WWW Wednesday – 17 June 2026

On June 21, 2026 By The Unseen LibraryIn WWW WednesdayLeave a comment

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:

LIT by Anna Woods (Trade Paperback)

I’ve recently started reading the compelling new novel LIT by Anna Woods. A New Zealand psychological thriller, LIT has a very interesting plot behind it, when a woman finds herself seemingly haunted by visions of a missing friend. Set to be a tense and powerful novel, I’m looking forward to seeing how LIT comes together.

The Right to Remain by James Grippando (Audiobook)

I’ve also started listening to the new Jack Swyteck novel, The Right to Remain by James Grippando. A compelling legal thriller that sees the protagonist forced to defend a client who refuses to talk to anyone, including his own lawyer. I’m currently powering through The Right to Remain and I love the awesome new scenario that Grippando came up with. I’m hoping to finish it off in the next few days and I look forward to seeing how it comes together.

What did you recently finish reading?

The Yacht by Kayte Nunn (Trade Paperback)

I managed to get through the intriguing thriller, The Yacht by Australian author Kayte Nunn this week. An intense read that showcases the events leading up to the destruction of a giant superyacht hosting the troubled members of an elite family, The Yacht was very exciting read, with a deeply compelling story behind it.

Paradox by Douglas Preston and Aletheia Preston (Audiobook)

I also got through the audiobook version of the entertaining science fiction thriller, Paradox. The sequel to Douglas Preston’s Extinction, Paradox had another over-the-top narrative to it, with aliens, religious murders and more, all coming into play, and I had an amazing time getting through it.

Drop Dead Famous by Jennifer Pearson (ebook)

The final book I managed to get through this week was the fantastic young adult thriller, Drop Dead Famous by Jennifer Pearson. An excellent book with some deeply impressive twists behind it, I ended up really loving Drop Dead Famous and I’m hoping to get a review up for it soon.

What do you think you’ll read next?

Outlaw by Jim Butcher

The next book I’m hoping to dive into is the new novella from Jim Butcher, Outlaw. Providing another glimpse into the Dresden Files universe, Outlaw sounds like another outstanding read and I imagine I will get through it very quickly.

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 – Shot by Shelley Burr

On June 20, 2026 By The Unseen LibraryIn Australian, Murder Mystery, Waiting on WednesdayLeave a comment

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 latest Waiting on Wednesday, I highlight an outstanding upcoming piece of Australian crime fiction with Shot by Shelley Burr.

For the last few years, one of my favourite authors of Australian crime fiction has been the very impressive Shelley Burr. A rising and talented writer who experiments with new styles and writing ideas with each novel, Burr appeared on the scene back in 2022 with her debut novel, Wake. An excellent and addictive outback mystery about a historical disappearance, Wake was an outstanding novel, which served as the first book of her Lane Holland series. Followed up by the amazing novels, Ripper (also released as Murder Town), and last year’s release Vanish, each book in this series told its own unique and narrative, while also further exploring the complex life of its recurring protagonist. I had an incredible time with these books, and I’ve been keen to see what Burr would write next, especially as she seemed to wrap up her first series with Vanish.

It looks like Australian crime fiction fans don’t have long to wait until they’re lucky enough to get another Shelley Burr novel, as the author has an interesting new release coming out in October. This new book, Shot, will tell a distinctive new tale of murder, regret and hidden secrets, as a new investigative protagonist dives into the past to uncover the truth behind an infamous killing.

Set to follow a disgraced true-crime vlogger (Burr likes her damaged protagonists), as she does a feature on a double killing that occurred in the middle of a livestream, Shot sounds extremely intriguing, and I love the cool and unique elements to its proposed plot. Sure to bring the drama and dive into modern audience’s obsessions with glamourous streaming families and famous murders, Shot has a ton of potential, especially if Burr weaves her typical storytelling magic. Based on how good Burr’s previous novels were, Shot is now one of my most anticipated crime fiction novels coming out in the second half of 2026, and I have no doubt that this will be a top piece of Australian fiction.

Plot Synopsis:

A murder is witnessed by thousands, but who pulled the trigger?

Dahlia and Duncan Crews are rich, famous, glamorous – they share their lifestyle and picture-perfect family with hundreds of thousands of online subscribers. The Crews have it all – until they don’t. Shot dead in the middle of a livestream, the couple’s teenage daughter, Karma, is the sole survivor. And the prime suspect.

Years later, disgraced true-crime vlogger Jennifer Benedetta is hired to film a cold-case documentary on the unsolved Crews family murders. It’s the chance she needs to salvage her reputation, but there’s a catch: prove Karma Crews innocent. But something – or someone – is lurking just off camera, and the closer Jennifer gets to the truth, the further she is from safety.

