AustLit

'In Casement Rise, a dusty town at the end of days, Jean is a young girl with an innocent but timeless voice that will call to all of us. The day Jean was born a mysterious force named Furnace awoke a few miles out of town that mysteriously calls people to it, never to be heard from again. Jean’s father has been called to it and so many others besides.

'The novel revolves around Jean, and her relationships both with her stern and overprotective grandmother, and the ancient evil that is Furnace. Jean’s grandmother has always kept Casement Rise safe from monsters, but in protecting Jean, she may have left it too late to teach her how to face the demons on her own, and now it’s time to grow up.

'With the lyrical cadence of The Last Unicorn and intense imagery of Wizard of Earthsea, The Stone Road is a powerful novel of hope and belonging.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'A giant stands on the shore, watching the sea. She never moves, never speaks, until the day she turns to a little girl and says, 'The sea is rising.'

'The brave girl takes the message to the town. But when the people refuse to listen, the giant must find another way to save them.

'Perfect for the children of the Climate Strike, this is a lyrical and deeply moving story about climate change, standing up for what you believe in, and the power of hope.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Did you know giants come in all shapes and sizes?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Mark is a Day Boy.

'In a post-traumatic future the Masters—formerly human, now practically immortal—rule a world that bends to their will and a human population upon which they feed. Invincible by night, all but helpless by day, each relies on his Day Boy to serve and protect him.

'Mark has been lucky in his Master: Dain has treated him well. But as he grows to manhood and his time as a Day Boy draws to a close, there are choices to be made.

'Will Mark undergo the Change and become, himself, a Master—or throw in his lot with his fellow humans? As the tensions in his conflicted world reach crisis point, Mark’s decision may be crucial.

'In Day Boy Trent Jamieson reimagines the elements of the vampire myth in a wholly original way. This is beautifully written and surprisingly tender novel about fathers and sons, and what it may mean to become a man.

Or to remain one.' (Publication summary)

'He thought he’d return from Hell a hero. But things are never easy when your business is Death.

'Steven de Selby gave up his love, his life, and his lucrative position as Head of Mortmax, the corporation in charge of Death. Then he found himself banished to the briny depths of hell. But hell has never held him before …

'Now Steven’s back from hell, after escaping from the cruel Death of the Water, but he’s not sure how or why, or even if. No one at Mortmax trusts him, and he’s running out of time to prove he is who he says he is.

'Steven is about to discover that hell really is other people, and the worst of them may well be himself.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

Duology of science-fiction fantasy novels set in 'a dying land of decaying clockwork technology that is being devoured by a great rift in reality, the Roil.' Source: Publisher's Blurb

'Life is tough at the top when work is a matter of life or death.

It's one thing to run Mortmax International as head of a team, but it's quite another to rule alone. Staff fatalities have left Steven by himself on the Throne of Death, and there's no time to get comfortable. The Stirrer god's arrival is imminent, threatening life as we know it. Plus Steven has managed to mortally offend the only ally strong enough to help out.

'And how can he ask someone to marry him when the End of Days seems inevitable. As if they are going to think he's committed. The portents don't look good as a comet burns vast and looming in the sky and Steven can almost hear a dark clock ticking. He will have to play nice if he wants his ally back, and must address the madness of the Hungry Death within himself if he even has a chance at defeating the Stirrer god.

'If he fails, Hell and Earth are doomed and wedding bells will be quite out of the question.' (From the publisher's website.)

'Steve knew something was wrong as soon as he saw the dead girl in the Wintergarden food court. Nothing new, he saw dead people all the time, but this one was about to save his life... Steve is a necromancer in the family firm, tasked with easing spirits from this dimension to the next after death. And he's kind of OK with that, until someone high up the corporate hierarchy makes a bid to be Australia's new Regional Death. This means killing all of the current Death's staff. After his parents, relatives and pretty much every other necromancer he ever knew has been killed, Steve is left to make a reluctant stand. But to do this he must stay alive.

'Threatened at every turn, Steve and the dangerously attractive (and dead) Lissa go on the run to save what's left of their world.' (From the publisher's website.)