Top Ten Tuesday –Book Titles Containing Place Names

On November 12, 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. For this week’s Top Ten Tuesday, contributors are tasked with listing their ten favourite books that have a destination title, or a title that contains the name of a place. This includes either fictional or non-fictional place names and serves as a rather interesting challenge for participating bloggers.

I had a fun pulling this latest list together, and it proved intriguing to dive through my various bookshelves to see what cool novels and comics I could find with the appropriate titles. It turns out that there were quite a few books I have read that featured destinations or places in their titles, and I managed to come up with quite a unique list. This post features an excellent blend of fictional and non-fictional place names, and I think they play off each other nicely. While this list is a little heavy on books from my favourite authors and universes, I am happy with how everything turned out, and it represents a very Unseen Library take on the topic. So let us see what made the cut.

Honourable Mentions:

Essex Dogs by Dan Jones

A fun name for a great historical read.

The Moscow Offensive by Dale Brown

An outstanding thriller that pits Russians against the United States with advanced weaponry.

Rome’s Sacred Flame by Robert Fabbri

A complex and entertaining historical fiction book that covers an insane period of Roman history.

Warhammer 40,000: The Guns of Tanith by Dan Abnett

A particularly awesome Warhammer 40,000 novel. The place name, Tanith, refers to the home planet of the main regiment of the book, although as it’s been destroyed at this point and more of a concept, I decided to only include this as an honourable mention.

Top Ten List:

The Gates of Athens by Conn Iggulden

A great historical fiction book about the Persian wars in Greece and focuses on the turbulent politics of Athens during the period.

The Last Smile in Sunder City by Luke Arnold

An intriguing fantasy debut from a talented Australian author. The title references the main setting for the series, Sunder City, a formerly great magical city laid low by catastrophe.

Warhammer 40,000: Siege of Vraks by Steve Lyons

I have a few Warhammer 40,000 novels in this list, as the franchise has a tendency to name books after war locations. The planet of Vraks identified in the title was a fortress world, and this book recounts a particularly brutal siege to claim it. An outstanding Warhammer 40,000 novel with a catchy title.

Hill 112 by Adrian Goldsworthy

A complex and fascinating historical fiction book from earlier this year. The titular Hill 112 was a vital World War II location in the early days of the Allies’ invasion of Normandy, and this book provides a powerful account of the battle to claim and hold it.

Usagi Yojimbo: Duel at Kitanoji by Stan Sakai

I had to feature an Usagi Yojimbo comic on this list, and the one I chose was the brilliant and moving volume, Duel at Kitanoji. Following the events that led up to a duel between two samurai masters that the protagonist deeply respects, this was a particularly impressive Usagi Yojimbo comic. The place, Kitanoji, referenced in the title, was a shrine where the two duellists chose to fight to the death, and I think that it helps to create a memorable and complex name for this volume.

The Secret Runners of New York by Mathew Reilly

An awesome young adult thriller that follows a group of students who follow secret pathways around New York to visit a future version of the city.

Warhammer 40,000: The Fall of Cadia by Robert Rath

Another epic Warhammer 40,000 novel with a place name in the title is The Fall of Cadia by Robert Rath. Recounting a major lore event in the Warhammer 40,000 canon, this book follows the last day of the iconic Warhammer world of Cadia as it faces its doom during the 13^th Black Crusade. A particularly impressive and captivating read, this was a very easy choice to include on this list.

Traitors of Rome by Simon Scarrow

There were actually a few books in Simon Scarrow’s long-running Eagles of the Empire historical fiction series that featured Rome in the title, including the next, upcoming entry in the series, Revenge of Rome. However, for the moment I have included the excellent novel, Traitors of Rome, which proved to be an exciting and intense addition to the series.

A Darkness at Sethanon by Raymond E. Feist

A key book in Raymond E. Feist’s original Riftwar Cycle trilogy, this title refers to the major battle of the book that sees an epic confrontation at the town of Sethanon.

Star Wars: Darth Vader: The Shu-Torun War by Kieron Gillen and Salvador Larroca

The final entry on this list is the very cool Star Wars comic, The Shu-Torun War. Part of an extremely awesome series that focused on the iconic character of Darth Vader, The Shu-Torun War was a strong entry in the series that recounts Vader’s actions in brutally supressing a rebellion on the vital planet of Shu-Torun. An impressive comic that takes the reader on a dark adventure, this was a fantastic addition to this list that I was glad I could include.

That’s my latest list. As you can see, there are some great books out there that feature titles with destinations included within. I like the cool range of books and locations I picked out in the above list and proved to be a lot of fun to pull it together. All the above books are fantastic reads as well, and you can have an amazing time getting through them. In the meantime, let me know what your favourite books with destinations in the titles are in the comments below.

Top Ten Tuesday – My Favourite Australian Books of 2023

On January 24, 2024 By The Unseen LibraryIn Australian, List22 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme that currently resides at The Artsy Reader Girl and features bloggers sharing lists on various book topics. For this week’s Top Ten Tuesday, participants were supposed to list the top books they meant to read in 2023 but didn’t get a chance to, however, I am going to an alternate list today. The reason for this, and the reason I delayed putting this list up by a day, is because Friday, 26 January, is Australia’s national holiday, Australia Day. While Australia Day is getting a lot more controversial due to its historic implications, I like to look beyond that and focus on some of the amazing and varied talents our nation produces. As such, I thought I would take this opportunity to once again highlight some of the top pieces of fiction written by Australian authors that I read in 2023.

Each year, a ton of talented Australian authors produce an impressive and exciting range of fiction from across the genres, many of which I am lucky enough to get copies of from my local publishers. Due to this, I tend to read and review a lot of novels by Australian authors, most of which turn out to be some outstanding reads that I deeply enjoy. As such, for the last few years I have taken to highlighting my favourite pieces of Australian fiction (check out my 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 lists). I really love how much awesome Australian fiction there is each year, and this list is the perfect way to highlight some of the best Australian authors.

Now 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. To qualify for this list, a novel had to be released in 2023 and be written by an Australian author, which I am defining as anyone born in Australia or who currently lives here (Australia is very good at adopting talented people as our own). This resulted in a long list, including several novels that I considered to be some of the best reads of last year. I was eventually able to whittle this novel down to the absolute cream of the crop and came up with a fantastic top ten list (with my typical generous honourable mentions). I really enjoyed how this list turned out, especially as it features novels from a range of different genres, all of which were very awesome Australian books.

