What do you think?
Billie King
A blisteringly fast, fresh, funny and hugely entertaining novel of mothers, daughters and one gutsy wild colonial girl who gets caught up in Australia's last female bushranger's quest for revenge. Think Leah Purcell's The Drover's Wife meets Trent Dalton.
'The thing is, when your neck's been getting stepped on for so long, you run out of air. Without air, the fight up and leaves you. What you need to see is someone who's gotten out from under the boot before, someone who's fought back and lived to tell the tale. And that someone's Dulcie James.'
1918: Australia's last bushranger, Dulcie James, holds up Anna King's falling-down farmhouse. There's a scrawny unloved infant on the floor, Anna seems more furious than frightened, and it's the bushranger who's left shaken. Sparks fly between the women, and the trajectories of their lives are altered, especially for Anna as the next day, she vanishes.
Twelve years later, Anna's daughter, Billie King, is a girl ready to explode. With a missing mother, the rent in arrears and her alcoholic father's gambling debts to cover, she has no time for school. But when child services threaten to remove Billie from her father - and she learns he's really not her father - she must decide between continuing her search for her missing mother and keeping what's left of her family together. If she fails to hold onto her father, she'll be taken away and placed in a children's home, but if she doesn't find her missing mother, who will?
'The thing is, when your neck's been getting stepped on for so long, you run out of air. Without air, the fight up and leaves you. What you need to see is someone who's gotten out from under the boot before, someone who's fought back and lived to tell the tale. And that someone's Dulcie James.'
1918: Australia's last bushranger, Dulcie James, holds up Anna King's falling-down farmhouse. There's a scrawny unloved infant on the floor, Anna seems more furious than frightened, and it's the bushranger who's left shaken. Sparks fly between the women, and the trajectories of their lives are altered, especially for Anna as the next day, she vanishes.
Twelve years later, Anna's daughter, Billie King, is a girl ready to explode. With a missing mother, the rent in arrears and her alcoholic father's gambling debts to cover, she has no time for school. But when child services threaten to remove Billie from her father - and she learns he's really not her father - she must decide between continuing her search for her missing mother and keeping what's left of her family together. If she fails to hold onto her father, she'll be taken away and placed in a children's home, but if she doesn't find her missing mother, who will?
320 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 1, 2026
About the author
Shannon Kelly-White
1 book30 followersThe internet has plenty to answer for, and Shannon’s writing career is one of them.
Many moons ago, during maternity leave, she created Shannon’s Kitchen—a slightly unhinged corner of the internet that developed something of a cult following. Part food, part storytelling, part “did she really just say that?”, it laid the foundation for four non-fiction books and three Gourmand Awards, including Best Writing.
But fiction was always the dream.
Inspired by freedom, spirit, and women who push back, Shannon finally pulled her finger out and got on with it.
Her debut novel, Billie King, will be published by HarperCollins on 30 June 2026, with a second novel already in the works for 2028.
Shannon Kelly White is a writer, mum, nurse and doodle-joke enthusiast. She lives in Torquay, Australia
Many moons ago, during maternity leave, she created Shannon’s Kitchen—a slightly unhinged corner of the internet that developed something of a cult following. Part food, part storytelling, part “did she really just say that?”, it laid the foundation for four non-fiction books and three Gourmand Awards, including Best Writing.
But fiction was always the dream.
Inspired by freedom, spirit, and women who push back, Shannon finally pulled her finger out and got on with it.
Her debut novel, Billie King, will be published by HarperCollins on 30 June 2026, with a second novel already in the works for 2028.
Shannon Kelly White is a writer, mum, nurse and doodle-joke enthusiast. She lives in Torquay, Australia
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews
June 24, 2026
‘That town, that farmhouse, that baby. That final loose end. It needed to be tied up.’
Set in rural Australia in the early nineteenth century, Billie King is a story of women shaped by hardship, survival, and long-buried secrets.
Dulcie James is a bushranger with a bounty on her head, but she wasn't born a criminal. Circumstances fuelled a desire for revenge and a determination to hurt others just as she had been. But when she attempts to rob Anna, things unfold differently. Anna doesn't cower or beg; she is so worn down by life that she no longer fears what might happen to her. The presence of Anna's baby daughter, Billie, also gives Dulcie pause. Instead of carrying out the robbery, she leaves, having forged an unlikely connection with Anna. Before long though, both women have vanished from Billie's life, leaving her never having known them or their history.
Twelve years later, Billie is determined to uncover the truth about her mother's disappearance, while Dulcie returns to the town she thought she had left behind forever.
The novel paints a vivid picture of life in small-town rural Australia, where survival is a daily struggle and choices are rarely straightforward – especially for women. The harshness of that world is reflected in the crude language and distinctly Australian lingo throughout. While the mystery surrounding Anna's disappearance kept me reading, I never felt fully invested in the story or its characters. The premise is compelling, and I always enjoy stories centred on strong women, but the execution didn't quite live up to its potential for me.
That said, this is a debut novel, and there was more than enough here to make me interested in seeing what Shannon Kelly White writes next.
‘There was no earning in this world, there was only luck. Good and bad luck’.
Set in rural Australia in the early nineteenth century, Billie King is a story of women shaped by hardship, survival, and long-buried secrets.
Dulcie James is a bushranger with a bounty on her head, but she wasn't born a criminal. Circumstances fuelled a desire for revenge and a determination to hurt others just as she had been. But when she attempts to rob Anna, things unfold differently. Anna doesn't cower or beg; she is so worn down by life that she no longer fears what might happen to her. The presence of Anna's baby daughter, Billie, also gives Dulcie pause. Instead of carrying out the robbery, she leaves, having forged an unlikely connection with Anna. Before long though, both women have vanished from Billie's life, leaving her never having known them or their history.
Twelve years later, Billie is determined to uncover the truth about her mother's disappearance, while Dulcie returns to the town she thought she had left behind forever.
The novel paints a vivid picture of life in small-town rural Australia, where survival is a daily struggle and choices are rarely straightforward – especially for women. The harshness of that world is reflected in the crude language and distinctly Australian lingo throughout. While the mystery surrounding Anna's disappearance kept me reading, I never felt fully invested in the story or its characters. The premise is compelling, and I always enjoy stories centred on strong women, but the execution didn't quite live up to its potential for me.
That said, this is a debut novel, and there was more than enough here to make me interested in seeing what Shannon Kelly White writes next.
‘There was no earning in this world, there was only luck. Good and bad luck’.
July 11, 2026
It’s 1930, and 12-year-old Billie King doesn’t have much going for her. Her mum disappeared when she was a baby, her dad is a drunk who can barely look after himself, and she’s always getting into trouble at school (when she actually goes). Everyone in her small outback town thinks she’s dirty, naughty, and destined for nothing. But Billie is clever, resilient, and full of courage. When she meets the legendary bushranger Dulcie James and uncovers long-buried secrets, her life might just change forever.
I absolutely loved this book.
The characters were the standout for me, especially the strong, determined women who refused to let life define them. Billie was such an easy character to root for, and I loved watching the relationships develop, even between people who had only known each other a short time.
I also really enjoyed the three different narratives. Each voice felt completely distinct: Dulcie's was articulate and measured, Billie's captured the perspective of a young girl perfectly, and Anna's diary entries were rougher around the edges, full of Aussie slang and personality.
The small outback town setting in post-World War I Australia was wonderfully atmospheric and easy to picture. The story was well paced, with plenty of adventure, mystery, and gradually revealed secrets that kept me turning the pages. There were a few twists along the way, and I thought the ending was fantastic.
A wonderful Australian historical mystery with heart, unforgettable characters, and a touch of adventure. I'd highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys Australian historical fiction with a strong female cast.
I absolutely loved this book.
The characters were the standout for me, especially the strong, determined women who refused to let life define them. Billie was such an easy character to root for, and I loved watching the relationships develop, even between people who had only known each other a short time.
I also really enjoyed the three different narratives. Each voice felt completely distinct: Dulcie's was articulate and measured, Billie's captured the perspective of a young girl perfectly, and Anna's diary entries were rougher around the edges, full of Aussie slang and personality.
The small outback town setting in post-World War I Australia was wonderfully atmospheric and easy to picture. The story was well paced, with plenty of adventure, mystery, and gradually revealed secrets that kept me turning the pages. There were a few twists along the way, and I thought the ending was fantastic.
A wonderful Australian historical mystery with heart, unforgettable characters, and a touch of adventure. I'd highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys Australian historical fiction with a strong female cast.
April 19, 2026
This is a story about the indomitable spirit of women who refuse to be broken in. And, simply put, this is one of the most incredible stories I have read in many years. I felt transported back to my childhood growing up in rural Australia, the sights, the sounds, the smell, the language, the people. I don’t know that this book will be for everyone, but Christ this book feels like it was written for me.
