Hearts, Cages, and other Locked Boxes

by A.E. Bratchford

Hearts, Cages, and other Locked Boxes is a collection of poems exploring the self, the mind, queerness, and love.

These themes are explored through carefully chosen poems into different sections: The Heart, The cage, The Lock, and The Key.

47 pages, ebook

First published July 19, 2022

About the author

Anna (they/them) is a queer author and poet based in Naarm/Melbourne. They love to read and write cosy fantasy/sci-fi both in poetry and prose. If not writing or at work, they will most likely be reading, walking around their local area day-dreaming about their next novel idea, or spending time with their two cats - Nautica (Marketing Manager) and Mahnoy (Snack Supervisor).

While at home, Anna will most likely be drinking tea, thinking about making a cup of tea, or scolding themself because they've remembered another mug of cold, half drunk tea which they have unintentionally sacrificed to the tea goddess.

Want to read more from Anna? Use these handy social media handles and/or links below:

instagram: @writingsby.anna
threads: @writingsby.anna
facebook: @AnnaBratchford.Author

website: https://annabratchford.com/
newsletter: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/form...

Reviews

[Emily Coffee and Commentary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of poems that says so much. Beautiful writing filled with heart and solid, longing and love, doubt and dreams. Resonates especially with those who love deeply, and think deeper, who are coming to terms with themselves and their worth.

Thank you so much to Book Sirens and A E Bratchford for the ARC of this collection! Please look for the release July 2022.

[Bee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A riveting collection of poetry on LGBT+ experiences and the complexities therein, relationships with one's own self and other's. Which, of course, includes euphoria and melancholy.
The author's voice is refreshing to consume.

[Nathaniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a beautiful collection of personal poems. I’m really excited to read more from Bratchford.

[Allie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of poems was fantastic! A reason I loved this book was because is sheds light to the struggle of just being. The human condition is made up of so many contradictions. You have love, but you also have heartache. You have self-discovery and you also have uncertainty. It’s beautifully written! I’ll share my favorite lines below ⬇️

My favorite poem in this book was Companionship💕 It was short but it gave me the warm and fuzzies!

I received complimentary review copy from the author via @booksirens but it in no way influences my review.

𝔽𝕒𝕧𝕠𝕣𝕚𝕥𝕖 𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕖𝕤:
✨ I care, I care a lot, I care too much😩 (With All My Heart)
✨ I will stay with you, My love; through the longest day, And the darkest night💗 (Companionship)
✨ For me you make me better than the darkness in my mind. So, Laughter thank you for helping me be me ☺️ (Alive)

[Casper Falls · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful debut work! This collection is a tender, intimate, and heartfelt journey from pain to hope and all the facets that come with it. It's sectioned in a lovely way as the heart, the cage, the lock, and the key with the latter probably being my favorite. The author shares different parts of themself in each section, which makes the collection read like a slow unraveling of secrets and vulnerability.

My favorite poems:

Wistful Stranger . I loved the imagery of that one and the feeling it captured was very relatable.

Fog . That one hits hard for me, because I've been dealing with disabling brain fog for 6 months now, so ooof, got me there xD

Soul in a Locket . That one felt like such a powerful turning point in the journey. It contains visceral pain but also liberation from it and I loved that.

The Wall . This one captured the complete journey so well. It's brave, vulnerable, and reflective. It sets both poet and reader free.


Lovely collection! I look forward to reading more of their work.

[Kritika · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful collection of around 24 poems, all beautifully penned.
I wish there would be more...though I do enjoy reading the ones present.
My favourite one is "Wisiful Stranger*.

Recommend to all poetry lovers.

[Giada · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recived an advance review copy for free from BookSirens, in exchange for an honest review.

I don't usually read poetry, which I absolutely have to change, but I really liked this short collection it was a short and intense reading, the layout was not what I expected but the important thing is what it says and is very well written in my opinion.

This beautiful book comes out on the 19 of july !!

[Daniel Oster · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to BookSirens for an ARC of this book so I can leave an honest review.

This slim volume of poetry gives an honest, emotional, and unflinching look at one's struggle to find acceptance, both from others and themselves. What this book manages to do in some 30-odd pages is run the whole gamut of emotions, from despair to hope, and everywhere in between. Given the book's short length, this is an incredible achievement.

