Originally published in the Canberra Weekly on 4 December 2025.
Make sure to check out my extended reviews of Kill Your Boss, The Strength of the Few and Tyrant of Rome.
Tyrant of Rome by Simon Scarrow
Publisher: Headline (Trade Paperback – 11 November 2025)
Series: Eagles of the Empire – Book 24
Length: 403 pages
My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Prepare for more Roman era carnage as the always impressive Simon Scarrow continues his long-running Eagles of the Empire series with the epic and intriguing novel, Tyrant of Rome.
Long-time readers of this blog will know that I am a major fan of the exceptional Simon Scarrow, who is one of the top current authors of historical fiction, having written an outstanding array of historical novels over the years. I have had a blast with many of Scarrow’s works, including his Berlin Wartime Thriller series (see my reviews for Blackout, Dead of Night and A Death in Berlin). However, his main body of work remains his Eagles of the Empire series. One of the premier Roman historical fiction series, Eagles of the Empire follows two elite Roman officers as they fight their way across multiple wars, provinces and battlefields. I have been a fan of this series from the beginning, and the books within it have been a key part of my yearly review schedule, including The Blood of Rome, Traitors of Rome, The Emperor’s Exile, The Honour of Rome, Death to the Emperor, Rebellion and Revenge of Rome. As such, the latest book in the series, Tyrant of Rome, has been a highly anticipated read for me, and I have been very keen to get my hands on it. The 24th novel in the series, Tyrant of Rome, sees the protagonists forced to face a far more dangerous force than the recent rebellion of Boudica, politics and the howling mob of Rome.
Plot Synopsis:
AD 63. Under the reckless and tumultuous leadership of Emperor Nero, Rome is descending into near-anarchy and conspiracy. The brutal execution of 400 slaves has led to rioting and discontent. Only the strongest soldier could maintain control. And so Nero turns to Prefect Cato to help save his reign from collapse.
Cato has been lying low after a heroic campaign to quash the Boudica uprising. Now he is called upon to serve again. As the new Prefect of the Urban Cohorts in Rome, Cato needs a loyal and proven officer by his side. Centurion Macro is willing to step up.
War and rebellion hold few fears for these seasoned veterans. But the politics and intrigue of Rome make every day as perilous as the battlefield. And the fate of both men, and of the empire, lie in the hands of the most volatile emperor of the age. Death awaits anyone who dares to defy Nero.
Cato and Macro will need to call on all their experience, native cunning and bottomless courage to survive in this epic new adventure of Roman military heroism.
Tyrant of Rome was another incredible read from Scarrow, who presents another fun and deeply exciting historical tale, this time loaded with intrigue, schemes and some fascinating insights into ancient Roman society. An outstanding continuation of one of my favourite series, I powered through Tyrant of Rome in no time at all, while also deeply appreciating its narrative differences from the typical Eagle of the Empire novel.
Scarrow provides a very interesting narrative that partially takes the reader away from the Roman battlefield fans of the series are familiar with. Once again following the duo of Cato and Macro, this novel sees them secretly returned to Rome after surviving Boudica’s rebellion, attempting to avoid the attention of Nero. However, when the emperor discovers that he is back, Cato is once again forced to report for duty to keep his secrets hidden. Unexpectedly assigned to lead Rome’s Urban Cohorts, Cato attempts to impose his military order onto the corrupt and lax soldiers of Rome’s primary defence and urban control regiment. However, Cato’s appointment couldn’t come at a worse time, as Rome is in uproar over Nero’s recent decision to execute hundreds of innocent slaves. At the same time, Cato finds himself trapped at the whims of an increasingly unstable Nero and the dangerous people attempting to control the emperor for their own gain. Desperate for help, Cato calls Macro out of retirement and sets him up as the Urban Cohort’s new drill sergeant and Cato’s backup against its corrupt officers.
Scarrow quickly sets much of the above scene early on in Tyrant of Rome, and the resulting mixture of the protagonist’s usual martial activity is nicely balanced by their personal concerns, and their immersion in the deteriorating politics of Rome. As the protagonists attempt to navigate the city through several deadly events, Cato also finds himself caught up in the middle of a dark conspiracy to unseat Nero. Caught between these conspirators and those manipulating Nero, Cato is forced to choose a side, especially when the city explodes into mob violence focused on the palace. This results in an intense and extended battle sequence leading up to the finale of Tyrant of Rome, as the protagonists attempt to survive against deadly odds. This awesome battle serves to bring together several of the ongoing storylines in Tyrant of Rome, with the big dark conspiracy of the novel resulting in additional carnage. This leads to an interesting, if not surprising, conclusion, as the protagonists get their typical rewards, and Scarrow sets the board for more adventures to come for this long-running duo.
