September 2026 reading wrap up
September brought 10 books covering traditional fae, Catholic guilt, suspicious plot Lego, romance rereads and an increasingly elaborate Psy-Changeling conspiracy board. Apparently the Character Arc Tribunal is now permanently in session — but at least I’m having fun while I interrogate everyone’s emotional development.
Why prophecy is the most dangerous trope in fantasy
Prophecy can create mystery, tension and incredible foreshadowing, but it can also steal a protagonist’s agency and accidentally reveal the ending. Let’s look at why prophecy is such a dangerous fantasy trope, and why I still love it.
Romantasy books with happy endings
Sometimes you want magical kingdoms, dangerous bargains, spicy monsters and emotional devastation, but only with a guaranteed HEA. From cosy standalones to trauma-filled completed series, these 12 romantasy recommendations promise that everything will eventually be okay.
May 2026 reading wrap up
May was a slower reading month, with just four books finished and my yearly reading goal starting to slip away. From sports romances that didn't quite live up to expectations to the addictive fantasy of Half City, here's everything I read — and why cliffhangers should probably come with a warning.
April 2026 reading wrap up
A month of mystery houses, romance, fantasy, and a game that completely consumed my attention. Here's everything I read, loved, and occasionally side-eyed in April 2026.
The Mentor Problem: Why wise mentor characters always disappear
Have you ever noticed how fantasy mentors vanish just when the protagonist needs them most? Let's explore why this trope exists and what it reveals about storytelling.
March 2026 reading wrap up
Vampires, romances, fantasy adventures, and a few surprises made March a wonderfully varied reading month. Here's everything I read and what I thought of it.
February 2026 reading wrap up
A month filled with unexpected favourites, memorable romances, and one book that immediately became a contender for my best reads of the year. Here's my February reading wrap up.
What makes enemies-to-lovers actually work
Not every enemies-to-lovers romance delivers on its promise. Let's break down what separates the truly satisfying examples from stories that mistake dislike for chemistry.
January 2026 reading wrap up
The year got off to a strong start with fantasy adventures, cosy reads, and a few disappointments along the way. Here's everything I read in January 2026.
The anatomy of redemption arcs in fantasy
Not every villain deserves redemption, and not every redemption arc succeeds. Let's explore what makes these character journeys so compelling—and why some work far better than others.
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Book info: Book review: Fourth Wing by Rebecca YarrosRelease date: 2 May 2023Goodreads linkAmazon AU linkDymocks linkAussie publisher: Hachette Blurb:
2022 mid year book tag
Hello friends!! Welcome to the 2022 edition of the mid year book tag. We sometimes call it the mid-year freak out… but that implies I only freak out at mid-year. Which is categorically untrue. So, I’m now calling it a book tag. The mid year book (freak out) tag was created by Ellie (EarlGreyBooks) and Chami (formerly at ReadLikeWildfire). The…
Lakesedge by Lyndall Clipstone
So, you know how I identify as a fantasy reader, but in actual fact I read more romance than anything else... Well, Lakesedge by Lyndall Clipstone has actually prompted the biggest surge in fantasy books on my TBR than anything else in the past two years. And it's the perfect read for October.
2020 WRAP UP!!
Hello bookworms!! Welcome to the 2020 wrap up!! I can’t believe we’re already in February 2021. I feel like by the time I get to doing to wrap up for this year it’ll be June 2022… BUT, we’re here now and I’m ready and raring to go. Well… maybe not ‘raring’ per se. But I’m ready. I’m also expecting this…
The Night Country – Melissa Albert
Release date: 9 January 2020 Goodreads link Book Depository link Rating The Night Country (The Hazel Wood #2) blurb: Alice has fought hard for a normal life. Having escaped the Hinterland – the strange, pitch-dark fairy-tale world she was born into – she has washed up in New York City, determined to build a new future for herself. But when…
Havenfall – Sara Holland
Release date: 3 March 2020 Goodreads link Book Depository link Rating Havenfall (Havenfall, #1) blurb: Maddie Morrow knows that Havenfall is more than it seems. Beneath the beautiful sprawling Inn lie the hidden gateways to three ancient realms: Byrn, Fiordenkill and Solaria. Maddie’s destiny is here, rooted in her family’s promise to protect the fragile alliance between the worlds. But…
An Ember in the Ashes – Sabaa Tahir
Release date: 28 April 2015 Goodreads link Book Depository link Rating An Ember in the Ashes (An Ember in the Ashes, #1) blurb: An orphan fighting for her family. A soldier searching for his freedom. A story burning to be told. Laia is a Scholar living under the iron-fisted rule of the Martial Empire. When her brother is arrested in…
10 amazing fantasy classics you should read
Hello friends!! Today I really want to chat to you about 10 amazing fantasy classics you should read!! One day — but also, like what are you even waiting for?! Just in case you haven’t heard me scream about this previously, YA wasn’t really a thing when I was growing up. You had board books for toddlers, picture books for…
A Darker Shade of Magic – V. E. Schwab
Release date: 27 February 2015 Goodreads link Book Depository link Rating A Darker Shade of Magic (Shades of Magic #1) blurb: Kell is one of the last travellers – magicians with a rare ability to travel between parallel universes connected by one magical city. There’s Grey London, without magic and ruled by the mad King George III. Red London –…
A Heart So Fierce and Broken – Brigid Kemmerer
Release date: 7 January 2020 Goodreads link Book Depository link Bloomsbury link for Aussie’s Rating A Heart So Fierce and Broken (Cursebreakers, #2) blurb: HARPER has freed Prince Rhen from the curse that almost destroyed his kingdom. But all is not well in Emberfall: rumours are rife that there is a rival heir with a stronger claim to the throne…
The Sky Weaver – Kristen Ciccarelli
Release date: 12 November 2019 Goodreads link Book Depository link Rating The Sky Weaver (Iskari, #3) blurb: At the end of one world, there always lies another. Safire, a soldier, knows her role in this world is to serve the King of Firgaard—helping to maintain the peace in her oft-troubled nation. Eris, a deadly pirate, has no such conviction. Known…
Sorting my bookshelves: a labour of love or a sucker for punishment?
Good morning bookworms! Well, we haven’t had a proper discussion post for a while, so I thought it was time for me to uhhh, waffle at you all for a bit. (I would say ‘You’re welcome’, but I’m not really sure if you should be happy about this or not?!!) I don’t know about you guys, but I never feel…
The Queen of Nothing – Holly Black
Release date: 19 November 2019 Goodreads link Book Depository link Rating The Queen of Nothing (The Folk of the Air, #3) blurb: His voice is soft, and I make the mistake of looking into his black eyes, at his wicked, curving mouth. ‘But your beauty will fade,’ he continues, just as softly, speaking like a lover. ‘And all you have…
