Waiting on Wednesday – The Waiting by Michael Connelly

On March 13, 2024 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 March 6, 2024 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 February 29, 2024 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 February 21, 2024 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 February 14, 2024 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 February 8, 2024 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 January 31, 2024 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.

Waiting on Wednesday – Usagi Yojimbo: Volume 39: Ice and Snow by Stan Sakai

On January 24, 2024 By The Unseen LibraryIn Comics/Manga, 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. For my latest Waiting on Wednesday, I look at the exciting upcoming volume of one of my favourite comic book series with Usagi Yojimbo: Ice and Snow by the legendary Stan Sakai.

Usagi Yojimbo - Ice and Snow Cover

Amazon

Anyone familiar with my blog will know I am a huge, huge fan of the outstanding Usagi Yojimbo comic series. Set in an alternate version of Feudal Japan populated by anthropomorphic animals the Usagi Yojimbo series follows rabbit ronin Miyamoto Usagi, as he travels the wilds, encountering all manner of trouble. Written and drawn by the highly acclaimed Stan Sakai, Usagi Yojimbo features some exceptionally beautiful artwork, clever stories, and unique Japanese cultural and mythological elements that help to produce an incredible comic.

I have been a fan of this series for years, and I currently own every single volume which I constantly re-read. I have also had an amazing time reviewing this series ever since I started my blog, starting back in 2018 when I reviewed the 32^nd volume Mysteries. This led to me reviewing every subsequent volume that came out after 2018, and I have also been working my way through the prior volumes as part of my Throwback Thursday range. I have been particularly enjoying some of the more recent volumes, especially as publisher IDW released them in colour, including Bunraku and Other Stories (one of my favourite books of 2020), Homecoming (one of my favourite books of 2021), Tengu War! and Crossroads (both of which were among my favourite books of 2022) and The Green Dragon (one of my favourite books of 2023).

Due to how much of a fan I am of this series, I am always excited when I see that a new comic is coming out, and we are getting a very interesting sounding addition to the series in 2024 with the 39^th volume, Ice and Snow. Set for release in September 2024, Ice and Snow will see the Usagi Yojimbo series return to Dark Horse comics, who previously published the series for 22 years (from volume 8: Shades of Death to Volume 33: The Hidden). It will be interesting to see how the series changes when it returns to Dark Horse, and I am already very keen for this upcoming volume, especially as it has an amazing sounding plot behind it.

Plot Synopsis:

Following the events of “The Green Dragon,” Usagi and Yukichi are still in the snowy mountaintops of Northern Japan.

They are led to the hut of a strange woman hermit who allows them to spend the night. Meanwhile, the maniacal Jei and his familiar, Keiko, are on Usagi’s trail, and they stumble upon a bandit lair and subdue the band of cutthroats and thieves.

Stan Sakai brings his beloved rabbit ronin series back to Dark Horse—featuring full color by colorist team Hi-Fi!

Collects Usagi Yojimbo: Ice and Snow #1–#5.

There is a lot to love about this intriguing upcoming volume. Not only does it look like Ice and Snow is only going to feature one story, a reliable indicator of an epic Usagi Yojimbo volume, but the plot sounds extremely intense. There have been some great Usagi Yojimbo adventures lately, and Ice and Snow will probably be a particularly deadly one as it builds on some fantastic story elements from the last few entries I love that Usagi is still accompanied by his cousin, Yukichi, as the two have made for an interesting duo, and I look forward to seeing more of Sakai’s amazing artwork of the snowy mountain tops of Northern Japan. However, the main reason why I think that Ice and Snow is going to be great, is that it features the return of the series’ best villain, Jei.

