Sparks of Phoenix

by Najwa Zebian

In  Sparks of Phoenix —Najwa Zebian’s third book of poetry—she takes her readers on a powerful journey of healing.

As the phoenix emerges from its ashes, Zebian emerges ablaze in these pages, not only as a survivor of abuse, but as a teacher and healer for all those who have struggled to understand, reclaim, and rise above a history of pain.

The book is divided into six chapters, and six stages of Falling, Burning to Ashes, Sparks of Phoenix, Rising, Soaring, and finally, A New Chapter, which demonstrates a healthy response to new love as the result of authentic healing.

With her characteristic vulnerability, courage, and softness, Zebian seeks to empower those who have been made to feel ashamed, silenced, or afraid; she urges them, through gentle advice and personal revelation, to raise their voices, rise up, and soar.
 

Genres: Poetry, Nonfiction, Self Help, Contemporary, Canada, Ebooks

240 pages, Paperback

Published March 5, 2019

About the author

Najwa Zebian is a Lebanese-Canadian author, speaker, and educator. Her passion for language was evident from a young age, as she delved into Arabic poetry and novels.

The search for a home—what Najwa describes as a place where the soul and heart feel at peace—was central to her early years. When she arrived in Canada at the age of sixteen, she felt unstable and adrift in an unfamiliar place.

Nevertheless, she completed her education, and went on to become a teacher as well as a doctoral candidate in educational leadership. Her first students, a group of young refugees, led her back to her original passion: writing. She began to heal her sixteen-year-old self by writing to heal her students.

Since self-publishing her first collection of poetry and prose in 2016, Najwa has become an inspiration to millions of people worldwide.

Najwa has become a trailblazing voice for women everywhere and was name dropped by the New York Times and CBS News among others.

Drawing on her own experiences of displacement, discrimination, and abuse, Najwa uses her words to encourage others to build a home within themselves; to live, love, and create fearlessly.

Reviews

[Shafay Ishtiaq · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is something different from what I usually read, but it was a good experience to read a poetry book. Najwa Zebian did an excellent work writing it. I like how the book is divided into different sections and each section focuses on a different aspect.

The book focuses on the healing of a person and it’s really helpful if you have been into a toxic relationship or want to move on from a person that left you. The book focuses on understanding your importance, to love yourself and leaving those people who hurt you. The most important part in life is of reconstructing yourself after your demolition and keeping that kinder heart of yours still kind enough to love again.

Don’t lose yourself
looking for love inside
of someone else.
If you lose yourself,
no one else’s love will
make you feel whole or
found or
home.

[Beatrice · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC kindly provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Sparks of Phoenix uplifted my spirit. The poems centered on recovering and learning from pain and downfalls. Just like a Phoenix, we rise up, healed from the scars and continue our journey. Najwa Zebian's words soothes my heart and soul. I'm excited for her next collection.

[Aycan · Rating 2 out of 5]

 I just want to breathe, and I am gasping for air, but my lungs feel too small. I guess that is what happens when your lungs enter survival mode- They breathe only as much as they need to stay alive.

You seek pain as if it's going to save you. You dip into sadness as if it's going to bring you joy. You expect that loving the night will make your days better, and that loving the rain will make the shine brighter. You expect that diving into the ocean will get you to the shore of sanity faster.

You can't erase what happened to you, but you can choose to put it behind you, under your feet, and rise like the hero you are.

[Azbaqiyah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Writing Style - 5/5
Cover - 5/5

Overall Rating - 5/5

[Justine from Novels and Panda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Najwa Zebian has crafted good and great works are in here: works that one would read as their own. A voice to uplift the reader; that would more encourage and inspire to healing, acceptance, from the pain, walking through it. Not overnight. But through stages that Zebian will walk you through. It is honest and it strongly reflects on Sparks of Phonix’s contents.