This is historical Australian fiction, set in an old rural town called Orilong in the years after the First World War. Billie King, the titular character, is a spirited twelve year old girl who can’t help but find trouble wherever she goes. Dulcie James the Lady Bushranger is tired of all the hard things life has thrown at her, but she is returning to Orilong with one loose end left to tie up. There is a connection between Billie and Dulcie, and we learn about this in flashbacks through the old diary of Billie’s Mum, Anna, who has her own story of finding the strength to continue despite immense hardship.
The story rotates through three viewpoints - Billie and Dulcie in 1930, and Anna in 1918 - painting a picture of life in Australia a century ago. The first thing you will notice is the Australian slang and way of speaking and it is wonderful. This not simply adding some swear words to character dialogue, it is baked into the very DNA of this book to the point where it’s a character in its own right. Billie, Dulcie, Anna and the whole of Orilong are brought to life so vividly that I found myself getting distracted by my own memories and flashbacks.
The story itself? It is very dark, very confronting, deals with some very heavy content such as sexual assualt, PTSD, suicidal ideation, poverty, child abuse (formerly known as schoolhouse discipline), and more. Not only is the content dark, but that bloody author Shannon Kelly-White can’t help but to pile on the misery for our characters. And this is what makes Billie King shine (the book and the woman). Billie King is a beacon of determination, showing incredible strength and courage, brightened further by her compassion and values. You only need to read through boxing sequence, especially the scene with the kangaroo, to see why Billie King is a light so strong that she burns away the darkness. As the darkness burns away the threads of the story start to intertwine, secrets are revealed, motives are confirmed, and the conclusion hits like a ton of bricks!
I want to finish this review with two quotes from the book. If you want to know what type of book Billie King is, what type of characters Billie, Dulcie and Anna are, and why you should absolutely be moving this book to the top of your list, these two quotes should be all you need.
“Everyone seemed so damn keen on killing spirit. In horses. In her. Maybe life would be a hell of a lot easier if she’d just give hers up, but she couldn’t.”
“That’s what blokes don’t grasp about us women. How tough we are. Men, they dig a hole for us, she said. They tell us to fit ourselves in it, to lie down. So we do. They watch us, thinking we’ve given up but Lord knows we’re just resting, gathering ourselves and our thoughts and then we get back up. We do. Again and again, we climb out of that hole and have another swing.”
This is historical Australian fiction, set in an old rural town called Orilong in the years after the First World War. Billie King, the titular character, is a spirited twelve year old girl who can’t help but find trouble wherever she goes. Dulcie James the Lady Bushranger is tired of all the hard things life has thrown at her, but she is returning to Orilong with one loose end left to tie up. There is a connection between Billie and Dulcie, and we learn about this in flashbacks through the old diary of Billie’s Mum, Anna, who has her own story of finding the strength to continue despite immense hardship.
The story rotates through three viewpoints - Billie and Dulcie in 1930, and Anna in 1918 - painting a picture of life in Australia a century ago. The first thing you will notice is the Australian slang and way of speaking and it is wonderful. This not simply adding some swear words to character dialogue, it is baked into the very DNA of this book to the point where it’s a character in its own right. Billie, Dulcie, Anna and the whole of Orilong are brought to life so vividly that I found myself getting distracted by my own memories and flashbacks.
The story itself? It is very dark, very confronting, deals with some very heavy content such as sexual assualt, PTSD, suicidal ideation, poverty, child abuse (formerly known as schoolhouse discipline), and more. Not only is the content dark, but that bloody author Shannon Kelly-White can’t help but to pile on the misery for our characters. And this is what makes Billie King shine (the book and the woman). Billie King is a beacon of determination, showing incredible strength and courage, brightened further by her compassion and values. You only need to read through boxing sequence, especially the scene with the kangaroo, to see why Billie King is a light so strong that she burns away the darkness. As the darkness burns away the threads of the story start to intertwine, secrets are revealed, motives are confirmed, and the conclusion hits like a ton of bricks!
I want to finish this review with two quotes from the book. If you want to know what type of book Billie King is, what type of characters Billie, Dulcie and Anna are, and why you should absolutely be moving this book to the top of your list, these two quotes should be all you need.
“Everyone seemed so damn keen on killing spirit. In horses. In her. Maybe life would be a hell of a lot easier if she’d just give hers up, but she couldn’t.”
“That’s what blokes don’t grasp about us women. How tough we are. Men, they dig a hole for us, she said. They tell us to fit ourselves in it, to lie down. So we do. They watch us, thinking we’ve given up but Lord knows we’re just resting, gathering ourselves and our thoughts and then we get back up. We do. Again and again, we climb out of that hole and have another swing.”
August 3, 2026
Shannon Kelly-White you made me cry 😢 I don’t do that often reading books, usually because they involve serial killers but anyway. Billie King is such a touching and empowering story that I couldn’t stop the tears. I was emotionally invested in both of these amazing characters and I didn’t want it to end. The bush setting was gorgeous and the author described it perfectly.
Meet Dulcie James, Australia’s last bushranger. She is independent and hell on revenge. She is a wanted woman and lives in the woods with her trusty horse. She has a plan and it is almost completed. And then she meets Billie King for the second time and her plan takes a backseat for now. The pair first met when Billie was a baby and now she is a 12 year old girl who is in trouble and Duckie made a promise to her mother.
These two! Oh my goodness they were brilliant. Billie is a tough little tomboy who is smart as a whip. The relationship between these women is amazing in such a short time. The bond immediately and was so lovely. Billie wants answers to everything, she is a curious child and sees the world differently to most kids her age.
This book is fabulous! It is funny, it is wild it is beautiful. It is a reminder that women can do anything if they out their mind to it, I loved it so much.
Thank you so much to Harper Collins Australia for sending me a copy of this book to read. It was a lovely change to my usual crime reads and I look forward to reading more from this talented writer.
Meet Dulcie James, Australia’s last bushranger. She is independent and hell on revenge. She is a wanted woman and lives in the woods with her trusty horse. She has a plan and it is almost completed. And then she meets Billie King for the second time and her plan takes a backseat for now. The pair first met when Billie was a baby and now she is a 12 year old girl who is in trouble and Duckie made a promise to her mother.
These two! Oh my goodness they were brilliant. Billie is a tough little tomboy who is smart as a whip. The relationship between these women is amazing in such a short time. The bond immediately and was so lovely. Billie wants answers to everything, she is a curious child and sees the world differently to most kids her age.
This book is fabulous! It is funny, it is wild it is beautiful. It is a reminder that women can do anything if they out their mind to it, I loved it so much.
Thank you so much to Harper Collins Australia for sending me a copy of this book to read. It was a lovely change to my usual crime reads and I look forward to reading more from this talented writer.
July 19, 2026
LOVED THIS SM!! Somewhere between a 4.5 - 4.75 star rating for meeee. General premise is a lady bush ranger just being an absolute boss bitch in the Australian bush. Great themes of feminism/sticking it to the man etc etc. Just a fun read & a bit diff to lots of other stuff around atm. Well and truly passed the Bechdel test.
July 15, 2026
100% worth the read (or listen) - I am SO happy I came across this book!!!
July 24, 2026
Billie King is a force to be reckoned with. This book is about the unwavering spirit of a young woman in a world where everyone is trying to push her down and make her small.
I went in blind to this book, and honestly it took me a few chapters to get used the ocker language that I am not used to reading- but definitely a lot of sayings I thought were just my family’s 😂🙊 I have loved Shannon’s humour since buying her cookbooks yeeears ago and following her on social media!
I was hooked from the start, the multi pov of 3 strong women was great to read, the timeline of 1918-1930 was interesting and I’m really thankful there wasn’t any discussion about the war or post war Australia the author chose to just focus on the characters storylines. Enter bad ass Dulcie James… the lady bushranger extraordinaire, she takes our Billie under her wing. The character of Anna (Billie’s mum) POV through her journals left me curious about what happened to her I was hooked until the end to see if we’d get answers!
There were secrets, twists and an explosive ending that sucks you right in to this book. I love how the author shows women to be the bad ass vigilantes and save the day… in the words of Mrs Incredible “Leave the saving the world to the men? I don't think so!”
This is a quintessentially Australian book, and I loved how daggy and aussie the dialect was (once I got used to it!). It is a book I would love my daughter to read when she’s older and see how powerful women can be.
Thank you to Harper Collins and NetGalley for my advanced copies!
July 1, 2026
Big thanks to Shannon for gifting us a copy to read and review.
There’s a new voice in town….
So prepare yourselves to be wowed.
Shannon Kelly-White is the latest to release a historical colonial fiction adventure read.