Since his introduction in the third volume, The Wanderer’s Road, Jei has been a particularly deadly and memorable foe. Portrayed as a dark warrior obsessed with lethal justice and guided by divine voices, the character of Jei appears to live on the borders between the natural and the supernatural. Thanks to his obsession with Usagi, the two have crossed paths multiple times, and Jei is routinely the only foe that terrifies Usagi, especially as he keeps coming back from the dead, much like the character he is based on (Jei is an homage to Jason from the Friday the 13^th franchise). Pretty much any story that has a version of Jei in it is amazing, and you have to love how creepy Sakai makes him, especially as he now travels around with an innocent little girl. It has been quite a while since Usagi and Jei faced off, with their last major battle occurring in the 12^th volume Grasscutter, although Usagi did encounter a version of Jei possessing one of his friends in Volume 24, Return of the Dark Soul. As such, this is a showdown long in the making, and the constant hints about Jei in recent volumes have only heightened anticipation. I cannot wait to see Usagi and Jei come together again, especially as the protagonist will likely be emotionally and physically damaged by the encounter.

I think my fanboy ramblings above make it clear that I am very excited for the next Usagi Yojimbo volume. Ice and Snow has a ton of potential in my opinion, and I cannot wait to get my hands on it. Not only is this going to feature Sakai’s usual amazing art, characters and story, but the dark, emotionally charged confrontations that are bound to occur should be extremely amazing. As such, Ice and Snow is a must-read for me, and I have no doubt it will be one of my favourite things I read in 2024.

Waiting on Wednesday – Star Wars – The Living Force and The Glass Abyss

On January 17, 2024 By The Unseen LibraryIn Extended Universe, Science Fiction, Star Wars, Tie-in Novel, 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. For this week’s Waiting on Wednesday, I highlight two awesome upcoming Star Wars novels that are sure to deeply entertain and excite with The Living Force and The Glass Abyss.

Fans of this blog will be well aware of my love for Star Wars fiction, especially as I have had the great pleasure of reading and reviewing a ton of amazing Star Wars novels over the last few years. Something about a brilliant novel that further explores the elaborate Star Wars universe, or which presents a totally unique story about some of your favourite characters always greatly appeals to me, and I can always get dragged into a good Star Wars novel, especially in their audiobook format. Unfortunately, I have been a little slack when it comes to reading Star Wars fiction in the last year, but that is something I am planning to rectify in 2024, especially as there are two fantastic sounding upcoming books from the franchise that have really caught my eye.

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The first of these is Star Wars: The Living Force by John Jackson Miller. Miller is a well-established author of tie-in fiction, have written across several franchises, including Star Trek (check out my review for his novel Die Standing), and other cool shows. Miller has also written several Star Wars novels, with his exceptional book, Kenobi, being one of the best Star Wars novels I have ever read. As such, I am very eager to try out his new book, The Living Force, especially as it has an awesome story behind it.

Plot Synopsis:

In the year before The Phantom Menace, Yoda, Mace Windu, and the entire Jedi Council confront a galaxy on the brink of change.

The Jedi have always traveled the stars, defending peace and justice across the galaxy. But the galaxy is changing, and the Jedi Order along with it. More and more, the Order finds itself focused on the future of the Republic, secluded on Coruscant, where the twelve members of the Jedi Council weigh crises on a galactic scale.

As yet another Jedi Outpost left over from the Republic’s golden age is set to be decommissioned on the planet Kwenn, Qui-Gon Jinn challenges the Council about the Order’s increasing isolation. Mace Windu suggests a bold response: All twelve Jedi Masters will embark on a goodwill mission to help the planet and to remind the people of the galaxy that the Jedi remain as stalwart and present as they have been across the ages.

But the arrival of the Jedi leadership is not seen by all as a cause for celebration. In the increasing absence of the Jedi, warring pirate factions have infested the sector. To maintain their dominance, the pirates unite, intent on assassinating the Council members. And they are willing to destroy countless innocent lives to secure their power.

Cut off from Coruscant, the Jedi Masters must reckon with an unwelcome truth: While no one thinks more about the future than the Jedi Council, nobody needs their help more than those living in the present.

I love the sound of this amazing book, especially as it dives into the somewhat underdeveloped history pre-The Phantom Menace. A novel following the entire Jedi Council as they get into trouble on a remote planet sounds like a recipe for great success, and I am really looking forward to The Living Force as a result. Set for release in April 2024, I feel that this book has a lot of potential to be pretty damn epic, especially in Miller’s extremely capable hands. As such, I cannot wait for The Living Force to come out and I have a feeling it will be one of the top books I read in early 2024.

