A fantastic poetry collection. One thing that I see brought up most often when discussing this book is its connection to nature and that is certainly strong - Hewitt explores what the natural world means to different people, the secrets that it holds, the connections that it provides between people. In this collection, sexuality, death and grief are explored alongside mythology. When I think about the way sound is used in these poems, I am thrilled. Hewitt has considered the weight of his words well when crafting these verses and it is an impressive feat that begs to be re-read.

A beautiful collection of poems written wonderfully and delicately. Sean is really in touch with the emotions being explored, this is personal and deeply emotional.

*I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks for the free book.*

Sean Hewitt has a way with words that is touching. It is about seeing life through nature and dealing with grief and loss. Many of the descriptions are ringing true but do not feel overused. As always, I couldn't connect to all the poems, but I enjoyed them. I also liked how, for example, archeology was used. I loved the very Irish approach.

4 Stars

Seán's book is a tender portrait of life in all its complexity, with the central anchor of Nature at its heart. Unashamedly romantic in a way which calls to mind the work of Heaney, Yeats and Gerard Manley Hopkins, 'Tongues of Fire' is a gorgeous meditation on queer love, solitude and, ultimately, grief.
At a time when cynicism is the new cloak to wear, it feels refreshing to read something so heart-rendingly sincere. Hewitt's book emerged quietly into the world during the height of the UK's Coronavirus lockdown, but if there is any justice, its reputation should grow steadily and like an ember be fanned into flame over time. Its fire, in other words, may not be burning quite as brightly as it deserves to now, but it will, and it must.

3.75 stars

I could relate to so many of the poems in this book. It was nice to complete it in one sitting. Seeing how the author describes the feelings into words was thrilling.

would love to pick up more of the authors works in the future.

A beautiful collection of poems that reflect on nature and the personal connection humans find within it. A must read for people like myself, who during this trying times have found comfort in nature.

A lovely collection of intense poetry, themed around nature, trees and sexuality. Powerful beginning which is the best part. The following myth section was less to my tastes with a strong finish.

I can only imagine what will come as Hewitt matures and bones his craft even further.

Tongues of Fire a collection of poetry that focuses on viewing life through nature, on physicality and reality but also the sacred and untouchable, and on grief, loss, and illness. The poems are mostly short lyric poems, weaving together ideas of nature, belief, and personal connection. What is particularly vivid as you read the collection is the ways in which the natural world is returned to, and offers an escape from the world, and how the poems show this through moments and details of plants and settings as ways of encapsulating feelings, from sex and desire to sadness and grief. This felt particularly notable in poems like 'Adoration', which moves from a nature walk to a Berlin club and back again, and it really gives a sense of how the personal can also be part of something much larger about life and earth.

These poems feel like an escape into the tiny details of outside, a kind of mechanism of looking for the natural and the meaning when things seem random or difficult. This was a great collection to sit down with and become immersed in the senses and physicality, but also the emotions of the poems.

Wow. This is a collection of stunning poetry, and every poem sung to me. I loved how every poem was linked in some way to nature, the reoccurring theme of nature permeates the collection and I think it's beautiful. I found that the poems about the author's personal experiences were extremely moving, they were generally my favourites. It's an amazing poetry collection, written by an author who has exceptional writing skills.

I have spent a cosy afternoon in the company of Tongues of Fire. Hewitt's debut collection gave me a sense of how he views the rhythms of nature and the ways in which humans are capable of admiring/trespassing on the natural world. The middle section of the collection is comprised of part translations of a middle-Irish tale named Buile Suibhne. The poems that moved me most were those that explore sexuality, the frailty of loss and the comfort of nature. In 'Tree of Jesse', the effect of his father recalling a dream with Seán in it has stuck with me. I found this description of dreams to be particularly moving:

"and I felt in that moment
the privilege of being alive
in your mind, to have been remade

beyond myself and beamed out
in the flickering room of your sleep."

I liked this poetry collection as it had some beautiful imagery and explored some interesting themes. The writing was great and I like how each section was split up as they were themed together really well.