Category: Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday – While You Were Screaming by Shailee Thompson

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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 look at a fun upcoming thriller from a rising Australian author with While You Were Screaming by Shailee Thompson.

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Those familiar with my blog know that I’m a massive fan of weird and unique thrillers, especially those that take established genre elements and flip them on their head.  It’s thanks to this love of unusual books that I was lucky enough to read the fantastic 2026 debut, How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates by Shailee Thompson.  A hilarious novel that served as a combined parody of romance and slasher films, How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates was an extremely compelling read, and it ended up being one of my favourite debuts and Australian releases from the first half of 2026.

Based on how much I enjoyed How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates, I’ve been eager to see what Thompson would write next, which is why I discovered the focus for this week’s post, While You Were Screaming.

Set for release in February 2027, While You Were Screaming is another amazing sounding thriller that will a protagonist find love in all the wrong places.  This time combining the romance genre with a gritty thriller narrative involving murderous cults, While You Were Screaming has an awesome plot behind it, and I’m already curious to see how it’s fun, if deadly, narrative goes.  Sure to be one of the distinctive thrillers of 2027, I’m very eager to read While You Were Screaming and it should be an early entertaining read for me next year.

Plot Synopsis:

From the #1 bestselling author of How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates comes a swoony killer romance in which a sinister couples retreat results in cult chaos – for fans of Grady Hendrix and Brynne Weaver.

Filmmaker Laurie Hamilton knows a red flag when she sees one, and Kindred Souls sets off every alarm. The organisation claims to counsel couples for a steep price, but what’s their real deal? Is it a scam … or a cult?

On a hunch that might get her killed, Laurie heads undercover with Connor Kincaid – a dangerously handsome podcaster and the one man she swore she’d never see again. Posing as the perfect match, they infiltrate a Kindred Souls retreat run by Cardinal, the enigmatic leader whose eerie charisma and devoted followers suggest there’s far more going on than relationship counselling.

Once inside, there’s no leaving. Surrounded by couples desperate to prove they’re soulmates, Laurie and Connor quickly realise the retreat isn’t about finding love – it’s about deciding who deserves it.

When things go from creepy to deadly, Laurie must decide who she can trust. Getting out alive is one thing, but what if she starts to grow feelings for the man she’s pretending to love? Urgh.

Waiting on Wednesday – Termina Station by Nick Martell

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Fantasy, 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 my latest Waiting on Wednesday post, I look at a unique and compelling new fantasy novel coming out in 2027 with Termina Station by Nick Martell.

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There have been some very talented fantasy authors who have gotten their start in the 2020s, but one of these authors who really stood out to me was the incredible Nick Martell.  Debuting in 2020, Martell impressed me right off the bat with The Kingdom of Liars.  The first book in his Legacy of the Mercenary King trilogy, The Kingdom of Liars was an exceptional fantasy novel that saw a damaged protagonist attempt to restore his disgraced family and uncover a conspiracy impacting his city.  I had such a great time with The Kingdom of Liars and it ended up being one of my favourite books, audiobooks and debuts of 2020.  Martell continued this excellent writing throughout the entirety of the Legacy of the Mercenary King series, with the following books, The Two-Faced Queen and The Voyage of the Forgotten, each being incredible reads. Indeed, The Two-Faced Queen was one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2021, while The Voyage of the Forgotten was one of my favourite books of 2022.

After such a great opening trilogy, I made sure to keep an eye out for more books from Martell, and I was especially keen for some sort of sequel series that would follow some of the open storylines from the first series.  However, after a few years without any news from Martell and I was beginning to worry we might not see any more from him.  That changed earlier this week when by chance I found out that Martell had a new book coming out in 2027, Termina Station.

Termina Station, which is currently set for release in February 2027, is an intriguing new novel from Martell, which takes a protagonist on a unique sounding journey through life and death.  This new book has very compelling plot idea behind it, which should prove interesting to explore as it is a very different sort of fantasy adventure from Martell.

Plot Synopsis:

Joe Hill’sNOS4A2 meets Ray Bradbury’s Something Wicked This Way Comes in this captivating novel about a father trapped in Knowhere, a deadly border town between life and death, run by the sinister Mister Teeth.

