Category: Speculative fiction

#AussieAuthors2026, #AussieYAChallenge, #LoveOZMG, #LoveOzYA, adventure, Alice-Miranda, animals, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, biography, Blog Tour, Book bingo, Book Industry, Books, CBCA, challenges, check in post, Children's Literature, Crime/Mystery, Disney Reading Challenge, Dymocks Reading Challenge, Fables, Fairytales, Fantasy, historical fiction, history, humour, Jacqueline Harvey, Junior Fiction, literary fiction, memoir, middle grade, mythology, non-fiction, Picture Books, Publishers, Reading, Reviews, Scholastic, Sci-Fi, series, short stories, Speculative fiction, The Nerd Daily, Young Adult

March 2026 Reading Round Up

Ashleigh

During March, I read 24 books, and reviewed most of them. Two reviews are coming from Sisters in Crime soon. One review is for much later in the month, so all up, I reviewed 23 of the books I read in March. All but three of the books I read were by Australian authors, and… Continue reading March 2026 Reading Round Up

#AussieAuthors2026, #LoveOZMG, adventure, animals, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, Book Industry, Books, challenges, Children's Literature, Fables, Fairytales, Fantasy, humour, Junior Fiction, literary fiction, middle grade, mythology, Publishers, Reading, Reviews, Speculative fiction

Dugongs of the Sky by Emily Larkin

Ashleigh

Title: Dugongs of the Sky Author: Emily Larkin Genre: Fantasy Publisher: Wombat Books Published: 1st April 2026 Format: Paperback Pages: 208 Price: $17.99 Synopsis: The sky dugongs are in danger, but Captain Scree Barnacle is determined to save them. Her voyage to overturn an ancient hunting law means sailing the perilous Starstruck Straits—and dealing with… Continue reading Dugongs of the Sky by Emily Larkin

#AussieAuthors2026, #AussieYAChallenge, #LoveOzYA, adventure, animals, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, Book bingo, Book Industry, Books, challenges, check in post, Crime/Mystery, Disney Reading Challenge, Dymocks Reading Challenge, Fables, Fairytales, Fantasy, historical fiction, history, humour, literary fiction, Publishers, R.A. Spratt, Reading, Reviews, series, Speculative fiction, The Nerd Daily, Verse novels, Young Adult

#AussieYAChallenge Nix Level Completed

Ashleigh

I managed to complete my Nix level early this year, as I have already had quite a few young adult books cross my path in my reading and reviewing. They’ve covered quite a wide range of genres and stories so far, and it’s going to be interesting to see what else I come across over… Continue reading #AussieYAChallenge Nix Level Completed

#AussieAuthors2026, #AussieYAChallenge, #LoveOZMG, #LoveOzYA, adventure, animals, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, biography, Book bingo, Book Industry, Books, CBCA, challenges, check in post, Children's Literature, Crime/Mystery, Disney Reading Challenge, Dymocks Reading Challenge, Fables, Fairytales, Fantasy, historical fiction, history, humour, Indigenous authors, Jacqueline Harvey, Junior Fiction, literary fiction, memoir, middle grade, mythology, non-fiction, Picture Books, poetry, Publishers, R.A. Spratt, Reading, Reviews, satire, Scholastic, Sci-Fi, series, Speculative fiction, The Nerd Daily, Young Adult

February 2026 Reading Round Up

Ashleigh

This February I read 27 books. Most were review books, and most were by women. I reviewed 23 of the books I read, and there are some other reviews coming in the next few months. I’m also getting through my reading challenges for the year, and ticking off thing as I go or as I… Continue reading February 2026 Reading Round Up

#AussieAuthors2026, #AussieYAChallenge, #LoveOZMG, #LoveOzYA, adventure, Alice-Miranda, animals, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, Blog Tour, Book bingo, Book Industry, Books, challenges, check in post, Children's Literature, Crime/Mystery, Disney Reading Challenge, Dymocks Reading Challenge, Fables, Fairytales, Fantasy, historical fiction, history, humour, Jacqueline Harvey, Junior Fiction, literary fiction, memoir, middle grade, mythology, non-fiction, Picture Books, poetry, Publishers, Reading, Real Pigeons, Scholastic, Sci-Fi, series, Speculative fiction, The Nerd Daily, Young Adult

January 2026 Reading Round-Up

Ashleigh

This year, I am working on balancing my review books with my other reading, so I can get through some of the books I have been wanting to read for a while. In January, I managed to read all my review books for the beginning of 2026, and some reviews are still coming, and there… Continue reading January 2026 Reading Round-Up

#AussieAuthors2026, #LoveOZMG, adventure, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Book Industry, Books, check in post, Children's Literature, Disney Reading Challenge, Junior Fiction, literary fiction, middle grade, Publishers, Reading, Reviews, series, Speculative fiction