Honourable Mentions:

He Who Drowned the World by Shelley Parker-Chan

He Who Drowned The World Cover

An interesting historical fiction/fantasy hybrid from a rising Australian author, Shelley Parker-Chan. He Who Drown the World was the exciting sequel to the author’s debut, She Who Became the Sun, and it featured a unique and memorable adventure.

Judgement Day by Mali Waugh

Judgement Day Cover

An impressive debut from an outstanding Australian talent, that saw a damaged cop investigate the murder of a prominent judge.

The Paris Agent by Kelly Rimmer

The Paris Agent Cover

A gripping World War II historical drama from one of Australia’s top authors of the genre, Kelly Rimmer, who previously wowed me with The Warsaw Orphan and The German Wife. The Paris Agent had an outstanding plot that followed doomed female spies dropped into occupied France.

How to Kill a Client by Joanna Jenkins

How to Kill a Client Cover

How to Kill a Client was an amazing and dark legal thriller that followed members of a prominent legal firm who become suspects in a clients death. One of the most entertaining debuts of 2023.

Top Ten List:

The Will of the Many by James Islington

The Will of the Many Cover

The first book I must highlight is the outstanding and epic fantasy novel, The Will of the Many by James Islington. The Will of the Many was an amazing book that topped all my best-of lists last year, including my favourite books and audiobooks of 2023 lists. Set in a great new fantasy world, The Will of the Many follows an exile who infiltrates an elite academy to uncover deadly secrets and find out ways to fight against the nation who stole his home. An exceptionally addictive read, The Will of the Many is so damn good, and I was extremely impressed by my first book by Islington.

Everyone on this Train is a Suspect by Benjamin Stevenson

Everyone on this Train is a Suspect Cover

The always hilarious Benjamin Stevenson followed up his outstanding 2022 novel, Everyone in my Family has Killed Someone, with this fantastic and brilliant murder mystery. Set on the legendary Australian train, the Ghan, Everyone on this Train is a Suspect is an intriguing and comedic take on the murder mystery genre, as the main suspects to the murder are all crime fiction authors. Funny, smart and featuring homages to various crime fiction sub-genres and classic novels, Everyone on this Train is a Suspect was extremely awesome and I loved getting through it.

Mr Einstein’s Secretary by Matthew Reilly

Mr Einstein's Secretary Cover

One of Australia’s most recognisable authors, Matthew Reilly, had an amazing year in 2023 with Mr Einstein’s Secretary. Following a fantastic protagonist through some of the most important historical events of the first half of the 20^th century, Mr Einstein’s Secretary was a powerful, character-driven story, loaded with action, espionage, and captivating historical detail. An extremely impressive novel that I managed to knock off in a very, very short amount of time.

Ripper by Shelley Burr

Ripper Cover

Shelley Burr produced an awesome sequel to her debut novel, Wake, with the outstanding read Ripper. Set in a town made infamous for a deadly serial killer years ago, Ripper follows a new investigation when a body is found in the same spot as one of the original victims. A twisty and captivating novel that has some great connections to Burr’s previous book.

Killer Traitor Spy by Tim Ayliffe

Killer Traitor Spy Cover

Tim Ayliffe brings back his rugged journalist protagonist for another dark Australian thriller in Killer Traitor Spy. This time examining the impacts of foreign influence and espionage, Killer Traitor Spy was a brilliant read that makes great use of real-life concerns to contemporary Australia.

Never a Hero by Vanessa Len

Never A Hero Cover

After wowing me in 2022 with her impressive debut, the young adult fantasy novel Only a Monster, Australian author Vanessa Len produced an excellent sequel last year with Never a Hero. An intense novel that cleverly makes use of the alternate timeline established at the end of the first book, Never a Hero was an exceptional sequel from a very talented author.

Kill Your Husbands by Jack Heath

Kill Your Husbands Cover

One of my absolute favourite Australian authors, Jack Heath, had another incredible year in 2023 with the amazing book Kill Your Husbands. An intriguing novel that sees three couples in an isolated cabin all become murder suspects after an attempt at partner-swapping goes terribly wrong. I love the unique and drama inducing plot of Kill Your Husbands, especially as it also served as a sequel to one of Heath’s previous novels, Kill Your Brother. This was such a great read, and I really enjoyed the complex mystery Heath came up with.

Vendetta by Sarah Barrie

Vendetta Cover

Sarah Barrie continued her dark and deadly Lexi Winter series in a big way last year with the exceptional novel Vendetta. Following on from her previous books, Unforgiven and Retribution, Vendetta sees Barrie’s maverick protagonist infiltrate a deadly bikie gang she has history with, all while a vengeful killer seeks to blow everyone up. This was one of Barrie’s best books yet, and I had an outstanding time getting through Vendetta.

Fire with Fire by Candice Fox

Fire With Fire Cover

Candice Fox continued to dominate the crime fiction market with the impressive 2023 thriller, Fire with Fire. Following several different protagonists as they try to save vital evidence being held hostage by two desperate parents, Fire with Fire had an amazing story and I loved how it turned out. Another amazing book from Fox, who has several fantastic novels coming out in 2024.

Dark Corners by Megan Goldin

Dark Corners Cover 2

The final book on this list is the impressive 2023 novel from one of Australia’s fastest rising crime fiction authors, Megan Goldin. Her latest book, Dark Corners, serves as a sequel to her previous novel The Night Swim, and sees the author’s podcasting protagonist join the hunt for a deadly killer stalking an influencer convention. Featuring both an intense mystery and an entertaining look at the current obsession with influencers and social media, Dark Corners was another great book from Goldin that comes highly recommended.

Well, that is the end of this latest list and I am really happy that I got a chance to highlight some of the best Australian releases of 2023. The above books represent an outstanding collection of fiction from talented Australian authors, and each of them comes highly recommended by me. I had a lot of fun coming up with this list and I cannot wait to find out what the best Australian books of 2024 are going to be. Until then, stay tuned for more epic reviews and lists, and make sure you let me know who your favourite Australian authors are in the comments below.

Top Ten Tuesday – My Favourite Books of 2023

On January 2, 2024 By The Unseen LibraryIn List88 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. As we roll into the new year I am going to list my absolute favourite books of 2023, which is something I look forward to every year. This is a continuation of several lists that highlighted the authors and books I have been most impressed with this year. Previous lists for last year included my favourite pre-2023 novels, and my favourite audiobooks, sequels and new-to-me authors of 2023. However, this list here is the big one as it covers my absolute favourite releases of the year, of which there are quite a few.

