The Other Crown by Emmanuella Hristova ~ a Review

by MK French

The Other Crown is a poetry collection addressing love, romance, and sex from a woman's perspective. Relationships are complicated, especially when there's the potential of heartbreak or friendships layered with pain or suspicion. The verses appear sparse, allowing the reader to also fill in the empty spaces, bringing their own emotions and past lives into the reading.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

October 2023; Indie; ebook (70 pages); poetry

Some of the lines are especially poignant. "I am the power you/ wish to/ hold in the palm of/ your hand" is in the opening poem, and hit hard. From there are many such lines to pause and savor, trying to draw out meaning. There are laments on aging, beauty, and sexism, as well as the roles that women take within the relationships they have with others. Some of the poems feel like fragments, little pieces of ephemera to show a sliver of emotion. They feel like they'd be easy to write, but often those are the things most difficult to write: the perfect turn of phrase that grabs you and feels like it was just the thing you needed to read in that moment. While this can be a quick read, contemplating the meaning can take a long time.

To listen to Emmanuella read her poems, check her TikTok, website at www.ehristova.com or Instagram account.

Buy The Other Crown at Amazon

Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and a golden retriever.

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