Book Haul – 11 March 2022

On March 11, 2022 By The Unseen LibraryIn Book Haul2 Comments

I have been having an absolutely fantastic couple of week for books, as I have been lucky enough to receive several incredible and amazing new novels from some of my local publishers. As I am anticipating getting some more books in the near future, I thought I would take this opportunity to highlight some of the recent releases I have received before my new book pile got too big. These novels include some truly awesome new releases, several of which I have been eagerly awaiting for some time. I am extremely keen to read all of the books below and I cannot wait to check them out.

The Justice of Kings by Richard Swan

The Justice of Kings Cover

I was very happy to recently receive a copy of The Justice of Kings by Richard Swan, an epic sounding fantasy novel with an interesting legal edge to it. This is one of my most anticipated fantasy books of the year, mainly because I have heard some amazing reviews about this book already. I am hoping to read this one soon and I am anticipating an exceptional and impressive read.

Age of Ash by Daniel Abraham

Age of Ash Cover

I was pretty excited to receive Age of Ash by Daniel Abraham, a cool and massive fantasy novel that also has a ton of potential. Written by one half of the team behind The Expanse novels (see my reviews for Tiamat’s Wrath and Leviathan Falls), this looks set to be an exciting and elaborate fantasy read and I look forward to exploring Abraham’s complex new world.

36 Streets by T. R. Napper

36 Streets Cover

One of the more unique novels I recently received was the brilliant cyberpunk thriller 36 Streets by Australian author T. R. Napper. Set in a futuristic version of Hanoi, this exciting and compelling read follows a young gangster as she investigates a massive conspiracy. I have actually already read this book and its pretty damn awesome and well worth checking out. Review to follow soon.

The Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi

The Kaiju Preservation Society Cover 2

I was so very, very happy to receive a copy of The Kaiju Preservation Society by bestselling author John Scalzi. Following a group of humans who attempt to save a race of giant monsters in an alternate universe, I have been waiting a long time to read this fantastic and funny sounding book, especially after having so much fun with Scalzi’s previous novel Redshirts. I am hoping to trying to check this novel out very soon and I know I am going to love it.

Nine Lives by Peter Swanson

Nine Lives Cover

Another recent release I am hoping to get to soon is Nine Lives by the very clever Peter Swanson. This cool thriller sounds really intriguing and I cannot wait to see how it’s captivating mystery turns out. I loved Swanson’s last book, Rules for Perfect Murder, and I know I will have a great time with Nine Lives.

Black Drop by Leonora Nattrass

Black Drop Cover

An awesome and fascinating historical thriller that sees a British clerk trying to uncover a dangerous conspiracy while England fights against the French.

Daughters of Eve by Nina D. Campbell

Daughters of Eve Cover

An intense and incredible thriller that sees a detective try and take down a group of killers targeting abusive men. I like the intriguing plot hook around this novel and I look forward to checking it out.

Brunswick Street Blues by Sally Bothroyd

Brunswick Street Blues Cover

An exciting Australian murder mystery debut set in Melbourne, I think this one will be a fantastic read and I look forward to checking out this new author.

The Game by Scott Kershaw

The Game Cover

An awesome sounding thriller that sees five strangers forced to play a mysterious game to save someone they love. I know I’m pretty excited to check this one out and I cannot wait to see what chaos and intense games they are forced to play.

Lies My Memory Told Me by Sacha Wunsch

Lies My Memory Told Me Cover

An interesting new young adult science fiction thriller about memory, lies and secrets.

The Stardust Thief by Chelsea Abdullah

The Stardust Thief Cover

One of the more compelling and distinctive fantasy releases of 2022, this captivating novel contains an fantastic sounding story inspired by One Thousand and One Nights. The Stardust Thief is already getting a lot of buzz around it and I look forward to seeing how it turns out.

Firefly: Carnival by Una McCormack

Firefly Carnival Cover

The final book in this post is Carnival, the latest entry in the cool series of the impressive Firefly novel series I have been enjoying recently. This series has had some amazing reads, including Big Damn Hero, The Magnificent Nine, The Ghost Machine, Generations and Life Signs, and I cannot wait to see how the next adventure unfolds. I am particularly excited to read a Firefly novel by bestselling author Una McCormack who has written some excellent Star Trek novels (The Way to the Stars and The Last Best Hope), and I am expecting this to be a really awesome read.

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.

Book Haul – 8 February 2022

On February 7, 2022 By The Unseen LibraryIn Book HaulLeave a comment

It has been a while since I have done a Book Haul post, but seeing that I received several interesting books recently, I thought I would quickly do one to highlight some of the best novels I have gotten in the last few weeks. Each of the below books sound extremely cool and captivating, and I cannot wait to see how they all turn out.

The Burning Road by Harry Sidebottom

The first book I want to highlight in this haul is The Burning Road by Harry Sidebottom, an awesome and action packed historical thriller. Set in ancient Sicily, this book follows a father and son team as they attempt to survive a brutal slave uprising that threatens to kill everyone they love. I have already read and reviewed this fantastic novel and it comes very highly recommended.

Star Wars: The High Republic: The Fallen Star by Claudia Gray

I was also lucky enough to receive a copy of the latest Star Wars novel, The Fallen Star by Claudia Gray, which is part of The High Republic range of Star Wars fiction. The Fallen Star continues the major storylines from the previous central High Republic novels (Light of the Jedi and The Rising Storm), and sees the vicious Nihil launch a deadly attack against the Jedi aboard Starlight Beacon. This is another book I have already read and it turned out to be a compelling and intense survival story in space. I will hopefully get a review for it up soon but it is a must read for Star Wars fans.

Sierra Six by Mark Greaney

I was extremely happy to receive a copy of the new Gray Man book, Sierra Six, by Mark Greaney. Following a lethal spy as he attempts to fix a mistake from his past, this cool novel will show the first mission of awesome series protagonist, Court Gentry, and the many regrets he has from it. I am already confident that this will be one of the best thrillers of 2022 and I cannot wait to check it out.

Dark Horse by Gregg Hurwitz

Another awesome thriller I have received a copy of is Dark Horse by Gregg Hurwitz. The seventh book in his action-packed Orphan X series, Dark Horse will set Hurwitz’s legendary spy turned vigilante against an entire cartel. I cannot wait to see how this book turns out but I know I’m in for a very fun ride with it.

City of the Dead by Jonathan Kellerman

I just seem to keep getting books from some of my favourite authors as I also received the latest novel from Jonathan Kellerman, City of the Dead. This new novel from Kellerman will see his fun protagonist duo attempt to solve a brutal double murder. I am very keen to read City of the Dead, especially as I have really grown to enjoy Kellerman’s excellent and methodical murder mysteries, and this should be a compelling and enjoyable novel.

Her Perfect Twin by Sarah Bonner

I was very excited when I received this cool and unique thriller a little while ago. Set to be one of the most intense debuts of 2022, Her Perfect Twin follows a woman who kills her twin sister and then takes up her identity to ensure no-one knows she’s dead. I love the sound of this amazing novel and I am extremely keen to see how it all turns out.

The Cane by Maryrose Cuskelly

Another awesome debut I recently received is The Cane by Maryrose Cuskelly. Set in the wilds of rural Queensland, this Australian noir novel will dive into the creepy disappearance of a teenage girl. The Cane sounds pretty damn dark and I am sure I will have amazing time plumbing the depths of its disturbing story.

Abandoned in Death by J. D. Robb

The final book I received was the latest novel from J. D. Robb (Nora Roberts), Abandoned in Death. The 54th book in a long running series, Abandoned in Death follows the investigation into a killer who apparently targets bad parents. I love the sound of this novel and I may have to try diving into this series very late in the game.

Book Haul – 27 December 2021 – Second-Hand Books

On December 27, 2021 By The Unseen LibraryIn Book Haul, WarhammerLeave a comment

I just published a Book Haul post about some of the awesome new releases I have recently received, but I have also been lucky enough to grab some amazing second-hand novels in the last week. Most of these second-hand books were obtained from Canberra’s annual Lifeline Book Fair (great to see it up again), and included several amazing Warhammer novels that I have been really getting into recently. In addition, I also just received a very cool second-hand comic from America that I have been trying to get for a long time, which made me extremely happy. Because of that, I thought I would quickly take the time to highlight these fantastic second-hand books in another, special book haul post.

Warhammer: Dragonslayer by William King

Dragonslayer Cover

So the first entry of this haul kind of indicates the shopping trip I had as I picked up a bunch of books in the awesome Gotrek and Felix series. I have had a fantastic time getting into this Warhammer Fantasy series in 2021 as I read the first three books, Trollslayer, Skavenslayer and Daemonslayer. All three of these novels were extremely fun and I had an absolute blast getting through them. As such, when I saw paperback copies of several entries in this series I just had to grab them in order to read throughout the next year. The first of these is Dragonslayer which follows on from the events of Daemonslayer. I have actually started reading this fun book, and it has a great story that sees our protagonists fighting a dragon (unsurprisingly). This should be an extremely cool novel and I look forward to getting through it.

Warhammer 40,000: Deathwatch: Xenos Hunters – Anthology

Deathwatch - Xenos Hunters

Another awesome book I was drawn to at the Book Fair was the amazing Warhammer 40,000 anthology, Deathwatch: Xenos Hunters. This book contains a collection of short stories that follow the elite Space Marine alien hunters, Deathwatch, as they unleash bloody vengeance across the galaxy. I had a lot of fun with the previous Deathwatch book I checked out, Deathwatch: Shadowbreaker by Steve Parker (who has a couple of stories in this anthology), and I cannot wait to see what outstanding adventures are contained in this anthology.

Warhammer: Beastslayer by William King

Beastslayer Cover

The next Gotrek and Felix novel that I grabbed was the fifth book in the series, Beastslayer. This fun book, which I will hopefully read soon, follows the protagonists as they find themselves in the midst of a bloody battle against the forces of Chaos. Set to be a epic siege novel, Beastslayer should be a great deal of fun and I look forward to reading it.