When Roger falls asleep on the train after a long day at work, he’s shocked to learn he isn’t stuck at the end of the line. Instead, he emerges from the last stop to step out into the rainy gloom…in a place he’s never heard of: Knowhere, where monsters roam at night and the only way home is to travel through each of the five ringdoms to the very center. It is only there, at Termina Station, that he can take a train out of Knowhere and return to his wife and children.

But each ringdom has its own twisted logic, and the ticketmaster, Mister Teeth, isn’t keen on letting Roger out of Knowhere. With Mister Teeth’s son in tow, Roger hopes he has what it takes to puzzle his way out of each ringdom and face his demons in the process. But Mister Teeth is a powerful enemy, and he’ll do anything to stop his son from boarding the train at Termina Station.

Termina Station looks set to be a very curious and compelling new book, which is looks set to be very different from Martell’s previous epic-fantasy trilogy.  A standalone fantasy story about exploring a dark realm of death and mystery likely inspired by the protagonists’ own demons has a Stephen King-vibe to it (or Joe Hill as the above synopsis suggests), and I’ll be interested to see how Martell brings this about in Termina Station.  This will likely be a very personal, character-driven story, with the protagonist forced to overcome aspects of their past, and I’m curious to see how that ties into the more fantastic or horror-inspired aspects of the setting.  I’m also intrigued by the book’s villain, Mister Teeth, who has the potential to be a chilling and haunting figure, and I cannot wait to see them hunting the protagonist.  All this promises to be quite a cool story, and I know that Martell has the writing chops to really pull it together into something special.

If I’m being honest, the moment that I saw Nick Martell had a new book coming out, I knew I had to read it.  However, the above intriguing plot idea has also gotten me quite excited, and I am now very keen to read Termina Station.  Sure to be one of the more unique novels of early 2027, Termina Station is now very high on my to-read list for the new year, and I cannot wait to dive into it.

Waiting on Wednesday – Absolon Creed by R. S. Ford

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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 check out an awesome upcoming fantasy novel with Absolon Creed by R. S. Ford.

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I’m always in the mood for epic and dark fantasy reads and one of the more compelling sounding upcoming releases of 2026 is set to be released by R. S. Ford.  Ford is a veteran fantasy author who has previously written several intriguing series across the genres.  This includes his The Age of Uprising series (Engines of Empire), as well as some other excellent fantasy releases.  Readers may also be familiar with Ford’s contributions to the historical fiction genre under the alternate pen name of Richard Cullen, which includes his excellent Chronicles of the Black Lion series (Rebellion and Crusade).  I’ve had a great time with several of Ford’s previous novels; however, his next book has the potential to be his most exciting.

This new book is the fantastic sounding Absolon Creed, which is currently set for release in November 2026.  A grimdark fantasy novel with a compelling murder mystery centre, Absolon Creed sounds awesome, as it sets a monster-slaying knight on a quest to uncover a killer in city on the edge of ruin.  Everything about this novel, including its brutal setting, damaged protagonists and captivating plot, sounds incredible, and I have no doubt it is going to result in an outstanding read.  As such, I am extremely excited for Absolon Creed, and I have a feeling it is going to be a top fantasy novel of 2026.

Plot Synopsis:

A legendary soldier is the last line of defense between his city and monstrous chaos in this grimdark adventure from an unmissable voice in epic fantasy.

Bastion, the once-shining capital of Morrengard, teeters on the brink. Its grand spires are crumbling and its nobility fight over scraps, all while eldritch creatures stalk the streets. The only thing standing in the way of its utter destruction is the Order of Draken: a knightly order more brutal than the threats the city faces. And its most brutal champion… Absolon Creed.

When two nobles are found murdered in a manner most grotesque, suspicions arise about a traitor within the Order itself. Creed is tasked with investigating, and for his sins he is saddled with a partner: Guenivar Blackmere, a daughter of nobility and the Order’s newest, and most untested, initiate.

Together, they are plunged into Bastion’s fetid underbelly, where warlocks rub elbows with corrupt nobles and necromancers cavort with the dead. Guenivar must learn fast or perish under Creed’s cold tutelage. Her mentor is quick to anger, and about as friendly as a cornered wolf, but that is the only way to survive these unforgiving streets.

But as the investigation deepens, Guenivar discovers a secret about him that could shatter everything she believed about the order and its heroes. While Creed himself must defeat the ghosts he’s spent years trying to bury… before they bury Bastion itself.

Waiting on Wednesday – Choppy Water by Jack Heath

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Australian, Murder Mystery, 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.  In this week’s Waiting on Wednesday, I highlight an incredible and unique upcoming murder mystery from one of my favourite Australian authors with Choppy Water by Jack Heath.

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There are a lot of talented and entertaining Australian authors writing outstanding novels these days, but one of my favourites due to his consistently clever and entertaining reads is the wonderful Jack Heath. Hailing from my home city of Canberra, Heath has been entertaining Australian readers for years with his interesting combination of complex works.  I am a massive fan of his amazing crime fiction novels, which includes his spectacularly over-the-top international Hangman series (including Hideout and Headcase).

Heath has also written some brilliant and twisted murder mysteries that make great use of an Australian setting.  This includes the impactful and addictive, Kill Your Brother (one of my favourite Australian novels of 2021), the outrageous and memorable Kill Your Husbands (one of my favourite Australian books of 2023), and the very relatable Kill Your Boss (one of my favourite Australian novels of 2025).  All these fantastic Australian novels from Heath are both clever and quite fun, and I really enjoy some the unique scenarios that the author comes up with.  Due to this, I’m always keeping an eye out for Heath’s next intriguing read, and it looks like he will be delivering something special for crime fiction fans later this year.

This next book from Heath is the standalone novel, Choppy Water, which will take the readers on an entertaining ride, while also diving into the familiar chaos of the Covid period from a very different perspective.  Set for release in November 2026, Choppy Water has a great plot behind it that is going to make for an outstanding read.

Plot Synopsis:

Death on the Nile meets Die Hard in this new ‘locked room’ mystery by the King of Twists, Jack Heath.

A woman’s body is found in a laundry cart aboard the Silver Lady cruise ship. Management says it was a freak accident and her death is quickly covered up, so as not to spoil the voyage for the passengers.

Cesar Cain doesn’t want to get involved. He boarded the Silver Lady to disappear. If the cops find him, he’s in a cell. If the Hell’s Hounds catch him, he’s in a grave.

But it’s March 2020, and the borders are slamming shut. Cesar soon discovers that the woman wasn’t the first victim – and with the ship suddenly quarantined and unable to dock anywhere, she won’t be the last …

I love this fun sounding plot for Choppy Water, which looks to combine Heath’s love of unique scenarios with some homages to classic whodunnit storytelling.  A reluctant protagonist investigating a murder aboard a quarantined cruise ship has a lot of potential, and it’s going to be very interesting to see how this entire plot comes together.  Based on my previous experiences with Jack Heath and his very entertaining reads, I foresee that Choppy Water will end up being one of the top Australian books of 2026 and I cannot wait to check it out.

Waiting on Wednesday – Settle Down by Jeremy Robinson

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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 one of the more awesome sounding science fiction novels coming out in the second half of 2026 with Settle Down by Jeremy Robinson.

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2026 has proven to be a particularly impressive year for author Jeremy Robinson, whose unique and over-the-top science fiction novels always entertain with they great mixture of action, horror and intriguing science fiction elements.  I’ve already had an exceptional time with Robinson’s first 2026 release, 30Seven, which ended up being one of my favourite books and audiobooks from the first half of the year.  However, we still have so much more to get through, as not only do I still have to read the recently released novel Parallax, but Robinson also has the fantastic upcoming book Settle Down coming out.

Of the two, Settle Down has definitely caught my attention more, and it is one of my most anticipated releases coming out in the second half of 2026.  Set for release in late August 2026, Settle Down has an outstanding sounding plot idea behind it, which looks set to present a unique turn on a classic alien invasion story.

Plot Synopsis:

When Clayton survives a plane crash, he figures the worst is over―but he’s wrong―in this sci-fi genre mashup from the author of the Infinite Timeline series.

