Category: Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday – The Fury of the Gods by John Gwynne

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Fantasy, Waiting on Wednesday10 Comments

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.  I run this segment in conjunction with the Can’t-Wait Wednesday meme that is currently running at Wishful Endings.  Stay tuned to see reviews of these books when I get a copy of them.  In this latest Waiting on Wednesday, I highlight one of the most anticipated books of 2024 with The Fury of the Gods by John Gwynne.

John Gwynne is an exceptional fantasy author who rose to prominence back in 2012 when he debuted his Faithful and the Fallen series.  Made up of four complex novels, the Faithful and the Fallen series is very highly regarded and featured a compelling dark fantasy storyline.  Gwynne followed this series up with his Blood and Bone trilogy, which served as a sequel series to the original Faithful and Fallen books.  While I really need to dive in Gwynne’s earlier books, I am a pretty massive fan of his, mainly because of his current books, the Bloodsworn trilogy.

The Fury of the Gods Cover

Amazon

Set in a compelling dark fantasy world with great Viking aesthetics, the Bloodsworn trilogy follows several complex and damaged protagonists as they try to navigate a world still bearing the scars from the final war of the gods.  The first book in this series, The Shadow of the Gods, was an outstanding read that I mainly picked up due to the epic cover on it.  Luckily Gwynne had an excellent story to match, and I was quickly enthralled by the impressive overarching storylines it contained, especially as it blended a dark revenge mission with a search for self-discovery and a quest for lost treasure.  The Shadow of the Gods ended up being one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2021 and I had such a great time with it.  Gwynne continued the magic in 2022 with the outstanding sequel, The Hunger of the Gods.  Also featuring an excellent cover, The Hunger of the Gods (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2022) expertly followed on from the first Bloodsworn novel, expanding out the existing character arcs while also adding in two fantastic additional perspective protagonists.  I really enjoyed how Gwynne continued his epic story and The Hunger of the Gods ended on a pretty big cliffhanger.

As such, I have been eagerly awaiting the third and final book in the trilogy, and it looks like we don’t have that much longer to wait.  That is because the third book, The Fury of the Gods, is currently set for release in October 2024, and I couldn’t be more excited for it.  The cover and plot synopsis for The Fury of the Gods was just released, and boy does it sound extremely epic.

Plot Synopsis:

The Fury of the Gods is the earth-shattering final book in John Gwynne’s bestselling Norse-inspired epic fantasy series, packed with myth, magic and bloody vengeance.


The final battle for the fate of Vigrid approaches…

Varg has overcome the trials of his past and become an accepted member of the Bloodsworn, but now he and his newfound comrades face their biggest challenge yet: slaying a dragon.

Elvar is struggling to consolidate her power in Snakavik, where she faces threats from without and within. As she fights to assert her authority in readiness for the coming conflict, she faces a surely insurmountable task: reigning in the ferocity of a wolf god.

As Biórr and his warband make their way north, eager for blood, Guðvarr pursues a mission of his own, hoping to win Lik-Rifa’s favor and further his own ambitions.

All paths lead to Snakavik, where the lines are being drawn for the final battle—a titanic clash that will shake the foundations of the world and bear witness to the true fury of the gods.  

I am very excited after reading the above plot summary above as it looks like Gwynne is going to end this series with a bang.  Each of the character arcs mentioned are already quite interesting and I am looking forward to seeing how Gwynne brings them together in this final book.  I do note that one of the protagonists from the previous two books has been purposely excluded from the plot synopsis and I am eager to see what her fate was after the thrilling conclusion to the last book.  No matter what happens to the protagonists, you have to know that the book is going to end with the heroes facing off against the dragon god antagonist, and it will be fascinating to see what other gods and monsters emerge for this final battle.  The reveal in the cover of the gigantic snake god is pretty telling about how events are likely to unfold, and I am looking forward to seeing all the resulting carnage and devastation.

Honestly, after how much I have enjoyed the first two books in the series, there is nothing that is going to keep me from The Fury of the Gods later this year.  I really cannot wait to see how Gwynne brings everything together and I have very little doubt that this is going to be one of my absolute favourite fantasy novels of 2024.  I really do need to highlight the awesome new cove again, as it is so damn cool, and I have even featured an extended version of it that was also released during the cover reveal (as seen in Novel Notations).  If The Fury of the Gods is even half as epic as its cover, then we are in for a very, very good time.

The Fury of the Gods Expanded Cover

Waiting on Wednesday – Days of Shattered Faith by Adrian Tchaikovsky

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Fantasy, Waiting on Wednesday10 Comments

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.  I run this segment in conjunction with the Can’t-Wait Wednesday meme that is currently running at Wishful Endings.  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 from one of the most inventive authors of the day with Days of Shattered Faith by Adrian Tchaikovsky.

