Waiting on Wednesday – Everyone in this Bank is a Thief by Benjamin Stevenson

On May 24, 2025 By The Unseen LibraryIn Australian, 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. Stay tuned to see reviews of these books when I get a copy of them. In this latest Waiting on Wednesday post, I highlight an incredible upcoming piece of Australian crime fiction with the sure-to-be hilarious novel, Everyone in this Bank is a Thief by Benjamin Stevenson.

For the last few years, the Australian crime fiction scene has been soundly dominated by the highly talented Benjamin Stevenson. A comedian and performer, Stevenson started writing back in 2018 when he debuted his first crime fiction novel Greenlight (also released as Trust Me When I Lie and She Lies in the Vines), which Stevenson expertly followed up a year later with the great sequel Either Side of Midnight. While these initial books were really good, for me Stevenson’s best work has been his Ernest Cunningham novels.

The Ernest Cunningham series follows the titular character, a crime fiction expert from a notorious family, who finds himself caught up in some real-life whodunit situations. The first book in the series, Everyone in My Family has Killed Someone, was particularly impressive, and it cleverly combined the author’s great sense of humour with a compelling mystery. I really enjoyed this exceptional book (one of my favourite Australian novels of 2022), especially as the author successfully played to his comedic background to produce an outstanding read that satirised classic crime fiction conventions. Stevenson continued to impress the following year, with the amazing book Everyone on this Train is a Suspect. One of my favourite books and pieces of Australian fiction of 2023, Everyone on this Train is a Suspect was a worthy sequel to the first Ernest Cunningham book, and I loved how the author took the opportunity to further parody various crime fiction subgenres. Stevenson even released a short, but impactful, Christmas entry in the Ernest Cunningham series last year with Everyone this Christmas has a Secret, which saw a Christmas variety show get very bloody, and which ended up being one of my favourite pieces of Australian fiction in 2024.

Due to how exceptional, clever and funny the last few books from Stevenson have been, I have been eagerly waiting for a 2025 novel from him and the author has just released details about his next awesome novel, Everyone in this Bank is a Thief. A new entry in the Ernest Cunningham series Everyone in this Bank is a Thief will once again force the author’s unlucky protagonist to investigate a classic whodunnit when someone is murdered. However, Stevenson has come up with a very interesting hook, as Ernest will need to find the killer while a hostage in the middle of a bank robbery.

Plot Synopsis:

The new instalment of the million-copy bestselling mystery series. What if an Agatha Christie style murder mystery happened inside OCEAN’S ELEVEN…

Ten suspects. Ten heists. A puzzle only Ernest Cunningham can solve.

I’ve spent the last few years solving murders. But a bank heist is a new one, even for me. I’ve never been a hostage before.

The doors are chained shut. No one in or out. Which means that when someone in the bank is murdered, hostages become suspects.
THE BANK ROBBER
THE MANAGER
THE SECURITY GUARD
THE KID
THE FILM PRODUCER
THE PRIEST
THE RECEPTIONIST
THE PATIENT
THE CARER
ME

Turns out, more than one person planned to rob the bank today. You can steal more from a bank than just money.

Who is stealing what? Are they willing to kill for it? And can I solve the crime before the police kick down the door and rescue us?

This sounds like another particularly fun book from Stevenson, and I love the new scenario that the author came up with for his next Ernest Cunningham book, especially as he once again works to cross a classic whodunnit with a more modern crime fiction storyline. Coming up with a murder amid a high stakes bank heist and filling the vault with an array of characters that would fit into any Agatha Christie novel is an awesome idea, and I cannot wait to see how the author deconstructs all the tropes surrounding the scenario as he builds up a clever and entertaining mystery. The oncoming police intervention also adds a certain interesting time crunch element to the plot, and it will be interesting to see the protagonist try to solve the murder before all the suspects are set free. As such, this should be a particularly awesome story and I look forward to unwinding the entire complex mystery.

