My Darling from the Lions

This incredible collection of poetry is a relief and almost made me sign with the tension building in me with the strong language. It's gorgeous. The poems are about resistance and fighting back.

Here's a part of prose nothing specific but would definitely give idea of language

Sandwiches

Tiff’s got me against the school railings, doing my eyeliner. In double French, I’d whispered, Your eyes. Will you make mine like that? – slice through a room, a lie, a man – Break time her body on mine, stoosh then soft; sugar on the tongue of all she hasn’t done yet, all she’s heard she could do. Already, Tiff’s a reckoning; bomb glitter on lids, oil spill on lips, sandwiches padding her bra. Yeah, the sandwiches. Thick, white, unbuttered. See, Tiff’s clocked the boys have clocked the difference between a tissue and a tit, a sock and a tit, but not quite yet a tit and a slice of bread. O, girl, you have opened my eyes, how they weep!

Definitely worth buying

An incredibly beautiful and powerful collection of poems that can be read again and again. My only criticism, and it really isn't a criticism, is that I wish that there were more!

Absolutely phenomenal. I've long been a fan of Rachel and she absolutely deserves to have this book on shelves everywhere. Will be pressing this collection into the hands of everyone I know.,

Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book is a selection of powerful and beautifully written poems, discussing the themes of religion, race, cultural inheritance, family, and sexuality.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and there were a number of poems throughout that stood out to me, purely due to their imagery and eloquent play on words. I look forward to reading more of Rachel Long’s work in the future.

My Darling from the Lions is a debut collection of poetry full of short, storytelling poems that are vivid and clever. Split into three sections, the topics range from family to race, sexual politics to growing up, and a range of other moments, with some hilariously sharp lines and insightful ways of phrasing things that'll make you think 'oh yeah, that's it'. Some of the imagery and comments from the poems will stay with me for a while, particularly 'Sandwiches' and 'Interview with B. Tape II'.

The poems are approachable and readable, making this a great collection to read and share, and they create a real sense of person and life even within very short poems. Powerful messages are combined with witty storytelling to bring a really enjoyable collection of poetry.

Thank you Netgalley and Picador for the ARC of My Darling from the Lions.

I have heard so many good things about
My Darling from the Lions that I had to read it.

Told in such a beautifully vivid way, each individual poem is diverse and covers topics from race, religion, sexuality, family, sickness, healing and cultural inheritance.

I cannot wait to read more of Rachel Long's work.

This is a beautifully crafted collection. I was totally immersed in the world of the poems and devoured it in one sitting. It's magical yet gritty real at the same time, the characters - their desires, realities and truths - jump from the page.

Long's poetry collection is a sophisticated debut. My Darling from the Lions captures many of those nebulous feelings found in the very best bildungsroman texts with an urgency and specificity that prevents it ever seeming saccharine. Biography blends seamlessly with commentary on today's most pressing, and divisive, social issues. "I am magazine educated", she writes. This line is one to which every young woman can relate. The recollection that follows, however, offers insight into the experience of a Black girl who was unable to find representations of her body in the pages of print. The clarity and care with which she presents moments of intersection such as this are exceptionally strong.

Powerful, important, empowering; Long's poetry collection explores the themes of race, religion, sexuality, family and cultural identity in such a captivating and delicate manner that has both a personal and a universal quality.

A collection of stunning poetry, full of strength, covering themes from sexuality to religion, this just cries out of grit, reality , of female and power in being a woman, of her race, a powerful Black female voice and I feel honoured to have been given an ARC of her book, I will be buying on publish date to have on my bookshelves permanently. A wonderful captivating voice and a collection to be read again and again, as I know I will.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion