Top Ten Tuesday – My Favourite Australian Books from the First Half of 2026

On July 31, 2026July 31, 2026 By The Unseen LibraryIn Australian, List2 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature 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 was to list a participant’s books that they had to have immediately but still haven’t read. While this is an interesting concept, I’m instead going to do something different and will provide two separate lists here that continue my theme of recapping the first half of 2026.

I have had a lot of fun recapping some of the best books, audiobooks and new-to-me-authors from the first half of 2026 in previous weeks, but I also need to spend this time highlighting releases from outstanding Australian authors. While I generally tend to read a great deal of Australian fiction each year due to my location, I have found that the first half of 2026 has been a particularly impressive year for Australian fiction, with some truly outstanding novels from very talented local authors.

As such, I thought I would take this opportunity to highlight some of the very best Australian talents who have so far released books in 2026. To make it onto this list, the book had to be released by an Australia author this year. I tend to take a bit of a different approach to Australian fiction than some other bloggers, as I highlight all books written by Australian authors rather than novels purely set in Australia or featuring Australian characters. The eventual list I pulled together was pretty long, but I was eventually able to whittle it down into the absolute best Australian books of the year so far, which included some amazing reads from across the genres.

Honourable Mentions:

On the Edge by Kate Horan

A compelling and intense novel about secrets in small town Australia.

Red Star Rebels by Amie Kaufman

A very exciting young adult science fiction novel from a major Australian author.

The Writers Retreat by Victoria Brownlee

An intriguing novel with a great take on a recent mystery trope.

We Did It Anyway by Carla Salmon

A fun Australian young adult adventure novel that serves as a sequel to Salmon’s debut We Saw What You Started.

Top Ten Tuesday:

The Red Winter by Cameron Sulivan

A novel that has been a highlight of several of my previous lists, The Red Winter was an excellent debut from Australian author Cameron Sulivan. A unique and compelling read that combined fun fantasy elements with some fascinating dives into French history, The Red Winter was an exceptional novel that had me hooked very early on. A highly recommended book that is a wonderful first entry on this list.

The Lineup by Nicholas Timms

Next up we have probably the most ‘Australian’ novel on this list, with The Lineup by Nicholas Timms. A very compelling crime fiction debut that follows a former surfer who returns home to Byron Bay to find a killer, The Lineup was very impressive novel with some real heart to it. I deeply enjoyed this book, and it truly showcased how distinctive Australian crime fiction can be.

Redbelly Crossing by Candice Fox

One of Australia’s best known crime fiction authors continues to pump out awesome hits in 2026 with Redbelly Crossing by Candice Fox. A powerful standalone Australian thriller, Redbelly Crossing follows two damaged siblings as they investigate a murder in their remote hometown. However, dark secrets soon set the siblings against each other with deadly results. This was a particularly intense read from Fox, who taps into some real-life Australian tragedy with powerful results.

How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates by Shailee Thompson

New Australian author Shailee Thompson had one of the more exciting debuts of 2026, with How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates. A wonderfully entertaining thriller that brings together elements from the horror and rom com genres, How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates was a lot of fun, and I enjoyed Thompson’s extreme take on speed dating.

The Yacht by Kayte Nunn

Another crime fiction read with some international flair was The Yacht by Australian author Kayte Nunn. Set in the sunny waters of Spain, The Yacht sees an ultra-rich family deal with drama aboard their new mega-yacht, while vengeful crewmembers watch from below deck. Expertly bringing together class struggles with some excellent crime fiction elements, The Yacht was a striking standalone novel that is really worth checking out.

Dark Desert Road by Tim Ayliffe

One of my favourite Australian authors Tim Ayliffe had an excellent 2026 with the standalone novel Dark Desert Road. Following two estranged sisters caught on opposites sides of radical sovereign citizens, Dark Desert Road was a gritty and powerful thriller that took an interesting look at a rising element of Australian society. An outstanding read that comes highly recommended.