Stranded on a thirty-acre island with a handful of art students, a grieving widow, and a growing pile of corpses, Prof. Clayton Reed is forced into a role he never wanted: leader. Food is scarce. Water is scarcer. And trust? Practically extinct. When one of the survivors kills in self-defence, the fragile alliance fractures and a subset of the group flees in a dinghy to take its chances in shark-infested waters, leaving Clayton and six others behind.

But soon the night sky turns blue. Strange lights pulse across the horizon and strings of star-like objects pass by overhead. Something big is happening to the rest of the world, and the professor and his companions are sure it isn’t normal.

Rescued by a drifting luxury yacht loaded with food, weapons, and a fortune in cocaine, the survivors trade one nightmare for another. Earth is under attack, massive beams of light shooting down from space to the surface. As they sail toward home, not knowing whether it still exists, one thing becomes clear: Those looking at Earth with hungry eyes have noticed them . . .

New York Times–bestselling author Jeremy Robinson delivers a razor-sharp, character-driven survival thriller meets postapocalyptic alien invasion story that flips the genre upside down, inside out, and back again.

Wow, now that is a very awesome plot.  I have to admit at the start of 2026 I never imagined that one of my most anticipated upcoming reads would be a science fiction thriller following plane-crash survivors on a desert island who are forced to contend with an alien invasion, although I should have known that Robinson would have come up with something this fantastically crazy.  This entire book sounds so damn good, and Settle Down is exactly the sort of over-the-top read that I know I love on so many levels.  I am excited to see how this excellent narrative unfolds, and you have to imagine it’s going to feature a lot of deaths, moving character interactions, and so many moments of insane action and intense science fiction horror.

Based on how much I have enjoyed some of Jeremy Robinson’s previous wacky adventure novels (such as The Dark, Mind Bullet, Artifact and Point Nemo), I already know that Settle Down is going to be an exceptional and highly addictive read, and I am so excited to check it out.  While I was likely to read Settle Down based on my fandom of Robinson, the above synopsis is one of the most intriguing novel plots I have ever seen, and I love every single part of it.  I have no doubt that this will be a true highlight of the second half of 2026, and I fully intend to listen to Settle Down on audiobook, especially with one of my favourite narrators, R. C. Bray, bringing all the insanity to life.

Waiting on Wednesday – Shot by Shelley Burr

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

Waiting on Wednesday – The Sword of Rome by Simon Scarrow

On 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.

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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 25th 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 25th 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.

Waiting on Wednesday – Serenity Falls by C. J. Tudor

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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.  This week I’m doing several Waiting on Wednesday posts, and the final upcoming book I want to highlight is the excellent and sure-to-be spooky thriller, Serenity Falls by C. J. Tudor

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C. J. Tudor is a talented and highly inventive author who has been releasing some intriguing reads over the last couple of years. Starting with her 2018 debut, The Chalk Man, Tudor has consistently produced some compelling books with clever horror or psychological thriller elements. Her other books include The Hiding Place (also titled The Taking of Annie Thorne), The Other People, The Burning Girls and The Drift.

I personally became a fan of Tudor when I read her latest book, The Gathering, an intriguing murder mystery with a great vampiric twist behind it.  The Gathering proved to be quite an exceptional read, and it ended up being one of my favourite books of 2024.  After this great first experience from Tudor, I am extremely keen to read from her, and it looks like I’m going to get the chance later this year.  That’s because Tudor’s next novel Serenity Falls, is coming out in September 2026.

Set to feature a unique horror plot, Serenity Falls will follow a small family who travel to the titular town in the United States.  Unsurprisingly, Serenity Falls is far from the safe and happy town everyone believes it to be, and it looks like Tudor has come up with a compelling and freaky array discoveries to push her protagonists over the edge.  I’m personally very curious to see where this unique story goes, and I have a feeling that Tudor has cooked up something quite disturbing and addictive in this upcoming novel.  As such, I have very high hopes for Serenity Falls, and I have a feeling it is going to be one of the very best books of 2026.

Plot Synopsis:

Welcome to Serenity Falls – the most idyllic, and safest, town in the US – a place to grow up, grow your family and grow old together. For Dan and his daughter, Sadie, it’s the perfect relocation option. A fresh start, thousands of miles from their troubled past in the UK.