I felt that this latest outing from Scarrow was a strong entry in the Eagles of the Empire series, which played up its focus on politics, intrigue and notable historical events. One of the few novels of this series set in Rome, Tyrant of Rome really dove into the chaotic reign of Nero, as well as some of the key figures behind the throne, and it was fascinating to see the soldier protagonists attempting to survive amid the resulting backstabbing and manipulations of an unstable emperor. This is one of the more historically rich novels in this series, and Scarrow throws in some intriguing depictions of significant moments of Roman history, such as the Great Fire of Rome, and I really enjoyed his take on these events, as well as how the protagonists were inserted into them. There were also some excellent depictions of a range of major historical figures, including Nero and other prominent Romans during this reign. Scarrow has a lot of fun portraying Nero’s rule, as well as the role that several of these other figures, such as his wife and the heads of the Praetorian Guard, had during this turbulent period. This focus on history helped to up the dramatic stakes of the plot, and it, alongside the well-written political intrigue and plotting, worked well with the more typical storyline of Cato and Macro whipping Roman soldiers into shape and leading them into battle.
While Tyrant of Rome is the 24th entry in a long-running series, Scarrow has long ensured that his Eagles of the Empire novels are mostly standalone in nature, with only a few requiring readers to check out earlier entries. Tyrant of Rome in particular works well as an independent read, as it comes just after Scarrow wrapped up a major multi-book arc, and starts setting the series in a new direction in the later years of Nero’s reign and the lead-up to the Year of the Four Emperors. As such, it’s easy to drop into the series here, especially as Scarrow provides excellent recaps of the protagonist’s relationships and past adventures. Thanks to the author’s open writing style, readers with varying knowledge of either history, or the events of the previous Eagles of the Empire books, can easily read and appreciate the cool adventures and intrigues of the characters, although established fans are naturally going to get the most out of seeing Cato and Macro in action again.
Scarrow makes sure to treat these ongoing readers with some interesting movement on the series’ overarching narrative, especially as it starts to establish the protagonists as players in the oncoming civil wars, and you also get to see how these characters continue to develop after all these years. The weariness around Cato and Macro after their multiple adventures, including their last harrowing stint in Britannia, is well showcased by Scarrow. I particularly enjoyed seeing a far more cynical Cato as he attempted to navigate the politics of Rome, and it certainly was a far cry from the more innocent figure we saw at the start of the series. I personally enjoyed seeing the return of a key figure from Cato and Macro’s past, the future emperor Vespasian, and the complex interactions he had with Cato, were very enlightening.
Simon Scarrow continues to showcase why he is one of the very best modern authors of Roman historical fiction with the latest Eagles of the Empire novel, Tyrant of Rome. Combining captivating historical political intrigue with Scarrow’s typically impressive depiction of the Roman military, Tyrant of Rome was a distinctive and powerful entry in this long-running series, that comes very highly recommended. An epic and action-packed read, I honestly couldn’t get enough of Tyrant of Rome, and I really cannot wait to see how Scarrow continues this series going forward, especially as we have a new entry, The Sword of Rome, set for release later this year.
WWW Wednesday – 8 April 2026
WWW Wednesday is a weekly post hosted by Taking on a World of Words, where bloggers share the books that they’ve recently finished, what they are currently reading and what books they are planning to read next. Essentially you have to answer three questions (the Three Ws):
What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?
So, let’s get to it.
What are you currently reading:
The Exes by Leodora Darlington (Trade Paperback)
I started to read the awesome and compelling debut novel, The Exes by Leodora Darlington, this week. Following a complex character who finds herself involved in a series of problematic relationships that all end tragically for her untrustworthy partners, The Exes is a deadly and entertaining psychological thriller with some fun twists to it. I’ve made a bit of progress with The Exes this week and I’m hoping to finish it off soon.
The Book of Fallen Leaves by A. S. Tamaki (Trade Paperback)
I also started the new fantasy novel, The Book of Fallen Leaves from author A. S. Tamaki this week. An interesting release, The Book of Fallen Leaves is a Japanese inspired fantasy epic that I think has a ton of potential. I’ve only made a little progress on this novel so far, but I’m hoping to get a good chunk of it finished in the next week, especially as it has a very compelling story behind it.
Warhammer 40,000: Chem Dog by Callum Davis (Audiobook)
I’m still in a major Warhammer 40,000 mood this week, so I decided to listen to one of the more intriguing recent releases from the franchise, Chem Dog. The debut novel of the talented Callum Davis, Chem Dog sees a dedicated commissar lead a group of soldiers from an infamously criminal regiment on a desperate suicide mission, where the greatest risk comes from the commissar’s own troops. I’ve already made a decent start on Chem Dog, and I’m already quite addicted to its excellent and outrageous story.
What did you recently finish reading?