Billie King is an action packed, spellbinding, emotional, humorous and down right entertaining novel.
Welcome to the country town of Orilong where gossip, drama, danger and community are leading the way.
It’s 1930 and young Billie King is discovering life and the burden is high.
Her mother is missing, her father is an alcoholic and gambling is his forte, she hates school and the nuns are on her back.
But thirteen year old Billie has an encounter with The Lady Bushranger, Dulcie James.
In 1918, Dulcie arrives at the property of Anna King.
Ready to rob it all, the experience between the two is more fury than scared and the next day Anna disappeared.
Now Billie must fight for what she believes is right whatever it takes…..
This story is inspiring, bold and the power of three protagonists is strong.
I adore our female leading ladies, their stories collide and their voices are dominant.
The tagline on the front “Wild girls don’t go quietly…..” is a perfect description of how this tale rides and goes.
I didn’t know what to expect when I started reading but what I do know now is the plot, characters, history and setting is exceptional.
This is a must read for everyone and another favourite book of the year.
There’s a new voice in town….
So prepare yourselves to be wowed.
Shannon Kelly-White is the latest to release a historical colonial fiction adventure read.
Billie King is an action packed, spellbinding, emotional, humorous and down right entertaining novel.
Welcome to the country town of Orilong where gossip, drama, danger and community are leading the way.
It’s 1930 and young Billie King is discovering life and the burden is high.
Her mother is missing, her father is an alcoholic and gambling is his forte, she hates school and the nuns are on her back.
But thirteen year old Billie has an encounter with The Lady Bushranger, Dulcie James.
In 1918, Dulcie arrives at the property of Anna King.
Ready to rob it all, the experience between the two is more fury than scared and the next day Anna disappeared.
Now Billie must fight for what she believes is right whatever it takes…..
This story is inspiring, bold and the power of three protagonists is strong.
I adore our female leading ladies, their stories collide and their voices are dominant.
The tagline on the front “Wild girls don’t go quietly…..” is a perfect description of how this tale rides and goes.
I didn’t know what to expect when I started reading but what I do know now is the plot, characters, history and setting is exceptional.
This is a must read for everyone and another favourite book of the year.
August 22, 2026
Friggen' hell! That was fantastic!
The fight in these women to not get in that hole that was dug for them by the men in their families or town. To offer that hand to get the other woman out too.
Billie...brave girl. Friggen': love you Billie
The fight in these women to not get in that hole that was dug for them by the men in their families or town. To offer that hand to get the other woman out too.
Billie...brave girl. Friggen': love you Billie
July 26, 2026
𝚆𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚊 𝚋𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚍𝚢 𝚛𝚒𝚙𝚙𝚎𝚛 𝚘𝚏 𝚊 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝙸 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚑𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚎𝚍 𝚋𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚎𝚗𝚍 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚒𝚛𝚜𝚝 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛!
𝚂𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚗𝚘𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊 𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚊𝚛𝚢 𝚠𝚒𝚣𝚊𝚛𝚍-𝚎𝚜𝚜 (𝙸 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝'𝚜 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚊𝚗 𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚞𝚊𝚕 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚍 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚒𝚝 𝚒𝚜 𝚗𝚘𝚠) 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚢 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚛𝚘𝚝𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚜𝚘 𝚞𝚗𝚒𝚚𝚞𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚋𝚛𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝙸 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚜𝚎𝚎/𝚏𝚎𝚎𝚕 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚙𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚛𝚎 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚘𝚞𝚕 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚘 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚑𝚒𝚌𝚑 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚋𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚕𝚢 𝚘𝚏𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚊𝚐𝚎𝚜! 𝙸 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚔 𝚒𝚝 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚋𝚎 𝚖𝚢 𝚏𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚢𝚎𝚊𝚛 𝚜𝚘 𝚏𝚊𝚛.
𝙸 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚛𝚞𝚍𝚎 𝚘𝚌𝚔𝚎𝚛 𝙰𝚞𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚎 𝚕𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚞𝚊𝚐𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚝 - 𝚒𝚝 𝚑𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚕𝚢 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚖𝚎 𝚌𝚊𝚌𝚔𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚕𝚘𝚞𝚍 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚒𝚜𝚑.
𝟹 𝚊𝚖𝚊𝚣𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚏𝚎𝚖𝚊𝚕𝚎 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚊 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚠𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚗 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚌𝚎𝚒𝚟𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚜 𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚒𝚐𝚗𝚒𝚏𝚒𝚌𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚍 𝙱𝚄𝚃 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚜𝚎 𝚕𝚊𝚍𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚋𝚘𝚢 𝚍𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚑𝚘𝚕𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚒𝚛 𝚘𝚠𝚗!
𝚁𝙴𝙰𝙳 𝚃𝙷𝙸𝚂 𝙱𝙾𝙾𝙺 𝙽𝙾𝚆𝚆𝚆𝚆𝚆𝚆!
𝐏𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄: 𝐈 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 ’𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞’ 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐀𝐋𝐖𝐀𝐘𝐒 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐈 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐭.
𝚂𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚗𝚘𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊 𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚊𝚛𝚢 𝚠𝚒𝚣𝚊𝚛𝚍-𝚎𝚜𝚜 (𝙸 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝'𝚜 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚊𝚗 𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚞𝚊𝚕 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚍 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚒𝚝 𝚒𝚜 𝚗𝚘𝚠) 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚢 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚛𝚘𝚝𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚜𝚘 𝚞𝚗𝚒𝚚𝚞𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚋𝚛𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝙸 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚜𝚎𝚎/𝚏𝚎𝚎𝚕 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚙𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚛𝚎 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚘𝚞𝚕 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚘 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚑𝚒𝚌𝚑 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚋𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚕𝚢 𝚘𝚏𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚊𝚐𝚎𝚜! 𝙸 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚔 𝚒𝚝 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚋𝚎 𝚖𝚢 𝚏𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚢𝚎𝚊𝚛 𝚜𝚘 𝚏𝚊𝚛.
𝙸 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚛𝚞𝚍𝚎 𝚘𝚌𝚔𝚎𝚛 𝙰𝚞𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚎 𝚕𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚞𝚊𝚐𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚝 - 𝚒𝚝 𝚑𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚕𝚢 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚖𝚎 𝚌𝚊𝚌𝚔𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚕𝚘𝚞𝚍 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚒𝚜𝚑.
𝟹 𝚊𝚖𝚊𝚣𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚏𝚎𝚖𝚊𝚕𝚎 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚊 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚠𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚗 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚌𝚎𝚒𝚟𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚜 𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚒𝚐𝚗𝚒𝚏𝚒𝚌𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚍 𝙱𝚄𝚃 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚜𝚎 𝚕𝚊𝚍𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚋𝚘𝚢 𝚍𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚑𝚘𝚕𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚒𝚛 𝚘𝚠𝚗!
𝚁𝙴𝙰𝙳 𝚃𝙷𝙸𝚂 𝙱𝙾𝙾𝙺 𝙽𝙾𝚆𝚆𝚆𝚆𝚆𝚆!
𝐏𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄: 𝐈 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 ’𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞’ 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐀𝐋𝐖𝐀𝐘𝐒 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐈 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐭.
September 5, 2026
🤠Billie King by Shannon Kelly-White🤠
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ALL. THE. STARS.⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Sometimes you read a book and think, oh, this is really good. And sometimes you read a book and immediately become an unpaid member of the promotional team because you need EVERYONE ELSE TO EXPERIENCE IT TOO. So please, read this book now!!
Billie is the kind of character you can't help but fiercely root for. She is angry, stubborn, gutsy, funny, so incredibly determined, and I absolutely loved watching her navigate a world that has given her absolutely no reason to believe that life is going to be kind to her. Her circumstances broke my heart, but her spirit? I LOVED HER! She is exactly the sort of wild, complicated, unforgettable character that I want to read about time and time again.
I also adored the way this story explores the relationship between mothers and daughters, themes of family, abandonment, survival and the lengths we will go to protect the people we love. There is so much heart underneath all the chaos 🥹
I loved the way the story moves between danger, humour and heartbreak without ever losing its momentum. There are moments that made me laugh out loud, moments that broke my heart and moments where I was practically yelling at the page because I was so deeply invested. The writing has such energy to it that I absolutely flew through the book, and having had the pleasure of having met Shannon twice now I can see how her personality and heart is so deeply embedded in the pages of this story 🥰
If you like historical fiction with attitude, Australian stories, complicated women, gutsy girls, bushrangers, family drama, humour and a whole lot of heart, put this at the very top of your TBR. Actually, just put it at the top of your TBR regardless!
Absolutely brilliant. Absolutely unforgettable. I’m calling it, my book of the year! 🥹❤️📚
Thank you so much to @harpercollinsaustralia for my review copy, and to Shannon for signing both of my copies. I am forever grateful 🙏🏼
QOTD: What is your book of the year so far?
