The Witch Doesn't Burn in this One by Amanda Lovelace | Rating: ★★★★★

“Let it guide you into a grand love affair with yourself. Until the love becomes so second nature you need it no more.” 


The first thing you should know about me is that I love poetry. The second thing you should know about me is that there's nothing I respect more than people expressing themselves in the most intimate way possible--through their art. As someone who has been following Amanda Lovelace for years through her Tumblr account, admiring her from afar, I can honestly say it's a privilege watching her words (and well-earned fanbase) grow. Amanda Lovelace has rightfully secured her place amongst the most talented, prominent voices in modern poetry. End comment.

What made her standout amongst her counterparts is simple: she speaks, readers listen. Because poetry is such an intimate expression of who we all are, there are many ways to reach a person through something as simple as prose. Lovelace proved her place in The Princess Saves Herself in this One, and only solidified the fact that she is here to stay upon the release of her phenomenal followup, The Witch Doesn't Burn in this One. Perhaps you've heard me say the phrase in my previous reviews of both the original, self-published edition, and the revised edition of her first collection, but Amanda Lovelace provokes thought with her simple-to-the-point tone.

What makes poetry work is the emotional depth behind it, the soul of it, the honesty and exploration of life and all its complexities, and Lovelace is one of the voices that leads the pack when it comes down to it. Lovelace makes you feel in mere seconds what some take hours to convey. In this second installment to her Women Are Some Kind of Magic series, Amanda Lovelace shows a great deal of growth on her part, both as a human being and a writer. What readers felt--and connected to--in the first installment will be multiplied by the time they finish The Witch Doesn't Burn in this One.

There's something fiery (yes, I did say that) about this specific collection. As per usual it is honest and obtainable, painfully real and beautifully complex, and full of many topics that everyone can connect with on some level. Leaving one thing to our minds: a closeness between writer and reader that cannot be replicated.

In short, Amanda Lovelace proves once more that she is a powerhouse in the poetry community and is the sort of writer you want to have inked onto your skin for fear of losing the power of words. She pulls you in from the start and keeps you focused intently throughout a word of prose that will spark a fire in your veins.

Get your highlighters or page tabs ready--you'll need them for this one.