Pirate Academy: Missing at Sea by Justin Somper

Ashleigh

Title: Pirate Academy: Missing at Sea Author: Justin Somper Genre: Fantasy Publisher: Allen and Unwin Published: 3rd February 2026 Format: Paperback Pages:256 Price: $16.99 Synopsis: A weekend's adventure at sea turns into a terrifying test of true mettle for Jasmine, Jacoby and Neo, and the rest of the Pirate Academy crew in this fast-paced and… Continue reading Pirate Academy: Missing at Sea by Justin Somper

#AussieAuthor2025, #AussieAuthors2025, #AussieYAChallenge, #LoveOZMG, #LoveOzYA, adventure, Alice-Miranda, 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, Friday Barnes, historical fiction, history, humour, Indigenous authors, literary fiction, memoir, middle grade, non-fiction, Picture Books, plays, poetry, Publishers, Reading, Reviews, Scholastic, Sci-Fi, series, short stories, Speculative fiction, spies, The Nerd Daily, Young Adult

2025 Reading Summary

Ashleigh

I write roundups that are broad and focused, and split them into men, women, Australian, non-Australian, children’s, young adult, adult, LGBTQIA, Disabled and co-authored books. There is also a post with everything and a summary at the end. So if people want to look at something in particular, they can. My final reading stats for… Continue reading 2025 Reading Summary

#AussieAuthors2025, #AussieYAChallenge, #LoveOZMG, #LoveOzYA, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, Blog Tour, Book bingo, Book Industry, Books, CBCA, check in post, Children's Literature, Crime/Mystery, Dymocks Reading Challenge, Fables, Fairytales, Fantasy, historical fiction, history, Jacqueline Harvey, Junior Fiction, Kate Temple, Larrikin House, literary fiction, memoir, middle grade, mythology, non-fiction, Picture Books, Publishers, R.A. Spratt, Reading, Reviews, Scholastic, Sci-Fi, series, short stories, Speculative fiction, The Girls Who Change the World, translated works, Verse novels, Wherewithal Way, Willa and Woof, Young Adult

Children’s and Young Adult Books Read in 2025

Ashleigh

In 2025, I read 198 children’s books, from picture books to middle grade books and young adult books. I covered every age range possible. I also have a separate post for young adult books. I covered a lot of different themes and ideas in this, as well as reading as diversely as possible. There seems… Continue reading Children’s and Young Adult Books Read in 2025

#AussieAuthors2025, #AussieYAChallenge, #LoveOZMG, #LoveOzYA, A.L. Tait, adventure, Alice-Miranda, Anna James, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, biography, Blog Tour, Book bingo, Book Industry, Books, CBCA, challenges, check in post, Children's Literature, Christmas, Chronicles of Whetherwhy, Cressida Cowell, Crime/Mystery, Dani Vee, Dervla McTiernan, Dymocks Reading Challenge, Ella at Eden, Fables, Fairytales, Fantasy, Friday Barnes, Futuristic Fiction, historical fiction, history, humour, Indigenous authors, Jackie French, Jacqueline Harvey, Junior Fiction, Kate Temple, Larrikin House, literary fiction, Matilda Saga, memoir, middle grade, Natasha Lester, Nevermoor, non-fiction, Pages and Co Series, Picture Books, plays, poetry, Publishers, R.A. Spratt, Reading, Reviews, satire, Scholastic, Sci-Fi, series, short stories, Speculative fiction, spies, The Girls Who Change the World, The Nerd Daily, Verse novels, Wherewithal Way, Young Adult

Total Women

Ashleigh

Each year, I try my best to read as many books by women as possible, and to read as diversely as possible. In 2025, I read 234, participated in judging an award, and of course, continued to do my reviewing. Reading across as many styles and genres as possible, based on what I had from… Continue reading Total Women

#AussieAuthors2025, #AussieYAChallenge, #LoveOZMG, #LoveOzYA, Alice-Miranda, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, Book bingo, Book Industry, Books, challenges, check in post, Children's Literature, Crime/Mystery, Dymocks Reading Challenge, Fables, Fairytales, Fantasy, historical fiction, history, Jacqueline Harvey, Junior Fiction, Kate Temple, literary fiction, memoir, middle grade, mythology, Nevermoor, non-fiction, Picture Books, Publishers, Reading, Reviews, Scholastic, Sci-Fi, series, short stories, Speculative fiction, spies, The Nerd Daily

Australian Authors Read

Ashleigh

Every year, I aim to focus by reading on Australian authors, because I see authors from the UK and the US get widely promoted, and I feel that a lot of Australian authors, unless they’re super popular, get overlooked. Particularly the kids and young adult authors. So in 2025 I read 239 Australian authors in… Continue reading Australian Authors Read