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
Tag: horror
Villain by Adrian Beck
Title: Villain Author: Adrian Beck Genre: Thriller Publisher: Scholastic Australia Published: 1st May 2025 Format: Paperback Pages: 240 Price: $17.99 Synopsis: Gaming fanatic Jay receives a strange phone call on a school trip to Titanium Tower. The voice on the other end calls himself Z. And he has trapped Jay's classmates in the elevator at… Continue reading Villain by Adrian Beck
2024 Aurealis finalists
Yesterday, the shortlist for this year’s Aurealis Awards, which is in its 30th year, was announced. It covers fantasy, horror and science fiction across novels, short stories, adult, children’s and young adult categories. I have read quite a few in some categories, whilst for others, this is the first time they have come to my… Continue reading 2024 Aurealis finalists
The Sweetness Between Us by Sarah Winifred Searle
Title: The Sweetness Between Us Author: Sarah Winifred Searle Genre: Contemporary Publisher: Allen and Unwin Published: 29th October 2024 Format: Paperback Pages: 240 Price: $22.99 Synopsis: Heartstopper meets vampires in this blood-sipping-turned-romance graphic novel from the Prime Minister's Literary Award-winning and CBCA short-listed creator of The Greatest Thing. NOTABLE BOOK: 2025 CBCA Book of the Year, Older… Continue reading The Sweetness Between Us by Sarah Winifred Searle
Books by Non-Australian Men 2024
In 2024, I read nine books by men who weren’t from Australia. Two of these books were anthologies that included works by men, which is why I have included them here. Some books have crossover in a few ways, so I have tried to reflect that as much as I can. As my focus was… Continue reading Books by Non-Australian Men 2024
Read at Your Own Risk by Remy Lai
Title: Read at Your Own Risk Author: Remy Lai Genre: Horror/Graphic Novel Publisher: Allen and Unwin Published: 30th July 2024 Format: Paperback Pages: 160 Price: $17.99 Synopsis: A darkly funny illustrated novel from the Victorian Premier's Literary Award-winning creator of Ghost Book about a young girl who is being haunted by an evil spirit. For fans of… Continue reading Read at Your Own Risk by Remy Lai
Tuckshop Terrors by Leo Baker
Title: Tuckshop Terrors Author: Leo Baker Genre: Horror/Adventure/Thriller Publisher: Loaf Books Published: 1st May 2024 Format: Paperback Pages: 260 Price: $24.95 Synopsis: Kip is a 12-year-old country boy trying to fit in to a new town, new school, and find new friends. It’s not easy when he’s struggling with his diabetes, and all the other… Continue reading Tuckshop Terrors by Leo Baker
Urban Legend Hunters: The Dreaded Mr Snipe by Joel McKerrow
Title: Urban Legend Hunters: The Dreaded Mr Snipe Author: Joel McKerrow Genre: Horror Publisher: Larrikin House Published: 1st April 2024 Format: Paperback Graphic novel Pages: 200 Price: $16.99 Synopsis: There is something sinister stirring in the town of Shadow Grove. It’s a problem that requires the talent, training and dedication of professional urban legend (aka… Continue reading Urban Legend Hunters: The Dreaded Mr Snipe by Joel McKerrow
Anthologies or multi-authored books.
Every now and then, I will read an anthology, which usually has an editor I can put down in my reading log, and sometimes, they might be edited by an organisation like the Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds anthology was. I didn’t read that many anthologies this year, but the ones I did were… Continue reading Anthologies or multi-authored books.
This Fresh Hell by Katya de Becerra and Narelle M Harris
Title: This Fresh Hell Author: Katya de Becerra and Narelle M Harris Genre: Horror, Thriller Publisher: Clan Destine Press Published: 10th July 2023 Format: Paperback Pages: 280 Price: $36.95 Synopsis: A driver picks up a hitchhiker from the side of a road; a family moves in to a house that may be haunted; a visit… Continue reading This Fresh Hell by Katya de Becerra and Narelle M Harris
The Book Muse 