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E McConnell
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Of Swans and Stars : Finding my own North Star, one poem at a time Kindle Edition

by E McConnell (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.8 out of 5 stars 24 ratings

Of Swans and Stars is a collection of poems that explores four powerful themes: hope, despair, love, and the mystical realms of myth and magic.

These verses flow through the full spectrum of human experience—at times raw and vulnerable, pulling you deep into the shadows of pain and anguish. Yet, even in darkness, there’s a spark of enchantment. Dragons soar across the pages, and love, in all its forms, dances in the heart of every line.

This collection is a mirror to the author’s personal journey, tracing the twists and turns of seeking truth and meaning in an uncertain world. It invites readers to connect with the complexities of life, to find resonance in both the vulnerabilities and the triumphs that define us.

Of Swans and Stars is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit—its ability to discover hope even in despair, to love in the face of loss, and to find magic in the midst of the mundane.

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  1. Print length
    125 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Accessibility
    Learn more
  4. Publication date
    July 11, 2022
  5. File size
    864 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Not Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0B6DZD9ZG
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 11, 2022
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 864 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 125 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 out of 5 stars 24 ratings

About the author

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E McConnell

E McConnell

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Eryn is a British poet who lives in South Germany with their family and the Cat. They have been writing poetry since they were 16 and studied Creative Writing (poetry and playwriting) at University.

When they aren't writing they're reading, procrastinating and plotting to take over the world. While listening to loud music of course. They are currently a freak about oddly shaped clouds, tiramisu and new socks.

Feel free to hit the follow button to keep up with updates.

They are currently working on a dark fantasy romance and Book 3 of The Sovereigns.

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
24 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers praise the poetry collection's quality, with one noting how each poem stands alone as a complete story. Moreover, the book receives positive feedback for its pacing, with one review highlighting its varied themes from whimsical to serious. Additionally, customers appreciate the heartfelt nature of the poems, with one noting how they blend corporeal emotions with mythological elements, and another mentioning the harrowing poems about abusive relationships. The book's readability is also well-received, with one customer noting it's great for quick reads.

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Poetry qualityPacingHeartfelt poetryReadability
7 customers mention "Poetry quality"7 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the poetry in the book, with one review noting how the poems are separated into themes, while another mentions how each one stands as a complete story.

"...I loved the poems about dragons that encourage readers to view these mythological beasts from different angles, especially “Saint George and a Dragon..." Read more

"What amazed me most in this collection is that every poem is a whole different story by itself, a whole world, some with a full round character..." Read more

"Right at the beginning of this collection I was struck by the beautiful language and flow of words. "..." Read more

"...The author separated the evocative poems into themes, a varied collection of whimsical and serious themes...." Read more

5 customers mention "Pacing"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's pacing, with one noting its varied collection of whimsical and serious themes, while another highlights its vivid imagery.

"...layout of this book is—the ornate title fonts, centered poems and gorgeous cover create an aesthetically pleasing reading experience that really..." Read more

"...Superbly confessional, full of elegant, sweeping lines and brilliant, vivid imagery, Of Swans and Stars is a truly magical collection." Read more

"...A very interesting assortment. "I will not heed the Raven’s call I will not throw the graveyard dice..." Read more

"...First, the cover is understated and gorgeous, the reviews were great, and I found the sample to be intriguing...." Read more

4 customers mention "Heartfelt poetry"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the heartfelt poetry in the book, describing it as superbly confessional, with one customer noting how it mixes corporeal emotions with mythological divinities, while another mentions the harrowing poems about abusive relationships.

"...of the book deals with myth and folklore in ways that manage to seem deeply personal, while also transcending the individual to reach a larger..." Read more

"...One can find all sorts of emotions in the diverse poems...." Read more

"...Superbly confessional, full of elegant, sweeping lines and brilliant, vivid imagery, Of Swans and Stars is a truly magical collection." Read more

"This book of poetry is truthful and heartfelt. Passionate and sees clearly. I highly recommend reading!" Read more

3 customers mention "Readability"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book exceptionally fantastical, with one mentioning it's great for quick reads.