Based on what Stevenson has featured in his previous Ernest Cunningham novel, I am expecting this mystery of Everyone in this Bank is a Thief to be matched with some fantastic humour. A lot of this will be due to the protagonist’s internal narration, as he deals with an array of over-the-top figures, while even more will be due to the writer’s funny, yet loving, takedowns of classic murder mystery and whodunnit tropes and overused plot devices. I am also assuming there will be a bit of a takedown of heist novels with this book, and I cannot wait to see what fun the author will have with a compelling bank robbery plot. I have no doubt this great humour will mesh well with the main crime fiction elements of the story, and I cannot wait to see what outrageous events and complex webs emerge as a result.

I cannot emphasise just how happy I am that Benjamin Stevenson is continuing his Ernest Cunningham series, and I was always going to be excited at grabbing the next entry in the series. However, I must admit I’m even more excited now that I’ve gotten some plot details for Everyone in this Bank is a Thief, which sounds like it is going to be a truly awesome read. I cannot wait to see crazy shenanigans and clever jokes Stevenson slips into this excellent upcoming novel, and I have a feeling that Everyone in this Bank is a Thief is going to be one of my top reads of 2025.

WWW Wednesday – 21 May 2025

On May 21, 2025 By The Unseen LibraryIn WWW Wednesday3 Comments

WWW Wednesday is a weekly post hosted by Taking on a World of Words, where bloggers share the books that they’ve recently finished, what they are currently reading and what books they are planning to read next. Essentially you have to answer three questions (the Three Ws):

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

So, let’s get to it.

What are you currently reading:

Whisper in the Wind by Luke Arnold (Trade Paperback)

I just started reading the epic urban fantasy novel, Whisper in the Wind by Luke Arnold. An intriguing addition to the author’s Fetch Phillips series, Whisper in the Wind returns the reader to the ravaged Sunder City as the damaged protagonist is forced back into his private investigator ways to solve a series of murders and uncover a hidden revolutionary. I’ve only made a little bit of progress with Whisper in the Wind at the moment, but it is proving to be an excellent book with a really fun plot behind it.

The Devils by Joe Abercrombie (Audiobook)

I’m currently halfway through the epic and outrageous dark fantasy novel, The Devils by Joe Abercrombie, and boy is it proving to be something special. One of my most anticipated fantasy novels of 2025, The Devils follows a mismatched group of monsters as they try to survive a dark and magic-filled alternate medieval Europe and place an unlikely princess on the throne of Troy. Wildy entertaining and deliciously over-the-top, The Devils is so damn good, and I am loving every single second I spend listening to it.

What did you recently finish reading?

Vanish by Shelley Burr (ebook)

An outstanding and compelling piece of Australian crime fiction.

Open Season by Jonathan Kellerman (Audiobook)

An amazing addition to the long-running Alex Delaware series, Open Season was very impressive, and I loved its cool mystery.

Feet of Clay by Terry Pratchett

I had so much fun once again revisiting Terry Pratchett’s outstanding classic, Feet of Clay, which perfectly combines crime fiction and fantasy elements, wrapped up in the author’s unstoppable humour.

Whisky Valley by Joan Sauers (ebook)

The cool sequel to Echo Lake, Whisky Valley was an excellent and comfy read that makes good use of its Australian setting.

What do you think you’ll read next?

Everybody Wants to Rule the World Except Me by Django Wexler

If I get a chance next week than I’m definitely going to read the hilarious fantasy novel, Everybody Wants to Rule the World Except Me by Django Wexler. The sequel to the amazing and deeply funny How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying, Everybody Wants to Rule the World Except Me will see the new titular Dark Lord try to save the pesky humans she is supposed to conquer, all while trying to survive her own minions. Sure to be an amazing and highly addictive read, I know I am going to love this incredible book.

That’s it for this week; check back in next Wednesday to see what progress I’ve made on my reading and what books I’ll be looking at next.

Top Ten Tuesday – Books That Feature Travel

On May 21, 2025 By The Unseen LibraryIn List2 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme that currently resides at The Artsy Reader Girl and features bloggers sharing lists on various book topics. For this week’s Top Ten Tuesday, participants are encouraged to list their favourite ten books that feature travel in them. While this guiding topic could reference a lot of different things, I’m choosing to interpret it as books where the participants are required to go on long journeys away from home, possibly in a quest-like manner, or novels where the act of traveling is essential to the plot. As such, my list is filled with a fair amount of fantasy and science fiction, with a few other interesting entries as well. I actually came up with quite a few potential choices for this list, but I was eventually able to whittle it down into a compelling Top Ten list alongside my usual generous Honourable Mentions section. So let us see what made the cut.

