Usurper Kings

Sapha Burnell’s Usurper Kings is a dazzling, cerebral poetry collection that excavates the archetypes, contradictions, and powers of the feminine across time and myth. Structured in five sweeping acts, the collection weaves together mythological, historical, and philosophical sources, interrogating the roles of the divine, gender binaries, misogyny, and societal inequality.​

Description & Key Themes

In Usurper Kings, readers encounter a vividly reimagined tapestry of feminine experience—one that inspects iconic figures, explores the divine, and spotlights the marginalized. Burnell’s voice is unapologetically bold yet inviting, guiding the reader through meditative explorations of both individual and collective stories that transcend time. The collection is praised for its intellectual depth and emotional clarity, positioning it well within the current landscape of cerebral, reflective poetry.​

Usurper Kings is perfect for contemporary readers who seek poetry that is:

Mythopoeic and philosophical

Intersectional, reclaiming mythic narratives for marginalized voices

Lyrical yet precise, with both sharp social commentary and lush imagery

In conversation with modern feminist poetics and ancient archetypes​

This is a transformative collection for admirers of Anne Carson, Carol Ann Duffy, and those drawn to mythic resonance, gender commentary, and the reclamation of feminine power in literature. Usurper Kings is essential reading for anyone hungry for poetry that bridges intellect and intimacy, myth and immediacy.