
I was thrilled when the brilliant Christine Ray of Brave and Reckless asked me to read and review an advanced copy of her debut collection, ‘Composition of a Woman’, and let me tell you guys, you are going to want to mark your calendars for its July 31st release date! This book is fire, unbridled, out of control, glorious fire!

Composition of A Woman – Advanced Book Review
Christine Ray’s debut collection ‘Composition of a Woman’ is an extraordinary glimpse into the essence of what it takes to make, and sometimes simultaneously break, a woman as strikingly powerful as she is beautiful.
Christine Ray brilliantly split ‘Composition’ into five thoughtful sections that work together beautifully to deliver the maximum impact of each poem while taking the reader deeper into a stunning journey of the mind, the body, the very soul of this person. In Composition, Christine Ray reveals so much of what we try to hide, and she does so while dancing between ruthlessly beautiful and heartbreakingly painful.
While Ray’s work is often merciless in its unapologetic, in-your-face delivery
the mean girls smelled
like cruelty mixed with uncertainty
disdain peppered with insecurity
ravenous hunger and envy
(What Little Girls Are Made Of)
it is never short of exquisite
she brings black roses
and moonlight
fireflies like stars in her sky
bare feet caress the dewy ground
night blooming jasmine
reaching up to brush her opal skin
(Black Roses and Moonlight)
nor is it ever lacking in white-hot power
I will travel the ancient ways
clothed only in my dark tresses
my alabaster skin
don a crown of rose and poppy
their scent filling the air
I will take back this night
shape its darkness with my hands
make it blaze with stars and moonlight
create a road for my daughters and sisters
to follow home
(Lilith)
Christine Ray holds nothing back when she writes about the pain of depression and a failing body. She is raw and unashamed when she speaks to sexuality and the way society still reeks of misogyny and the absence of humanity. But at her very best she is empowering, speaking to the brave and reckless women who she lovingly refers to as sisters.
‘Composition’ is a beautiful book that takes the time to acknowledge that while some of the weight we carry through life may not be ours to carry, sometimes carrying it is just as important as knowing when to let it all go.
Find more of Christine’s work, and the work of those she champions at:
Whisper and the Roar
Blood Into Ink
Sudden Denouement
Indie Blu(e)
Sudden Denouement Publishing has definitely picked another winner with Christine Ray!
I cannot thank you enough for this review. I am deeply honored.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am so happy to have been able to get a sneak peek, I thank you for that. Can’t wait to hold this beauty in my hands ❤ Congrats to you!
LikeLike
Reblogged this on Brave & Reckless and commented:
Nicole Lyons made me a little teary with this beautiful advance review of Composition of a Woman.
LikeLike
Reblogged this on FVR Publishing and commented:
Nicole Lyons reviews Christine Ray’s newest, Compositions of a Woman. Available July 31 ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on My Screaming Twenties and commented:
Nicole Lyons’ full review of Christine Ray’s Composition of a Woman – out July 31st ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on cabbagesandkings524 and commented:
Nicole Lyons reviews Christing Ray’s new poetry collection.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on SPO_OKY and commented:
Looking forward to reading this. Can’t wait to get a copy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on Go Dog Go Café and commented:
A big congratulations to Christine Ray! We are all so proud of her.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on MY VALIANT SOUL and commented:
So excited for you, Christine.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on BrewNSpew and commented Nicole Lyons reviews Christine Ray’s newest, Compositions of a Woman. Available July 31.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on BrewNSpew and commented:
Nicole Lyons reviews Christine Ray’s newest, Compositions of a Woman. Available July 31
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great review! 🙂 Sharing…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Congratulations Christine.
Job well done. 🙂
LikeLike
So excited for Christine and can’t wait to get the signed copy..Yay!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on Megha's World and commented:
Read this wonderful review of Christine’s debut book “Composition”, hitting the shelves on July 31, by Nicole Lyons.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So excited to read this!❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person