Tag: dark academia

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Adult books read in 2025

Ashleigh

 In 2025, I read 70 adult books, covering a wide range of genres, but with a focus on women and Australian women. Much of my reading in adult books this year came from some judging work, but there were some very good ones in everything I read. One that stood out to me was Slashed… Continue reading Adult books read in 2025

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Non-Australian Women read

Ashleigh

In 2025, I read 25 books by women who weren’t from Australia. These authors were, based on what I was able to get, what I was sent for review, or what I had on my shelves, European, British, and at least one from New Zealand, and a few from the USA. Some of these were… Continue reading Non-Australian Women read

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My Favourite Books of 2025

Ashleigh

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

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The Binding Spell by Marisa Linton

Ashleigh

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

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What Have They Done to Liza McLean? by Amy Doak

Ashleigh

Title: What Have They Done to Liza McLean? Author: Amy Doak Genre: Mystery, Dark Academia, Young Adult Publisher: Penguin Australia Published: 28th October 2025 Format: Paperback Pages: 336 Price: $19.99 Synopsis: Dark academia meets The Stepford Wives in this new YA mystery thriller from the bestselling author of Eleanor Jones is Not a Murderer. Meg McLean is a… Continue reading What Have They Done to Liza McLean? by Amy Doak

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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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Oxford Blood by Rachel Davis Featherstone

Ashleigh

Title: Oxford Blood Author: Rachel Davis Featherstone Genre: Mystery, Dark Academia, Young Adult Publisher: Walker Books Published: 1st September 2025 Format: Paperback Pages: 352 Price: $22.99 Synopsis: For fans of A Good Girls Guide to Murder and The Secret History, this riveting murder mystery thriller from a brilliant new voice in YA fiction explores themes of privilege, prejudice… Continue reading Oxford Blood by Rachel Davis Featherstone

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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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Unhallowed Halls by Lili Wilkinson

Ashleigh

Title: Unhallowed Halls Author: Lili Wilkinson Genre: Fantasy Publisher: Allen and Unwin Published: 18th February 2025 Format: Paperback Pages: 464 Price: $24.99 Synopsis: DARK ACADEMIA…WITH DEMONS. After a deadly incident at her old school, Page enrols in Agathion College, an exclusive boarding school, only to find that it's built over centuries of secrets - including… Continue reading Unhallowed Halls by Lili Wilkinson