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Dark Musings

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The dark side of Xtina Marie’s poetry delves into intense emotions: heartache, loss, hurt, pain, rage, and a dangerous consuming love which can drive one insane.
Dark Musings is not a collection! The author returned to the centuries old practice of Narrative Poetry—the telling of a story through poetry. If you believe you are brave enough to explore the savage emotions of the human heart;
Dark Musings will test your mettle.

189 pages, Paperback

First published April 12, 2016

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About the author

Xtina Marie

29 books119 followers
The Accidental Poet:

Xtina Marie is an avid horror and fiction genre reader, who became a blogger; who became a published poet; who became an editor; who now is a podcaster and an aspiring novelist—and why not? People love her words. Her first book of poetry: Dark Musings has received outstanding reviews. It is likely she was born to this calling. Writing elaborate twisted tales, to entertain her classmates in middle school, would later lead Xtina to use her poetry writing as a private emotional outlet in adult life—words she was hesitant to share publicly—but the more she shared; the more accolades her writing received. Light Musings is just about ready for publication and her first novel: Desiree is well under way.

Collections:
Dark Musings, a collection of dark poetry. (May 2016, Jaded Books Publishing)

Anthologies :
He Doesn't Know (Busted Lip, Jaded Books Publishing, April 2016)
Desire, Paranoid (Monsters Of Metal, Jaded Books Publishing, July 2016)
Gore Fest (The Intermission) (The Gore Carnival Book 2), Jaded Books Publishing, July 2016)
When I Whispered Goodbye, I'll Reign, A Most Horrible Pain (A Lovely Darkness, Poetry With Heart, Jaded Books Publishing, September 2016)
When The Veil Doth Lift (Black Candy, Jaded Books Publishing, October 2016)

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5 stars
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2 (6%)
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
Profile Image for Āwhina.
147 reviews21 followers
May 9, 2016
So X-Tina, tell me... how many people (of the human variety) have you come across in your lifetime that have said ether behind your back or even to your face that You. Are. Certifiably. F@#KING disturbed!!?? D.I.S.T.U.R.B.E.D!
Like 20? 50? 100?? I mean u hide it well... after reading this thou... I feel I may need to be incased in a locked box like the one on that TV show "The Blacklist" if we were to ever meet in person (...just sayn') <--- I was needing that to come off as humorous as in "I'm jus kidding" but I'm really not cause' your kinda scary to me now...

So what the F@#K did I just read!!??... Love letters you've penned to Marilyn Manson & Ted Bundy?? Are u OK?? Would u like for me to seek professional help on your behalf?? I'll be calling in for myself thanks to you! It would be no problem setting you up with an appointment right along side my freaked out ass, thank you very much; NOT!
FYI; I'll be sending you my phycologist/shrink bill in the mail, so be expecting that horrific amount. Is that a thing?? Can I sue an author on the grounds that she twisted the F@#K out of my innocent sane little brain and turned it into some theme park for the sick, twisted and depraved?? So where the F@#K was my warning!!??
This --->
"Definitely not for the faint of heart"
IS. NOT. A. WARNING! Where are the BOLD CAPS at?? Now this would have been a more truthful and sufficient warning --->
***WARNING: RUN NOW! BACK AWAY FROM THE KINDLE! SHOVE THAT F@#KER IN THE FREEZER AND NEVER LET IT OUT! FORGET IT'S IN THERE AND GO BUY YOURSELF A NEW ONE!!! FOR THE LOVE OF GOD RUN NOW WHILE YOU STILL CAN!

I mean WTF!!! Will you be sending this in as a manuscript for the next American Horror Story line??? How will I sleep at night!!?? I'm going to be lying in bed with the lights on staring at my roof for fear these creatures are going to crawl out from every corner of my room and get me as soon as I blink!!! OMG and I need to shower before bed, showering means closing my eyes while washing my hair, we all know thats when the F@#KER comes out to play. I'm going to be washing my hair with eyes wide open and then get shampoo in them, then sting the everlovin' shit outta them and then have to close my eyes anyway... I'm F@#KN scared!

I thought I knew you. I've come to the conclusion that I really don't know you AT. F@#KN'. ALL. You've shaken the foundation of our friendship. I have to ask myself,
"Am I safe with you???"...
July 25, 2016
5 Stars:
The Plot:
Full of surprises
The mood: Dark
The Pace: Smooth and fast
The Author as a character: Complex
I enjoyed the hell out of it!!

We have all experienced the agony of loss. Some feel the wound deeper than other's. When your soul walks out on u and never looks back, it's leaves you gutted, open and bleeding. For some the wound never heals. I understand the devastate loss of ur heart. Luckily mine left me a beautiful girl behind who holds my spark of life. Even if the loss of is fresh when I look at her.

We have all experienced the agony of loss. Some feel the wound deeper than other's. When your soul walks out on u and never looks back, it's leaves you gutted, open and bleeding. For some the wound never heals. I understand the devastate loss of your heart. Luckily mine left me a beautiful girl behind who holds my spark of life. Even if the loss of is fresh when I look at her.

Has to be best this far as, it lays the groundwork of blurred lines of reality and inner musings. Not many people say what they mean, nor do what they mean or pose as they muse. The mind has away of protection as we protect ourselves from the world. Many things can be construed of this poem from different people,which is why it gold and will be hard to top as it is poetically perfect.

It seems the #DarkPoetPrincess might be reflecting the madness of a desire revenge against a lover that has wrong you or the mental anguish of wanting your ex-wife to fall madly for you so you can be the one that walks away. Thus allowing them to know experience pain. Either way irrational revenge seems the key note factor.

My absolute favorite and will read again and again. I strongly recommend! It has outstanding qualities. The characters are wonderful and surprising and multi-dimensional. The writing is luring, engaging, and well-crafted enough to keep me interested from cover to cover and beyond. The plot is astonishing with twists and turns weaved into a well thought and planned story. There’s no pretense and romance was well balanced and done entirely correctly with properly distributed amounts of hints, behaviors and incredible, undeniable chemistry. Predictability is at an all-time low. With the exception of series based books that follow the same path but are just as good. Overall, Favorite, must read again, recommend!!!
Profile Image for E.A. Barker.
Author 9 books7 followers
Read
June 19, 2017
I both envy and fear minds like those of Stephen King and Xtina Marie. They create disturbing or even horrific worlds for us to explore―something I cannot do. I write non-fiction. I travel the realm of reality, which can also be disturbing and horrific, but I did not create our world, I merely write about it. I believe the difference between Xtina Marie or Stephen King and a handful of others, is they are brave enough to visit places in their minds where the rest of us are unwilling to go. Thankfully they write stories for us―stories that are best read in the light of day.

Dark Musings is both disturbing and horrific.

Dark Musings is an extraordinary work and a heavy dose of darkness.

Dark Musings is a tale told through poetry―a very dark tale of desire gone wrong.

The story explores how a woman can lose herself when she submits to the exploration of her darkest cravings; the dangers of allowing lust to distort the meaning of love; how we can awaken one day to find ourselves living in a nightmare of our own creation; and how we could feel powerless and undeserving of escape, while imagining how we might become free of the pain.

Reader advisory: This book should be read only by people 18+ who are not offended by religious references, who are okay with explicit hard core sexuality, who do not suffer from depression, and who do not suffer from PTSD related to abuse.

This book made my TBR list some time ago when I caught wind of the fact that it was nominated for a Bram Stoker Award, and rightly so.

Dark Musings is a poetic narrative of rhyming poetry utilizing quatrain form. It is wonderfully composed, making it easy for the reader to make their way from stanza to stanza, poem to poem, while still being able to follow the story.

Poetry is supposed to make us feel. This book will evoke any number of feelings that live in the darkest parts of your psyche. I shivered and squirmed uncomfortably in my chair more than once during this read. For me, this was the equivalent of watching a horrific car crash in auto racing―you want to look away but you just cannot―and you keep on reading.

Page 96, stanza 1, lines 3 and 4 rocked me with the cold malevolence in the words. On page 111 in stanza 2, Xtina gives the reader some badly needed comic relief. I laughed out loud and began to breathe normally again.

Who knew a book of poetry could be like this? I sure didn’t.

Long ago Chaucer’s poems were kept hidden . . . Xtina Marie’s dark poetry is the modern day equivalent.
Profile Image for Xtina Marie.
Author 29 books119 followers
May 6, 2016
Dark Musings by Xtina Marie (review from author)

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Coming : May 8, 2016

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Dark Musings is a glimpse into darkness. A delving into intense emotional feelings; heartache, loss, hurt, pain, rage, dangerous consuming love, with occasional bouts of insanity shining through. Definitely not for the faint of heart.

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trailer : https://youtu.be/urQXKebJUHo
Profile Image for Kara.
41 reviews11 followers
April 22, 2016
So I want to start of this review by saying I have never read much poetry before but this book sounded so good I wanted to give it a try. Well I am so glad I did because this author blew me away with how dark and thought provoking all of these poems were.

To write a poem where you pull the reader in and have you feel the darkness that the character is feeling or the thoughts that are running through their mind was amazing! Some were very twisted, while others were so very dark and painful that you can't help feeling like "should I feel wrong for how much I loved these poems" lol. She will definitely take you into a very dark and twisted place while you are reading this book and I really could not help but love everything about this book.

I would recommend this book to those who love dark and sometimes twisted poems that will completely pull you in and have you feel the darkness/pain while reading this!

I received a ARC of this book from the publisher for a honest review!
Profile Image for Donald Armfield.
Author 66 books166 followers
May 26, 2016
I usually don't read rhyming poetry, but Xtina Marie has something different. Rage, love, loss....torn from the bone. Told from a dark place where a writer would go to write. This author's debut I believe is only a beginning...
If your looking for poetry from a darkness tied up inside a book waiting to burst....then you found your book.

Quote: "The pain is immense-consuming and sharp, and for a moment, it stops the ache in my heart."

These poems are the ones I liked entirely.

*Make Sense of That
*Oh So Completely (part 1)
*Black Widow (the series of poems are like a b-rated movie in some crime reality show. Spun into her web of death.)
*But Hurt you, I Did
*Reality
*To Bring Forth the Pain
Profile Image for Di Covey/TwistedBookReviews.
1,066 reviews213 followers
April 19, 2016
4.5 Stars!

Where's this author been hiding? Give me more. I'm not big on poetry, not at all, but this is dark and I loved every bit. Different directions of twistedness rolled into one book. She captured all the deviant acts in poetic way, I had a smile from ear to ear. I couldn't tell you which one I love the most, they all had a different spin on depravity. If you love shorter stories, this might appeal to you, if you like dark book, I'd recommend for a break in full length books.

I hope this author writes a full length book in the future. Sign me up!
Profile Image for Bridgett Brown.
830 reviews47 followers
October 13, 2016
I love reading Poetry! And this was awesome! If you ever felt down, alone, wasted, spent or just Dark, then this book of poems is for you. Xtina Marie doesn't write fluffy, lovey dovey stuff. This is DARK poetry. Which I freaking love!! I love how her mind works. I definitely want to read a full-length story by her.
My absolute favorite and will read again and again. I strongly recommend! It is freaking outstanding.
Profile Image for Samantha Hawkins.
396 reviews68 followers
June 5, 2021
"Dark Musings" by Xtina Marie

I received this book of poetry from its lovely author Xtina Marie in exchange for an honest review. The poems included are formal verse which is a change up from my last poetry review. I really enjoyed these narratives but my top three favorites were: "Make Sense of That", "To Escape from the Pain", "The Ancient of Old". I really appreciated the authors writing style and I hope to be able to review for her more in the future. 5 🌟
Profile Image for Thai Holman.
504 reviews5 followers
September 24, 2016
I didn't know what to expect when reading this. But wow powerful, emotional, dark. I need and want more from this author. I want a full length novel. These are short stories, poems that are dark emotional and unlike anything I've read. And I loved it. It's my first from Xtina Marie and definitely not my last. Highly recommend this.

Oh so completely is my favorite all parts ....
Profile Image for Debra Breault.
8 reviews
December 29, 2018
LOVE LOVE LOVE! Xtina bares her heart and (dark) soul in this book. Her writing is superb and I can "see" exactly what she's writing about. I feel like I'm right there. She's so descriptive and it is so twisted! I definitely recommend this book!!
Profile Image for Kathy.
Author 15 books265 followers
October 15, 2016
I was never one for poems. I just couldnt get into them or figure the meaning behind the words but WOW Dark Musings blew my mind away!Poem after poem I couldn't stop reading! All I can say is I hope there would be more from this author in the future!
1 review5 followers
May 28, 2016
Beautifully written. Poe would be proud to see a woman with this much style and grace in poetry. Xtina is the queen of poetry. If you have not picked this one up yet, I highly recommend you do.
Profile Image for Christopher Besonen.
Author 15 books85 followers
December 15, 2022
Xtina has such a natural voice for dark poetry. This collection had an assortment of ideas and themes that almost told a wrap around story and I liked how some of the poems had sequels. I was digging this book from the first page to the last. Marie should be required reading for all, I'll definietly be reading more of her work soon. If you're seeking blackened words of perfection, I recommend starting with Xtina Marie.
Profile Image for Paul.
Author 55 books63 followers
November 5, 2021
It's been a long while since I've read anything in actual proper verse. Certainly not anything that dark.
Profile Image for Trisha.
6 reviews
February 7, 2024
I have loved this book from the beginning.
Xtina is a great author a Fr as I am concerned. I suggest you try one of her books. You will fall in love with it.
Profile Image for M.R. Wallace.
Author 12 books20 followers
August 1, 2016
I haven't read a poetry book in quite a while. I picked this one up upon its release and proceeded to blaze through it. Xtina Marie's poetry is dark, sometimes sexy, sometimes heartbreaking. It's a great book and, being a collection of poetry, it's very easy to read even in short bursts. Whether you're at the kitchen counter, in the laundry room, or in bed, you should be able to finish at least one poem. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys dark poetry, dark imagery, or who thinks all poetry is stuffy. It will change your mind.
Profile Image for Terri Oconnell.
301 reviews9 followers
November 29, 2016
A great dark poetry read

What can I say? Blood, gore, death, love, murder, suicide this book has it all. Not your average book of poems and not for the weak of heart. These poems have a bite to them. My first book by this author and I am looking forward to more of her work. Five stars here.
Profile Image for Debra Marlene.
12 reviews
May 21, 2017
Wow! The darkness is so intoxicating! There were moments I cringed, moments I had to put the book down because of how dark some of the poems were. But this was so unique and the writer really has a way with making you feel the emotions she is feeling! I would love to see her softer side.
Profile Image for Donna Owens.
Author 3 books37 followers
October 10, 2016
Freaking fantastic

Xtina Marie is freaking fantastic
Her poetry is a work of art
Dark art each and everyone of them is better than the next it's captivating and mesmerizing and would recommend this book to everyone
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews

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