Tessa Gratton and Justina Ireland are both New York Times bestselling authors of multiple Star Wars stories and YA SFF books. They have effectively combined their talents to write the duology Chaos and Flame and Blood and Fury. Chaos and Flame (2023) is the first book in this "ferocious" YA fantasy duology. Blood and Fury, the sequel, is a challenge to read as a stand-alone novel but once the reader sorts the complexities of the fantastic world and creatures that Gratton and Ireland have built, the effort is worthwhile.
The novel begins with a preface which introduces the villain of the story, Aurora, second scion of House Cockatrice. In the introduction, Aurora is eleven-years-old, living in the Dragon Castle and unloved. She is drawn to a room under the castle, where she discovers an old journal belonging to "the blood" which will give her the strength to leash and crush Chaos and have power instead of love. The story then leaps ahead thirty years where the results of this unleashing of blood magic has caused catastrophe in the Kingdom of Pyrlanum. The first section of the book is entitled "Blood" and the second is "Fury". The chapters throughout the entire book alternate between the point of view of Talon Goldhoard, first scion of Dragon House, to that of Darling Seabreak, as the two move from being enemies to allies. Darling is transformed into the legendary Phoenix and her destiny is to unite the fractured Houses of the land. Talon has the task of ending the war which his family began. They have to learn to recover from the betrayal that lies between them in order to unite to save the kingdom. The violence, the dark blood forces, are deep within his own House Dragon.
A glossary of mythical creatures, ancient military hardware etc. would be useful at the back of these books to aid the reader who is unversed in the medieval and ancient worlds. However what is complex and obscure for the uninitiated is fuel and fire for fantasy lovers. For fans of the Science fiction/fantasy (SFF), Blood and Fury may be relatively easy but for those unfamiliar, the story is initially difficult to follow because of the complexities of the concepts, terms, society and culture of the mythical kingdom of Pyrlanum that Gratton and Ireland have built. Once the code is untangled there is great satisfaction in the logic of the structure within the political and military structure of the kingdom and the Houses. The colourful and complicated system of governing scions, with their regents, empyreals and armies will be disbanded as a future that looks more like a democracy with elected leaders is brought in.
Despite the military interest (albeit a very mythical and mystical form of military) and the bloody violence of the clashes between good and evil, there is a tenderness and gentleness in most of the major characters. There is romance, loyalty and betrayal and lovely relationships between war princes and their "war drakes" which are reminiscent of the relationship between cavalry and their steeds. The strangeness of the whole landscape and pageant of castles, soldiers and mythical creatures would make a visually stunning screen adaptation or a challenge and delight for the artist.
Chaos and Flame is indeed a challenging and engaging ride into a "ferocious" fantasy and ancient magical world resplendent with wonderful transforming mythical creatures and strong and engaging characters. The duology is recommended as a powerful SFF read - dramatic visually and action-wise.
Themes Mythical beasts, Ancient fantasy kingdoms, Love, Betrayal, Political intrigue, Magic.
Wendy Jeffrey
Outrageous Fortunes by Megan Brown and Lucy Sussex
La Trobe University Press, 2025. ISBN: 9781760645052. (Age:Adult)
Who knows the identity of the first female author of a detective series, years before Conan Doyle’s ‘Sherlock Holmes’? It is an Australian woman, Mary Helena Fortune, author of The Detective’s Album, in 1871. As was the case with many female authors of those times, she wrote under her initials or pseudonyms such as Waif Wander, Nessuno (nobody), or Nemia. And it is only through the extensive detective work of the two researchers, Megan Brown and Lucy Sussex, that the full extent of her prolific writing output has been uncovered.
As the onetime wife of a policeman, then as the mother of a young criminal, and perhaps even as an informer herself, Mary Fortune had insight into the criminal underworld, a world that would become a mine of stories to be told in her detective series and her newspaper articles. She dared to write stories of murder, rape, assault and armed robbery, in published serial chapters, short stories and articles, which captured the attention of colonial-era Australia. In her ‘Ladies Column’ for 'The Herald', she dared to describe her visit to Pentridge prison, disguising the fact she was visiting her own son, for George had led a life of recidivism, from one crime to another. Mary Fortune herself led a colourful life, as bigamist, flaneuse, and drunkard, an independent woman who crafted stories, often autobiographical, that captured the attention of her readership.
