Rub your eyes and wake up from your coma, because the Book of the Month for May is Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir! Published in 2021, this novel is one of Weir’s many well-loved science fiction books.

The story follows the adventure of Ryland Grace, a science teacher who is recruited on a space mission to rescue the earth from devastation. When Grace wakes up alone on the ship, he has no memories of how he got there, and must learn about himself before he can save humanity.

So I’m a single man in my thirties, who lives alone in a small apartment, I don’t have any kids, but I like kids a lot. I don’t like where this is going…
A teacher! I’m a schoolteacher! I remember it now!

-Andy Weir, Project Hail Mary

Grace’s first-person narration introduces scientific ideas in a palatable way to the reader, while his fun tone is engaging, and serves a useful purpose when there is little dialogue to move the story forward. The high stakes of the plot don’t stop the story from also being character driven, as we uncover memories and scientific discoveries along with Grace.

Weir’s writing style and engaging storytelling made this book hard to put down. I loved it from start to finish, and I’d recommend it to anyone looking to get into science fiction novels, or people who are already deep into the genre.

• Rating: 𝙿𝙶
• Author: Andy Weir
• Published: 2021
• Review: ★★★★★

Get ready to whip out that magnifying glass, because the Book of the Month for April is The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle! This collection of short stories was originally published together in 1892, and were individually written for newspaper columns.

The stories are from the perspective of Dr John Watson, companion to Sherlock Holmes, who is a renowned detective in Victorian London. Sherlock is an incredibly intelligent man, who makes his deductions based on logic and facts.

As a rule, the more bizarre a thing is the less mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is the most difficult to identify.

-Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Red-Headed League

The mysteries and crimes in the book are interesting, and trying to solve them often has the reader stretching their minds to the limit. The differing characters of Sherlock and Watson are well described, and help to engage the reader in the stories.

The care with which each case had been written, along with the intriguing way that Sherlock solves them, fully engaged me as a reader. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes is a fun collection of stories, and I’d recommend it to anyone looking for an engaging short story or two.

• Rating: 𝙶
• Author: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
• Published: 1892
• Review: ★★★★☆

It’s time to climb out of your cryogenic tubes, because the next Book of the Month is here! This March, the Book of the Month is To Sleep in a Sea of Stars by Christopher Paolini. Published in 2020, this book delves into aliens and space travel.

This story tells about the adventure of Kira Navaréz, a xenobiologist who discovers an alien xeno suit that binds itself to her. This alerts a species of aliens that then begin attacking human settlements across the universe.

The happiness of two beings might be a small thing when compared with the immensity of the universe, but what, ultimately, was more important?

-Christopher Paolini, To Sleep in a Sea of Stars

One of the elements I found most interesting about the book was the science behind space travel. Although complicated, it added realism to the story, and the limitations that came with the science made the book more enjoyable as well.

As Kira endeavours to save her species, she finds herself caught up in existential meditation, which provides the reader with food for thought. The characters and relationships around her feel real and interesting, and allow for growth that takes the reader along with them. I would recommend To Sleep in a Sea of Stars to anyone looking for a nice long read.

• Rating: 𝙼
• Author: Christopher Paolini
• Published: 2020
• Review: ★★★☆☆

Welcome to the world of the mists, because the book of the month for February is Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson, the first instalment in the Mistborn trilogy. The book is inspired by Sanderson’s love of fiction, in the hope of bringing new people into an enjoyable place.

Mistborn tells the story of Vin, a thief in the Final Empire, who is recruited for potentially the biggest thief scam in history: overthrowing the Lord Ruler. The book sees Vin learning to trust her new world and understand her abilities as one of the elusive Mistborn.

“Kelsier leaned forward again. ‘But, you weren’t born an aristocrat. You’re not noble, Vin. You don’t have to play by their rules–and that makes you even more powerful.'”