Dark Desert Road by Tim Ayliffe (ebook)
I finished off the awesome Australian crime fiction novel, Dark Desert Road by Tim Ayliffe this week, which has been on my to-read list for a while. An intriguing read, Dark Desert Road follows a Sydney police officer who journeys into the countryside, looking for her long-lost sister who has gotten herself caught up with a group of domestic terrorists. A thrilling novel with some great contemporary focuses, this was an outstanding novel that comes highly recommended.
Warhammer 40,000: Ghazghkull Thraka: Warlord of Warlords by Denny Flowers (Audiobook)
I also finished off the highly entertaining Warhammer 40,000 novel, Ghazghkull Thraka: Warlord of Warlords by the always impressive Denny Flowers this week. Another book from Flowers that focus on the volatile and brutal ork faction, Warlord of Warlords sees betrayal, intrigue and the usual ork carnage engulf the court of the infamous, Ghazghkull Thraka. One of the more amusing and enjoyable Warhammer novels of 2026, Warlords of Warlords was an exceptional read I’m really glad I got the chance to listen to.
The Writers Retreat by Victoria Brownlee (ebook)
I had the time to check out the fun Australian novel, The Writers Retreat by Victoria Brownlee, which saw an aspiring author caught up in a dark conspiracy at a French writing retreat. A clever and cosy read that is worth checking out.
What do you think you’ll read next?
If I manage to get through the two books I’m currently reading in the next week, I’m hoping to dive into the new Australian murder mystery from S. R. White, Dead Fall Lake. Another curious and clever sounding release from one of Australia’s more distinctive, rising crime fiction authors, Dead Fall Lake has a ton of potential, and I cannot wait to check it out.
That’s it for this week; check back in next Wednesday to see what progress I’ve made on my reading and what books I’ll be looking at next.
Redbelly Crossing by Candice Fox
Publisher: Penguin (ebook– 31 March 2026)
Series: Standalone
Length: 432 pages
My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
One of Australia’s best-known thriller writers, Candice Fox, returns with another brilliant and complex outback crime fiction read that sees two estranged brothers get caught up in an intense and dark murder, Redbelly Crossing.
Candice Fox is a very impressive author whose compelling work I have been deeply enjoying in recent years, especially as she has some interesting range with her varied crime fiction releases. This includes complex American thrillers like The Chase, Devil’s Kitchen and Fire With Fire, to unique Australian outback thrillers such as High Wire. She has also continued her exciting partnership with the legendary James Patterson, with some recent releases including 2 Sisters Detective Agency, 2 Sisters Murder Investigations and The Murder Inn. All these books have been a ton of fun to get through, and I always make sure to keep an eye out for anything new from Fox, especially as it’s likely to be a guaranteed hit. As such, I made sure to read her next book, Redbelly Crossing, as soon as I could, and boy was it something special.
Plot Synopsis:
Blood is thicker than water. But too much leaves a trail . . .
Russell and Evan Powder are cops.
The brothers haven’t spoken for five years, since a violent confrontation tore their family apart.
Now they are both assigned to the murder of a young journalist, Chloe Lutz, in the small town of Redbelly Crossing (population 205).
It’s the last thing Russell wants. This is supposed to be the week he repairs things with his teenage daughter Bridie. Now he’s had to drag her on a murderous ride-along to the middle of snake-infested nowhere.
But a big case like this is just what Evan needs after a terrible mistake nearly tanked his career.
Then a dark discovery leaves Evan with only one way out; to bury the truth Russell is so determined to uncover …
Redbelly Crossing was an outstanding piece of Australian crime fiction from Fox, who effortlessly creates an elaborate and twisty read with some real-life emotional heft attached to it. One of the best Australian mysteries so far released in 2026, Redbelly Crossing is a brilliant standalone novel that had me hooked from start to finish.
Fox pulls together one of her more complex and compelling narratives for Redbelly Crossing, as she goes back to her outback thriller roots with an emotionally charged, character-driven story. Primarily told through the alternating perspectives of the Powder brothers, volatile Russell and the disgraced Evan, you are quickly drawn into both the murder and their chaotic lives, as they inadvertently reunite for the first time in years to solve a crime. Fox does an excellent job setting the scene for the main case, which presents an intriguing murder mystery on its own, and the reader is soon quite curious about who killed Chloe Lutz. This great early interest in the mystery is then further enhanced by the drama around this central plot point with the family turmoil represented by the two protagonists, which only becomes even more intense when Evan makes a discovery that change his motivations around investigating the case.