Warhammer 40,000: Da Freebooterz Code by Justin Woolley

I’m happy that I can include one book from my favourite franchise on this list, with the recent Warhammer 40,000 book Da Freebooterz Code. Written by Australian author Justin Woolley, Da Freebooterz Code was one of the funniest books of the year that saw an ambitious ork pirate facing off against a vengeful human captain. A wonderful and highly entertaining novel that comes highly recommended, especially on audiobook.

The Shark by Emma Styles

Next on this list we have the fascinating and unique crime fiction read, The Shark by Emma Styles. Following two damaged women who have been impacted in different ways by a serial killer haunting Perth, The Shark sees these protagonists attempt to take control of the situation in a very dark way. An intriguing psychological thriller, The Shark was a great read that will stick in the mind well after you’ve finished reading it.

The Couples Retreat by Mercedes Mercier

Mercedes Mercier takes the reader to the iconic Kangaroo Island with her latest novel, The Couples Retreat. Following two separate protagonists caught up in a dramatic mass murder on the island, The Couples Retreat was a fantastic piece of crime fiction that proves easy to get caught up in. Filled with compelling characters and interesting twists, The Couples Retreat is worth reading and I enjoyed its compelling mystery.

Dark Sanctuary by Sarah Barrie

The final piece of Australian fiction that I want to highlight on this list is the twisted thriller Dark Sanctuary. Written by Sarah Barrie, who excels as showcasing the dark side of Australian crime fiction, Dark Sanctuary was a chilling novel about murder and buried secrets told from three different perspectives. Barrie really outdid herself with this powerful book about a deranged serial killer with some unique motives, and Dark Sanctuary ended up being a spectacular and memorable read that is a very worthy novel to end this list on.

As you can see from the above, I have managed to check out a bunch of epic Australian novels in the first half of this year. Each of the above were exceptional and fun reads and I would strongly recommend to everyone. I look forward to reading more awesome Australian books in the second half of 2026, with some many upcoming books likely to make the end-of-year version of this list like Choppy Water by Jack Heath and Bad Neighbours by Joanna Jenkins. Make sure to check out my other recent lists about the first half of 2026, especially my other Top Ten Tuesday post tonight, and let me know what cool Australian books you have already checked out this year.

Top Ten Tuesday – Top New-to-Me Authors That I read in the First Half of 2026

On July 23, 2026 By The Unseen LibraryIn List2 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature 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 required participants to pick ten books that live in my head rent-free, and one I might come back to later, I’m instead going to continue my recent trend of discussing books from the first half of the year and highlight my favourite new-to-me authors That I read in the first half of 2026.

Each year I am lucky enough to read a great number of awesome novels, and this often includes books written by authors whose work I was previously unfamiliar with. 2026 is so far proving to be a great example of this as there were an incredible collection of amazing novels written by authors who were completely new to me. This included some debuting authors, as well as more established writers whose work I only got around to reading this year. Many of these new-to-me authors produced some truly exceptional novels, including one or two which I consider to be some of the best books released in 2026 so far and I really feel the need to highlight them here.

To appear on this list, the book had to be one I read this year and be written by an author who I was unfamiliar with before 2026. If I had not read anything from this author before last year or if their book was a debut, it was eligible to appear here. After some hard work I was able to whittle this down to a manageable top ten list, with my usual generous honourable mentions section. I am really surprised at some of the impressive and enjoyable authors I had to exclude from this list, but I think the below entry really highlights the best new-to-me authors I have enjoyed so far in 2026.

Honourable Mentions:

Kayte Nunn – The Yacht

Kayte Nunn excels with The Yacht, an excellent novel with drama and intrigue on a luxury yacht.

Kate Horan – On the Edge

I read my first Kate Horan novel this year with On the Edge, a deeply compelling Australian crime fiction novel with some great twists behind it.

Leodora Darlington – The Exes

Leodora Darlington had an intriguing debut this year, The Exes, which follows a troubled protagonist and her many difficult relationships.

Mercedes Mercier – The Couples Retreat

I also enjoyed a great book from Mercedes Mercier with The Couple’s Retreat, another fantastic Australian crime fiction novel that examines multiple toxic relationships on the picturesque Kangaroo Island.