Honourable Mentions:

Eragon by Christopher Paolini

A classic young adult fantasy tale where the protagonist travels far from home to discover his destiny.

Amazon

Empire of Silence by Christopher Ruocchio

Vast intergalactic journeys are the order of the day in this brilliant science fiction read.

Trollslayer by William King

An awesome collection of connected tales, where the two protagonists journey all over the Warhammer Fantasy world looking for trouble.

How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying by Django Wexler

One of the funnier entries on this list. How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying was a great book that saw a young woman repeatedly journey across a fantasy land to become the next dark lord.

Top Ten List:

The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien

A very easy place to start is with the works of J. R. R. Tolkien whose books were all about epic quests and long journeys. While all three books in The Lord of the Rings trilogy would have worked here, I’m going with the original classic, The Hobbit, that saw a very brave hobbit journey across Middle Earth on a grand adventure.

Witches Abroad by Terry Pratchett

From Tolkien to Pratchett, I’m starting this list off with some real fantasy fiction heavyweights. Terry Pratchett was another author whose stories often featured grand quests across the titular Discworld, even though his protagonists were often a lot more reluctant to go on them. There were quite a few different Discworld books I could have featured here (as well as some of Pratchett’s standalone novels like Strata or The Carpet People), however, I’m going to go with one of my favourites, Witches Abroad, which fits the travel theme extremely well. Following three of Pratchett’s witch protagonists as they go on an extended holiday to a fairy-tale plagued city, Witches Abroad is a very funny read and one of the better Discworld books.

Hawk Quest by Robert Lyndon

Moving outside of fantasy fiction for a bit we have the epic historical fiction novel Hawk Quest by Robert Lyndon. A massive adventure novel, Hawk Quest follows an eclectic group of protagonists in the 11^th century as they transport rare hawks to the Holy Land to serve as ransom for an imprisoned knight. Requiring a trek across medieval Europe, Hawk Quest is a brilliant novel that is all about travelling impossible distances.

Magician by Raymond E. Feist

I just had to feature the outstanding classic fantasy read Magician by Raymond E. Feist on this list, which sees all its protagonists embark on great adventures across Feist’s fantasy realms. All the key characters engage in some massive travels in this novel via ship, horseback and more, including the main protagonist who journeys to a whole other fantasy dimension and back again, just to hammer home how important travel is for this outstanding read.

Artifact Space by Miles Cameron

To mix things up a bit I had to include the cool science fiction novel, Artifact Space by Miles Cameron. While quite a few of Cameron’s books features lengthy quests or travelling great distances (such as his novel Dark Forge), I decided to go with Artifact Space as it probably features the furthest distance travelled as the protagonist embarks on a massive trade ship going to the edge of known human space. An ambitious and compelling read, Artifact Space is an excellent novel where the protagonists end up going so very far away from home.

Streams of Silver by R. A. Salvatore

Another author whose books often feature grand journeys is legendary fantasy writer R. A. Salvatore. I was honestly spoiled for choice when it came to Salvatore’s books, as so many are travel-focused, but in the end, I went with Streams of Silver. The second book in the Icewind Dale trilogy, Streams of Silver sees Salvatore’s entertaining party of protagonists leave on a quest to recover the legendary Mithril Halls, traversing all manner of fantasy landscape along the way. A classic fantasy adventure with a ton of travel, Streams of Silver is a very worthy addition to this list.

Bullet Train by Kōtarō Isaka

For something a little different I decided to include the cool thriller Bullet Train by Japanese author Kōtarō Isaka. Set aboard a moving bullet train, this fun book sees several dangerous killers attempt to outfox each other before the train arrives at its final deadly destination. I think the constant moving train and the ticking clock as it gets closer to the end of the line qualify this thriller nicely as a book containing travel, and I honestly had a ton of fun getting through both the Bullet Train novel, and its entertaining movie adaptation.

The Bone Ships by R. J. Barker

Nothing says epic travel more than a group of condemned criminals navigating a ship made of bone across a deadly ocean to hunt down a sea dragon. The always impressive R. J. Barker makes this insane concept work extremely well with some of the very best fantasy nautical scenes you are likely to read. A truly incredible novel that you will not be able to put down.