Who is watching? And how far will they go to remain unseen?

Waiting on Wednesday – Star Wars: Edge of the Abyss by Rebecca Roanhorse

On June 13, 2026 By The Unseen LibraryIn Extended Universe, Science Fiction, Star Wars, Tie-in Novel, Waiting on WednesdayLeave a comment

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 this week’s Waiting on Wednesday, I highlight the next big major Star Wars novel I’m excited for with Edge of the Abyss by the very talented Rebecca Roanhorse.

Last year I had the great pleasure of reading the excellent Star Wars novel, The Mask of Fear by Alex Freed. The compelling first entry in the new Reign of the Empire trilogy, The Mask of Fear showed an interesting vision of the early Empire in the aftermath of Revenge of the Sith. Following several key characters from the expanded franchise, The Mask of Fear was a great combination of politics, cultural examinations and a spy thriller narrative, that was highly relevant in the modern climate. I had an excellent time with The Mask of Fear, and I was curious to see how they were going to continue this series going forward.

It turns out that they are going to shake things up in the second Reign of the Empire book, as not only are inserting a significant time skip, but they are bringing in a whole new author with Rebecca Roanhorse. Roanhorse, who is best known for her The Sixth World and Between Earth and Sky series, has dabbled with Star Wars fiction previously, having written Resistance Reborn in 2019. Edge of the Abyss will be her second foray into the Star Wars universe, and I’m curious to see how she has developed since writing Resistance Reborn.

Set for release in September 2026, Edge of the Abyss looks set to further showcase the overwhelming tyranny of the Empire, as well as the rise of the Rebel Alliance, as three of the main characters from The Mask of Fear continue their fight for freedom, alongside other compelling figures from the expanded universe.

Plot Synopsis:

In this thrilling sequel to The Mask of Fear, set one year before season one of Andor, truth becomes a weapon of the Empire.

Over a decade into the Empire’s reign, life under imperial rule has become routine. The days of the Republic have long passed into memory – if they are remembered at all.

Within the Senate, Mon Mothma and Bail Organa face dwindling influence, for there is no difference between the will of the Emperor and the direction of his Empire. Bail increasingly shifts his focus to support clandestine resistance efforts, knowing a successful fight against the Empire will come from beyond the halls of power. Meanwhile, Mon Mothma sees once chance to take a stand when she makes a horrifying discover about the lengths the regime will go to weaponize truth and loyalty. The Empire’s newest target: the next generation raised under the Emperor’s deepening shadow, including Mon and Bail’s daughters.

Across the galaxy, disparate rebel factions are rendered outcasts, branded criminals, and pitted against each other. On Ghorman, an idealistic student group seeks to make meaningful change, unaware of the ISB agent who seeks to sabotage them from the inside. Leaders like Saw Gerrera and Anto Kreegyr squabble and bargain to survive one more day against the crush of Imperial might. Trust is rare and betrayal quick. A distracted, disorganised resistance is one that is easy to snuff out.

There are few heroes…and no alliances.

When one of Gerrera’s partisans is captured by the Empire, time is running out for senators, outcastes, spies, and all those that desire a better tomorrow. What the prisoner knows could held the Empire eradicate any whisper of resistance, end any rebellion before it can truly begin – and ensure that the Empire’s truth is all the galaxy will ever know.

Now this a very interesting sounding novel, with the author looking set to further dive into politics, espionage and rebellion, as a continuation of the wider narrative of the Reign of the Empire series. It also looks like there are going to be some compelling lore expansions in Edge of the Abyss which will no doubt really appeal to major fans of the Star Wars universe and it’s expanded lore. It seems that Roanhorse is going to really dive into the very early days of the Rebellion, while providing her own take on some of the key characters from The Mask of Fear. Roanhorse is also intending to further explore the divergence in tactics between Bail Organa and Mon Mothma, and I have no doubt the clash between the honourable realism of Bail and the the fading political idealism of Mon is going to be a major source of drama for much of the plot.

One of the more appealing aspects of Edge of the Abyss to me is the jump forward 10 years from the early days of the Empire to the heights of its power a year before the start of the Andor television series. Showcasing the conflicted and disorganised rebels with different goals, like Saw Gerrera and the briefly mentioned Anto Kreegyr, has a lot of potential and I’m looking forward to seeing their differing agendas. I’m hoping that the appearance of those two characters also means that Luthen Rael from Andor is also going to show up, and I’m wondering if we’ll see his first interactions with Mon Mothma here. Throw in some mentions of Ghorman, which was such a tragic setting in the second season of Andor, and Edge of the Abyss looks set to contain a lot of juicy hints references for established Star Wars fans.

