Kathryn's Inbox

Award winning children's author Danielle Binks has penned a thought provoking novel for children about two children and their neighbour who are all going through, well, rather a lot. Leo's life has been a bit rough of late. He's almost finished year six at the local primary school. He's been abandoned by his childhood best friend Tash in favour of the cool kids, his dad has gone away to the other side of Australia for a while to get help with his gambling addiction and now, Leo has won a scholarship to a fancy private school in Melbourne that he is not feeling so sure about. Meanwhile, Tash, who has survived an aggressive form of childhood cancer, has made a sudden reappearance in his life. She wants Leo's help in delivering a letter to their eccentric neighbour from the other side of the creek. As the letters keep appearing, Leo finds himself growing closer to Tash and discovering the grim reality of the letters and the many cruel games that a property developer is...

Australian author Lily Crozier's debut is a pleasing gothic romance and retelling of Beauty and the Beast ... but with vampires. Clara Wagner has grown up in a town plagued by poverty and a prince who appears to be using his people to satisfy his desire for blood. Now, Prince Raleigh has decided that it is time that he married and someone join him in the castle. And that someone just happens to be Clara. In spite of the fact that she is very much human and betrothed to a man she loves? Or is she? As Clara finds herself drawn deeper and deeper into the castle and the life of Prince Raleigh she soon discovers that things are not what they seem and the real enemy may be someone else indeed ... Vow of Eternal Night was an enjoyable, satisfying read that ticks all the right boxes for a gothic romance. One thing I really appreciated was that Clara in her mid-twenties and had already had adult relationships, rather than being portrayed as a young fair virgin on the cusp of her coming-of...