Days of Shattered Faith Cover

So, people might remember that a couple of months ago, I highlighted three books coming out in 2023 from acclaimed science fiction and fantasy author Adrian Tchaikovsky, including Alien Clay, Service Model and Saturation Point.  All three of these novels are still set for release this year, with the first, Alien Clay coming out a couple of days ago (I need to find a copy).  However, despite this incredible effort from Tchaikovsky (I can’t think of many authors who can produce three unique books in a year), he’s apparently still not done.  I just found out that somehow, Tchaikovsky has a fourth book coming out in 2024, and this additional novel, Days of Shattered Faith, is probably the one I am most excited for.

Days of Shattered Faith will be the third book in Tchaikovsky’s The Tyrant Philosophers fantasy series.  This series has so far featured two outstanding books, City of Last Chances and House of Open Wounds, both of which were amongst my favourite books of 2023 (with City of Last Chances being one of the best audiobooks of 2023).  Set in a world of magic, gods and demons, The Tyrant Philosophers books follow the chaotic struggles that occur amongst unique people, often in a comedic and cynical manner.

While there are some overlapping characters, the first two books are mostly independent of each other, except for the fact that they examine the dark impact of the Palleseen, a growing empire of fanatics who believe in perfection and correctness, primarily through the violent suppression of superstition, beliefs, and faith.  The first book showcased the oppression of the Palleseen in a conquered magical city, while House of Open Wounds followed members of a Palleseen army medical unit who utilise forbidden medical techniques that the Palleseen sought to exploit for their military.  Both City of Last Chances and House of Open Wounds had incredible stories expertly centred around complex and damaged characters, and I loved the outstanding mixture of personalities, compelling fantasy elements and dark humour that Tchaikovsky utilised.  Due to how epic these first two books were, I have been eagerly waiting for a third book and thankfully Tchaikovsky seems very willing to oblige with the upcoming novel Days of Shattered Faith.

Days of Shattered Faith is currently set for release in December 2024, and looks to be a loose sequel to the first two books.  Once again following the impact of the Palleseen, Tchaikovsky has come up with an awesome new story that I really love the sound of.

Plot Synopsis:

Welcome to Alkhalend, Jewel of the Waters, capital of Usmai, greatest of the Successor States, inheritor to the necromantic dominion that was the Moeribandi Empire and tomorrow’s frontline in the Palleseen’s relentless march to bring Perfection and Correctness to an imperfect world.

Loret is fresh off the boat, and just in time.

As Cohort-Invigilator of Correct Appreciation, Outreach department, she’s here as aide to the Palleseen Resident, Sage-Invigilator Angilly. And Sage-Invigilator Angilly – Gil to her friends – needs a second in the spectacularly illegal, culturally offensive and diplomatically inadvisable duel she must fight at midnight.

Outreach, that part of the Pal machine that has to work within the imperfection of the rest of the world, has a lot of room for the illegal, the unconventional, the unorthodox. But just how much unorthodoxy can Gil and Loret get away with?

As a succession crisis looms, as a long-forgotten feat of necromantic engineering nears fruition, as pirate kings, lizard armies and demons gather, as old gods wane and new gods wax, sooner or later Gil and Loret will have to settle their ledger.

Just as well they are both very, very good with a blade…

I’m already so very, very keen for this book, especially as Tchaikovsky has something very special on his hands here.  A chaotic city, two intriguing new protagonists, and a whole range of over-the-top circumstances are the ideal formula for an epic Tchaikovsky novel, and it looks like Days of Shattered Faith is going to have that in spades, as well as pirates and lizardmen.

I’m particularly keen to see what fantastic and complex story Tchaikovsky weaves around his protagonists, especially as the two Palleseen are out in the world that they are supposed to despise.  I love the idea of watching these two characters push the envelope of their beliefs to achieve their goals, and the inbuilt cynicism, hypocrisy and self-loathing that will surround this is bound to be excellent.  Tchaikovsky has pulled together some amazing stories around the Palleseen already, and frankly they are such a great villainous faction, especially as many of them only pretend to ascribe to the beliefs they kill for.  Seeing two of these Palleseen protagonists on the very edge and dealing with all manner of trouble is going to be extremely compelling, and I look forward to seeing how they interact with all the unique figures of this new city.  I’m also keen to see if we get any returning characters from the first two books, as there are some great storylines that can be continued, and I am sure that Tchaikovsky will do a wonderful job bringing them all together.

Look, after loving Tchaikovsky’s previous two novels, as well as his Warhammer 40,000 novel Day of Ascension and the novella Ogres, there is no way I am not grabbing Days of Shattered Faith when it comes out.  This series has been so damn epic already, and the above synopsis promises more fun, unique occurrences and complex humour.  I have very little doubt that Days of Shattered Faith is going to be one of my favourite books of 2024 and I cannot wait to get my hands on it.

Waiting on Wednesday – A Darkness Returns by Raymond E. Feist

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Fantasy, Waiting on Wednesday7 Comments

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.  I run this segment in conjunction with the Can’t-Wait Wednesday meme that is currently running at Wishful Endings.  Stay tuned to see reviews of these books when I get a copy of them.  In this week’s Waiting on Wednesday, I check out the next intriguing upcoming books from legendary fantasy author Raymond E. Feist, with A Darkness Returns, the first book in The Dragonwar Saga.

A Darkness Returns Cover

Amazon

Few fantasy authors have had the impact Raymond E. Feist has had over the years.  Best known for his epic Riftwar Cycle that spanned an impressive 30 books, Feist has been dominating the fantasy genre since his 1982 debut, Magician.  I have been a massive fan of Feist and the Riftwar Cycle for years, and indeed one of the first major fantasy novels I read was the 2002 entry, Talon of the Silver Hawk.  I have had a wonderful time reading every book in this series, especially the Empire trilogy which Feist co-wrote with Janny Wurts in the same universe, and I really enjoy the elaborate narratives of magic, dragons, political intrigue, and multi-dimensional threats, that was such a huge feature of the entire interconnected series.

A few years ago, I also was also lucky enough to get my hands on the various books in Feist’s new The Firemane Saga.  An awesome trilogy of compelling, character-driven fantasy reads, The Firemane Saga was Feist’s first series set outside of the Riftwar Cycle.  I deeply enjoyed the amazing narrative of the Firemane Saga books, made up of King of Ashes, Queen of Storms, and Master of Furies, which followed some impressive storylines and character arcs, while also telling a classic fantasy adventure.  My appreciation for this series only increased when it was revealed in Master of Furies that The Firemane Saga was set in was set in the same multiverse as the Riftwar books, with several key characters from Feist’s original works making an appearance.  In hindsight this shouldn’t have been too much of a surprise, especially as Feist has been including alternate worlds and universes in his books since day one, and I felt it gave the Firemane books a bit more impact.  Master of Furies, ended on an intriguing note, with several of the protagonists of the Firemane books travelling to the main world of the Riftwar books, Midkemia, to prepare themselves for a great evil that has infected their world.

Due to this fantastic conclusion, I have been waiting since 2022 to see how Feist was going to continue the Firemane Saga’s story, and it doesn’t look like we have too much longer to wait.  That is because in August this year, Feist is releasing his new book A Darkness Returns.  The first book in a new series, the Dragonwar Saga, A Darkness Returns promises to be quite an impressive read and I love the intriguing storylines that are apparently going to be included.

Plot Synopsis:

From legendary author Raymond E. Feist, the first installment in an epic new series that will join his acclaimed Firemane Saga with his signature Riftwar Cycle in a riveting, conclusive adventure.

As worlds collide . . .

Hatushaly, last scion of the Firemane dynasty; his beloved Hava, and their dubious friend Donte have been transported across space and time from their war-torn world of Garn to the relative peace of Midkemia.

There, on Sorcerer’s Isle, under the guidance of the great magician Magnus and his reincarnated father Pug, Hatu will explore and expand his unique magical abilities: for if Garn is to be saved, they will be needed.

With the evil Pride Lords defeated, the Church of the One has risen to bring death and destruction to Hatu’s home world. The kingdom of Ilcomen has fallen, and now the Church is sending forces to Marquensas, where Daylon Dumarch has declared himself king, and master swordsmith Declan Smith finds himself suddenly raised to the status of prince and war commander.

But there are even greater menaces than the Church of the One waiting in the wings, beings from the Void, creatures born of Darkness. . . 

I love the sound of this epic plot, especially as A Darkness Returns will more effectively bring together the two separate series and feature storylines in both universes.  This will include one storyline focusing on intriguing characters Hatushaly, Hava and Donte, interacting and learning from Feist’s established protagonists on his original fantasy world of Midkemia.  At the same time, another key storyline will be set in the world of The Firemane Saga, Garn, and follow other major protagonist Declan Smith, as he attempts to save his people from an insidious invasion.

Both storylines sound awesome in their own way, as we are kind of getting the best of both worlds here.  I know I will deeply enjoy seeing The Firemane Saga protagonists interacting with Magnus and Pug, and it will frankly be great to see the major Riftwar characters be the focus of a book again.  At the same time, the storyline set back in Garn sounds awesome as well.  The storyline surrounding the insidious Church of the One has been bubbling since the very first book and Declan Smith has been one of my favourite protagonists during the first three books.  It will be interesting to see how that storyline develops, and I cannot wait to see what happens to Declan next.