The rest of the book sees both Powder brothers working at cross purposes, with Russell doggedly trying to get at the truth, with Evan attempts to hide certain facts from him to ensure certain evidence don’t come up. This adds quite an interesting angle to the investigation, as the reader has access to all the information about the murder, while both protagonists only have fragments of it. The resulting convoluted investigation is well matched by the dive into each of the protagonists’ troubled pasts, as Fox carefully doles out the full history of the brothers and their relationship, as well as the events that led to where they currently are. Things seem to come to head with a cool action sequence in the second half of the book; however, Fox is only just starting with the twists, as the case goes in some dangerous and extremely personal directions. There is a great reveal closer to the end of the book that really changes everything, especially with how it drives one of the brothers, and the resulting carnage, emotional turmoil, and conflict will leave everyone reeling one way or another. Fox brings Redbelly Crossing to a captivating ending that readers will find bittersweet and a little heartbreaking, but which is a fitting end to such a compelling and powerful tale.
I really enjoyed how Fox pulled Redbelly Crossing together, and I felt that this was one of her better books, especially as she drew a compelling line between family drama and murder mystery. Making great use of the narrative’s dual perspectives, Fox effectively drags the reader back into her classic outback setting, while also diving deep into two protagonist brothers and the events that formed them and tore them apart. The character work around the two Powder brothers, Russell and Evan, is particularly good, as Fox paints them as two highly damaged figures, broken apart by their mistakes and the trauma caused by their abusive father, who is still a dark presence in their lives. Fox really explores their trauma and how it impacts their current personalities, with Russell a highly competent investigator who acts overly aggressive to compensate for his past weaknesses and his homosexuality, whereas Evan attempts to do the right thing, but his mistakes allow him to be dominated by his father, who keeps corrupting him. Their competing desires, and the family drama around them, drives both Russell and Evan on separate courses for much of the book, and while their attempts to do right by their family should make them better, it often leads to new conflicts and deeper sorrow down the line.
I really appreciate just how well Fox balanced this family turmoil and character uncertainty with the larger mystery of the plot, especially as a lot of secrets lie with the characters’ pasts. This focus on history and generational trauma was a big recurring theme of Redbelly Crossing, and Fox covers it extremely well. The author also did an amazing job diving into the lasting trauma and uncertainty surrounding murder and those it leaves behind, especially when it comes to these older cases. Much of this was because Fox was carefully referencing two real-life unsolved Australian murders in her plot, with many of the key details of these historic cases brought across into Redbelly Crossing. This was a bold decision from Fox, but one which pays off, as it increases the impact of Redbelly Crossing’s narrative, especially after you finish the book and read in Fox’s words why she decided to use these details. This inherent drama, when combined with the author’s twisty writing style and her ability to create powerful characters, shaped by their past and their personal troubles, helps to turn Redbelly Crossing into something extremely special that you won’t be able to turn away from.
Candice Fox continues to showcase why she is one of Australia’s most talented and versatile authors of crime fiction with her latest exceptional read. Redbelly Crossing was a complex and layered read that combined a great crime fiction story with powerful character moments, all wrapped up with a striking outback setting and some intense elements taken from real-life. A captivating and impressive read, Redbelly Crossing was a particularly strong novel from Fox, who really pours her heart into this latest novel. Highly recommended with a story guaranteed to stick in your mind.
WWW Wednesday – 1 April 2026
WWW Wednesday is a weekly post hosted by Taking on a World of Words, where bloggers share the books that they’ve recently finished, what they are currently reading and what books they are planning to read next. Essentially you have to answer three questions (the Three Ws):
What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?
So, let’s get to it.
What are you currently reading:
Dark Desert Road by Tim Ayliffe (ebook)
I’ve finally had the chance to start reading the awesome Australian crime fiction novel, Dark Desert Road by Tim Ayliffe, which has been on my to-read list for a while. A cool and intriguing new read from one of my favourite Australian authors, Dark Desert Road follows a Sydney police officer who journeys into the countryside, looking for her long-lost sister who has gotten herself caught up with a group of domestic terrorists. I’ve made a bit of progress on Dark Desert Road so far, and I am really enjoying its intriguing story, as well as Ayliffe’s complex take on some cotemporary Australian issues. I am hoping to finish this book off in the next couple of days, and I look forward to seeing what happens next.
Warhammer 40,000: Ghazghkull Thraka: Warlord of Warlords by Denny Flowers (Audiobook)
I also just started listening to one of the more entertaining recent entries from the Warhammer 40,000 series, Ghazghkull Thraka: Warlord of Warlords by the always impressive Denny Flowers. Another book from Flowers that focus on the volatile and brutal ork faction, Warlord of Warlords sees betrayal, intrigue and the usual ork carnage engulf the court of the infamous, Ghazghkull Thraka. Sure to be one of the more amusing and enjoyable Warhammer novels of 2026, Warlords of Warlords has so much potential, and I cannot wait to power through it in the coming week.
What did you recently finish reading?
The Blacktongue Thief by Christopher Buehlman (Paperback)
I had a lot of fun finally getting through the outstanding and highly regarded fantasy novel, The Blacktongue Thief. The first book from author Christopher Buehlman, The Blacktongue Thief was a great adventure story with an entertaining cast in brilliant dark fantasy world. This was a deeply impressive read, that lived up to the hype around it.
