Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Happy World Octopus Day !!

    When is World Octopus Day?: World Octopus Day is celebrated on the 8th of October every year. It was first observed in 2014 but has been an annual event ever since. Take a look at some of my octopus reviews especially the two most recent Keeper of the Octopus and Song of a Thousand Seas. And don’t Read more

  • Gloam – Jack MacKay

    Bloomsbury September 2025 Imprint: Oneworld ISBN: 9780861549528 RRP: $16.99 Sometimes a debut novel comes along that completely blows you away, and this would be one of those. I’m not a fan of horror, but I don’t mind a bit of creepy – this was actually quite a lot of creepy! and an enormously good read. Read more

  • Our World Full of Wonder – Jevita Nilson/Jess Racklyeft

    Publisher: CSIRO Publishing November 2024 ISBN: 9781486318155 $ 24.99 Sometimes, despite all my good intentions, some books just linger for months tucked away in one of the several tubs/boxes I have for review books. I do have regular re-shuffles, and there are those books that just don’t make the cut for me, and so are Read more

  • The Adventures of Pongo and Stink – Lisa Nicol. Illustrated by Karen Blair.

    Penguin Australia October 2025 I can absolutely guarantee you that your kiddos will be rolling about as happily as pigs in mud when they get their hands on this one – and it would make a super serial read-aloud for your younger readers. Pongo and Stink are fully fed up with living in a dark Read more

  • Between – Anna Walker

    Scribe Publications Imprint: Scribble September 2025 ISBN: 9781761381591AUD$27.99 (Hardback) Anna Walker has created a book that is a pure symphony of thoughts, that swirl around like gossamer on a breeze. I only wish I could give you some idea of how utterly beautiful and soothing it is. It is almost a meditation in print and Read more

  • Keeper of the Octopus – Neridah McMullin

    Walker Books Australia ISBN13:9781760659479 Australia RRP:$17.99 New Zealand RRP:$19.99 As I’ve said before, I have a fascination with octopuses with their superior intelligence and facility for extraordinary physical feats. And when you combine that with Neridah McMullin’s ability to weave a narrative of magical realism that has echoes of traditional folktales and lore, you get Read more

Archived Reviews