Originally published in the Canberra Weekly on 13 April 2023.
A copy of this column also appeared on the Canberra Weekly website.
Make sure to also check out my extended reviews for Dead of Night, The Investigators and Fatal Legacy.
Tag: Fatal Legacy
Quick Review – Fatal Legacy by Lindsey Davis
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton (Trade Paperback – 11 April 2023)
Series: Flavia Albia – Book 11
Length: 397 pages
My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Return to one of my favourite historical fiction series with another clever crime fiction read set in ancient Rome with Fatal Legacy by Lindsey Davis.
While I have had the pleasure of reading many great historical fiction series and books over the years, few have been as enjoyable to me as the Flavia Albia books by legendary author Lindsey Davis. The follow-up to her iconic and long-running Falco novels, the series follow the titular Flavia Albia, a private investigator in Rome who finds herself involved with a series of unusual or gruesome crimes, often resulting in a series of over-the-top events. I have had a great deal of fun with the Flavia Albia books over the years, including 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 and Desperate Undertakings (one of my favourite books of 2022), and I am always excited to check out the latest novel in the series, especially when it has an intriguing plot behind it.
Plot Synopsis:
An unpaid bar bill leads Flavia Albia to her most bitter and complex case yet.
Decades earlier Appius Tranquillus Surus wrote his will: it freed his slaves and bequeathed his businesses to them. He left an orchard to the Prisci, a family he was friendly with, on the condition that his freedmen could still take its harvest.
The convoluted arrangement has led to a feud between the two families, each of which has its own internal strife. Endless claims and counterclaims lead to violence and even death. Lawyers have given up in exasperation as the case limps on. The original will has disappeared, along with a falsified codicil – and might there be another one?
But is there a solution? Two youngsters from each side of the divide, Gaius Venuleius and Cosca Sabatina, have fallen in love, which could unite the feuding families. There is only one problem: were Sabatina’s grandmother and father really liberated in the Surus will? If not, the stigma of slavery will stop the marriage and the dispute will rage on forever.
Reconciliation seems impossible, but Albia will try. Her investigation must cut through decades of secrets, arguments, lies and violence to reach a startling truth.
Fatal Legacy was another compelling and fun entry in the series which once again brings together Davis’ fantastic take on Roman historical fiction with a unique mystery and several entertaining characters. Fatal Legacy was the 11th book in the Flavia Albia series, and it proved to be quite an exciting and addictive read.
I had a lot of fun with Fatal Legacy’s great story, especially as it requires the protagonist to dive into an elaborate family feud. Starting off by chance as Flavia attempts to appease one of her many eccentric relatives by investigating an unpaid bar bill, Flavia soon finds a family even more disastrous than her own when she encounters an infamous Roman clan embroiled in a variety of issues, including a feud with another family over a profitable orchard, as well as various internal conflicts and problems. Hired to find proof that one member of the family was legally freed by their previous master, Flavia is forced to examine the labyrinthine relationships, family history and feuds that define this conflict, all while trying to deal with her own personal concerns. This swiftly descends into a complex mess of many, many secrets, and readers will be left completely enthralled by how the story unfolds.
This was one of the more unique mysteries that Davis has come up with in her series, which really helped to set this book apart. I personally enjoyed how Davis changed the focus of the book onto a family’s internal and external history and drama rather than the typical murder investigation, especially as it made for quite entertaining reading. There are layers upon layers of secrets, betrayals, and hidden family connections that the reader needs to travel through to get to the truth, and you really get caught up in the new characters as a result. The slow trawl through this history results in several great twists and turns, and it was fun watching the protagonist slowly unwind the many threads of the case, while also trying to avoid as much as their bitter conflict as possible. I appreciated have Davis tried to break up this family focused investigation in places by adding in a few entertaining scenes, such as a farcical brawl at the protagonist’s house, as well as several over-the-top encounters amongst the family that Flavia is trying to investigate/help. Despite that, the story does get rather dry and slow in places, especially towards the centre of the book as the reader gets a bit weary of finding out even more layers to the slow-paced mystery that emerges. It also doesn’t help that this case has low stakes, especially compared to some of Davis’s other books that feature murder and serial killers, and this occasionally dulls the reader’s excitement. Despite that, Davis manages to bring together quite an excellent read, and I loved the elaborate and fun reveal sequence at the end, which in some ways acts as a parody to classic whodunnits.
In addition to the clever and elaborate mystery, Fatal Legacy also features a great combination of entertaining characters and the typical fun ancient Rome setting. I always love Davis’ vision of ancient Rome that are featured in the Flavia Albia books, especially as she tries to bring together classic Roman elements with characters and attitudes that are more recognisable in a modern setting. Having the ancient characters speak with modern dialogue and act in ways we would associate more with contemporary people rather than figures in classic times gives the story a relatable and humorous edge at times, and it is always fun to see this version of ancient Rome. This combines well with the cast of Fatal Legacy, especially as Davis introduces an eclectic group of new characters whose complex personal problems result in the book’s intriguing mystery. The fun interactions between Flavia and these figures are very entertaining, and you have to love the protagonist’s cynical and sarcastic observations about the people she is forced to deal with. The chaotic family she is forced to investigate contrasts comedically with Flavia’s own dysfunctional household, which got a good amount of focus in Fatal Legacy. I think that Davis featured Flavia’s own family just the right amount in this latest book (sometimes they can be a bit overwhelming and distracting), and it was fun to see them interact, and at one point get into a massive punch up, with some of the case-specific character of the main plot. All this helps to turn Fatal Legacy into a great read with an excellent blend of mystery, comedy and big personalities.
Overall, I felt that Fatal Legacy was a pretty awesome entry in one of my favourite historical fiction series. Lindsey Davis wrote an outstanding and distinctive story for Fatal Legacy, and readers will enjoy the complex and character-focussed mystery that emerges as a result. While aspects of Fatal Legacy’s narrative might not be as sharp as some of the other books in the Flavia Albia series, this was still an excellent read and one that fans of Davis will have a great time reading.
Top Ten Tuesday – My Favourite Books From the First Half of 2023
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme that currently resides at The Artsy Reader Girl and features bloggers sharing lists on various book topics. The official topic for this week’s Top Ten Tuesday involved listing your favourite book covers in the colours of your country’s flag. While this was an interesting idea, I had already decided in advance of seeing this topic that I would take this opportunity to celebrate the fact that we are already into the second half of 2023 by highlight some amazing books from the first half of the year.
2023 has already proven to be a pretty fantastic year for books, and I have already read some incredible 2023 releases, including impressive standalone books, amazing new entries in established series and fantastic debuts. Because of this, I thought that I would take the time to work out what my top ten favourite books from the first half of 2023 were. To be eligible, a book had to be released in the first half of this year in some form. I have also excluded any books released during this period that I have not so far read, although a couple of releases I have my eye on might have appeared on this list if I had read them in time.
Coming up with this list proved to be a rather bigger task than I originally intended, as I ended up amassing nearly 20 releases, all of which I consider to be some pretty outstanding reads. I was eventually able to whittle this down to an acceptable Top Ten list, although I did include my typical generous honourable mentions section. I am rather happy with how this list turned out, although I am surprised at some of the great recent books that ended up being excluded. Still, the entries below represent what I considered to be some of the best books from the first half of 2023, and I would strongly recommend each and every one of them.
Honourable Mentions:
The Malevolent Seven by Sebastien De Castell
An ultra-fun, ultra-violent fantasy read that pitted a group of amoral mercenary mages against the worst the world had to throw at them. A highly entertaining read.
Fatal Legacy by Lindsey Davis
Another excellent addition to Davis’ long-running Flavia Albia historical murder mystery series. Fatal Legacy featured another compelling case, this time based around an extensive family feud in ancient Rome and is well worth the read.
Unnatural History by Jonathan Kellerman
Veteran crime fiction author Jonathan Kellerman delivered another brilliant entry to his iconic Alex Delaware series this year with the fantastic and clever Unnatural History. A powerful and well-written crime fiction read with a clever solution behind it, this was an amazing addition to the series.
Dead of Night by Simon Scarrow
One of my favourite historical fiction authors, Simon Scarrow, delivered an amazing sequel to his previous World War II thriller, Blackout, with the impressive Dead of Night. Set in Nazi controlled Berlin, Dead of Night had a unique and historically powerful narrative, and this proves to be quite the memorable novel.
Top Ten List (no particular order):
The Book that Wouldn’t Burn by Mark Lawrence
Acclaimed author Mark Lawrence produced one of his best fantasy books ever with the outstanding and epic, The Book That Wouldn’t Burn. Set in a massive fantasy library, The Book That Wouldn’t Burn contains a complex and twist-laded narrative that had me hooked from the very beginning. Lawrence really outdid himself with The Book That Wouldn’t Burn and this is such an incredible read.
I always make sure to check out the new Gray Man novel by top thriller author Mark Greaney each year and I am never disappointed, especially with the latest book Burner. Burner was a hyper-intense and action packed read that didn’t stop once during its entire run. Perfectly exploring contemporary history and tying it into ongoing storylines, Burner was a particularly strong addition to the already great Gray Man series and it comes very highly recommended.
Usagi Yojimbo: The Green Dragon by Stan Sakai
Unsurprisingly, I had to include the new Usagi Yojimbo comic in this list, as it still one of my all-time favourite comic series. Despite the series’ age, Stan Sakai is still pumping out some outstanding stories, and The Green Dragon was a pretty amazing addition to the series. Following the titular rabbit ronin as he journeys through his version of Feudal Japan, The Green Dragon featured three amazing stories, each one perfectly showcasing the complex characters and Sakai’s striking art style. Another masterful entry in this amazing series, I loved The Green Dragon and I’m hoping to get a proper review up for it soon.
Son of the Poison Rose by Jonathan Maberry
One of my favourite authors, Jonathan Maberry, continued to explore the dark fantasy genre in a big way with his violent and captivating novel, Son of the Poison Rose. The epic sequel to Kagen the Damned (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2022), Son of the Poison Rose continues to follow the adventure of a doomed and damned protagonist, desperate for revenge, while also cleverly expanding Maberry’s awesome new fantasy realm. Brutal, uncompromising, but utterly addictive, Son of the Poison Rose was another incredible book from Maberry and I had an exceptional time reading it.
A new author I tried out in the first half of 2023 was historical fiction author Ian Ross, who presented a cool medieval adventure story. Battle Song was an outstanding read, that saw a naïve squire follow a cynical knight through tournaments, politics and civil war, in a deeply entertaining and powerful story. Set amongst a unique period of English history, I got pretty damn hooked on Battle Song and I was really impressed with his style, fun characters, and awesome action sequences. A very exciting novel that all fans of historical fiction will enjoy, Battle Song is really worth checking out.
The Will of the Many by James Islington
Easily one of the best books I have read so far this year was the outstanding fantasy novel, The Will of the Many by Australian author James Islington. An addictive and inventive read set primarily in a magical school (one of my favourite fantasy settings), The Will of the Many follows a rebellious student with secrets who is dragged into multiple conspiracies. Featuring a bold new universe, a complex story, and some great characters, The Will of the Many was a joy to read from start to finish and I cannot recommend it enough, especially those looking for a new series to dive into.
The Lion: Son of the Forest by Mike Brooks
I had to include at least one Warhammer 40,000 novel on this list and few new books from this franchise impressed me as much this year as The Lion: Son of the Forest by Mike Brooks. Brooks, whose work I previously enjoyed with Warboss and Huron Blackheart: Master of the Maelstrom, produced one of his strongest books yet with The Lion: Son of the Forest. Following the return of an iconic character from the franchise lore, The Lion: Son of the Forest was a powerful and action-packed read that told a great story of return, redemption and revenge. A must-read for all Warhammer 40,000 fans, The Lion: Son of the Forest was an outstanding book and Brooks is proving to be one the best rising authors in the franchise.
Her Sweet Revenge by Sarah Bonner
Following on from the success of her first novel, Her Perfect Twin (one of my favourite debuts of 2022), Sarah Bonner released another awesome thriller this year with Her Sweet Revenge. Following a grieving protagonist who wants revenge for her best friend’s murder, Her Sweet Revenge is fantastic series of twists, turns and clever reveals, all of which is so damn fun to read. I loved this great second book from Bonner and I cannot wait to see what she writes next.
City of Last Chances by Adrian Tchaikovsky
I’m slightly cheating by including City of Last Chances here because it was initially released in 2022. However, the version I managed to get didn’t come out in Australia until earlier this year, so I’m counting it for this list. It helps that City of Last Chances was an exceptional and highly inventive fantasy read that blew me away with its scope, cleverness and complex characters. Featuring a very distinctive and fun style, City of Last Chances was a particularly amazing book from Adrian Tchaikovsky (Ogres and Day of Ascension), and I had an outstanding time diving into this cool and memorable setting. An epic read that comes very, very highly recommended.
The Last Kingdom by Steve Berry
The final book I want to highlight on this list is the awesome Cotton Malone thriller, The Last Kingdom, by veteran author Steve Berry. Set around a unique conspiracy from Bavaria, The Last Kingdom is an outstanding combination of modern-day thriller and an impressive dive into Bavaria’s complex past. I have so much love for Berry’s outstanding ability to weave together a fantastic historical conspiracy, and this was probably one of the better entries in the Cotton Malone series that I have had the pleasure of reading.
Well, that’s the end of this latest list. As you can see, I have already read some amazing and epic books so far in 2023 and we are only halfway through the year. I am pretty happy with how this list turned out, and it will be interesting to see which of these books ends up being amongst my top reads of the year. All the novels above come very highly recommended, and you are guaranteed to have a wonderful time reading them. Let me know what your favourite releases for the first half of the year are in the comments below and make sure to check out my two most anticipated reads lists (fantasy and science fiction and other), as well as which of the above books you liked the most.
WWW Wednesday – 12 April 2023
WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme 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?
The Last Orphan by Gregg Hurwitz
I just started reading the latest Orphan X novel by Gregg Hurwitz, The Last Orphan, which is proving to be a lot of fun. I have deeply enjoyed this exceptional series over the last few years and so far, The Last Orphan is another outstanding read. This new book sees Evan Smoak, the titular Orphan X, forced to choose between his freedom and his principles when the President captures him to undertake a controversial assassination mission. The first 50 pages of The Last Orphan have been really exciting and I cannot wait to see what happens next.