-Brandon Sanderson, Mistborn: The Final Empire

Mistborn was a compelling start to an amazing series. The magic system of Allomancy is clever and well executed, with rules that, while complex, make sense. Sanderson’s characters are deep and interact with their world in an incerdibly real way.

Overall, I loved the experience of reading Mistborn. Every aspect of the story and world drew me closer to the characters, their flaws, and how they surmounted incredible obstacles. Mistborn comes highly recommended.

• Rating: 𝙿𝙶
• Author: Brandon Sanderson
• Published: 2006
• Review: ★★★★☆

With the New Year, I’m revisiting one of my old favourites. The Book of the Month for January is Frogkisser! by Garth Nix. Published in 2017, this teen novel is a fun reimagining of classic fairy tales.

The book tells the story of Princess Anya, who goes on a mission to kiss a frog – one that used to be her sister’s love. But when Anya can’t turn the frog back herself, she has to go on a Quest to save him instead, all the while avoiding the machinations of her evil stepstepfather.

‘Great!’ said Anya bitterly. ‘I simply want to read my books and learn magic and get on with things and now not only am I saddled with a frog prince, I have to go on a Quest to save the kingdom from Duke Rikard and I’m not even the oldest…’

-Garth Nix, Frogkisser!

Anya makes a good protagonist for the story, neither a damsel in distress nor a tomboy, but she is exactly who she needs to be to achieve her goals, whether she wants to or not. The discussion of magic and destiny give the princess her own agency within the book.

Nix weaves an engaging narrative with creative history and world-building that is nevertheless easy to grasp and immerse yourself in. The quirky side characters and Anya’s own outlook on the world bring life to the story. Frogkisser! remains one of my comfort reads.

• Rating: 𝙶
• Author: Garth Nix
• Published: 2017
• Review: ★★★★☆

Happy December! The book of the month for December is The Odyssey, by Homer. Most definitely the oldest book I’ve reviewed so far, the story is originally a set of epic poems, as a sequel to The Iliad, the story of the Trojan War.

The story follows Odysseus, a great commander and strategist, as he tries to make his way home after ten long years of war. Because of the way the story is set out, most of it is in first person, as Odysseus relates his story to the Phaeician king.

“Odysseus’ tale was finished. Held in the spell of his words they all remained still and silent throughout the shadowy hall, till at last Alcinous turned to his guest…”

-Homer, The Odyssey

The style of writing is very different from today, which often made for a more difficult read, along with the differences to modern heroic themes. However, the story was still compelling and interesting, even with moments of humour such as “Nobody.”

I really enjoyed reading this book, though it was a difficult task at times. Reading such an epic story that is both familiar and unknown to modern audiences made the story all the more fascinating. I would recommend this book to anyone undaunted by its reputation.

• Rating: 𝙿𝙶
• Author: Homer
• Review: ★★★★☆

Postscript:

To those wondering why I decided to review the sequel instead of the first in the series, as is my usual rule; I have read Iliad, and my modern, non-academic self could barely stand the boredom. Besides, I read The Odyssey first, and it works fine as a standalone.

G’day bibliomaniacs! The book for November 2025 is Eragon by Christopher Paolini. First published in 2002, Paolini was only 15 years old when he began writing it, and continued the book into the four-book series The Inheritance Cycle.

The story begins as Eragon, a young boy in a remote village, discovers a blue stone that hatches a dragon. With the help of the grumpy village storyteller, Eragon sets off across the empire of Alagaësia, and what’s not to love about dragons, magic, and a quest for revenge, only tempered by the young novice’s lack of supernatural knowledge?

“I don’t understand.”

“Of course you don’t … that’s why I’m teaching you, and not the other way around.”

-Christopher Paolini, Eragon

One of the most fascinating things about this series is Paolini’s approach to magic. He gives us a set of rules as vital as the laws of physics, yet explains them in a way easy to grasp. This magic system is admittedly similar to A Wizard of Earthsea, but it approaches certain core ideas of the spell working differently than in Ursula Le Guin’s novels. Paolini’s description of personality, especially that of Brom and the dragon Saphira, makes the reader feel as if they get to know the characters.

