This is an eclectic book of poetry and art by an easily bored author and artist who broke free from gross boundary violations, conformity demands, and abandonment in his youth. With oppressive forces still clawing from the grave, and people who try to shame or silence victims and embarrassing history, Sergent is currently on a mission to encourage expression without dull traditions, rules, or shackling expectations. Authoritarians can leave us feeling hexed, but you can break the spell.
Themes: Lost Years, Death, Judgment, Dogmatism, Abandonment, Tribalism, Conformism, Marginalization, Manipulation, Hypocrisy, and the embrace of Surrealism, Absurdism, and Apparitions as antidotes.
"Milan Sergent has become a favorite author of mine and, having read the Candlewicke 13 series, I was game for a book of poetry that I was certain wouldn't disappoint. Martyrs and Manifestations offers more than just an anthology of poems; the full-color illustrations are spectacular in their composition and vivid hues. . . . Overall, this is an excellent collection that no doubt others will also greatly enjoy."
"As a fan of Milan Sergent in general, I anticipated getting into another excellent collection of verses and art, and I was once again thoroughly impressed with the presentation, production quality, and deep consideration that has gone into the making of this collection. There is a really quirky mix of traditionalism and celebration of the poetic form which Sergent cleverly subverts and twists into new rule-breaking permutations to delight and surprise his readers. . . . The underlying themes, empathy, and emotional quality of the work are second to none, clearly coming from a real place within the author which we marginalized folk can all relate to. Overall, I would highly recommend Martyrs and Manifestations: Hexed Poems and Art for Holiday Gatherings to poetry fans, surrealists, and the oppressed seeking freedom the world over."
"Martyrs and Manifestations is indeed a masterpiece and I would recommend it to all poetry lovers to read and appreciate the poet's aesthetic abilities, imagination, and creative mind. It is one of the best poetry collections I have come across in recent times . . . ."
"[These poems are] for the brave and daring, and for those too timid to try or speak out. Even if you can't speak or live as brashly as the poems suggest, you can live them vicariously. That's the beauty of poetry, and the beauty of Sergent's work. . . . If you're looking for poetry for the holidays that isn't run-of-the mill, and that is definitely stimulating and entertaining, try Martyrs and Manifestation. . . ."
"A few months ago I read Outsiders and Apparitions and I automatically loved it. It was my favorite book of poetry that I came across this year. It's now a tie between that book of poems and this one. . . ."