City of Last Chances by Adrian Tchaikovsky
I am still listening to the audiobook version of the epic fantasy novel, City of Last Chances by Adrian Tchaikovsky, although I have made a ton of progress in the last week. Set in an occupied city, City of Last Chances follows a huge cast of unique characters as they get into all manner of trouble in some weird and funny situations. I have really gotten into this amazing novel, especially as each new chapter presents the reader with a new, captivating, character-driven story. All these stories are coming together really well to form an elaborate and epic overarching plot, and I have had an incredible time with the entire book. I really cannot wait to see where Tchaikovsky takes this awesome story next and this is already shaping up to be one of the top books of 2023 for me. I will hopefully finish this audiobook off in the next few days, and I am really loving everything about City of Last Chances.
What did you recently finish reading?
I only managed to finish off one book this week, Fatal Legacy by Lindsey Davis. Luckily this proved to be a particularly awesome book and one I had a great time reading. Davis produced another exceptional historical crime fiction story in Fatal Legacy, and I loved the elaborate and funny mystery contained within.
What do you think you’ll read next?
Star Wars: Battle Scars by Sam Maggs
I think I might try and dive into this cool Star Wars books in the next week, especially as we are so close to the new Star Wars Jedi game coming out. I am very curious to see how Sam Maggs captures the feel of both the game and the extended Star Wars universe and this sounds like it will be a fun and interesting read.
The Tyrant Skies by David Annadale
Another awesome tie-in book that has really caught my attention is the early copy of The Tyrant Skies I received on Netgalley. Featuring a cool story about Doctor Doom taking on the Red Skull, The Tyrant Skies sounds like something I will have an outstanding time with and I am hoping to quickly knock it out in the next week or so.
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 – 5 April 2023
WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme 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?
Fatal Legacy by Lindsey Davis
I was in a historical fiction mood this week, so I started reading Fatal Legacy by Lindsey Davis. The latest book in one of my favourite historical crime fiction series, Fatal Legacy sees determined investigator Flavia Albia attempt to resolve a tricky legal situation in ancient Rome. I haven’t made too much progress with Fatal Legacy yet but so far I am enjoying Davis’ usual blend of humour, historical detail and crazy characters.
City of Last Chances by Adrian Tchaikovsky
After finishing Ogres this week, I decided to get another fix of acclaimed author Adrian Tchaikovsky when I started listening to the audiobook version of his latest novel, City of Last Chances. Set in an occupied city, City of Last Chances follows several unique characters as they get into all manner of trouble in some weird and funny stories. I haven’t gotten too far into this audiobook yet, but I am rather enjoying the intriguing mixture of stories, all written in Tchaikovsky’s unique style. I look forward to seeing where Tchaikovsky takes this awesome book and I have a feeling it is going to be one of the top books of 2023 for me.
What did you recently finish reading?
Dead of Night by Simon Scarrow (Trade Paperback)
I managed to finish off the outstanding historical murder mystery Dead of Night by Simon Scarrow this week and it proved to be a fantastic and captivating read. The sequel to Scarrow’s previous novel, Blackout, Dead of Night told a powerful story that combined a murder investigation with compelling and dark insights into the Nazi regime. An amazing novel, I will hopefully get a review up for it soon.
Ogres by Adrian Tchaikovsky (Audiobook)
A very entertaining and distinctive novella from a real talent. Make sure to check out my recent review for Ogres.
Warhammer 40,000: Necropolis by Dan Abnett
After having so much fun with the first two Gaunt’s Ghosts novels, First and Only and Ghostmaker, I just had to see what carnage occurred in the third entry, Necropolis. This powerful and action-packed novel was quite the exceptional read and I had an epic time getting through it. I’m actually putting up a Throwback Thursday post about it right after this, so make sure to check it out.
The Investigators by Anthony Hill (Trade Paperback)
A fascinating and highly detailed historical novel that follows an iconic voyage around Australia.
What do you think you’ll read next?
The Last Orphan by Gregg Hurwitz
I am hoping to finally get around to reading the latest Orphan X novel by Gregg Hurwitz next, The Last Orphan. I have deeply enjoyed this exceptional series over the last few years and I cannot wait to see what happens in this next, ominously named 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.
WWW Wednesday – 29 March 2023
WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme 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?
Dead of Night by Simon Scarrow (Trade Paperback)
I just started reading the awesome historical murder mystery Dead of Night by Simon Scarrow, which looks set to be a pretty exceptional read. The sequel to Scarrow’s previous novel, Blackout, Dead of Night follows an honest detective in Berlin during World War II who attempts to solve a murder against the wishes of his Nazi masters. Scarrow is already one of my absolute favourite historical fiction authors and I had a fantastic time reading Blackout. As such, I have no doubt this will be an exceptional read and I can’t wait to see how this book turns out.
Ogres by Adrian Tchaikovsky (Audiobook)
I had planned to listen to the Adrian Tchaikovsky audiobook City of Last Chances next but instead I decided to listen to another Tchaikovsky audiobook, Ogres. An intriguing standalone read that envisions a world where ogres rule over the humans, this is a great audiobook that I am having a ton of fun with. I have made a fair bit of progress with Ogres so far and I am hoping to knock it off in the next day or so.