Pretenders to the Throne of God by Adrian Tchaikovsky (Audiobook)
I also finished off the excellent fantasy audiobook, Pretenders to the Throne of God by Adrian Tchaikovsky, this week, and boy was it something special. The fourth book in Tchaikovsky’s Tyrant Philosophers series, Pretenders to the Throne of God was an elaborate and captivating novel that I honestly could not get enough of. A highly recommended novel that is one of the better books of 2026, I am hoping to get a review up of it soon.
What do you think you’ll read next?
The Book of Fallen Leaves by A. S. Tamaki
I’m planning to read several cool debut novels in the coming week, including the awesome sounding new fantasy novel, The Book of Fallen Leaves. The first book from author A. S. Tamaki, The Book of Fallen Leaves is a Japanese inspired fantasy epic that I think has a ton of potential. I cannot wait to dive into this week, and it should be pretty awesome.
The Exes by Leodora Darlington
I am also hoping to read The Exes by Leodora Darlington in the coming week. Set to follow a complex character who finds herself involved in another problematic relationship, The Exes looks set to be a deadly and entertaining psychological thriller with some fun twists to it. This should be another fantastic debut novel, and I cannot wait to check it out.
That’s it for this week; check back in next Wednesday to see what progress I’ve made on my reading and what books I’ll be looking at next.
Warhammer 40,000: The Greater Good by Sandy Mitchell
Publisher: Black Library (Audiobook – 1 January 2013)
Series: Ciaphas Cain – Book Nine
Length: 9 hours and 50 minutes
My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Continue to follow the legendary and complex Commissar Ciaphas Cain into death and danger, with another amazing book in Sandy Mitchell’s awesome Warhammer 40,000 series, The Greater Good.
After recently reviewing the eighth book in Sandy Mitchell’s iconic Ciaphas Cain series, The Last Ditch, I just had to continue following the fun adventures of the Imperium’s most charismatic yet cowardly commissar, Ciaphas Cain. As such, the moment I finished The Last Ditch, I immediately read the ninth book in the series, The Greater Good, which had a very interesting scenario behind it that builds on several previous storylines from the series.
Commissar Ciaphas Cain, legendary hero of the Imperium of Man and self-declared fraud, is once again thrust into mortal danger when he is assigned to bolster the defences of the human planet of Quadravidia, against the high-tech attacks of the Tau. Amid the expected brutal fighting against the advanced aliens, Cain is surprised when the Tau not only recognise him amongst the fighting but also single him out to request an unexpected ceasefire right on the cusp of a Tau victory.
Expecting the worst from this unlikely turn of events, Cain is unsurprised when the Tau reveal that an even greater threat is moving towards the sector, a hive fleet of Tyranids. With neither side capable of fighting both each other and the ravenous Tyranids, the Imperium and the Tau agree to an uneasy truce, with both sides agreeing to coordinate their offensive against the incoming hive fleet.
Accompanied by a Tau ambassador, Cain, his trusty aid Jurgen, and the Imperial fleet journey to the vital Forge World of Fecundia, a potential target for the incoming Tyranids. Using Fecundia as a base of operations, the Imperium are hopeful the Tyrands will focus their attack on the Tau controlled planets. However, the chances of Cain remaining out of the fight are always slim, and the commissar soon discovers the existence of a secret facility hidden on the planet, one guaranteed to draw the Tyranids to Fecundia.
Caught between an invading fleet of ravening aliens, and the troubled politics of Fecundia, Cain must rally the defenders for another deadly battle. However, the secrets lurking within the hidden facility look set to doom them all, and Cain must discover just how far the rot goes in Fecundia, before the entire world is devoured.
The Greater Good was another excellent and highly entertaining Warhammer 40,000 novel from Sandy Mitchell that combines excellent and action-packed storytelling, with a fantastic and humorous protagonist. Featuring an outstanding story, The Greater Good was a ton of fun from start to finish, and it served as an amazing continuation of one of the best Warhammer 40,000 series out there.
I quite enjoyed the plot of The Greater Good, although it did go in some different directions to what I was expecting. From the cover and the official plot synopsis, I assumed this novel was going to feature humans and Tau fighting side by side on the initial planet the book is set, after temporarily setting aside their differences. Instead, the plot is primarily set on a secondary planet of Fecundia, with the only Tau being a controversial ambassador providing some interesting alternative insights. While this was still a fun and exciting narrative, it did run the risk of being a bit too similar to some of the previous Ciaphas Cain novels that focused on Tyranid invasions.