If it were not for the persistent research of Brown and Sussex, Mary Fortune’s life and that of her son George, the other outrageous Fortune, would have disappeared from memory. The extracts from Mary’s writing that are included in this book, reveal a competent and entertaining writer, that readers might like to discover further. Happily some of her stories have been collected in a NewSouth publication Nothing but murders and bloodshed and hanging (2025) also collated by Brown and Sussex.
Written with a poetic touch, this short novelette tells the story of a blackbird and his family and their encounter with a cuckoo. The blackbird is known for his appealing call; the cuckoo known for her heartless abuse. In this short story the wind is also given a voice and an all-seeing perspective, looking out over the blackbird’s family (with its interloper offspring). With a little bit of heartache and the tenderness of family connection, this is a simple tale set within an English woodland that is home for many innocent creatures (excepting the cuckoo and the fox).
The poetic style for this story creates an almost lyrical feeling and the author who writes as a Blackbird (a pen name), gives a gentle telling of the natural world. More a fantasy tale than an environmental revelation, the story has a gentle quality with a hint of the compassion and tenderness of the Blackbird family - an example of literary personification. For those who enjoy short stories and also love poetic play or portraiture with language, this is a quick and enjoyable reading journey. Suitable for 10–14 year-olds looking at the short story genre or for others who just love language used well. It is published in pocket sized format, so could easily fly as a gift with the benefit of the postal service.
Themes Birds - Blackbirds and Cuckoos, England, Family, Short stories.
Royal Heirs Academy by Lindsey Duga is a highly entertaining and engaging YA fraternity/sororiety campus novel that takes the reader into the grubby world of a finishing school for the world's ultra rich and powerful elite. After being enmeshed in the battles and intrigues of four teenagers who must navigate the world of the elite finishing school (Almus Terra Academy) and who are pitted against each other to be the next successor of the Kingdom of Ashland, the reader is left with a bad taste in the mouth when it comes to contemplating the back room power games and intrigues that go on in the real world of power politics on a world scale.
King Leander Eldana of Ashland has organised for his heirs to be brought up out of the public eye. Each of the first four chapters of the novel introduce the reader to the four contenders for inheritance. Alaric has grown up surviving with his fists in the streets of Dublin; a supposed orphan in government care. Emmeline, has grown up, extremely wealthy but unloved in the care of body guards and paid companions whose sole purpose was to train her for successful entrance to Almus Terra Academy. Titus had always known that he would inherit the crown and his parents have actively trained him for it. Sadie, on the otherhand, is a commoner, a citizen of Ashland and the highly intelligent winner of a scholarship.
Almus Terra Academy is the setting for Royal Heirs Academy. Duga has modelled Almus Terra Academy on a real finishing school for the children of royalty and the global elite (UWC of the Atlantic) which is located at the 12th century St. Donat's Castle in Glamorgan, South Wales. Being a campus novel, set in surroundings of medieval splendour and being concerned with aspiration, intrigue and rivalry, Royal Heirs Academy, shares similarities with the Harry Potter series set in the fictional Hogwart Castle and other campus novels including The secret history by Donna Tart set in the fictional, elite Hampden College in Vermont and The princess diaries series by Meg Cabot set in the fictional Einstein High School in New York City. Royal Heirs Academy is set very much in contemporary times with current world issues being very much the concern of the students.
It is uncertain what King Leander is looking for in his heir. All four young people have different strengths and frailties. Some are more likeable than others; some are more manipulative than others. Certainly the characters are well rounded, built in relation to each other and through their actions, mirroring what is right and wrong with society and politics. Issues like living with chronic illness and race representation are subtly nuanced. The reader becomes invested in each of the characters and expectant of certain outcomes. Is this going to be a rags-to-riches story? Will King Leander be more interested in an heir who can nastily manipulate and play underhand terrible games, or in one who has the common people behind them? Will the crown go to a commoner or one born and bred to be a successor? The answer is a surprise. There is a twist and then another.