What did you recently finish reading?
Judgement Day by Mali Waugh (Trade Paperback)
An excellent murder mystery book from a fantastic new voice in Australian fiction.
Son of the Poison Rose by Jonathan Maberry (Audiobook)
I put in a ton of effort over the weekend and finished off the audiobook version of Son of the Poison Rose by Jonathan Maberry. The sequel to Maberry’s epic 2022 fantasy novel, Kagen the Damned, Son of the Poison Rose was an exceptional read that had me hooked from start to finish. One of the best audiobooks of 2023 so far, I had such an incredible time with Son of the Poison Rose and I am hoping to get a review up for it soon.
Kill Team by Gav Thorpe (Paperback)
After really enjoying the first Last Chancers novel by Gav Thorpe, 13th Legion, I decided to quickly break up my reading schedule and check out the second novel, Kill Team. Following the doomed members of the 13th Penal Legion as they embark on another suicide mission, Kill Team was a great read and I am hoping to get a Throwback Thursday review for it up soon.
3 Days to Live by James Patterson (Paperback)
I had been meaning to read the cool James Patterson book, 3 Days to Live for a while and I finally got a chance earlier this week. Featuring three short stories by Patterson and three over great authors, this was an excellent and easy read that I had a ton of fun with.
What do you think you’ll read next?
I’m in a real historical fiction mood this week so the next book I am hoping to check out is Fatal Legacy by Lindsey Davis. The latest book in one of my favourite historical crime fiction series, Fatal Legacy will see determined investigator Flavia Albia attempt to resolve a tricky legal situation in ancient Rome. Bound to be funny, clever and addictive, I cannot wait to get into this book.
City of Last Chances by Adrian Tchaikovsky
After I get through Ogres, my plan is to listen to the other Adrian Tchaikovsky audiobook on my play list City of Last Chances. The plot synopsis promises revolution, war and intrigue, and I cannot to find out what masterful tale Tchaikovsky has woven together this time.
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.
Book Haul – 27 March 2023
It’s been a while since I’ve done a Book Haul post so I figured I would try quickly update everyone on all the awesome books I have recently received. I have been having a great couple of weeks for book, as I have been lucky enough to receive several amazing new novels from some of my local publishers, and I have even more on the way. These include some truly awesome new releases, including some of the top releases from 2023. I am extremely keen to check out all of the books below and they should make for some amazing reads.
Fatal Legacy by Lindsey Davis
Another epic entry in one of my favourite historical fiction series, Fatal Legacy will see Lindsey Davis’ outstanding protagonist, Flavia Albia, attempt to uncover a tricky and deadly legal situation in ancient Rome. This has the potential to be one of the best books of 2023 and I am very excited for it.
Echo Lake by Joan Sauers
An intriguing Australian crime fiction read from Joan Sauers that sounds quite compelling. I look forward to unwinding Sauers’ complex mystery set in the Southern Tablelands of Australia.
The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz
Murder and death at a mysterious horror writing retreat in the remote wilds, if that isn’t a great setting for a fun horror book, I don’t know what is.
Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson
I was very excited to receive a new standalone novel from Brandon Sanderson with Tress of the Emerald Sea. Part of his massive Cosmere shared universe, Tress of the Emerald Sea is an elaborate fantasy book that apparently has some similarities to The Princess Bride. I look forward to diving into this captivating tale and I am sure it is going to be magical in all the right ways.
The Blind Spots by Thomas Mullen
One of the books I am particularly glad I got a copy of is The Blind Spots by Thomas Mullen. A high concept murder mystery set in a world where everyone went blind, The Blind Spots sounds like will be a pretty epic read and I look forward to seeing both Mullen’s compelling mystery and the intriguing new world he envisions.
Ozark Dogs by Eli Cranor
Chaos, gunfights and extreme family feuds all set within the confines of a deadly Ozark junkyard, this should be a pretty awesome read and I can’t wait to dive into it.
Silver in the Bone by Alexandra Bracken
I was very happy to receive a copy of Silver in the Bone, the latest fantasy novel from Alexandra Bracken. Featuring a fantastic sounding tale with some intriguing Arthurian elements to it, Silver in the Bone should be an amazing read and I particularly love that cool cover it has.
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
A compelling new fantasy read from Rebecca Yarros that will see a fragile women forced to enroll in a deadly dragon academy where everything wants to kill her. I love a great magical school scenario and I can’t wait to see what happens in this awesome sounding book.
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.
Top Ten Tuesday – Books on my Autumn 2023 TBR
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme that currently resides at The Artsy Reader Girl and features bloggers sharing lists on various book topics. The official Top Ten Tuesday topic for this week was around Bookish People I’d Like to Meet, however, I decided to instead move up my quarterly post about the best upcoming books to read (TBR) for the following three months. This is a regular post I do at the start of each season, and as this is the first Tuesday of Autumn (Spring for folks in the Northern Hemisphere), this is the ideal time to put this up.
For this list, I have come up with 10 of the most anticipated novels that are coming out between 1 March 2023 and 31 May 2023. There are quite a few very cool novels set for release in the next few months that I am extremely excited for, including some of my most anticipated book of the year (as well as my most anticipated fantasy/science fiction books of the year). Due to how impressive some of these upcoming books are, it took me a little while to finalise my list but I was eventually able to whittle it down into a Top Ten list (with a few honourable mentions). I have primarily used the Australian publication dates to reflect when I will be able to get these awesome novels, and these might be somewhat different to the rest of the world. I have previously discussed a number of these books before in prior Top Ten Tuesdays and Waiting on Wednesday articles and I think all of them will turn out to be pretty incredible reads. I have extremely excited for the next three months as quite a few up these upcoming reads are easily going to be amongst the best books of 2023.
Honourable Mentions:
The Kind Worth Saving by Peter Swanson – 7 March 2023
The intriguing new novel from the entertaining Peter Swanson (Rules for Perfect Murders and Nine Lives), The Kind Worth Saving sounds very cool and I’ve heard some great stuff about it from fellow reviewers. I might try to read the preceding novel, The Kind Worth Killing, before I get to The Kind Worth Saving, but we’ll see how it goes.
A Hunger of Thorns by Lili Wilkinson – 18 April 2023
A cool young adult fantasy read from the always impressive Australian author Lili Wilkinson. I had a lot of fun with her last two young adult books, After the Lights Go Out and The Erasure Initiative, and I imagine this one is going to be a ton of fun as well.
Empire by Conn Iggulden – 25 May 2023
Intense and detailed historical fiction from legendary author Conn Iggulden, this will be an exceptional read that I am quite excited for.
Top Ten List:
Battle Song by Ian Ross – 28 March 2023
Fire With Fire by Candice Fox – 4 April 2023
Her Sweet Revenge by Sarah Bonner – 6 April 2023
Fatal Legacy by Lindsey Davis – 11 April 2023
Usagi Yojimbo: The Green Dragon by Stan Sakai – 18 April 2023
The release dates for this comic keeps getting knocked back, but I’m really hoping that I will be able to get this epic new volume in April.
The Lake House by Sarah Beth Durst – 25 April 2023
The Sword Defiant by Gareth Ryder-Hanrahan – 2 May 2023
The Book that Wouldn’t Burn by Mark Lawrence – 11 May 2023
An epic Mark Lawrence novel set in a massive fantasy library; do I need to say any more?
The Will of the Many by James Islington – 23 May 2023
Witch King by Martha Wells – 30 May 2023
Well, that is the end of my Top Ten list. I think it turned out pretty well and it does a good job of capturing all my most anticipated books for the next three months. Each of the above should be extremely epic, and I cannot wait to read each of them soon. Let me know which of the above you are most excited for and stay tuned for reviews of them in the next few months. In the meantime, it looks like I have quite a few books to get through soon and they should all be pretty awesome.
Top Ten Tuesday – Most Anticipated Books Releasing in the First Half of 2023 (Mystery, thrillers, comics and historical fiction)
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 the first Top Ten Tuesday of 2023, I will be listing my most anticipated upcoming books for the first half of the year. This is a regular post I do each year and I always look forward to highlighting the most awesome looking books for the start of the year. I am actually planning to do two versions of this list, one that will exclusively look at upcoming fantasy and science fiction books, and this one that will focus on upcoming books from other genres, including thrillers, crime fiction, historical fiction, comics and more.
Despite only just starting, 2023 is already shaping up to be an epic and exciting year for books with a huge range of impressive and highly anticipated novels due for release in the next 12 months. This includes exciting debuts, anticipated sequels and the latest entries in beloved bestselling series. The first half of the year is looking particularly awesome, with a substantial number of incredible upcoming releases that I am deeply looking forward to.
Even though I excluded fantasy and science fiction books, this ended up being a rather difficult list to pull together due to all the awesome releases coming out in Australia between 1 January 2023 and 30 June 2023. There were way too many extraordinary upcoming books that I could have included, and I ended up having to make some very tough calls and cutting several novels that have an immense amount of potential. Despite this, I am rather happy with the eventual choices that I made, and I think that this list reflects the upcoming novels and comics I am going to have the most fun reading. I have mentioned several of these books before in my weekly Waiting on Wednesday articles, and some of them also appeared on my recent Summer TBR list. However, there are also some interesting new books that I am discussing for the first time here, so that should give this list a bit of variety. So let us get to my selections and find out which upcoming novels are my most anticipated releases for the first half of 2023.
Honourable Mentions:
The Last Kingdom by Steve Berry – 21 February 2023
The next entry in Steve Berry’s brilliant Cotton Malone series, The Last Kingdom has a lot of potential for a fun read. Set to feature a compelling historical conspiracy, I know I’m going to have a lot of fun with this book and I can’t wait to read it.