#billieking #shannonkellywhite #bookreview #aussiebookstagrammer #books
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ALL. THE. STARS.⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Sometimes you read a book and think, oh, this is really good. And sometimes you read a book and immediately become an unpaid member of the promotional team because you need EVERYONE ELSE TO EXPERIENCE IT TOO. So please, read this book now!!
Billie is the kind of character you can't help but fiercely root for. She is angry, stubborn, gutsy, funny, so incredibly determined, and I absolutely loved watching her navigate a world that has given her absolutely no reason to believe that life is going to be kind to her. Her circumstances broke my heart, but her spirit? I LOVED HER! She is exactly the sort of wild, complicated, unforgettable character that I want to read about time and time again.
I also adored the way this story explores the relationship between mothers and daughters, themes of family, abandonment, survival and the lengths we will go to protect the people we love. There is so much heart underneath all the chaos 🥹
I loved the way the story moves between danger, humour and heartbreak without ever losing its momentum. There are moments that made me laugh out loud, moments that broke my heart and moments where I was practically yelling at the page because I was so deeply invested. The writing has such energy to it that I absolutely flew through the book, and having had the pleasure of having met Shannon twice now I can see how her personality and heart is so deeply embedded in the pages of this story 🥰
If you like historical fiction with attitude, Australian stories, complicated women, gutsy girls, bushrangers, family drama, humour and a whole lot of heart, put this at the very top of your TBR. Actually, just put it at the top of your TBR regardless!
Absolutely brilliant. Absolutely unforgettable. I’m calling it, my book of the year! 🥹❤️📚
Thank you so much to @harpercollinsaustralia for my review copy, and to Shannon for signing both of my copies. I am forever grateful 🙏🏼
QOTD: What is your book of the year so far?
#billieking #shannonkellywhite #bookreview #aussiebookstagrammer #books
Read
July 30, 2026Borrowed from my local library — because libraries matter.
What a satisfying, surprising read this turned out to be.
The structure of this book is one of its greatest strengths, the weaving between Anna’s diary entries and the chapters following Billie and Dulcie creates a rhythm that pulls you forward with real momentum. The timeline jumps never feel disorienting; instead they build on each other beautifully, each POV adding another layer until everything clicks into place in the most deeply satisfying way.
And Dulcie. What an absolute force. Her bold, takes-no-prisoners attitude is an utter joy, exactly the kind of female character you want to cheer for loudly and often.
The ending genuinely surprised me, which is a gift in itself. To finish a book feeling both surprised and completely satisfied is a rare and wonderful thing.
A love letter to strong women, complicated histories, and the stories that connect them across time
What a satisfying, surprising read this turned out to be.
The structure of this book is one of its greatest strengths, the weaving between Anna’s diary entries and the chapters following Billie and Dulcie creates a rhythm that pulls you forward with real momentum. The timeline jumps never feel disorienting; instead they build on each other beautifully, each POV adding another layer until everything clicks into place in the most deeply satisfying way.
And Dulcie. What an absolute force. Her bold, takes-no-prisoners attitude is an utter joy, exactly the kind of female character you want to cheer for loudly and often.
The ending genuinely surprised me, which is a gift in itself. To finish a book feeling both surprised and completely satisfied is a rare and wonderful thing.
A love letter to strong women, complicated histories, and the stories that connect them across time
July 18, 2026
3.5 ⭐⭐⭐✨
I found the first 75 % of this book sow going. I enjoyed the setting up of the story and the background, but I kept waiting for something to actually happen, for the story to gain more momentum. At the 75% mark the story picked up and buy 80% I had to know how everything was going to turn out. The author certainly managed to fit a huge twist into that final 5th of the book. I enjoyed the friendship that Billie and Dulcie formed in the short amount of time they knew each other. It's sad the way others judge people for who they are r what they might need to do to survive, the way Billie's mother had to while her husband was away at war, and it's sadder still that those judgements then fal onto the child. I'm very happy the story ended the way it did.
I found the first 75 % of this book sow going. I enjoyed the setting up of the story and the background, but I kept waiting for something to actually happen, for the story to gain more momentum. At the 75% mark the story picked up and buy 80% I had to know how everything was going to turn out. The author certainly managed to fit a huge twist into that final 5th of the book. I enjoyed the friendship that Billie and Dulcie formed in the short amount of time they knew each other. It's sad the way others judge people for who they are r what they might need to do to survive, the way Billie's mother had to while her husband was away at war, and it's sadder still that those judgements then fal onto the child. I'm very happy the story ended the way it did.
September 12, 2026
The feminist bushranger novel you didn't know you needed. This is a 'fuck the patriarchy' and a 'women are stronger together' story. It'll have you cheering and crying all within a few pages.
"Every day just like Billie, Anna and Dulcie, many women and girls are beaten down by hands, by expectation, by words and it thrills me the number of times women get back up, but what truly electrifies me is when another women reaches down and offers her hand, reefing the other to her feet, bringing her back to life. The women who bother to do that knows that without belief and belonging we’re in strife- I want to tell a story about that" - Shannon Kelly-White
"Every day just like Billie, Anna and Dulcie, many women and girls are beaten down by hands, by expectation, by words and it thrills me the number of times women get back up, but what truly electrifies me is when another women reaches down and offers her hand, reefing the other to her feet, bringing her back to life. The women who bother to do that knows that without belief and belonging we’re in strife- I want to tell a story about that" - Shannon Kelly-White
July 24, 2026
Boring is far from the worst thing a book can be, but boring this book was for me. Quite flat, overly reliant on the reader's empathy.
August 15, 2026
I’d give this book more stars if I could. Perfectly written and highlights the power struggle of being a woman in a world built for men. Love love loveeedddd
July 10, 2026
5 STARS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Vibe check: Fierce Female Bushrangers, True Blue, Unforgettable Story
full review ⬇️
I'll start with a confession... I'm really not a historical fiction gal.
But Billie King isn't your typical historical fiction. It's a bushranger story with a brilliant twist and from the first few chapters I knew this was going to be something special.
With my paperback pile threatening to topple over, I decided to listen to this one on audio instead and it was one of the best reading decisions I've made all year. The narrator absolutely brought these characters to life, making the humour, emotion and Aussie dialogue jump off the page.
Speaking of the dialogue... the Australian lingo throughout is an absolute cracker. It is full of the BEST descriptions I’ve ever read and gives the whole story so much heart.
The characters completely stole the show for me. I finished this book and genuinely missed spending time with Billie, Dulcie and Anna - what a girl power trio!
Cherry on top is also the cover of this book. Easily one of my favourites on the bookshelf.
For a debut novel, this is such a confident and memorable story that has completely put Shannon Kelly-White on my auto buy author list and I'll be first in line for whatever she writes next.
Do yourself a favour and pick this one up if you’re a lover of unforgettable characters, Australian stories, immersive audiobooks or historical fiction that feels fresh and adventurous rather than traditional (don't let the genre put you off).
Vibe check: Fierce Female Bushrangers, True Blue, Unforgettable Story
full review ⬇️
I'll start with a confession... I'm really not a historical fiction gal.
But Billie King isn't your typical historical fiction. It's a bushranger story with a brilliant twist and from the first few chapters I knew this was going to be something special.
With my paperback pile threatening to topple over, I decided to listen to this one on audio instead and it was one of the best reading decisions I've made all year. The narrator absolutely brought these characters to life, making the humour, emotion and Aussie dialogue jump off the page.
Speaking of the dialogue... the Australian lingo throughout is an absolute cracker. It is full of the BEST descriptions I’ve ever read and gives the whole story so much heart.
The characters completely stole the show for me. I finished this book and genuinely missed spending time with Billie, Dulcie and Anna - what a girl power trio!
Cherry on top is also the cover of this book. Easily one of my favourites on the bookshelf.
For a debut novel, this is such a confident and memorable story that has completely put Shannon Kelly-White on my auto buy author list and I'll be first in line for whatever she writes next.
Do yourself a favour and pick this one up if you’re a lover of unforgettable characters, Australian stories, immersive audiobooks or historical fiction that feels fresh and adventurous rather than traditional (don't let the genre put you off).
September 6, 2026
I'm so disappointed! As an Australian I was looking forward to reading Billie King, a book based on Australia's (fictional) last female bushranger. Unfortunately it didn't hit the mark for me. The mix of almost too much Australian lingo along with some language that I don't think was around in the early 1900s threw me off from the start. I kept picking up on it and really wasn't able to settle in. The pov between the three characters also didn't work for me. I did finish the story out of loyalty to a fellow Aussie but it just wasn't for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins Publishers Australia for the arc for review.
Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins Publishers Australia for the arc for review.