I think we can all agree that 2023 has been another roller-coaster year for the world, but thankfully readers got a bit of solace as this was an amazing year for books, with a huge range of incredible releases coming out across the genres. Not only did several outstanding new series start but we had some exceptional debuts, and some big continuations of established works. I have had an amazing time reading or listening to some outstanding books this year and quite a few releases have become instant favourites. I must admit that I somewhat struggled to pull this list together, as there were so many books that deserved to be mentioned. Therefore, because I am a very soft touch, and because the quality of the books I read this year was so impressive, I have decided to expand this list out to 20 entries (just like I have the last four years). These 20 books are my absolute favourites from 2023, and I would strongly recommend every one of them to anyone interested in a great read.

To make it onto this list a book only needed to be released here in Australia during 2023. I have naturally excluded anything I have not read yet, even though there were quite a few awesome-sounding books I sadly didn’t squeeze into my reading schedule. I decided to leave off my usual Honourable Mentions section as the extra 10 entries make it unnecessary. There will be a bit of crossover between the below entries and some of my previous lists. For example, several of these novels appeared on my Top Ten Favourite Audiobooks of 2023 list and my Top Ten Favourite Books from the First Half of 2023 list, which I ran back into July. Overall though, I am very happy with how this Top 20 list turned out and I think it contains a pretty good range of novels that showcase the different types of books that I chose to read this year. So without further ado, here is the list.

Top Twenty List (no particular order):

City of Last Chances and House of Open Wounds by Adrian Tchaikovsky

City of Last Chances and House of Open Wounds Covers

For my first entry, I am doing a double entry with the first two books in Adrian Tchaikovsky’s The Tyrant Philosopher’s series. City of Last Chances was technically released late 2022 but I am including it here because I only got it in Australia earlier this year. Both books are exceptional fantasy novels set in a compelling world where a relentlessness army of anti-religious zealots are conquering everything. The first book, City of Last Chances, was an excellent character-focused novel set in an occupied city with several big personalities try to survive a turbulent period of revolution. House of Open Wounds is a loose sequel that follows one of the best protagonists from the first book as he gets drafted into an army hospital full of eccentric and forbidden healers. Both novels were outstanding, with a great blend of complex characters, intricate overlapping storylines and a subtle humour, and they make for a very worthy inclusion on this list.

Holly by Stephen King

Holly Cover

I had to feature one of my favourite horror novels on this list with the latest release from Stephen King, Holly. The latest story featuring one of King’s most distinctive protagonists, Holly Gibney (introduced in Mr Mercedes), Holly is an intense and gripping novel that sees the protagonist investigate a missing person’s case. However, the more she digs the more disturbing things get as she uncovers a pair of terrifying antagonists with a dark, dark secret. Honestly one of the best Stephen King novels I have so far read, Holly had me hooked the entire way through, especially as it features two of King’s most disturbing villains. Highly recommended, especially in its audiobook format narrated by Holly’s Mr Mercedes’ actor, Justine Lupe.

Son of the Poison Rose by Jonathan Maberry

Son of the Poison Rose Cover

It was a very good year for fans of Jonathan Maberry as we got two amazing books from him, both of which feature on this list. This first of these, Son of the Poison Rose, was the sequel to Maberry’s first foray into fantasy fiction, Kagen the Damned (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2022). This gritty and brutal read continued to see the protagonist attempt to get revenge on an evil empire and their Witch-king after they slaughtered the royal family he was sworn to protect. However, his enemy has some terrible weapons at their disposal, including zombies, unkillable magical constructs and much, much worse. An excellent inclusion to one of the darkest fantasy series out there, Son of the Poison Rose was an outstanding read that continues to showcase how good Maberry’s distinctive style works in the fantasy genre.

Burner by Mark Greaney

Burner Cover

Mark Greaney continues to impress with his outstanding Gray Man spy thriller series, the last several books of which have appeared on prior year’s versions of this list (including One Minute Out, Relentless and Sierra Six). This latest novel, Burner, sets Greaney’s lethal main protagonist and his conflicted former lover against a determined kill team, determined to keep Russia’s foreign influences secret. A powerful read that tastefully features contemporary conflicts, Burner was one of Greaney’s best books yet and I had an awesome time getting through it.

The Armour of Light by Ken Follett

The Armour of Light Cover

One of my favourite historical fiction authors continued to showcase his impressive writing ability this year with The Armour of Light. The latest book in Follet’s iconic Kingsbridge series (previous novels include The Evening and the Morning and A Column of Fire), The Armour of Light took the reader back to the start of the Industrial Revolution in England as the town of Kingsbridge struggles with the march on progress. Following a vast cast of colourful and complex characters, The Armour of Light was an outstanding and massive read that I powered through in no time at all. A five-star piece of historical fiction that comes highly recommended.

The Book that Wouldn’t Burn by Mark Lawrence

The Book That Wouldn't Burn Cover

One of the most inventive and bold fantasy novels of 2023 was The Book that Wouldn’t Burn by Mark Lawrence. Primarily set inside an impossibly large library in a unique fantasy location, The Book that Wouldn’t Burn follows two protagonists with very different experiences of the library as they try to discover its secrets. Impressive in its scope and creativity, The Book that Wouldn’t Burn was a brilliant read that perfectly starts a captivating new trilogy from one of fantasy fiction’s best authors.

Cave 13 by Jonathan Maberry

Cave 13 Cover

My second Maberry novel on this list is Cave 13, which continues the outrageous adventures of Maberry’s most iconic and mentally traumatised protagonist, Joe Ledger. The third book in the Rogue Team International sequel series, Cave 13 follows on from Rage (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2019) and Relentless (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2021) and sees Ledger and his team of specialists investigate a new terrorism case involving high-tech weapons. Cave 13 has one of Maberry’s more creative stories, as the protagonists try to stop a deadly plot involving ancient magic, the Dead Sea Scrolls, a traumatising bio-weapon and nukes in the Middle East. Fast-paced, wildly brutal, and featuring a cast of intriguing, over-the-top characters, Cave 13 was an amazing addition to one of my favourite series and I had an epic time listening to it.

The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman

The Last Devil to Die Cover

One of the most moving, captivating and hilarious books of the year had to be the fourth Thursday Murder Club book by Richard Osman, The Last Devil to Die. Following on from Osman’s previous epic books, The Thursday Murder Club (one of the best books, debuts and audiobooks of 2020), The Man Who Died Twice and The Bullet that Missed, The Last Devil to Die follows four retirees who investigate the murder of a close friend. This latest entry had a fascinating case involving drug dealers, antiquities and other villains, all of whom are completely outclassed by four entertaining seniors. However, the best part of The Last Devil to Die was the outstanding characters, each of whom goes through their own emotional journeys in this series, which can be both extremely funny and brutally heartbreaking. One storyline in this book was particularly tragic and you will not be able to keep the tears from your eyes as you read it. One of the most moving, yet hopeful books of 2023, I cannot recommend this entire exceptional series enough.