The Falcon of Sparta by Conn Iggulden

Going back to history we have the fantastic read The Falcon of Sparta from amazing author Conn Iggulden. Loosely based on the Anabasis by Xenophon, The Falcon of Sparta follows ten thousand Greek mercenaries and camp followers who attempt to escape Persia by land back to Greece following the Battle of Cunaxa. An awesome book that makes use of one of history’s most unlikely journeys.

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

The final book I want to feature on this list is the complex space adventure Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. Following a lone scientist sent to another star system to find a way to stop the sun from dimming, Project Hail Mary features a darker, yet highly compelling take on a travel narrative that is extremely impressive and addictive. A truly exceptional read, this was a great novel to end this list on, and I cannot recommend it enough.

And that’s the end of this latest Top Ten list. As you can see, I’ve had the pleasure of reading some really great books that feature amazing travel elements, and this Top Ten list is only just scratching the surface of the novels I could talk about. I’m pretty happy with how this latest list turned out and I look forward to seeing what other travel-focused books people want to recommend in the comments below.

Book Haul – 18 May 2025

On May 18, 2025 By The Unseen LibraryIn Book HaulLeave a comment

I’ve been away on holiday for a few weeks, which has resulted in a lack of major posts on this blog (at least that’s my excuse). One upside about being away is that you tend to come back to a big pile of books, which is always fun to explore. This holiday was no exception as I managed to return to a great collection of awesome books that have built up the last couple of weeks. This includes some major 2025 releases, including a few books likely to be amongst my top books of the year. I am very happy with this collection, and I just had to gloat about it here.

The Devils by Joe Abercrombie

Probably the book I was most excited to receive was the new Joe Abercrombie novel The Devils. The start of a cool new series set in an alternate and dark medieval Europe filled with fantasy creatures, The Devils follow a mismatched group of monsters under the command of the Pope as they attempt to pull off an impossible mission. This was one of my most anticipated fantasy releases of 2025 and I have already started reading it. I’m a good third of the way through The Devils at the moment and it is already proving to be a particularly exceptional read that will likely be one of the best books of the entire year. Highly recommended!

Everybody Wants to Rule the World Except Me by Django Wexler

Another particularly awesome fantasy novel I was very happy to get my hands on was Everybody Wants to Rule the World Except Me by Django Wexler. The sequel to the hilarious 2024 fantasy novel, How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying, Everybody Wants to Rule the World Except Me follows a reluctant fantasy protagonist whose plan to survive by becoming a feared dark lord starts to backfire on her. This will probably end up being one of the funniest books of the year and I am hoping to read it very soon.

Whisper in the Wind by Luke Arnold

Australian author Luke Arnold returns with Whisper in the Wind, the fourth entry in his urban fantasy Fetch Phillips series that follows a damaged investigator desperately trying to bring back magic to a dying fantasy city. I loved the first three books in this series, The Last Smile in Sunder City, Dead Man in a Ditch, and One Foot in the Fade, and I cannot wait to see how this series continues. Another amazing sounding book from an excellent author that I will probably be reading this week.

Stone and Sky by Ben Aaronovitch

The fantasy hits I recently received keep on coming with the epic new Rivers of London novel, Stone and Sky by Ben Aaronovitch. The latest book in one of the best ongoing urban fantasy series, Stone and Sky will follow the series’ police protagonist as he attempts to have a family holiday in Scotland, only to encounter a new dark magical mystery. I really love the sound of this book, and I cannot wait to dive into Stone and Sky’s complex and entertaining story.

The Book That Held Her Heart by Mark Lawrence

Another great book I was lucky enough to recently receive was the third and final book in Mark Lawrence’s Library trilogy, The Book That Held Her Heart. Following on from The Book That Wouldn’t Burn and The Book That Broke the World, The Book That Held Her Heart will show the final battle for the impossible and infinite library, as the separated protagonists must find a way back to each other to save the lives of those closest to them. I am very excited to finish this trilogy off, and The Book That Held Her Heart has a great deal of potential.

Sins of the Fathers by John Byrnes

Another cool Australian historical epic from John Byrnes, who previous impressed me with Headland and The Youngest Son. This new book will follow three children through the early 20th century as they feud throughout key Australian historical events and locations. This will likely be a fun and compelling read that I look forward to checking out.