Royal Heirs Academy is a wild ride - unputdownable! It is a great piece of escapism to read about an exclusive campus which is beyond the reach of ordinary people-a school that is set apart to cater for the world's future leaders so that they can network and train for leadership of multinational companies and government in the contemporary world. The alliances, betrayals, romances, secrets and drama make for riveting reading.
Themes Royalty, Politics, Succession, Romance, Wealth, Entitlement, Campus life.
R. A. Spratt is epically famous amongst young readers for her Friday Barnes stories and the Nanny Piggins tales (as well as other delightful books that you should be sure to read. I have read more than one of her books.) In this spectacular book she allows the infamous Nanny Piggins to regale her charges (and us as readers) with chapter by chapter retelling of Greek mythology. She never does anything without cake (and side serves of quirky humour), so this book is full of sweet delight AND the awfulness of the Greek Gods from ancient mythology. Pedants will find her Piggins-inspired storytelling to be full of twisted truths (things that should never get in the way of a good story, apparently). But those of us who love a liberal serving of irony, eccentricity and cake will enjoy her mythologies. (And children will love her distaste for school, formal instruction and homework!)
This is a book that introduces mythology but could never be considered a ‘reference book’! But children aged 9+ will find it appealing. Because Ancient Greek mythology is a rarely taught topic in schools, most children will come with little or no background knowledge of Zeus, Apollo, Achilles and other ‘famous’ mythological Greeks, but perhaps Nanny Piggins can pique their interest. Nanny Piggins readers will immediately recognise her bizarre character traits, but even if she is an ‘unknown’ it won’t take long to recognise her eccentric approach to all things. I can see this book flying off the shelf (with the assistance of a nymph or two) and creating a mirth-filled escape for young Primary-aged readers.
Melbourne University academic, Adrian Moore was shocked when Irene, his wife of ten years left him, saying she didn’t want to spend the rest of her days with someone more passionate about death than he was about anything in life. For the last year, to fill the void, Adrian has immersed himself in death, his specialist field, exploring the cultural and social meanings of death, but he hasn’t been able to move on in his life. He has a good friend in Keziah, a 28-year-old neighbour who works in a call centre to pay the rent while she pursues her passion in making handmade art papers. She is the one to remember Adrian’s 43rd birthday and theirs is a good and companionable friendship. Kezi grew up in Crossroads, a fundamentalist Christian community, but left when condemned for her sexual preferences. Estranged from her family, she struggles with how to reconcile her faith, creativity and chosen life with the stringent rules her parents and their community required. When Adrian meets social scientist Laura Benady at his favourite cheese shop, she has just completed a large development project. In her late 50’s and, she believes, happily married to her life mentor Tony, Laura is treating herself to a carefully chosen blue cheese for lunch. Adrian is smitten by this tall dark woman who also has a passion for cheese and they agree to share two different varieties for lunch. Their friendship develops, as does Adrian’s newfound love of music, particularly Mahler and all three characters seem to have reached a plateau of meaningful lives. But Laura’s discovery of her own wants unbalances the relationship she has with her jealous and controlling husband and her marriage becomes dangerously toxic just as Kezia experiences a crisis in her life. The title, from Mathew Arnold’s poem, considers “Whence our lives come and where they go” and there are supporting quotes from many sources throughout the book (book clubs could tease out a very comprehensive reading/listening list) and Andrea Goldsmith examines small moments in her characters’ lives that demonstrate the power of love and friendship on that life journey. There is a real sense of place and the different circles the characters inhabit including academic snobbery and an appreciation that music can have powerful effects at certain times in life.
This is a beautifully crafted and subtle exploration of relationships, though I found Tony’s character to be over-explained to the point of caricature. The ending was a bit unsatisfactory but as the poet Szymborska, quoted on page 81 writes “Every beginning is only a sequel, after all / and the book of events is always open halfway through."