Usagi Yojimbo: The Green Dragon by Stan Sakai

Usagi Yojimbo - Volume 38 - The Green Dragon Cover

The 38^th volume in my absolute favourite comic book series, The Green Dragon was another fantastic and beautiful addition to the Usagi Yojimbo series. Once again following Stan Sakai’s rabbit ronin through three more compelling adventures, The Green Dragon was an excellent addition to a creative and well-drawn series, and I read through this great volume the very second I got my hands on it.

Saevus Corax Deals with the Dead by K. J. Parker

Saevus Corax Deals With the Dead Cover

One of the funniest fantasy authors out there, K. J. Parker (who also writes as Tom Holt), had a ripper of a year, releasing several outstanding books. Parker, whose Siege series has been heavily featured on this list in the past with books like Sixteen Ways to Defend a Walled City, How to Rule an Empire and Get Away with It and A Practical Guide to Conquering the World, released a complete trilogy in the later half of 2023 with the Corax books. Following a battlefield looter with a complex past as he gets caught up in all manner of conflicts, the Corax series is an intriguing trilogy that combines some amazing comedy with Parker’s unique outlook on life and fantasy fiction. I have only had the chance to read the first book of this trilogy so far with Saevus Corax Deals with the Dead, and it was something very special, as the protagonist finds himself embroiled in an over-the-top situation with substantial implications for the entire world. I loved every second spent reading Saevus Corax Deals with the Dead and if I had been able to read the sequels (both of which are currently sitting on my shelf), I have no doubt they would be featured on this list as well.

The Last Kingdom by Steve Berry

The Last Kingdom (Steve Berry) Cover

I have been really impressed with Steve Berry’s long-running Cotton Malone thriller series in recent years, thanks to great books like The Malta Exchange, The Warsaw Protocol and The Kaiser’s Web, but his latest novel, The Last Kingdom, might be one of his best yet. Cleverly combining a modern-day spy thriller storyline with an intriguing historical conspiracy about an iconic king of Bavaria, The Last Kingdom really got the right balance of modern-day excitement and fascinating history. There is so much to love about this exciting and insightful book and I cannot wait to get my hands on the next upcoming entry of the series coming soon.

The Will of the Many by James Islington

The Will of the Many Cover

One of the best new fantasy authors I tried out in 2023 was James Islington who produced the outstanding novel, The Will of the Many, which has been topping all of my recent end-of-year lists. Following a runaway who is drafted into a war against an oppressive regime and forced to infiltrate their elite academy, The Will of the Many was pretty damn epic on a number of levels. Not only did it have an amazing magic school plot (something I am a big fan of), but it also featured some cool and unique fantasy elements while following a compelling protagonist. I was absolutely hooked the entire way through this impressive story and I cannot recommend this brilliant novel enough. I am really hopeful that we get a sequel this year, and I plan to read it the second it is released.

Everyone on this Train is a Suspect by Benjamin Stevenson

Everyone on this Train is a Suspect Cover

After wowing the world with his impressive 2022 Australian novel, Everyone in my Family has Killed Someone, author Benjamin Stevenson provided an outstanding follow-up with Everyone on this Train is a Suspect. Amplifying the clever and hilarious homage to murder mystery classics by forcing the protagonist to participate in a mystery writer’s convention aboard Australia’s version of the Orient Express, Everyone on this Train is a Suspect lovingly made fun of many classic crime fiction sub-genres while also presenting the reader with a compelling new mystery. Featuring an excellent blend of suspense, misdirection and comedy, Everyone on this Train is a Suspect was an amazing sequel that had me laughing the entire way through as Stevenson has fun roasting his fellow crime fiction authors and enthusiasts.

The Fall of Cadia by Robert Rath

Warhammer 40,000 - The Fall of Cadia Cover

There were so many amazing Warhammer 40,000 novels released in 2023, but one of the absolute best was The Fall of Cadia by the very impressive Robert Rath. Rath, who previously wowed me with his other Warhammer novels, Assassinorum: Kingmaker and The Infinite and the Divine, attempted to novelise one of the biggest lore events from the Warhammer 40,000 canon. Featuring a ton of cinematic battles and larger-than-life characters, The Fall of Cadia had me riveted from start to finish, and I loved just how well Rath was able to capture this climatic event. One of my new favourite Warhammer 40,000 books, The Fall of Cadia was so damn epic in every way possible.

The Shadow Casket by Chris Wooding

The Shadow Casket Cover

After waiting years for a continuation to Chris Wooding’s epic fantasy novel, The Ember Blade, readers were finally gifted a sequel in 2023 with The Shadow Casket, which was everything we hoped it would be. Featuring a massive and elaborate tale of revolution, comradery and difficult decisions, The Shadow Casket set a disparate group of friends against an oppressive empire in an outstanding read. Featuring some amazing character arcs, compelling world building, and massive war sequences, The Shadow Casket was such a great read and one of the best fantasy novels of 2023. I loved The Shadow Casket so much, and my biggest disappointment about it is that we are probably going to have to wait a few years to get the third book.

Resurrection Walk by Michael Connelly

Resurrection Walk Cover

One of the world’s best crime fiction authors, Michael Connelly, is an author who always manages to impress me, and several of his books, including The Night Fire, The Dark Hours, Desert Star and Fair Warning, have appeared on prior year’s version of this list. Therefore, it should be unsurprising that his latest novel, Resurrection Walk, also needs to be featured here, as it was one of the best books I read all year. A new addition to his Lincoln Lawyer series, Resurrection Walk was a wonderful legal thriller that saw two of Connelly’s best protagonists team up to get an innocent woman out of prison. Wildly entertaining and featuring a fascinating and unique legal case, Resurrection Walk was one of the better Connelly books I have so far enjoyed and I had such an exceptional time reading it.

Mr Einstein’s Secretary by Matthew Reilly

Mr Einstein's Secretary Cover

An elaborate and compelling historical novel that followed a fictional secretary who was dragged into some of the biggest events of the early 20^th century. Mr Einstein’s Secretary was an exciting novel that saw Matthew Reilly tell a particularly unique historical tale of love, determination and sacrifice, which cleverly inserted his protagonist into the lives of several major historical figures as their secretaries. This novel had so many compelling elements to it, from the bold characters, intriguing historical details, and a curious writing style, that I ended up finishing Mr Einstein’s Secretary off in a single day. I absolutely loved this book and I had to feature it here as a result.

