Golden Ax

by Rio Cortez
Golden Ax cover
Good Books rating 4.17
Poetry
Buy online
Bookshop
Format • £14.24
Amazon
Format/Price Check
Technical
  • ID: 1604
  • Added: 2025-10-08
  • Updated: 2025-10-18
  • ISBN: 9780593511107
  • Publisher: Penguin
  • Published: 2022-08-30
  • Formats: 11
  • Reviews: 4

Golden Ax is a visionary poetry collection by Rio Cortez, exploring the intersections of personal, political, and artistic frontiers. The poems range from wry observations on contemporary life to profound meditations on her ancestors, who were among the earliest Black pioneers in the American West after Reconstruction. This collection invites readers to rethink the narratives of the West and Black womanhood, blending historical depth with a vision of liberated futures. Cortez's work is praised for its intelligence, lyricism, and witty nods to pop culture, making it a unique and captivating read. The collection has been longlisted for the 2022 National Book Award for Poetry, highlighting its significance and impact.

Reviews
Tattle Teller · 2024-05-08
poignant 4.20

The collection is described as a realistic and emotional journey that touches on race and personal experiences. It is seen as a poignant exploration of black womanhood.

The review on Tattle Teller describes Golden Ax as an 80-page or one-hour audio collection that delves into the realities of race and personal experiences with a blend of goodness and sorrow. The collection is seen as a poignant exploration of black womanhood, offering a realistic and emotional journey that resonates deeply with readers. The reviewer appreciates the raw and honest portrayal of experiences that are often overlooked, making the collection a significant and impactful read.

Quick quotes

    Golden Ax by Rio Cortez is an 80 page or 1 hour long(audio) collection of realistic goodness and sorrows.

    The collection touches on race, offering a poignant exploration of black womanhood.

    It is a raw and honest portrayal of experiences that are often overlooked.

Hayden's Ferry Review · Breanna Foskit · 2023-02-07
Brilliant 4.50

The collection immerses readers in Rio Cortez's world, shedding light on often-overlooked realities. It is praised for its powerful exploration of personal and political themes.

Breanna Foskit's review highlights how Golden Ax brilliantly submerges readers into Rio Cortez's world, making visible the neglected realities of Afropioneer history. They appreciate the collection's ability to confront social and racial injustice through a deeply personal lens. Foskit also notes the poetic craftsmanship that makes the collection both emotionally resonant and intellectually engaging. The reviewer finds the blend of personal and political narratives particularly compelling, making it a standout in contemporary poetry.

Quick quotes

    Golden Ax brilliantly submerges the reader into Rio Cortez's world and opens our eyes to neglected realities.

    The collection is a powerful exploration of personal and political themes.

    Cortez's poetic craftsmanship makes the collection both emotionally resonant and intellectually engaging.

Letras Latinas Blog · 2023-01-20
Profound 4.00

The review explores Cortez's retrieval of family history, from enslavement to migration and settlement in Utah. It is seen as a profound exploration of identity and heritage.

The reviewer from Letras Latinas Blog delves into how Golden Ax reaches back to retrieve the history of Cortez's family, from their experiences of enslavement to their migration and eventual settlement in Utah. They appreciate the depth and complexity with which Cortez explores themes of identity and heritage. The collection is seen as a significant contribution to the understanding of Afropioneer history, blending personal narrative with broader historical contexts. The reviewer finds the poetic language evocative and the historical insights enlightening.

Quick quotes

    In Golden Ax, I see Cortez reaching back to retrieve the history of her family's enslavement, their migration, and the life they built in Utah.

    The collection is a profound exploration of identity and heritage.

    Cortez's poetic language is evocative and her historical insights are enlightening.

Poetry Foundation · Diego Báez · 2022-07-08
profound 4.00

The review praises the collection for its confrontational approach to social and racial injustice. It is seen as a significant debut that maps out a complex family history through the United States.

Diego Báez's review from the Poetry Foundation highlights Golden Ax as a significant debut that confronts social and racial injustice head-on. The collection is praised for its complex mapping of the poet's family history across the United States, offering a profound and impactful read. Báez particularly appreciates the way Cortez reimagines landscapes and histories, making the collection both personal and politically relevant.

Quick quotes

    Cortez examines how her family came to the American West after Reconstruction — and reimagines the landscape through the lens of their experiences.

    The collection confronts social and racial injustice with a profound and impactful approach.

    Golden Ax is a significant debut that maps out a complex family history with depth and relevance.

Appears in Lists