"...Altogether, this is a satisfying and worthwhile read that touches on a number of different subjects, yet connects them all with a strong and sure..." Read more

"...Superbly confessional, full of elegant, sweeping lines and brilliant, vivid imagery, Of Swans and Stars is a truly magical collection." Read more

"This book of heartfelt poetry is great to have on hand for quick reads and sharing with friends!" Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • S.C. Langgle
    5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful poems rooted in mythology
    Reviewed in the United States on September 28, 2022
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Of Swans and Stars is a powerful, beautifully written collection of poetry about finding oneself through the lens of myth, folklore, and nature. As the subtitle says, this is a collection of “Finding my own North Star, one poem at a time.”

    I have to start by saying how beautiful the layout of this book is—the ornate title fonts, centered poems and gorgeous cover create an aesthetically pleasing reading experience that really adds to the overall effect. The book is divided into four sections of poems that deal with hope, heartache and rebirth in various ways. So many of the poems spoke to me, so I’ll just pick a few from each section to talk about here.

    One of the first poems in the collection, “Of Stars,” felt like it was written straight from my own head with lines like “The stars call to those/Who cannot find their way/Seeking so blindly here and there/Hands grasping at sand and air.” I understood and was compelled by the speaker’s viewpoint right away, and I wanted to keep reading—to keep grasping for stars.

    Later in the book, I loved “On Writing, Yet…,” a poem that artfully connects the idea of writing to the flight of a bird--or, more accurately, the sometimes thwarted desire to achieve such flight. I also loved “A Sewing Repair for the Soul”—even the title is so evocative.

    As the book continues, there are some brave and harrowing poems about abusive relationships. I empathized so deeply with lines like "My cheekbones flare and scream/But my mouth stays silent, always. My mouth always did love you/In traitorous curves and edges." The vulnerability and honesty here are powerful.

    The final section of the book deals with myth and folklore in ways that manage to seem deeply personal, while also transcending the individual to reach a larger spiritual level. I loved the poems about dragons that encourage readers to view these mythological beasts from different angles, especially “Saint George and a Dragon.”

    The collection ends, appropriately, with the speaker of these poems reclaiming her power to choose and her destiny. Altogether, this is a satisfying and worthwhile read that touches on a number of different subjects, yet connects them all with a strong and sure narrative voice.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Shmuel Yaccoby
    5.0 out of 5 stars Set of excellent poems by a talented poet
    Reviewed in the United States on August 22, 2022
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    What amazed me most in this collection is that every poem is a whole different story by itself, a whole world, some with a full round character (the author herself or someone else) or carrying associations for something familiar to the reader’s mind. One can find all sorts of emotions in the diverse poems.

    For instance, reading The Music Calls reminded me of the recent magnificent images from the Webb telescope. It seems as the telescope reading this phenomenal text to the astounding universe.

    In Father, I could sense the shivering in every word, sympathize with the poet.
    “Sometimes I catch a glimpse
    Of a tawny eye, with a wry smile
    And I want to rush over
    With a thousand questions
    Did I get it right? Do you miss us?
    Are you happy -
    And then your eye shifts to
    Be a warm-eyed stranger
    And I turn away…”

    In some I could sense charming sarcasm, perhaps even amusing thought such in The Man of Many Flavours:
    “…Maybe you are more like a moody balsamico.
    A smooth appear with a peppered edge
    Setting people off balance with practiced charm
    Then a bite as a warning when you depart
    Their eyes streaming at the crisp tartness…”

    Blind Passengers is a beautiful metaphor for us not seeing capable of ‘seeing’ each other:
    “We are alone in a sea of people
    Just drifting around
    Live flotsam and jetsam
    Seeking so blindly.”

    Later on in Fire, there is a fascinating description of cold fire, perhaps reflecting our inner soul, which is constantly looking to lit and spark our life.
    “…The fire does not warm me
    But it draws me deep within
    The cold searing exploding
    And I see great hot sparks
    Descending, knowing deep
    Fire holds ancient memory…”

    He’s The One and The Game Starts Again are two complementary or perhaps contradictory poems, which made my reading tastier and worthy. The first, a bit sarcastic about a woman search for THE one, and the other facing, perhaps accepting, a ‘predator’, who is not the one.

    Overall, I highly recommend this set of poems by a talented poet and looking forward to reading additional writing of this author.
    One person found this helpful
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  • EA Robins
    5.0 out of 5 stars Superbly confessional, full of elegant, sweeping lines...
    Reviewed in the United States on December 6, 2022
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Exceptionally fantastical, Of Swans and Stars is a book of poetry that is entirely the fairytale that the title promises.