Warhammer 40,000: Lord of the Night by Simon Spurrier

Lord of the Night Cover

I was also very lucky to find a copy of the very cool sounding Lord of the Night by Simon Spurrier. This impressive Warhammer 40,000 novel will follow a thrilling battle between a group of imperial Inquisitors and some Chaos Space Marines as they fight for the soul of a planet and attempt to recover a dangerous artifact. This sounds like an extremely interesting piece of Warhammer 40,000 fiction and I cannot wait to check it out.

Warhammer: Giantslayer by William King

Giantslayer Cover

The final Warhammer book I grabbed was the seventh Gotrek and Felix novel, Giantslayer. While I was a little annoyed to miss out on the sixth book, Vampireslayer (it disappeared right after I saw it, it was heartbreaking), I was happy to get this cool novel. Giantslayer will follow the protagonists as they end up in the middle of an ancient island, fighting giants, magic users and all manner of other enemies. This should be another fun read and I look forward to checking it out throughout the year.

Usagi Yojimbo: Volume 12: Grasscutter by Stan Sakai

Usagi Yojimbo - Grasscutter

The last second-hand item I recently received was the 12th volume of the exceptional Usagi Yojimbo series by Stan Sakai, Grasscutter. I have been trying to get a copy of Grasscutter for years as it was the only gap in my Usagi Yojimbo collection, and luckily I was just able to get a copy from overseas. This cool comic contains the first, whole-volume story arc that brings together nearly all the series’ supporting characters in an epic battle for the future of this version of Japan. An epic comic that was a lot of fun to read, I am really glad that I finally have Grasscutter and that my collection is now complete.

Well, that is the end of this second Book Haul post. I was really happy to grab all of the above second-hand books and it was great to give some of these older volumes a new home. I think that all of these books/comics are going to appear in Throwback Thursday posts in the future and I cannot wait to see how all of them turn out. Based on their author, their franchise or my prior experiences with the series, I already know I am going to deeply enjoy them all, and it will be fun getting through them all. Make sure to value the humble second-hand book, and if you have the opportunity to support events like the Lifeline Bookfair, it is well worth the effort.

Book Haul – 27 December 2021

On December 27, 2021 By The Unseen LibraryIn Book Haul1 Comment

2021 is nearly at an end but the books keep on rolling in. I have been rather lucky over the last couple of weeks to receive several awesome new novels that I am looking forward to check out. As a result, I thought I would do a quick Book Haul post to share which recent releases I am going to be reading into the new year. I am extremely happy with the haul I received, as not only have I managed to get my hands on several books I have been really looking forward to, but I also received a couple of intriguing new releases from the start of 2022 All of these should make for some fun reading and I cannot wait to start diving into the books below.

A Practical Guide to Conquering the World by K. J. Parker

A Practical Guide to Conquering the World Cover

The first of my new books that I want to highlight is the awesome A Practical Guide to Conquering the World by the exceedingly talented K. J. Parker. This cool fantasy novel is the third novel in the comedic The Siege trilogy, which follows on from Sixteen Ways to Defend a Walled City and How to Rule an Empire and Get Away With It, two extremely good novels that were among my favourite reads of 2019 and 2020 respectfully. I have been looking forward to this fantastic novel for a while and I am expecting another deeply entertaining and hilarious read about a new talented liar who uses a legendary siege to their own advantage. Set to be one of the best books of 2022, I am planning to read this book next and will deeply enjoy it.

Outcast by Louise Carey

Outcast Cover

I was also very lucky to receive a copy of Outcast by Louise Carey, which looks set to be an incredible read. Outcast is the sequel to Carey’s first novel, Inscape, which was one of my favourite debuts of 2021. This awesome series is set in a cyberpunk dystopian future and will follow a corporate agent as she attempts to get to the bottom of a major conspiracy. I look forward to reading this book and it should be a lot of fun.

The Unfamiliar Garden by Benjamin Percy

The Unfamiliar Garden Cover

Benjamin Percy continues his intriguing new science fiction series with The Unfamiliar Garden. The Unfamiliar Garden will continue to examine the strange side effects of a mysterious meteorite strike, this time with a near-horror sounding narrative about mutated plants and possessed humans. I am very curious about this new book and I look forward to checking it out.

The Fields by Erin Young

The Fields Cover

Bestselling historical fiction author Robyn Young presents her first thriller novel with The Fields, written under a new penname as Erin Young. The Fields is an interesting sounding novel that follows an intense and personal murder investigation. This novel has a very interesting plot to it and I look forward to seeing Young’s debut thriller.

The Gosling Girl by Jacqueline Roy

The Gosling Girl Cover

I was also very lucky to receive The Gosling Girl by Jacqueline Roy, which is likely to be one of the most intriguing and powerful novels of 2022. The Gosling Girl looks set to be a complex murder mystery/drama hybrid that examines institutional racism around a infamous African American suspect who was arrested for murder as a child. This should be an extremely captivating read and I am extremely interested in seeing what happens in this fantastic and deep sounding novel.