The Maid’s Secret by Nita Prose

An intriguing new novel from Nita Prose that will continue to showcase the investigations of her unlikely and unusual protagonist.

Paved with Good Intentions by Peter McLean

The final book I have received was the cool fantasy crime novel, Paved With Good Intentions by Peter McLean. A standalone novel set in McLean’s War for the Rose Throne universe, Paved With Good Intentions will follow a woman forced into the spying game as she tries to survive and get back to her children. A very intriguing and cool book from a talented author that I look forward to reading.

Well, that’s the end of this latest Book Haul post. As you can see I have quite a bit of reading to do at the moment thanks to all these awesome books that have come in. Let me know which of the above you are most interested in and make sure to check back in a few weeks to see my reviews of them.

Waiting on Wednesday – Usagi Yojimbo: Volume 41: Ten Thousand Plums by Stan Sakai

On May 17, 2025 By The Unseen LibraryIn Comics/Manga, 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. Stay tuned to see reviews of these books when I get a copy of them. For this week’s Waiting on Wednesday post, I highlight the next volume of the epic Usagi Yojimbo series by Stan Sakai, Ten Thousand Plums, which should be another exceptional entry in this amazing comic series.

Fans of this blog will be more than familiar for my love of the exceptional Usagi Yojimbo series by Stan Sakai. A particularly awesome comic that has been running since 1984, the Usagi Yojimbo stories follows a rabbit ronin as he faces all manner of foes in an alternate version of feudal Japan populated with anthropomorphic animals. Thanks to its clever stories, great use of Japanese culture, complex characters and stunning artwork, the Usagi Yojimbo series has long been a favourite of mine and I currently have every single volume of it sitting proudly on my shelf.

Needless to say, getting the any new volumes of Usagi Yojimbo is a major priority for me each year, and I am always excited when I find out when the next comic is dropping. As such, I was very, very happy to recently find out that the 41^st volume of the series, Ten Thousand Plums, is set for release later this year. This volume is particularly exciting for me, as we’d usually only get one volume a year and I was worried that the 40^th volume of the series, The Crow, which I had a blast with earlier this year, was going to be me only Usagi Yojimbo hit of the year (barring one of my many re-reads, such as for volume 15: Grasscutter II). However, it looks like this is one of the blessed years where we get more than one volume, and this new entry sounds pretty damn cool.

Currently set for release in late November 2025, Ten Thousand Plums will see the protagonists visit a beautiful valley, filled with thousands of plum trees, only to encounter mysterious deaths, suspicion and other dark occurrences. I am already very intrigued by this comic’s unique new plot, and I cannot wait to see how it unfolds.

Plot Synopsis:

Murder and arson are plaguing the valley of ten thousand plums.

The trees within the valley of ten thousand plums are beautiful to behold. But the umeboshi, or pickled plums, made in the local village are renowned for their strong medicinal properties, and a favorite of the Shogun. As a series of deadly events grip the valley with fear, the Shogun’s samurai strongman is immediately suspicious when Usagi, Yukichi, and Gen are found wandering among the prized foliage…can their appearance be a mere coincidence?

A new adventure starring Usagi Yojimbo by legendary creator Stan Sakai, with beautiful color work by HiFi Colour Design.

Now this sounds like it is going to be a particularly cool Usagi Yojimbo story that will allow Sakai to really show off both his artistic talent and ability to craft great, mystery filled narratives. Mysterious events around an intriguing location with a connection to a specific Japanese product (in this case, pickled plums) will allow Sakai to really dive into historical practices, and I cannot wait to see what cool narrative emerges. At the same time, having Usagi and his companions become involved with the interests of the Shogun really increases the stakes of the plot, and may have some interesting long-term implications for the simple wanders.

While I think the story of Ten Thousand Plums is going to be amazing, one of the things that I am very much looking forward to for this new volume is the exceptional artwork. Sakai always excels at painting breathtaking landscape shots as the background for his stories, especially as he really showcases the beautiful Japanese wilderness, or the iconic feudal towns. It sounds like we will be in a for a real artistic treat in Ten Thousand Plums, as the entire narrative will be set to the background of thousand of flowering plum trees. The multitude of trees and their blossoms is going to look so impressive when drawn by Sakai, and I cannot wait to see how it frames every single panel, especially now that the volumes are in colour. Throw in Sakai’s usual brilliant artwork around combat, towns and unique characters, and this upcoming volume is going to be a real visual treat, and I can see this being one of Sakai’s more visually ambitious volumes.