July 5, 2026
When I was invited to the HarperCollins office earlier this year to preview upcoming literary releases, I watched in awe as Shannon Kelly White spoke about her debut novel, BILLIE KING, and charmed the entire room so thoroughly that she left us all spellbound.
Having witnessed this, it’s no surprise at all that Shannon Kelly-White can spin a brilliant tale, and bloody hell, can this woman write!
BILLIE KING is the voiciest novel I’ve read this year. The distinctive style is immediately engaging. I was rocketed into this story & wholly wrapped up in what felt like the Great Australian Tale.
It’s brimming with Australiana and, like its author, I’m convinced BILLIE KING will charm the pants off everyone who has the pleasure of reading it.
There’s an attitude to the wild women of BILLIE KING - Dulcie, Anna and Billie - that makes them unforgettable. This spirited and courageous trio leap off the page and their humanity is never lost amongst the hardship. BILLIE KING has a lot to say about the past and ongoing experiences of women and girls. It’s an undeniable tribute to the strength and fortitude of women.
BILLIE KING pulls absolutely no punches.
It’s brilliant & beautiful, an edge-of-your-seat wild ride and entirely fearless on every page.
A rollicking tale of hardship & horror skillfully balanced with a theatrical flare & a distinctly Australian voice.
Daring, dazzling and delightful.
Having witnessed this, it’s no surprise at all that Shannon Kelly-White can spin a brilliant tale, and bloody hell, can this woman write!
BILLIE KING is the voiciest novel I’ve read this year. The distinctive style is immediately engaging. I was rocketed into this story & wholly wrapped up in what felt like the Great Australian Tale.
It’s brimming with Australiana and, like its author, I’m convinced BILLIE KING will charm the pants off everyone who has the pleasure of reading it.
There’s an attitude to the wild women of BILLIE KING - Dulcie, Anna and Billie - that makes them unforgettable. This spirited and courageous trio leap off the page and their humanity is never lost amongst the hardship. BILLIE KING has a lot to say about the past and ongoing experiences of women and girls. It’s an undeniable tribute to the strength and fortitude of women.
BILLIE KING pulls absolutely no punches.
It’s brilliant & beautiful, an edge-of-your-seat wild ride and entirely fearless on every page.
A rollicking tale of hardship & horror skillfully balanced with a theatrical flare & a distinctly Australian voice.
Daring, dazzling and delightful.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Wow, wow wow! What an incredible time this book was, I simply could not put it down. I loved the outback setting and the premise that just draws you in. Billie is such an endearing and loveable character to follow as she uncovers the mystery of what happened to her mother. All three perspectives - Billie, the diary flashback chapters of her mother Anna, and Dulcie aka Lady Bushranger were all equally strong and engaging. This story was fast paced, while still making you care for the 3 leads and their different experiences as women during this time period.
I have nothing but praise to give this book.
I have nothing but praise to give this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
*Billie King* by Shannon Kelly-White is an absolutely electrifying debut that grabs hold from the very first page and never lets go. Fierce, funny, heartbreaking, and wildly Australian, this novel feels like a storm rolling through the outback, brutal and beautiful all at once. It is one of those rare books that manages to be both deeply emotional and relentlessly entertaining, balancing grit, humour, and tenderness with remarkable confidence.
Set across rural Australia in the early twentieth century, the story begins with the unforgettable arrival of bushranger Dulcie James at the crumbling farmhouse of Anna King. From that moment onward, the novel pulses with tension and energy. Twelve years later, Anna’s daughter Billie has grown into one of the most memorable protagonists I have read in a long time. Angry, resilient, sharp-tongued, and endlessly determined, Billie feels completely alive on the page. She is only twelve, yet the weight of the world already sits on her shoulders as she struggles to survive poverty, her father’s alcoholism, and the constant threat of being taken away by child services.
What makes Billie such an incredible character is that beneath all her toughness is a desperate longing for love, stability, and answers about her missing mother. Kelly-White writes her with so much compassion and authenticity that every victory feels triumphant and every setback genuinely painful. Billie is fierce in a way that never feels forced or performative. She survives because she has no other choice.
The Australian setting is rendered brilliantly throughout the novel. The dusty landscapes, rundown farmhouses, pubs, small towns, and unforgiving bush all feel vivid and immersive. As an Australian reader, the dialogue, humour, and atmosphere felt incredibly authentic. The novel captures both the harshness and strange beauty of rural Australia perfectly, right down to the dry wit running through even the darkest moments.
The pacing is phenomenal. The story moves with the momentum of a thriller while still giving emotional moments room to breathe. There are scenes that feel cinematic in the best possible way, full of danger, tension, and chaos, but the quieter moments between characters are just as powerful. The relationships between the women in particular are extraordinary. This is such a deeply feminist novel, not in a heavy-handed way, but through its fierce focus on survival, resilience, and the complicated bonds between mothers and daughters.
Kelly-White’s writing style is another standout. The prose is sharp, energetic, and often very funny, even during painful scenes. The humour never undercuts the emotional depth though. Instead, it makes the heartbreak hit even harder because the characters feel so real and human.
What surprised me most was how emotionally invested I became in every part of Billie’s journey. Beneath the action and humour is a genuinely moving story about abandonment, identity, poverty, and the desperate need to belong somewhere. The novel handles these themes with incredible heart.
The only reason this is not a full five stars is that a handful of side characters could have been explored a little more deeply, particularly later in the story when events move very quickly toward the conclusion. Still, the emotional payoff is so satisfying that it barely lessened my enjoyment.
Overall, *Billie King* is an outstanding debut, fierce, emotional, funny, and unforgettable. Shannon Kelly-White has created a heroine who feels destined to become iconic in Australian fiction, and the novel itself feels both classic and completely fresh at the same time.
An absolutely phenomenal 4.75-star read that deserves to be read as widely as possible.
Set across rural Australia in the early twentieth century, the story begins with the unforgettable arrival of bushranger Dulcie James at the crumbling farmhouse of Anna King. From that moment onward, the novel pulses with tension and energy. Twelve years later, Anna’s daughter Billie has grown into one of the most memorable protagonists I have read in a long time. Angry, resilient, sharp-tongued, and endlessly determined, Billie feels completely alive on the page. She is only twelve, yet the weight of the world already sits on her shoulders as she struggles to survive poverty, her father’s alcoholism, and the constant threat of being taken away by child services.
What makes Billie such an incredible character is that beneath all her toughness is a desperate longing for love, stability, and answers about her missing mother. Kelly-White writes her with so much compassion and authenticity that every victory feels triumphant and every setback genuinely painful. Billie is fierce in a way that never feels forced or performative. She survives because she has no other choice.
The Australian setting is rendered brilliantly throughout the novel. The dusty landscapes, rundown farmhouses, pubs, small towns, and unforgiving bush all feel vivid and immersive. As an Australian reader, the dialogue, humour, and atmosphere felt incredibly authentic. The novel captures both the harshness and strange beauty of rural Australia perfectly, right down to the dry wit running through even the darkest moments.
The pacing is phenomenal. The story moves with the momentum of a thriller while still giving emotional moments room to breathe. There are scenes that feel cinematic in the best possible way, full of danger, tension, and chaos, but the quieter moments between characters are just as powerful. The relationships between the women in particular are extraordinary. This is such a deeply feminist novel, not in a heavy-handed way, but through its fierce focus on survival, resilience, and the complicated bonds between mothers and daughters.
Kelly-White’s writing style is another standout. The prose is sharp, energetic, and often very funny, even during painful scenes. The humour never undercuts the emotional depth though. Instead, it makes the heartbreak hit even harder because the characters feel so real and human.
What surprised me most was how emotionally invested I became in every part of Billie’s journey. Beneath the action and humour is a genuinely moving story about abandonment, identity, poverty, and the desperate need to belong somewhere. The novel handles these themes with incredible heart.
The only reason this is not a full five stars is that a handful of side characters could have been explored a little more deeply, particularly later in the story when events move very quickly toward the conclusion. Still, the emotional payoff is so satisfying that it barely lessened my enjoyment.
Overall, *Billie King* is an outstanding debut, fierce, emotional, funny, and unforgettable. Shannon Kelly-White has created a heroine who feels destined to become iconic in Australian fiction, and the novel itself feels both classic and completely fresh at the same time.
An absolutely phenomenal 4.75-star read that deserves to be read as widely as possible.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
“The kid didn't only have mercy. She had spirit too. Though many had done their best to flog the heart right out of Billie King, there it was. Bright and fierce.”
If a one word review felt good enough for this book I’d just say PHENOMENAL, but I don’t think that would be doing Shannon Kelly-White’s ‘Billie King’ justice.
From the very beginning it was a hit for me. This is the epitome of authentic, wild, hilarious, tragic yet totally transformative Australian fiction. An absolutely trilling tale of three courageous, passionate, bad ass, fierce woman.