Honestly, I am too much of a Raymond E. Feist fan not to grab A Darkness Returns when it came out this year and I have very little doubt that I am going to have an amazing time with this novel.  It is going to be so cool to see how Feist brings these two intriguing universes together, and I cannot wait to find out what happens to all these well-established characters.  This will probably end up being one of my favourite fantasy novels of the year, and I cannot wait to get my hands on A Darkness Returns.

Waiting on Wednesday – The Waiting by Michael Connelly

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Murder Mystery, Waiting on Wednesday10 Comments

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.  I run this segment in conjunction with the Can’t-Wait Wednesday meme that is currently running at Wishful Endings.  Stay tuned to see reviews of these books when I get a copy of them.  For this latest Waiting on Wednesday, I check out one of my most anticipated crime fiction reads of 2024 with The Waiting by Michael Connelly.

The Waiting Cover

Amazon

Over the last few years, I have become a pretty major fan of acclaimed crime fiction author Michael Connelly, whose books usually end up being amongst my favourite reads each year.  Known for his ability to create iconic characters and elaborate narratives across the crime fiction subgenres, Connelly dominated the genre for decades, for a very good reason.  I have had a wonderful time with some of his most recent books including, the Jack McEvoy novel Fair Warning (one of my favourite books of 2020) and the Mickey Haller books, The Law of Innocence and Resurrection Walk (one of my favourite books of 2023).  However, some of his best recent work has been centred around his key female protagonist, Renée Ballard.

A tough, intelligent detective in the LAPD introduced in the 2017 novel, The Late Show, Ballard has been featured in several books which combine intriguing cases with a powerful focus on the protagonist’s battles with sexism and opposition from the LAPD top brass.  Her more recent novels have seen Ballard team up with Connelly’s iconic protagonist, Harry Bosch, and the two prove to be an intriguing pair, especially in excellent books like Dark Sacred Night, The Night Fire (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2019), The Dark Hours (one of my favourite books of 2021) and Desert Star (one of my favourite books of 2022).  Each of these Ballard focused novels have been pretty exceptional, and I have been excited to see what was next for this compelling protagonist in the future.  Luckily, we will be getting another addition to this series in November 2024 when Connelly releases his new book, The Waiting.

Set to primarily follow Ballard as she continues her work in the LAPD’s Open-Unsolved Unit, The Waiting has an intriguing plot behind it as the protagonist investigates several compelling cases.  It also features a double hit of Bosch, as Conelly features both Harry and his daughter Maddie in this cool book.  I’m actually really looking forward to seeing Maddie Bosch as the focus of one of Conelly’s novels, especially considering how she is featured in the Bosch: Legacy television series.

All three cases highlighted below in the plot synopsis sound very exciting, and I look forward to getting an elaborate cold case investigation, which should make for some great reading when combined with the present-day issues.  Throw in the unique partnership between Ballard and Harry Bosch, as well as the mentor role Ballard will form with Maddie, and this should be a pretty powerful and character-focused book.  I have no doubt that I am going to absolutely love The Waiting when it comes out, and this will probably be one of my favourite novels of the year.  An exceptional sounding upcoming book from one of the very best crime fiction authors!

Plot Synopsis:

LAPD Detective Renée Ballard tracks a terrifying serial rapist whose trail has gone cold, with the help of the newest volunteer to the Open-Unsolved Unit: Patrol Officer Maddie Bosch, Harry’s daughter.

Renée Ballard and the LAPD’s Open-Unsolved Unit get a hot shot DNA connection between a recently arrested man and a serial rapist and murderer who went quiet twenty years ago. The arrested man is only twenty-three, so the genetic link must be familial. It is his father who was the Pillowcase Rapist, responsible for a five-year reign of terror in the city of angels. But when Ballard and her team move in on their suspect, they encounter a baffling web of secrets and legal hurdles.

Meanwhile, Ballard’s badge, gun, and ID are stolen—a theft she can’t report without giving her enemies in the department the ammunition they need to end her career as a detective. She works the burglary alone, but her solo mission leads her into greater danger than she anticipates. She has no choice but to go outside the department for help, and that leads her to the door of Harry Bosch.

Finally, Ballard takes on a new volunteer to the cold case unit. Bosch’s daughter Maddie wants to supplement her work as a patrol officer on the night beat by investigating cases with Ballard. But Renée soon learns that Maddie has an ulterior motive for getting access to the city’s library of lost souls.