Overall, I really like the sound of this awesome upcoming Star Wars novel. Rebecca Roanhorse will be an excellent new addition to the larger Reign of the Empire series, and I’m very curious to see where she takes the story in Edge of the Abyss. I’m sure that Edge of the Abyss is going to provide all the intriguing dives into the larger Star Wars universe that I will need in 2026, and I cannot wait to check it out.

WWW Wednesday – 10 June 2026

On June 12, 2026 By The Unseen LibraryIn WWW WednesdayLeave a comment

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 Yacht by Kayte Nunn (Trade Paperback)

I’ve started reading the intriguing thriller, The Yacht by Australian author Kayte Nunn. An intense read that showcases the events leading up to the destruction of a giant superyacht hosting the troubled members of an elite family, The Yacht is so far proving to be a very entertaining read, and I’m already hooked on its story. While I haven’t made too much progress on The Yacht yet, I’m hoping to knock it off in the next couple of days and I look forward to seeing how its cool narrative comes together.

Paradox by Douglas Preston and Aletheia Preston (Audiobook)

I’m absolutely powering through the audiobook version of the entertaining science fiction thriller, Paradox. The sequel to Douglas Preston’s Extinction, which featured an outstanding story about killer neanderthal clones, Paradox has another over-the-top narrative to it, with aliens, religious murders and more, all coming into play. I’m having an amazing time with Paradox, and it looks like I’ll be finishing it off in the next day or so.

What did you recently finish reading?

Sisters of the Lizard by Jackson Ford (Trade Paperback)

I managed to finish off the fun fantasy novel, Sisters of the Lizard by Jackson Ford this week. The sequel to Ford’s 2025 release, The Bone Raiders, Sisters of the Lizard was another awesome read, loaded with entertaining characters and an intriguing adventure with giant, fire-breathing lizards. A fantastic and exciting read.

Warhammer 40,000: Hive by Dan Abnett (Audiobook)

I also finally finished off the extensive new Dan Abnett Warhammer 40,000 novel, Hive. A vast political thriller, that showcases multiple perspectives of a gigantic underground hive city, Hive was an elaborate and addictive read, that relentlessly kept me hooked to the very end. One of my top Warhammer 40,000 novels of 2026.

What do you think you’ll read next?

LIT by Anna Woods

The next book I’m hoping to read is the compelling new novel LIT by Anna Woods. A gritty New Zealand psychological thriller, LIT has a very interesting plot behind it, when a woman finds herself seemingly haunted by visions of a missing friend. Set to be a tense and powerful novel, I’m looking forward to reading LIT soon.

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.

WWW Wednesday – 3 June 2026

On June 6, 2026 By The Unseen LibraryIn WWW Wednesday1 Comment

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:

Sisters of the Lizard by Jackson Ford (Trade Paperback)

I started reading the fun fantasy novel, Sisters of the Lizard by Jackson Ford this week. The sequel to Ford’s 2025 release, The Bone Raiders, Sisters of the Lizard sees a small group of raiders and thieves, attempt to stop the ravages of war and vengeance with their new giant, lizard mounts. I’m currently about 100 pages into Sisters of the Lizard and I’m enjoying its exciting narrative and entertaining characters. A fantastic novel that I am hoping to power through in the next few days.

Warhammer 40,000: Hive by Dan Abnett (Audiobook)

I’ve still got a little left of the extensive new Dan Abnett Warhammer 40,000 novel, Hive. Abnett, who has contributed some amazing entries to the Warhammer 40,000 franchise, has this time imagined a vast political thriller, taking place at multiple points in a gigantic underground hive city. Filled with intricate detail and a ton of great characters, Hive is a fantastic and elaborate read, that is relentlessly keeping me hooked. I’ve got just over an hour or so of Hive’s audiobook left, and its already one of my top Warhammer 40,000 novels of 2026.

What did you recently finish reading?

Our Lady of Blades by Sebastien de Castell (ebook)

I managed to get through the awesome fantasy novel, Our Lady of Blades by the very talented Sebastien de Castell this week. The follow-up to de Castell’s previous impressive novels, Crucible of Chaos and Play of Shadows, Our Lady of Blades continued the adventures in the author’s Greatcoats universe, this time exploring a corrupt city ruled by powerful families and sadistic dualists. Featuring a compelling narrative of revenge and redemption Our Lady of Blades was an exceptional read that lived up to all my expectations.