Top Ten Tuesday:

Cameron Sullivan – The Red Winter

The first new author I want to highlight is debuting Australian writer, Cameron Sulivan, who presented one of the best books of 2026 so far, The Red Winter. Cleverly bringing together some unique fantasy elements with several periods of French history, The Red Winter was a riveting and highly entertaining novel that I couldn’t stop reading. Easily one of the top debuts of 2026, The Red Winter was so damn good and I am very excited to read more from Sullivan in the future, especially if he decides to write some sequels to this incredible first novel.

Christopher Buehlman – The Blacktongue Thief

After years of having him on my mind, I finally got the chance to read something from acclaimed fantasy author Christopher Buehlamn with his most famous fantasy novel, The Blacktongue Thief. An elaborate and brutal dark fantasy novel, The Blacktongue Thief lived up to all the hype around it, and I ended up powering through its clever adventure story filled with some great characters. I had such an incredible time with my first experience of reading Buehlman’s writing that I intend to read two more books from the author this year, the prequel novel The Daughter’s War and the upcoming sequel The Thrice-Bound Fool, both of which are bound to be extremely awesome.

Nicholas Timms – The Lineup

Another impressive debut Australian author from the first half of 2026 was surfer turned writer Nicholas Timms. Timms has already shown themself to be a rising crime fiction star by writing one of the more Australian novels of the year, The Lineup. Following a traumatised former surfer who returned home to solve a murder he witnessed through a webcam, The Lineup was a captivating and powerful read that I had a wonderful time with. Timms really showcased his ability to write damaged characters in this novel, while the underling surfing elements of The Lineup gave it a unique flavour. Timm’s really impressed me with this debut, and I look forward to reading more from him in the future.

Jennifer Pearson – Drop Dead Famous

Another great new crime fiction author I must rave about is Jennifer Pearson, whose debut young adult thriller, Drop Dead Famous, had one of the best mysteries of 2026 so far. Setting two compelling protagonists on a jarring and moving investigation that unlocks all their respective family’s darkest secrets, Drop Dead Famous had me hooked very early one and I just couldn’t get over how complex and layered the underlying mystery was. I came away really respecting Pearson as an author and I look forward to reading the promised sequel to Drop Dead Famous when it comes out next year.

Callum Davis –Warhammer 40,000: Chem Dog

Fans of this blog know I’m a massive Warhammer fiction fan, and one of the many things I really love about the franchise’s internal publisher, The Black Library, is the way in which they find and cultivate great new authors each year. In 2026 this includes Callum Davis, who presented a particularly exciting entry in the Warhammer 40,000 canon, Chem Dog. Following a trouble commissar as he leads members of a notorious penal legion on a suicide mission, Chem Dog was an excellent first outing from Davis, who really captured the dark nature of the franchise. Loading in some great action with various entertaining characters, Chem Dog showcased Davis’ writing potential, and I hope we see more Warhammer books from him in the future.

Douglas Preston and Alethia Preston – Paradox

The next entry on this list is a little different as Douglas Preston is an author I’ve read a few times before. However, this was the first time I’ve read something written by both Preston and his daughter Alethia Preston, who has made her debut here with Paradox. The sequel to Douglas Preston’s previous novel, Extinction, Paradox was another compelling and over-the-top thriller, that saw the returning protagonists investigate a series of murders seemingly connected to both aliens and radical elements of the Catholic church. I found it quite interesting to read something from this new father/daughter team and the two of them produced a highly entertaining and dark novel that was a lot of fun to get through.

Shailee Thompson – How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates

One of the more exciting and memorable debut authors of 2026 so far is Australian author Shailee Thompson, who provided an exciting and distinctive read with How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates. An exciting novel that served as a compelling hybrid of the slasher and romantic-comedy genres, How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates was an amazing first novel from Thompson, and one that is really worth checking out.

