Secrets of the Stones: Neolithic Imaginings is a poetry collection of verse that gives voice, life, and meaning to stones both sacred and mysterious

 

Neolithic Imaginings: Mythic Explorations of the Unknown

Loralee Clark

Kelsay Books, 2026

ISBN: 979-8-90146-824-1

Ebook, 50 ppg.

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For many people, a stone is just a stone. But for those who know better and understand the hidden stories and meanings behind certain stones, a whole new connection takes place. These are the stones we honor and protect, the ones we hold sacred, and the ones which have stories to tell and legacies buried deep within.

 

But you do not have to travel abroad to be able to observe, touch, and commune with these stones. Allow a poet with such understanding share these stories with you. In the poetry collection Neolithic Imaginings: Mythic Explorations of the Unknown by Loralee Clark, readers are presented with a variety of stone monuments and symbols both small and large. Interpret them as you will, but take a moment to consider Clark’s verse that explores their meanings, their depths, and their secrets.

 

The first poem, “Sacred Shape,” resonated with me. I understand that it’s talking about the ouroboros, the symbol of the snake eating itself. This symbol has always fascinated me, compelling me to set out on a search for its meaning. However, with this poem, it is used to compare it to other round shapes; a raindrop, our eyes, a ring. I like how the poem comes full circle at the end, using a much more significant symbol in comparison to this one.

 

The circle itself is a symbol that is often repeated in some of the other poems. One wonders about this significance. For me, I see it as representing things coming full circle, bound in a circle of strength. A stone that is shaped as a circle.

 

Many things of this world inspire poetry: People, places, events. Stones can also inspire poetry. Not just stones, but stones that are a part of something greater, such as natural monuments and something that is the result of humans or legends. Stonehenge, one of the many great monuments made of stone, is one such landmark. In this book, the poem “Stonehenge: Ecology of Flux” on page 22 pays tribute to those who created this monument. Of course they can’t be named; we do not yet know who exactly built Stonehenge. But we do know it was created by humans, and those are the ones honored in this poem. Here the author attempts to capture their reasoning for creating Stonehenge—“a  tapestry of living”—as well as its purpose: “Settle our spirits/Ground us to place.” And, finally, how they seem to put all of themselves into its construction, ensuring that this lasting legacy of their existence will survive into a future they cannot be a part of:

 

“One tribe begins low, multioctave:

we mirror the stones

which mirror stars moving through our bodies,

our bodies moving through the air,

air through our mouths:

we become the stars.

 

Hear us sing

reverberating these stones”

 

The poems in this book are written so well, with heavy use of expository writing and lyrical narrative. Some of the writing in these poems tend to pull me right into them, where a chorus of verse so beautifully written and colorful words kept me within these passages. In the poem “Rollright, England: Extended Cognition” on page 24, for example, one can find this well-written stanza:

 

“We send our questions with the logs of pine, the black henbane

we send questions into the fire, inhaling smoke plumes

as trees and meadow read the stars’ maps embedded in our bones.

We lift and lay the slabs, our ladder to the stars,

healing and fortifying, energy flowing from the plants and smoke

through our chests into the stones, singing itself to sky.”

 

Our stories sing within those stones, too. The stones we are buried inside, those that stand watch over our graves, and those which we were a part of in creating something larger.

 

The author’s invitation to “Come gather to sing the songs of stone” awaits. Explore the poems in this book and embrace the singing of those songs of stone.

 

 

 

 

Five stars

 

 

 

 

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

 

Beware What Lurks in the Dark: It’s Dark In Here is a frightening collection of horror poetry and art

 

 

It’s Dark In Here: a collection of horror poetry and art

Amanda Ruzsa

Independently Published, 2025

ISBN-13: ‎ 979-8292292692

Ebook, 89 ppg.

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Horror poetry has a way of staying with you, especially if it has art to go with it. Reading the horror poetry collection It's Dark In Here: a collection of horror poetry and art by Amanda Ruzsa has that kind of impact. These poems are not just poems meant to scare readers, but they also haunt those who dare to read them. They linger as dark moments that are difficult to escape from, attaching themselves to the soul and slowly feasting on the reader's sense of security.  

 

The poem “Trapped” really has a suffocating feel to it. With lines like “The tides are high/Ripples of water swirling/Around me” and “Even as I tread water/Darkness spreads.” It really made me feel isolated and confined.

