Reviews
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Read our independent reviews of the latest books from Aotearoa.
Pānuihia ā mātou arotakenga tūhake o ngā pukapuka hou nō Aotearoa.
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ReviewAlasdair, 11-yr-old guitarist and Terry Pratchett fan, gives us his honest opinion in this conversational review of Rachael King's THE CASE OF THE ANGRY GHOST, Violet and the Velve...
Reviewed by Alasdair and Erica
27 August 2025
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ReviewKirsteen Ure considers the complexity of parenting and relationships in John Prins' debut short story collection PASTORAL CARE.
Reviewed by Kirsteen Ure
25 August 2025
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Review'Poetry Aotearoa Yearbook 2025 is both an artistic achievement and a cultural document, capturing a nation thriving despite struggling to breathe...'
Reviewed by Savannah Patterson
21 August 2025
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Review'Selflessness, resourcefulness, intellect and a ready humour hover between the lines. Quite simply, he seems like an ideal person to have on hand in any situation...'
Reviewed by Angela Walker
20 August 2025
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Review'The Venetian Blind Poems reminds us that finding our own peace doesn’t mean blinding ourselves to reality and turning from the hardships of others. Imagination can be a salve, but...
Reviewed by Anuja Mitra
19 August 2025
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ReviewA short capsule review and poem excerpt from Mikaela Nyman's THE ANATOMY OF SAND.
Reviewed by Erica Stretton
18 August 2025
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ReviewBecs Tetley considers the contributions and entirety of AROHANUI, described as 'a love letter to Aotearoa.'
Reviewed by Becs Tetley
17 August 2025
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ReviewMelanie Kwang is charmed by Sophie van Waardenberg's long-awaited first poetry collection, NO GOOD.
Reviewed by Melanie Kwang
13 August 2025
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Review'Harbours are liminal spaces—neither fully land nor sea—offering temporary shelter within constant movement, much like the cultural and personal sanctuaries Powles explores...'
Reviewed by Savannah Patterson
11 August 2025
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Review'His scope is full of fascinating characters and ever-changing music...'
Reviewed by Graham Reid
3 August 2025
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Review'The novel explores the way people come and go from our lives, the transitory nature and enduring impressions of relationships, but also of place. What it means to leave, return, s...
Reviewed by Clare Travaglia
30 July 2025
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Review'She describes young prisoners relaxing their guard and calling her ‘mum’ and the tragic effects on youthful prisoners of being moved to the adult section. She notes the ‘prison sy...
Reviewed by David Veart
29 July 2025
ReviewHeather McQuillan creates 'a version of Aotearoa that feels both speculative and alarmingly familiar,' writes Imogen Gadd.
Reviewed by Imogen Gadd
22 July 2025
ReviewDavid Hill name drops poetically and reviews Erik Kennedy's 'exuberant', 'satisfyingly satirical' SICK POWER TRIP.
Reviewed by David Hill
20 July 2025
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ReviewAnna Scaife is intrigued by the 'fly-on-the-wall view' of what goes on behind the camera in Lisette Reymer's debut memoir.
Reviewed by Anna Scaife
10 July 2025
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Review'One moment brought me to a full stop, learning about Banaba, where 90% of the land was mined away, leaving it uninhabitable and forcing its people to relocate. A genuine 'WTF' mom...
Reviewed by Pauline Smith MNZM
9 July 2025
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Review'They birth babies and discover radium, drive trucks and fly hot-air balloons, stare down debt collections and brew kawakawa tea. Yet it is the inquisitive and whimsical triplets w...
Reviewed by Lauren Donald
7 July 2025
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ReviewClaire Williamson reflects on 'the perfect gentle call to action' in Sonya Wilson's new children's novel THE SECRET GREEN, sequel to the bestselling SPARK HUNTER.
Reviewed by Claire Williamson
2 July 2025
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ReviewJennifer Trevelyan’s debut novel harnesses the fate of a missing child to kickstart a layered coming-of-age story of friendships, fears, and dysfunctional families, that shimmers w...
Reviewed by Craig Sisterson
29 June 2025
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Review'an unflinchingly honest critique of a New Zealand health system that is at risk of implosion...'
Reviewed by Himali McInnes
25 June 2025
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Review'What does the poet's voice think about over the seasons? Or think it's thinking about? How her pet hen shoved cats off the bed ''before laying an egg in one of the warm hollows''....
Reviewed by David Hill
24 June 2025