Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Oxford Blood — Rachel Davis Featherstone

    Walker Books Synchronicity yet again. For one thing my other YA review for Halloween is also dark academia, full of privilege vs scholarship, ruthlessness, power-hungry educational institutions, murder/s, set in an elite institution. And, also, as I’ve just re-read via audiobook The Book of Dust #1 & #2 and the setting of Oxford with references Read more

  • Bonus Post – Inspiring Minds ezine

    Hey everyone – if you’ve not heard about it yet, Inspiring Minds is a recently launched new free magazine for kids, under the auspices of Daisy Lane Publishing. It’s not just for kids but, in part, by kids. Your kiddos are invited to submit their creative efforts – next issue’s submission date is 10th January. Read more

  • Halloween Bonus! Q&A with Jack Mackay

    Recently I reviewed the amazingly great Gloam, debut novel of Jack Mackay [honestly, READ it! – it is SO good!] and am thrilled, as well as grateful, for this generous response to my Q&A. Perfect Halloween timing!!! Jack, welcome to Just So Stories! I am so grateful to you for sharing some time with my Read more

  • Horror in Pleasantville: Stories from the Archives – Caleb Finn

    Penguin Australia August 2025 I’m guessing there would be some who have NOT heard of Caleb Finn – but that’s very likely not any of your readers or indeed anyone under the age of 25 at least. From his early days on TikTok his popularity has soared as an iconic purveyor of short horror stories Read more

  • A Box Full of Murders – Janice Hallett

    Penguin Australia June 2025 ISBN: 9780241636183 Imprint: Puffin RRP: $16.99 It was actually quite serendipitous that as friend, Zanni Louise, mentioned she was enjoying a Janice Hallett murder-mystery – an author whose work I didn’t know – I replied by saying, I had just got a review copy of her first kids’ book, also a murder mystery. And Read more

  • The Cave Downwind of the Café – Mikey Please

    Harper Collins Australia October 2025 I didn’t see the previous book, The Café at the Edge of the Woods, but as it won Waterstones’ Picture Book of the Year it would be obvious that it was a great success. Certainly, this quirky sequel confirms that. Actually, this is a prequel to that one as it Read more

Archived Reviews