Christopher Cantwell – Star Trek: Red Shirts

I had an amazing time reading my first comic from rising author Christopher Cantwell this year, with Star Trek: Red Shirts. Part of a new generation of Star Trek comics, Red Shirts was a particularly dark take on the classic trop of the doomed Starfleet security officer, and I loved the fun, if brutal, story that Cantwell effectively pulled together in this short miniseries. Filled with some excellent twists and compelling thoughts about life as a short-lived red shirt, Red Shirts was an excellent comic, and I fully intend to grab more comics written by Cantwell in the future.

M. K. Oliver – A Sociopath’s Guide to a Successful Marriage

While I’ve had fun with many new authors this year, I think that the 2026 debut author with the funniest book of the year is M. K. Oliver, who wrote the hilarious thriller A Sociopath’s Guide to a Successful Marriage. Following a driven sociopath who must balance a trouble homelife and great personal ambitions with murder, dark secrets and the machinations of selfish high-society ladies, A Sociopath’s Guide to a Successful Marriage was an extremely funny read that I couldn’t put down. Oliver perfectly blended thrills, twists and entertaining insights from a murderous protagonist you somehow keep rooting for, and the result was something very special. An outstanding first outing from Oliver, and I’m already excited for the sequel coming out next year.

David Annandale – Warhammer 40,000: Apostle

The final new-to-me author I want to highlight on this list is David Annandale. Annandale is a well-known author to Warhammer 40,000 fiction fans, having written several intriguing novels from the franchise. However, until a few months ago I had never had the chance to read one of his books, until his latest entry, Apostle, came out. A fascinating and dark read about opposing religions in the chaotic Warhammer 40,000 universe, Apostle was a great showcase of Annadale’s style, and I’ll be keen to read more of his Warhammer novels going forward. An excellent final new author to highlight on this list.

Well, that’s the end of this latest Top Ten list. I think it turned out rather well and it encapsulates some of the best new authors I have checked out so far in 2026. I look forward to reading more books from these authors in the future and I have no doubt they will produce additional epic and incredible reads. It will be interesting to see what other great new-to-me authors I will get to experience in the rest of 2026, and I am sure there are going to be some exceptional new books from them.

How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates by Shailee Thompson

On July 22, 2026 By The Unseen LibraryIn Australian, Horror, Thriller3 Comments

Publisher: Simon & Schuster (ebook – 3 February 2026)

Series: Standalone

Length: 378 pages

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Australian author Shailee Thompson presents one of the more distinctive and entertaining debuts of 2026, with the addictive horror romance hybrid novel, How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates.

Plot Synopsis:

A hilarious, swoony and downright terrifying horror romance in which a cinephile gets caught in the middle of a murder spree at a speed-dating event and must use her encyclopedic knowledge of the rom-com and horror genres to make it as a real-life Final Girl.

When cinephile Jamie Prescott attends a speed-dating event, she expects to meet some mediocre men and have a laugh – she doesn’t expect one of her dates to have his throat slit at her table during a blackout. When the lights come back on, there are more bodies on the floor and the doors are locked.

Armed with makeshift weapons and her extensive knowledge of what not to do in a slasher, Jamie must figure out how to make it out of the building alive. But as the night progresses, she begins to suspect the killer is committing the slayings to woo one of the daters. Whatever happened to roses and perfume?

And why can’t Jamie stay focused on the important thing here, which is obviously not getting murdered, instead of being distracted by a few hot guys? Especially if one of those hot guys happens to be the bad guy…

Oops.

Laugh-out-loud funny and hide-under-your-bed scary, How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates puts the killer in killer love story.

I’m always on the lookout for unique and out-there crime fiction reads, and with its slasher parody narrative How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates had everything I look for in a novel. Combining a thrilling narrative with some amusing takes on two very different genres, How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates was an excellent first novel from Thompson that is guaranteed to hook you like a serial killer.

Thompson provides a very fast-paced narrative for How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates, which works to bring you in quickly and allow you to enjoy the fun of her entertaining story. This book nearly immediately drags you into the action after an effective introduction to the protagonist and point-of-view character, Jamie, before providing readers with an extended speed-dating sequence. This sequence is fun on several levels, as it not only provides details about much of the supporting cast, including early hints and red herrings, but it also introduces some of the potential romance options for the protagonist. After a sudden yet brutal series of killings, the protagonist and several other speed daters are trapped in the venue, desperately trying to find a way out. Thompson builds up some excellent tension in this first half of the novel, especially with the labyrinthine setting and the clashing personalities, even before the masked killer makes their first official appearance.

