Earlier this year, one of our very own writers, the lovely Vania Vela, self-published her debut book of poetry. The anthology is a an absolutely beautifully written and assembled work of art. In Echoes of Pain, Vania pours her heart out on the page, opening up about her toughest experiences.

At just 100 pages, this book of poetry is a short read, but because of the heaviness of the material, it took me multiple sittings to get through. Poetry has the unique power to access parts of our emotions that aren’t otherwise available, and Echoes of Pain goes there each and every page.

What’s beautiful about this book is that while she doesn’t shy away from all of the hard times, the message is ultimately one of hope and growth. While reading the book, you will believe that Vania has found a bright spot at the end of the tunnel, and that you can do the same as well.

As described by Vania herself: “Echoes of Pain is my heart poured onto pages, a raw expression of the pain that haunts us silently, the pain we dare not speak of. It is a humble offering, a collection of poetic whispers that aim to bring solace, validation, and empathy to those who have known darkness intimately. Drawing from my own journey and the battles I’ve fought, I hope these words will remind you, dear reader, that your voice holds power. Your struggles are real, and your path to healing is within reach.”

I struggle to write reviews of poetry, and for that reason I don’t tend to do it very often. The medium is so personal that it’s difficult to explain why I love a piece, especially given my prose will be nowhere near as eloquent as the words I’m reviewing. Nonetheless, I wanted to make sure you were all aware of Vania’s magnificent work of poetry. My words cannot do it justice. Read Echoes of Pain today!

Find the Book: Goodreads | StoryGraph | Amazon