Poems from a new Slovak voice reminiscent of Rilke and Sharon Olds.
An evocative collection by Slovak poet Eva Luka, The Minotaur’s Daughter seamlessly melds the human and natural worlds, weaving motifs of mythology, nature, and personal freedom into a tapestry of vivid imagery and profound emotion. The poems traverse settings from Japan to mythic landscapes, exploring the complexities of sexuality, desire, and transition.
Central to Luka’s work is the theme of resistance—against societal pressures and psychic harm. Her poetic voice defies artistic conformity, merging human and animal identities to challenge gender norms and explore mutable identities. Through this innovative fusion, her poems capture both the terror and beauty of existence, drawing parallels to Rilke's metaphysical explorations while grounding her work in the pantheistic and protoplasmic. Journeying through darkness and light, The Minotaur’s Daughter reveals an unwavering commitment to artistic and personal truth, establishing Luka as a formidable voice of resistance in contemporary European poetry.
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"I love these witchy poems about liminal spaces and hybrid creatures, man-beasts and fish-birds and dead-alive beings. . . . Here is a book alive with the darkness of Old World fairy tales.”
" - New York Times, "The Best Poetry of 2025"
"“The Minotaur’s Daughter blends mythology, nature, and personal freedom, exploring sexuality, desire, and transformation. Defying artistic conformity, Eva Luka’s poetry embraces fluid identities while capturing the terror and beauty of existence with profound lyricism.”" - Poets.org