Waiting on Wednesday – Nero by Conn Iggulden

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Historical Fiction, Waiting on Wednesday6 Comments

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.  I run this segment in conjunction with the Can’t-Wait Wednesday meme that is currently running at Wishful Endings.  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 outstanding upcoming historical fiction novel from one of the genre’s best authors with, Nero by Conn Iggulden.

Nero Cover

Amazon

There are some great historical fiction novels coming out in 2024, although one of the more intriguing ones that has caught my eye is the new upcoming release from Conn Iggulden.  Iggulden is one of the better-known authors of the historical fiction genre, having writen several key series throughout his impressive career.  Starting out with his Emperor series that perfectly captured the life of Julius Caesar, Iggulden has covered an awesome range of different historical periods through his key series, including his Conqueror and War of the Roses books.  I have had a wonderful time reading several of these over the years, including the amazing standalone novel, The Falcon of Sparta, and his outstanding Athenian novels, The Gate of Athens and Protector.  I am always intrigued to see what Iggulden is going to write next, and it looks like the author is going back to his Roman fiction roots with his next book.

This upcoming novel which is set for release in May 2024 is Nero, the first book in a trilogy that will follow the life of the infamous titular Emperor.  I love the idea of a trilogy that provides a deep examination of this compelling historical figure, especially as most pieces of historical fiction tend to frame him solely as a monster.  By basing a whole trilogy on Nero, it appears that Iggulden will provide a more nuanced portrayal of this notorious Emperor, and I look forward to seeing a whole different perspective to his life.  This first book in the trilogy seems particularly intriguing, especially as Iggulden will look at the very early life of the character, and the machinations of his mother Agrippina.

I am honestly very excited for Nero, and I think it has a lot of potential.  Not only does the plot sound extremely interesting, but Iggulden has such a great track record for bringing complex historical figures to life in his books.  As such, I have high confidence that Nero will prove to be an awesome and epic read, and I cannot wait to see what unique spin Iggulden places on the life story of Rome’s most infamous Emperor.

Plot Synopsis:

 TYRANTS AREN’T BORN. THEY’RE RAISED.

 

ANCIENT ROME, AD 37

It begins with a man’s hand curled around another’s throat.

Emperor Tiberius first dispatches a traitor.

Then his whole family.

Next all his friends. It is as if he never existed.

THIS IS ROMAN JUSTICE.

Into this fevered forum, a child is born.

His mother is Agrippina, granddaughter of Emperor Augustus. But their imperial blood is no protection. The closer you are to the heart of the empire, the closer you are to power, intrigue, and danger.

She faces soldiers, senators, rivals, silver-tongued pretenders, each vying for position. One mistake risks exile, incarceration, execution. Or, worst of all, the loss of her infant son.

For Agrippina knows that opportunity waits, even in your darkest moments. Her son is everything. She can make this boy, shape him into Rome itself – the one all must kneel before.

BUT FIRST, THEY MUST SURVIVE . . .

Also, a quick shoutout to that line on the cover “Rome wasn’t burned in a day….”.  That was genius, and I love it so much.

Waiting on Wednesday – The Sky on Fire by Jenn Lyons

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Fantasy, Waiting on Wednesday5 Comments

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.  I run this segment in conjunction with the Can’t-Wait Wednesday meme that is currently running at Wishful Endings.  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 an awesome upcoming fantasy novel that I am very excited to read, with The Sky on Fire by Jenn Lyons.

The Sky on Fire Cover

Amazon

There are so many cool fantasy novels coming out in 2024 but one that has really caught my attention is The Sky on Fire by Jenn Lyons.  Lyons is an impressive author, whose work I have been meaning to get into for years.  I actually have copies of her entire A Chorus of Dragons series on my bookshelf at the moment, and I am hoping to get the chance to read it soon.  However, before I get to that I will probably end up reading the upcoming The Sky on Fire first, mainly because it sounds so damn cool.

The Sky on Fire, which is set for release in July 2024, is a standalone epic fantasy novel, that I really love the sound of.  Set in a world where humans ride dragons (always a good start), The Sky on Fire will follow a young runaway and loner, who is coerced into attempting a deadly heist in a dragon-ruled city on the clouds.  I am a big fan of both dragon novels and heist novels, and combining the two together seems to be a pretty sure way to create an epic read.  Throw in a group of fun characters, a dragon-based society and a protagonist with a past, and The Sky on Fire has the potential to be one of the top fantasy novels of 2024.

Plot Synopsis:

Enter a world ruled by dragons…

The Sky on Fire is a daring new fantasy heist adventure that will thrill fans of Temeraire, Fourth Wing, and Dragonriders of Pern

Anahrod lives only for survival, forging her own way through the harsh jungles of the Deep with her titan drake by her side. Even when an adventuring party saves her from capture by a local warlord, she is eager to return to her solitary life.