The Maid by Nita Prose

The Maid Cover

Another great book I received was The Maid by Nita Prose, which is going to be one of the biggest debuts of 2022. Already optioned off as a film with Florence Pugh set to star, The Maid has a great story about a housekeeper at a fancy hotel who gets thrust into the middle of a murder investigation. I am curious about the buzz surrounding The Maid and I cannot wait to see what happens in this fun sounding book.

The Italian Girl by Anita Abriel

The Italian Girl Cover

I was also lucky enough to receive a copy of The Italian Girl by Anita Abriel, a compelling and intriguing sounding historical drama. Set during World War II, this fantastic novel should be an interesting and intense read and I cannot wait to see what happens.

Unforgiven by Sarah Barrie

Unforgiven Cover

The final book I received was the very intriguing Unforgiven by Australian author Sarah Barrie. This fantastic and thrilling novel apparently follows a former paedophile victim who has grown up to hunt abusers and now finds herself trackingwith the monster who haunted her as a child. I have heard great things about this novel and I cannot wait to see what happens within it.

Book Haul – 7 December 2021

On December 7, 2021December 7, 2021 By The Unseen LibraryIn Book HaulLeave a comment

I have been having an absolutely fantastic couple of week for books, as I have been lucky enough to receive several incredible and amazing new novels from some of my local publishers. These novels include some truly awesome new releases, several of which I have been eagerly awaiting for some time. This includes an interesting collection of late 2021 book, as well as some releases from early 2022, all of which should make for fantastic reading. I am extremely keen to check out all of the books below (indeed, I have already gotten through a couple), and they should make for some amazing reads.

Star Wars: Thrawn Ascendancy: Lesser Evil by Timothy Zahn

I got this one a few weeks ago and I was very happy when I did. Timothy Zahn is the undisputed master of Star Wars extended fiction and his current Thrawn Ascendancy trilogy, which has so far consisted of Chaos Rising and Greater Good, has been a detailed and fun-filled series. As such, I have been really looking forward to the final entry, Lesser Evil, that highlights the exploits of the future Grand Admiral Thrawn amongst his own people. I have already read this book and it is pretty damn awesome, review to follow soon.

It Ends in Fire by Andrew Shvarts

Another recent arrival I have already read is It Ends in Fire by Andrew Shvarts. Shvarts, who did such a great job with his Royal Bastards series (check out my reviews of City of Bastards and War of the Bastards), once again presents a brilliant young adult fantasy novel. It Ends in Fire has an amazing story that follows a powerful Wizard and rebel as she infiltrates a nation’s premier magic school in order to burn it down from the inside. A fun and clever novel, I should have a review for it up tomorrow.

The Liar’s Knot by M. A. Carrick

Earlier this year fantastic new author M. A. Carrick (joint penname of Marie Brennan and Alyc Helms) wowed me with her first novel, The Mask of Mirrors, which contained a bold story about a con woman drawn into preserving her city. I had a great time with this first book and I cannot wait to see what happens to the amazing characters and storylines next.

League of Liars by Astrid Scholte

I was also very excited when I received a copy of the latest novel from bestselling Australian author Astrid Scholte. This cool book has an awesome plot about a lawyer breaking several magically powered beings out a high security jail. I love the sound of this amazing novel and I cannot wait to see what happens within.

Only a Monster by Vanessa Len

I also received the fantastic sound young adult fantasy novel Only a Monster by Vanessa Len. Set to be one of the best debuts of 2022, Only a Monster follows a young woman who discovers that her family are actually monsters from legend, and must attempt to defend herself from a dangerous monster hunter. I really like the sound of this cool read and I look forward to checking it out in the new year.

Resistance by Mara Timon

An intense and powerful historical fiction novel that follows the French Resistance during World War II. I look forward to seeing what thrilling and compelling story this awesome book contains and I am sure that I am going to love it.

Dirt Town by Hayley Scrivenor

Another interesting 2022 debut, Dirt Town is an upcoming Australian crime fiction/drama novel set in small town Australia. Dirt Town has a fantastic and deep sounding story about a missing girl and I am sure I am going to have a wonderful time reading this dramatic and powerful novel.

Exit .45 by Ben Sanders

I was very happy yesterday when I received this excellent sounding crime fiction novel, Exit .45 by Ben Sanders. It looks like Sanders will be bringing back his protagonist Marshall Grade for another exciting adventure, this time involving corrupt cops and deadly murders. I am very intrigued to read this novel and I already know I am going to love it.

All or Nothing by Ollie Ollerton

The final novel I received was the awesome thriller All or Nothing by former special forces operative Ollie Ollerton. This second book in the Alex Abbott series will take its protagonist on an exciting and dangerous infiltration mission. I look forward to reading this fantastic sounding novel and I reckon I will be in for a fast-paced and ultra-exciting time.