Readers will immediately be drawn to the cover of My big secret, wondering what secret the little piglet is keeping to himself. Can it have something to do with his red scarf? Yes! Everybody in his family, from Grandma to his cousins, go for the Red team, but secretly he loves the Blue team. He wishes that he could wear a blue scarf and get the autograph of his favourite player, but he dreads what his family would think if they knew the truth. One night he can’t control himself and yells out 'Yes! Yes! Yes!' when the Blue team scores and his secret is out. But course, his family love him for being himself regardless of the colour of the team that he barracks for. And he paves the way for someone else to show their preference.
The simple illustrations are appealing and children will love following along as the family does all the things that are associated with following a team – wearing the colours, watching the matches on TV, and going to the sports ground. The colour red dominates at first but gradually blue comes in and then a surprise colour arrives at the conclusion of the book.
Arena cleverly shows children through the familiar situation of supporting a team that it is possible to have differing opinions and beliefs about things but still be loved and supported by your family. The theme of tolerance and acceptance for differing beliefs is one that is important today when children see violence and hate directed at diverse groups, and adults could use this book to initiate wider discussions about diversity.
Perfect for home, public and school libraries, My big secret is highly recommended.
The Lady Astronaut novels, beginning with The calculating stars, winner of the Hugo, Nebula and Locus Awards, have continued to fascinate me with their strong characterisation, as well as the thought-provoking dystopian setting of Earth facing extinction after a devastating meteorite strike. The Martian Contingency finds Elma York, the Lady Astronaut, about to land on Mars, hoping to establish a habitat for Earth’s survivors without the hate and discrimination that has existed on Earth. But as she navigates her way around her new home, several clues lead her to question what may have happened on the first Mars mission. As she poses questions she is faced with a wall of silence. Could this lead to the mission being cancelled?
Kowal explores many issues as Elma settles into her new job as deputy in charge of the mission. She has new responsibilities as a leader and must learn to tread carefully through relationships and the mechanics of running a space station. Racial and gender stereotypes also play an important role in The Martian Contingency and are explored thoughtfully by the author. The setting of Mars and life under the domes is wonderfully described and it is easy to imagine the thrill of landing on its red soil and living through a new time zone. Readers wishing to learn more about space exploration will welcome the bibliography at the end of the book.
Readers who enjoyed the first three novels in the Lady Astronaut series are likely to want to pick up The Martian Contingency, and like me, will enjoy the growth in Elma York’s responsibility and character as well as the gripping action as the new habitat is developed. A satisfying continuation of the series.
Themes Science fiction, Dystopian fiction.
Pat Pledger
The humongous Humdingle Family and the tiny house by Michelle Wilson
With three generations - Grandma and Grandad, Mum and Dad, the four children - and a host of pets living in the same small house, things can get a bit frantic for the Humdingle family, particularly as there is only one couch, one television, one bicycle, one car, table, one toilet and only ONE bedroom. But even though it is squishy and noisy, it is never lonely or boring.
While the adults might be okay with the situation, each of the children wish it were different - being able to choose their own television shows, not having to listen to Grandad's snoring, not finding the toilet occupied every time you need to use it... Until the day Mum wishes that "humongous houses dropped from the sky."
This is definitely a book based on the old adage of "Be careful what you wish for" because even though the family suddenly has all the space they need and want, things are not quite as perfect as they hoped. With teachers' notes offering lots of ideas to explore the story further, this is an engaging story for readers to think about appreciating what they already have rather than always wishing for and wanting bigger, better and newer - sadly, a trait in this consumeristic, throw-away, keep-up-with-the Joneses society. With their lives being bombarded by advertising through every medium possible, our children seem unable to escape the message that they are only worthwhile if they have the latest and greatest, so this is an opportunity to step back and through the Humdingles' experience, reflect on those things that really matter for happiness. After all, how enduring is the buzz of opening something new? Perhaps they might even be encouraged to do an audit and a cull of their "stuff" and rehome it. Imagine the learning involved in their organising a class garage sale that raised funds for a chosen charity.
