‘Van der Kwast is a master at writing delectable scenes that always hurt a little as well. In Ilyas, he surpasses himself in that respect. (…) The joy of writing is palpable and never becomes bland because it continues grating beneath your skin.’ – TROUW

‘Ilyas is a daring, at times confronting book. Van der Kwast makes clear how the underprivileged and defenceless are the ones who are hit hardest in this equally diabolical and divided system that we call society.’ – HET PAROOL

‘Someone looking for authenticity, for home, that’s what connects the classical Iliad with this treacherously nimble Ilyas, a quest for individuality and authenticity.’ – DE LIMBURGER

‘Light as a feather, [Ilyas] dances back and forth between serious subjects and hilarious moments.’ – HET FRIESCH DAGBLAD


‘In effortless scenes the author dismantles the idea of a socially engineered society layer by layer, while in the story he nevertheless keeps searching for an answer.’ – HET FRIESCH DAGBLAD

‘A book full of humour and hope’ – HERMAN KOCH, AUTHOR