Stories

  1. Mythology-Inspired Fantasy Tales from Around the WorldMythology has always been the raw clay from which storytellers shape new worlds. From the wind-bitten fjords of Scandinavia to the red deserts of Central…
  2. The Fifth Season and the possibilities of modern fantasyN.K. Jemisin's debut opened a fractured continent called the Stillness, a single landmass where civilised society survives because its inhabitants understand…
  3. The Best Thriller Novels Where Politics Turns PsychologicalPolitical conspiracies become genuinely unsettling when the threat enters a character’s thoughts. A secret committee or covert operation may be frightening,…
  4. Unearthing Hidden Gem Indie Fantasy Through Audiobook SamplesAustralians are among the world's most enthusiastic audiobook consumers, with commutes from the outer suburbs of Melbourne or Brisbane into the CBD giving…
  5. Five Novels That Wrestle With the Ethics of Genetic EngineeringThere's something quietly unnerving about picking up a novel that turns the same DNA helix you learnt about in high school into a question of power. Science…
  6. New adult horror books that channel gothic romanceThere is something magnetic about a story that wraps terror in velvet and lace. Gothic romance has always understood that the most unsettling passions often…
  7. Identity and continuity in the cyberpunk world of Altered CarbonRichard K. Morgan's 2002 novel Altered Carbon landed in Australian bookshops two decades ago and has refused to leave the cultural conversation since. The…
  8. Reading Between Two Fires reveals the heart of medieval horrorFew novels capture the grim texture of the Middle Ages quite like Christopher Buehlman's Between Two Fires. Released in 2012, this book has quietly built a…
  9. Fantasy Novels Where Queer Characters Find Joy Instead of TragedyFor decades, queer characters in speculative fiction often met brutal ends, sacrificed for narrative impact or used as cautionary tales. The "bury your gays"…
  10. Using Waterstones affiliate links to reach UK readersBook bloggers rarely write for a single country anymore. Even a Sydney-based reviewer covering small-press fantasy will field emails from readers in…