What do you think you’ll read next?

Paradox by Douglas Preston and Aletheia Preston

The next book I’m planning to enjoy is the entertaining sounding science fiction thriller, Paradox. The sequel to Douglas Preston’s awesome novel Extinction, Paradox looks set to introduce another intriguing and over-the-top mystery, while the killer neanderthal clones from the first book lurk in the shadows. I have no doubt I’m going to love this book, and I look forward to exploring Paradox’s crazy story.

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 – The Sword of Rome by Simon Scarrow

On June 4, 2026 By The Unseen LibraryIn Historical Fiction, Waiting on Wednesday1 Comment

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 latest Waiting on Wednesday post, I highlight the next book in one of my absolute favourite series, with The Sword of Rome by Simon Scarrow.

Readers of this blog will know that I am a massive fan of historical fiction author Simon Scarrow, who has been producing epic and compelling historical fiction novels for 25 years. His books cover a range of interesting topics and settings, although his current body of work involves his long-running Eagles of the Empire series, as well as his Inspector Horst Schenke thriller novels set in wartime Berlin.

I am a particular fan of Scarrow’s Eagles of the Empire series, and I have had the pleasure of reading every single entry in this series so far. Following two veteran Roman officers, Prefect Cato and Centurian Macro, as they fight their way through the various battlefields and political intrigues of ancient Rome. Scarrow has produced some outstanding novels in this series in recent years, with The Blood of Rome, Traitors of Rome, The Emperor’s Exile, The Honour of Rome, Death to the Emperor, Rebellion, Revenge of Rome and Tyrant of Rome, all being extremely epic and entertaining in their own ways.

Unsurprisingly, any new Eagles of the Empire novel is very high up on my to-read list, and I was very excited to find out some details about the next entry in this series, The Sword of Rome. Set to be the 25^th entry in this long-running series, The Sword of Rome is coming out in November 2026, and will set the protagonist on another deadly adventure with the highest of stakes.

Plot Synopsis:

CATO AND MACRO ARE ARMED TO THE HILT FOR THE EPIC 25TH ADVENTURE IN THE EAGLES OF THE EMPIRE SERIES FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR

Twenty years have passed since the raw recruit Cato faced Centurion Macro on the training ground. Now scarred heroes of the Roman army’s toughest conflicts, they are the first choice when Emperor Nero’s top general, Corbulo, needs the best for a dangerous mission.

Over a thousand miles from Rome, on northern coastline of the Euxine Sea, a city’s people face massacre as the Scythian Empire pushes back against Nero’s wild ambitions.

The journey alone would break lesser men. And at their destination is a scene of carnage and approaching famine, while an army far greater in number than the Roman force gathers for the finish . . .

Always in Cato’s mind is the terrible image of his last hours in Rome: the fearful faces of his wife and son, and Macro’s wife, held as hostages against his failure. The fate of countless Roman citizens, and of everyone Cato cares about, lies in his hands.

Even after all these years, the first glimpse of a new Eagles of the Empire book still gets me very excited. This next novel has me especially intrigued, as not only is it the 25^th entry in the series (who knows what surprises an author could chuck into a milestone book), but the above plot for The Sword of Rome sounds extremely awesome and intense. Setting the protagonists on an impossible mission to stop a massacre has a lot of potential, with the typical long-odds Cato and Macro seemingly enhanced with famine, carnage and superior opponents. Scarrow seems to be framing it as one of the more brutal entries in the series, and I cannot wait to see some more of the excellent historical action that the author excels at.

While the main mission of The Sword of Rome is probably going to awesome on its own, the element of the above plot synopsis that really caught my eye was the underlying politics and threats to the protagonists. The inclusion of General Corbula, a tragic figure that has been mentioned as a potential rival for Nero in previous books, provides some hints at Cato and Macro’s true purpose on this campaign. There is also the revelation that both protagonist’s families are being held captive back in Rome, which not only provides extra motivation for them to succeed in this battle, but also hints at additional problems for them, especially as a recurring storyline in the last few books has been Cato keeping his secret wife hidden from the Emperor’s court. All this has so much narrative potential, and it sounds like Scarrow is planning to make some big moves in this upcoming Eagles of the Empire novel.

Needless to say, I’m extremely excited for The Sword of Rome later this year. There are very few things that would stop me from reading the new Eagles of the Empire novel anyway, especially as Simon Scarrow has been killing it recently, but The Sword of Rome sounds particularly epic, and I know I’m going to love it. Now one my most anticipated releases in the second half of 2026, The Sword of Rome is going to be an exceptional and exciting novel that I will try to read the very second I get my hands on it.