Despite the protagonist following certain rules to survive a horror film, the group starts to get separated and hunted by the killer, who is given the moniker Heart Eyes. However, things only get worse when Jamie begins to understand that Heart Eyes is killing to specifically woo her as a messed-up courting ritual. This amplifies up the plot, with Jamie both attempting to sacrifice herself while also getting closer to some of the men she is trapped with in some entertaining, if a little inappropriate, romance sequences. In typical slasher fashion, the supporting cast of the novel are slowly whittled down, with revelations muddying who is responsible for the crime. All of this leads up to the big final confrontation, where Jamie attempts to become the final girl anyway that she can. Without giving too much away, I think the lead-up and execution of the big finale was done well, as Thompson provides a great deal of desperation and intensity, although the result is never in doubt. I will say that I figured out the big twists and identity of the killer early on, although much of this was because of the various film homages I was familiar with. Still, readers come away from this story very satisfied, and it was the thrilling, campy narrative you expect it to be going in.

How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates is an exciting and tense read that cleverly brings two very different genres together. Filled with a range of big personalities, the story is well told from protagonist Jamie Prescott’s perspective, and I loved the intrigue, terror and mistrust that emerges as the plot continues. Thanks to the protagonist’s joint love of romcoms and horror films, as well as the presence of several suspiciously perfect men, How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates quickly starts to feel like a fun mixture of the two genres. Thompson uses this genre mixture to great effect to increase both the entertainment value and the intensity of the plot, especially when it becomes clear that the killer is attempting to romance Jamie from afar. The resulting carnage is very over the top, which becomes even creepier once you realise how everyone is dying due to a killer’s twisted sense of love. Of the two genres, I think that the slasher elements of the book were stronger, and I really must highlight the claustrophobic setting, the various hidden clues about events to come, as well as the growing guilt and fear of the characters. The romcom elements of How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates were also pretty good, if a little forced at times, but it did help to lighten the plot. The result was quite gripping, and I felt that this was a book that will appeal to fans of both genres, as well as anyone looking for something entertaining and unique.

One of the very fun highlights of How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates was the references that Thompson made to classic and iconic horror and romcom films throughout the book. Much of this was in character, with the cinephile protagonist talking about her favourite films and revisiting famous slasher movies to predict how the killer will attack them next. It was very entertaining to see a character with some meta-knowledge of horror tropes try to survive their own slasher experience, although it was frustrating to watch all the characters ignore or forget the very simple rules the character (and the author) brings up multiple times. Still, that gave How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates a bit more of an authentic horror flair, and readers can have a good think about how they would act in a slasher film if they knew all the potential survival rules.

In addition to the references the protagonist deliberately makes there are also a lot more subtle homages that Thompson slides into the book, including in her character’s names. For example, the protagonist is named for two classic final girls, while another character was named for two major horror directors. The author loaded in a lot of other quotes and homages throughout the book, and while I’m personally not a mega fan of either genre, I felt I got most of these references. This allows fans of both genres, and films in general, to have a lot of fun as they try to pick out the easter eggs. Indeed, those readers with an in-depth knowledge of one of these genres can also unlock a teaser about how the plot unfolds if you really dive into the meta-inclusions, and I personally still got a chuckle about how Thompson did this. It was a shame that Thompson named her killer Heart Eyes, as it kept making me think of the 2025 film of the same name, which had some similar story beats. I’m not sure if this was a deep cut from Thompson or an unavoidable coincidence, but you couldn’t help but make some comparisons. However, this didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the novel, and I felt that overall the references in How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates were never too overwhelming, and even someone who has never watched a film can still appreciate the story without getting lost or confused. A very fun inclusion to an exciting and entertaining read.