Witty and razor sharp, ‘Billie King’ is filled with characters with heart, gusto and deep emotional complexity. At its heart it is a story of mothers, daughters, the strength of female friendships, the resilience of women and a full throttle question for revenge.
Shannon has taken a wildly interesting era of Australian history and written a remarkable, revealing and tenacious story that will resonate with the wild girls of our generation, those before us and those still to come.
I was in tears for way too much of this story, it truly packs a big emotional punch. One I’ll think about for a long time. 5 out of 5 stars ⭐️
Some Highlights —
“I've got me. I've finally got Mum's story. And I've got faith. Not faith in God. Faith in me. There's goodness in me, whether anyone else sees it or not.”
“After Dulcie's lifetime of living among darkness and drudgery and doomed souls, in that moment, something shifted inside her. Something opened. Curled through her. Dulcie realised with a sick sort of dread that it was hope she was feeling, it was erupting through her like a shoot through the earth's crust. Hope that things could get better, that life could grow fairer, that she was no longer entirely alone.”
“Keeping her eyes on the mountains ahead, Billie felt like a brumby who'd slipped out of the lasso, destined to stay unbroken, galloping home to the bush, to her mob.
To where she belonged. Free.”
“It didn't matter who a woman was, they all suffered. They were all trapped in one way or another. Some cages were just prettier than others.”
“Women's tears mean nothing to the man; in fact, I reckon they water him.
I should've known that by now.
A humiliated man is a dark, dark thing.”
If a one word review felt good enough for this book I’d just say PHENOMENAL, but I don’t think that would be doing Shannon Kelly-White’s ‘Billie King’ justice.
From the very beginning it was a hit for me. This is the epitome of authentic, wild, hilarious, tragic yet totally transformative Australian fiction. An absolutely trilling tale of three courageous, passionate, bad ass, fierce woman.
Witty and razor sharp, ‘Billie King’ is filled with characters with heart, gusto and deep emotional complexity. At its heart it is a story of mothers, daughters, the strength of female friendships, the resilience of women and a full throttle question for revenge.
Shannon has taken a wildly interesting era of Australian history and written a remarkable, revealing and tenacious story that will resonate with the wild girls of our generation, those before us and those still to come.
I was in tears for way too much of this story, it truly packs a big emotional punch. One I’ll think about for a long time. 5 out of 5 stars ⭐️
Some Highlights —
“I've got me. I've finally got Mum's story. And I've got faith. Not faith in God. Faith in me. There's goodness in me, whether anyone else sees it or not.”
“After Dulcie's lifetime of living among darkness and drudgery and doomed souls, in that moment, something shifted inside her. Something opened. Curled through her. Dulcie realised with a sick sort of dread that it was hope she was feeling, it was erupting through her like a shoot through the earth's crust. Hope that things could get better, that life could grow fairer, that she was no longer entirely alone.”
“Keeping her eyes on the mountains ahead, Billie felt like a brumby who'd slipped out of the lasso, destined to stay unbroken, galloping home to the bush, to her mob.
To where she belonged. Free.”
“It didn't matter who a woman was, they all suffered. They were all trapped in one way or another. Some cages were just prettier than others.”
“Women's tears mean nothing to the man; in fact, I reckon they water him.
I should've known that by now.
A humiliated man is a dark, dark thing.”
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4⭐
Grateful for the ARC from NetGalley, and getting to experience this piece of Australian fiction - and it's VERY Australian. Filled with metaphors and similes referencing Australian flora and fauna, the language and writing is so full of imagery, you feel immersed in the post-WWI Rural Australian landscape.
I honestly didn't know where this story would take me, and I was initially worried at the pacing and tone of the story, but this didn't last long as the story found its wings about 40% in.
Our FMC, Billie King, hasn't had a fortunate upbringing; with an alcoholic father, no mother, and being an outcast in her rural community due to their socio-economic standing, a lesser girl would wither. Yet somehow, Billie finds strength and compassion for those she loves.
Then we meet Dulcie James, the Lady Bushranger, and it seems inevitable her path will cross with Billie's. Both represent women who refuse to be bound by society's expectation of women. Both Billie and Dulcie's POVs are written in the 3rd person so we can observe the hardships and oppression they face.
And we learn of Billie's mum, Anna, through her diary entries. These diaries give us flashback POV from before and just after Billie's birth. We can see she is suffering with post partum depression, although in the 1910's, it's just believed she's in a fog and is unsupported and outcast by the community whilst her husband is away serving in the army.
The story develops well beyond a simple journey of self-discovery and friendship, and provides us with answers to the mystery presented throughout the book. It spotlights strong female characters who refuse to be oppressed. It places a lens over socio-economic and power disparity, and concludes by leaving us with hope.
Read this book if you like strong female characters and multiple POVs in the 3rd person, along with nonlinear timelines.
You may struggle with this book of you don't enjoy 1st person narrative style, overly descriptive prose (with A LOT of Australian flare), or themes of oppression/ inequality.
Trigger warnings: there is alcohol abuse, corporal punishment at school, sexual assualt and discussions of PPD and child loss.
Grateful for the ARC from NetGalley, and getting to experience this piece of Australian fiction - and it's VERY Australian. Filled with metaphors and similes referencing Australian flora and fauna, the language and writing is so full of imagery, you feel immersed in the post-WWI Rural Australian landscape.
I honestly didn't know where this story would take me, and I was initially worried at the pacing and tone of the story, but this didn't last long as the story found its wings about 40% in.
Our FMC, Billie King, hasn't had a fortunate upbringing; with an alcoholic father, no mother, and being an outcast in her rural community due to their socio-economic standing, a lesser girl would wither. Yet somehow, Billie finds strength and compassion for those she loves.
Then we meet Dulcie James, the Lady Bushranger, and it seems inevitable her path will cross with Billie's. Both represent women who refuse to be bound by society's expectation of women. Both Billie and Dulcie's POVs are written in the 3rd person so we can observe the hardships and oppression they face.
And we learn of Billie's mum, Anna, through her diary entries. These diaries give us flashback POV from before and just after Billie's birth. We can see she is suffering with post partum depression, although in the 1910's, it's just believed she's in a fog and is unsupported and outcast by the community whilst her husband is away serving in the army.
The story develops well beyond a simple journey of self-discovery and friendship, and provides us with answers to the mystery presented throughout the book. It spotlights strong female characters who refuse to be oppressed. It places a lens over socio-economic and power disparity, and concludes by leaving us with hope.
Read this book if you like strong female characters and multiple POVs in the 3rd person, along with nonlinear timelines.
You may struggle with this book of you don't enjoy 1st person narrative style, overly descriptive prose (with A LOT of Australian flare), or themes of oppression/ inequality.
Trigger warnings: there is alcohol abuse, corporal punishment at school, sexual assualt and discussions of PPD and child loss.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Billie King is the first novel by Australian author, Shannon Kelly-White. It’s December 1930 in the little Australian country town of Orilong, and twelve-year-old Billie King has encountered Dulcie James, aka The Lady Bushranger, three times. The first, unremembered, when she was just a few months old; the second, days before, in a very dark cave with shots being fired; the third, now, as Billie stands surrounded by the town priest, the man she had believed to be her father, and their landlord.
Dulcie facilitates her escape on her beloved golden palomino, Goose and, although Billie is wary, accompanies this strange woman on her own mount up the Spur. Billie may be very smart, but her poor attendance at school (boring!) and her other exploits, aimed at keeping the landlord off their backs, incur the wrath of Sister Claire and Father Sean. And now, some woman in a fancy car is threatening to put her in a Children’s Home!
Billie’s mother, Anna disappeared when she was a baby, and no one will tell her what happened. She figures that if she could earn enough money (she has a plan for that) to keep the landlord at bay, she could search for Anna. If her mother came back, her dad might stop drinking and gambling, and they could be one happy family.
Dulcie, wanted for four murders and countless armed robberies, has a price on her head. Why does she want to help Billie? Can she be trusted?
Before matters are resolved, a boxing match goes awry, Billie learns to shoot a rifle, shocking secrets are revealed when various men are confronted, diary entries hold important clues, there’s a dramatic shoot out, an act of arson intend to take lives, and a nail-biting rescue.
Kelly-White says in her notes that she was aiming for a lively tale. This very entertaining piece of historical fiction certainly achieves that, along with plenty of humour and a good dose of emotion. Recommended.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Harper Collins Australia.
Dulcie facilitates her escape on her beloved golden palomino, Goose and, although Billie is wary, accompanies this strange woman on her own mount up the Spur. Billie may be very smart, but her poor attendance at school (boring!) and her other exploits, aimed at keeping the landlord off their backs, incur the wrath of Sister Claire and Father Sean. And now, some woman in a fancy car is threatening to put her in a Children’s Home!