The Traitor by Anthony Ryan

The Traitor Cover

Anthony Ryan ended his outstanding Covenant of Steel trilogy in 2023 with The Traitor. Serving as an excellent conclusion to The Pariah and The Martyr, The Traitor saw Ryan’s complicated and scruffy scribe protagonist caught in the middle of a bloody civil war as his beloved risen martyr attempts to unite the country and force out all the evil she believes corrupts it. However, nothing is as it seems, and the protagonist soon finds himself trying to decide whether he is actually on the right side. Filled with heartbreak, treachery, and damaged characters trying to do the right thing, The Traitor was an epic and moving piece of fantasy fiction that I had such an amazing time getting through. An epic end to a particularly impressive fantasy trilogy.

The Lion: Son of the Forest by Mike Brooks

The Lion - Son of the Forest Cover

Another amazing Warhammer 40,000 book I have to highlight on this list is The Lion: Son of the Forest by Mike Brooks. A key piece of Warhammer 40,000 fiction that covers the return of a major lore figure, The Lion: Son of the Forest was a thoughtful and moving character-driven read loaded with symbolisms and intriguing takes on established pieces of Warhammer 40,000 history. I had an amazing time with this particularly strong piece of Warhammer fiction and Brooks really impressed me as an author in 2023.

Battle Song by Ian Ross

Battle Song Cover

The final book I want to highlight on this list is the exciting and compelling historical fiction read, Battle Song by Ian Ross. Following an ill-tempered knight and his unlucky squire as they become embroiled in a lesser-known English civil war, Battle Song was a powerful and compelling historical adventure that had me hooked the entire way through. Smart, intriguing, and full of fun action, Battle Song comes highly recommended, and I cannot wait to get my hands on the sequel coming out in the next couple of months.

Well, those are my 20 favourite books of 2023. It turned out to be quite a good list in the end, and I am very glad that I was able to highlight so many fantastic books. 2024 is set to be another excellent year for amazing reads, and I will be examining some of my most anticipated books next week. In the meantime, let me know what your favourite books of 2023 were in the comments below, and make sure you all have a happy New Years.

Canberra Weekly Column – Historical Fiction – 16 November 2023

On November 30, 2023 By The Unseen LibraryIn Canberra Weekly Column, Historical FictionLeave a comment

Canberra Weekly Column - Historical Fiction - 16 Thursday 2023

Originally published in the Canberra Weekly on 16 November 2023.

A copy of this column also appeared on the Canberra Weekly website.

Make sure to also check out my extended reviews for Mr Einstein’s Secretary, The Defector and The Girl From London.

Mr Einstein’s Secretary by Matthew Reilly

On November 30, 2023December 31, 2023 By The Unseen LibraryIn Five-Star Books, Historical Fiction6 Comments

Publisher: Macmillan Australia (Trade Paperback – 17 October 2023)

Series: Standalone

Length: 464 pages

My Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Acclaimed Australian author Matthew Reilly presents one of the most entertaining, moving and brilliant historical fiction reads of 2023 with his compelling and well-written novel, Mr Einstein’s Secretary.

Matthew Reilly is a highly creative Australian author who has been wowing audiences for years with his elaborate and inventive thrillers and science fiction novels. Known for his Shane Schofield and Jack West Jr series, as well as several impressive standalone reads, Reilly has produced an intriguing array of fiction throughout his career, much of which revolves around ancient secrets and action-seeking protagonists. I have personally only had the pleasure of reading one of Reilly’s novels so far, the intriguing 2019 release, The Secret Runners of New York, which saw a group of teenagers travel back and forth between the modern city and a future dystopia. I really enjoyed this cool book and I have been meaning to read more of Reilly’s works. As such, when I got a copy of Reilly’s first foray into historical fiction, a favourite genre of mine, with Mr Einstein’s Secretary, I had to check it out, and boy was I glad that I did.

Born at the start of the 20^th century in Berlin to an American mother and a German father, Hanna Fischer is a curious young woman whose greatest wish in life is to study physics like her mother and her neighbour the great Albert Einstein. However, when her peaceful existence is violently turned upside down in 1919, Hanna has no choice but to flee to America and make a new life for herself in New York.

Forced to give up her dreams of studying physics, Hanna makes the fateful choice to enrol in a prestigious school for secretaries. Her decision will place her in the orbit of some of the most interesting people in the city, including business tycoons, socialites, gangsters and one determined Treasury agent, as she works to find a way to return home. But as the years go by, it soon becomes apparent that the Germany she left behind is no longer her home, especially when Hanna returns to Einstein’s orbit as his secretary.

Trapped in Germany when the Nazis come to power, Hanna is recruited as an American spy and soon finds herself serving as secretary to several high-ranking Nazis. Caught between dangerous men, lethal intelligence operatives and her own conflicted loyalties, Hanna attempts to uncover the terrible truths of the Nazi regime without her own secrets coming out. But not everything in Hanna’s life is as it seems, and one dangerous part of her past will always come back to haunt her.

Mr Einstein’s Secretary was a fascinating and compelling read that had me hooked very early thanks to its unique style, focus on various gripping parts of early 20^th century history, and fantastic characters. Loaded with some fascinating detail, a ton of action and a wonderful life story, I honestly couldn’t put this book down at times and I managed to power through the entire second half of the book in a single afternoon. Due to its clever writing and brilliant story, I just had to give Mr Einstein’s Secretary a full five-star rating, and this is honestly one of the best historical fiction novels of 2023.

Reilly tells a very unique story in Mr Einstein’s Secretary that primarily focuses on protagonist Hanna Fischer and her experiences living through some of the most turbulent parts of history. Reilly really piqued my interest early on when the first-perspective narrative opens on the protagonist’s funeral, with the reader apparently seeing it through her ghost’s eyes. While having the narrator’s funeral upfront can sometimes be problematic, I think it worked out well for this book, especially as Reilly introduces a few key characters for the reader to keep an eye out for, before jumping into three key scenes from the protagonist’s life. These scenes are three separate interrogations that the protagonist experienced during her intriguing career, each one undertaken by a different regime, including the American police, the Nazis, and the Soviets. All of these interrogations are key reference points in the main story, and you are immediately intrigued to see the chain of events that leads the protagonist to each of them, as well as how she managed to get out of the deadly situations each time.