Shailee Thompson bursts into the fiction scene with the bloody and highly compelling debut, How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates, which ended up being a very fun read. Fast-paced, exciting and featuring some great movie references, How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates was an outstanding novel, and I’ll be very curious to see what this Australian author writes next.

WWW Wednesday – 25 March 2026

On March 28, 2026 By The Unseen LibraryIn WWW WednesdayLeave a comment

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

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

So, let’s get to it.

What are you currently reading:

The Blacktongue Thief by Christopher Buehlman (Paperback)

After powering through several great recent release, I decided to mix things up a little by diving back into an older book that has been on my to-read list for a while. As such, I’ve started reading the outstanding and highly regarded fantasy novel, The Blacktongue Thief. The first book from author Christopher Buehlman, The Blacktongue Thief has had received a lot of love since its release, and I’ve always meant to check it out. With the sequel coming out later this year, I finally decided to check it out, and I’m already having a ton of fun with it. Featuring a great adventure story with an entertaining cast in dark fantasy world, The Blacktonge Thief is deeply impressing, and I’m hoping to knock it off in the next few days. An amazing read that is really living up to the hype around it.

Pretenders to the Throne of God by Adrian Tchaikovsky (Audiobook)

I’m still listening to the excellent fantasy audiobook, Pretenders to the Throne of God by the legendary Adrian Tchaikovsky, this week, and boy is it something special. The fourth book in Tchaikovsky’s Tyrant Philosophers series, Pretenders to the Throne of God follows various individuals caught up in a siege of a fantasy city, all of whom have their own problems and agendas. I’m really loving this book, which blends great personal storylines with a unique setting to create an exceptional read. I’m currently a bit over halfway through Pretenders to the Throne of God at the moment, and I should probably finish it off in the next week. I cannot wait to see how this elaborate novel comes together, and Pretenders to the Throne of God is already an extremely strong contender to be one of my favourite books of 2026.

What did you recently finish reading?

Redbelly Crossing by Candice Fox (ebook)

I managed to finish off the Australian crime fiction novel, Redbelly Crossing by Candice Fox this week. Another cool outback thriller from Fox, Redbelly Crossing was a dark and twisty read that I couldn’t get enough off. An exceptional novel from one of Australia’s top writers.

How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates by Shailee Thompson (ebook)

I absolutely powered through the highly entertaining first book from Australian author Shailee Thompson, How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates this week. A very entertaining read that will saw its slasher film loving protagonist attempt to survive a serial killer stalking a speed dating event, in fun and strangely romantic, horror novel. How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates was an outstanding novel that I powered through extremely quickly.

What do you think you’ll read next?

Dark Desert Road by Tim Ayliffe

I’ve been having an amazing time with Australian crime fiction lately, so the next book I’m hoping to check out is Dark Desert Road by Tim Ayliffe. A cool and intriguing new read from one of my favourite Australian authors, Dark Desert Road looks set to be an incredible book, and I look forward to diving into it.

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

WWW Wednesday – 18 March 2026

On March 20, 2026 By The Unseen LibraryIn WWW WednesdayLeave a comment

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

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

So, let’s get to it.

What are you currently reading:

Redbelly Crossing by Candice Fox (ebook)

I’ve started reading the upcoming Australian crime fiction novel, Redbelly Crossing by Candice Fox this week. Another cool outback thriller from one of Australia’s most well-known authors, Redbelly Crossing has a great plot behind it, as two estranged brothers/cops, attempt to solve a dark murder in a small town. However, it soon becomes clear that only one of the brothers wants to solve the case, while the other wants to bury it by any means they can. I’ve already made a ton of progress on Redbelly Crossing, and it’s proving to be an impressive and complex read, filled with damaged characters. I’m about two thirds of the way through this book at the moment, and I’m very curious to see how the entire thing comes together.

Pretenders to the Throne of God by Adrian Tchaikovsky (Audiobook)

I’ve also recently started listening to the excellent fantasy audiobook, Pretenders to the Throne of God by the legendary Adrian Tchaikovsky. The fourth book in Tchaikovsky’s Tyrant Philosophers series, Pretenders to the Throne of God follows various individuals caught up in a siege of a fantasy city, all of whom have their own problems and agendas. I’m really loving this book so far, which blends great personal storylines with a unique setting to create an exceptional read. I’m hoping to get through a good chunk of Pretenders to the Throne of God in the next week, and I’m curious to see what cool characters and storylines emerge the further we get into it.

What did you recently finish reading?

The Shark by Emma Styles (Trade Paperback)

I managed to knock off the cool Australian thriller, The Shark this week. The second book from author Emma Styles, The Shark is an intriguing crime fiction novel that follows two young women determined to find and stop a serial killer currently terrorising Perth. A cool and interesting read that I am hoping to review soon.

The Hard Line by Mark Greaney (Audiobook)

I’ve also powered through the audiobook version of the new Gray Man novel by Mark Greaney this week, The Hard Line. A very impressive new entry in one of my favourite spy thriller series, The Hard Line sees the protagonist attempt to stop a series of assassinations across the United States, while being hunted by a vengeful assassin, who has come out of retirement specifically to take out the Gray Man. The Hard Line was another exceptional novel from Greaney, and I really enjoyed where this elaborate entry in the series went. A highly recommended and thrilling read.

What Rhymes With Murder by Penny Tangey (ebook)

I had fun quickly reading the entertaining cosy murder mystery, What Rhymes With Murder this week. An intriguing and exciting debut novel from Tangey that makes good use of its parent-based plot.

What do you think you’ll read next?

How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates by Shailee Thompson

I’m in the mood for more cool debuts so the next book I am hoping to check out is the first book from Australian author Shailee Thompson, How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates. A very entertaining sounding read that will feature a deadly series of murders at a speed dating event, in fun and apparently romantic, horror novel. How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates sounds like the perfect book for me, and I look forward to seeing how crazy it turns out to be.

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 – 4 March 2026

On March 7, 2026 By The Unseen LibraryIn WWW Wednesday1 Comment

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

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

So, let’s get to it.

What are you currently reading:

Sister Svangerd and the Not Quite Dead by K. J. Parker (Trade Paperback)

I’ve recently started reading the awesome new fantasy novel Sister Svangerd and the Not Quite Dead by the always impressive K. J. Parker. Following a complicated monk and his murderous nun assistant as they investigate strange occurrences and deaths at a major religious conference, this book is already delivering all of Parker’s trademark chaos, clever humour and complex storytelling as he sets up another outstanding trilogy. I have made a fair bit of progress with Sister Svangerd and the Not Quite Dead so far, and it already looks set to be one of my favourite books of 2026.

Jigsaw by Jonathan Kellerman (Audiobook)

I’ve also started listening to the new Alex Delaware novel from Jonathan Kellerman, Jigsaw, on audiobook. The latest entry in Kellerman’s long-running crime fiction series, Jigsaw sees the protagonists investigate two separate and complex murders which may have an interesting connection to each other. I have managed to knock off a good chunk of Jigsaw so far and I am once again enjoying the realistic style and pacing of this compelling novel. I will probably get through this audiobook in the next few days, and I cannot wait to see how this mystery fully unfolds.

What did you recently finish reading?

The Red Winter by Cameron Sullivan (Trade Paperback)

I absolutely absorbed the awesome Australian debut, The Red Winter by Cameron Sullivan this week, which was so damn good. Primarily set in 18th century France, The Red Winter follows a magical scholar who is forced to face old demons when a monster he previously defeated returns to cause fresh chaos. I had such a great time reading this book, which blended cool fantasy elements with entertaining humour and a curious bit of French history. An outstanding novel I cannot recommend enough.

Warhammer 40,000: Apostle by David Annandale (Audiobook)

I also managed to finish off the latest Warhammer 40,000 audiobook, Apostle by David Annandale. This was a fantastic and dark read that follows a member of the insidious Word Bearers traitor Space Marines as he attempts to convert an entire planet to worship the Chaos gods. A very clever novel that features a great villain perspective, Apostle was a particularly twisted read that I really enjoyed.