The Kind Worth Saving by Peter Swanson – 28 February 2023
I have been having a lot of fun with Peter Swanson’s crime fiction books lately and I’m sure his upcoming book, The Kind Worth Saving, is going to be awesome.
Battle Song by Ian Ross – 28 March 2023
A fantastic sounding historical read, loaded with war, corrupt knights and deadly tournaments.
Top Ten List:
Unnatural History by Jonathan Kellerman – 14 February 2023
I am always guaranteed to have an amazing time in the first half of the year with the latest Alex Delaware novel by Jonathan Kellerman. I have deeply enjoyed several recent books in this long-running series (including The Wedding Guest, The Museum of Desire, Serpentine and City of the Dead) and I am very excited for the next entry. Set to focus on the murder of a controversial photographer, the always entertaining team of psychologist Alex Delaware and his best friend, Lieutenant Milo Sturgis, must determine if his death was the result of his work or his uber-rich family. Sure to be one of the best mysteries of 2023.
The Last Orphan by Gregg Hurwitz – 14 February 2023
One of the best current thriller authors, Gregg Hurwitz, continues his deep and action-packed Orphan X series with The Last Orphan. This latest book will see the former government agent turned vigilante protagonist Evan Smoak forced to decide whether to take one last contract for the United States Government or risk his freedom and his new life by defying the President. This has been a consistently awesome series (I have had an amazing time with previous entries, Out of the Dark, Into the Fire, Prodigal Son and Dark Horse), and Hurwitz has set up some compelling and emotionally rich storylines heading into The Last Orphan. I know I am going to love this book and I cannot wait to read it.
Dead of Night by Simon Scarrow – 16 February 2023
One of my favourite historical fiction authors, Simon Scarrow, returns with another complex historical murder mystery set in Nazi Germany. The sequel to his previous novel, Blackout, Dead of Night will present the reader with another dark murder where the principled detective protagonist is forced to go against the wishes of the Nazi regime. I always deeply enjoy anything Scarrow writes, but I have a feeling this is going to be a particularly epic read.
Burner by Mark Greaney – 21 February 2022
Few books in the first half of 2023 have me more excited than the new Gray Man novel from Mark Greaney, Burner. Following on from such epic reads as The Gray Man, Mission Critical, One Minute Out (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2020), Relentless (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2021) and Sierra Six (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2022), Burner has a lot to live up to, but with Greaney at the helm I already know I am going to love it. This latest book will place protagonist Court Gentry firmly between the CIA and the Russian mob in an explosive and entertaining confrontation. This will no doubt be another five-star read and I can’t wait to get my hands on it.
Usagi Yojimbo: The Green Dragon by Stan Sakai – 21 February 2023
I had to include the next entry of one of my favourite comic series on this list with the upcoming Usagi Yojimbo volume, The Green Dragon by Stan Sakai. I absolutely love this epic comic series and every new volume is a must read for me, especially after some of the recent awesome volumes released in colour (Bunraku and Other Stories, Homecoming, Tengu War! and Crossroads). This new volume will feature two amazing sounding stories and I already know I am going to have an exceptional time reading it.
City Under One Roof by Iris Yamashita – 28 February 2023
One of the more intriguing debuts of 2023 is the excellent sounding murder mystery book, City Under One Roof by screenwriter Iris Yamashita. Set in a unique community, City Under One Roof has an awesome story behind it and I am very excited to dive into this complex and compelling mystery.
Her Sweet Revenge by Sarah Bonner – 6 April 2023
After presenting one of the very best debuts of 2022, Her Perfect Twin, author Sarah Bonner returns with another elaborate thriller in Her Sweet Revenge. Set around two women who have very different reactions to the same mysterious note, Her Sweet Revenge looks set to be another twisty and addictive read that I have extremely high hopes for.
Fatal Legacy by Lindsey Davis – 11 April 2023
The always impressive Lindsey Davis has yet another book in her long-running Flavia Albia series coming out in a few months with Fatal Legacy. The 11th entry in this great historical murder mystery series (which has featured excellent reads like Pandora’s Boy, A Capitol Death, The Grove of the Caesars, A Comedy of Terrors and Desperate Undertaking), Fatal Legacy presents the reader with another intriguing case in the iconic setting of ancient Rome. This time focused on a complex legal dispute between two rival families, Fatal Legacy has a great deal of promise and should be a wildly entertaining read.
The Lake House by Sarah Beth Durst – 25 April 2023
I have had an epic time with some of Sarah Beth Durst’s recent fantasy novels such as Race the Sands and The Bone Maker, so I am excited to follow her into a different genre with her upcoming young adult thriller The Lake House. A fun and intense sounding book with some major horror vibes, The Lake House sees three young women arrive at a remote summer camp to find it abandoned with a dead body in the woods. I can’t wait to see Durst’s take on a classic horror scenario, and I have a lot of faith that this is going to be an exceptional book.