But this is no ordinary rescue. It’s Anahrod’s past catching up with her. These cunning misfits―and their frustratingly appealing dragonrider ringleader―intend to spirit her away to the dragon-ruled sky cities, where they need her help to steal from a dragon’s hoard.

There’s only one problem: the hoard in question belongs to the current regent, Neveranimas―and she wants Anahrod dead.

From Jenn Lyons, the acclaimed author of the Chorus of Dragons series, this soaring standalone fantasy combines conniving dragons, lightning banter, high-stakes intrigue, and a little bit of heat.

Waiting on Wednesday – We Solve Murders by Richard Osman

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Murder Mystery, Waiting on Wednesday8 Comments

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.  I run this segment in conjunction with the Can’t-Wait Wednesday meme that is currently running at Wishful Endings.  Stay tuned to see reviews of these books when I get a copy of them.  In this latest Waiting on Wednesday, I look at one of my most anticipated reads for the second half of 2024, with the outstanding murder mystery novel, We Solve Murders by Richard Osman.

We Solve Murders Cover

Amazon

Since his debut in 2020, comedian and British television personality Richard Osman has been on an incredible roll with his crime fiction career, producing four exceptional murder mystery novels as part of his Thursday Murder Club series.  Following four complex pensioners who solve murders out of their retirement village, the Thursday Murder Club books are something very special, as they combine clever mysteries with great characters, amazing humour, and unique situations.  I have so much love for the Thursday Murder Club series and each of the books, including The Thursday Murder Club (one of my favourite books, debuts and audiobooks of 2020), The Man Who Died Twice (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2021), The Bullet That Missed (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2022) and The Last Devil to Die (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2023), have gotten full five-star ratings from me.

Due to how exceptional Osman’s first four books are, I have been keeping a close eye out for his next novel, and it looks like we have another interesting release on the horizon.  Osman appears to be putting the Thursday Murder Club series on hold for the moment as his next novel will focus on two new characters, with We Solve Murders.  Set for release in September 2024, We Solve Murders will introduce a father/daughter crime solving duo as they take on an intense and compelling new case.

Plot Synopsis:

A brand new series. An iconic new detective duo. And a puzzling new murder to solve…

Steve Wheeler is enjoying retired life. He does the odd bit of investigation work, but he prefers his familiar habits and routines: the pub quiz, his favorite bench, his cat waiting for him when he comes home. His days of adventure are over: adrenaline is daughter-in-law Amy’s business now.

Amy Wheeler thinks adrenaline is good for the soul. As a private security officer, she doesn’t stay still long enough for habits or routines. She’s currently on a remote island keeping world-famous author Rosie D’Antonio alive. Which was meant to be an easy job…

Then a dead body, a bag of money, and a killer with their sights on Amy have her sending an SOS to the only person she trusts. A breakneck race around the world begins, but can Amy and Steve stay one step ahead of a lethal enemy?

There is a lot here that I am very excited for when it comes to this upcoming book.  I love that we are getting a new novel from Osman later this year and while I would have really enjoyed another Thursday Murder Club novel, it is probably good to let that series breath for a little while, especially after the emotionally charged fourth book.  As such, I am looking forward to seeing how Osman goes with a new series, and We Solve Murders certainly has a lot of potential.  Not only does it have a cool story behind it, but the two main characters also sound very intriguing.  I can’t wait to see Osman’s take on a father/daughter relationship, especially when both are detectives.  At the same time, the author maintains the generational divides and retiree protagonist that made the Thursday Murder Club books such a joy to read.  Throw in Osman’s subtle humour and ability to craft together likeable protagonists and intricate mysteries and We Solve Murders has a lot of potential.

Look, at this point I am automatically going to read anything that Osman writes, especially after how exceptional his first four novels have been.  However, I am quite intrigued about his new upcoming book, We Solve Murders, and this is easily one of the books I most looking forward to later this year.  I cannot wait to see how this new series unfolds and I have very high hopes that We Solve Murders will be just as good as the amazing Thursday Murder Club series.

Waiting on Wednesday – Death on the Tiber by Lindsey Davis

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Historical Fiction, Murder Mystery, Waiting on Wednesday13 Comments

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.  I run this segment in conjunction with the Can’t-Wait Wednesday meme that is currently running at Wishful Endings.  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 the next upcoming book in one of my favourite historical fiction series with Death on the Tiber by Lindsey Davis.

Death on the Tiber Cover

Amazon

Fans of this blog will know that I have a lot of love for historical fiction, as it was the genre that I started my reviewing career with.  While I do not read as much historical fiction these days as I would like, one series that I always go out of my way to read is the Flavia Albia series by Lindsey Davis.  A sequel to Davis’ iconic Falco series, the Flavia Albia books follow the titular protagonist as she investigates a series of compelling crimes in ancient Rome, while also trying to manage her chaotic personal life.

