisterhood. Coupled with her usual theme about writing based off of her experiences, this collection is as impactful as her previous ones.

I think the only reason why I rated it 3.5 (lower than the previous ones) is because the poems in this collection didn't resonate with as much as her previous works. But don't get me wrong, this was beautifully written. The illustrations were also amazing. I just wasn't able to connect that much. It's the it's-not-the-book-it's-me situation again, but please give this poetry collection a chance.

Shine your Icy Crown releases on January 26th, worldwide. Thanks to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel publishing for giving me a chance to read this in advance!

I’ve read all of Lovelace’s poetry collections and am a fan of her work. This latest offering is exactly what I’ve come to expect from her work, powerful, affirming poetry about feminism, being a woman, love, relationships and the like. This is the second title in her You Are Your Own Fairy Tale series and I also enjoyed the first book, Break Your Glass Slippers. The collection is split into three sections. I enjoyed the first one the best, alternating between a narrator posing questions about friendship, love etc and advice from big sister. The juxtaposition worked well.

I enjoyed the spirit of this poetry book. It’s self-positive and encouraging message really resonated with me.

Another great collection of poetry from Amanda Lovelace! All of these poems are so good and sop thought provoking and the overall message is super empowering. I can't wait to read the next book in the collection!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review!

Thank you Netgalley for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Absolutely loved everything about this poetry collection.