Empire by Conn Iggulden – 25 May 2023
One of the very best historical fiction books of 2023 is definitely going to be the next book by legendary author Conn Iggulden, Empire. The fourth book in his current series about ancient Athens (which has previously featured The Gates of Athens, Protector and Lion), Empire will follow the rise of Pericles and shows the early stages of the upcoming war between Athens and Sparta. Set to be filled with exquisite historic details and outrageous figures from the fast, Empire is going to be an amazing read with a great story to it.
That is the end of this list. I am extremely happy with how my latest Top Ten Tuesday article turned out and this list contains an intriguing collection of upcoming books that should prove to be incredible reads. I think that nearly every one of these books has the potential to get a full five-star rating from me and I cannot wait to see what amazing and exciting stories they contain. While I am waiting to get my hands on these books, why not let me know if any of the above interest you, as well as what your most anticipated releases for the next six months are in the comments below. Also, make sure to check out my other Top Ten List with the top upcoming fantasy books of 2023.
Waiting on Wednesday – Fatal Legacy by Lindsey Davis
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 one of my most anticipated historical fiction reads of 2023, with the epic and captivating sounding Fatal Legacy by Lindsey Davis.
Early each year I get a particularly satisfying historical murder mystery fix with the exceptional writing of Lindsey Davis, who has been pumping out hits since 1989. Best known for her Marcus Didius Falco series, Davis’s work focuses on ancient Rome and generally see her protagonist, originally the titular Falco, investigate a series of elaborate crimes. The Falco books ended in 2010, but Davis soon followed them up with her current series, the Flavia Albia books, which follow the daughter of Falco as she gets involved in a series of similar investigations to her father.
I have been a pretty big fan of the Flavia Albia series since the get go, having received a copy of the first book, The Ides of April, when it came out in 2013, and I had an absolute blast with it. I have since gone on to read most of the books in this series and I absolutely love the fantastic blend of dark mystery, compelling characters, fun humour, and interesting historical details that often require the protagonist to dive into some unique aspect of Roman life. Each of the previous books in the series have been excellent in their own way, and I have had an absolute blast with awesome books such as 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 and Desperate Undertakings (one of my favourite books from the first half of 2022). Many of these books have gotten five-star reviews from me and I have such an amazing time getting through all of them.
Naturally, after absolutely enjoying the first 10 books in the Flavia Albia series, there is no way I am going to miss the 11th, and luckily I don’t have to wait too much longer for it. The next Flavia Albia book will be Fatal Legacy, which is currently set for release in April 2023. I already love the sound of this upcoming books as it will see the protagonist involved in a complex feud between two rival families:
Synopsis:
The next witty, must-read book in the Flavia Albia series.
An unpaid bar bill leads Flavia Albia to her most bitter and complex case yet.
Decades earlier Appius Tranquillus Surus wrote his will: it freed his slaves and bequeathed his businesses to them. He left an orchard to the Prisci, a family he was friendly with, on the condition that his freedmen could still take its harvest.
The convoluted arrangement has led to a feud between the two families, each of which has its own internal strife. Endless claims and counterclaims lead to violence and even death. Lawyers have given up in exasperation as the case limps on. The original will has disappeared, along with a falsified codicil – and might there be another one?
But is there a solution? Two youngsters from each side of the divide, Gaius Venuleius and Cosca Sabatina, have fallen in love, which could unite the feuding families. There is only one problem: were Sabatina’s grandmother and father really liberated in the Surus will? If not, the stigma of slavery will stop the marriage and the dispute will rage on forever.
Reconciliation seems impossible, but Albia will try. Her investigation must cut through decades of secrets, arguments, lies and violence to reach a startling truth.
Now, while I was already quite excited for this cool upcoming book, the above synopsis has got me very intrigued for Fatal Legacy. This is mainly because the protagonist will find herself drawn into quite a complex sounding case, with feuding families attempting to gain control of a wealthy track of land. This case itself sounds more like a legal thriller than anything else and I can’t wait to see Davis’s great take on the Roman legal system. This will pair nicely with the inevitable murders, thefts, and schemes that Flavia Ablia will be forced to investigate, and I am sure that she will have to dig deep into both family’s secrets to find the truth. Throw in a doomed, Shakespearian romance between two young lovers from each family and this has all the makings for another Lindsey Davis classic that I will have a wonderful time reading.
Based on how much fun and excitement I have had with the Flavia Albia series in the past, I was pretty damn hyped for Fatal Legacy, even before I knew what it was going to be about. However, now that I can see just how interesting the new Davis’s story is going to be, I am even more pumped. The plot synopsis above is extremely epic and I cannot wait to see what complex and twisty narrative, rich with historical detail, that the author comes up with. I am already highly confident Fatal Legacy is going to be one of the best historical fiction books I read in 2023, and I will make every effort to grab a copy as soon as I can.
The Unseen Library 