I have had a wonderful time reading and reviewing all the books in this great long-running over the years, with several appearing on this blog.  This includes The Third Nero, Pandora’s Boy, A Capitol Death, The Grove of the Caesars (one of my favourite books of 2020), A Comedy of Terrors, Desperate Undertakings (one of my favourite books of 2022) and Fatal Legacy.  All these books were awesome in their way, and I love the elaborate mysteries, unique historical insights, and fun comedic moments that Davies adds into her stories.  As such, I always make an effort to grab the new Flavia Albia book each year, as I know I will have a great time with it.

Well it looks like I do not have too much longer to wait before getting my next Flavia Albia fix as Davis has a new novel coming out later this year with Death on the Tiber.  Set for release in Australia on 9 April 2024, Death on the Tiber will draw the protagonist into another deadly case, one that will force her to go up against an old enemy from her past.

Plot Synopsis:

The brilliant new novel in the must-read, laugh-out-loud Flavia Albia series.

Rome is in chaos. The empire of a mobster chief is falling apart following his death. Rivals, fearsome relatives and associates are taking up position to vie for the spoils.

With hideous murders in the streets of Rome, a lone female traveller arrives with an agenda of her own. But when her corpse is dragged out of the river bearing signs of foul play, Flavia Albia is drawn in, concerned about her fellow Briton’s fate.

Albia’s quest to find the killer becomes deeply personal when she discovers a man at the centre of the plot is an old adversary of hers. Will she be obsessed by revenge? Can she let the past go, or will it consume her?

There are many cool bits in the above synopsis for Death on the Tiber that has me very excited.  Not only do we see Albia sticking her nose into the middle of a gang war, but the murder of an involved party has some great potential.  It is always fun to see Albia go up against some of the most dangerous people in Rome, especially as she is always dramatically underestimated, and I am expecting some fun humour around that.  I am also once again holding out for a big, over-the-top set piece somewhere in the book, as those usually end up being pretty damn fun.

However, the big element of the synopsis for Death on the Tiber that has me most excited is the mention of an old adversary.  A different synopsis online reveals that this adversary is Florius, an enemy of her father in the Falco series, who caused great harm to Albia years ago in The Jupiter Myth.  Albia has been bearing emotional wounds from this event for years, and it has come up a few times throughout the recent books.  As such, it will be interesting to see another confrontation between the two, especially as Albia might go out of her way to get revenge.  It will be pretty heartbreaking to see Albia risk the unorthodox family she has spent the last several books building up to settle this old grudge, and I am sure it will make for some excellent and emotionally charged reading.

Look, there is no way that I am not going to grab and enjoy Death on the Tiber when it comes out in April.  I am such a huge fan of Lindsey Davis and her Flavia Albia series, and I am always so excited to dive into her new mystery.  Death on the Tiber sound like it is going to be a particularly interesting and memorable part of the series that continues some long-running storylines.  I cannot wait to see how Death on the Tiber turns out and this has the potential to be one of my top books of 2024.

Death on the Tiber Cover 2

Waiting on Wednesday – Assassins Anonymous by Rob Hart

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Thriller, Waiting on Wednesday4 Comments

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.  I run this segment in conjunction with the Can’t-Wait Wednesday meme that is currently running at Wishful Endings.  Stay tuned to see reviews of these books when I get a copy of them.  For my latest Waiting on Wednesday, I check out an awesome upcoming thriller, Assassins Anonymous by Rob Hart.

Assassins Anonymous Cover

Amazon

Over the last few years, I think I have shown that I have a lot of love for unusual, clever or outrageous thrillers.  I’m eager to sink my teeth into any thriller with a distinctive and ultra-fun plot behind it, and usually that works out for pretty well for me.  As such, I am always on the lookout for my next unique thriller experience, and at the moment that looks to be the epic sounding Assassins Anonymous by Rob Hart.

Set for release in June 2024, Assassins Anonymous is an outstanding and impressive upcoming book that I am deeply excited for.  Following a former assassin who attempts to get clean from his unfortunate addiction to killing people by joining a support group of former hitmen, Assassins Anonymous sounds pretty damn awesome and I love the fantastic plot synopsis.  I think this book has incredible potential and I look forward to diving into this amazing story in a few month’s time.

Plot Synopsis:

In this thriller full of action, humor, and charm, the world’s most lethal assassin has left the violent life behind and joined a 12-step group for recovering killers. But when he’s attacked and barely survives, he must figure out who’s after him and why—without breaking his pledge never to kill again.

