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Baptism by Fire
Baptism by Fire is a poetry collection rich in symbolism, and gut wrenching in content. Not for the faint hearted. Muller’s work reads like a story; told as a collection of visceral experiences through one female protagonist. The work takes us on a journey where the speaker encounters the destructive realities of the world attempting to undermine and manipulate her and her body. This work leads us on a passionate pursuit of authenticity and the drive toward the liberation of power.
Harshly real, vexatiously honest, and brutally confrontational, the work leans towards a feminist commentary on sexual liberation and the power of female identity. The work is beautifully introduced by Stoya, Pornographer and author of Philosophy, Pussycats, & Porn.
Amy-Jean Muller’s writing is rooted in experiences inspired by symbolism, research and mythology. Her work does not attempt to gloss over the disturbing encounters of the world through its confrontational honesty. These truths are both devastatingly beautiful in their melancholy, and enigmatic in their veracities. Muller, writes with gut punching rawness, which is both transgressive and existential. She is currently completing her first novel.
Harshly real, vexatiously honest, and brutally confrontational, the work leans towards a feminist commentary on sexual liberation and the power of female identity. The work is beautifully introduced by Stoya, Pornographer and author of Philosophy, Pussycats, & Porn.
Amy-Jean Muller’s writing is rooted in experiences inspired by symbolism, research and mythology. Her work does not attempt to gloss over the disturbing encounters of the world through its confrontational honesty. These truths are both devastatingly beautiful in their melancholy, and enigmatic in their veracities. Muller, writes with gut punching rawness, which is both transgressive and existential. She is currently completing her first novel.
55 pages, Paperback
Published January 29, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 5, 2021
Amy-Jean Muller is a force to be reckoned with. This collection brings the fire and it doesn't stop. From the first page, you know you're in for a helluva ride. My favorite thing about this collection is that Muller doesn't hold back at all. This collection is putting the patriarch on notice. Can't wait to read what Muller puts out next.
May 9, 2022
What an intense and In some ways brutal collection of poetry by Amy Jean Muller. I feel in some ways that reading this collection right now is very prescient as through the voice of the author she offers lamentations yet strength in the face of adversity and oppression. Absolutely worth a read, I look forward to discovering more poetry written by Amy Jean Muller.
February 20, 2021
In “Baptism by Fire” Muller offers an unflinching examination of abuse, misogyny, and the role of religion in the discrimination of women. “Remember the trinity and be silent girl,” she is told, even as the world builds a “gallows for my neck.” Muller has crafted these poems with a master's touch and each arrow-tipped word squarely hits the mark. I wholeheartedly recommend this collection, and will look out for more work from Muller in the future.
August 15, 2021
Baptism by Fire is a tour de force, a triumph, one of the most powerful and provocative chapbooks I’ve ever read. This collection of brutal and brilliantly crafted poems, purged from the fiery depths of the soul of an exceptionally talented writer, left me rattled, enraged and thrilled.
The absolute fury in Muller’s voice is palpable, as if she is imbued with the collective rage of millennia of mistreated women. Muller’s work is a damning indictment of modern society’s failure to reject the archaic patriarchal norms that (still) exist solely to punish women, and her writing is so provocative, her imagery so devastating, that one cannot help but feel furious too.
The genius of this collection lies in the way we are allowed to witness the poet’s psychological and sexual transformation, her journey through womanhood from a god-fearing innocent child vulnerable to the male gaze (and worse) to a woman rejecting religion, reclaiming her body and conjuring the bravery to bite back. The poet’s rebirth as a sexually awakened, assertive soul, a tempest, a hurricane, a force to be reckoned with is a joy to experience; we root for the woman writing these poems, we want her to dismantle the pedestals that men comfortably sit atop, we want the men in these poems to hurt themselves as they fall from grace, to experience a fraction of the pain they’ve inflicted on undeserving women; we want Muller to reign triumphant, to win all of her battles, so to see the poet emerge as a fighting force refusing to accept misogynistic behaviour is a delight.
The religious imagery that features throughout Baptism by Fire I found to be particularly effective because certain scenes in Muller’s writing felt godless, like God wasn’t there. I also adored Muller’s descriptions of ‘sweetness’ throughout her poems; this ‘sweetness’ coupled with powerful descriptions of the natural world (trees in particular) cleverly juxtaposed against depictions of physical and sexual violence serves to emphasise the innocence and beauty of the women and world these men carelessly destroyed.
