In the quiet hours of a Melbourne morning, Alison Goodman might be found lost in a world not entirely her own—one where dragons whisper secrets, Regency-era heroines fight demons in ballgowns, and twin sisters solve crimes society wishes they’d ignore. That’s the spell Goodman casts: not just stories, but immersive, finely tuned tapestries where genre is a suggestion, not a limit.

Known for her gift of blending historical detail with the fantastical, Goodman has long walked the line between reality and imagination. Her breakout duology, Eon and Eona, took readers deep into a world inspired by ancient China, threading together gender identity, power struggles, and the high-stakes politics of dragon magic. It wasn’t just the vivid setting that caught fire—it was the voice of a girl forced to disguise herself as a boy to claim power in a world that refused her space. The novels became international favorites, celebrated not only for their rich fantasy world-building but also for their timely, thoughtful exploration of identity and agency.

The Ill-Mannered Ladies

In an age when a lady’s worth is measured by her silence and obedience, two middle‑aged sisters choose to make noise instead. Set against the polished drawing rooms and shadowed backstreets of Regency England, this series follows Lady Augusta “Gus” Colebrook and her twin sister Julia as they transform their invisibility as unmarried women into their greatest weapon. Outwardly, they are genteel spinsters. Privately, they are relentless rescuers, unearthing scandals, freeing the oppressed, and confronting a society that prefers its women powerless.