I felt that Mitchell compensated well for this change in direction, by drawing together an interesting read about infiltration, isolated battles and the Imperium’s research in the Tyranids as they attempt to find ways to defeat them. Revisiting key story elements from the previous two Ciaphas Cain novels, the protagonist soon finds himself trapped amid a series of controversial and dangerous experiments that begin to attract the Tyranid hive fleet. After a series of exciting set pieces, including a great extended sequence with the protagonist trapped in an alien filled desert, you reach the final third of the book which primarily takes place in the secret research centre. Unsurprisingly, things go wrong, and Cain and Jurgen are forced into a seemingly hopeless situation as they fight enemies on all sides. There were some good twists here, especially around potential betrayals, and while the culprit is easy to predict, there is an excellent amount of uncertainty and red herrings to keep you guessing. The entire story comes together in an awesome way, filled with Mitchell’s usual excellent fight sequences and humour, and this proved to be a compelling and satisfying addition to the larger series.
Long-term fans of this Warhammer 40,000 series will know that Mitchell has a set format for the Ciaphas Cain books that blends clever character-driven humour with the usual grim action and lore of the universe. This was also the case for The Greater Good, which features the usual chronicle style told from the protagonist’s perspective, bolstered by funny external commentary from a fictional editor, who also adds in some entertaining in-universe texts for some additional context. While this style and certain narrative elements are very familiar, especially if you read a few of these books in a row, The Greater Good was still an awesome novel, and Mitchell did make it stand out by adding in some intrigue with Tyranid infiltrators, as well as some curious looks at diplomacy between the Imperium and the Tau. I quite enjoyed seeing the conflicts that emerged between the various factions of this impromptu alliance, especially as Cain and the Imperial Guard had more issues with their Adeptus Mechanicus and Space Marine allies than the Tau. Add to that Mitchell’s usually impressive humour and wonderful action set pieces, and The Greater Good was an overall outstanding novel that I quickly powered through.
While most of the Ciaphas Cain books work well as standalone reads that are very accessible to new readers, The Greater Good stood out as it had more of a connection to the previous entries in the series. There were a lot of heavy references to the events of For the Emperor, The Emperor’s Finest and The Last Ditch, with key plot elements and some returning characters coming into the play during The Greater Good’s narrative. As someone who enjoyed all the previous books, it was nice to see the consequences and aftermath of these prior adventures be utilised in this entry’s plot, and I think that long-term fans will really appreciate it. These references also helped to dispel some of the usual issues this series has with reusing descriptions and thoughts from the previous books. While much of the plot is geared towards established fans, new readers can still easily follow The Greater Good’s plot without too much issue, as Mitchell does an excellent job of recapping these previous adventures. As such, The Greater Good proves to be an amazing overall entry in the Ciaphas Cain series, especially as it remains accessible and enjoyable to readers of varying experiences.
As always, I must give a shoutout to the outstanding cast of this novel, especially as there is an interesting array of unique characters contained within. This includes a great mix of familiar and new characters, with much of the action focused on the titular Commissar Ciaphas Cain, who remains the usual complex rogue we’re so familiar with. It is always fun to see Cain struggle with his imposter syndrome and supposed cowardice, and Mitchell ensures that the protagonist is the main source of the book’s humour thanks to his self-centred narration and hilarious insights into the usual grimdark universe. Cain’s aide Jurgen remains an excellent source of additional entertainment, while Inquisitor Amberly Vail is once again perfect as the overarching editor of the story, providing her sarcastic insights and corrections to Cain’s actions and conclusions. Throw in a captivating combination of new or minor characters, including a frustrated general, a calculating Tau ambassador, some returning Space Marines and a cunning Tech Priest with her own agenda, and the cast of The Greater Good is exceptional and drives the story into some fascinating places.
After hyping up the audiobook versions of all the previous Ciaphas Cain entries, I doubt anyone will be too surprised that I decided to check out The Greater Good on this format. All Warhammer 40,000 novels are damn awesome on audiobook, and The Greater Good is a particularly epic example of this. Coming in with a runtime just short of 10 hours, The Greater Good audiobook is an amazing listen that is easy to get addicted to, especially as the excellent use of several outstanding narrators really helps to enhance and highlight Mitchell’s unique writing style.
The Greater Good audiobook features an impressive six separate narrators, all of whom will be quite well known by Warhammer audiobook enthusiasts. As with the rest of the series, most of the work is done by returning narrators Stephen Perring and Penelope Rawlins, both of whom have a key role in this production. Perring serves as the entertaining and flippant voice of Cain as he recounts this adventure in his own words, while Rawlins is the voice of Inquisitor Vail as she provides her editorial notes throughout the plot and introduces other intermissions. These two have long proven themselves to be perfect main narrators for the Ciaphas Cain books, and they fulfilled their roles in The Greater Good extremely well, full grasping the complexity of their respective characters. The other four narrators for this audiobook, Matthew Hunt, Andrew James Spooner, John Banks and Tara Rawson, have minor but entertaining roles in this audiobook, providing voices for the various in-universe history texts and other books/messages that appear at various parts of the book, which allows for some additional comedy. This mixed narration comes together extremely well throughout the entirety of The Greater Good, resulting in a particularly epic listen. As such, I would once again recommend that potential readers of this Ciaphas Cain novel check out the audiobook version, as there is frankly no better way to enjoy The Greater Good.
