Category: Australia - Alyce Caswell - Author

Alyce Caswell - Author

Every Series Has a Start

28/6/2025

Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone (Ernest Cunningham #1)
by Benjamin Stevenson

Ernest Cunningham has arrived at an isolated snowy resort, having being summoned to a family reunion which promises to be all kinds of awkward - it'll have killers, exes and secrets. But what he doesn't expect is a murder. Then another one... and another. A serial killer has also decided to attend and his family is full of targets. Who will make it back down the mountain alive?

I had so much fun reading the sequel that I decided to source the book that started it all. I was not disappointed! There's so much going on here and it's a delight as each little nugget of information is presented to the reader (even when you've already guessed some of it). I admit I was hoping to see more of Juliette - her character is handled much better in the sequel. But all in all, it's a murderously good time.

Writers on a Train

22/6/2025

Everyone on this Train is a Suspect (Ernest Cunningham #2)
by Benjamin Stevenson

Ernest Cunningham wrote a book about a serial killer attacking his family, which earned him an invited to a writing festival being held on the Ghan, a train that runs between Darwin and Adelaide. He's still struggling to write the all-important sequel, but fiction isn't his thing. What he really needs is another murder. Which totally has never happened on a long train ride before...

I had no idea this was a sequel, since this copy came to me care of my aunt (a fellow bookworm), and I usually avoid the crime genre. I'm glad I made an exception for this one. So much fun! I can easily imagine a group of crime writers being caught up in a mystery - and the publishing world seems pretty cutthroat even before you factor in murder! Ernest is... well, perhaps not always likeable but a great choice of narrator. I envy him - and the author - for riding the Ghan, which is something I've always wanted to do.

Content warning: mentions of rape & presence of rape apologists

Hope Springs Eternal

1/5/2025

Fae's Fate (Fated Mates of the Fae Royals)
by Helen Walton

The Spring of Life is dying and the Fae will not be far behind it. Princess Ciara and her best friend, Malachi, travel to Earth in an attempt to find a cure inside a magical library. But the answers may not be there. And they may need to make a great sacrifice in order to put things right. Ciara will do what she must; Malachi will support her. They've always been friends. Just friends. Never anything else...

I love this series... it's like a warm cup of tea, which is especially appreciated now that the weather is getting colder! Ciara and Malachi did frustrate me a bit (lol just figure your feelings out already!!) but they are so sweet together and you can't help but cheer when they finally stop dancing around the issue. I am so keen for the next - and last - book. But I don't want it to be over. Nooooooooo!

Single Player Run-Through

5/2/2025

Star Wars Galaxies: The Ruins of Dantooine (Star Wars Legends)
by Voronica Whitney-Robinson (with Haden Blackman)

Dusque is an Imperial bioengineer but her loyalty to the Empire will soon be tested - not that she had much of it to begin with. After she crosses paths with Finn, a Rebel, her life switches from collecting samples to dodging both creatures and Imperials. Her new task: find a holocron containing a list of people sympathetic to the Rebel Alliance. It must NOT fall into the hands of any Imperial.

This book has a reputation in some circles as being the worst Legends book. Nope, not by a long shot. But it's not good. The writing is clunky, the characters feel two dimensional, the prologue spoils a plot development early on and video game elements are shoehorned in on practically every page. There's also some weird decisions that don't make sense (why didn't Han and Chewie fly our heroes to the base??). That said, the pacing is surprisingly good, even with a literal side quest in the middle. I actually enjoyed that part. Less enjoyable was the romance, which would usually be my jam. All in all, a forgettable Legends entry but I'd still read it again.

Fancy a Firestarter?

10/9/2023

Not Here to Make Friends (Marry Me, Juliet #3)
by Jodi McAlister

I received this ARC from Simon & Schuster Australia (via NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review.

Murray O’Connell needs to produce another season of reality show Marry Me, Juliet and he has to do it without his best friend, Lily Ong. Or so he thought. After a year of silence, she's back - as Lily Fireball, not a producer and not the woman he knew, but the villain of his season. She could completely derail his plans...or help him make the most brilliant season of reality television ever.