Billie’s mother, Anna disappeared when she was a baby, and no one will tell her what happened. She figures that if she could earn enough money (she has a plan for that) to keep the landlord at bay, she could search for Anna. If her mother came back, her dad might stop drinking and gambling, and they could be one happy family.
Dulcie, wanted for four murders and countless armed robberies, has a price on her head. Why does she want to help Billie? Can she be trusted?
Before matters are resolved, a boxing match goes awry, Billie learns to shoot a rifle, shocking secrets are revealed when various men are confronted, diary entries hold important clues, there’s a dramatic shoot out, an act of arson intend to take lives, and a nail-biting rescue.
Kelly-White says in her notes that she was aiming for a lively tale. This very entertaining piece of historical fiction certainly achieves that, along with plenty of humour and a good dose of emotion. Recommended.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Harper Collins Australia.
August 30, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I waited for 3 months for Billie King by Shannon Kelly-White to become available on audiobook at my local library, and it was worth the wait!
Written from the perspective of the 3 main characters, Dulcie, Anna and Billie and across 2 timelines (early 1900’s) Shannon created a story that kept me riveted and away from the rot box (TV). I never saw the ending coming!
The narrator had every character’s voice so perfectly captured and thanks to Shannon’s expressive portrayal of rural Australia early 1900’s, I felt completely transported. I could see the places, smell the trees and really picture everything happening around these magnificent, resilient women and, the vindictive, cowardly and sh$t for brains men in their lives. It made the whole experience so immersive.
My heart ached for Billie, Anna and Dulcie and the circumstances they found themselves in. They were downtrodden in so many ways (indicative of the era) yet their bravery, strength, humour and resilience shone through. I especially loved Billie’s courage and optimism. She is so young, but somehow manages to hold onto her innocence while facing so much.
I also loved the setting. I have such a soft spot for Australiana, and the language throughout was one of my favourite parts. The slang, the expressions and little words like “freckle” made it feel so authentically Australian and brought the characters and their world to life while transporting me back to my Nan & Pops for a “foot in the freckle” for giving cheek!
I follow Shannon on Instagram, I have to admit that every now and then I found myself picturing Shannon as one of the characters — which made the whole experience even more personal and fun!
A beautifully Australian story, full of heart, courage, resilience and wonderfully memorable characters. I’m so glad I listened to this one and now praying for a follow up!
Not bedtime reading due to the freckle clenching, more of a power walk along the beach read/listen!
I waited for 3 months for Billie King by Shannon Kelly-White to become available on audiobook at my local library, and it was worth the wait!
Written from the perspective of the 3 main characters, Dulcie, Anna and Billie and across 2 timelines (early 1900’s) Shannon created a story that kept me riveted and away from the rot box (TV). I never saw the ending coming!
The narrator had every character’s voice so perfectly captured and thanks to Shannon’s expressive portrayal of rural Australia early 1900’s, I felt completely transported. I could see the places, smell the trees and really picture everything happening around these magnificent, resilient women and, the vindictive, cowardly and sh$t for brains men in their lives. It made the whole experience so immersive.
My heart ached for Billie, Anna and Dulcie and the circumstances they found themselves in. They were downtrodden in so many ways (indicative of the era) yet their bravery, strength, humour and resilience shone through. I especially loved Billie’s courage and optimism. She is so young, but somehow manages to hold onto her innocence while facing so much.
I also loved the setting. I have such a soft spot for Australiana, and the language throughout was one of my favourite parts. The slang, the expressions and little words like “freckle” made it feel so authentically Australian and brought the characters and their world to life while transporting me back to my Nan & Pops for a “foot in the freckle” for giving cheek!
I follow Shannon on Instagram, I have to admit that every now and then I found myself picturing Shannon as one of the characters — which made the whole experience even more personal and fun!
A beautifully Australian story, full of heart, courage, resilience and wonderfully memorable characters. I’m so glad I listened to this one and now praying for a follow up!
Not bedtime reading due to the freckle clenching, more of a power walk along the beach read/listen!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Don’t let the 1930s fool you, this isn’t your typical historical fiction. This is a punchy character-driven story that grabbed me and didn’t let go. Billie has an impossible problem, she has to try to find her missing mother and hold what’s left of her family together, all while navigating Dulcie's (Australia's last female bushranger) quest for revenge. Set in Australia's beautiful high country, a harsh place for anyone, let alone isolated women, it's a courageous story about never giving in.
The writing has a lyrical, almost musical quality I rarely get from a book. But it’s indie rock, not classical. Shannon Kelly-White can pin a thing down in a handful of words, sharp and unexpected, without ever falling into the literary-fiction fluff trap. It’s a real voice.
It gets properly dark, but it never wallows and it never gives up. It made me cry and somehow left me feeling good about people and the world. It’s a book about refusing to let a bad hand break you. The female rage in it is real, but it’s earned. How could you not be furious at what these women have to do just to survive?
The characters are flawed and brilliant in that Abercrombie way, light and dark in the same person, all of us a beautiful mess of contradictions. Billie and Dulcie are a duo for the ages. I’d put them up there with Ellie and Joe from The Last of Us. The animals are real characters too, with their own personalities, given the love and respect any animal lover will understand and appreciate.
Every chapter ends on a little hook that keeps you turning pages way past your bedtime.
It hits everything I want from a book, which is rare, and it’s earned a permanent spot on my favourites shelf next to Dungeon Crawler Carl, Best Served Cold and Project Hail Mary. I’ll remember this one for a long time. I loved it.
The writing has a lyrical, almost musical quality I rarely get from a book. But it’s indie rock, not classical. Shannon Kelly-White can pin a thing down in a handful of words, sharp and unexpected, without ever falling into the literary-fiction fluff trap. It’s a real voice.
It gets properly dark, but it never wallows and it never gives up. It made me cry and somehow left me feeling good about people and the world. It’s a book about refusing to let a bad hand break you. The female rage in it is real, but it’s earned. How could you not be furious at what these women have to do just to survive?
The characters are flawed and brilliant in that Abercrombie way, light and dark in the same person, all of us a beautiful mess of contradictions. Billie and Dulcie are a duo for the ages. I’d put them up there with Ellie and Joe from The Last of Us. The animals are real characters too, with their own personalities, given the love and respect any animal lover will understand and appreciate.
Every chapter ends on a little hook that keeps you turning pages way past your bedtime.
It hits everything I want from a book, which is rare, and it’s earned a permanent spot on my favourites shelf next to Dungeon Crawler Carl, Best Served Cold and Project Hail Mary. I’ll remember this one for a long time. I loved it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book, Billie King was such a firecracker. I absolutely loved it and would love to see another one.
A story about Billie, a young girl who has not had a great start in life, no mother, a father who is a drunk and she meets up with Dulcie, a female bushranger. Such a great Aussie story taking place in the bush. Loved the language and how the characters spoke, so typically Australian!
When I first started reading it I thought it would be about Billie and her tough little life. But it became much much more than that. Billie is trying to find her mother who disappeared and not having much luck. Because Billie does not back down when challenged she faced a lot of abuse from the nuns at school who think she is not behaving as a girl should. I found myself always in Billie’s corner hoping she would escape the brutality and poor life she had. As her Dad had no money, Billie took to stealing what she could to keep the loan shark at bay and was always looking for a way to get money to help. The connection she has with her horse was so beautiful, probably the best thing in her life.
Then Billie meets Dulcie who looks out for her, and she is not sure why. In the few days they were together they developed a great friendship.
About three quarters the way through the story took a different twist and turn. I did not see that coming at all, never even thought of this as an option but absolutely loved it. I won’t spoil it for others.
This is one of my favourite books I have read and I will grab the paperback when released to keep on my bookshelf. There are not many books I have kept after reading but this will be one of those.
Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins publishers and Shannon Kelly-White for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. Wish I could give it 10 stars I loved it that much.
A story about Billie, a young girl who has not had a great start in life, no mother, a father who is a drunk and she meets up with Dulcie, a female bushranger. Such a great Aussie story taking place in the bush. Loved the language and how the characters spoke, so typically Australian!
When I first started reading it I thought it would be about Billie and her tough little life. But it became much much more than that. Billie is trying to find her mother who disappeared and not having much luck. Because Billie does not back down when challenged she faced a lot of abuse from the nuns at school who think she is not behaving as a girl should. I found myself always in Billie’s corner hoping she would escape the brutality and poor life she had. As her Dad had no money, Billie took to stealing what she could to keep the loan shark at bay and was always looking for a way to get money to help. The connection she has with her horse was so beautiful, probably the best thing in her life.
Then Billie meets Dulcie who looks out for her, and she is not sure why. In the few days they were together they developed a great friendship.