Top Ten Tuesday – Books on my Winter 2026 To Be Read (TBR) List

On June 4, 2026 By The Unseen LibraryIn List3 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme that currently resides at The Artsy Reader Girl and features bloggers sharing lists on various book topics. For this week’s Top Ten Tuesday participants have a Thanksgiving freebie which I am going to use to look at some upcoming books. This is because today is the first Tuesday of Winter 2026, and I thought this would be a good opportunity to do my quarterly post about the best upcoming books I am looking forward to reading in Winter (Summer for folks in the Northern Hemisphere). This is a regular post I do at the start of each season, and I always love to highlight some of the most impressive sounding novels coming out in the next three months.

For this list, I have come up with ten books coming out between 1 June 2026 and 31 August 2026 that I am most excited for. There are quite a few amazing novels set for release in the next few months, so it took me a while to finalise my final top ten list, including my usual honourable mentions section. I have primarily used the Australian publication dates to reflect when I will be able to get these awesome novels, and these might be somewhat different to the rest of the world. I have previously discussed a number of these books before in prior Waiting on Wednesday articles, and I even have some early copies of a some of them (I’m hoping to read them soon). I am extremely excited for these next three months and I feel that quite a few of these upcoming reads have the potential to be some of my favourite books of 2026.

Honourable Mentions:

Hide and Seek by Chris Carter – 16 July 2026

A compelling and chilling thriller that I think has a ton of potential.

Eight Tastes of Treachery by Ryan Rose – 21 July 2026

An intriguing food-based fantasy novel, that will serve as a sequel to last year’s fun debut, Seven Recipes for Revolution.

The Unknown by Riley Sager – 4 August 2026

A very interesting upcoming mystery novel about missing people on a spooky island, with compelling horror elements also thrown into the mix.

The Calamities by Chuck Wendig – 18 August 2026

An exciting tale of familial bonds and betrayal, when the scion of a half-demon business dynasty decides to turn his back on his family’s evil ways.

Top Ten Tuesday:

Green City Wars by Adrian Tchaikovsky – 30 June 2026

The first book I want to highlight in this Top Ten list is the new upcoming novel from Adrian Tchaikovksy, Green City Wars. One of Tchaikovsky’s more entertaining and distinctive scenarios (which is saying a lot), Green City Wars is a noir-inspired mystery, set in science fiction world where humans are served by unseen, genetically enhanced animals. Set to feature a fun cast of sentient animals attempting to solve their problems without disturbing their human masters, Green City Wars sounds delightful, and I cannot wait to dive into it.

One of Us Is Guilty by Steve Cavanagh – 28 July 2026

One of my favourite thriller authors, Steve Cavanagh, returns in 2026 with a new complex legal thriller. Part of his Eddie Flynn series, One of Us is Guilty will see the protagonist try to determine which member of a seemingly perfect couple committed a brutal murder and which one of them is being set up by their partner. Sure to be another awesome read with some fantastic legal twists, One of Us is Guilty is going to be an outstanding, and I’ve very excited to read it.

The Infinite State by Richard Swan – 28 July 2026

Australian fantasy author Richard Swan takes a break from his acclaimed Empire of the Wolf/The Great Silence novels, and instead presents a cool, standalone science fiction release with The Infinite State. Set to follow a suddenly ultra-wealthy widow and her allies as they attempt to buy a planet to set up a democracy in defiance of a galaxy-spanning fascist government. I love the sound of this intriguing narrative, especially as Swan will likely utilise his prior Warhammer 40,000 experience, to create a unique and insightful read.

Duel of Beasts by Boyd and Beth Morrison – 30 July 2026

The team of Boyd and Beth Morrison look set to continue their historical hijinks with their fourth Tale of the Lawless Land entry coming out soon. This time set in medieval Spain, Duel of the Beasts will see the series protagonists get involved to help another helpless sole, only to find themselves hunted across the country. Sure to be an exciting and intense historical thriller, Duel of the Beasts is going to be an awesome read.

Bad Neighbours by Joanna Jenkins – 4 August 2026

A more grounded Australian novel that I’m keen to check out this Winter is the new Joanna Jenkins novel, Bad Neighbours. The follow-up to Jenkins’ How to Kill a Client and The Bluff, Bad Neighbours will see the returning lawyer protagonist forced to investigate her new neighbours to find justice. I love the sound of this new book from Jenkins, and I cannot wait to see her latest piece of Australian crime fiction.