With yet another clever, exciting and hilarious take on the epic Warhammer 40,000 universe, the ninth Ciaphas Cain novel, The Greater Good, was an outstanding addition to the series that I had a wonderful time listening to. Utilising his tried and tested writing style, Sandy Mitchell produces another compelling and entertaining read that proves to be highly addictive and a lot of fun to get through. I really enjoyed this excellent entry in the Ciaphas Cain series, and I am hoping to finish off this series by the end of the year.
WWW Wednesday – 25 March 2026
WWW Wednesday is a weekly post hosted by Taking on a World of Words, where bloggers share the books that they’ve recently finished, what they are currently reading and what books they are planning to read next. Essentially you have to answer three questions (the Three Ws):
What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?
So, let’s get to it.
What are you currently reading:
The Blacktongue Thief by Christopher Buehlman (Paperback)
After powering through several great recent release, I decided to mix things up a little by diving back into an older book that has been on my to-read list for a while. As such, I’ve started reading the outstanding and highly regarded fantasy novel, The Blacktongue Thief. The first book from author Christopher Buehlman, The Blacktongue Thief has had received a lot of love since its release, and I’ve always meant to check it out. With the sequel coming out later this year, I finally decided to check it out, and I’m already having a ton of fun with it. Featuring a great adventure story with an entertaining cast in dark fantasy world, The Blacktonge Thief is deeply impressing, and I’m hoping to knock it off in the next few days. An amazing read that is really living up to the hype around it.
Pretenders to the Throne of God by Adrian Tchaikovsky (Audiobook)
I’m still listening to the excellent fantasy audiobook, Pretenders to the Throne of God by the legendary Adrian Tchaikovsky, this week, and boy is it something special. The fourth book in Tchaikovsky’s Tyrant Philosophers series, Pretenders to the Throne of God follows various individuals caught up in a siege of a fantasy city, all of whom have their own problems and agendas. I’m really loving this book, which blends great personal storylines with a unique setting to create an exceptional read. I’m currently a bit over halfway through Pretenders to the Throne of God at the moment, and I should probably finish it off in the next week. I cannot wait to see how this elaborate novel comes together, and Pretenders to the Throne of God is already an extremely strong contender to be one of my favourite books of 2026.
What did you recently finish reading?
Redbelly Crossing by Candice Fox (ebook)
I managed to finish off the Australian crime fiction novel, Redbelly Crossing by Candice Fox this week. Another cool outback thriller from Fox, Redbelly Crossing was a dark and twisty read that I couldn’t get enough off. An exceptional novel from one of Australia’s top writers.
How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates by Shailee Thompson (ebook)
I absolutely powered through the highly entertaining first book from Australian author Shailee Thompson, How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates this week. A very entertaining read that will saw its slasher film loving protagonist attempt to survive a serial killer stalking a speed dating event, in fun and strangely romantic, horror novel. How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates was an outstanding novel that I powered through extremely quickly.
What do you think you’ll read next?
Dark Desert Road by Tim Ayliffe
I’ve been having an amazing time with Australian crime fiction lately, so the next book I’m hoping to check out is Dark Desert Road by Tim Ayliffe. A cool and intriguing new read from one of my favourite Australian authors, Dark Desert Road looks set to be an incredible book, and I look forward to diving into it.
That’s it for this week; check back in next Wednesday to see what progress I’ve made on my reading and what books I’ll be looking at next.
Waiting on Wednesday – Monsters of Ohio by John Scalzi
Welcome to my weekly segment, Waiting on Wednesday, where I look at upcoming books that I am planning to order and review in the next few months and which I think I will really enjoy. Stay tuned to see reviews of these books when I get a copy of them. For this week’s Waiting on Wednesday, I highlight one of the more crazy and fun looking science fiction novels coming out in the second half of 2026, with Monsters of Ohio by John Scalzi.
In recent years, one of the more entertaining and enjoyable authors of science fiction that I have become a fan of is the always reliably quirky John Scalzi. A veteran science fiction author who has been providing his unique take on the genre for years, Scalzi is best known for his Old Man’s War and The Interdependency series. In addition to these established, long-running series, Scalzi has also written a range of distinctive standalone science fiction novels that provide interesting takes on the world, as well as satirising certain elements of pop culture. I have had a wonderful time reading novels like Redshirts, The Kaiju Preservation Society, Starter Villain and When the Moon Hits Your Eye, which had some amazing and very memorable plot ideas behind them.