After this excellent introduction, the story begins in earnest with a more traditional chronological approach. Starting with her childhood in Berlin where she lived next to Albert Einstein, Hanna’s story quickly fills with tragedy and adversity, especially as the early clouds of fascism and the consequences of World War I cause her to lose everything and force her to flee to America, where she is enrolled in a secretary school. This early part of the book is well set out, introduced several key characters, and really showcased some of the defining early moments for the protagonist that would serve her well in the future, as well as exploring the impacts that chance and simple choices can have on a person. The next section of the novel set in New York is initially a bit slower, but it soon picks up, especially when the Prohibition Era kicks in. Reilly has an excellent way of portraying someone’s personal story in the most interesting way, and I loved seeing Hanna’s life in America, especially when it combined early corporate America with gangster lifestyle and the burgeoning physics scene. There is a compelling sojourn back to Germany for Hanna that results in nothing but heartbreak, especially when her twin is involved, and I really enjoyed the protagonist’s encounters with a New York gangster during this time, especially as it showcases just how practical and cold Hanna can be when necessary. This part of the book ends when it reaches the events of the first interrogation, and the protagonist becomes a more permanent secretary to Einstein.

From there, the plot of Mr Einstein’s Secretary moves at a much quicker pace, especially when Hanna gets dragged into the events surrounding the rise of the Nazi regime. Trapped in Germany after Hitler’s rise to power, Hanna is recruited to spy on the Nazis and becomes the secretary to key members of the party. Thanks to this, Hanna has an excellent view of the full evils of the Nazis and becomes involved in several espionage missions against them and the Soviets. This part of the book combines spy thriller moments with compelling and dark historical detail, and you really get caught up in Hanna’s life as an operative, especially when it goes side by side with some of the major moments of the Nazi regime. I was absolutely powering through this part of the book it was so darn fascinating, especially as Hanna had to also deal with personal issues and her growing revulsion about what she was witnessing. Reilly keeps the plot moving quickly in the final third of the book, and there are some truly intense scenes leading up to the fall of Berlin, especially when Hanna is forced to make some hard choices and faces the ultimate betrayal. I loved some of the shocking moments and twists that emerged in this last section of the novel, especially as it places the protagonist in some major trouble, and the resulting scenes have you constantly on the edge of your seat. Everything ends on a pretty comfortable and satisfying note, and I felt that Reilly resolved his story in an excellent if crowd-pleasing way. An overall outstanding, gripping and electrifying story from start to finish.

While this impressive story is pretty strong and exciting in its own right, what really elevates Mr Einstein’s Secretary is the author’s clever and distinctive writing style. I loved how Reilly set up the entire story as the memories of a shadowy figure watching their own funeral, especially as events unfolding before them reminds the protagonist of some of the most traumatic memories of her life. The initial focus on the three defining interrogation sequences produces an extra strong start for the novel, and the fascinating foreshadowing that resulted really heightened the reader’s anticipation for the rest of the story. While the story does transfer to a more traditional biographical novel after these scenes, Reilly breaks this up masterfully by having the narrator suddenly remember other similar events of her life, and then having this scene unfold. For example, when the character visits a certain location as a child, Reilly will then insert a quick paragraph showing the same location at a different part of her life. This switch between time periods proves to be a fascinating and powerful way of expressing the character’s linked memories, and it also adds in some interesting additional foreshadowing and some fascinating contrasts. Reilly does a wonderful job of highlighting what part of the character’s life these memories are from by changing the font type around, and I loved how multilayered the novel got as a result. An additional font choice towards the end of the book also highlights a shocking and dark change in narrative focus, as a similar figure starts to tell the story in their own twisted way. These unique writing elements really helped to turn Mr Einstein’s Secretary into quite a distinctive read, and I deeply appreciated Reilly’s desire to experiment and tell a historical story his own way.

Aside from Reilly’s intriguing narration and style choices, I also think that Mr Einstein’s Secretary had an excellent balance of action, intensity, drama and romance to appeal to a wide audience of readers. The author does a remarkable job of developing his protagonist while simultaneously exploring so many fascinating historical events and moments, especially in New York and Germany. So many key historical events in the lead-up to and eventual outbreak of World War II are covered in excellent detail, and Reilly does an outstanding job of working his protagonist into these events and making her a witness and participant. I loved Reilly’s depictions of 1920s New York, which served as a grand backdrop for much of the early narrative, and the author takes the time to showcases several key periods of the decade, from the early roaring twenties with the economic boom, the prohibition era, and the eventual Wall Street crash. There are also some fascinating, if necessarily dark, depictions of the rise of the Nazi regime in Germany, which Reilly captures perfectly, especially through the eyes of his protagonist who has her own issues with the Nazis due to her family and her association with Einstein. There is even an intriguing discussion about historical physics, with the protagonist having a fantastic inside track, and watching her spy on the German attempts at nuclear technology is an intriguing part of the book, especially after seeing Oppenheimer earlier this year. Reilly utilises all these historical events extremely well, and his use of them allows for some great support characters, especially as there is a combination of fun original characters and multiple real life historical figures. I had such a brilliant time with the historical focus of Mr Einstein’s Secretary, and it proved to be a powerful, exciting and well-balanced read.

Matthew Reilly does it again with his first major foray in historical fiction. Mr Einstein’s Secretary is a powerful and captivating tale of life, love and loss in the run up to World War II and I loved every second spent with Reilly’s compelling protagonist. Featuring a brilliant and unique style from the author that deeply enhances an already fascinating narrative, Mr Einstein’s Secretary was a treat from start to finish, and I cannot recommend it enough.

WWW Wednesday – 8 November 2023

On November 9, 2023November 13, 2023 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:

Mr Einstein’s Secretary by Matthew Reilly (Trade Paperback)

Mr Einstein's Secretary Cover

I started the compelling historical novel, Mr Einstein’s Secretary this week and boy am I loving it. The latest book from acclaimed Australian author Matthew Reilly, Mr Einstein’s Secretary follows a young girl who lives through terrible times and becomes a spy, a traitor and the secretary to Einstein. I am about 100 pages in at the moment and cannot wait to see how this awesome novel turns out.

Warhammer 40,000: Creed: Ashes of Cadia by Jude Reid (Audiobook)

Creed - Ashes of Cadia Cover 2

I am still enjoying the latest Warhammer 40,000 novels, Creed: Ashes of Cadia by Jude Reid this week. I had hoped to have finished this audiobook by now, but I haven’t had as much listening time as I would have wanted. Despite that, Ashes of Cadia is proving to be an excellent read and I love the complex and action-packed story it contains as the daughter of a legendary war hero as she journeys back to the site of her father’s greatest failure, the fall of Cadia. I should finish this off in the next day or two and I cannot wait to see how it ends.

What did you recently finish reading?

