In October, I read eighteen books, and reviewed sixteen of them. Most were by Australian authors, and all were aimed at children or young adults. I had hoped to read more but travel and a few other things meant I didn’t get through everything I wanted. I also worked on some posts about my visit… Continue reading October 2023 Reading Wrap Up
Category: Reading
Casander Darkbloom and the Threads of Power by P.A. Staff
Title: Casander Darkbloom and the Threads of Power Author: P.A. Staff Genre: Fantasy Publisher: Walker Books Published: 1st November 2023 Format: Paperback Pages: 384 Price: $19.99 Synopsis: The first in an extraordinary middle-grade fantasy series that takes the traditional "chosen one" narrative and flips it on its head. Think Nevermoor and The School for Good and Evil, but with… Continue reading Casander Darkbloom and the Threads of Power by P.A. Staff
Stuck Up and Stupid by Angourie Rice and Kate Rice
Title: Stuck Up and Stupid Author: Angourie Rice and Kate Rice Genre: Romantic Comedy, Retelling Publisher: Walker Books Published: 1st November 2023 Format: Paperback Pages: 384 Price: $22.99 Synopsis: The only thing worse than cleaning up after celebrities was having to watch her own family trying to impress them.The quiet coastal community of Pippi Beach… Continue reading Stuck Up and Stupid by Angourie Rice and Kate Rice
Miss Penny Dreadful and the Mermaid’s Locks by Allison Rushby
Title: Miss Penny Dreadful and the Mermaid’s Locks Author: Allison Rushby Genre: Mystery, Historical Fiction Publisher: Walker Books Published: 1st November 2023 Format: Paperback Pages: 160 Price: $15.99 Synopsis: The final exciting instalment in the Miss Penny Dreadful series from acclaimed author Allison Rushby.Searching for a new story idea for her aunt’s famous penny dreadfuls,… Continue reading Miss Penny Dreadful and the Mermaid’s Locks by Allison Rushby
Ayla’s Christmas Wish by Pamela Jones and Lucia Masciullo
Title: Ayla’s Christmas Wish Author: Pamela Jones and Lucia Masciullo Genre: Christmas Publisher: NLA Publishing Published: 1st November 2023 Format: Hardcover Pages: 32 Price: $24.99 Synopsis: Christmas is coming, and Ayla wants a snowman just like in her book, but there is no snow to be found in her drought-stricken town, not even a drop of rain.… Continue reading Ayla’s Christmas Wish by Pamela Jones and Lucia Masciullo
The Impossible Secret of Lillian Velvet (Kingdoms and Empires #5) by Jaclyn Moriarty
Title: The Impossible Secret of Lillian Velvet (Kingdoms and Empires #5) Author: Jaclyn Moriarty Genre: Fantasy Publisher: Allen and Unwin Published: 31st October 2023 Pages: 544 Price: $22.99 Synopsis: A magical book in the rich and whimsical world of the Kingdoms and Empires about a girl, a threat and a pickle jar filled with gold… Continue reading The Impossible Secret of Lillian Velvet (Kingdoms and Empires #5) by Jaclyn Moriarty
Every Exquisite Thing by Laura Steven
Title: Every Exquisite Thing Author: Laura Steven Genre: Thriller/YA Publisher: Farshore Books/Electric Monkey/Harper Collins Australia Published: 4th October 2023 Format: Paperback Pages: 352 Price: $19.99 Synopsis: A feminist YA horror-thriller-romance retelling of The Picture of Dorian Gray by the TikTok sensation and author of The Society for Soulless Girls…Penny Paxton is the daughter of an… Continue reading Every Exquisite Thing by Laura Steven
Completion of QBD Reading Challenge 2023
I have completed the 2023 QBD Challenge. My last prompt was a funny memoir, which in some ways was hard to find, but I settled on Paul Jennings’ memoir, Untwisted, which was funny in parts, and I enjoyed the way he told the stories – with humour and empathy throughout. I reviewed twenty books for… Continue reading Completion of QBD Reading Challenge 2023
The Puppets of Spelhorst: A Norendy Tale by Kate DiCamillo
Title: The Puppets of Spelhorst: A Norendy Tale Author: Kate DiCamillo Genre: Fantasy Publisher: Walker Books Published: 18th October 2023 Format: Hardcover Pages: 160 Price: $24.99 Synopsis: From master storyteller Kate DiCamillo comes an original fairy tale, enchantingly illustrated, in which five puppets confront circumstances beyond their control with patience, cunning and high spirits.Once, there… Continue reading The Puppets of Spelhorst: A Norendy Tale by Kate DiCamillo
Murder on a School Night by Kate Weston
Title: Murder on a School Night Author: Kate Weston Genre: Crime, Mystery Publisher: HarperCollins Australia/Electric Monkey Published: 6th July 2023 Format: Paperback Pages: 336 Price: $13.99 Synopsis: Sex Education meets A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder in this darkly hilarious YA murder mystery by Comedy Women in Print Prize and Carnegie Medal nominated author, Kate Weston. ‘Fiercely funny,… Continue reading Murder on a School Night by Kate Weston
The Book Muse 