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The other Star Wars novel I want to highlight here is the intense and powerful sounding book, Star Wars: The Glass Abyss by Steven Barnes. Set for release in August 2024, The Glass Abyss will be Barnes’ first Star Wars novel since his 2004 book, The Cetus Deception. The Glass Abyss will also be set during the same early period of Star Wars history as The Living Force and will follow fan-favourite character Mace Windu in the immediate aftermath of The Phantom Menace.

Plot Synopsis:

Jedi Master Mace Windu travels to a dangerous, remote planet on a mission that challenges even his deadly prowess – all to fulfill Qui-Gon’s last request.

The Jedi are reeling from Qui-Gon Jinn’s sudden death at the hands of a Sith. Jedi Master Mace Windu’s feelings about Qui-Gon have always been complicated, and have not been made any simpler in death. While they often disagreed, Mace valued Qui-Gon’s unique perspective, and their shared dedication to the Force made them allies. Without Qui-Gon and his unorthodox views, Mace feels out of balance.

While considering his fallen friend’s legacy, Mace is surprised to receive a final message from Qui-Gon, marked to be delivered to Mace on the event of Qui-Gon’s death. The message contains a last request: a plea to help the Outer Rim planet of Metagos.

Many years ago, a violent solar flare transformed the surface of the desert planet into a landscape of irradiated glass—as beautiful as it is dangerous. Now most of the surviving inhabitants live underground, where rival clans fight to control the planet’s limited resources. As a young Jedi, Qui-Gon protected the Sa’ad farming clan from the planet’s less scrupulous factions. The Sa’ad practice the art of dream-weaving, retaining their waking minds upon sleep in order to communicate and coexist with the wild creatures around them. Qui-Gon vowed to return if they ever required his aid, but now it falls to Mace to fulfill that promise. The Sa’ad’s leader, KinShan Nightbird, has begged for the Jedi’s help in freeing Metagos from the crime lords who threaten to eradicate her people’s way of life.

Intent on fulfilling Qui-Gon’s final wishes, Mace travels to Metagos and infiltrates the enemies of the Sa’ad. But as the Jedi Master investigates the intricate web of adversaries and allies, Mace finds himself pushed to the boundaries of the Jedi code, challenging his beliefs and his relationship to the Force itself.

This is another epic sounding upcoming Star Wars novel and I am very intrigued by the plot synopsis for The Glass Abyss. Having a grieving Mace Windu attempt to free a planet from crime lords by going undercover sounds is a very cool story idea, and I look forward to seeing how Barnes pulls it off. Mace Windu is an awesome character to follow, and I cannot wait to see his unique perspectives on life and the Force, especially after losing his friend. The Glass Abyss also has a lot of potential in my opinion, and I am extremely keen to get my hands on it.

Both amazing 2024 Star Wars novels, The Living Force and The Glass Abyss, sound incredibly awesome, and I have very high hopes for them. These books have some fantastic stories, and I am sure the highly regarded veteran authors behind them will turn them into something special. 2024 looks to be a very strong year for Star Wars fiction, and I look forward to reading those books, as well as any other Star Wars novels that come out, especially if I can catch up with The High Republic series.

Waiting on Wednesday – The Mercy of Gods by James S. A. Corey

On January 10, 2024 By The Unseen LibraryIn Science Fiction, 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 my latest Waiting on Wednesday, I highlight probably the most anticipated science fiction release of 2024 with The Mercy of Gods, written by the brains behind The Expanse series, James S. A. Corey.

The Mercy of Gods Cover

Amazon

There are many great science fiction series out there, but few have gained the love, fandom and recognition that The Expanse books by James S. A. Corey have. The joint pen name of Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck, both of whom are impressive authors in their own right, James S. A. Corey have been writing together since 2011 and while they have authored other works, specifically a Star Wars novel (Honor Among Thieves), they team is best known for their highly regarded The Expanse series. Set in the future, The Expanse deals with war, intrigue, politics and murder in space, with events becomes even more intense and destructive once ancient alien technology and life forms are discovered. While this series was always highly regarded by fans of science fiction novels, The Expanse gained even more recognition when its excellent television adaptation came out.

