Category: Fairytales

#AussieAuthors2025, #AussieYAChallenge, #LoveOZMG, adventure, Alice-Miranda, animals, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, Book bingo, Book Industry, Books, challenges, check in post, Children's Literature, classics, Crime/Mystery, Dymocks Reading Challenge, Fables, Fairytales, Fantasy, historical fiction, history, Jacqueline Harvey, Junior Fiction, literary fiction, memoir, middle grade, mythology, non-fiction, Picture Books, Publishers, Reading, Reviews, series

December 2025 Reading Round Up

Ashleigh

In December 2025, I read 16 books. Some were for reviews that will appear later in 2026, whilst others were ones I read for my own interest. Some were review books or books I wanted to read and review. December was a slower review month, so I was able to catch up on some other… Continue reading December 2025 Reading Round Up

adventure, animals, Book bingo, Book Industry, Books, challenges, check in post, Children's Literature, classics, Cressida Cowell, Crime/Mystery, Dymocks Reading Challenge, Fables, Fairytales, Fantasy, historical fiction, history, humour, Jane Austen, Junior Fiction, literary fiction, memoir, middle grade, mythology, non-fiction, Picture Books, poetry, Publishers, Reading, Reviews, Scholastic, series, Speculative fiction, spies, The Nerd Daily, translated works, Young Adult

Non-Australian authors read

Ashleigh

Because my focus is on Australian books, reading books by authors outside of Australia has often consisted of those from the UK, the US or translated from European languages. So I only read 33 books by authors outside Australia. This has often happened based on what is available in the Australian market as well. I… Continue reading Non-Australian authors read

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#AussieYAChallenge 2025 Completed

Ashleigh

And that’s a wrap on this year’s #AussieYAChallenge. 45 books read, and all the prompts marked off. Some of the books I read probably also crossed over into children’s and middle grade for various reasons, which I aimed to explain in the reviews. And I did my best to read as diversely as possible, as… Continue reading #AussieYAChallenge 2025 Completed

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My Favourite Books of 2025

Ashleigh

I haven’t done this for a while, because whenever I see posts about people’s top ten reads of the year, I never know what to put on mine. Somehow, I always end up with more than ten, or not quite ten, or I’ll have read a series during the year, and have enjoyed all of… Continue reading My Favourite Books of 2025

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Readings Book Bingo Completed-ish

Ashleigh

 One final challenge I took part in this year was the Readings book bingo. I managed to tick every prompt apart from the cookbook prompt off, which probably had more to do with time than anything else. 2024 Prize Winner:  A Gift from the Birds by Caroline Stills (Text Prize 2024) A debut author: Earth… Continue reading Readings Book Bingo Completed-ish

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The 113th Assistant Librarian: Lost in a Book by Stuart Wilson

Ashleigh

Title: The 113th Assistant Librarian: Lost in a Book Author: Stuart Wilson Genre: Fantasy Publisher: Penguin Australia Published: 30th September 2025 Format: Hardcover Pages: 288 Price: $19.99 Synopsis: The exciting sequel to The 113th Assistant Librarian is here! Oliver has settled into his life as the 113th assistant librarian. He loves his job – even though it… Continue reading The 113th Assistant Librarian: Lost in a Book by Stuart Wilson

Awards, Book Industry, Books, Fables, Fairytales, Fantasy, history, literary fiction, Publishers, Reading, Reviews, Scholastic, Young Adult

The Binding Spell by Marisa Linton

Ashleigh

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

adventure, animals, Book Industry, Books, check in post, Children's Literature, Fables, Fairytales, Fantasy, literary fiction, middle grade, mythology, Publishers, Reading, Reviews, Scholastic

Dawn of the Dragons by Mari Mancusi

Ashleigh

Title: Dawn of the Dragons Author: Mari Mancusi Genre: Fantasy Publisher: Scholastic Australia Published: 1st December 2025 Format: Paperback Pages: 320 Price: $19.99 Synopsis: The dragons are coming ... are you prepared? This thrilling, dystopian adventure story is perfect for fans of Wings of Fire and Impossible Creatures. Lucas isn't having the best summer. While… Continue reading Dawn of the Dragons by Mari Mancusi

#AussieAuthors2025, #AussieYAChallenge, #LoveOZMG, #LoveOzYA, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, Book bingo, Book Industry, Books, challenges, check in post, Children's Literature, Crime/Mystery, Fables, Fairytales, Fantasy, historical fiction, history, humour, Indigenous authors, literary fiction, middle grade, non-fiction, Picture Books, Publishers, Reading, Reviews, Scholastic, Sci-Fi, series, Speculative fiction

November 2025 Reading Round Up

Ashleigh

I didn’t read as many books in November. It was a quieter month in terms of review books, so I took the chance to catch up with some of my other reading that I’ve had on my shelves for a long time. I had two review books, but reviewed three out of the 11 books… Continue reading November 2025 Reading Round Up

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The Wondrous Tale of Lavender Wolfe by Karen Foxlee

Ashleigh

Title: The Wondrous Tale of Lavender Wolfe Author: Karen Foxlee Genre: Fantasy Publisher: Allen and Unwin Published: 18th November 2025 Format: Hardback Pages: 400 Price: $24.99 Synopsis: An inventive and playful fantasy-adventure about an abandoned girl, a friendly ogress and a terrible curse from the multi-award-winning and bestselling author of Dragon Skin and Lenny's Book of Everything. 'A… Continue reading The Wondrous Tale of Lavender Wolfe by Karen Foxlee