The Deep and the Drowned by Ian Green – 6 August 2026

One of the few books on this list from an author I haven’t previously read anything from, The Deep and the Drowned is an intriguing fantasy read that caught my attention a few weeks ago thanks to its cool plot and striking cover. Featuring a compelling setting of giant, monster-filled seas, multiple chaotic islands, and sailors trying to cross between them, The Deep and the Drowned sounds very awesome, and I’m so glad I’ve gotten an early copy of it.

A Trade of Blood by Robert Jackson Bennett – 11 August 2026

Probably the Winter 2026 release I’m most excited for is A Trade of Blood by Robert Jackson Bennett. The third book in a deeply impressive fantasy murder mystery series that follows a unique team of investigators as they attempt to unravel empire-shattering crimes in a nation constantly under siege by giant monsters. This next book will follow the series protagonists as they attempt to prove that a young noble is innocent of murder, despite overwhelming evidence. The previous novels in this series (The Tainted Cup and A Drop of Corruption), where both exceptional, five-star reads, and I have no doubt that A Trade of Blood is going to be one of the very best novels of the year.

The Dungeon Book by Gareth Ryder-Hanrahan – 11 August 2026

I always have my eye out for cool and unique reads, and one of the more outrageous fantasy novels coming out in Winter 2026 is The Dungeon Book by Gareth Ryder-Hanrahan. An entertaining standalone novel that will follow a young human who was raised by the monsters and creatures of a fantasy dungeon, The Dungeon Book sounds like a very fun and inventive upcoming fantasy release and I’m very keen to get my hands on it.

The Killer’s Mark by M. W. Craven – 11 August 2026

One of modern crime fictions more distinctive voices, M. W. Craven, looks set to bring the chaos once more with his next novel The Killer’s Mark. Bringing back the excentric protagonists of the Washington Poe series, Craven will present another unique mystery with some outstanding twists. I’ve had a brilliant time with the last few books of this series, The Mercy Chair and The Final Vow, and I’m sure The Killer’s Mark is going to be another extremely fun murder mystery.

Upon the Forge of Battle by Anthony Ryan – 25 August 2026

The final book I want to highlight on this list is the awesome upcoming fantasy release, Upon the Forge of Battle by Anthony Ryan. The third and final book in Ryan’s Age of Wrath series (previous featuring A Tide of Black Steel and Born of an Iron Storm), Upon the Forge of Battle will see the series’ four embattled protagonists attempt to find their destinies as war, intrigue and betrayal overwhelms them. Based on how impressive the rest of this series has been, Upon the Forge of Battle is likely to be one of the top fantasy books of 2026 and is a very worthy final entry for this list.

Well, that is the end of my Top Ten list. I think it turned out pretty well and it does a good job of capturing all my most anticipated books for the next three months. There are some impressive books coming out in this part of 2026, and I cannot wait to read each of them soon. Let me know which of the above you are most excited for and stay tuned for reviews of them in the next few months. In the meantime, it looks like I have quite a bit of reading to do soon.

Book Haul – 31 May 2026 – Second-hand Books

On June 1, 2026 By The Unseen LibraryIn Book HaulLeave a comment

In addition to my two Book Haul posts about recently released international and Australian books I’ve gotten my hands on, I’m also going to do a Book Haul post about some awesome second-hand novels I’ve also found. This is because I recently did an excellent road trip where I visited several great second-hand bookstores. Of course, I managed to grab a ton of amazing and fun sound books while I was out these places, including one or two I’ve been hunting for a while. So let see what other older books I’m hoping to read soon.

The Daughter’s War by Christopher Buehlman

The first entry in this Book Haul post is the one I’m probably the most excited for with The Daughter’s War by Christopher Buelhman. The prequel to Buehlman’s awesome and gritty fantasy adventure The Blacktongue Thief, The Daughter’s War will provide the full history of one of the previous book’s more brutal and tragic protagonists, as she embarks on a war that has killed so many people before it. I loved The Blacktongue Thief and I’ve heard this prequel is even better, so I’m extremely excited to read it. I’m hoping to get to this one soon, especially before the sequel to The Blacktongue Thief comes out later this year.

Plugged by Eoin Colfer

I was also extremely happy to find a copy of Plugged by Eion Colfer. An adult thriller from Colfer, who is best known for his Artemis Fowl books, Plugged sounds like an entertaining and compelling read, full of gangs, murder and receding hairlines. I already know I’m going to love this book, and I was particularly happy that I found a copy of Plugged with Colfer’s signature, which is very, very cool.

