‘There are books you encounter as an adult that you wish you could press into the hands of your younger self. Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray is one of those books – a novel that turns Australia’s long-mythologised settler history into a raw and resilient heartsong.’

– Guardian

‘A heartfelt story of colonisation and its negative effects … A powerful and affecting tale of Aboriginal people's identity, community and deep connection to country.’

– Canberra Times

‘Heiss fuses fiction with realism, conjuring a resonance still felt in Blak struggle today … packs heart into every page.’

– Saturday Paper

‘Celebrating family, love, and connection to the land, Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray is a profoundly moving showcase of Heiss’ skill for crafting stories and relationships … A novel that is intimate, reflective, and impossible to put down.’

– The AU Review

‘A powerful story of family, place and belonging.’

– Kate Grenville, author of A Room Made of Leaves

‘Engrossing and wonderful storytelling. I really loved these strong, brave Wiradyuri characters.’

– Melissa Lucashenko, author of Too Much Lip

‘A remarkable story of courage and a love of country … Anita Heiss writes with heart and energy on every page of this novel.’

– Tony Birch, author of The White Girl

'It is a love story, a story of loss, a hopeful story. The river is a guide, but you have to be open to its spiritual lessons.'

– Dr Terri Janke

‘Lyrical and tender, Anita Heiss’s Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray tells a story of courage, connection and belonging which is both universal and deeply personal, with the river singing through every page. A grand achievement and destined to be read for a long time to come.’

– Meg Keneally, author of Fled and The Wreck.

‘Epic storytelling with a deep warmth at its heart ... This story will stay with me forever.’

– Pamela Hart, author of The Charleston Scandal

‘The warmest invitation to share the space of landscape and language, recovery and love.’

– Ashley Hay, author of A Hundred Small Lessons

‘Anita Heiss is at the height of her storytelling powers in this inspiring, heart-breaking, profound tale.’

– Larissa Behrendt

‘The novel flows like the great Murrumbidgee River itself, with powerful undercurrents that sweep the reader along - I feel it's a book that all Australians should read, to try and understand why our colonial past still causes so much pain and grievance.’

– Kate Forsyth, author of The Blue Rose

‘Anita Heiss is an incredibly masterful stroyteller; weaving song, language and history into an epic tale of love, loss and belonging … my favourite of Heiss' novels!’

– Better Read than Dead

‘Far more relevant than a library bulging with Greenes and Hemmingways, Heiss’s book is as pulsing as the river that runs through it … A romance, a history lesson, a language study and a rollicking read all in one.’

– Courier Mail