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3 new books with MERMAID vibes to look forward to in 2025
Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings to spotlight the books we’re excited about that we have yet to read. Generally, they’re books that have yet to be released. Find out more here. I love the serendipity of a few books popping onto my radar at the same time with something that makes them feel like they belong together, it always seems to me like a little sign from the universe. I got that little thrill recently after spotting (and adding to my TBR) a couple of books with mermaid vibes, all coming out early next year. Today I’m sharing a bit about each of these – and…
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#LOVEOZYA Book Review: DARK HEIR by C.S. Pascat
I’ve been busting for the release of Dark Heir since the moment I finished Dark Rise. I did a reread of Dark Rise to be ready for the sequel, and honestly I don’t understand why more people aren’t talking about this series! It’s just so perfect! I don’t want to share more about Dark Heir here because of spoilers, but you can find out more here, and I have shared the synopsis of Dark Rise below – I recommend everyone pick this up ASAP and then come back and let me know so we can talk about it! Synopsis of Dark Rise by C.S. Pascat The ancient world of magic is no more. Its heroes are…
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Currently reading:: The Briar Book of the Dead by A.G. Slatter
I’m not ashamed to admit that I’m a bit of a fangirl for A. G. Slatter‘s writing – it’s just so gothic and creepy and fantastic in exactly the way that I love. I’ve reviewed her previous two novels here (All the Murmuring Bones) and here (The Path of Thorns) – and you’ll see if you follow the links that I absolutely adored both. Obviously I was thrilled to discover there was a third book on the way, set in this same world (and even more when I spotted on Slatter’s website that number 4 is in the works too!). The Briar Book of the Dead is one of my…
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I Can’t Wait for… Dark Heir by C.S. Pacat
Back in September of 2021 I was lucky enough to receive an early copy of a brand new dark fantasy YA novel, Dark Rise by Australian author C.S. Pacat. As I said in my review at the time, this book completely blew my mind. I have thought of it often since I read it and have been hanging out for the sequel to arrive, and it is finally time! Dark Heir is being released next week, on 14 November and I am so excited. Last month I reread Dark Rise in preparation for Dark Heir coming out, and honestly it thrilled me just as much the second time around! I…
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Review :: Odd & True by Cat Winters
I tend to do a lot of reviews of new books – it’s just the nature of working with publishers I guess – but I’m so keen to read and share my thoughts on some back list books that I’ve been meaning to read for a while. I originally received a review copy of Odd & True by Cat Winters via NetGalley back in 2017 (that’s 6 whole years ago now – I’m mortified). I picked it up a few weeks ago, and just wished I’d done so earlier! What is Cat Winters’ Odd & True about? Trudchen grew up hearing Odette’s stories of their monster-slaying mother and a magician’s…
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Review :: The London Séance Society by Sarah Penner
I know we aren’t supposed to judge books by their covers, but I’d be totally lying if I said it wasn’t that gorgeous cover that first caught my attention. I’m glad to say I absolutely loved the contents too! What is Sarah Penner’s The London Séance Society about? May mercy be upon the man who finds himself the enemy of a vengeful medium… 1873.At an abandoned château on the outskirts of Paris, a dark séance is about to take place, led by acclaimed spiritualist Vaudeline D’Allaire. Known worldwide for her talent in conjuring the spirits of murder victims to ascertain the identities of the people who killed them, she is…
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Currently reading :: The Last Sorceress by Bonnie Wynne
I love an epic fantasy saga and one of my favourites over the past few years is the story of Gwyn, protagonist of Bonnie Wynne’s The Price of Magic series. I’ve been along for the (wild) ride with Gwyn from the very first book, The Ninth Sorceress, and this month the fifth and final book in the series – THE LAST SORCERESS – was released. I’ve picked it up this week and am so happy to be back in Gwyn’s world (I’m kind of in denial about this being the final book!). Biggest congrats to Bonnie on this latest release, and thanks so much – as always – to the…
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Review :: The Glow by Sofie Laguna, illustrated by Marc McBride
What is The Glow about? Megan and her best friend Li must team up and draw on all their creativity and courage to defeat a strange monster that threatens their town. Megan is obsessed with drawing fantastical creatures and she shares them with her best friend Li who writes stories to go with the pictures. They are kindred spirits with big creative dreams. One day everyone in town – except Megan and Li – is immobilised by a strange glow coming from their phones. Megan and Li are initially frightened and alarmed, but when they realise they are somehow immune, they set out to seek help. Soon a battle unfolds,…
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Currently Reading :: Jane Doe and the Quill of All Tales by Jeremy Lachlan
I adore Jeremy Lachlan’s Jane Doe Chronicles series – they are such a great combo of adventure and fantasy and heart, with fabulous female characters and awesome Indiana Jones vibes. The third book, Jane Doe and the Quill of All Tales came out this week, and the team at Hardie Grant kindly sent me an early copy. I’ve finally had the chance to get into it over the past few days and I’m loving it – it was the perfect book to get lost in for Australian Reading Hour today. I’ve popped the synopsis for Jane Doe and the Quill of All Tales, and I’ll share my review here in…
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LoveOzYA :: Nightbirds by Kate J Armstrong
One of the debut Aussie YA novels I’ve most been looking forward to in 2023 is KAte J Armstrong’s Nightbirds (I featured it in this post about some of the upcoming LoveOzYA books I’m excited about). I was thrilled when the team at Allen & Unwin sent me an early copy to consider for review and have been looking forward to sharing my thoughts about it here. Read on below to find out more. What is Kate J Armstrong’s Nightbirds about? Magic may be illegal in Simta, but you can find it if you know which whispers to heed. None as tantalising as the ones about the Nightbirds, Simta’s best…