But their idyll is shattered when they find a dead body in the swimming pool of their new house – a house Dan’s late mother kept secret from him all his life.

It’s just the start of a series of disturbing discoveries. Abandoned houses where people have seemingly just upped and left. The strange woman Sadie sees around town putting up ‘missing’ posters for a child who drowned almost thirty years ago. An ice cream van that drives around at night making sure residents are asleep…

As plans gear up to celebrate Serenity Falls’ fiftieth anniversary, something is stirring beneath the surface of the blissful façade. Is Serenity Falls really the perfect town or is it founded on something far darker? And is someone so desperate to keep its secrets that they’d resort to anything to preserve them?

Welcome to Serenity Falls.
Once you’re here, you’re here to stay.

Waiting on Wednesday – Scion by James Islington

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Science Fiction, Thriller, 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.  This week I’m doing several different Waiting on Wednesday posts, including my first one for Upon the Forge of Battle by Anthony Ryan.  I’m following up this fun fantasy adventure with a cool science fiction thriller from a rising Australian author, with Scion by James Islington.

Amazon

Few fantasy writers are as beloved right now as Australia’s James Islington.  A talented author with the ability to create truly elaborate worlds, Islington has gained a big following in recent years thanks to his exceptional Hierarchy series.  An intricate and complex series, the Hierarchy books follow a damaged protagonist as he attempts to overcome dark conspiracies and ancient magical threats across a multiverse.  This series started with The Will of the Many, where it introduced Vis Telimus, a fugitive prince who finds himself enrolled in an academy for the children of the elite members of the nation that conquered his homeland.  The resulting narrative saw Vis to deal with elaborate ancient puzzles, the unique magic of his world, unlikely friendships, deadly rebels, and all his hidden secrets potentially becoming uncovered. I had such an amazing time reading The Will of the Many that it got a very easy five-star rating from me, and it ended up topping several of my end-of-year lists for 2023, including my favourite book, audiobook, new-to-me author and Australian fiction lists.

Naturally after enjoying such an awesome read from Islington, I eagerly picked up the sequel last year as soon as I could with The Strength of the Few.  A fantastic and ambitious read that cleverly followed three separate versions of the protagonist who were replicated and transported to alternate mirror worlds.  This complex new take on the story was very impressive, with each version of Vis encountering tragedy, adversity and friendship as they attempted to survive.  An outstanding second entry, The Strength of the Few was one of my favourite books, audiobooks, sequels and Australian Fiction releases of 2025, and I cannot recommend it enough.

After having so much fun with these amazing books, I’m honestly very keen to read more from Islington, and while the third Hierarchy novel is probably a little way off, fans are still getting a new story from this awesome author in 2026 with Scion.  An action-packed science fiction thriller, Scion follows a futuristic contract killer who gets into all manner of trouble when she decides to take on a job protecting someone.  Set for release in September 2026, Scion sounds like an interesting change of pace from Islington, and it’s caught my attention.

Plot Synopsis:

Scion is a gripping sci-fi thriller in which a contract killer assigned to protect a scientist from assassination finds himself in the crosshairs.

My name’s Azure. I kill rich idiots for a living. All completely legal, of course, even if it does still make the old-fashioned crowd a bit uncomfortable. Once the ultra-wealthy realised they had a way to live forever—limited resources be damned—there was only ever going to be one real deterrent.

In the end, it’s like a lot of people’s jobs. I have to deal with a ton of boring planning. Inconvenient hours. Some awkward face-to-face interactions. And, like most of us, I’m only clocking on to crawl out from beneath my debts. It can be dirty work sometimes, sure, but someone’s got to do it.

Luckily, my genetic enhancements make me really, really good at it.

This next job, though…strange, that it got thrown my way. I haven’t had to protect a client in years.

Still, what could go wrong?

This new book from James Islington sounds pretty damn awesome, and I’m already very keen to check out Scion later this year.  An exciting and unique science fiction thriller in the hands of the uber talented Islington sounds like an absolute treat, and I have no doubt at all that this will be a very cool and addictive read.  As such, Scion is now one of my most anticipated releases for the second half of 2026, and I cannot wait to get my hands on it.