She had managed to divide it into a series of stages– cleverly created from the burning past of pain; all learned lessons and accepting love for yourself. Transforming, slowly rising into the better version of you, a phoenix symbolizing all.

“I will not thank you for this pain.
I will not thank you for this description.
But I will thank you for this lesson:

My demolition might not be in my hands but my reconstruction is.”

More Sparks of Phoenix • Instagram • Twitter • Ko-Fi

[S · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wanted to love it! Found it clumsy and repetitive. I felt her pain but couldn’t relate to how she was rationalising dealing with it. I follow her on Instagram and often feel like her posts are hit and miss and the same goes for these poems. Some gems in there but some I just couldn’t connect with at all.

[Naadhira Zahari · Rating 4 out of 5]

This poetry book gives off messages of powering up after a shower of pain, of soaring through like a phoenix who is ready to take up on the world by storm, slowly but surely. Though yet again reading of a poetry book that enters around moving on after a heartbreak and a breakup, I couldn't relate to it but it was still interesting to read because it made me feel powerful after putting this book down. Like I could tackle anything that I land my mind on.

There was one specifically poem that the entire time I read it, I got goosebumps and made me really want to fight for it. It's on page 164-165 and it talks about demanding respect from men because women are so much more than what they think and see of us. Hence, the reason why I felt like fighting along with it.

I love that its split into categories: The Burning, Turning To Ashes, Sparks Of Phoenix, The Rising, The Soaring and lastly A New Chapter. Every part tells a story, a message and so much more than that. It has definitely managed to taught me the main thing and that is even if we are down and have no will to rise back up again, over time and slowly we can overcome anything. And that we can do it all better than we did last time. We can soar up like a phoenix, very much unstoppable!

[Bexx · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an eARC to review.

I somewhat enjoyed reading this, I took my time with it, and at time I didn't really feel like reading it. I ended up giving this a three out of five stars. I enjoyed lines but I didn't love this collection. I did relate to some of them though.

"My soul has been burning for a while now. Pain has become my new normal."

"It will bother you that they can be so heartless when they are the ones at fault. But remember, At least you have a heart. At least you can feel. Be grateful for that."

"You don't deserve to spend the rest of your life convincing someone of why they should love you."

"What a shame it is for you to run away from the truth of what you did to me when I should be the one running away from you."

"I do not want you to be sorry that I felt that way. I want you to be sorry for what you did."

"I just want to breathe, and I am gasping for air, but my lungs feel too small."

There are a few more lines I like and some are half that page of a longer poem.

[thewoollygeek (tea, cake, crochet & books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful poetry, the words just speak to you and touch your soul, sometimes hard to read and other times uplifting. A great work and this is the first poetry I’ve read by Najwa but I’ll defintelt be reading more.

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

[Tahira Yasmeen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't know I needed this book badly. There were pieces who called me out. They landed straight into my bones and heart. It was beautifully written and exhibited❤️💖.

[kutingtin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am broken
beyond repair.

There is no going back
to the person I was before.

There is rebirth,
rebuilding,
reinventing,
and soul stitching
with gold
that needs to happen.

[Munaza Tariq · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review


"You hit me with your pain,
and I turn it into poetry"

Words have power, and Najwa Zebian has shown us this through poetry.

This was the first poetry book I read by Najwa Zebian, and truthfully I was enticed by the pain hidden beneath the words. She tells a wonderful story of letting go of those that hurt you and finally healing even when it seems impossible.

I loved how the book was divided into chapters, to show the different phases of life. As one section would focus on a certain aspect of life. Giving the readers a chance to really understand the feeling behind these words.

[Fran (The Ramblebee) · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can also read this review on my blog.

I only recently read and was rather disenchanted with Amanda Lovelace's the mermaid's voice returns in this one, and if I had to describe Sparks of Phoenix in one sentence, I would say it's what the mermaid's voice is trying to be. Najwa Zebian's writing really spoke to me and my own experiences of emotional abuse, and it made my heart soar more than once.  The powerful theme of remaking yourself in the aftermath of abuse is matched by the autor's powerful voice.