Book Haul – 7 November 2021

On November 7, 2021 By The Unseen LibraryIn Book Haul2 Comments

I have just had a particularly awesome and amazing book day after receiving a massive parcel from Hachette Australia (see below):

InkedParcel Shot 1_LI

Inside in this big parcel was an impressive collection of current and upcoming releases, including several amazing books that I have been looking forward to for a very long time.

Parcel Shot 2

As these books are likely to be some of the main reads I check out in the next few months, I thought I would take this opportunity to gloat about, I mean highlight, what I got and why they are so awesome.

Each of the following books are really amazing, and I cannot wait to see how each and every single one of them turns out.

The Honour of Rome by Simon Scarrow

The Honour of Rome Cover

The first of these new books is the awesome historical fiction read, The Honour of Rome by Simon Scarrow. This is the latest entry in Scarrow’s long-running Eagles of the Empire series, which chronicles the adventures of two Roman officers in a range of different conflicts (see my reviews for some of the other Eagles of the Empire novels, The Blood of Rome, Traitors of Rome and The Emperor’s Exile, as well as Scarrow’s other 2021 release, Blackout). This latest book has more of a historical crime fiction angle to it, with the protagonists facing off against gangsters in ancient London. I have already started this cool book and I cannot wait to see how it turns out.

Cytonic by Brandon Sanderson

Cytonic Cover

Next, we have one of my most anticipated novels for 2021, Cytonic by Brandon Sanderson. Cytonic is the third novel in the epic Skyward series, a particularly awesome young adult science fiction series. The first two novels in this series, Skyward (one of the best books of 2018) and Starsight (one of the best books of 2019), were extremely awesome and I have no doubt that Cytonic is going to be another exceptional read.

Leviathan Falls by James S. A. Corey

Leviathan Falls Cover

I was also lucky enough to receive Leviathan Falls by James S. A. Corey, easily one of the biggest science fiction releases of the year. Leviathan Falls is the final book in the iconic Expanse series, and looks to wrap up this massive series. I had a lot of fun with the last few entries in this series (check out my review for Tiamat’s Wrath), and I am extremely curious to see how this exceptional series comes to an end.

All of us Villains by Amanda Foody and Christine Lynn Herman

All of us Villains Cover

One of the more interesting novels I recently received was the cool sounding All of us Villains by the writing team of Amanda Foody and Christine Lynn Herman. This intriguing novel features a magical battle royal between teenagers in a small town, and I am very curious to see how everything turns out.

Blindspace by Jeremy Szal

Blindspace Cover

The next book I want to highlight is the compelling science fiction epic, Blindspace by Australian author Jeremy Szal. This is the sequel to one of the best debuts of last year, Stormblood, which contained an amazing and elaborate narrative about an alien-based conspiracy on a giant space station. This next book, Blindspace, looks to continue the impressive story from Stormblood, and I look forward to seeing where Szal’s story goes next. This is a pretty massive book, so I am going to have to make a fair bit of room in my reading schedule to check it out, and I think it is going to be worth it.

The Bone Shard Emperor by Andrea Stewart

The Bone Shard Emperor Cover

Another great sequel I have received is The Bone Shard Emperor by Andrea Stewart. This fantastic novel is the intriguing sequel to The Bone Shard Daughter, a great debut from last year that featured a compelling fantasy realm and some unique magic. This sequel has a very interesting story to it and I cannot wait to see how everything unfolds.

The Judge’s List by John Grisham

The Judge's List Cover

I also received the latest book from crime fiction legend John Grisham, The Judge’s List. While I have not had the pleasure of reading any of Grisham’s works in the past, this one sounds very fun, as it features a serial killer who also happens to be a judge. I am sure that this is going to be an outstanding read and I cannot wait to check it out.

Galaxias by Stephen Baxter

Galaxias Cover

I was also lucky enough to grab a copy of the new Stephen Baxter science fiction novel, Galaxias. Galaxias is an awesome and fun sounding novel that tries to envision what would happen to the world if the sun suddenly went out. I love the fantastic concept contained in this book, and I think that Galaxias is going to be a pretty wild ride.

Warriors of God by Andrzej Sapkowski

Warriors of God Cover

One of the more unique books I recently received was the latest translated novel from fantasy legend Andrzej Sapkowski (of The Witcher fame), Warriors of God. Warriors of God is the second book in his Hussite trilogy, an interesting fantasy/historical fiction hybrid series, and it follows on from his 2020 release, The Tower of Fools. The first book in this series was really crazy and very entertaining, and I look forward to seeing what happens to Sapkowski’s unique protagonists next.

World’s Edge by David Hair

World's Edge Cover

The next book I received is the second entry in David Hair’s Tethered Citadel series, World’s Edge. This cool fantasy series follows a group of explorers who find themselves in all manner of trouble as they attempt to find a legendary source of magic. I rather enjoyed the first book in this series and I cannot wait to see what happens next.