Chasing Embers by James Bennett

I’ve been meaning to read the entertaining urban fantasy novel, Chasing Embers for a while, so I was glad to find a good copy of this awesome James Bennett book. Following the problems of an ancient dragon hiding out in human form in modern times, Chasing Embers has always really appealed to me, so I’m keen to finally check it out.

Beat the Reaper by Josh Bazell

A very cool and entertaining thriller about a former killer turned medical intern, who is forced to revisit his murderous ways during a hospital shift, Beat the Reaper sounds like a very awesome read with a great plot behind it.

Allison Hewitt is Trapped and Sadie Walker is Stranded by Madeline Roux

I managed to get both of Madeleine Roux’s zombie novels as a set, with Allison Hewitt is Trapped and Sadie Walker is Stranded. Intriguing and exciting horror books about normal people trying to survive the zombie apocalypse, these sound like fantastic reads, and I’ll probably try to get through them one after another.

The Butchers of Berlin by Chris Petit

An excellent historical crime fiction read set in wartime Berlin.

Seven Princes by John R. Fultz

An intriguing and epic fantasy novel that caught my eye the moment I saw it, Seven Princes looks set to deliver fantasy warfare and carnage, with an amazing story about revenge and justice.

The Empress Game by Rhonda Mason

The final second-hand book I want to highlight in this post is the awesome science fiction novel, The Empress Game by Rhonda Mason. An exciting and intense read set around a brutal tournament, The Empress Game has a ton of potential, and I’m expecting to have an incredible time with it.

Well, that’s the end of my Book Haul posts. As you can see, I’ve now got quite a lot to read, so I better get to it. Let me know what books you like the sound of the most in the comments below.

Book Haul – 31 May 2026 – Australian Fiction

On May 31, 2026 By The Unseen LibraryIn Book HaulLeave a comment

After highlighting some great international releases in my last Book Haul Post, I’m now going to dive into several new and upcoming books I’ve recently received, written by Australian authors. As fans of this blog will know, due to my location in Australia, I tend to receive a ton of awesome novels by my fellow countrymen, who are capable of writing some very impressive novels. 2026 in particular has been an epic year for Australian fiction, with some incredible and unique reads recently rocking up on my door. As such, I’m very keen to highlight the latest batch of impressive new Australian novels I’ve received, including some outstanding novels with a ton of potential.

Bad Neighbours by Joanna Jenkins

The first new Australian novel I recently received is the new Joanna Jenkins novel Bad Neighbours. Following on from her previous novels, How to Kill a Client and The Bluff, Bad Neighbours is another intriguing thriller with some interesting legal twists to it.

Stay Buried by Jane R. Miles

The next recently received book I want to highlight is the intense novel Stay Buried by Jane R. Miles. A dark thriller tied into a compelling and disastrous piece of Australian history, Stay Buried has a ton of potential and may be one of the more unique Australian novels of 2026.

Click by Sarah Bailey

Another intense crime fiction novel from one of Australia’s best authors, Click works as a loosely connected sequel to Bailey’s previous novel, The Housemate. Featuring another dark and complex mystery in Melbourne, Click sounds like an outstanding read and its one I’m keen to dive into.

The Lineup by Nicholas Timms

A fun new Australian debut, The Lineup by Nicholas Timms has a great story behind it, as a former surfer must return to the waves to uncover a deadly killer.

We Did It Anyway by Carla Salmon

Last year Australian author Carla Salmon had an amazing Australian debut with the young adult crime fiction novel, We Saw What You Started. Her next book, We Did It Anyway, will featuring another cool story, as several teens find a fortune in gold on an isolated island. An awesome new book from a great rising talent.

The Yacht by Kayte Nunn

I love the sound of the next book I recently got, The Yacht by Kayte Nunn. Set to feature a twisty tale of revenge and deceit on a fancy yacht filled with treacherous elites, this cool book sounds very intriguing and I look forward to diving into it.

LIT by Anna Woods

I’m slightly cheating with the next entry, LIT, as it’s a New Zealand novel rather than Australian (a major distinction, trust me). However, I think it fits nicely amongst these other Oceanic books, and I like the sound of LIT’s dark, psychological thriller plot.

Red Lake by Jason Summers

The final Australian book I want to highlight is the new novel from Jason Summers, Red Lake. Another excellent and intriguing rural crime fiction read, Red Lake has a ton of potential and it is a great book to finish this post on.

As you can see, I’ve got my hands full of fresh new Australian releases. All the above have some amazing and intriguing stories behind them, and I cannot wait to dive into them all. In the meantime, I’m about to highlight some cool secondhand books I also recently received in my third and final book post of the night.