Resurrection Walk by Michael Connelly (Trade Paperback)

Resurrection Walk Cover

I had a wonderful time finishing off the excellent new Michael Connelly novel, Resurrection Walk this week. A Lincoln Lawyer novel that also features Connelly’s main protagonist Harry Bosch, Resurrection Walk was an exception book that sees the protagonists try to prove the innocence of several convicted felons. One of Connelly’s best recent books, I loved Resurrection Walk and I am hoping to get a review up for it soon.

The Defector by Chris Hadfield (Trade Paperback)

The Defector Cover

A compelling and fascinating thriller set during the Cold War from a talented author with some intriguing real-world insights.

The Girl from London by Olivia Spooner (Trade Paperback)

The Girl From London Cover

A moving and compelling historical drama that focuses on a unique World War II event.

What do you think you’ll read next?

Zero Days Since Last Incident by JE Rowney

Zero Days Since Last Incident Cover

I am hoping to quickly read the entertaining sounding thriller, Zero Days Since Last Incident in the next week. Following several ambitious office workers who get stuck on an island with murderous results, Zero Days Since Last Incident sounds pretty damn awesome and I can’t wait to check it out.

Murtagh by Christopher Paolini

Murtagh Cover

I am also hoping to dive into the new Christopher Paolini novel, Murtagh, in the next few days. The long-awaited sequel to his iconic Inheritance Cycle (a series I have a lot of love for), Murtagh is one of my most anticipated books for the second half of 2023 and I cannot wait to see how Paolini expands his awesome fantasy series.

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 – 1 November 2023

On November 1, 2023 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?

Resurrection Walk by Michael Connelly (Trade Paperback)

Resurrection Walk Cover

I just started reading the excellent new Michael Connelly novel, Resurrection Walk. A Lincoln Lawyer novel that also features Connelly’s main protagonist Harry Bosch, Resurrection Walk is an awesome book that sees the protagonists try to prove the innocence of several convicted felons. An intriguing legal thriller that builds on Connelly’s impressive character work, Resurrection Walk is proving to be an incredible read and I cannot wait to see how everything comes together.

Warhammer 40,000: Creed: Ashes of Cadia by Jude Reid (Audiobook)

Creed - Ashes of Cadia Cover 2

I also just started listening to one of the latest Warhammer 40,000 novels, Creed: Ashes of Cadia by established Warhammer author Jude Reid. Following the daughter of a legendary war hero as she journeys back to the site of her father’s greatest failure, the fall of Cadia, Creed: Ashes of Cadia looks set to be an amazing novel with implications for the wider Warhammer 40,000 canon. I’ve made a bit of progress on this audiobook so far and I am hoping to have it knocked off by this time next week.

What did you recently finish reading?

The Armour of Light by Ken Follett (Hardcover)

The Armour of Light Cover

I managed to get through the new massive historical fiction novel from Ken Follett, The Armour of Light, a lot quicker than I thought I would, especially when I got caught up in its excellent story. Another compelling entry in Follett’s most iconic series, The Armour of Light had a brilliant and gripping story behind it, and this is one of the best historical fiction novels of 2023.

Ghost Story by Jim Butcher (Audiobook)

Ghost Story Cover

I also managed to finish off another Dresden Files novel this week with Ghost Story. One of the darker books in the entire series, Ghost Story was a brilliant listen and I deeply enjoying its complex and powerful story.

What do you think you’ll read next?

Mr Einstein’s Secretary by Matthew Reilly

Mr Einstein's Secretary Cover

I am hoping to check out the awesome and compelling historical novel, Mr Einstein’s Secretary in the next week. The latest book from acclaimed Australian author Matthew Reilly, Mr Einstein’s Secretary promises to be a great read set around a unique historical figure, 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.

Book Haul – 12 August 2023

On August 12, 2023 By The Unseen LibraryIn Book Haul1 Comment

I have been having an excellent couple of weeks for book, as I have been lucky enough to receive several incredible and amazing new novels from some of my local publishers and from Netgalley. These novels include some truly awesome new releases, including some books that have the potential to be the top novels of 2023. I am extremely keen to check out all of the books below and they should make for some amazing reads.

Dark Corners by Megan Goldin

Dark Corners Cover 2

An exciting and compelling thriller from one of Australia’s top crime fiction authors. Dark Corners is the fantastic sequel to Goldin’s previous novel, The Night Swim, and I have already started reading it.

Code Red by Kyle Mills

Code Red Cover

I am always keen to get my hands on the new Mitch Rapp novel, and I just got an early release of the next book by Kyle Mills, Code Red. This book promises to be loaded with action, intrigue, and excitement, and I cannot wait to dive into it.

The Pit by Peter Papathanasiou

The Pit Cover

A gritty Australian thriller from a talented, rising author.

The Night House by Jo Nesbo

The Night House Cover

An awesome and freaky sounding horror novel from epic crime fiction author Jo Nesbo, this is going to be good.

Mr Einstein’s Secretary by Matthew Reilly

Mr Einstein's Secretary Cover

Acclaimed author Matthrew Reilly takes on the historical fiction genre with this intriguing novel about Einstein’s secretary. This book sounds like it is going to be one of the most interesting and unique reads of 2023 and I cannot wait to dive into it.

Ordinary Gods and Monsters by Chris Womersley

Ordinary Gods and Monsters Cover

An intense and complex piece of Australian fiction that I am very keen to check out.

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.

Canberra Weekly Column – Young Adult Fiction

On March 28, 2019March 30, 2019 By The Unseen LibraryIn Canberra Weekly Column, Young Adult1 Comment

Canberra Weekly Column - 28 March - Proper Column Cropped.jpg

Originally published in the Canberra Weekly on 28 March 2019.

The Secret Runners of New York by Matthew Reilly

On March 23, 2019November 30, 2023 By The Unseen LibraryIn Australian, Science Fiction, Young Adult5 Comments

The Secret Runners of New York Cover

Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia (Trade Paperback Format – 26 March 2019)

Series: Standalone/Book 1

Length: 328 pages

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

The end of the world has nothing on the horrors of high school in this fast-paced and widely entertaining new book from bestselling Australian author Matthew Reilly.

When Skye Rogers and her twin brother, Red, are forced to move to New York city, they are enrolled in the prestigious The Monmouth School, learning institute of choice for the city’s ultra-wealthy and social elite. Even among the children of the rich and powerful there exists a well-established hierarchy, and in The Monmouth School, the top of the social ladder are the friends and cronies of the Collins sisters, Misty and Chastity. Despite only wanting a quiet existence in her new school, Skye finds herself drawn into their orbit against her better judgement.