Asterix and the Griffin by Jean-Yves Ferri and Didier Conrad

Asterix and the Griffin Cover

The final read I received from Hachette was the latest Asterix comic, Asterix and the Griffin. I have been a big fan of this series since I was a kid, so I was pretty excited when I saw that the publisher had included a copy for me. This latest comic has a fun sounding story about the heroes journeying to Eastern Europe in search of a legendary monster, and I am sure that it will be a fun and amusing read.

Book Haul – 23 September 2021

On September 23, 2021 By The Unseen LibraryIn Book Haul1 Comment

The Wisdom of Crowds by Joe Abercrombie (Trade Paperback)

The Wisdom of Crowds Cover

The first book in this haul is one of my most anticipated reads for the year, The Wisdom of Crowds by Joe Abercrombie. The third and final novel in The Age of Madness series, The Wisdom of Crowds continues the epic story started in A Little Hatred (one of the best books of 2019) and continued in The Trouble with Peace (one of the best books and audiobooks of 2020), bringing the entire series towards a dark and deadly conclusion. I am reading this book at the moment, and so far it is pretty exceptional. I cannot wait to see how it ends and I already know that this is going to be one of the top books of 2021.

The Apollo Murders by Chris Hadfield (Trade Paperback)

The Apollo Murders Cover

Next on this list we have the awesome and compelling space thriller, The Apollo Murders by Chris Hadfield. This cool book is set in 1973 and follows a top-secret space mission to the Moon, filled with murder, espionage and a ton of technical detail. I really like the sound of this novel and I am very excited to check it out.

The Bone Ship’s Wake by RJ Barker (Trade Paperback)

The Bone Ship's Wake Cover

I was lucky enough to receive The Bone Ship’s Wake by RJ Barker, another outstanding novel that I have been looking forward to for ages. Written by one of the fastest rising authors of dark fantasy fiction, The Bone Ship’s Wake is the third and final novel in The Tide Child trilogy, which follows the condemned crew of a ship made out of dragon bone. The previous two novels in this series, The Bone Ships and Call of the Bone Ships, have both been epic five-star reads and I have extremely high hopes for this amazing novel.

Viral by Robin Cook (Trade Paperback)

Viral Cover

I also received a copy of Viral, a novel about a pandemic by acclaimed medical thriller author Robin Cook. Containing a very topical narrative, Viral sounds like a fascinating and powerful thriller, and it should prove to be quite an intriguing read.

The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri (Trade Paperback)

The Jasmine Throne Cover

Bestselling fantasy author Tasha Suri returns with the first entry in a brand new trilogy, The Jasmine Throne. This compelling and exciting new fantasy novel has an interesting sounding narrative filled with magic, wars and complex characters, and I look forward to seeing what awesome ideas Suri fits into this novel.

Lies like Wildfire by Jennifer Lynn Alvarez (Trade Paperback)

Lies Like Wildfire Cover

One of the books I recently received that I am particularly curious about is the young adult novel Lies like Wildfire by Jennifer Lynn Alvarez. This book follows a group of teenagers who accidently start a deadly forest fire and then attempt to cover it up. I really like the sound of this thrilling and dramatic novel, and I have a feeling that I am going to have a great time reading it.

Treasure & Dirt by Chris Hammer (Trade Paperback)

Treasure & Dirt Cover

The final book I received was the new thriller novel from Australian author Chris Hammer, Treasure & Dirt. Treasure & Dirt is another fantastic sounding outback thriller, which examines a brutal murder in a corrupt mining town. This sounds like a very fun read and I look forward to seeing what awesome story Hammer has come up with.

Book Haul – 22 August 2021

On August 22, 2021 By The Unseen LibraryIn Book Haul2 Comments

I have had a pretty awesome week book-wise, having been lucky enough to receive several amazing novels that I am quite excited to read. I have been waiting for several of these novels for some time now and I have very high hopes for all of them.

The Pariah by Anthony Ryan

The Pariah Cover

The first book on this list is one of the most anticipated fantasy releases of 2021, The Pariah by Anthony Ryan. Ryan is a highly regarded fantasy author who has written some incredible sounding novels over the last few years, and his latest one, The Pariah looks to be particularly awesome. The first entry in a whole new series, The Pariah will follow a notorious outlaw who goes a deadly mission of vengeance. This book has so much potential and it is likely to be one of the best books of the year.

The Dying Squad by Adam Simcox

The Dying Squad Cover

I was pretty pleased to receive the cool new debut, The Dying Squad by Adam Simcox. The Dying Squad is interesting and fun read that follows a recently deceased detective who must solve his own murder in order to save his soul from purgatory. I am very keen to see how this new novel turns out and I think it will be a great read.

The Devil’s Advocate by Steve Cavanagh

The Devil's Advocate Cover

The master of the twisty legal thriller, Steve Cavanagh, returns with another cool and unique case. His latest book, The Devil’s Advocate, sees his conman lawyer protagonist, Eddie Flynn, attempt to save an innocent man accused of murder from a deadly prosecutor who thrives on death sentence cases. This should be a truly awesome read, and I cannot wait to see all the cool twists and turns Cavanagh includes.