All Scalzi’s books that I have had the pleasure of reading have proven to be particularly awesome, with my favourite probably being Redshirts (I love a good Star Trek parody), and I’ve been really trying to read any new books from the author when they come out. As such, when I saw that Scalzi had a new book coming out in 2026, it instantly flew towards the top of my must-read list.
This new upcoming novel from Scalzi is the tantalizingly titled Monsters of Ohio, which features a very fun cover that matches the outrageous energy of the title. Currently set for release in November 2026, Monsters of Ohio has a very interesting plot behind it, as cosmic horrors appear amongst the simple people of rural America with chaotic result.
Plot Synopsis:
Richland, Ohio is the same tiny, sleepy rural community it’s been for the last 150 years. But times are hard, as social and economic forces roil the once-placid town.
Now Richland, Ohio is primed to explode – just not in the way anyone expected. Because in Richland, the revolution doesn’t start with a protest. It starts with growing tentacles.
Mike Boyd left Richland decades ago, to find his own way in the world. But when he’s called back to his hometown to tie up loose ends, he finds more going on than he bargained for. He becomes caught up in a sequence of events that will bring this tiny farm village to the attention of the entire world . . . and, perhaps, spell its doom.
This is a very intriguing plot for Monsters of Ohio, and it’s certainly got my attention. I love the idea of a small town going through economic hard times becomes the target of something a lot stranger and out of this world, and with Scalzi’s trademark wit and cynicism thrown in, it should result in a fascinating and captivating read. As such, I’m very excited to read Monsters of Ohio later this year, and if it’s as entertaining as Scalzi’s previous books, I’m in for an exceptional time when I get my hands on it.
Waiting on Wednesday – Eight Tastes of Treachery by Ryan Rose
Welcome to my weekly segment, Waiting on Wednesday, where I look at upcoming books that I am planning to order and review in the next few months and which I think I will really enjoy. Stay tuned to see reviews of these books when I get a copy of them. In my latest Waiting on Wednesday post, I highlight a very fun upcoming fantasy novel that is likely to be one of the top sequels of the year with Eight Tastes of Treachery by Ryan Rose.
Last year I had the very great pleasure of reading the cool fantasy debut novel, Seven Recipes for Revolution. The first book from author Ryan Rose, Seven Recipes for Revolution was a gripping and unique read that followed a magical, but lower-class, chef, who found himself in the centre of a revolution. A compelling novel with a very clever and tasty concept behind it, Seven Recipes for Revolution was an outstanding book, and it ended up being one of my top debuts of 2025.
Due to how awesome I found Rose’s first novel to be, I have been eagerly awaiting a second novel from the author for a while, and I was very excited when I found out that he had a sequel to Seven Recipes for Revolution coming out this year. This sequel, Eight Tastes of Treachery, is set for release in July 2026, and looks set to be another epic fantasy novel that will take the food-based magic and class warfare of this distinctive fantasy world in a whole new direction.
Plot Synopsis:
Monster Hunter and Empire of the Vampire collide in the adventurous sequel to Seven Recipes for Revolution, guaranteed to make you crave delicious fantasy dishes.
Three years after eating the rich, Paprick Bessa is an infamous warchef known as the Butcher. Numbed by grief and war with the ousted rulers, Paprick no longer enjoys cooking and can’t create new recipes. So when Ranch finally reaches a tenuous ceasefire with the Rare, Paprick seizes the chance to reheat his passions, opening a restaurant with a menu all his own.
But conspiracy interrupts the opening night, his own emphon destroy the restaurant, and all signs point to the neighbouring Empire of the Badgeboar. Whoever orchestrated this threatens to destroy everything Paprick and Ranch’s common fought for, and the Butcher leaves no threat breathing. To find the attacker and stop another all-out war, Paprick, his partner Cori, and his kitchen brigade journey west to curry favour with the Empire’s questionable elite and investigate its mysterious religions.
Treacherous forces and dire prophecies lie in wait for Paprick’s arrival, and all the while, the Rare re-arm in the east. Facing magics and flavours unlike any he’s ever tasted, Paprick will have to choose what matters most: his people, his passions, or his partner. He can’t save all three.
I like the sound of this cool plot for Eight Tastes of Treachery, which I think has a ton of potential. An intriguing and complex sounding follow-up to the narrative from Seven Recipes for Revolution, this new plot sounds extremely awesome, and I cannot wait to see how it leads up to the dark future we’ve already seen in parts of the first book. The continued dive into the food-based magic of this world, including some alternate regional recipes is going to be very interesting, and I’m curious to see how this will impact the plot. I’m also keen to see Rose’s dive into the impacts years of war will have on his protagonist, especially as we’ll likely see it from multiple angles thanks to the series’ chronicle style format. As such, I’m very excited to read Eight Tastes of Treachery later this year, and I cannot wait to see how Rose continues to develop as a writer. A sure to be outstanding read from a great rising author!
The Unseen Library 