Look, I was always going to be grabbing the new Usagi Yojimbo volume the second it came out, but hearing about Ten Thousand Plums’ impressive plot has made me even more eager for it. Stan Sakai’s next volume sounds so damn cool, and I cannot wait to get my hands on even more Usagi Yojimbo comic-awesomeness this year. As such, Ten Thousand Plums is now one of my most anticipated releases coming out later this year, and I already now it will be one of the best comics I read this year.

WWW Wednesday – 7 May 2025

On May 9, 2025 By The Unseen LibraryIn WWW Wednesday1 Comment

WWW Wednesday is a weekly post hosted by Taking on a World of Words, where bloggers share the books that they’ve recently finished, what they are currently reading and what books they are planning to read next. Essentially you have to answer three questions (the Three Ws):

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

So, let’s get to it.

What are you currently reading:

Vanish by Shelley Burr (ebook)

I didn’t get as much reading time this week as would have liked so I’m still going with the Australian crime fiction novel, Vanish by Shelley Burr. An excellent continuation to the author’s ongoing series, Vanish sees the damaged protagonist attempt to solve one last missing person’s case, only to encounter a mysterious farm filled with people who want to disappear. I’m about a third of the way through Vanish at the moment, and I am still really intrigued by its cool premise and underlying mystery. I’m hoping to knock Vanish off later this week and look forward to seeing where Burr takes the story.

Open Season by Jonathan Kellerman (Audiobook)

I managed to start and get a fair way into the new Jonathan Kellerman mystery, Open Season this week. The latest book in the author’s Alex Delaware series, Open Season sees the protagonists investigate several mysterious, but connected, murders around LA. I’m around halfway through Open Season at the moment, and I am really enjoying its complex story, which is going in some very interesting directions. I’m hoping to knock Open Season off in the next couple of days, and it is proving to be an amazing read.

What did you recently finish reading?

Men At Arms by Terry Pratchett (Audiobook)

I managed to knock off the audiobook version of the awesome Terry Pratchett novel, Men At Arms this week. The sequel to Guards! Guards!, Men at Arms is one of my favourite Discworld novels and I had an exceptional time getting through this audiobook, especially as the new audiobook version features an exceptional team of narrators.

What do you think you’ll read next?

Feet of Clay by Terry Pratchett

I’ve got a few books that I want to read next, but if I finish off Open Season in the coming days I’ll probably dive into another Terry Pratchett book with Feet of Clay. The third book in Pratchett’s City Watch subseries, Feet of Clay features a really cool story with a clever mystery and some great humour. I am very interested in seeing how this book comes across in the new audiobook format, and I have no doubt it will be an amazing experience.

That’s it for this week; check back in next Wednesday to see what progress I’ve made on my reading and what books I’ll be looking at next.

Waiting on Wednesday – The Bone Raiders by Jackson Ford

On May 9, 2025 By The Unseen LibraryIn Fantasy, Waiting on Wednesday3 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. Stay tuned to see reviews of these books when I get a copy of them. For my latest Waiting on Wednesday, I check out the highly entertaining fantasy novel, The Bone Raiders by awesome author Jackson Ford.

Looking ahead to the second half of 2025, there are a lot of entertaining fantasy novels coming out, but one of the ones that has really caught by attention is the very fun sounding read The Bone Raiders. Written by author Jackson Ford (a pseudonym of writer Rob Boffard), who previously impressed with his Frost Files series, The Bone Raiders has an insane and deeply intriguing fantasy plot that I am really excited for.

Set for release in August 2025 and already boasting a very cool cover, The Bone Raiders will follow a group of grassland raiders feared for their habit of bedecking themselves with the bones of their enemies, as they attempt to survive a dangerous new enemy and his massive army. When threatened with invasion, they are forced to find a way to survive, and their best idea is to do the impossible and tame the giant, fire-breathing lizards that rampage through their homeland and turn them into the ultimate raiding mount.