I don't often get obsessed with a series. I'm extremely obsessed with this one.

I devoured the first two books, so of course I did my damndest to pick up an ARC of the third instalment. I was not at all disappointed! It was so much fun to read about two MCs who are such a mess - especially when they are so delightfully messier when put together. Lily Fireball is one of the most complex characters I've ever encountered and you will easily find yourself rooting for the "villain" here. McAlister has done it again - and yes, I'm still obsessed.

Bronze Debut

9/9/2023

Silver Valley (Silver Valley #1)
by Arabella Rosier

Savannah Shaw moves to Silver Valley because of her father's work and is happy to see her best friend, Jasmine Spark, again. But there is something seriously strange going on and Jasmine has told her not go into the forest. But Savannah is drawn to the forest - and the boy she's seen lurking there. Soon the secrets of Silver Valley will be revealed.

This is a well-written debut that introduces believable teenage characters and it was intriguing enough to hold my attention for the first and second acts (after that...not so much). There's potential here, but a lot of it is unrealised. I imagine that the uneven pacing and plot issues will improve across the series, just as the author improves in her craft.

Sweet & Sunny

25/8/2023

Summer Beach (Escape to the Coast #1)
by Amber Jakeman

Sam has returned to Australia from her busy life in LA and is cleaning up her late father's holiday house, eager to have it sold as soon as possible. She discovers that the house has a neighbour - Jake, a songwriter and guitar player who has no tolerance for out-of-owners who only see dollar signs. But he and Sam have more in common than she realises. And now she might have a reason to stay.

This was a charming book and a pleasant detour between heavier reads. I did feel that it could have used a structural edit and I thought the MCs were rather mean to each other at times (too mean, perhaps, to make things work). Ultimately, Summer Beach: Escape to the Coast delivers exactly what it promises its readers - sweetness, romance and a sunny setting.

More Heir than Spare

2/7/2023

My Spare Heart by Jared Thomas

Phoebe doesn't want to go to a new school or move in permanently with her dad and his girlfriend - and she definitely doesn't want to do yoga! She just wants to play basketful like her heroes. While settling in isn't so bad, it does mean that she can't see her mum as often as she'd like...and it'd help if her mum actually showed up when she promised she would.

Jared Thomas has a gift for writing YA fiction that feels real, isn't unbelievable or OTT, and is accessible to teens who might not usually read as a hobby. For some adult readers, this means the prose isn't as elegant as in some other YA novels, but you're not the intended audience. Thomas grapples with some very difficult issues here, including having an alcoholic as a parent and dealing with micro-aggressions. This is a solid Australian story.

Sometimes I Read Non-Star Wars Books

16/3/2023

Fae's Alpha (Fated Mates of the Fae Royals #3)
by Helen Walton

Briana heads to Earth against her father's wishes to assist her sister. But first she runs into Sledge - a strong, sexy Alpha who just happens to be her fated mate. Briana doesn't want to risk her heart again. Sledge will do anything to win her over - even promise not to touch her until she asks him to.

What's not to like about firefighter wolf shifters? Especially one who rescues koalas! Another enjoyable steamy PNR from Walton, with the added bonus of a slightly more intriguing plot than the previous two instalments.

Reality TV Bites

28/2/2023

Here for the Right Reasons (Marry Me, Juliet #1)
by Jodi McAlister

Cece is in desperate need of money, which is definitely NOT the right reason to be on the reality dating show Marry Me, Juliet. But she only lasts one episode before being eliminated. Game over - right? Nope! The pandemic has stranded her on location. The show's Romeo, Dylan, offers to help Cece out with some extra screen time. Cece accepts: a decision that definitely won't come back to bite her. Ha!

AHHHHHHhhhh ommmgggg squeeeeee. Right, that's dealt with. I think I remember how to do words now. I discovered this series via an ARC of the sequel, which I loved (bi rep wooo!) and I thought I might like this one too. Didn't expect to love it just as much! Cece bulldozed her way into my heart and I was desperate for her to have her HEA. She and Dylan were such an amazing couple too. This book was amazing and I need more.

I just have one question. Lily Fireball book - when?