The violence and graphic language however is not gratuitous – Muller’s words are carefully chosen and provide a gut-punch at the right moments. Her storytelling is simultaneously traditional (some poetry following formal rhyme schemes, and expertly placed nursery rhyme, folklore, mythical allusions) and highly innovative – Muller’s symbolic interpretations of blood and trees are modern and provocative, and I admire the way in which the poet has studied myths that are thousands of years old and related them to her own lived experiences in her gritty, raw, devastating and utterly unique style.
As Stoya says in the introduction to Baptism by Fire, “an angry woman remains a political act… Rage, here, is transcended into art.” And that is exactly what the pages of this chapbook contain: rage for days, fire, guts, grit, devastation and, most importantly, the writer’s renaissance. Muller has regained the power stolen from her by the patriarchy, and I hope she holds onto it with all her might and never lets it go.
This is a bold, brave and often unsettling and utterly devastating collection that deserves to be read by everyone and anyone who has a fire burning in their bellies.
Poem that stayed with me, that I couldn’t stop thinking about for days:
Honestly, the entire book stayed with me, but ‘Choked at birth’ in particular has haunted me
Other personal favourite poems:
What Are You Made Of? / Roses / Flame / The Alchemy / Nests / Seedpod / My Forest / Apple of Their Eye
The absolute fury in Muller’s voice is palpable, as if she is imbued with the collective rage of millennia of mistreated women. Muller’s work is a damning indictment of modern society’s failure to reject the archaic patriarchal norms that (still) exist solely to punish women, and her writing is so provocative, her imagery so devastating, that one cannot help but feel furious too.
The genius of this collection lies in the way we are allowed to witness the poet’s psychological and sexual transformation, her journey through womanhood from a god-fearing innocent child vulnerable to the male gaze (and worse) to a woman rejecting religion, reclaiming her body and conjuring the bravery to bite back. The poet’s rebirth as a sexually awakened, assertive soul, a tempest, a hurricane, a force to be reckoned with is a joy to experience; we root for the woman writing these poems, we want her to dismantle the pedestals that men comfortably sit atop, we want the men in these poems to hurt themselves as they fall from grace, to experience a fraction of the pain they’ve inflicted on undeserving women; we want Muller to reign triumphant, to win all of her battles, so to see the poet emerge as a fighting force refusing to accept misogynistic behaviour is a delight.
The religious imagery that features throughout Baptism by Fire I found to be particularly effective because certain scenes in Muller’s writing felt godless, like God wasn’t there. I also adored Muller’s descriptions of ‘sweetness’ throughout her poems; this ‘sweetness’ coupled with powerful descriptions of the natural world (trees in particular) cleverly juxtaposed against depictions of physical and sexual violence serves to emphasise the innocence and beauty of the women and world these men carelessly destroyed.
The violence and graphic language however is not gratuitous – Muller’s words are carefully chosen and provide a gut-punch at the right moments. Her storytelling is simultaneously traditional (some poetry following formal rhyme schemes, and expertly placed nursery rhyme, folklore, mythical allusions) and highly innovative – Muller’s symbolic interpretations of blood and trees are modern and provocative, and I admire the way in which the poet has studied myths that are thousands of years old and related them to her own lived experiences in her gritty, raw, devastating and utterly unique style.
As Stoya says in the introduction to Baptism by Fire, “an angry woman remains a political act… Rage, here, is transcended into art.” And that is exactly what the pages of this chapbook contain: rage for days, fire, guts, grit, devastation and, most importantly, the writer’s renaissance. Muller has regained the power stolen from her by the patriarchy, and I hope she holds onto it with all her might and never lets it go.
This is a bold, brave and often unsettling and utterly devastating collection that deserves to be read by everyone and anyone who has a fire burning in their bellies.
Poem that stayed with me, that I couldn’t stop thinking about for days:
Honestly, the entire book stayed with me, but ‘Choked at birth’ in particular has haunted me
Other personal favourite poems:
What Are You Made Of? / Roses / Flame / The Alchemy / Nests / Seedpod / My Forest / Apple of Their Eye
February 10, 2021
Amy-Jean Muller’s Baptism by Fire is a slim collection, yes, but like a freshly sharpened blade it cuts you open from page one. An audacious, powerful book, it invites readers to confront societal norms regarding femininity and desire that have been tightly stitched throughout our cultural fabric since the beginning of time, and which all too often go unchallenged.
