Bird, beast or man, we each have the same element at our core: bones. While our forms may change, the bones always remain – and in this thrilling debut, the poet celebrates their beauty and structure through folk tales, philosophy, daydreams, and night terrors.

Aided by a host of characters including a girl who fell in love with a mountain, a woman who can only ever look at you sideways, and a man made of bees, within this slim volume Caroline Hardaker creates a dozen unforgettable worlds entirely her own.

Published by Valley Press, 2017, Bone Ovation was a Poetry Book Society Winter 2017 Selection, and was selected for Sunderland University Summer School’s future Creative Writing degree students in 2018, and taught in the first year of their Creative Writing degree.

Available through Amazon, Waterstones, Foyles, and other good booksellers.

‘Unforgettably arresting.’

Travelling Man Bookshop

‘Caroline Hardaker’s debut poetry pamphlet is a triumph of contemporary myth-making.’

Sabotage Reviews

‘Bone Ovation is a unique collection of poetry which disturbed me into thinking differently about bodies, history, perception and psyches. It does so with a great orchestral style which invites re-reading and re-assessment. Go check it out!’

Russell Jones

‘The poems in Bone Ovation are simultaneously soothing and sinister. Each piece here is its own myth – myths that have waited for the right poet to come along before they could be told. Prepare to be transported, disturbed, and enchanted.’

Kate Garrett

‘The handle of myth is light-hearted and humble, using art and language as tools for reference and meaning. Bone Ovation is a small fable of poetic thought, shaping new imaginings of the modern world to add to an ancient history of mythic story-telling.’

The Contemporary Small Press

‘Bone Ovation is brilliantly observed and refreshingly unique. The kind of poetry I love!’

Amaryllis

‘Bone Ovation is a thoroughly enjoyable read – particularly for those amongst us who have a keen interest in the magical and mythical or perhaps in folklore. For the most part, these read as a book of dark fairy tales of the present. Though they may appear simple on the surface, much like a swan on the surface of a pond, there is a lot of busy footwork going on beneath. A great achievement and one sincerely recommended.’

Riggwelter Poetry

‘A strong debut, and one that makes me want to read more from this up-and-coming author.’

Marija Smits