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
Category: Fantasy
My Favourite Books of 2025
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
Readings Book Bingo Completed-ish
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
The 113th Assistant Librarian: Lost in a Book by Stuart Wilson
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
The Travelling Bookshop: Mim and the Mother Muddle by Katrina Nannestad
Title: The Travelling Bookshop: Mim and the Mother Muddle Author: Katrina Nannestad Genre: Fiction Publisher: HarperCollins Australia Published: 5th March 2025 Format: Paperback Pages: 240 Price: $16.99 Synopsis: The right book might just change your life ... Mim Cohen roams the world in a travelling bookshop, with her dad and brother and a horse called… Continue reading The Travelling Bookshop: Mim and the Mother Muddle by Katrina Nannestad
Gloam by Jack MacKay
Title: Gloam Author: Jack MacKay Genre: Fantasy/Horror Publisher: Rock the Boat Published: 2nd September 2025 Format: Paperback Pages: 272 Price: $16.99 Synopsis: In a creaky old house on a small, damp island, someone - or something - is waiting...Gwen doesn't want to admit that everything feels wrong since her mum died. There's no time for all these feelings… Continue reading Gloam by Jack MacKay
The Binding Spell by Marisa Linton
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
Dawn of the Dragons by Mari Mancusi
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
November 2025 Reading Round Up
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
The Wondrous Tale of Lavender Wolfe by Karen Foxlee
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