About three quarters the way through the story took a different twist and turn. I did not see that coming at all, never even thought of this as an option but absolutely loved it. I won’t spoil it for others.
This is one of my favourite books I have read and I will grab the paperback when released to keep on my bookshelf. There are not many books I have kept after reading but this will be one of those.
Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins publishers and Shannon Kelly-White for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. Wish I could give it 10 stars I loved it that much.
July 25, 2026
Hello and happy Caturday from me and Ziggy. What are you reading this weekend? I hope it’s as amazing as Billie King by Shannon Kelly-White!
I came across this wonderful new Australian debut when I saw Tess Woods raving about it. I know that I love a lot of the same books as Tess, as well as devouring her own brilliant books, and when I read the synopsis, I was sold. I bought it that very same day and bumped it straight to the top of my TBR pile. (Don’t tell the millions of books waiting for me about that!)
In 1930 Billie King is a ferocious 12 year old girl living in the small country town of Orilong with her alcoholic father. School is a struggle when she needs to focus on stealing and other nefarious ways to make money so she can bail her father out and the other kids bully her. Billie is desperate to steer clear of the children’s home and to find out what happened to her mother, Anna, who disappeared when Billie was only a baby.
Billie’s life becomes a lot more interesting when she teams up with the lady bushranger, Dulcie James, and she becomes closer to finding out what happened to her mother than ever before. But Billie and Dulcie have a lot of work to do if they want to discover the truth and keep Billie out of the children’s home.
I absolutely inhaled this book. I was hooked from the very first page and fell in love with Billie, Dulcie and Anna through her journal entries in 1918 right at the end of World War 1. I’m fascinated by this era after the first war through to the 1930s and loved the way that Kelly-White brought the characters to life with her classic Aussie lingo with some artistic license to give them a more contemporary feel. It was extremely well done.
Billie King is a fiercely feminist novel, and I expect it to become a modern classic. Go and get yourself a copy ASAP!
I came across this wonderful new Australian debut when I saw Tess Woods raving about it. I know that I love a lot of the same books as Tess, as well as devouring her own brilliant books, and when I read the synopsis, I was sold. I bought it that very same day and bumped it straight to the top of my TBR pile. (Don’t tell the millions of books waiting for me about that!)
In 1930 Billie King is a ferocious 12 year old girl living in the small country town of Orilong with her alcoholic father. School is a struggle when she needs to focus on stealing and other nefarious ways to make money so she can bail her father out and the other kids bully her. Billie is desperate to steer clear of the children’s home and to find out what happened to her mother, Anna, who disappeared when Billie was only a baby.
Billie’s life becomes a lot more interesting when she teams up with the lady bushranger, Dulcie James, and she becomes closer to finding out what happened to her mother than ever before. But Billie and Dulcie have a lot of work to do if they want to discover the truth and keep Billie out of the children’s home.
I absolutely inhaled this book. I was hooked from the very first page and fell in love with Billie, Dulcie and Anna through her journal entries in 1918 right at the end of World War 1. I’m fascinated by this era after the first war through to the 1930s and loved the way that Kelly-White brought the characters to life with her classic Aussie lingo with some artistic license to give them a more contemporary feel. It was extremely well done.
Billie King is a fiercely feminist novel, and I expect it to become a modern classic. Go and get yourself a copy ASAP!
August 2, 2026
My thoughts on Billie King by Shannon Kelly-White
This was a story where my response was shaped very much by personal reading preferences. The central mystery, the emotional heart of the story, and Billie’s determination kept me reading—I genuinely wanted to discover what had happened to her mother.
What worked for me:
✨ Engaging characters who kept me invested
✨ A beautifully realised historical setting
✨ A strong sense of place and a distinctive Australian voice
The main challenge for me was the language. The raw, gritty voice felt very true to the setting and characters, and I could appreciate the authenticity it brought to the story. It’s clear that this style was an important part of creating the world of the novel. However, it’s a style that I personally find harder to fully settle into over a longer read, and I sometimes found myself noticing the language rather than becoming completely immersed in the story.
I switched to the audiobook partway through, and I wonder if experiencing the story in that format made me more aware of the voice and dialogue. Even so, I kept listening because I cared about Billie’s journey and wanted to know how her story would unfold. It became a wonderful companion for knitting and household chores—engaging enough to keep me returning, even if the writing style didn’t completely connect with me.
Overall, I think this is a novel that will really appeal to readers who enjoy gritty, character-driven Australian historical fiction with a strong and distinctive voice. For me, the story and characters were the highlights, while the intensity of the language meant I remained slightly on the outside of the story rather than fully immersed.
⭐ A thoughtful, atmospheric read that simply wasn’t quite the right stylistic fit for me but I will look out for what Is next for this #AussieAuthor
This was a story where my response was shaped very much by personal reading preferences. The central mystery, the emotional heart of the story, and Billie’s determination kept me reading—I genuinely wanted to discover what had happened to her mother.
What worked for me:
✨ Engaging characters who kept me invested
✨ A beautifully realised historical setting
✨ A strong sense of place and a distinctive Australian voice
The main challenge for me was the language. The raw, gritty voice felt very true to the setting and characters, and I could appreciate the authenticity it brought to the story. It’s clear that this style was an important part of creating the world of the novel. However, it’s a style that I personally find harder to fully settle into over a longer read, and I sometimes found myself noticing the language rather than becoming completely immersed in the story.
I switched to the audiobook partway through, and I wonder if experiencing the story in that format made me more aware of the voice and dialogue. Even so, I kept listening because I cared about Billie’s journey and wanted to know how her story would unfold. It became a wonderful companion for knitting and household chores—engaging enough to keep me returning, even if the writing style didn’t completely connect with me.
Overall, I think this is a novel that will really appeal to readers who enjoy gritty, character-driven Australian historical fiction with a strong and distinctive voice. For me, the story and characters were the highlights, while the intensity of the language meant I remained slightly on the outside of the story rather than fully immersed.
⭐ A thoughtful, atmospheric read that simply wasn’t quite the right stylistic fit for me but I will look out for what Is next for this #AussieAuthor
June 23, 2026
Billie King is exactly the kind of book I want Australian publishing to back.
Not because it’s neat or polished. It isn’t. The people in this novel are carrying trauma, grief, poverty, bad decisions and enough stubbornness to level a small town. They are rough around the edges, deeply flawed and often frustrating. I loved them anyway.
At the centre is Billie herself, a girl with more grit than any child should ever need. Around her are women refusing to stay in the boxes society has built for them. Shannon Kelly-White writes these characters with so much affection that even their worst moments feel human rather than manufactured.
What surprised me most was how funny this book is. There is plenty of darkness here. Poverty, violence, loss and injustice sit beneath almost every page. Yet the humour feels distinctly Australian. Dry, sharp and often arriving exactly when it’s needed most.
And then there’s the setting.
As an Aussie reader, I could feel this book in my bones. The landscape isn’t just scenery. It’s dust, heat, isolation, resilience and community all tangled together. The language, the people and the rhythms of country life felt authentic in a way that can’t be faked.
Underneath the bushrangers, mysteries and family secrets is a fiercely feminist story about women surviving systems designed to wear them down. Not perfect women. Not inspirational women. Just women who keep getting back up.
This book has dirt under its fingernails and a huge heart. I finished it feeling grateful that stories this unapologetically Australian are still being written.
That, for me, was its real magic
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collin’s for the advanced copy in return for my honest opinion.
Not because it’s neat or polished. It isn’t. The people in this novel are carrying trauma, grief, poverty, bad decisions and enough stubbornness to level a small town. They are rough around the edges, deeply flawed and often frustrating. I loved them anyway.
At the centre is Billie herself, a girl with more grit than any child should ever need. Around her are women refusing to stay in the boxes society has built for them. Shannon Kelly-White writes these characters with so much affection that even their worst moments feel human rather than manufactured.
What surprised me most was how funny this book is. There is plenty of darkness here. Poverty, violence, loss and injustice sit beneath almost every page. Yet the humour feels distinctly Australian. Dry, sharp and often arriving exactly when it’s needed most.
And then there’s the setting.
As an Aussie reader, I could feel this book in my bones. The landscape isn’t just scenery. It’s dust, heat, isolation, resilience and community all tangled together. The language, the people and the rhythms of country life felt authentic in a way that can’t be faked.
Underneath the bushrangers, mysteries and family secrets is a fiercely feminist story about women surviving systems designed to wear them down. Not perfect women. Not inspirational women. Just women who keep getting back up.
This book has dirt under its fingernails and a huge heart. I finished it feeling grateful that stories this unapologetically Australian are still being written.
That, for me, was its real magic
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collin’s for the advanced copy in return for my honest opinion.
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