I personally came into The Expanse books a bit later than other readers, having only read the last three novels in the series, Persepolis Rising, Tiamat’s Wrath and Leviathan Falls. While I might not have explored the whole series, I still really enjoyed these last three novels, with Tiamat’s Wrath being one of my top books and audiobooks of 2019. I do wish I had come into this series at the beginning, but I never had the time to fit it into my schedule. However, it looks like I’ll be able to start one of their series from the beginning thanks to the upcoming book The Mercy of Gods.

The Mercy of Gods is another piece of epic science fiction and will be the first entry in The Captive’s War series, the first original series from the pair since they started The Expanse. The Mercy of Gods has an impressive plot behind it that will see the inhabitants of a human world get enslaved by a powerful alien race and forced to face off against other captured alien species in an elaborate competition.

Plot Synopsis:

How humanity came to the planet called Anjiin is lost in the fog of history, but that history is about to end.

The Carryx—part empire, part hive—have waged wars of conquest for centuries, destroying or enslaving species across the galaxy. Now, they are facing a great and deathless enemy. The key to their survival may rest with the humans of Anjiin.

Caught up in academic intrigue and affairs of the heart, Dafyd Alkhor is pleased just to be an assistant to a brilliant scientist and his celebrated research team. Then the Carryx ships descend, decimating the human population and taking the best and brightest of Anjiin society away to serve on the Carryx homeworld, and Dafyd is swept along with them.

They are dropped in the middle of a struggle they barely understand, set in a competition against the other captive species with extinction as the price of failure. Only Dafyd and a handful of his companions see past the Darwinian contest to the deeper game that they must play to survive: learning to understand—and manipulate—the Carryx themselves.

With a noble but suicidal human rebellion on one hand and strange and murderous enemies on the other, the team pays a terrible price to become the trusted servants of their new rulers.

Dafyd Alkhor is a simple man swept up in events that are beyond his control and more vast than his imagination. He will become the champion of humanity and its betrayer, the most hated man in history and the guardian of his people.

This is where his story begins.

Ok, now this sounds like a book with some real potential. Putting aside the notable and highly proven writing skills of Corey, the plot alone of The Mercy of Gods has me pretty damn excited. I love the idea of humans being taken by an advanced alien race, who themselves are on the brink of extinction, which is a bold story idea to start with. However, combine that with an apparent dark competition arc, where the human protagonists need to compete against, betray and overcome other captive species to become their new master’s favoured servants, and you have something extremely special. An elaborate and deadly competition between species is such a great concept, and the fact that the authors are going to go even deeper than that with additional elements that look at the Carryx, a human rebellion, and murderous enemies attacking the protagonist, and you have one hell of an adventure that is sure to be particularly epic.

Based on the author’s writing style in the past, you must imagine that they are going to use this first book to set up a particularly intricate space setting, and no doubt all the competing alien races will have an intriguing history, unique features, and a proven desire to win and destroy the humans. The authors thrive when they get to deal in elaborate detail, and I cannot wait to see how they construct this new universe and the elaborate worlds and species featured within, especially as all these details are likely to have impacts on the larger story. The combination of unique science fiction elements and a dark story of desperate survivors and competitors is bound to result in something particularly impressive and I am really looking forward to it.

Honestly, the fact that this is the first book in a new series by James S. A. Corey instantly guaranteed that I would read The Mercy of Gods in 2024, and I am sure many other science fiction fans think the same way. However, I am also so in love with the extraordinary plot synopsis above and the incredible story it describes is something I cannot wait to see. As such, I have very little doubt that The Mercy of Gods is going to be a particularly epic and awesome novel, and it will probably end up being one of the top science fiction books of the year. I am so, very, very excited for The Mercy of Gods, and this new series from James S. A. Corey is going to be a firm fixture on my reading schedule for years to come.