Mark is the most dangerous killer-for-hire in the world. His nickname—the Pale Horse—breathes fear into the cold heart of every rival who hears it. But after learning the hard way that this life has made him more monster than man, Mark has left all of that behind. With the help of his sponsor, Kenji, he has joined a group of former assassins who meet in secret for support in recovery.

Then he’s viciously attacked by an unknown assailant. Thrust back into the shadowy world of betrayal and assassination, injured and on the run from New York to Singapore to London, Mark must solve the mystery of who’s coming for him and why. Has the Agency decided he knows too much and must be taken out? Has a rival decided to attack now that he’s laid his weapons down? Has one of the thousands of people who might want revenge finally come for it? And how will he survive the onslaught without killing anyone? For an assassin, Mark learns, non-violence is a real hassle.

Waiting on Wednesday – Warhammer 40,000: Deathworlder by Victoria Hayward

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Extended Universe, Science Fiction, Tie-in Novel, Waiting on Wednesday, Warhammer5 Comments

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.  I run this segment in conjunction with the Can’t-Wait Wednesday meme that is currently running at Wishful Endings.  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 one of the most exciting upcoming novels from the awesome Warhammer 40,000 franchise with Deathworlder by Victoria Hayward.

Warhammer 40,000 - Deathworlder Cover

Amazon

We have just come out of an awesome year for Warhammer 40,000 fiction.  2023 featured some outstanding novels from this incredible grim dark franchise, with books like Warboss and The Lion: Son of the Forest by Mike Brooks, Creed: Ashes of Cadia by Jude Reid, The King of the Spoil by Jonathan D. Beer, Cypher: Lord of the Fallen by John French and The Fall of Cadia by Robert Rath (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2023) all proving to be exceptional reads.  2024 is also shaping up to be particularly awesome year for fiction from my favourite franchise, with several outstanding novels teased or announced already.  Of them, the one I am currently most excited for is the dark and gritty Deathworlder by Victoria Hayward.

The debut novel from Hayward, who has previously written several intriguing Warhammer short stories, Deathworlder is currently set for release in late April 2024.  I have a lot of love for this book already, especially as its epic plot will pit two extreme factions from the game against each other in the ultimate battle of survival.

Plot Synopsis:

Catachans vs Tyranids – Who Are the Deadliest Predators in This New Astra Militarum Novel?

Lazulai is a world beyond the brink, its battle against the tyranids all but lost. Once-magnificent cities lie in ruin. The seas boil. The skies crack. Horrific alien bioforms devour. In mere days the planet will be consumed.

The 903rd Catachan ‘Night Shrikes’ defend one of the last fortresses still standing. Led by Major Wulf Khan, to die fighting is all that is expected of them… until she is given one last mission: to lead a squad through the apocalypse and recover a piece of archeotech that may doom or deliver the entire Lazulai System.

Facing insurmountable odds and zero hope for aid, the major must hold her squad together as they pick their way through an endless xenos jungle. The enemy is merciless, relentless, endlessly adaptable and formidably resourceful… but so too is Khan.

Now this sounds like a pretty damn epic book.  I always say that some of the very best Warhammer 40,000 are those that focus on human soldiers placed into impossible situations, and some of the best recent books such as Steel Tread by Andy Clark, Krieg by Steve Lyons and Longshot by Rob Young serving as pretty good examples of this.  As such, I cannot wait to see another impressive, character-driven read in this franchise, especially as it will focus on the always fun Catachans.  The soldiers of the Catachan regiments are some of the most popular and iconic in the game, as they are essentially over-the-top jungle fighters, literally based on Rambo.  I had a lot of fun with the last novel that focused on them, Catachan Devil by Justin Woolley, and I cannot wait to see them in action again, especially if they are going toe-to-toe with the Tyranids.

As one of the more sinister factions in the Warhammer 40,000 canon, the Tyranids are showcased as ravenous, alien monsters, who slowly digest any planet they come across.  The last novel I read focussing the Tyranids, Leviathan by Darius Hinks, was very terrifying, and Deathworlder sounds even cooler, as it will pit the ultimate human jungle fighters against these insanely stealthy and deadly aliens.  Deathworlder honestly sounds like Predator turned up to 11, which is a concept that we can all get behind.  Throw in the drama surrounding a doomed and abandoned group of soldiers slowly getting killed off, and Deathworlder has so much potential.

Honestly, the moment I found out that Deathworlder was going to pit the Catachans against the Tyranids, I knew I was going to read it.  Victoria Hayward has come up with an outstanding scenario, that features some of the very best things that I love in a Warhammer 40,000 novel, plus more.  Deathworlder sounds like such a cool debut, and I plan to read it the very second it comes out.