WWW Wednesday – 19 August 2026

On August 21, 2026 By The Unseen LibraryIn WWW WednesdayLeave a comment

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

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

So, let’s get to it.

What are you currently reading:

Choppy Water by Jack Heath (Trade Paperback)

I was in the mood for a fun thriller this week, so I jumped into an early copy of Jack Heath’s Choppy Water. A compelling thriller that sees a fugitive cop attempt to investigate a murder aboard a quarantined cruise ship, Choppy Water is a very distinctive and exciting novel with an interesting take on the locked-room mystery. I’m currently about a third of the way through Choppy Water and I’m hoping to finish it off over the weekend.

Warhammer 40,000: The Wicked and the Warped by Robert Rath (Audiobook)

I’ve also just started to read the incredible new Warhammer 40,000 novel, The Wicked and the Warped by Robert Rath. The fantastic sequel to one of my favourite Warhammer 40,000 novels, The Infinite and the Divine, The Wicked and the Warped follows two immortal rivals as they embark on another chaotic expeditions into one of the most dangerous places in this grimdark universe. I’ve only just started getting through The Wicked and the Warped and it is proving to be a hilarious and highly addictive novel with a great plot behind it.

What did you recently finish reading?

He Who Fights With Monsters by Travis Deverell (Trade Paperback)

I got through a few awesome books this week, including the compelling LitRPG novel He Who Fights With Monsters by Australian author Travis Deverell, better known as Shirtaloon. A reprinting of his novel originally released online, He Who Fights With Monsters is a progressive fantasy tale that follows a random Australian dragged to an elaborate fantasy world. I ended up powering through this novel, which was highly addictive and really fun.

Mortedant’s Peril by R. J. Barker (Audiobook)

I also finally finished the outstanding fantasy novel Mortedant’s Peril. The latest book from R. J. Barker, Mortedant’s Peril follows a man who can talk to the dead, as he attempts to unravel a dangerous conspiracy within his fractious fantasy city. An incredible fantasy murder mystery novel and one of my new favourite reads of 2026.

Star Trek: The Last Starship – Volume 1 by Collin Kelly, Jackson Lanzing and Adrián Bonilla

Another cool thing I read this week was the advance copy of the new Star Trek comic The Last Starship. An intriguing comic that combined elements from several different eras of Star Trek lore, The Last Starship was a great read that explores hope in the darkest of situations. A fantastic comic that serves as an excellent start to a new series.

What do you think you’ll read next?

The Reckoning by Vikki Petraitis

While I didn’t get to it this week, I’m still hoping to dive into the next Vikki Petraitis novel, The Reckoning, soon. A continuation of her series that dives into gender violence in small town Australia, The Reckoning looks set to be another intriguing and confronting novel and should be another top piece of Australian fiction for 2026.

The Wreck by Riley James

I’m also hoping to keep the Australian crime fiction train going in the next week with the new Riley James book The Wreck. A unique thriller novel featuring secrets and lies on a deserted island; The Wreck has a very intriguing plot behind it and I’m quite curious to see how it turns out, especially after enjoying James’ debut novel The Chilling.

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 – Series or Authors I Need to Catch Up On

On August 19, 2026 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’s Top Ten Tuesday, participants need to list their top series that they need to catch up on. I felt this was a very interesting list to get involved with, as there are several awesome series out there that I’ve partially read, or whose authors I’m already familiar with that I need to read more from. I ended up coming up with 10 excellent entries for this list, as well as some great honourable mentions. I honestly really need to explore each of these series a lot more and hopefully including them here will inspire me. So let us see what made the cut.

Honourable Mentions:

Empire series by Anthony Riches

An exciting and well-written historical fiction series set in ancient Rome. I’ve read a few books in this series, including the 11^th book River of Gold, but I’ll probably jump back to the start and read the series in its entirety.

A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R. R. Martin

A big series with a lot of baggage around it. I’ve already read A Game of Thrones, but I really need to read all the other book, especially as I’m curious about how the show diverged from the book plot. The size of these books and how long they will take me to read them are generally the main reason I haven’t dived into this series yet, although I would probably try if the next book in the series ever gets released.

Flavia Albia/Falco series by Lindsey Davis

I’ve currently a few books behind on the Flavia Albia series, which I hope to catch up to at some point. I also really need to read Davis’ original Falco series set before it.

Warhammer: The Horus Heresy by various authors

An incredibly complex and elaborate Warhammer series that serves as an extended origin story for the current Warhammer 40,000 canon. I’ve so far only touched the edges of this combined series, and I hope to take the time and probably read the entire thing at some point (although it’s another major time investment).

