Through hundreds of wars and invasions, Korean soldiers adapted battlefield skills and tactics from their enemies, creating a unique system of their own. Based on the earliest known Korean martial arts treatise, the Muye Chebo written in 1599, the Muye Dobo Tongji clearly shows the influence of the neighbouring Japanese and Chinese armies. The result, the Muye Dobo Tongji, is the only surviving classical text on the Korean arts of war. In 1789, King Chongjo, ruler of the Yi dynasty, ordered General Yi Duk-moo to compile an official textbook on all martial art forms then present in Korea to preserve them for future generations. This is the book for the curious, the dreamers, and the struggler’s, those who carry an insatiable urge to grow and the knowledge that life offers more for the fearless explorers of the unknown this book speaks to the aching soul that lives in all of us. This book won’t give you a life boat, but it will show you how to swim. Devoue’s exploration into these topics is relatable to any human struggling to find peace in life’s turbulent waters. Her poems touch on topics such as longing, lust, toxic love, self-destruction, confusing breakups, abuse, and overcoming it all through finding light in even the darkest of places. Devoue is not known to shy away from the darkest corners of the human experience in fact, she dives deep into those waters and allows the reader to explore the shared vulnerabilities that all of us face. II is a five-chapter collection of long- and short-form poetry accompanied by gorgeous illustrations, this time in collaboration with artist Laura Kline.

II is the continuation of author Bridgett Devoue’s debut poetry collection Soft Thorns and picks up on her journey of self-discovery and seeking answers to the questions all of our souls inevitably ask. why does love become abusive? and when does pain become a lesson? Soft Thorns Vol. Bridgett Devoue takes you on a journey into the transformative world of love, lust, heartbreak, and abuse, and discovers the steps to finding lessons within pain.

Soft thorns book