Bratchford's poetry is simple and accessible. It is familiar, and yet, their voice is uniquely and entirely their own. I do wish some poems explored themes further because Bratchford's voice shines, and the length of some poems , especially the ones that are only a couple lines long, don't necessarily give the voice the justice it rightfully deserves. Still, I thoroughly enjoyed the book, and am looking forward to more of the writer's works in the future

[Hazel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advanced reader copy of this book from the publisher via Booksirens.

This is a lovely collection of poems. I related very much to the LGBTQ+ theme, particularly the exploration of grey-asexuality, which rarely features so prominently in other LGBTQ+ works. There were a few spelling/typing errors that need tidying up from the ARC version, but that's easily done. I also think the layout could be altered when a poem continues onto a second page, as it's not always immediately clear if it's a new poem or a continuation. Overall, thoroughly enjoyed.

[Misha L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC and, while there were some errors in this early edition, I really enjoyed these as an asexual reader, and found my own experiences reflected in much of this poetry. I am excited for this to come out! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Cierra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Original and beautifully sensitive take on human existence and it’s unforeseen happenings.

The writing was simple yet emotionally effective.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Tess Carletta · Rating 5 out of 5]

all those sorts of nooks and crannies where she found that five dollar note where he had his first kiss where the twins used to ride their bikes to me all unknown but they’re there

This beautiful collection of poems is so relatable to anyone who knows how hard it is to live in this world and inside our own skin. It's a testament of strength gained, battles lost and won, and most importantly, the value of having a hopeful heart. The illustrations throughout were simple, yet profound.

Overall, I think the author has unlocked their heart, their cage, and all their other locked boxes while writing this book—or at least, I hope writing these poems has been a start.

(I received this book as an ARC. Thank you to the author for sharing their work and a piece of her soul!)

[Cavak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Colorful, brief, and poignant. I love the wordsmithing with negative space and punctuations. It helps provide a visual to the feelings of being an outsider. Curious to know how they would be read out loud. Or more contrasting imagery within the poems. Would've liked more poems, is all.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Harumi . · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this short collection of poetry focused on love, life, and self-discovery, told through an emotionally vulnerable voice and rhythm. Reading Bratchford's poems feels like reading their thoughts just as they occur upon their heart, and this collection left me feeling touched by their relatable sense of self-imagery.

Paired with delicately stunning illustrations throughout, the different sections of the book create a natural flow of growth, where we see someone filled with the uncertainty of love, someone who is lost in the world and in perhaps their own mind, and then someone who has overcome. Someone who has struggled but found the hope of their future, someone who--as much as they have already grown--is working towards an even deeper understanding of themselves.

I loved this collection for the accessibility of Bratchford's words. I could see myself in every poem, while also understanding it as though I was listening to the voice of a friend. I adored, in particular, both "Sleepless" and "Alive", as I think they bookend the duality of the collection, as well as the duality in every person's soul; the human ability to feel at one point so desperately low, while also being able to experience joy, happiness, and hope.

I think anyone could find something in this collection to love, but I know any person struggling or who has struggled with knowing who they are, questioning their sexuality, or feeling alone in this world, these poems will speak to you. I highly recommend picking up a copy of Hearts, Cages, and Other Locked Boxes (use photo link) and to keep A. E. Bratchford on your list of authors to watch for more to come.

[Melanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a free eArc of this book from Book Sirens in exchange for an honest review.
Publishing Date: July 2022

I hate to be this person, but this wasn't for me. I felt that the poetry lacked a command of the words in order to produce emotion in me. yes, I know that sounds stupid, but it's just what it is. I read poetry to be moved, to FEEL. This collection said things about heartache and self-doubt but it left me quite unmoved. I know that sounds savage considering that a real person with real feelings wrote these, but I gotta be honest about how I interacted with this collection, nothing personal. I preferred the poems that had some sort of rhyme scheme because those tended to camouflage the lack of depth in the language. I can see this as a start from which to grow, I hope the poet takes the time to make the language reflect the feelings rather than just taking some feelings and throwing them on the page.

[Moth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an alright read. The metaphors were pretty straightforward, and I would’ve liked a little more nuance.

[Hayley Anderton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got a lot out of this little collection! It felt relatable and a lot was covered in a short space. I recommend this for poetry lovers!