Top Ten Tuesday – Ten Favourite Books From Ten Series

On August 7, 2024 By The Unseen LibraryIn List3 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. For this week, Top Ten Tuesday participants are tasked with choosing ten separate series and then listing their favourite book from that series. This was a rather interesting topic that really got me thinking. No matter how outstanding a series is, there is always at least one book that stands just that little bit above the rest, and I was curious to see how a list along those lines would turn out.

To come up with this list, I ran through some of my top novel and comic book series to try and work out what the most glaring examples of my favourite entries were. I tried to limit my choices to longer series rather than trilogies, and I also went for series that I’m mostly up to date with, rather than those I’ve only made a little bit of progress on. Despite these limitations, I ended up with a huge range of potential entries and I had to spend a bit of time culling down my initial list. I’m pretty happy with how the final version of this post came out, as there are some excellent books featured within. I do note that some of the series I mention below are recurring features in my other Top Ten Tuesday lists, but as they’re my favourites, that’s hardly too surprising. So let us see what made the cut.

Honourable Mentions:

The Gray Man – Gray Man series by Mark Greaney

An impressive debut that still stands up as the best book in this top spy thriller series.

Necropolis – Warhammer 40,000: Gaunt’s Ghosts series by Dan Abnett

Featuring an epic siege and deadly action, Necropolis is a particularly bright spot in an exceptional Warhammer series.

The Grove of the Caesars – Flavia Albia series by Lindsey Davis

There are so many great mysteries contained in this Roman historical fiction series, however, my favourite is The Grove of the Caesars, which contains a particularly dark story.

Thrawn – Star Wars: Thrawn series by Timothy Zahn

An amazing read reintroducing one of the best characters in the Star Wars canon. Thrawn is so much fun, and it serves as the best book in the new Thrawn trilogy, as well as Zahn’s other Thrawn related novels in the new Star Wars extended universe.

Top Ten Tuesday:

Guards! Guards! – Discworld series by Terry Pratchett

Unsurprisingly considering the name of this blog, I’m starting this list off with a Discworld novel. Written by the late great Terry Pratchett, the Discworld books remain one of my top series, and I cannot emphasise how outstanding these novels are. While there are many, many great books in this series, if I had to pick an absolute favourite it will probably be Guards! Guards!. Not only is this Pratchett at his very best, expertly combining a compelling mystery with hilarious fantasy elements, but it also sets up my favourite Discworld sub-series and introduces so many popular characters. A truly exceptional read and the best book to check out if you want to become addicted to the Discworld.

The Third Day, The Frost – Tomorrow series by John Marsden

Another formative book series for me is the Tomorrow series by John Marsden. An iconic Australian young adult series, the Tomorrow books follow a group of teenagers attempting to survive a brutal invasion of Australia. I honestly love every novel in this series, as Marsden produces an intense narrative that is well spaced out amongst all seven books. However, I always felt that the best Tomorrow entry was the third book, The Third Day, The Frost. Following the characters as they embark on their most ambitious mission yet, The Third Day, The Frost, is the darkest entry in the series, and it forces the protagonists to fully grasp the horrors of war. A masterpiece of emotion, sacrifice and heartbreak, The Third Day, The Frost, lives eternal in my mind for very good reason.

The Archer’s Quest – Green Arrow (2001) by Brad Meltzer

I have a lot of love for DC comics released around the turn of the century, but to my mind one of the best series that came out around then was the 2001 Green Arrow series. Bringing back the original Green Arrow after his explosive death, this new series contains some amazing comics focussed on the Emerald Archer, with several outstanding creative leads exploring him in a new light. While I personally think every arc of this series is exceptional, my favourite is the third volume, The Archer’s Quest. Written by Brad Meltzer, The Archer’s Quest sees Green Arrow go back to his road-trip roots to recover multiple artifacts from his past. While on the surface this sounds like a simple narrative, Meltzer turns it into a deep personal journey, that really captures the complex history of Green Arrow in comics. I love how moving this comic gets at times, and Meltzer layers in the feels to keep the reader emotionally invested in the story. One of the best comics I have ever read.

Code Zero – Joe Ledger series by Jonathan Maberry

Fans of this blog will know that I have a lot of love for Jonathan Maberry’s Joe Ledger series, which are some of the best science fiction thrillers out there. Following a damaged agent charged with protecting the world from unusual and technologically impossible threats, all the Joe Ledger books are addictive, and I love the complex stories, intriguing antagonists, and over-the-top action. There were several entries I could have mentioned here, but to my mind the best was probably the sixth book, Code Zero. Not only does it have a great story on its own, but it features one of the more intriguing villains who brings back multiple prior cases to mess with the protagonists. An amazing thriller that really showcased just how intense and intricate a Joe Ledger novel could be.

Magician – The Riftwar Cycle by Raymond E. Feist

I have mentioned many times how awesome Raymond E. Feist’s epic Riftwar Cycle is, and I have literally just started reading the next book in this series, A Darkness Returns. There were several books I considered featuring as my favourite, including the Empire trilogy, but in the end, I went with the original book Magician. A classic piece of fantasy fiction that perfectly sets up Feist’s iconic worlds, Magician is so damn amazing, and it still stands up to this day.

The Eagle’s Conquest – Eagles of the Empire series by Simon Scarrow

Few series have impacted me over the years as much as Simon Scarrow’s exciting Eagles of the Empire series. One of the very best Roman historical fiction series, the Eagles of the Empire books feature some great stories and classic action as the protagonists journey across multiple Roman battlefields. While there are multiple outstanding books in this series, my favourite is the second book, The Eagle’s Conquest. Not only does it perfectly continue some of the great storylines set up in the first novel, but it also takes some dark turns that shake the protagonist and make sure the reader knows that tragedy is always ready to strike. Without The Eagle’s Conquest, I’m not sure I would have become a life-long fan of Scarrow, and it proved to be an exceptional second entry in this series.

Changes – Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher

I doubt anyone who has followed my blog in recent years will be surprised that I am featuring the Dresden Files series on this list. As one of the very best urban fantasy series, the Dresden Files by Jim Butcher feature some elaborate and complex storylines, all following Butcher’s rebellious, but heroic, wizard protagonist, and I have deeply enjoyed binge reading all 17 books in the series. Choosing a favourite Dresden Files book proved to be particularly hard, as there were several epic entries I could have gone with, including Skin Game and Battle Ground. However, in the end I had to go with the 12^th book in the series, Changes. Not only is Changes a particularly groundbreaking entry that fundamentally alters the trajectory of the series, but it also contains several dark twists that will shock you to your core. An exceptional read that shows author Jim Butcher at his very best.

Seasons – Usagi Yojimbo series by Stan Sakai

Another series that I had to feature here were the Usagi Yojimbo comics by Stan Sakai. I have long loved the adventures of the rabbit samurai, and every volume is a masterpiece in its own way. While I honestly would rate all the Usagi Yojimbo volumes a full five-stars, if I had to choose a favourite it would probably be Seasons. Loaded with a ton of memorable adventures, Seasons shows how diverse the Usagi Yojimbo stories can be, while also setting up several impressive future adventures and characters. I also have a lot of nostalgic love for Seasons, as a chance encounter with one of its stories introduced the Usagi Yojimbo world to me. As such, Seasons is a very worthy addition to this list, and one that showcases Sakai’s skill as both an artist and a writer.

Homeland – The Legend of Drizzt series by R. A. Salvatore

It proved very easy to put forth Homeland as my favourite book in R. A. Salvatore’s The Legend of Drizzt extended series. Homeland starts off a prequel sub-trilogy that seeks to provide valuable background to the life of Salvatore’s most iconic protagonist Drizzt Do’urden. Set in the underground city of the drow, Homeland expertly explores the early life of Drizzt and shows the events that led to him turning his back on his evil race. Easily one of the best things Salvatore ever wrote, Homeland is an amazing book I have re-read multiple times.

The Last Devil to Die – Thursday Murder Club series by Richard Osman

The final book in this list is part of the amazing new Thursday Murder Club series by Richard Osman. A clever, funny and sweet crime fiction series that follows four retirees who solve murders in their spare time, the Thursday Murder Club books are quite exceptional, and I have loved every single one of them so far. While both The Thursday Murder Club and The Bullet That Missed are outstanding entries, if I had to choose a favourite it would be the latest entry, The Last Devil to Die. The fourth book in the series, The Last Devil to Die has one of the most emotionally charged stories behind it, especially as Osman chooses to end several tragic plot points in incredible fashion. I cannot emphasise just how good this book is, and it remains my favourite in the series so far.

Well that’s the end of this latest list. As you can see, I have had an awesome time diving into some of my favourite series and choosing the best entry, and it produced a pretty cool collection of books. I hope you find the above entries interesting, and I would strongly recommend them, and the series they are associated with, to anyone looking for a new obsession.

WWW Wednesday – 17 July 2024

On July 17, 2024 By The Unseen LibraryIn WWW Wednesday1 Comment

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:

Outrider by Mark Wales (Trade Paperback)

Outrider Cover

I just started reading the cool Australian thriller, Outrider by debuting author Mark Wales. Set in the near future, Outrider follows a desperate man as he traverses a war-torn version of Australia with his son. I love the scenario that Wales came up with for Outrider and it is so far proving to be a compelling and exciting read. I will hopefully get through Outrider in the next few days, and I am very intrigued to see how this story unfolds.

Warhammer 40,000: Siege of Vraks by Steve Lyons (Audiobook)

Warhammer 40,000 - Siege of Vraks Cover

I also started listening to the Warhammer 40,000 novel, Siege of Vraks by Steve Lyons. Once again returning to Lyon’s favourite body of troops, the Death Korps of Krieg, Siege of Vraks follows the infamous regiment as they fight in one of the Warhammer universe’s most bloody sieges. Siege of Vraks is proving to be a very exceptional audiobook, and I love the elaborate examination of one of the more interesting moments from the franchise’s canon. I have already made a bit of progress with Siege of Vraks, and I should finish it off in the next few days.

What did you recently finish reading?

Service Model by Adrian Tchaikovsky (ebook)

Service Model Cover

I managed to get through the amazing science fiction novel, Service Model by Adrian Tchaikovsky this week. A very entertaining book that subverts the classic killer robot plot trope, Service Model was one of the more interesting reads of 2024 and I had an amazing time getting through it.

NecroTek by Jonathan Maberry (Audiobook)

Necrotek Cover

I finally managed to finish off the impressive audiobook, NecroTek by Jonathan Maberry. A dark science fiction novel with heavy Lovecraftian vibes, NecroTek was an awesome and unique new novel from Maberry that proved to be extremely fun to listen to. Easily one of the best books and audiobooks of 2024 so far, NecroTek was an outstanding novel, that comes highly recommended.

Ghost of the Neon God by T. R. Napper (Trade Paperback)

Ghost of the Neon God Cover

An interesting Australian science fiction novella that I was able to power through in a single sitting.

What do you think you’ll read next?

Sentinel by Mark Greaney

Sentinel Cover

I have a ton of great novels to read at the moment, but I think I will dive into the compelling thriller Sentinel by Mark Greaney next. A sequel to Greaney’s previous novel, Armored, Sentinel will once again provide readers with an intense, action-packed read, and I am looking forward to seeing how it unfolds.

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

Top Ten Tuesday – My Favorite Audiobooks from the First Half of 2024

On July 16, 2024 By The Unseen LibraryIn Audiobook, List6 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 a single book and list the top ten things they love about it. While this is an interesting idea, 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 audiobooks from the first half of 2024. This is a continuation of my Top Ten list from a couple of weeks ago that featured my favourite overall novels from the first half of 2024.

I have a great deal of love for the audiobook format, and it is one of the main ways that I tend to check out books. Each year I enjoy a great number of different audiobooks and use the format to enjoy both recent releases and older novels. I have been a major fan of audiobooks for years, and it is amazing the various ways in which listening to a book can enhance your enjoyment. A great narrator can really bring you into the story, and I find that listening to a book enhances the amount of detail that you can take in. In addition, other features, such as captivating voices, music and sound effects can really make an audiobook something special, and there some great examples of that out there. This year alone I have listened to a ton of outstanding audiobooks, includes some of my favourite books from early 2024. Because I love this format so much, I thought I would take this opportunity to highlight my favourite audiobooks from the first half of the year.

To pull this list off I had a look at all the 2024 releases that I listened to on audiobook to figure out my favourites. It turns out that I have already gone through quite a few this year so there was a very large collection of potential additions to this list. I was eventually able to whittle it down to the ten audiobooks I consider to be the best. There is a bit of a crossover with my previous Favourite Books from the First Half of 2024 list, but I think there are enough new additions to make this list worthwhile. I made sure to feature only the very best audiobooks on this list, and, in addition to the quality of the baseline novel, I also looked at audiobook production and narration. In my experience an outstanding narration or use of music and sound effects can enhance the plot, and I think that all the audiobooks listed below were exceptional listens that are really worth checking out.

In addition, I also featured my typical generous Honourable Mentions section, which featured some great books from the first half of the year that I didn’t feature in my main list for various reasons, as well as a couple of pre-2024 audiobooks that really impressed me. With these honourable mentions, I am very happy with how the overall list turned out and I think that the below entries really highlight what my favourite audiobooks from the first half of the year are.

Honourable Mentions:

Warhammer 40,000: Siege of Vraks, written by Steve Lyons and narrated by Timothy Watson

My first honourable mention is the awesome Warhammer 40,000 audiobook, Siege of Vraks, which is the audiobook I am currently listening to. The successor to Lyon’s previous novels, Dead Men Walking and Krieg, Siege of Vraks is a great book that covers the epic and bloody siege of the same name. While this is an amazing audiobook, I’m leaving it as an honourable mention for the moment as I have only just started listening to it and I need to see how it unfolds fully. Still, based on what I have listened to so far, this could end up being one of my favourite audiobooks of 2024.

Alien Clay, written by Adrian Tchaikovsky and narrated by Ben Allen

An outstanding and cool science fiction audiobook from and insanely inventive author.

Skin Game, written by Jim Butcher and narrated by James Marsters

One of my favourite pre-2024 audiobooks I listened to in the first half of the year. Skin Game was one of the better books in the iconic Dresden Files series, and I loved how well the fun fantasy heist story was told by narrator and actor James Marsters.

Warhammer 40,000: Straight Silver, written by Dan Abnett and narrated by Toby Longworth

I have had the pleasure of listening to a few pre-2024 Warhammer 40,000 audiobooks in the first half of the year, however my favourite is Straight Silver. An epic entry in the fantastic Gaunt’s Ghosts series, Straight Silver was an intense and compelling book, especially when read out by the talented Toby Longworth.

Top Ten List:

NecroTek, written by Jonathan Maberry and narrated by Ray Porter

For the first entry on this list, I had to include the latest audiobook from Jonathan Maberry, NecroTek, which proved to be an exceptional dark science fiction adventure. Maberry is one of my favourite authors at the moment, and he consistently produces gripping and dark reads that turn into exceptional audiobooks, especially when narrated by his long-time audiobook collaborator Ray Porter. Porter has an amazing voice, and I love how he takes Maberry’s elaborate stories and makes them even more special. NecroTek was an exceptional audiobook, and I cannot wait to get my hands on the second Maberry/Porter audiobook coming out in 2024, The Dragon in Winter.

Point Nemo, written by Jeremy Robinson and narrated by R. C. Bray

Few audiobooks were as impressive as Point Nemo by Jeremy Robinson this year. A fast-paced and highly awesome science fiction thriller, Point Nemo had an outstanding plot behind it that followed a fun band of adventurers as they attempted to uncover the secrets of an island created from alien spores. The story and action of Point Nemo are very amazing on their own, but I felt that the narration of R. C. Bray added even more to it. A very talented voice actor who has lent his voice to many of Robinson’s works, Bray is one of my favourite narrators, and I really love the fantastic energy and power he gave to Point Nemo’s audiobook. An exceptional listen that I cannot recommend enough.

Goodbye Girl, written by James Grippando and narrated by Jonathan Davis

I was eager to try out the intriguing legal thriller, Goodbye Girl by James Grippando, this year, and decided to grab it on audiobook because narrator Jonathan Davis had previously voiced some great Star Wars audiobooks. Goodbye Girl proved to be an amazing listen, and I deeply enjoyed how effectively the compelling and entertaining legal thriller elements came across in this medium. A wonderful and thrilling audiobook that had me hooked the entire way through.

Warhammer 40,000: Da Big Dakka, written by Mike Brooks and narrated by Harry Myers

Unsurprisingly, I have several Warhammer audiobooks featured on this list, as it is frankly the best format to enjoy this extensive franchise in. The first of these is the outstanding and hilarious Da Big Dakka by Mike Brooks. The sequel to Brooks’ previous books, Brutal Kunnin and Warboss, Da Big Dakka followed a rowdy group of orks as they raided a dark fortress filled with torture obsessed space elves. I laughed pretty much the entire way through this audiobook, especially with the fantastic narration of Harry Myers, who effectively captured the many excentric participants in this battle. An amazing and highly entertaining audiobook that you won’t be able to stop listening to.

The Chaos Agent, written by Mark Greaney and narrated by Jay Snyder

One of my favourite thriller authors, Mark Greaney, continues to impress with his latest Gray Man novel, The Chaos Agent. An exciting and impressive read, The Chaos Agent had a great story behind it that was even crazier than usual. As with most of the books in this series, I grabbed The Chaos Agent on audiobook, which proved to be an excellent experience. Veteran narrator Jay Snyder has always done a great job with the Gray Man audiobooks, and his work in The Chaos Agent was on point again. I really enjoyed this fantastic audiobook, and the format really enhances the excitement and intensity of the plot.

Star Trek: Pliable Truths, written by Dayton Ward and narrated by Robert Petkoff

I ended up having a brilliant time listening to the latest Star Trek audiobook from Dayton Ward, Pliable Truths. A compelling and entertaining book that serves as a bridge between The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine shows, Pliable Truths was a lot of fun and will really appeal to Star Trek fans. Of course, no Star Trek audiobook is complete without the impressive narration of Robert Petkoff, who has lent his great voice to so many audiobooks in the franchise. Petkoff’s ability to mimic key Star Trek characters is well known and he does another outstanding job in the Pliable Truths audiobook, enhancing this already awesome book in an outstanding way.

Warhammer: The Old World: Lords of the Lance, written by Graham McNeill and narrated by Peter Kenny

This year the Warhammer franchise brought fans back to the iconic Old World fantasy setting, including through the exceptional book Lords of the Lance. Written by one of the Black Library’s best authors, Graham McNeill, Lords of the Lance was an exciting and addictive adventure story that saw the legendary knights of Bretonnia traverse some of the most hostile terrain in the setting to face off against an army of the dead. Expertly narrated by Peter Kenny, this amazing story was loaded with action, compelling characters, and a fantastic appreciation for the setting. I really had a lot of fun listening to the Lords of the Lance audiobook, and it was the best way to experience this amazing story.

The Atlas Maneuver, written by Steve Berry and narrated by Scott Brick

I had a lot of fun listening to the new Cotton Malone book by Steve Berry, The Atlas Maneuver. Another intricate and captivating spy thriller that makes use of fun historical conspiracies, The Atlas Maneuver was a great book and I felt that the excellent audiobook version, narrated by Scott Brick, enhanced its unique elements. An outstanding listen from one of my favourite thriller series.

Crucible of Chaos, written by Sebastien de Castell and narrated by Joe Jameson

I’m slightly cheating with this next entry as Crucible of Chaos came out in 2023. However, due its late December 2023 release date, as well as it’s connection to the fantastic 2024 novel, Play of Shadows, I have decided to include it as part of this list. Crucible of Chaos was an exceptional book from talented fantasy author Sebastien de Castell, that saw an unlikely investigator and his noble steed attempt to uncover the cause of insanity and chaos in a famous monastery. A clever and funny read, Crucible of Chaos was an impressive audiobook, and I had a lot of fun with how Joe Jameson, another favourite narrator of mine, brought it too life.

Warhammer 40,000: Deathworlder, written by Victoria Hayward and narrated by Gabrielle Nellis-Pain

The final audiobook I want to highlight on this list is the amazing Warhammer 40,000 production, Deathworlder. Written by debuting author Victoria Hayward, Deathworlder was a grim and complex tale of survival in a planet full of horrors. Featuring two of the most compelling factions in the Warhammer 40,000 canon, Deathworlder was so damn good, and I deeply appreciated how effectively the audiobook version captured the turmoil and intensity of the plot. Narrator Gabrielle Nellis-Pain did an amazing job bringing the traumatised protagonists to life, and the resulting audiobook came across masterfully. A deeply impressive audiobook and one of the best Warhammer reads from the first half of 2024.

Well, that’s the end of this latest list. As you can see, there have been some very good audiobooks out in the first half of 2024. It will be interesting to see which books make the cut later in the year, especially as I currently have several major 2024 audiobooks currently sitting on my phone, waiting to be listened to. While I get to that, make sure to let me know what your favourite audiobooks of 2024 so far are in the comments below.

WWW Wednesday – 10 July 2024

On July 10, 2024 By The Unseen LibraryIn WWW Wednesday3 Comments

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:

Service Model by Adrian Tchaikovsky (ebook)

Service Model Cover

A day after lamenting my lack of progress on certain books, I decide to read one of the top books from the first half of 2024 I still needed to check out with the amazing science fiction novel, Service Model by Adrian Tchaikovsky. Following a robot who gains sentience and decides to overthrow the crumbling remnants of human society, Service Model is a very interesting and entertaining book that I have been looking forward to for ages. I have only made a little bit of progress so far on Service Model, but I am already intrigued by its story, and I cannot wait to see how it turns out.

NecroTek by Jonathan Maberry (Audiobook)

Necrotek Cover

I am still listening to the impressive audiobook, NecroTek by Jonathan Maberry. A dark science fiction novel with heavy Lovecraftian vibes, NecroTek is an awesome and unique new novel from Maberry that has been on my radar for a while. I have made a fair bit of progress on NecroTek, and I am loving its dark story of loss and despair, as the inhabitants of a space station are teleported to a monster infested region of space. Easily one of the best books and audiobooks of 2024 so far, NecroTek is such an outstanding novel, and I am finding’s its elaborate and exciting story so very invigorating. I will hopefully finish this off in the next few days and I cannot wait to see how everything ends.

What did you recently finish reading?

Song of the Samurai by C. A. Parker (ebook)

Song of the Samurai Cover

A fantastic and compelling read that captured the intricacies of life in Feudal Japan.

The Wrong Man by Tim Ayliffe (Trade Paperback)

The Wrong Man Cover

I also manage to get through the excellent Australian thriller, The Wrong Man by Tim Ayliffe. The latest book in Ayliffe’s John Bailey series, The Wrong Man had an amazing plot involving serial killers and cold cases. A great book that went in some intriguing directions, I am hoping to get a review up for it soon.

What do you think you’ll read next?

Outrider by Mark Wales

Outrider Cover

I think I’ll read the cool Australian thriller, Outrider by Mark Wales, next. Set in the near future, Outrider will follow a desperate man as he traverses a war-torn version of Australia.

Warhammer 40,000: Siege of Vraks by Steve Lyons

Warhammer 40,000 - Siege of Vraks Cover

I have several epic 2024 audiobooks to listen to next, but I think once I get through NecroTek, I will probably start listening to the Warhammer 40,000 novel, Siege of Vraks by Steve Lyons. Once again returning to Lyon’s favourite body of troops, the Death Korps of Krieg, Siege of Vraks will see the infamous regiments of the Death Korps engage in a lengthy and bloody siege against impossible odds. Siege of Vraks sounds so damn good, and I cannot wait to see just how crazy and dark things get in this epic audiobook.

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 – 3 July 2024

On July 3, 2024 By The Unseen LibraryIn WWW WednesdayLeave a comment

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:

Song of the Samurai by C. A. Parker (ebook)

Song of the Samurai Cover

I’ve started reading the intriguing historical novel Song of the Samurai by debuting author C. A. Parker. Set in Feudal Japan, Song of the Samurai follows a fascinating Japanese historical figure as they engage on a pilgrimage around Japan. This is proving to be a fantastic and compelling read and I am hoping to knock it off in the next couple of days.

NecroTek by Jonathan Maberry (Audiobook)

Necrotek Cover

I also just started listening to NecroTek by Jonathan Maberry. A dark science fiction novel with heavy Lovecraftian vibes, NecroTek is an awesome and unique new novel from Maberry that has been on my radar for a while. I haven’t gotten too far into NecroTek yet, but I am already very intrigued by how it is unfolding, and I cannot wait to see what twisted and shocking tale Maberry has woven together this time.

What did you recently finish reading?

The Mercy Chair by M. W. Craven (ebook)

The Mercy Chair Cover

I absolutely powered through the compelling murder mystery The Mercy Chair by M. W. Craven this week. A unique mystery that became infinitely darker the further you got into it, The Mercy Chair ended up being an exceptional read and I still cannot believe how crazy the story got. One of the best books of 2024 so far, The Mercy Chair comes very highly recommended, and I am hoping to get a review up for it soon.

Goodbye Girl by James Grippando (Audiobook)

Goodbye Girl Cover

I also managed to get through the amazing legal thriller Goodbye Girl by James Grippando this week. The latest book in Grippando’s Jack Swyteck series, Goodbye Girl features a curious case of deceit, murder and online pirating that I found very addictive. An outstanding read that I had a lot of fun with.

What do you think you’ll read next?

The Wrong Man by Tim Ayliffe

The Wrong Man Cover

The next book I think I’ll read is the awesome sounding Australian thriller, The Wrong Man by Tim Ayliffe. The latest book in Ayliffe’s John Bailey series, The Wrong Man has a great plot behind it involving serial killers and cold cases. Ayliffe has proven to be an amazing Australian author in recent years, and I cannot wait to see how his new novel unfolds.

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 – 26 June 2024

On June 26, 2024 By The Unseen LibraryIn WWW Wednesday2 Comments

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 Mercy Chair by M. W. Craven (ebook)

I started reading the compelling murder mystery The Mercy Chair by M. W. Craven this week. A unique and dark mystery that sees Craven’s long-running protagonist and his unusual partner investigating a religiously motivated killing. I have made a bit of progress on The Mercy Chair, and I am getting really drawn into the compelling narrative, especially the complex and intriguing mystery. I am hoping to knock off a fair bit of The Mercy Chair in the next day or two and I am very curious to see how it all comes together.

Goodbye Girl by James Grippando (Audiobook)

I finally started listening to the cool legal thriller, Goodbye Girl by James Grippando this week, which has been on my to-read list for a while now. The latest book in Grippando’s Jack Swyteck series, Goodbye Girl features a curious case of deceit, murder and online pirating that I am finding very addictive. I am making very quick progress on this book, and I cannot wait to see how Goodbye Girl continues.

What did you recently finish reading?

You Like It Darker by Stephen King (Trade Paperback)

I finished off the new Stephen King book, You Like It Darker, this week and it ended up being particularly epic. Featuring 12 great short stories, You Like It Darker was an exceptional book, and I honestly got so drawn in to some of King’s unique and varied narratives.

Star Trek: Pliable Truths by Dayton Ward (Audiobook)

An excellent Star Trek novel that served as a very entertaining bridge between The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine television series. This was an outstanding listen, and I’m really glad I decided to check it out.

What do you think you’ll read next?

NecroTek by Jonathan Maberry (Audiobook)

If I manage to get through Goodbye Girl this week I’ll probably start listening to NecroTek by Jonathan Maberry next. A dark science fiction novel with heavy Lovecraftian vibes, NecroTek sounds very awesome, and I have been hoping to read this book all year. This should be a pretty epic release from Maberry, and I look forward to checking it out.

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

Top Ten Tuesday – Most Anticipated Books Releasing During the Second Half of 2024 (Fantasy and Science Fiction)

On June 25, 2024 By The Unseen LibraryIn Fantasy, List, Science Fiction13 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme that currently resides at The Artsy Reader Girl and features bloggers sharing lists on various book topics. For this latest Top Ten Tuesday participants need to list their top anticipated releases for the second half of 2024. I am planning to do two versions of this list, one that will exclusively look at upcoming thrillers, crime fiction, historical fiction, and more, and this one that will focus on upcoming fantasy and science fiction books.

2024 has so far been a pretty amazing year for books (something I will cover in next week’s Top Ten Tuesday), with some outstanding and impressive novels coming out and blowing me away. However, the year is far from over and there are so many incredible and epic-sounding novels set for release in the second half of 2024. To fill out this list I have scoured my list of anticipated upcoming releases and tried to work out which of the books coming out between the start of July and the end of December I am most looking forward to. I already have a couple of these books in advance, but I think it’s worth including them here, especially as I still need to make time to read them.

I had initially intended to only do a single list featuring all the genres, however, I ended up with way too many awesome upcoming novels on my radar. So, to fairly feature them all, and to save myself from some hard decisions, I decided to split this post into two separate lists, starting with this one on fantasy and science fiction. I still had to cut out several impressive upcoming releases, but I was a lot happier with how these lists turned out, especially as I was able to feature so many epic upcoming reads that I am going to have the most fun reading. Due to how much potential that I think the entries on this list have, several have previously appeared in my weekly Waiting on Wednesday articles, as well as on my recent Winter TBR list. So let us get to my selections and find out which upcoming novels are my most anticipated fantasy and science fiction releases for the second half of 2024.

Honourable Mentions:

The Sky on Fire by Jenn Lyons – 9 July 2024

An intriguing fantasy heist novel that will see a fugitive girl and her dragon work with a team to break into a heavily guarded vault in a floating dragon castle.

Saturation Point by Adrian Tchaikovsky – 30 July 2024

Another unique science fiction read from the highly inventive Adrian Tchaikovsky.

Good Boys by Jeremy Robinson – 20 August 2024

Jeremy Robinson looks to impress with his second book of 2024, the alien focussed novel, Good Boys.

Star Wars: The Glass Abyss by Steven Barnes – 15 October 2024

An awesome Star Wars novel that will focus on the legendary Mace Windu.

Top Ten List:

Deep Black by Miles Cameron – 1 August 2024

The first upcoming book I want to highlight on this list is the excellent science fiction novel, Deep Black by Miles Cameron. A sequel to his previous novel, Artifact Space, Deep Black will follow a massive interstellar trading ship, known as a Greatship, as it tries to make its treacherous journey home. Set to combine elaborate science fiction elements with a compelling thriller storyline, Deep Black should be an outstanding read.

The Mercy of Gods by James S. A. Corey – 6 August 2024

The masterminds behind The Expanse series return with a bold new book, The Mercy of Gods. The Mercy of Gods will see vestiges of humanity stolen away by an advanced alien species so that they can compete in elaborate games to become their new master’s favoured race. This book sounds so damn awesome, especially as it will combine intricate alien political intrigue with some amazing science fiction elements. Set to introduce the next big science fiction series, The Mercy of Gods is going to be something epic and I was lucky enough to receive a copy of it earlier today.

The Last Shield by Cameron Johnston – 13 August 2024

After wowing me with books like The Traitor God, God of Broken Things and The Maleficent Seven, Cameron Johnston returns in 2024 with another awesome dark fantasy novel, The Last Shield. Set to be a gender-bent, dark fantasy Die Hard, The Last Shield sounds pretty damn incredible and there is no way I won’t love this book.

The Dragon in Winter by Jonathan Maberry – 20 August 2024

One of my favourite authors, Jonathan Maberry, has been having an amazing couple of years across multiple genres. While I still need to read his science fiction novel from earlier this year, NecroTek, I am particularly excited for his next book, The Dragon in Winter. The third and final book in Maberry’s Kagen the Damned series, The Dragon in Winter looks set to be one of the absolute best dark fantasy novels of 2024 as the doomed protagonist finally faces off against his nemesis. The first two books in this series Kagen the Damned (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2022) and Son of the Poison Rose (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2023), were dark, extremely over-the-top, and excessively addictive, and I cannot wait to see how this dark series concludes.

A Darkness Returns by Raymond E. Feist – 20 August 2024

Legendary author Raymond E. Feist returns with A Darkness Returns, the first book in his new The Dragonwar Saga. This new series sounds really cool, especially as it will pull together his iconic Riftwar Cycle with his recent Firemane Saga (King of Ashes, Queen of Storms and Master of Furies). In particular, the plot of this book will split between the two different fantasy worlds of the respective series, as the protagonist attempt to save them from both mundane and dangerous interdimensional threats.

A Tide of Black Steel by Anthony Ryan – 24 September 2024

One of the fantasy books I am really looking forward to this year is the awesome sounding new novel from Anthony Ryan, A Tide of Black Steel. Set in the same universe as the author’s epic The Covenant of Steel series (made up of The Pariah, The Martyr and The Traitor), A Tide of Black Steel will expand on the compelling fantasy world introduced in the first trilogy and take the reader on an intriguing new adventure. I am very excited to read this book, and I look forward to seeing how Ryan will connect this new novel with his previous series.

Darkside by Michael Mammay – 24 September 2024

One of my favourite science fiction thriller series returns with the upcoming book Darkside by Michael Mammay. The fourth entry in the amazing Planetside series, Darkside follows on from the exceptional novels, Planetside, Spaceside and Colonyside, and will bring back Mammay’s retired solider protagonist for another intrigue laden adventure. This time the protagonist will be forced to go up against two corrupt corporations he has previously annoyed, while investigating another missing person’s case at a mining operation on an isolated moon. Mammay has deeply impressed me over the years with his outstanding writing, and Darkside is going to be a particularly gripping read.

The Fury of Gods by John Gwynne – 24 October 2024

John Gwynne looks set to bring his epic The Bloodsworn Saga to an end in a big way with the upcoming novel, The Fury of the Gods. Concluding an extremely epic trilogy, that includes The Shadow of the Gods and The Hunger of the Gods, The Fury of the Gods will showcase the final battle between warring mortals and returning gods, as all hell literally threatens to break out throughout Gwynne’s intriguing new fantasy nation. I have deeply enjoyed this amazing, character-driven series of the last few years, and I look forward to seeing how Gwynne wraps everything up. Also, it needs to be said that The Fury of Gods has the best cover out of all the books I am highlighting tonight.

The Last Hour Between Worlds by Melissa Caruso – 26 November 2024

Another favourite fantasy author of mine, Melissa Caruso, has a great new book coming out later this year that I am very excited for. This novel, The Last Hour Between Worlds, will feature a complex and entertaining fantasy mystery, as two rivals attempt to work together to investigate a reality bending magical event killing people. I love the sound of this intriguing new novel and I have a feeling The Last Hour Between Worlds is going to be one of the most compelling books of 2024.

Days of Shattered Faith by Adrian Tchaikovsky – 5 December 2024

The final upcoming novel I want to highlight on this list is the outstanding and fun Days of Shattered Faith by Adrian Tchaikovsky. The third book in the author’s Tyrant Philosopher’s series, Days of Shattered Faith will continue the loosely connected events of the previous books, City of Last Chances and House of Open Wounds. This third book will see two new protagonists, unusual ambassadors from an oppressive and zealous nation, attempt to survive a deadly city where everything goes. This should be a pretty wild and entertaining novel with some subtle underlying messages, and I cannot wait to see the elaborate and inventive adventure that Tchaikovsky comes up with. Due to how epic the previous two books were, this should be something very special and impressive, and Tchaikovsky has yet to produce something I didn’t love to death.

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 fantasy and science fiction books that should prove to be incredible reads. I think that every one of the books I mentioned above has some amazing potential, and most, if not all, will probably end up with a full five-star rating from me. Make sure to also check out my next list where I dive into upcoming thrillers, crime fiction, historical fiction and more. Let me also know if any of the above interest you and let me know what your most anticipated releases for the next six months are in the comments below.

Top Ten Tuesday – Books on my Winter 2024 To-Be-Read (TBR) List

On June 5, 2024 By The Unseen LibraryIn List4 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme that currently resides at The Artsy Reader Girl and features bloggers sharing lists on various book topics. The official Top Ten Tuesday topic for this week requires participants to talk about books that they had very strong emotions about. While this is an interesting topic, and one that I may come back to in the future, I am instead going to look at some upcoming books. That is because today is the first Tuesday of June, and I thought this would be a good opportunity to do my quarterly post about the best upcoming books to read in Winter (Summer for folks in the Northern Hemisphere). This is a regular post I do at the start of each season, and I always love to highlight some of the most impressive sounding novels coming out in the next three months.

For this list, I have come up with ten books coming out between 1 June 2024 and 31 August 2024 that I am most excited for. There are quite a few amazing novels set for release in the next few months, so it took me a while to finalise my final top ten list, including my usual honourable mentions section. 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 Waiting on Wednesday articles and I think all of them will turn out to be incredible reads. I am extremely excited for these next three months and I feel that quite a few of these upcoming reads have the potential to be some of my favourite books of 2024.

Honourable Mentions:

Eruption by Michael Crichton and James Patterson – 3 June 2024

Eruption Cover

An explosive thriller from two of the world’s most recognisable authors, I’m sure this is going to be awesome.

Assassins Anonymous by Rob Hart – 11 June 2024

Assassins Anonymous Cover

Assassins trying to quit the killing game getting into all manner of trouble, what’s not to love?

Saturation Point by Adrian Tchaikovsky – 30 July 2024

Saturation Point Cover

An intriguing and exciting science fiction read from a particularly talented author.

The First Murder on Mars by Sam Wilson – 13 August 2024

The First Murder on Mars Cover

The title says it all, with readers in for a fun science fiction murder mystery.

Top Ten List:

Service Model by Adrian Tchaikovsky – 4 June 2024

Service Model Cover

After wowing me last year with books like City of Last Chances and House of Open Wounds, acclaimed author Adrian Tchaikovsky is on a real roll, delivering several intriguing novels in 2024. The one I’m most excited for in the next three months is Service Model, which sees a robot gain murderous sentience and escape into a world were humans are dying out after relying on the robot underclass for too-long. This book sounds both funny and clever and I cannot wait to check it out.

Sentinel by Mark Greaney – 25 June 2024

Sentinel Cover

Thriller author Mark Greaney follows up his action-packed thriller Armored with the intriguing read Sentinel. This time the bodyguard protagonist finds himself, his wife and his protectees caught up in a deadly coup and must escape a warring country and the Chinese hit squad instigating events.

The Wrong Man by Tim Ayliffe – 3 July 2024

The Wrong Man Cover

One of my favourite Australian crime fiction series continues this year with The Wrong Man by Tim Ayliffe. Following on from previous John Bailey novels, The Greater Good, State of Fear, The Enemy Within and Killer Traitor Spy, The Wrong Man sees the journalist protagonist investigate two murders separated by 10 years, which might point to the innocence of a convicted serial killer. I have a lot of love for this series, and I cannot wait to see how Ayliffe continues it.

The Sky on Fire by Jenn Lyons – 9 July 2024

The Sky on Fire Cover

An intriguing fantasy novel that sees a girl and her dragon recruited into a heist gang that looks to loot a dangerous dragon city. This should be a pretty epic read and I love the concept behind it.

Deep Black by Miles Cameron – 1 August 2024

Deep Black Cover

A complex and intense science fiction novel that will serve as a sequel to Cameron’s previous novel, Artifact Space, one of my favourite books of 2021. This sequel will see the massive Greatship attempt to escape a plot to destroy humanity’s trade with a mysterious alien species.

The Mercy of Gods by James S. A. Corey – 6 August 2024

The Mercy of Gods Cover

From the exceptional team that brought you The Expanse series comes a complex new novel in The Mercy of Gods. This compelling new novel will see the best of humanity kidnapped by an ancient alien species to participate in a deadly game of intrigue and manipulation against an array of other captive races. The Mercy of Gods sounds so damn epic and I have no doubt it is going to be one of the very best science fiction novels of 2024.

Witness 8 by Steve Cavanagh – 13 August 2024

Witness 8 Cover

Steve Cavanagh continues his deeply entertaining Eddie Flynn legal thriller series with Witness 8. I really enjoyed the last few entries in this series, including The Devil’s Advocate and The Accomplice, and this upcoming book will see the former con-man protagonist attempt to save an innocent man from a deranged witness with a murderous plan.

The Last Shield by Cameron Johnston – 13 August 2024

The Last Shield Cover

A female led, Die Hard inspired dark fantasy series from the author who brought me The Traitor God, God of Broken Things and The Maleficent Seven, this is a must read for me and I know it is going to be one of the most exciting fantasy books of the year.

The Dragon in Winter by Jonathan Maberry – 20 August 2024

The Dragon in Winter Cover

One of my favourite authors returns with the third and final book in his Kagen the Damned series, The Dragon in Winter. Following on from his dark and brutal novels, Kagen the Damned (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2022) and Son of the Poison Rose (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2023). The Dragon in Winter will see the damaged protagonist finally face of against the deranged Witch-King who destroyed everything he loved. I cannot wait to see how this series comes to an end.

A Darkness Returns by Raymond E. Feist – 20 August 2024

A Darkness Returns Cover

The final upcoming book that I want to highlight is A Darkness Returns by Raymond E. Feist. A book that brings together Feist’s iconic Riftwar Saga with his more recent Firemane books (King of Ashes, Queen of Storms and Master of Furies). I look forward to seeing this new series from one of my favourite fantasy authors and I know I’m going to love it.

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 awesome.

Top Ten Tuesday – Books on my Autumn 2024 To-Be-Read (TBR) List

On March 5, 2024 By The Unseen LibraryIn List3 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme that currently resides at The Artsy Reader Girl and features bloggers sharing lists on various book topics. The official Top Ten Tuesday topic for this week required participants to list the most unusual topics that they have looked up online as a result of reading a book, which while interesting, wasn’t something I felt I could contribute to. However, as this is the first Tuesday of March, I thought this would be a good opportunity to do my quarterly post about the best upcoming books to read in Autumn (Spring for folks in the Northern Hemisphere). This is a regular post I do at the start of each season, and I always love to highlight some of the most impressive sounding novels coming out in the next three months.

For this list, I have come up with the ten books coming out between 1 March 2024 and 31 May 2024 that I am most excited for. There are quite a few very cool novels set for release in the next few months that I am looking forward to, including some of my most anticipated books 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 Waiting on Wednesday articles and I think all of them will turn out to be incredible reads. I am really excited for the next three months as quite a few up these upcoming reads have the potential to be some of my favourite books of 2024.

Honourable Mentions:

White Ash Ridge by S. R. White – 14 March 2024

A cool, imminent Australian murder mystery with a very intriguing premise behind it.

The Mystery Writer by Sulari Gentill – 19 March 2024

Another unique novel from one of Australia’s best crime fiction authors.

Behind a Closed Door by J.D. Barker – 13 May 2024

A brilliant and dark thriller from the always impressive J. D. Barker

The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton – 21 May 2024

A fantastic sounding science fiction thriller with a particularly distinctive murder premise behind it.

Top Ten List:

Devil’s Kitchen by Candice Fox – 26 March 2024

The first book on this list is probably the novel I will be reading next, with Devil’s Kitchen by Candice Fox. A compelling and fun sounding thriller by one of Australia’s most popular crime fiction authors, Devil’s Kitchen sounds extremely awesome and I cannot wait to read it, especially after how much I enjoyed The Murder Inn by Fox earlier this year.

Alien Clay by Adrian Tchaikovsky – 28 March 2024

After his exceptional 2023, where he released both City of Last Chances and House of Open Wounds (two of my favourite books of 2023), I am eagerly waiting to read all of Adrian Tchaikovsky’s upcoming books. His first 2024 release is Alien Clay, an outstanding and entertaining science fiction read set in a deadly prison on an alien planet. It sounds like Alien Clay will combine over-the-top characters with unique science fiction concepts and I have no doubt that this is going to be one of the most entertaining reads of the next three months.

The Book That Broke the World by Mark Lawrence – 9 April 2024

The gripping sequel to Lawrence’s exceptional 2023 novel, The Book That Wouldn’t Burn, The Book That Broke the World is an awesome upcoming read that I am so very excited for. Continuing the elaborate narrative started in The Book That Wouldn’t Burn, which follows two connected characters whose lives revolve around a massive library; The Book That Broke the World will no doubt contain more of Lawrence’s exceptional world building and amazing storytelling.

Star Wars: The Living Force by John Jackson Miller – 9 April 2024

It has been a little while since I read a Star Wars novel, but that is going to change in April when I get my hands on The Living Force by John Jackson Miller. Set before the events of The Phantom Menace, The Living Force has an intriguing story that will expand out the early lore of the Star Wars franchise. I cannot wait to see what excellent story Miller has planned for The Living Force, and I have no doubt I am going to love this book.

Death on the Tiber by Lindsey Davis – 9 April 2024

One of my favourite historical fiction authors, Lindsey Davis, will continue her impressive Flavia Albia series in April with the new book, Death on the Tiber. Featuring another intriguing mystery set in ancient Rome, Death on the Tiber promises to be a particularly awesome addition to the series, especially as it pits the protagonist against an old foe from her traumatic past.

Warhammer 40,000: Deathworlder by Victoria Hayward – 23 April 2024

I have been loving some of the great Warhammer 40,000 novels in 2024, but one of my most anticipated releases is Deathworlder by Victoria Hayward. Set to feature the ultimate battle of survival between the hardest human jungle warriors in the canon and the deadliest aliens, Deathworlder has so much awesome potential and I cannot wait to get my hands on it.

The Silverblood Promise by James Logan – 7 May 2024

The fantasy release that has me most intrigued in the next few months is The Silverblood Promise. The debut novel of James Logan, The Silverblood Promise will combine a cool new fantasy world with thrilling criminal intrigue, as a young lord tries to determine who killed his father in a deadly city. This book sounds so damn amazing, and I am hoping to dive into it very soon.

The Girl in Question by Tess Sharpe – 14 May 2024

Back in 2021, I had the very great pleasure of reading The Girls I’ve Been by Tess Sharpe, a young adult thriller that pitted a teenage con artist with a past against deadly bank robbers. I absolutely loved The Girls I’ve Been, and I was excited to find out a sequel, The Girl in Question, is coming out in May. Set to follow the protagonist as she once again faces off against the ghosts of her past, The Girl in Question is going to be outstanding and I cannot wait to read it.

Cloaked Deception by Timothy Zahn – 14 May 2024

One of the more unique books coming out in Autumn this year is Cloaked Deception by Timothy Zahn. An epic and entertaining science fiction thriller, Cloaked Deception features a brilliant narrative that will see a deadly assassination plan involving nuclear weapons become entangled with the theft of advanced cloaking technology. I love the over-the-top plot of this book, and I cannot wait to see how it unfolds.

Necrotek by Jonathan Maberry – 28 May 2024

The final book I want to highlight on this list is Necrotek by one of my favourite authors Jonathan Maberry. The first book in a new series from Maberry, Necrotek is a dark and brutal sounding piece of science fiction that will see human scientists encounter a deadly, Lovecraftian threat in space. I have no doubt that Maberry is going to deliver another outstanding read here with Necrotek and I cannot wait to get my hands on its audiobook version, especially with the always amazing Ray Porter narrating it.

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 – Book with Plant/Nature Themed Titles

On February 27, 2024 By The Unseen LibraryIn List7 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme that currently resides at The Artsy Reader Girl and features bloggers sharing lists on various book topics. In this week’s Top Ten Tuesday, participants are tasked with listing their favourite books that have either covers or titles with things found in nature, be that plant, trees, animals, woodland features, or bodies of water. Since I’ve done a few lists with similar topics in the past, I decided to place a bit of a handicap on myself and focus this list entirely on books with plant themed titles. This resulted in an interesting list filled with some great books that I had an awesome time reading.

To qualify for this list, the book had to have some form of plant related word or theme in its title, such as trees, flowers, or other plant terms. I made sure to especially focus on those titles where the plant reference had some relevance to the plot of the book, as that made their inclusion even more important. This proved to be a bit of a hard list to come up with as I apparently have not read as many books that featured plants in the title as I had hoped. However, I was eventually able to come up with ten excellent books to include on this list, including a few releases from some of my favourite authors. So let us see what has made the cut.

Top Ten Tuesday:

Silverthorn by Raymond E. Feist

Let’s start this list off with a true classic, Silverthorn by Raymond E. Feist. The sequel to Feist’s iconic debut novel, Magician, Silverthorn is a complex and powerful read that masterfully continues the great story started in the first book. The title, Silverthorn, refers to a magical plant which the protagonists need to find to save a princess from dying. An amazing read and a great first entry to this list.

The Lion: Son of the Forest by Mike Brooks

An outstanding piece of Warhammer 40,000 fiction that saw a legendary figure return when humanity needs him most. The forest featured in the title has some interesting and symbolic implications on the plot, and I was glad I got to feature this book on this list.

Desert Star by Michael Connelly

One of the latest books from legendary crime fiction author Michael Connelly, Desert Star is an outstanding later addition to his Ballard and Bosch combo series, that followed two of his best detective characters as they investigate several cold cases. Desert Star refers to the flower of the same name, which appears near the desert graves of the book’s victims, which makes it a pretty killer title.

Son of the Poison Rose by Jonathan Maberry

One of the first books I thought of when I came up with this list was Son of the Poison Rose by Jonathan Maberry. The sequel to the epic dark fantasy novel Kagen the Damned, Son of the Poison Rose was an outstanding book, loaded with action, revenge and some truly dark moments. A highly recommended read with a compelling title behind it.

The Grove of the Caesars by Lindsey Davis

I just had to include The Grove of the Caesars by Lindsey Davis on this list. An outstanding part of the Flavia Albia historical murder mystery series, The Grove of the Caesars had a gripping plot about a series of murders taking place in the titular grove. This was one of Davis’ best mysteries, and I loved how well she explored the historical grove and featured it within the novel.

Usagi Yojimbo: Grasscutter by Stan Sakai

A particularly impressive entry in the always amazing Usagi Yojimbo comic series. Grasscutter is a major volume, that sees various figures from the Usagi Yojimbo world fight over the legendary lost royal sword, Grasscutter. I’m slightly cheating here by including the name of a sword rather than a specific plant, however, I feel that it should count, especially considering how the sword got its iconic name.

The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

A classic and powerful fantasy novel with a unique title. I am sure that many fantasy fans are featuring The Priory of the Orange Tree on their lists this week.

The Ghost Orchid by Jonathan Kellerman

One of the latest books I’ve read that was eligible for this list. The Ghost Orchid was the most recent Alex Delaware novel by Jonathan Kellerman and featured a brilliant and complex murder mystery plot. The ghost orchid referenced in the title had some interesting and symbolic implications on the plot, and it proved to be a great inclusion for this list.

Bloody Rose by Nicholas Eames

An awesome fantasy novel I had the pleasure of reading a few years ago, Bloody Rose is a pretty damn epic book about a group of celebrity mercenaries.

The Lion and the Rose by Kate Quinn

The final book on this list is the compelling historical fiction novel, The Lion and the Rose by Kate Quinn. Another book that features the rose in its title, The Lion and the Rose was a gripping read that followed members of the infamous Borgia family, and the people who got caught up in their schemes. An exceptional read and a fantastic inclusion for this list.

Well, that’s the end of this list. As you can see, I have read some pretty amazing books that feature plants or plant references in their titles. All the above books come highly recommended, and I really appreciate how well their plant themed titles perfectly reflect key elements of the books. Make sure to let me know what your favourite book with a plant title is in the comments below.