For every broken soul,
there is a
once upon a happy soul.

Some of the pieces were a bit basic and formulaic for my taste, and I feel that the collection could have benefitted from cutting some of those pieces. However, I found myself bookmarking page after page, and there are enough pieces that show what Zebian can really do that I wasn't too bothered by the more redundant pieces.

My hands melted into my face,
and all of my words transformed
into action.

One of my absolute favourite pieces was the poem Excuse me, sir. Zebian weaves her words into something stunning and defiant in this piece, and this was when I truly fell in love with her writing.

Excuse me, sir.
My body is not a place for your conquest.
(...)
I carry with my body
the cities of the world.
I have, carved, on my body
streets that you want me to hide
because you see them as scars.

Overall, the collection was beautiful, but just missing that last little bit of oomph and freshness. I would still recommend it if you want to be taken on a journey of burning and healing, and I think it would be accessible and enjoyable even to people who don't usually read a lot of poetry.

All quotes are taken from the eARC and may not match the final release.

Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review. 

[Nas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I experienced a bewildering array of emotions while reading this book.

Let’s keep that to myself. But I LOVE THIS BOOK!!!

I would say, it cleansed my emotional pain in a way it was intended to; sort of an emotional catharsis.

This book was my therapist, in a way. I poured out all of my thoughts in it. I wrote my thoughts at every page. Every. Single. Page.

Najwa is a great poet & author. I always love what she writes.

And she was right anyway—about how words & literature can turn into a powerful weapon that can be used against someone who hurt us in any way. Poisonous & dangerous weapon, even.

Don’t mess with authors, guys. You could be next.

[Safa Bader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Waw. You never failed me. We’re sick of repeated poetry!! Najwa writes her words not words in other books!

[Hanis · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 stars.

I have never read any Najwa Zebian’s masterpieces, and Sparks of Phoenix became the first one. Oh wow, I had a wonderful time reading it! I was so in love – I still am!

Sparks of Phoenix becomes a platform for Najwa to express her thoughts that in my opinion, should be well combined as it will make a great representation of the world and our worldly lives. It does not only focus on loving a partner, it also focuses on women, on how worthy we all are. It focuses on ourselves – we are so worthy that we are not giving ourselves justice if we do not love ourselves the way we actually deserve. I would not be ashamed to admit that I learned so much while reading this book. I love how awe-inspiring Najwa is, and how she portraits her beautiful values through those beautiful words of hers.

The next section is going to be, her writing style. I am not a professional in judging someone else’s writing style, but I will define Najwa’s writing as pleasantly comfortable. I did not have a hard time understanding her poetries. In fact, I was able to indulge myself in them, which is a good feeling as I always hate it when I cannot feel a poetry with my heart and soul. However, when I was reading this book, there were certain poetries that I felt quite repetitive – I felt that I have seen them on social media platforms before. Nevertheless, it was a small amount, hence why I deduct a small amount of mark from the final score.

Lastly, I am going to focus on the moral values. I do see this poetry book as an attraction to anyone, be it men or women. You are not just reading poetries – you are reading letters of reminders. I do feel like this poetry book is a great teacher for those who are in pain, who feel left out, who have this typical but hard mind set that “I am not worthy enough”, etc. I will not be telling you what the moral values are, but I am fully certain that her moral values are giving me some free lessons of life. So thumbs up for that! Go read this poetry book as soon as possible if you want to know them great moral values and absorb those meaningful messages in your heart.

Overall, Sparks of Phoenix is an amazing masterpiece, and I cannot wait for it to become a phenomenon. Well done with this new book of yours, Najwa Zebian! I am looking forward to reading more astonishing and breath-taking pieces of art - through words - from you!

My final rating is 4.5 out of 5 stars. Highly recommended!

[Sawera Dedar · Rating 2 out of 5]

As soon as Sparks Of Phoenix hit the shelves in Liberty, I footed the bill and couldn't wait to get my hands on it because "The Nectar Of Pain" by Najwa Zebian had resonated with me on many levels.

Tbh, this book turned out to be a disappointment. I mean, there are some really good poems too, but I did not buy the book for just a couple of them. Most of the poems were those same cliches about love and heartbreak we've been reading ever since we joined instagram. The style of writing isn't as poetic as the one she used in The Nectar Of Pain.
The same reference about the burning and rising of a phoenix has been used so many times that now it's a total worn out cliche for me.

Most of the time, I couldn't relate myself to any emotional conditions she has described. But, that is okay since the magic of poetry only works when it is felt from your very bones.

This book is not for you if you like to plunge yourself into the depths of a poem and bath in its full essence. But, for anyone suffering from betrayal, heartbreak and a love gone bad, Sparks Of Phoenix might prove to be a healing read.

[Kirsten Tattersall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

“I will not live with your guilt.
I will not carry your weight.
It is yours to carry.”

As with all poetry collections that I love, this one made me incredibly emotional. I don’t know why I’m so drawn to poetry collections about women experiencing trauma and healing (let’s not psychoanalyze that), but there’s just something about collections like this that speaks to me. The symbolism of the Phoenix is beautiful and other than some repetition this was an A+ collection.

[Mennatullah El-Demerdash · Rating 5 out of 5]

Najwa’s pen never fails at making me feel amazed. Her words, the pain and how I can relate to them all.. She writes to heal her own self, and she never fails at helping me heal my own self as well. I’ve been a fan since her book “Mind platter”, I was immediately drawn into her writings and I never really stopped reading her books since then!
Sparks of Phoenix is a sweet collection of poems that consists of 5 parts. It takes us in a complete journey. Starting from pain, and ending with surviving.

[Sura jbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Najwa surfs a little further and deeper this time. She displayed to us some stages from turning to ashes till the phoenix starts to soar and heal. She took us with her to a journey full of pain and suffering with a lot of abuse such narcissism and gaslighting from her past lover. Slowly she starts to heal and to recover from past trauma she had experienced.

[Asia Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book of poetry reads as scriptures of a broken heart. Every poem bleeds intensity, and I feel the author's barrenness, pain, anguish, love, and renewal. There is no word written without importance, and I credit Najwa for sharing her scriptures and taking me on a journey, for which I can always return. She's my new favorite poet, and I look forward to reading her other works!

[Christy Hagen Clements · Rating 5 out of 5]

Healing.

[Yamunaah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Do you miss me?
Or did I become like
one of the streets in
one of the cities that
you once visited:
a distant memory

[Ramnik · Rating 5 out of 5]

The ability to write and have all types of people connect with your writing is an art.

[Sabina · Rating 3 out of 5]

"To become a masterpiece, we seek to be undone, to create a self so delicately stitched together, it cannot be compared to another."

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful collection of personal experience of different stages of going through, moving on and healing from a toxic relationship. The poetry is very raw but lyrical and each chapter seems a gradual change and transition in the healing and empowerment. The author is very open and truthful with her experiences and some of the wounds and scars that she carries. Wording is visceral at times but also beautifully uplifting and soothing. Very focusing on the self healing and going on and leaving the trauma behind you. Excellent work!

[Rebecca Simich · Rating 1 out of 5]

My rating is not to take away from the author's experiences or to invalidate her feelings, but this style of poetry is just not for me. The poems/stanzas themselves were very repetitive and predictable, this brought nothing new in my opinion. Very instagram/tumblr style poetry that really has no impact on me.

[Katelyn Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Close to 4.5 Stars! I found myself really enjoying and connecting to these poems, would highly recommend!

[sleepy · Rating 1 out of 5]

bad

[Courtney]

This wasn't for me at this time. It's likely best suited for someone in the midst of pain/abuse, or fresh out of it. This would have served me well years ago.