Category: Fantasy

#AussieAuthors2025, #AussieYAChallenge, #LoveOZMG, #LoveOzYA, adventure, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, Blog Tour, Book bingo, Book Industry, Books, CBCA, check in post, Children's Literature, Fables, Fairytales, Fantasy, historical fiction, history, Junior Fiction, literary fiction, middle grade, Picture Books, Publishers, Reading, Reviews, Young Adult

Celebrating 80 Years of the CBCA

Ashleigh

CBCA Book Week artwork by Jess McGeachin (c) 2025 For 80 years, the Children’s Book Council of Australia has been promoting quality Australian children’s books for young readers of all ages. Every year since 1946, the CBCA has presented The Book of the Year Awards to promote Australian books that had a high literary and… Continue reading Celebrating 80 Years of the CBCA

#AussieAuthors2025, adventure, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, Book Industry, Books, check in post, Children's Literature, Fables, Fairytales, Fantasy, middle grade, non-fiction, Picture Books, Publishers, Reading, Reviews

Stories from Magic Beach by Alison Lester and Robert Connolly with eleven world-class animators

Ashleigh

Title: Stories from Magic Beach Author: Alison Lester and Robert Connolly with eleven world-class animators Genre: Non-Fiction Publisher: Allen and Unwin Published: 1st April 2025 Format: Hardcover Pages: 96 Price: $29.99 Synopsis: Inspired by Alison Lester's much-loved classic, this is the book of the film by Paper Planes creator Robert Connolly, featuring the work of eleven world-class… Continue reading Stories from Magic Beach by Alison Lester and Robert Connolly with eleven world-class animators

#AussieAuthors2025, #AussieYAChallenge, #LoveOZMG, #LoveOzYA, A.L. Tait, adventure, animals, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, biography, Blog Tour, Book bingo, Book Industry, Books, CBCA, challenges, check in post, Children's Literature, classics, Covers, Crime/Mystery, Dani Vee, Dymocks Reading Challenge, Ella at Eden, Elston-Fright, Fables, Fairytales, Fantasy, Friday Barnes, historical fiction, history, humour, Indigenous authors, Jackie French, Jacqueline Harvey, Jane Austen, Junior Fiction, literary fiction, memoir, middle grade, mythology, Natasha Lester, Nevermoor, non-fiction, Picture Books, Publishers, R.A. Spratt, Reading, Reviews, Scholastic, Sci-Fi, series, short stories, Speculative fiction, The Nerd Daily, Verse novels, Writing, Young Adult

The Nerd Daily Reading Challenge Completed

Ashleigh

It’s taken me around 8 months, but I have completed another reading challenge for 2025. I embarked on The Nerd Daily Reading Challenge again, and enjoyed the prompts because they were broad enough to interpret for any book that I had on my shelf. There were some that were specific, and a few that I… Continue reading The Nerd Daily Reading Challenge Completed

#AussieAuthors2025, adventure, Book Industry, Books, Children's Literature, Fantasy, Junior Fiction, literary fiction, Picture Books, Publishers, Reading, Reviews

Bert’s Adventure in Bubbly Forest by Nicole Steyn

Ashleigh

Title: Bert’s Adventure in Bubbly Forest Author: Nicole Steyn Genre: Children’s Fiction/Fantasy Publisher: Self Published: 1 August — to be in time for Book Week 2025 and the theme of ‘Book an adventure’! Format: Paperback Pages:  32 Price: $15.99 Synopsis: Bert loves an adventure! A secret book discovery leads him to find the mysterious Bubbly… Continue reading Bert’s Adventure in Bubbly Forest by Nicole Steyn

#AussieAuthors2025, #AussieYAChallenge, #LoveOZMG, #LoveOzYA, A.L. Tait, adventure, animals, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, biography, Blog Tour, Book bingo, Book Industry, Books, challenges, check in post, Children's Literature, Crime/Mystery, Dymocks Reading Challenge, Fables, Fairytales, Fantasy, historical fiction, history, humour, Indigenous authors, Jane Austen, Junior Fiction, literary fiction, middle grade, Nevermoor, Picture Books, Publishers, Reading, Reviews, Scholastic, series, Speculative fiction, Young Adult

