Adrift in Acheron

by Lavinia Valeriana, The Raveness

Adrift in Acheron, The Confessions of a Leamingtonian (book one in a new series) is the fourth diary that unveils revelations of Warwickshire avant-garde musician, confessional diarist and artisan Lavinia "The Raveness" Valeriana's deep and vastly dark-romantic motivations in Leamington Spa, and around Warwickshire. In true Lavinia-style, it is unconventional, forthright and, as all poetry works are, deliberately cryptic.

58 pages, Paperback

First published September 6, 2018

About the author

Lavinia Valeriana is an independent musician, confessional diarist, and artisan. Lavinia did debut in December 2000 at just thirteen-years-old. Valeriana has seen reference in the books of bestselling authors and has a global following for both her music and writing.

Reviews

[Agaistin Walsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

How do you describe a woman like Lavinia Valeriana? Well The Raveness as she is better known! By her text? Beautiful heart, seductive, darkly fascinating mind, strong willed but sensitive, just gorgeous. What I like most about Lavinia? She speaks from the heart, with common sense of the mind and no fucks given and is passionate no matter what emotion is behind every word and boy can she describe!!!! When she is mad, she is hell, thoroughly scary and when she is happy, she is heaven, seriously enticing. Am I in love? Yes. Sorry to the Divine Valentine, but one day X') lol. Lavinia The Raveness Valeriana is the most down to earth and deeply intriguing artist I have come across. God I hope she sticks to her guns. If people don't like this book, I am just gonna say it: you probably won't get the appropriations (as others have said here). Personally, I think her Dante references and others like Greek mythology or the Bible and other demons who going by the preface match the character of the humans she is referring to is g-e-n-i-u-s. In ever sense of the word she is avant garde and does "do what thou wilt". Finally a positivity applied to Crowley's views too. One of the best confessional writings to date!!!!!!! 10 out of 5!!

[Darren Granger · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you read this and Lavinia doesn't steal your heart, break it and then do it all over again with each intensely personal confessional entry. You don't have a heart. This book rips at you and is f.i.e.r.c.e. You taste her heaven and her hell. You gain a idea of what she has gone through and is reliving each day that has made her so tormented but resilient. You understand why in spite of her many talents and beauty, she is reserved and reluctant to seek the attention of the masses or any people attention in large doses. This is a disquieting tightrope walk between death and its unrelenting call, beat down every time by the strength of unconditional love but not just for "him" but for music, for books, for history, lavinia clearly loves knowledge and learning and escapism through the arts. She clearly loves the use of language! Wouldn't be without her in any of my collections! "I am only to him willingly bound" is a favorite line of mine. She is being waterboarded with ideas of suicide but there's no way she'd take the life she shares with "him" from "him". I agree with others the "appropriations" as people call them because she can't actually name people she is referring to, is cool as fuck. Lavinia is a silent seductress. Correction to goodreads though, this book is 72 pages. Here's one I learned from the book to finish off my review "rwy'n dy garu di, diolch yn fawr" my lady Raveness.

[Xue Wing · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got my book next day from Amazon prime before it sold out. The best manic depressive diary I have ever read (not saying she is manic depressive but there's obviously something, just saying she goes from happy to depressed very, very quickly and it's understandable why). The moods are so changeable and get quite scary! They also get so intimate and passionate that I really felt the love she feels! This is one of the best diaries I have read in my life to be honest. It's wild! She has such a way with words that is so unique to her. There is not another who writes in the signature style she writes in. It's beautiful even in the dark elements. She writes effortlessly and gorgeously. The way Lavinia conveys her emotions so natural and deep, it is hard to not feel with or for her. This review is for the November edition and she does it again with "By love and hearse". This heart breaking new account of bereavement (appropriately written on the day of the dead) has had me affected all day since my book arrived this morning. I had to jump on here and see if it was listed so I could review it! She even went out of her way to make a translations dictionary for the multilingual aspects. It is predominantly in English but I think she finds her flow using all tongues of her heritage (I am the same with English and Chinese). She obviously is also very proud of her Italian and French and Warwickshire roots. Her use of Dante, Shakespeare, Crowley and Rimbaud work amazingly. The "appropriations" as she calls them for people that she cannot name for "law-sake" are mind blowing. It's such an intelligent work. I see that some people here feel that some accounts are messages to others, words that she can't say (as another reviewer said) but from my point of view, I actually think their conversations with herself. Assurances. Also, she's physically and independently created something that looks and is formatted better than most professional books I have brought. From preface to the final bereavement entry, this book is none short of 74 pages of amazing!

Not to spoil it for anyone but I just have to quote the bereavement entry:

"Bereavement has me shattered and sore, devilment, cardiac dismemberment, a mind at war. Can we not again be together? Riding the waves of a ghostly shore as air.

Gone you are and before I, another star to beautify the sky. Take me with you for I thirst to die, you never did wish to see me cry.

Strength, I do not have anymore. If death is where you are, then I will traverse there, by love and hearse with my heart to bare. Riding the waves of a ghostly shore as air.

Gone you are and before I, another star to illuminate the sky. Take me with you for I thirst to die, you would not will me to live and lie."

Please, please, please, Lavinia include this on the album! I can't wait for it. This is a must read for fans of her and for people interested in psychology. She isn't purposely releasing psychological books, she is just confessing her thoughts and feelings as a diarist but god! Is this accidentally one of the best psychological shorts out there.

[Siobhan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't usually write reviews but WOW. Just wow. What. A. Diary.

[Kristen Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

The way this girl writes is glorious. This is shocking, sexy ++++. Y'all can bet your asses I'll be watching her every move from now. Lovin' "My Belial". I thank my lucky stars I got it before it sold out. I am pumped for the music that will build on this. If ozzy can be called the prince of darkness then this gal is the princess of love + doom for sure. Speakin of ozzy check out her cover of mr crowley its freakin' whoa! DARK ROMANTIC AF.

[Freja · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lavinia has very unique and beautiful way of communicating feelings, she is ethereal. I find so much beauty in this even the sad accounts. I believe that it is above basic reading and I know what I mean by this but it is hard for me to describe. I think some will be perplexed by it if they don't understand what many others have point out here but the preface explains it perfect if you read between the lines. It is very intelligent writing and very passionate. I would like to get many verse from this tattooed on me. The music I know is going to be worth the wait. She has a brooding and true romantic personality but at same time, a lot of self-will and not afraid to show her sensitivity as well as her strength. It easy to understand from the entry O' Divine Valentine why someone would stay with her for 13 years, its very easy to fall in love with this kind of soul. Beautiful book from a genuine beautiful person.

[Alisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I managed to get a used copy of this eighteenth-century style paperback from Amazon very recently. I enjoyed it but at the same time it was very sad because the entries obviously focus on trauma and who can say “trauma makes me happy”. When people say Valeriana has her own style, it's an understatement, she writes in a very cryptic manner that I can imagine to some may be puzzling. I enjoyed every minute of it! Not to mention, if you've been in a similar state of mind? You can relate. I would definitely read more. I've given 4 stars because I couldn't read some of the multingual verse (which was my own fault). She does state to be a multilingual writer at her site and in the book. The book focuses on very dark matters so I would advise people to be cautious.

[Agaistin Walsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I effing love this little black book! As people will know from my other reviews I have all versions. Please see my original review here:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

This one has more content and is the most DIVINE and deliciously dark of the editions. What. A. Mind. WE NEED MORE!!!!

[Lotta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lavinia Valeriana ist eine Göttin!!!!! ❤❤❤❤❤ Unglaublich!!!!!!