These poems are steeped in myth, but you don’t need to be well-versed in the classics to feel their weight or fathom their ferocity. At times, Muller’s words are tender and seductive, and at times they are an all out assault on the structures that continually attempt to deny women their autonomy.
Kindled by centuries of smoldering passion and anger, the fire within these pages—at once vulnerable and enraged—burns with such fierceness, it’s a miracle the pages don’t burn us all alive. What we have here is a reckoning, and I for one am glad the time has come. Highly recommended!
These poems are steeped in myth, but you don’t need to be well-versed in the classics to feel their weight or fathom their ferocity. At times, Muller’s words are tender and seductive, and at times they are an all out assault on the structures that continually attempt to deny women their autonomy.
Kindled by centuries of smoldering passion and anger, the fire within these pages—at once vulnerable and enraged—burns with such fierceness, it’s a miracle the pages don’t burn us all alive. What we have here is a reckoning, and I for one am glad the time has come. Highly recommended!
March 6, 2021
Close to the Bone's First Cut poetry series continues to be first rate and superbly varied as Amy-Jean Muller delivers a collection exploring the treatment of women from Roman and Greek mythology transplanted to a modern setting to display the way in which attitudes have not changed for thousands of years.
The poems blister with rage and indignation, belittling the the abuse of power and objectification suffered by women through the ages. The misplaced trust in religious and authority figures woven into the poems. As a white male reading, it is a collection that makes you look inside yourself and ask questions of how you have treated the fairer sex in your lifetime.
Amy-Jean Muller is a amazing talent and I look forward to reading much more from her in the years to come.
The poems blister with rage and indignation, belittling the the abuse of power and objectification suffered by women through the ages. The misplaced trust in religious and authority figures woven into the poems. As a white male reading, it is a collection that makes you look inside yourself and ask questions of how you have treated the fairer sex in your lifetime.
Amy-Jean Muller is a amazing talent and I look forward to reading much more from her in the years to come.
February 7, 2021
Feminine, Beautiful, Brutal, Searing
Those are the words that always spring to mind whenever someone asks me what I think of Amy-Jean’s poetry. Been a fan since I first starting seeing her emotive, powerful poetry on the Indie Scene last year.
Her poetry encapsulates everything that is truly beautiful, emotive, honest and powerful about modern womanhood and art.
I really can’t recommend this collection enough.
Please check it out,
ASAP
5/5
Those are the words that always spring to mind whenever someone asks me what I think of Amy-Jean’s poetry. Been a fan since I first starting seeing her emotive, powerful poetry on the Indie Scene last year.
Her poetry encapsulates everything that is truly beautiful, emotive, honest and powerful about modern womanhood and art.
I really can’t recommend this collection enough.
Please check it out,
ASAP
5/5
December 23, 2021
Baptism Of Fire is a beautifully raw and brutal collection of poetry. It delivers a powerful theme throughout and is exquisitely written. Amy-Jean Muller delivers each poem with devastating realism and passion that cuts you deep to the bone. Muller writes with honesty, dripping with emotion, anger and sincerity. I always look forward to anything Amy-Jean writes and I can't wait to see what comes next from this incredibly talented writer.
February 2, 2022
Muller's collection is hard hitting, fast paced and something you can't look away from...even though at times you may want to. The words are run on the grindstone and cut deep. Honest poetry that does not look away or look the other way. Truly a must read collection and a must read in one sitting collection!
February 5, 2021
Each poem is breathtaking. Honestly after each page I had to take a moment before moving in as each page is packed with thought provoking poems and emotion. I cannot recommend this collection enough, it is outstanding and will stay with you. Amy-Jean is one to watch !
March 5, 2021
Never a title was so truly fitting to the contents of a book.
Not only does Amy-Jean Muller describes her exploration of womanhood and sexuality in an incandescent way, she also invites us to witness this blaze she sets alight, starting with the spark of her birth and extending slowly as she grows, the spark turning into flammes that grow larger with each poem, setting the entire book alight with rage, fervour, passion and power. A must read.
Not only does Amy-Jean Muller describes her exploration of womanhood and sexuality in an incandescent way, she also invites us to witness this blaze she sets alight, starting with the spark of her birth and extending slowly as she grows, the spark turning into flammes that grow larger with each poem, setting the entire book alight with rage, fervour, passion and power. A must read.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews