Category: Speculative fiction

#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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Book Bingo found on LinkedIn

Ashleigh

In July, I found another book bingo, and downloaded the card. It was shared by Rebecca Fung from Giulia Ralton, a library and literacy teacher. She explains the purpose behind a book bingo challenge here. Fingers crossed all these links work, and apologies if they don’t.  I’m always interested to see what reading challenges do,… Continue reading Book Bingo found on LinkedIn

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Dymocks Reading Challenge 2025 Completed

Ashleigh

And just like that, another year of the Dymocks Reading Challenge is over. I managed to fill in each prompt for this one, and may have ummed and ahhed about the Gothic Ruins prompt, because I read a couple of books that seemed to fit it well. I did focus on Australian books and authors… Continue reading Dymocks Reading Challenge 2025 Completed

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October 2025 Reading Round Up

Ashleigh

In October I read 18 books, covering picture books to young adult, with some poetry, mystery and time travel thrown in. It was an eclectic bunch of books this month, and most of them were Australian authors. I managed to review most, and have also been keeping on top of my review books as much… Continue reading October 2025 Reading Round Up

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September 2025 Reading Round Up

Ashleigh

In September, I read 20 books for review, and some reviews will be appearing at later dates for various reasons. I mostly read Australian authors, and focused on children’s and young adult books. I also made progress on reading challenges, and am almost done with my last few. Most books were by women authors, and… Continue reading September 2025 Reading Round Up

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The Keeper of the Octopus by Neridah McMullin

Ashleigh

Title: The Keeper of the Octopus Author: Neridah McMullin Genre: Fantasy, Magical Realism Publisher: Walker Books Australia Published: 1st October 2025 Format: Paperback Pages: 272 Price: $17.99 Synopsis: Engaging, heartfelt and imaginative - magical realism from the award-winning author of Evie and RhinoSince her father sailed away, Uncle Isaac is the only family Pippy has left.… Continue reading The Keeper of the Octopus by Neridah McMullin

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2025 Dymocks Reading Challenge Volume 2 Completed

Ashleigh

Volume two is complete! There was one prompt that required some research, and that was dark academia, as the books I was expecting to have for this prompt hadn’t arrived. So, when I found Guilty by Definition by Susie Dent on an Instagram post of dark academia books, I slotted it in there. I could… Continue reading 2025 Dymocks Reading Challenge Volume 2 Completed

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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, #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

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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