    This collection is a heroic quest originating in the heart of the author, amongst gently warm memories of home and family. Searching beyond the boundaries of what is safe, scars are earned as the reader treks into the unknown. In a land of flowers, a dragon appears, fierce and feminine, but she is not our villain.

    The battle in these pages is brutal. Our hero is beset on all sides by deceptive promises, fists that belong to a shadowed figure, and personal rage. Yet, this is not where the story ends. The brilliant North Star, encouraged by elemental winds, continues to sparkles, leading her readers on, toward safer spaces.

    McConnell’s language is both modern and whimsical. Current scientific theories harmoniously share pages with unapologetic dreamings, contemporary concerns intertwine with longingly romantic verse, and corporeal emotions mingle with mythological divinities. It is a compelling, and not disagreeable, juxtaposition.

    Superbly confessional, full of elegant, sweeping lines and brilliant, vivid imagery, Of Swans and Stars is a truly magical collection.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Darren A Featherstone
    5.0 out of 5 stars Achingly Beautiful
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 13, 2023
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    This collection poetry is so achingly beautiful that it will touch your soul.
    Each poem showcases the poets deep well of emotions. The ones that resonated the most for me were “I See” “She Said” and Selkie.”
    There were also a collection exploring the impact of lockdown which were thought provoking and insightful.
    My absolute favourite was “Music” this particular poem expressed almost exactly how I feel about the songs that have defined parts of my life. “That day, long ago, that song, right there. It saw me. It saw all of me”
    The poets structure of grouping the poems worked wonderfully and her descriptive language bought them to life.
    These were truly beautiful and touching, with a raw honesty that sparks a deep emotional response in the reader.
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  • Vielleserin
    5.0 out of 5 stars One of my favorite poets
    Reviewed in Germany on July 5, 2023
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Each time I read a poem of E. McConnell, it makes me pause, think, and return to daily life somewhat calmer. This is a collection of beautiful poems, and I'm so happy I bought the book and get to keep them.
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  • Steven William Hannah
    5.0 out of 5 stars Slice of Life
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 22, 2022
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I recognise in McConnell's poetry a deeply thought out appreciation for dragons, folklore, myth, and our relationship with our own creative process. I am not normally a poetry reader, but this feels like poetry about writing poetry.
    The work is a window into Eryn's thoughts, a terrarium of musings and reflections and, sometimes, righteous indignation. I found a narrative thread linking the symbolic, the mythic, to a very human journey about grief, hope, renewal, and fear. It resonated frequently.
    I would like to shout out one particular poem, Couch Lily, which is just absolute 🔥. I feel so called out by it. Laughed out loud when I read it. Where are my fellow obsessive daydreamers who are never bored at?

    The mood leaps off the page too, like I got a sense of the headspace of the writer. Especially in the poems about writing, the muse, the process. Some of it feels stream-of-consciousness, and I mean that as a complement to its flow. I can kinda hear it being performed.

    A wonderful read by a rainy window with a hot mug of tea, a book for mid autumn. This makes me very excited about Eryn's upcoming novel, which I believe features dragons.
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  • leehallwriter
    5.0 out of 5 stars A uniquely emotive and descriptive collection of poetry…
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 9, 2022
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    E.M. McConnel delivers a fantastic array of poetry that touches on so many subjects and across the four parts there is something that will resonate with anyone who takes on these words.

    From the subject of being hopeful to even myth and magic which made for a great way to finish the collection, McConnel’s brand of poetry is strong, brave and consistent throughout. In particular ‘O, My Muse’ spoke to me along with ‘Music’ where the description really shines from the very start.

    ‘The beat skips and slithers down the cord Dodging errant quavers with amusing grace…’

    This collection took me on a unique journey of language, rhyme and magic encapsulated by a British charm. There’s modern references and a power in these words along with the occasional mention of dragons all framed by an excellent looking cover and brilliant formatting.

    For anyone looking to take on immersive poetry, I’d highly recommend this one!
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  • W Edwards
    5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 12, 2022
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Of Swans ans Stars : Finding my own North Star, one poem at a time is a lovely collection of beautiful poems.
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