Skye soon discovers that hanging out with the Collins sisters is very different from the usual high school cliques. The social group is probably the most exclusive in New York, and it comes with certain privileges. Thanks to an ancient family secret, the Collins sisters are able to activate an ancient tunnel beneath Central Park that allows teenagers to run through an alternate version of New York: a post-apocalyptic nightmare littered with ruined buildings and filled with crazed survivors.

When Skye and her fellow runners find evidence that the New York they are visiting is actually a future version of their own timeline, they need to find a way to come to terms with the end of the world, especially as the apocalypse appears to be only days away. As society starts to crumble and the poor rise up against the rich, Skye tries to find a way to use her knowledge of the future to save everyone she loves. However, Skye is about to learn that her new friends are far more concerned with revenge and are planning to use the end of the world to take her down.

Matthew Reilly is a veteran author of weird and electrifying fiction, having written a number of intriguing books in the last 20 years, many of which fall within the techno-thriller or science fiction genres. In addition to a number of fun sounding standalone novels, Reilly has also published two substantial series, the Shane Schofield series and the Jack West Jr series. Matthew Reilly is one of those authors that I have been meaning to check out for some time, as a number of his novels sound absolutely bonkers and really creative. I am particularly drawn to his 2014 release, The Great Zoo of China, which essentially sounds like Jurassic Park with dragons; his 2013 historical thriller The Tournament; and the books in the Jack West Jr series, which features secret organisations fighting for control of ancient artefacts with world-and universe-ending potential.

I was therefore very excited to get an advanced copy of The Secret Runners of New York, due to its intriguing time travel and armageddon concepts. I actually really enjoyed The Secret Runners of New York and had a lot of fun reading it. The book features a surprisingly entertaining use of over-the-top high school drama that actually combines really well with the interesting science fiction elements mentioned above. The result is an unpredictable and amusing overall story that I had a very hard time putting down and which I powered through in very short order.

The book revolves around the students at The Monmouth School (you have to say the “The”; it’s that type of place), New York’s premier high school for the rich and snooty. Please remind me to never send any of my theoretical children to any school thought up by Reilly, as the author creates a learning institution that is essentially a viper’s nest of bitchiness, enforced social hierarchy and petty revenge, all of which is enhanced by the fact that the characters are all ultra-rich or have massive superiority complexes. The quote below from main character Skye, one of the few well-adjusted characters in the book, shows her experiences within the first few minutes at The Monmouth School:

“In the space of a few minutes I’d seen a taunt about sluttiness, a threatened punch to the uterus, some humble bragging by the Head Girl about the school’s social status and a dose of good old-fashioned mean-girl passive aggressiveness from Misty. School, I reflected sadly, was school no matter how high the tuition fees were.”

I have to admit I did find Reilly’s portrayal of most of the rich teenage girls in this book to be a tad extreme and unrealistic (yes, in a book featuring time travel, that’s what I am finding unrealistic). I have never been and never will be a teenage girl, but I hope that teenage girls in high school couldn’t possibly be as petty and vicious as the girls portrayed within this book, even if they are the daughters of the uber-privileged. That being said, I found this over-the-top viewpoint of high school life to be extremely entertaining and it was a fantastic element throughout the book. Watching the level-headed and somewhat cynical protagonist have to deal with this insanity was a lot of fun, especially when you would imagine most people would be more concerned with the end of the world than with who made out with which guy. An unbelievably amusing part of the story, these high school elements are great, just try and avoid thinking about it too much.

In addition to the look at the mean girls of high school, I did quite enjoy Reilly’s critique of the ultra-rich and powerful in New York City. The protagonist finds herself drawn into the world of debutant balls, society politics and the other classy responsibilities of being rich in New York. Again, this is an interesting part of the story, and the rich characters with their extravagant lifestyles do offer a nice disconnect from reality. I liked Reilly’s examination of how the rich would be targeted during apocalyptic events such as the one portrayed within this book, and it played nicely into some of the current protests and perceptions of the 1%. it’s another glorious over-the-top element for this book that provides the reader with a lot of entertainment and a real dislike of most of the privileged characters.

The science fiction parts of this book are incredibly well done and are an excellent part of this book. Not only is there a devastating cosmic storm that will wipe out most of humanity in hours, but there is an unrelated magical tunnel that the protagonists can use to visit the future. Reilly does an amazing job creating a devastating and crazy post-apocalyptic New York City for the readers to explore. I was really impressed with all the brutal descriptions of how the city was in ruins and had been dramatically reclaimed by nature as the infrastructure falls into disrepair, and the whole thing is an amazing setting that Reilly uses to full effect. I really liked how the author uses the time travel elements within the book. Watching the protagonists slowly work out that this world is a future version of their own timeline is amazing, and it was great seeing them see all the testimonials and letters from their families describing the events that are yet to happen in their future. The various time travelling shenanigans used by both the protagonists and antagonists of this book helped enhance this already exciting story, and I loved the way that the characters are able to see the consequences of their actions in both timelines before they actually happen.

The author has also utilised some eye-catching visual elements throughout the book to enhance the story being told. There are a number of maps used to show the key locations of the book, and there are even a couple of diagrams used to explain the potential time travel issues in this book. I personally liked the way that the font changed to signify the characters going into a different timeline and thought it was a nice touch. A range of other text techniques are used to signify angry or desperate messages on different locations, such as walls or the entirety of buildings, often conveying the emotion behind these messages. All these visual treats are great, and they really make this book stand out.

The Secret Runners of New York is currently being marketed to the teen and young adult audiences, but this book is really on the edge of what young adult fiction is. While it is focused on teenage characters in high school, there are a significant number of very adult inclusions throughout the book. It is interesting to note that in an interview at the back of the book, Reilly himself indicates that he does not see this story as being as a piece of young adult fiction, and I think that is shown in the way that he wrote this over-the-top story. There is a high level of violence, drug use, coarse language and sexual references featured throughout this book, and as a result, I would say it is not really appropriate for the younger audiences and is probably more suited for older teenage readers. This is definitely one of those young adult marketed books that adult readers can really enjoy, and there is no upper limit on enjoying this crazy tale.

This was an incredibly entertaining and captivating book that I had a lot of fun with. Matthew Reilly pulls no punches when it comes to portraying the book’s petty and vicious teenage rich girl antagonists, which turns an already intriguing science fiction book into a wild thrill ride of revenge, betrayal and insanity. I have to say that I quite enjoyed my first taste of Matthew Reilly’s writing and I am extremely keen to check out some of his other works in the future. At the moment The Secret Runners of New York is a standalone book, although the author leaves a number of storylines open for sequels or prequels, and I would be interested to see where he takes the story next.