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Book Review: Apprenticed to the Night by LindaAnn LoSchiavo

ByMary Jones

Feb 12, 2025 ##Identity, #book review, #dailyprompt, #Death, #Family, #featured, #Memory, #Reader Review, #the chrysalis brew project, #Trauma
Apprenticed to the Night by LindaAnn LoSchiavo

Apprenticed to the Night by LindaAnn LoSchiavo is an evocative and masterfully composed poetry collection of memory, grief, and self-discovery peppered with precision and emotional depth. Lyrically haunting, structurally bold, and thematically rich, the book looks into the power of recollection and the indelible marks of the past.

Review

Science tells us that the human brain remembers emotions more vividly than facts—grief can crystallize a moment, love can shape our perception of time, and trauma can warp memory itself. LindaAnn LoSchiavo harnesses this truth in her collection, creating an intricate kaleidoscope of personal history, ancestral echoes, and cultural identity. The significance of her work lies in its ability to immortalize ephemeral moments: the sharpness of loss, the weight of inheritance, the specter of relationships both cherished and fractured. As her words invite the reader into intimate recollections of family, heritage, and womanhood, they simultaneously construct a bridge between the personal and the universal.

Each poem in Apprenticed to the Night is meticulously structured, whether in the tight formality of a sonnet, the layered echoes of a cento, or the conversational pull of a dramatic monologue. The collection thrives on contrast: the innocence of childhood shadowed by the inevitability of loss, the weight of cultural traditions juxtaposed with the yearning for self-definition. Through crisp diction and evocative imagery, LoSchiavo conjures the scents of overripe figs, the hush of an empty hospital room, and the restless whispers of a haunted Brooklyn street. Though rooted in deeply personal experiences, her poetry resonates with any reader who has ever mourned, reminisced, or longed to reclaim something lost.

Her command of form is remarkable. The use of the Golden Shovel technique in multiple pieces transforms borrowed lines into entirely new meanings, while her centos feel like ghosts of past poets speaking through her own voice. Each verse is carefully measured, yet the emotional rawness never feels restrained. This delicate balance between discipline and passion makes the collection both technically impressive and deeply moving. One of the most striking pieces, “Distorted Mirror,” unflinchingly explores the complex relationship between body image and self-worth, demonstrating the poet’s ability to excavate deeply personal wounds with unrelenting honesty.

Readers who prefer lighthearted, easily digestible poetry may find the collection too demanding, as it invites careful contemplation and rewards multiple readings. Those who seek raw free verse or spoken-word rhythms might not immediately connect with its structured elegance. However, literary poetry enthusiasts—especially admirers of Sylvia Plath, Anne Sexton, and Rita Dove—will find themselves immersed in LoSchiavo’s world. Her work echoes the introspective intensity of Louise Glück while maintaining a distinctly Italian-American poetic sensibility.

Like the great horned owl in her opening poem, LoSchiavo’s voice soars across time, carrying echoes of the past into the present. Her ability to capture the spectral essence of memory, turning it into something tangible, makes Apprenticed to the Night a significant contribution to contemporary poetry. This collection does not simply tell stories—it resurrects them, binding the reader in its spell. The result is an experience akin to standing beneath a vast night sky, where the darkness does not obscure but instead illuminates the truths we too often try to forget.

About the Author

A smiling woman wearing a stylish hat and a floral-patterned top, holding a handbag, in a warmly lit indoor setting.

LindaAnn LoSchiavo, a New York native, is an award-winning writer and a member of the British Fantasy Society, HWA, SFPA, and The Dramatists Guild. Her 2024 publications include Always Haunted: Hallowe’en Poems, Apprenticed to the Night, and Felones de Se. Upcoming works include Cancer Courts My Mother (2025) and an illustrated e-book edition of Vampire Ventures. Her accolades include the Elgin Award for A Route Obscure and Lonely and the Chrysalis BREW Project’s Award for Excellence for Always Haunted: Hallowe’en Poems.

Book Details

  • Title: Apprenticed to the Night
  • Author: LindaAnn LoSchiavo
  • Genre(s) and Sub-genre(s):
  • Main Genre: Fiction
  • Sub-genres: Poetry
  • Theme(s): Family, Trauma, Identity, Death, Memory
  • Minimum Audience Age: 16+ (Due to mature themes such as illness, death, eating disorders, and trauma)
  • Main Language Used: English with some Italian phrases

Book Themes

(Note: 0=none, 1=a few, 2=considerable, 3=pronounced, 4=excessive)

  • Sexual Themes: 1 (A few)
  • Brief and symbolic references; nothing explicit or graphic.
  • Religious Themes: 2 (Considerable)
  • Explores religious upbringing, faith, rituals, and spiritual questioning.
  • Violence, Self-Harm, etc.: 2 (Considerable)
  • Includes themes of trauma, eating disorders, and death.
  • Crude Language, Expletives, Swearing, etc.: 0 (None)
  • No profanity or explicit language found.
  • Other Adult Themes: 3 (Pronounced)
  • Deals with grief, illness, loss, and dysfunctional relationships.

Rating

  • Content: 5
  • Writing Style or Visual Presentation: 5
  • Appeal to Target Audience: 5
  • Uniqueness: 5
  • Editing: 5
  • Other Factors: 5
  • Overall Average Rating: 5.0 out 5 stars

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By Mary Jones

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