Those readers who are familiar with this blog will know that is the sort of crazy and hilarious sounding plot idea that I instantly love. I have no doubt that with Ford behind the helm, this unique scenario will result in The Bone Raiders becoming something very special, especially as his outrageous characters attempt to achieve something particularly insane. As such, I am extremely eager to get my hands on a copy of The Bone Raiders when it comes out, and I strongly believe it will be one of the more entertaining and captivating fantasy novels coming out in the second half of the year.

Plot Synopsis:

The start of an edge-of-your-seat, action-packed fantasy series from the irreverent Jackson Ford, where a wild band known as the Bone Raiders harness the power of gigantic, fire-breathing lizards to defend their homeland.

You don’t mess with the Rakada. The people living in the grasslands of the Tapestry call them the Bone Raiders, from their charming habit of displaying the bones of those they kill on their horses and armour.

But being a raider is tough these days. There’s a new Great Khan in the Tapestry. He’s had it with the raider clans, and plans to use his sizeable military to do something about it. And then there are the araatan: fire-breathing lizards the size of elephants, roaming the grasslands in search of dwindling food supplies.

Sayana is a Rakada scout, and she loves her job. But if she wants to keep it, she’s going to have to do something drastic. Like convincing her clan to ride araatan, instead of horses. Sayana doesn’t quite know how to get that done without being eaten and/or cooked alive, but she’d better figure it out fast – or she and her clan, along with every other raider in the Tapestry, will be wiped out.

Waiting on Wednesday – Three Shattered Souls by Mai Corland

On May 3, 2025 By The Unseen LibraryIn Fantasy, 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. Stay tuned to see reviews of these books when I get a copy of them. For this latest Waiting on Wednesday, I highlight the final upcoming entry in the excellent Broken Blades fantasy trilogy with Three Shattered Souls by Mai Corland.

Last year I had the very great pleasure of reading Five Broken Blades by Mai Corland, an outstanding fantasy debut that saw five highly damaged killers, including a thug, a spymaster, a poisoner, an outlaw prince and a thief join forces to kill an immortal king. Featuring a great plot, some excellent protagonists and an impressive audiobook format, Five Broken Blades was a very impressive read that ended up being one of my favourite debuts of 2024. However, this was only the start of the fun I was having with Corland’s new series.

Due to how much I enjoyed Five Broken Blades, I made sure to listen to a copy of the sequel earlier this year, Four Ruined Realms. An excellent sequel that moved the plot of the series along in some exciting ways, including with some additional character development and a good dose of tragedy, Four Ruined Realms was an awesome novel and one of the better audiobooks I enjoyed so far this year.

After having a brilliant time reading the first two books in the Broken Blades trilogy, I was naturally very excited to find out that Corland was finishing the series off this year with the third and final book, Three Shattered Souls. Set for release in July 2025, Three Shattered Souls will wrap up the series as the remaining protagonists will face the combined wrath of their world as they try to finish their mission and remove the tyrant king from the throne.

Plot Synopsis:

THE UNMISSABLE FINAL CONCLUSION TO THE EPIC KOREAN-INSPIRED FANTASY SENSATION, THE BROKEN BLADES TRILOGY

Some betrayals cut deeper than blades.

The Blades were never supposed to survive this long. But after the battle in Quu Harbor, escaping is no longer enough. The most dangerous liars in the four realms have one last mission – return to Yusan and finish what they started.

But now a usurper sits on the serpent throne. And he may be more dangerous than the god-king.

With three relics of the Dragon Lord in their possession, the Blades will face the might of the four realms. Enemies will become allies. Allies will become traitors. And the ones they love most? They’ll be the ones to break them.

Grief will carve the Blades into something ruthless and unrecognizable. But only by losing everything can they win this game of kings and crowns.

Three Shattered Souls looks set to continue all the best storylines from the first two books, and I am deeply excited to see where this final entry goes. It sounds like the character’s will be involved in a three-way war against all their enemies, and I cannot wait to see what carnage comes out, especially after the chaotic conclusion of the second novel. Corland will also have to expand and then wrap up the remaining character arcs in this final book, and I cannot wait to see how the various complex relationships, motivations and secrets finally end up, especially as there is bound to be even more treachery, mistrust and sacrifices in this final novel (based on the title, I’m worried at least one more major protagonist is dying here). As such, Three Shattered Souls’ narrative has so much potential, and I really hope that Corland has a powerful and memorable finale in store for us.

