This is, by far, the most difficult book review I’ve had to write primarily because I am still so utterly, hopelessly conflicted with how I feel about this book. Even as I write this, I am repeatedly debating on the accuracy of my star rating. I cannot adequately stress how difficult and confusing and befuddling this is.

In terms of content, numerous sensitive themes were explored in such a powerfully raw, explicitly personal manner that never failed to move me in some way. There were pieces that talked about rape, emotional abuse, grief and the death of loved ones. All these were taken from the author’s firsthand experiences and she made no attempt to censor herself – which was a really, really admirably courageous thing to do. She did not hide behind vague allusions or colorful metaphors; she utilized a straightforwardly simplistic writing style with the sole intention to reveal rather than to convey a message while beating around the bush and dancing around figures of speech.

Another thing that I liked was how the collection was a carefully crafted web of stanzas and poems intertwined together, allowing all the pieces to be read together like a cohesive story unfolding on itself. Some of the poems in the latter part of the collection contained references to the previously presented poems in the earlier chapters, giving a sense of closure and continuity. I cannot count the times my heartstrings were tugged by the vulnerability within the stanzas. If I were to rate this book solely for the content and the emotion its poems evoked, I would definitely give five solid stars.

As someone who prefers form over substance in prose, I would have appreciated a lot more technical style and diversity. By the end of the day, my star rating is influenced by my personal preferences; however, this rating does not, in any way, diminish the quality of this collection. In spite of the number of my reservations, I do believe that The Princess Saves Herself in This One is a poetry book that’s worth picking up.