'Sykes is a poet who is intelligent and often vivid –“…like a grounded thing / she is learning mud / as delicious and terminal” – and Modewarre is an astute and rewarding collection.

‘It sweeps its subjects along in a flow of striking images and strong feelings, these buoyed by an intelligent sense of poetic structure and modulated by a sometimes ironic eye.’

‘… this is a brilliant book of poetry.  I was thrilled and moved by it.  I was engaged by its intellectualism.  It is so valuable to come across books like this, books that shake your complacency, books that compel you to pick up a pen and write something of your own.’