Title: The Binding Spell Author: Marisa Linton Genre: Fantasy Publisher: Scholastic Australia Published: 1st December 2025 Format: Paperback Pages: 464 Price: $22.99 Synopsis: A debut atmospheric fantasy, think dark academia meets Mexican Gothic. Morgan hopes her nightmares are behind her. Meeting Joe Harper helps. His secrets seem as tangled as hers and their time together is… Continue reading The Binding Spell by Marisa Linton
Category: Awards
Dymocks Reading Challenge 2025 Completed
And just like that, another year of the Dymocks Reading Challenge is over. I managed to fill in each prompt for this one, and may have ummed and ahhed about the Gothic Ruins prompt, because I read a couple of books that seemed to fit it well. I did focus on Australian books and authors… Continue reading Dymocks Reading Challenge 2025 Completed
Dymocks Volume 3 2025 Completed
And that’s the third volume completed! I found the prompts in this one easy to fill. They had a good balance of being open and specific, and I had a few options for some whilst others I took a good guess at where they would fit. I chose a translated book for the Branching Out… Continue reading Dymocks Volume 3 2025 Completed
October 2025 Reading Round Up
In October I read 18 books, covering picture books to young adult, with some poetry, mystery and time travel thrown in. It was an eclectic bunch of books this month, and most of them were Australian authors. I managed to review most, and have also been keeping on top of my review books as much… Continue reading October 2025 Reading Round Up
The Wintrish Girl (Talismans of Fate #1) by Melanie La’Brooy
Title: The Wintrish Girl (Talismans of Fate #1) Author: Melanie La’Brooy Genre: Fantasy Publisher: UQP Published: 30th August 2022 Format: Paperback Pages: 440 Price: $17.99 Synopsis: On Talisman Day in Arylia, every child receives an object that gives them special powers and reveals their destiny. Every child except for the Wintrish girl, Penn, that is.… Continue reading The Wintrish Girl (Talismans of Fate #1) by Melanie La’Brooy
Wilderness Awards 2025
The 2025 Karajia and Environment Award Winners, stories that connect kids to Country and nature have been announced. They were announced at 11am on the 11th of October on Love Your Bookshop Day, which is also the start of Nature Books Week. These awards celebrate authors and illustrators who have written and created stories to… Continue reading Wilderness Awards 2025
Into the Mouth of the Wolf by Erin Gough
Title: Into the Mouth of the Wolf Author: Erin Gough Genre: YA Mystery Publisher: Hardie Grant Published: 1st May 2024 Format: Paperback Pages: 384 Price: $22.99 Synopsis: Part thriller, part queer romance, Into the Mouth of the Wolf is a stunning, CBCA Notable YA novel from the award-winning author of Amelia Westlake. Dear Iris, If all goes well I will be… Continue reading Into the Mouth of the Wolf by Erin Gough
Prime Minister’s Literary Awards 2025 Shortlist
The Shortlist for the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards for 2025 has been announced. It is the richest literary prize in Australia, and celebrates the exceptional talents of emerging and established Australian writers, illustrators, poets, and historians. It acknowledges the contribution that Australian literature and its reflection the nation, and its cultural and intellectual life. 2025 is… Continue reading Prime Minister’s Literary Awards 2025 Shortlist
2024 Aurealis finalists
Yesterday, the shortlist for this year’s Aurealis Awards, which is in its 30th year, was announced. It covers fantasy, horror and science fiction across novels, short stories, adult, children’s and young adult categories. I have read quite a few in some categories, whilst for others, this is the first time they have come to my… Continue reading 2024 Aurealis finalists
The 2025 Stella Prize Shortlist
The 2025 shortlist for the Stella Prize has been announced this week, and it covers history, science nature, current affairs, memoir and much more across the six shortlisted books. Something notable about this year is that each book is by a woman of colour, in the 13th year of the award. I have only managed… Continue reading The 2025 Stella Prize Shortlist