Book Haul – 31 May 2026

On May 31, 2026 By The Unseen LibraryIn Book Haul2 Comments

It’s been a while since I’ve done a Book Haul post on this blog, and I think it’s time I remedied this, especially as I have been extremely lucky to receive an amazing number of books in recent weeks. Indeed, I’ve either received and managed to find and buy so many awesome novels and new releases, that I’m actually going to break this next Book Haul post into a few pieces. The first of which will cover some amazing and unique new and upcoming releases from an array of international talent.

Sisters of the Lizard by Jackson Ford

The first book I want to highlight in this post is the very cool fantasy novel, Sisters of the Lizard by Jackson Ford. The sequel to Ford’s 2025 novel, The Bone Raiders, Sisters of the Lizard will continue the chaos of the series, as a small group of independent raiders attempt to hold back a vengeful empire with their new giant, fire-breathing lizard mounts.

A Trade of Blood by Robert Jackson Bennett

I was extremely happy to receive a copy of A Trade of Blood by Robert Jackson Bennett. The epic follow-up to Bennett’s incredible fantasy murder mystery novels, The Tainted Cup and A Drop of Corruption, A Trade of Blood will present another unique and shocking crime in a fantasy realm constantly beset by giant monsters. Sure to be one of the cleverest and most compelling novels of 2026, A Trade of Blood has so much potential, and I cannot wait to read it.

Green City Wars by Adrian Tchaikovksy

I have had a pretty amazing time reading books from Adrian Tchaikovksy in 2026, but it looks like I’m only getting started as I just received a copy of his next entertaining novel, Green City Wars. An intriguing crime fiction read, where the protagonists are genetically engineered, sentient animals created to serve humanity, Green City Wars looks set to be one of the more unique releases of 2026, and I already know I’m going to love it.

Eight Tastes of Treachery by Ryan Rose

After falling in love with Ryan Rose’s debut novel, Seven Recipes for Revolution, last year, I’m excited for the author’s second outing with the awesome upcoming sequel, Eight Tastes of Treachery. Looking set to continue Rose’s cool story of revolution, magic and cookery, Eight Tastes of Treachery sounds like an outstanding novel, and I look forward to diving into it.

Duel of Beasts by Boyd and Beth Morrison

One of the more exciting novels I recently received is the next Tales of the Lawless Land entry, Duel of Beasts. The fourth historical fiction book from the duo of Beth and Boyd Morrison, Duel of Beasts throws the series’ protagonists into a deadly quest in medieval Spain, as they try to save a widowed noblewoman from a deadly conspiracy. Sure to be a compelling and intense read, Duel of Beasts is going to be a ton of fun, and I’ve deeply enjoyed the previous three books from these great authors.

The Dragon Has Some Complaints by John Wiswell

One of the more hilarious sounding novels I recently received is the very entertaining The Dragon Has Some Complaints by John Wiswell. Following an argumentative three-headed dragon with some major issues as it finds itself accidently befriending a human, The Dragon Has Some Complaints sounds like pure fun, and I cannot wait to check it out.

The Bone Docs by Matthew Scura

Another entertaining new novel I recently received is the very amusing The Bone Docs by Matthew Scura. A desert island thriller that sees a group of stranded dentists go to war with similarly shipwrecked chiropractors, The Bone Docs has some absurd potential, and I’m very keen to see how crazy it gets.

Star Trek: The Last Starship: Volume 1 by Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing

A very cool sounding new Star Trek comic, that will take an iconic character from The Original Series and set him to adventure in the far future.

The Damned by Matt Rogers

An intriguing spy thriller that sees a desperate protagonist trapped in the Columbian mountains being hunted by dangerous criminals

The Deep and the Drowned by Ian Green

Another recently acquired book that I am very excited to read is the epic upcoming fantasy novel, The Deep and the Drowned by Ian Green. Featuring a cool nautical narrative, set in a fantasy realm made up on thousands of chaotic islands, The Deep and the Drowned sounds so damn awesome and sure to be incredible. In addition, it also has one of the coolest covers of 2026, which can only indicate great things.

We Are For The Dark by Gretchen McNeil

An intriguing horror thriller from an author that I’ve had an outstanding time with in the past.

Drop Dead Famous by Jennifer Pearson

The final recently received book I want to highlight in this post is the cool young adult thriller, Drop Dead Famous by Jennifer Pearson. An intriguing crime fiction read set around the dark side of the music business, Drop Dead Famous sounds pretty amazing, and I’m very keen to read it.

Well, that’s the end of the first Book Haul post of the night. In my next post, I’m going to dive into some of the awesome new novels from Australian author’s I’ve recently received.