 

“Bent Neck Lady” was really creepy. Okay, first of all, I have to say that the image of a lady with a bent neck is in itself disturbing. The poem is also creepy: “I feel the sticky breath of rot/Warming my tear-streaked face/If I could move, I still would not/For fear she’d then give chase.” This nightmarish creature “with gnarled claws” haunts a new home and the speaker in this poem is terrified of it. The accompanying artwork of this “bent neck lady” is equally terrifying.

 

“She Played for the Devil” is a very haunting poem. “Her bow dances/on strings that cannot break” seems to imply that this unseen player of a violin that is buried deep within the earth plays nonstop. This is confirmed by the lines “She’s cursed/She’s trapped/And she mustn’t stop playing.” This poor soul is doomed to play for all eternity and should she ever slip or stop, then chaos ensues in the world above her. I loved how this poem was written. It shares what happens if she stops playing the violin, and why she must continue to play no matter what.

 

Some of the poems had surprise endings: “She Eats the Dark” and “Hung” and “Home Invasion.” Other poems really touched on dark moments as well as horrific events. There’s a good mix of monstrous creatures and horror in all of these poems. All of these poems created a haunting and terrifying reading experience.

 

It's Dark In Here is a frightening collection of horror poetry and art. The artwork accompanying the poems is dark and creepy. It’s certainly a must-read for fans of horror poetry, as well as a collector item that contains some stellar art from some of today’s outstanding independent artists.

 

 

Five stars

 

 

 

Disclaimer: I downloaded a copy of this ebook as part of my Kindle Unlimited subscription. This review is entirely voluntary.

When Monsters Roamed the Earth: War of Dictates combines creatures of myth and fantasy in an epic battle for power

 

 

War of Dictates 

John Baltisberger

Ebook, 107 ppg.

ISBN-10: 1734893710

ISBN-13: 978-1734893717

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Many writers enjoy setting historical and modern-day settings as the backdrop for stories of fantasy and myth. John Baltisberger is one of those writers. In the horror fantasy book that is written in a series of poems, War of Dictates by John Baltisberger has creatures and beings from mythology, as well as creatures of fantasy, fighting for dominion over the earth. Both sides use up and destroy humans, often setting them up as pawns in their battles.

 

While this may be a story written as poetry, one must keep in mind that the timeline is not consistent. It starts at the very beginning of mankind, then jumps to the present day, then goes back to Biblical times. Nevertheless, this timeline hop did not cause confusion, and each of these passages was interesting to read, especially with the Nephilim and the Watchers. There is speculation that giants once roamed the earth, and here they are presented as deities. An accurate portrayal, actually.

 

Human women are not treated fairly in these poems. At the beginning, women are seen as sex objects, often raped to death. Then they are seen as reproductive objects, valued only for being able to have babies. Then they are used for trade: 

 

“Human men had learned from the twisted Grigori and traded women;

valued their progeny and title and legacy above human life.

And so, the first Nephilim lords learned

to make peace, offer a woman.

To make war, take a woman.

To reduce men to idiots, show them a woman.

To sap men’s life, unmake a woman.” 

 

Human women may not fare well in the stories, but one of myth has better stature: Lilith. I was surprised to see this mythical being in this book, but with the other creatures and beings of myth and fantasy, it felt right. This is especially true given that some of the stories are set in Biblical times (Noah and the flood, Adam and Eve). 

 

The battle between the gods, the Watchers, and the angels continues in the stories. It was all extremely fascinating to read, even though I know it’s all fictional. But it is written so well. The style of the writing for the poems makes it appear as though it’s from an old book. There is no “thee” or “thou” but the word choice makes it seem as if the stories come from ancient text. 

 

I especially liked the last part of the book, where these beings took on the human forms of certain people in history (as well as in the year 2020) and Lilith returns for one last battle. It was entertaining to read. 

 

War of Dictates is a recommended read for fans of mythology, fantasy, and Biblical studies (and with that last part, one must keep an open mind when reading such content. Remember, it’s just fiction!). It’s a book of epic battles and the quest for power. Brilliantly written and plotted so well, these poems are sure to entertain and fascinate readers. They are tales that linger in the mind long after the very last poem is read.

 

 

Five stars

 

 

 

Disclaimer: I purchased a copy of this ebook for research purposes. This review is entirely voluntary.