"O’Toole writes with his usual easy style [and] offers another good way of understanding Shakespeare’s world and the way it underlies his plays." Ann Skea reviews Fintan O'Toole's Shakespeare is Hard, But So is Life. buff.ly/3WZRgxx Fintan O'Toole Bloomsbury Australia

"All of these elements make The Mercy of Gods an excellent introductory volume to The Captive’s War, which feels like it will be a long-running and fascinating series." Robert Goodman reviews James S.A. Corey's The Mercy of Gods: buff.ly/4fMdWbW Orbit Books Hachette Australia Books #SFF

"But even among all this strangeness and wonder, Corey sticks to what they do best – putting the human protagonists and their relationships at the centre of the narrative." Robert Goodman reviews The Mercy of Gods, book 1 of James S.A. Corey's new SFF series: buff.ly/4fMdWbW

ICYMI this week's reviews: Mary Garden on Ariane Beeston's #memoir Because I'm Not Myself, You See Ann Skea on Fintan O'Toole's Shakespeare is Hard, But So is Life Robert Goodman on James SA Corey's #scifi The Mercy of Gods buff.ly/2Wawxqr Black Inc. Hachette Australia Books

Today's onions are so different from how I remember them 🤭

"this is a very personal and important book.. Walters shows us what it’s like to be able to live with mental illness, to get help, to heal." Sanchana Venkatesh reviews Maggie Walters' #memoir Split: A Life shared:living with multiple personality disorder buff.ly/3YOqfyA

"Despite the heavy themes of complex trauma and mental illness, Walters’ memoir is eventually hopeful... The writing is measured, the voice strong." Sanchana Venkatesh reviews Maggie Walters' #memoir Split: Living with muiltiple personality disorder: buff.ly/3YOqfyA

"Collins’ love of art and rebellion shines in Bird. She has created an emotionally charged tale brimming with unexpected turns .." Emma Foster reviews Courtney Collins' new novel Bird: buff.ly/4dI4LaY @hachetteaus Courtney Collins Emma Foster

"Collins’ beautifully cadenced narrative... creates an intimate connection between you, the reader, and Bird, as you discover the past together... an emotionally charged tale." Emma Foster reviews Courtney Collins' new novel Bird. buff.ly/4dI4LaY @hachetteaus #AustLit

ICYMI this week's reviews: Sanchana Venkatesh on Maggie Walters' #memoir Split: A life shared: living with multiple personality disorder buff.ly/3YOqfyA Emma Foster on Courtney Collins' novel Bird: buff.ly/4dI4LaY @hachetteaus @cc_writer Emma Foster #bookreviews

"a heart-warming standalone tale about finding your place in the world... if someone asks you to ‘picture your happy place’, it might look something like Caltrey." Amelia Dudley reviews Sarah Beth Durst's new fantasy The Spellshop: buff.ly/3Ay2vo8 @TorBooks Pan Macmillan Aus

"It’s refreshing to see characters who are portrayed as having anxiety actually struggle with it and not just shrug it off .. as soon as it becomes convenient for the story." Amelia Dudley reviews Sarah Beth Durst's new fantasy The Spellshop buff.ly/3Ay2vo8 @macmillanaus

"the heart of By Any Other Name is rather unsubtle.. [but] Picoult is more than capable of exploring these questions to a more sophisticated level than a simple cry of ‘discrimination!’" Sally Nimon reviews Jodi Picoult's By Any Other Name: buff.ly/3AGdmMT Allen & Unwin

"To Picoult, it is the very issues that divide, confuse, and aggrieve us.. that are the only ones worth telling.. Now she has moved on to the works of Shakespeare." Sally Nimon reviews Jodi Picoult's new novel By Any Other Name: buff.ly/3AGdmMT Allen & Unwin #playwrights

ICYMI this week's reviews: Amelia Dudley on Sarah Beth Durst's cozy fantasy The Spellshop: buff.ly/3Ay2vo8 Pan Macmillan Aus Sally Nimon on Jodi Picoult's new novel By Any Other Name: buff.ly/3AGdmMT Allen & Unwin #Shakespeare #womenwriters

"worth reading, if only for the bizarre stories, and the historical stories he tells, and tells well; and for his unusual, often thought-provoking, reflections on life and death." Ann Skea reviews Stephen Downes' new novel Mural: buff.ly/3X4ZIup Barry Scott #AustLit

"Our narrator’s memories of people are vivid but, perhaps, unreliable...the stories he chooses to tell leave the reader with the puzzle of his nature and his possible motives for violence." Ann Skea reviews Stephen Downes' new novel Mural: buff.ly/3X4ZIup Barry Scott

"as anxiety-inducing as it is philosophical, told in his unique melancholic style... [with] lengthy meditations on Bach and impending catastrophe.." James Arbuthnott reviews László Krasznahorkai's new novel Herscht 07769: buff.ly/3XnWjrU New Directions James Arbuthnott

"László Krasznahorkai enthusiasts won’t be surprised he’s written a 430-page novel comprising a single sentence.. as bleak and haunting a work as ever from the winner of the 2015 Man Booker" James Arbuthnott reviews Herscht 07769 buff.ly/3XnWjrU New Directions James Arbuthnott

ICYMI this week's reviews: Ann Skea on Stephen Downes' new novel Mural: buff.ly/3X4ZIup Barry Scott #AustLit #NapierWaller James Arbuthnott on László Krasznahorkai's novel Herscht 07769: buff.ly/3XnWjrU New Directions #HungarianWriters #JSBach #bookreviews