In his debut #loveozya novel, The Path of the Lost, Beau Kondos creates a richly detailed new world where creativity is forbidden and powerful...




Zynthia is a Delver of the Cosm, one of the last of her kind. She has the ability to unleash the power of art, melody and narrative in a world that has outlawed creative expression. After her grandmother’s death, she is left to Delve on her own in the hope of discovering a lost ‘key’ that could preserve the Cosm’s light and save her world from fading into oblivion.
A single painting leads her to James, a man who is caught between two worlds.
After forming a fragile alliance with a Guardian and a rebel, Zynthia and James embark on the Path of the Lost. This ever-changing trail is haunted by forgotten creatures and secrets of the Cosm’s past.
Is James really the key Zynthia has been searching for? Can he learn to harness the power of his art to help in the battle against the Lost? Or has Zynthia’s Delving initiated a chain of events that will plunge her world into darkness forever?


I loved how complete Beau's imagining of this other world was - we are pulled along with protagonist James from modern day Melbourne into a completely new place with it's own laws, religion, mythology, and conflict. The non-human beings that Zynthia and James meet on their journey along the Path of the Lost felt completely unique, and more than a bit creepy.

As much as the adventure of discovering a new world, I also enjoyed seeing the relationships develop into unlikely friendships - and maybe even more - between the four main characters. The story is told in alternating perspectives from these four, and the use of third person perspective made the transition from one character's POV to the next less jarring than it can sometimes be.

I'm still not even sure what to think about the ending of this book - it was a bit mind-blowing! This is the first in a series, and I'm definitely looking forward to picking up the next one!

In terms of read-alikes, The Path of the Lost gave me An Ember in the Ashes vibes, although I remember finding that one particularly violent, and while there were some super creepy bits in The Path of the Lost I didn't feel like it was particularly violent.

Beau has kindly agreed to answer a couple of questions about his book and writing process, so keep an eye out for that here soon!

xo Bron

***The Path of the Lost***
On Goodreads
Source: I borrowed this one from my local library
Genre: Fantasy (YA)
Read it if you loved: An Ember in the Ashes
Read Harder challenge prompts:
16. The first book in a new-to-you YA or middle grade series

Find Beau Kondos online here.

I love a book about a book club - apart from the fact that I love reading about books, I think uniting a group of individuals based on their love of books is a great way to bring together such a variety of characters who wouldn't necessarily spend time together otherwise and who can therefore be really different from each other. So of course Liz Byrski's new novel A Month of Sundays appealed to me right away, and I was delighted to receive a copy in the mail from Pan Macmillan.


Here's the synopsis from the Pan Macmillan website:

I have also written before about how much I enjoy books about women's friendships and I really loved seeing the friendships between these women grow as they got to know each other and open up more and more. I thought it was super clever the way that the women use their book choices to learn more about each other, and the way that we get to know them (and they learn more about themselves) with each book club discussion they have.

One of the things that I think comes across really well in A Month of Sundays is how we are our own worst critics - each of the women has something about them that they see as a failing and that they think the other women will judge them for, only to find that their friends are completely forgiving and supportive about it. That's not to say that everything went smoothly for them - I really enjoyed seeing these women argue, hurt each other's feelings, apologise and move on.

I also really liked that this book is about a group of older women, which is something I don't think we see very often, and that although they had been through so much in their lives, they still didn't have it all worked out. I think we sometimes feel that as adults we should have more control over our lives, or be more confident in ourselves, or know what our style is and so on, so I found it kind of comforting to see women in their seventies still struggling with these issues.

Overall, I thought this was a sweet and comfortable read, and I gave it 3.5 stars.

***A Month of Sundays***
Out now from Pan Macmillan Australia
On Goodreads
Source: Thanks so much to Pan Macmillan Australia for sending me a free copy!
Genre: Contemporary fiction
Read harder challenge:
This one meets prompt 23: A book with a female protagonist over the age of 60

One of my reading goals this year has been to read more diverse Australian literature, so when I first heard about Meet Me at the Intersection - a brand new collection of short pieces by diverse writers for YA readers - it went straight to the top of my list of most anticipated book for the year. I was very excited when Fremantle Press sent me an advance copy, and I've enjoyed reading it a few stories at a time over the past few weeks.

It is finally out, and I'm so happy to be able to share some of my thoughts on it with you!


First, here's what the Fremantle Press website has to say about it:



I loved this book, and I know it is one I will go back to and reread. I'm not really sure how to approach talking about it - I don't think I've reviewed a collection of short stories etc before! - so I'm just going to tell you a few of my favourite things about it.

Firstly, I really enjoyed each and every piece in this collection. Everyone of them felt personal, like the writer was sharing a part of them with me, and I felt lucky to be given that insight into lives different than mine.

I loved that there was a variety of formats of writing in it, including poetry and short fiction and memoirs.

There are contributions from such a broad range of Australian voices, which was not only wonderful to read in this book, but it has introduced me to so many new and diverse writers whose work I'll be looking out for now (I want to read EVERYTHING each one of these writers have written!)

I also really enjoyed the little introduction to each writer at the front of their piece - I feel like hearing a bit about each of their stories was one of the things that helped make the writing feel so personal.

Overall I thought this was a fantastic collection that would be the perfect starting place for anyone who wants to increase the diversity of their reading (which should really be all of us!).

xo Bron

***Meet Me at the Intersection***
Out now from Fremantle Press
On Goodreads
Source: Thanks so much to Fremantle Press for sending me a free copy!
Genre: This one is a mix of fiction and non-fiction, memoir, poetry - all kinds of things! The collection is aimed at YA readers.

xo Bron

I had some pretty good book mail in August, so I thought I'd share it here - kind of a preview of some of the books that I'll be reading over the next little while.
These are a mix of books I've been sent for review, bought online, and even one I won in a giveaway.




Echo Springs :: Leisl Leighton, Daniel de Lorne, TJ Hamilton, Shannon Curtis
(on goodreads)
Harlequin Australia sent me this book, which I think is a compilation of four stories set around the police station of a small rural town. I'm expecting a bit of romance and a bit of murder...

Give Me Your Hand :: Megan Abbott
(on goodreads)
I won this in an Instagram giveaway from Pan Macmillan and @genie_inabook - it is a psychological thriller about friends and secrets (it sounds fantastically creepy!)

Vasilisa the Wise :: Kate Forsyth
(on goodreads)
I have had my eye on Kate Forsyth's latest book since I saw it was coming out, and finally treated myself to it last week so I can read it before we see Kate at the Heroines festival this weekend!

I'm hoping to read at least a few of these in September, so keep an eye out for reviews if you'd like to know more! And let me know in the comments if you've read any of these ones!

xo Bron