After having an excellent time getting through the previous novels in this series, there is no way I’m stopping now, especially as Three Shattered Souls sounds so damn good. This final Broken Blades book by Mai Corland should be something very special, and I am very excited to see how this epic trilogy comes to an end. As such, July cannot come soon enough, and I am planning on listening to Three Shattered Souls as soon as it comes out.

WWW Wednesday – 30 April 2025

On May 1, 2025 By The Unseen LibraryIn WWW Wednesday1 Comment

WWW Wednesday is a weekly post hosted by Taking on a World of Words, where bloggers share the books that they’ve recently finished, what they are currently reading and what books they are planning to read next. Essentially you have to answer three questions (the Three Ws):

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

So, let’s get to it.

What are you currently reading:

Vanish by Shelley Burr (ebook)

I just started reading the new Australian crime fiction novel, Vanish by Shelley Burr. An excellent continuation to the author’s ongoing series, Vanish sees the damaged protagonist attempt to solve one last missing person’s case, only to encounter a mysterious farm filled with people who want to disappear. I’ve only gotten a little way into Vanish so far, but I am really intrigued by its cool premise, and I cannot wait to see where the author takes the story.

Men At Arms by Terry Pratchett (Audiobook)

After having a lot of fun listening to new audiobook versions of Terry Pratchett’s Discworld like Pyramids and Small Gods, I decided to check out another amazing book from the series in this format with Men At Arms. The sequel to Guards! Guards!, Men at Arms is one of my favourite Discworld novels and I am already enjoying listening to the story with a new narrator.

What did you recently finish reading?

Barren Cape by Michelle Prak (ebook)

An intriguing, dark and topical Australian thriller that I’m glad I got the chance to read.

Midnight Black by Mark Greaney (Audiobook)

An epic continuation to one of my favourite spy thriller series, Midnight Black was an exceptional read and I’m hoping to review it soon.

What do you think you’ll read next?

Open Season by Jonathan Kellerman

I’ve got a couple of other books to check out in the next week, but if I get the chance I might try to start the new Jonathan Kellerman book, Open Season, which has a very fun plot idea behind it.

That’s it for this week; check back in next Wednesday to see what progress I’ve made on my reading and what books I’ll be looking at next.

WWW Wednesday – 23 April 2025

On April 24, 2025 By The Unseen LibraryIn WWW WednesdayLeave a comment

WWW Wednesday is a weekly post hosted by Taking on a World of Words, where bloggers share the books that they’ve recently finished, what they are currently reading and what books they are planning to read next. Essentially you have to answer three questions (the Three Ws):

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

So, let’s get to it.

What are you currently reading:

Barren Cape by Michelle Prak (ebook)

An intriguing, dark and topical Australian thriller, that sees three women each try to find sanctuary from their lack of housing in an abandoned construction site, resulting in dark consequences for their actions. I’ve made a bit of progress on Barren Cape this week and I’m hoping to knock it off soon.

Midnight Black by Mark Greaney (Audiobook)

I’m still listening to the excellent spy thriller, Midnight Black. The latest Gray Man novel by Mark Greaney, Midnight Black sees the author’s elite assassin protagonist attempt to save the woman he loves from a remote Russian prison. I’ve made a good amount of progress on Midnight Black this week, and it is proving to be an excellent and clever addition to one of my favourite spy thriller series.

What did you recently finish reading?

Retreat by Krysten Ritter (Trade Paperback)

A fun and witty thriller that proved to be extremely captivating.

What do you think you’ll read next?

Vanish by Shelley Burr

I’ve got a few interesting books I could potentially read next, including a few older paperbacks that I’ve been meaning to read for a while. However, I think I might try and start reading the upcoming Australian crime fiction novel, Vanish by Shelley Burr, in the next week. An intriguing continuation to the author’s ongoing series, Vanish should be pretty awesome and I cannot wait to check it out.

That’s it for this week; check back in next Wednesday to see what progress I’ve made on my reading and what books I’ll be looking at next.