Hostage by Clare Mackintosh

Hostage Cover

The thrillers keep on rolling in, as I was also lucky enough to get a copy of the new Clare Mackintosh novel, Hostage. This intriguing novel follows a flight attendant aboard a major international flight who finds her daughter held hostage and must bring down the plane in order to save her. I am very interested in seeing how this book turns out, and it should be a great read.

Rabbit Hole by Mark Billingham

Rabbit Hole Cover

I have to say that I really love the premise of this next cool book I have received, Rabbit Hole by Mark Billingham. This novel features a murder in a secure ward, where all the patients and staff are considered suspects, and the protagonist is a former cop turned mental patient, who may have committed the crime herself. This book sounds extremely dark and I am expecting a very intense psychological thriller/mystery.

Rogue Asset by Andy McDermott

Rogue Asset Cover

Get ready for an intense thrill ride with the latest Alex Reeve novel by Andy McDermott, Rogue Asset. This new Alex Reeve novel follows the titular rogue spy as he once again finds himself dragged into an deadly conspiracy where everyone wants to kill him. I look forward to checking this book out and I imagine it is going to be an absolute blast to get through.

The Swift and the Harrier by Minette Walters

The Swift and the Harrier Cover

Bestselling historical fiction author, Minette Walters returns with a brand new historical epic, The Swift and the Harrier. This latest book is set in the English Civil War and looks set to portray a dark and dramatic tale of love and loss on the battlefield. I am rather intrigued by this new release, and it should be quite a compelling and moving read.

Corporal Hitler’s Pistol by Tom Keneally

Corporal Hitler's Pistol Cover

The final book I have received is the rather unique and interesting Australian historical fiction novel, Corporal Hitler’s Pistol. Written by bestselling Australian author Tom Keneally, whose previous work Schindler’s Ark, was adapted into the iconic film, Schindler’s List. His latest book is set in 1933 Kempsey, New South Wales, and features a murder that was committed using the Luger formerly owned by Hitler during World War I. This looks to be one of the most unique historical fiction reads of 2021, and I am extremely curious to see what happens in it.

Book Haul – 16 August 2021

On August 16, 2021 By The Unseen LibraryIn Book HaulLeave a comment

The Colonial’s Son by Peter Watt (Trade Paperback)

The Colonial's Son Cover

The first book on this list is the cool piece of Australian historical fiction, The Colonial’s Son by bestselling author Peter Watt. I was a little surprised when I received a copy of this book last week as I honestly didn’t know that it was coming out. Still, I was pretty excited, especially as this is the first entry in a cool sounding series that follows on from Watt’s fantastic Colonial trilogy. The Colonial books were a great trilogy of historical fiction novels I have been really enjoying over the last couple of years. Made up of The Queen’s Colonial, The Queen’s Tiger and The Queen’s Captain (one of my favourite Australian books of 2020), this trilogy followed a young Australian settler who traded places with a gentleman and took up his commission in the British army, fighting on of the dangerous battlefields of 19th century Europe and Asia. This new series will focus on the son of the original protagonist as he follows in his father’s footsteps to fight for the British. I am very excited to see how this new series works out and I already know that I will have a great time reading The Colonial’s Son. With a November 2021 release, I might hold of reading it for a little bit, but I will definitely get to it in the next month or so. I was also extremely chuffed to see that my Canberra Weekly reviews for The Queen’s Colonial and The Queen’s Tiger were included on both the front and back cover of the advanced proof I received, which is pretty damn cool.

The Colonial's Son Front

The Colonial's Son Back

The Councillor by E. J. Beaton (Hardcover)

The Councillor Cover

Next we have a fun and compelling sounding fantasy debut, The Councillor by new Australian author E. J. Beaton. This cool book is filled with a ton of political intrigue and deceit in a fantasy kingdom where the ruler has just been murdered and her heir is being chosen. Filled with an immense amount of potential, I predict that The Councillor will be one of the best debuts of 2021 and I am very excited to read it.

Cave Diver by Jake Avila (Trade Paperback)

Cave Diver Cover

I absolutely love the sound of the next novel I have received, Cave Diver by Jake Avila. Cave Diver has a fantastic thriller concept which follows a grieving explorer as he battles pirates aboard a sunken Japanese submarine loaded with treasure. This book sounds like so much fun, and I look forward to seeing how exciting and thrilling it can get.

The Last Watch by J. S. Dewes (Trade Paperback)

The Last Watch Cover

Another interesting 2021 debut that I have just received and am quite keen to read is the epic science fiction release, The Last Watch by J. S. Dewes. The first book in The Divide series, The Last Watch is an awesome book that follows a group of undisciplined soldiers and criminals as they attempt to stop a universe-ending threat. This book has actually been out for a little while in America and the UK, but it only just got released in Australia a couple of weeks ago. I have already heard some very good things about this book and I am very keen to see what sort of impressive story Dewes has cooked up.