What do you think you’ll read next?

How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates by Shailee Thompson

I’m in the mood for more cool debuts so the next book I am hoping to check out is the first book from Australian author Shailee Thompson, How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates. A very entertaining sounding read that will feature a deadly series of murders at a speed dating event, in fun and apparently romantic, horror novel. How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates sounds like the perfect book for me, and I look forward to seeing how crazy it turns out to be.

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 – 17 November 2025

On November 17, 2025 By The Unseen LibraryIn Book Haul1 Comment

I’ve had an excellent couple of weeks for books, as I was lucky enough to receive some incredible and amazing new novels from publishers and Netgalley. These novels include some truly awesome new releases, including books that have the potential to be some of my top reads of the year. I cannot wait to dive into them, and I so excited to see how they all turn out.

Tyrant of Rome by Simon Scarrow

The first recently received book I want to highlight is the awesome historical fiction novel, Tyrant of Rome by Simon Scarrow. The latest entry in the always impressive Eagles of the Empire series, Tyrant of Rome brings back Scarrow’s long-running soldier protagonists as they take on the impossible task of maintaining law and order in ancient Rome. I have been looking forward to this book for a while, and I am hoping to read it next.

Star Wars: Master of Evil by Adam Christopher

I was very happy to receive a copy of the intriguing new Star Wars novel, Master of Evil by Adam Christopher. A chilling and complex sounding Star Wars novel that will follow the newly forged Darth Vader as he completes his journey from Jedi to Sith Lord, Master of Evil is going to be pretty damn amazing, and I cannot wait to check it out.

Hotel Lucky Seven by Kotaro Isaka

One of the more entertaining new novels I received is the amazing Japanese thriller, Hotel Lucky Seven by Kotaro Isaka. A follow-up to some of his previous novels, including Bullet Train and Three Assassins, Hotel Lucky Seven sees the unlucky protagonist of Bullet Train find himself trapped in hotel with several other deadly assassins. Based on the author’s previous books, Hotel Lucky Seven is going to be a ton of fun, and I cannot wait to check it out.

The Knight’s Pledge by Scott Mariani

Scott Mariani continues his Will Bowman series with the exciting novel, The Knight’s Pledge. The sequel to Mariani’s other 2025 release, The Pilgrim’s Revenge, The Knight’s Pledge will place the author’s compelling protagonist in even more danger as part of the Third Crusade. Sure to be an exciting and intense historical read, The Knight’s Pledge sounds fantastic and I’m hoping to get to it soon.

Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino

One of the more interesting new books I recently received was Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino. A fun debut novel from a new author, Best Offer Wins will examine just how far someone will go to win their dream house in the current housing market. Sure to be a gripping, and highly relatable read, Best Offer Wins sounds amazing and I’m planning to get to it in the next few weeks.

The Shark by Emma Styles

While I’m still mainly focused on 2025, I have received some cool 2026 novels, including The Shark by Emma Styles, an intriguing Australian thriller I only recently highlighted. Set in Western Australia, The Shark will see two teenage protagonists kidnap the person they believe are behind a series of brutal killings, resulting in mind games and uncertainty. I love the sound of this book, and I cannot wait to dive into its compelling narrative.

How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates by Shailee Thompson

Another great 2026 novel I recently received is the fantastic and funny sounding thriller, How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates. The first book from Australian author Shailee Thompson, How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates will feature a deadly series of murders at a speed dating event, in fun and apparently romantic, horror novel. I love the sound of this book, and I cannot wait to dive into it.

To Cage a Wild Bird by Brooke Fast

Next, we have the excellent dystopian novel, To Cage a Wild Bird by Brooke Fast. Set in a prison where the rich hunt the inmates, To Cage a Wild Bird has a ton of potential and I’m keen to check it out.

The Crossroads by C. J. Box

The final book I want to highlight in this Book Haul post is the awesome 2026 novel, The Crossroads. The next book in C. J. Box’s long-running Joe Pickett thriller series, The Crossroads sounds like another awesome and action-packed novel that will no doubt keep me very entertained.

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.