The worldbuilding of this book, as well as the depth and detail of the story, was what caught my fancy. I would encourage any bookworm to embark on a journey with Eragon. This book is one of my favourite comfort reads.

• Rating: 𝙿𝙶
• Author: Christopher Paolini
• Published: 2002
• Review: ★★★★☆

Happy October! The book for this month is A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, by Holly Jackson. Recently a bookstagram craze, the story is worth the hype, and is followed by two equally gripping novels.

The story is that of a Pippa Fitz-Amobi, a British girl who decides to investigate a cold case and local town legend as her end-of-year project for school. She soon finds more than she bargains for, with death threats and unheard secrets bringing the ugly truth of the past to light.

“I’ve already learned my lesson here: when you catch someone lying about a murdered girl, you go ask them why.”

-Holly Jackson, A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder

Pip’s quirky voice brings the right mood to a fun murder mystery. Her trivia coping mechanism and determined innocence make her an enjoyable protagonist. Jackson’s decision to include Pip’s production log as chapters is an innovative way to provide exposition and let us in on Pip’s thoughts with a first-person perspective in these diary-like entries.

Not only was the mystery itself fun to discover and solve alongside Pip, but her motivations and personality made the story all the more exciting to read. A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder is an amazing modern murder mystery that is absolutely worth the hype.

• Rating: 𝙼
• Author: Holly Jackson
• Published: 2019
• Review: ★★★★☆

Strap yourselves in, because Angel’s Flight is about to take off! The book of the Month for September 2025 is The Extraordinary Disappointments of Leopold Berry, by Ransom Riggs. This story is written by the author of Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children.

The book tells the story of Leopold Berry, who discovers the underground magic community of Los Angeles. As described on the blurb, Leopold finds that when you’re not the chosen one, sometimes you have to choose yourself.

“Leopold Berry might’ve been a disappointment to the world, but he’d never again be a disappointment to himself.”

-Ransom Riggs, The Extraordinary Disappointments of Leopold Berry

The narrative lets us explore this new world alongside Leopold, and the quirks of Riggs’ magical community make the journey all the more fun. Leopold’s own attitude and experiences add another layer of interest to the story, and the contrary idea of the premise, which acknowledges and dismisses the Chosen One trope, while being a bit meta, makes the story refreshing.

I found the characters and worldbuilding to be interesting, and the book was a good dose of action and fantasy – one of my favourite combinations. The Extraordinary Disappointments Of Leopold Berry is a novel I’d recommend to any teenager looking for a fun read.

• Rating: 𝙼
• Author: Ransom Riggs
• Published: 2024
• Review: ★★★★☆

It might be winter here in the Southern Hemisphere, but there isn’t any Christmas! The book for August 2025 is The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. Although the second in the series, this book was the first of the Narnia books, published in 1950, with the prequel, The Magician’s Nephew, written much later.

The book tells the story of Lucy Pevensie and her three older siblings as they discover a new, fantastical world in the wardrobe of an old mansion. It has a fun, exciting tale, as well as some interesting Christian ideas and symbolism.

…if she [The Witch] could have looked a little further back, into the stillness and the darkness before Time dawned, she would have read there a different incantation. She would have known that when a willing victim who had committed no treachery was killed in a traitor’s stead, the Table would crack and Death itself would start working backward.

C.S. Lewis, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe

This book, while some may say it has a basic storyline, I would argue that it is a classic, and perfectly matches the age range it was written for. Many of the fun elements, such as the lampost and the entrance of Father Christmas, add the element of fun that brings a spark of oddity to the world Lewis wrote.

The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe works well as both a standalone and as part of the larger chronicles it inspired. Although intended for children, I will certainly have fun reading about the Pevensies even when I am old, and it comes with my highest recommendations to anyone.

• Rating: 𝙶
• Author: C. S. Lewis
• Published: 1950
• Review: ★★★★★