The Housemate by Sarah Bailey (Trade Paperback)

The Housemate Cover

Bestselling author Sarah Bailey returns with an intense and dark Australian thriller that follows an investigation into an infamous murder and missing persons case. This book has a pretty grim and compelling plot to it and I am very keen to see what sort of mystery it contains.

Red Traitor by Owen Matthews (Trade Paperback)

Red Traitor Cover

Acclaimed thriller author Owen Matthews returns with an exciting new book, Red Traitor. Set aboard a Soviet Nuclear Submarine off the coast of America during the Cuban Missile Crisis, this fantastic thriller will follow a dangerous period of history where the fate of the world rested on the shoulders of one man with his finger on a button.

The Noise by James Patterson & J. D. Barker (Trade Paperback)

The Noise Cover

I was also really excited to get a copy of the latest James Patterson and J.D. Barker collaboration, The Noise. The Noise is an intriguing science fiction thriller novel set in the American wilds that follows the two survivors of a mysterious explosion which was caused by a terrifying sound. I am extremely curious about this novel and I cannot wait to see what unique and fascinating narrative these two master authors have come up with.

Prisoner by S. R. White (Trade Paperback)

The Prisoner Cover

The final book I have received is another great sounding Australian thriller, Prisoner by S. R. White. A sequel to White’s previous novel, Hermit, Prisoner presents an intriguing and intense murder mystery in the dangerous wilds of northern Australia. I am looking forward to seeing how this interesting and complex murder case unfolds and I am very excited to read this new book.

Book Haul – 1 August 2021

On August 1, 2021 By The Unseen LibraryIn Book Haul1 Comment

It has been a while since I have done a Book Haul post, but seeing that I received several interesting books in the last couple of weeks, I thought I would quickly do one to highlight some of the best books I have gotten in the last few weeks. Each of the below books sound extremely cool and captivating, and I cannot wait to see how they all turn out.

Blood Trail by Tony Park (Trade Paperback)

Blood Trail Cover

Australian author Tony Park returns with another intriguing thriller novel set in the game parks of Africa. In Blood Trail, a bold protagonist is forced to go after a group of poachers who have kidnapped tourist, apparently for the purposes of witchcraft. I have really enjoyed some of Park’s previous novels and he has based some great thrillers around poaching and other issues in Africa, such as in Last Survivor and Scent of Fear. I was also really happy to see that my Canberra Weekly review for Ghosts of the Past is featured on the back cover. This should be a really cool book and I cannot wait to check it out.

Tony Park Back Cover

Billy Summers by Stephen King (Trade Paperback)

Billy Summer Cover

I have just received a copy of one of the most anticipated releases of 2021, the latest Stephen King novel, Billy Summers. Billy Summers is a pretty awesome sounding book that will follow an assassin with a conscience as gets drawn into another dark job. I already had a pretty outstanding experience with King’s other 2021 release, Later, earlier this year, and I am fairly certain that Billy Summers is going to be one of the top books of the year.

The 22 Murders of Madison May by Max Barry (Trade Paperback)

The 22 Murders of Madison May Cover

Impressive Australian author Max Barry returns with another outstanding science fiction read. This latest book, The 22 Murders of Madison May, contains a pretty fantastic and clever plot involving a killer travelling between alternate dimensions. I have actually already read this book and it is an outstanding and compelling read. I will hopefully get a review for it out in the next few days.

Unholy Murder by Lynda La Plante (Trade Paperback)

Unholy Murder Cover

Over the last few years, one of the most enjoyable and captivating crime fiction series has been the Jane Tennison series by the queen of crime, Lynda La Plante. Serving as a prequel to the Prime Suspect television show, this series follows a younger version of the show’s protagonist as she attempts to gain the respect of her male colleagues by solving some difficult murders. I have deeply enjoyed several entries in this series so far, including Good Friday, Murder Mile, The Dirty Dozen and Blunt Force, and I have high hopes that the latest book, Unholy Murder, will also be amazing.

The Cellist by Daniel Silva (Trade Paperback)

The Cellist Cover

This is an intriguing and compelling sounding spy thriller from best selling author Daniel Silva. I have not previously read anything from Silva in the past but I have heard great things about this author before. The Cellist sounds like a very interesting novel, and I look forward to seeing what sort of cool thriller the author can produce.

The Inheritance by Gabriel Bergmoser (Trade Paperback)

The Inheritance Cover

Another cool sounding Australian thriller, I am very curious about this one.

The Dark Remains by William McIlvanney and Ian Rankin (Trade Paperback)

The Dark Remains Cover

Highly acclaimed crime fiction author, Ian Rankin, utilizes the manuscripts of the late, great William McIlvanney, to create an exciting new entry in McIlvanney’s Laidlaw series. The Dark Remains will be a very interesting novel and I am extremely curious to see how it turns out.

The Infernal Riddle of Thomas Peach by Jas Treadwell (Trade Paperback)

The Infernal Riddle of Thomas Peach Cover

The final entry in this book haul post is the weird and wonderful sounding The Infernal Riddle of Thomas Peach. This crazy novel offers a unique mystery in 18th century England, and should make for quite the intense read.