Book Grocer Book Bingo Completed

Ashleigh

In 2025, one of the book bingo challenges came from a bookshop I follow online called The Book Grocer. I moved a few things around, and made some changes to use some books that I felt were better suited to the prompts. This was one of my reading challenges for the year, and I am… Continue reading Book Grocer Book Bingo Completed

#AussieAuthors2025, #AussieYAChallenge, #LoveOZMG, #LoveOzYA, A.L. Tait, adventure, animals, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, biography, Blog Tour, Book bingo, Book Industry, Books, CBCA, challenges, check in post, Crime/Mystery, Dymocks Reading Challenge, Fables, Fairytales, Fantasy, Friday Barnes, historical fiction, history, humour, Indigenous authors, Junior Fiction, literary fiction, memoir, middle grade, mythology, Natasha Lester, non-fiction, Picture Books, plays, poetry, Publishers, R.A. Spratt, Reading, Reviews, Scholastic, Sci-Fi, series, The Nerd Daily, Young Adult

July 2025 Reading Round Up

Ashleigh

In July, I read 22 books, and am keeping on track with maintaining reading mostly Australian authors, and reading as diversely as I can between what I have already and what I am being sent for review. I’m also focused on certain styles and genres, so there might be some that are, say, translated, that… Continue reading July 2025 Reading Round Up

#AussieAuthors2025, animals, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Book Industry, Books, Children's Literature, Fables, Fairytales, Fantasy, Junior Fiction, literary fiction, Picture Books, Publishers, Reading, Reviews

Tiny Dancer by Peter Guest, illustrated by Mateja Jager

Ashleigh

Title: Tiny Dancer Author: Peter Guest, illustrated by Mateja Jager Genre: Fiction/Fables Publisher: Dirt Lane Press Published: 1st August 2025 Format: Hardcover Pages: 32 Price: $27.95 Synopsis:  A gentle fable about living life to the full. Some creatures live for decades or even centuries, but mayflies live for just a day. Inspired by both the… Continue reading Tiny Dancer by Peter Guest, illustrated by Mateja Jager

#AussieAuthors2025, #LoveOZMG, adventure, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, Book Industry, Books, challenges, Children's Literature, Fables, Fairytales, Fantasy, humour, literary fiction, middle grade, Publishers, Reading, Reviews, series

Oceanforged 1: The Wicked Ship by Amelia Mellor

Ashleigh

Title: Oceanforged 1: The Wicked Ship Author: Amelia Mellor Genre: Fantasy Publisher: Affirm Press Published: 29th July 2025 Format: Paperback Pages: 240 Price: $16.99 Synopsis: The realm of Aquinta has fallen into a dark age. And no one knows that better than thirteen-year-old Cori, who is fighting for her life in a pirate crew more… Continue reading Oceanforged 1: The Wicked Ship by Amelia Mellor

#AussieAuthors2025, #LoveOZMG, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Book Industry, Books, Children's Literature, Fantasy, literary fiction, middle grade, Publishers, Reading, Reviews, series, Speculative fiction

New Kid on Deck (Pirate Academy #1) by Justin Somper

Ashleigh

Title: New Kid on Deck (Pirate Academy #1) Author: Justin Somper Genre: Fantasy Publisher: Allen and Unwin Published: 29th July 2025 Format: Paperback Pages: 224 Price: $16.99 Synopsis: From Justin Somper, award-winning author of the Vampirates series, comes a fast-paced and exciting fantasy adventure series perfect for readers of How to Train Your Dragon or Artemis Fowl. 'A… Continue reading New Kid on Deck (Pirate Academy #1) by Justin Somper

#AussieAuthors2025, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, Book bingo, Book Industry, Books, challenges, Crime/Mystery, Dymocks Reading Challenge, Fables, Fairytales, Fantasy, historical fiction, history, literary fiction, mythology, Publishers, Reading, Reviews

Briar Book of the Dead by A.G. Slatter

Ashleigh

Title: Briar Book of the Dead Author: A.G. Slatter Genre: Mystery, Fantasy Publisher: Titan Books Published: 13th February 2024 Format: Paperback Pages: 400 Price: $27.99 Synopsis: Ellie Briar is the first non-witch to be born into her family for generations. The Briar family of witches run the town of Silverton, caring for its inhabitants with… Continue reading Briar Book of the Dead by A.G. Slatter