This is an ideal companion to The All New Must Have Orange 430 and an important addition to any unit that focuses on consumerism and humans' impact on the planet, including loss of animals habitats because of urban sprawl.
Themes Family – multi-generational living, Minimalism, Appreciation, Sharing.
Barbara Braxton
I am not the Easter Bunny by T. L. McBeth
Walker Books, 2025. ISBN: 9781761601194.
There is an old saying, "If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck". So, if it's a white bunny, with a fluffy cotton tail, wearing a bow tie and vest, carrying a basket full of painted eggs and other candy, then surely it must be the Easter Bunny!
Written as a conversation between the narrator who insists all the clues point to this being the Easter Bunny and a white bunny who insists he is not, and there are logical explanations for his actions, this is a story for young readers carried along in the playful back-and-forth that will make them focus on their vision and version of the real Easter Bunny, inspiring their own conversations and artwork.
But its format could also be used to introduce the concept and layout of dialogue for slightly older readers, as the narrator's voice is in regular text while the bunny's is presents as speech bubbles. How might this have been written in a novel using quotation marks and other punctuation? Some might even like to turn it into a Readers Theatre to perform for younger students.
Even older readers could enjoy it as an introduction to the concept of stereotyping, perhaps beginning by drawing their image of Easter Bunny before the book is shared, and discussing how their interpretations compare to those of their friends as well as those identified in the book. Even the too-cool-for-school brigade harbour a secret belief in this particular childhood favourite so this is a great opportunity to engage them in the fun while still respecting their growing maturity.
So what seems like, and has often been appropriated as, a book for the very young can have application across the school bringing a bit of light-hearted relief to everyone.
While all of her friends have shadows of various colours, the narrator’s shadow is blue. Her friends do all sorts of things, but her strength is to run. She runs over hills and mountains, and is ready to run at the sports day, but the coach separates the girls and the boys. Boys can run faster, he says so the girls must start at the back so they don’t interfere with the faster boys.
When the narrator protests she is sent off the field altogether. She listens for the race to start, but nothing happens. She realises that the boys have refused to run until everyone is there.
They all run as a group, the overleaf showing that the shadows are all different meaning they have different interests and abilities.
This is an unusual picture book, the shadow being blue, I had expected a story about depression, but it is about gender expectations. The person in charge certainly relegates the kids to their gender groups in competition in the activities, and it is the boys who complain and want everyone to be together. They respect the girls being involved, because if they win when they are separated, how can it be called a win.
This is an interesting look at gender stereotypes and promotes the idea that all kids be treated as equal. In rhyme the story is easy to read and kids will enjoy predicting the rhyming word.
Head of Zeus, 2022. ISBN: 9781801107686. (Age:Adult - 16+) Recommended.
The cyclist is the second in the DS Cross Mysteries and follows The dentist. DS George Cross is relentless in his pursuit of the truth when investigating a murder and his examination of minute details and patience has led to a very high conviction rate. When a mutilated body is found on a demolition site Cross works out the victim is an amateur cyclist who deals in performance enhancing drugs. Why was this young man murdered? To answer this question, Cross, ably assisted by his off-sider Josie Ottey, uncovers family mysteries and secrets from the past.
Sullivan builds up a fascinating portrayal of Cross who has few social skills and often rubs people up the wrong way. Ottey is beginning to understand the way his mind works with his obsession with patterns and is also able to help him to understand how other people feel. These two characters are very relatable and it is easy to become engaged with the way they investigate the murder as well as their personal lives.
The murdered man Alex Paphides was an avid cyclist as well as helping to run a Greek restaurant with his brother. He was also involved with a 16-year-old girl and was trying to find an investor for a new restaurant in London – all of which give Cross and his team plenty of motives to look at.
I am thoroughly enjoying this series. The descrption of the police procedures will appeal to readers who enjoy that aspect of the mystery genre while the characters and their side stories and the subtle humour contained in the story add depth.
Themes Murder, detectives, Cyclists.
Pat Pledger
Ella and the Sleepover Safari by Cassy Polimeni and Hykie Breeze
UWA Publishing, 2025. ISBN: 9781760803018. (Age:6+) Recommended.
Moving house and starting at a new school hasn't been easy for Ella, but now she has settled in and bonded with Mai over a shared interest in frogs. She hasn't forgotten her best friend Viv who lived next door to her old house, but they haven't seen each other since the move. Now, for a birthday treat, Ella's aunt has gifted her a safari sleepover at the zoo and Ella has invited both Viv and Mai. But will the two get along?
It seems not until a midnight visit to the loo has an unexpected outcome...
Continuing this series for newly independent readers, Cassy Polimeni has continued to combine both a credible story with relatable characters and situations with more information about the natural world as the girls tour the zoo with Frankie the guide, weaving facts about the exhibits together through the underlying tension between the girls. Anyone who has spent time with children of this age will recognise the ebb and flow of friendships that are so common as independence and autonomy mature, while readers themselves will learn that is possible to have more than one close friend.
Already identified in the CBCA Notables for 2025, this is a series that is going to appeal particularly to girls with an interest in the environment and the protection of its creatures, and they will be delighted to know that there are two more coming soon to complete the collection.
Fans of cosy mysteries with a locked room theme and those who want to read a light, enjoyable story will welcome Murder by Candlelight. It is 1924 and the quiet Cotvillage of Maybury-in-the-Marsh is shocked by the murder of Amy Phelps, a rich woman prominent in local affairs. Arbuthnot ‘Arbie’ Swift the author of The Gentleman’s Guide to Ghost-Hunting had been commissioned by Amy Phelps to investigate a ghost in her house and now finds himself trying to deal with her murder. Assisted by Val, the daughter of the local vicar, he uncovers secrets, altered wills and many motives for murder.
This is a very enjoyable mystery, with witty dialogue, two likeable young investigators and enough red herrings to keep the reader immersed in the story while trying to work out who is the murderer. If you are looking for a quick read, then this book is sure to entertain. And it ticks all the boxes for the cosy genre – large house, village life, likeable investigators, rich protagonists and few gory descriptions. Murder by candlelight is followed by The last word is death, which is equally as entertaining. Readers may also enjoy Faith Martin’s The lavender lady, a stand-alone mystery about ghost hunters.
Themes Cosy mystery, Ghosts, Murder.
Pat Pledger
My Mum is a bird by Angie Cui and Evie Barrow
University of Queensland Press, 2025. ISBN: 9780702268632. (Age:3+) Highly recommended.
Mum is very different from other mums and carers. And many examples are shown of her difference: the way she butters toast or heats the milo, and the most concerning of all of all, the way she flies her daughter to school. The girl knows that people stop and stare when her mother takes her to school and comes into the classroom for parent and carer’s day. She unwillingly adds her bowl of seed to the table with food from all the other families, and is very embarrassed when mum warbles a tune when each child is asked to tell the class what their parents do. At recess mum sits in a tree so her daughter sits with her so she is not alone.
Suddenly a large hairy spider lands on Kayla’s hair. She screams running around the yard. Everyone reacts differently, getting up on a chair, or running around in a panic, or picking up a stick. But mum flaps her wings and flies down, grabbing the spider in her beak and eating it. Mum is cheered by the parents and the children. Kayla has been saved by this unusual mother. The girl happily snuggles down into mum’s feathers as they take off and fly home.
A charming story of the love that exists between a mum and her daughter. This family is not quite like other families but in celebrating their differences will enable children see that differences are part of our world. The mum in this story is quite different from other mums but her skills are useful in a tight spot, and so is seen in a new light by the school and her daughter.
A lovely story to read aloud and share, especially with the light touch of the illustrations, executed with coloured pencils, which will intrigue young readers who have a warm relationship with coloured pencils and will look closely at the images with greater interest. Evie Barrow is able to reflect a feeling on the faces of the children, enabling us to read what they are thinking. This is very obvious when mum turns up at school, with parents’ faces full of surprise and questions, and lovely to see the change in their visages when she saves the child from the spider.
