Reviews

Hearts, Cages, and other Locked Boxes by A.E. Bratchford

a_e_bratchford's review

5.0

As the poet, I have read these over and over in the process of putting together this poetry collection - I really am so happy with how this collection turned out. Especially now that I have add those beautiful illustrations.

I hope you get as much out of reading this collection as I did writing it!

casperfalls's review

5.0

What a beautiful debut work! This collection is a tender, intimate, and heartfelt journey from pain to hope and all the facets that come with it. It's sectioned in a lovely way as the heart, the cage, the lock, and the key with the latter probably being my favorite. The author shares different parts of themself in each section, which makes the collection read like a slow unraveling of secrets and vulnerability.

My favorite poems:

Wistful Stranger . I loved the imagery of that one and the feeling it captured was very relatable.

Fog . That one hits hard for me, because I've been dealing with disabling brain fog for 6 months now, so ooof, got me there xD

Soul in a Locket . That one felt like such a powerful turning point in the journey. It contains visceral pain but also liberation from it and I loved that.

The Wall . This one captured the complete journey so well. It's brave, vulnerable, and reflective. It sets both poet and reader free.


Lovely collection! I look forward to reading more of their work.