Synopsis:
“Bad Omens by Jessica Drake-Thomas begets a canticle of death and resurrection, a spell for love and revenge, a bellow to claw your way out of the dark and back into this world with fire in your heart. Gothic and mystical, this occult collection drips with saccharine siren songs that tear you apart and inspire righteous anger. Readers will be haunted, enticed, and moved to be true to the darkness in their hearts and ‘let the wolves loose.'”
Edition:
Paperback (review copy provided by the author)
My Thoughts:
Jessica Drake-Thomas’ poetry is incredibly elegant. She has a way with words that is truly a joy to behold. I flew through Bad Omens in about a half hour, and then I went right back and read through it again. Gothic poetry can be a tough sell (although apparently not as much for me as I’d like to think, because holy hell have I read some incredible works in the last few years), but Drake-Thomas could sell a Popsicle to a polar bear.
I am hard-pressed to pick a favorite poem, or even a few favorite poems. They’re all so good! But after no small amount of agonizing, I have selected these few:
- Bad Brood
- Russian Doll
- Anatomical Venus
- Ophiophagy
- Queen of the Crossroads
If you’re a fan of dark/gothic/horror poetry I really can’t recommend Bad Omens highly enough. It’s enchanting.
Rating:
Haunting, beautiful, and shot through with dread.
Bad Omens By Jessica Drake-Thomas Querencia Press, LLC Published: February 17, 2023 ISBN: 9781959118091 Paperback, E-book 66 Pages