Top Ten List:

The Powder Mage trilogy by Brian McClellan

First on this list we have the very awesome Powder Mage trilogy by Brian McClellan. An exceptional fantasy series that follows revolution and civil war involving gunpowder snorting mages, The Powder Mage trilogy is a major series with some epic action behind it. I’ve already started this series by powering through the first book, Promise of Blood, which was an outstanding five-star read. However, I never got the chance to dive into the rest of the books, which is something I’ve really regretted. I fully intend to read the rest of The Powder Mage novels at some point, and this will probably lead me to the sequel Gods of Blood and Powder trilogy. An excellent first entry for this list, and one which is a real reading priority for me.

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

In this next entry we have a series that I’ve already made a fair bit of progress with, the Gaunt’s Ghosts series by Dan Abnett. One of my favourite Warhammer 40,000 series, the Gaunt’s Ghosts books follow the exploits of a regiment of regular human soldiers, attempting to survive in the grimdark Warhammer universe. I have had an exceptional time with this series, which has featured some amazing books like First and Only, Necropolis, The Guns of Tanith and Straight Silver. I have so far read seven Gaunt’s Ghosts books, but stopped after Sabbat Martyr, which served as a the end point for an arc within the series. I honestly needed a break after some key deaths in the last few Gaunt’s Ghosts books, and I’ve been distracted with some other Warhammer novels the last few years. I will hopefully start diving into this series again soon, as it is a key series that any Warhammer fan really needs to check out, and I cannot wait to see how it all comes together.

Infinite Timeline by Jeremy Robinson

One of the more unique series on this list is the elaborate Infinite Timeline series by science fiction thriller author Jeremy Robinson. Initially made up of several seemingly standalone novels with unique storylines, Robinson sought to make a connected universe, when the protagonists of each book eventually interacting and working together to face a larger threat. I managed to read several books in this series, including Tribe, The Dark and Mind Bullet, but due to coming in a little late, I never got the chance to really sink my teeth into it. I’m hoping to go back and read more from this series in the future, although Robinson is keeping me distracted with some of his more recent releases. Overall, though, this was a very cool series concept, and I hope I get the chance to read all the thrilling stories within, especially the awesome sounding Khaos.

The Stormlight Archives by Brandon Sanderson

One of the big fantasy series I really need to continue is the iconic The Stormlight Archives by Brandon Sanderson. One of the author’s biggest series (literally), The Stormlight Archives follows several unique characters in a ravaged fantasy realm of spirits and complex magical items. I really enjoyed the first book in the series, The Way of Kings, which does a wonderful job of setting up the series and which remains the longest audiobook I have ever listened to. However, the insane length of each book in the series is a major reason why I haven’t had the time to keep going with this series. I’m hoping to eventually scratch together some time to listen to The Stormlight Archive, and I’m very curious to see how this series continues. I’m also keen to check out Sanderson’s Mistborn series at some point, as I’ve heard it’s exceptional.

Batman by Tom King

I don’t have a lot of unfinished comic series on my lists, but one I definitely still need to finish off is Tom King’s run on Batman. An extended run of 85 issues, King stewardship of Batman produced some particularly powerful storylines that really dove into the character of Batman and the minds of his damaged rogue’s gallery. I loved every volume of this series I have so far read, although I haven’t had the chance to get into some of the later volumes. This is a mistake I really must fix, especially as these remaining volumes feature some key moments in the wider Batman mythos.

Warhammer Fantasy: Gotrek and Felix series

Probably one of the most iconic series released in the wider Warhammer universe, are the fantasy Gotrek and Felix books. Following a doomed dwarf slayer, determined to find death in glorious battle, and his human companion as they adventure across the cursed Warhammer Fantasy realm, the Gotrek and Felix books are a fantastic series I had an amazing time getting into. I’m currently about seven books into this series, having powered through great entries like Trollslayer, Skavenslayer, Daemonslayer, Dragonslayer, Beastslayer, Vampireslayer and Giantslayer. I’ve stalled a little with the series because Giantslayer was the last Gotrek and Felix book written by original author William King. I’ve heard that the rest of the series is pretty awesome, and I need to make the jump into the next arc written by Nathan Long.

The Great Leveller Trilogy (The First Law series) by Joe Abercrombie

Regular readers of this blog will know that I am massive fan of Joe Abercrombie and his extended First Law series, including the books in the Age of Madness trilogy (A Little Hatred, The Trouble With Peace and The Wisdom of Crowds). However, I have consistently failed to read the loosely connected Great Leveller trilogy that sits between the original First Law trilogy and the later Age of Madness trilogy. Made up of three standalone books, Best Served Cold, The Heroes and Red Country, this trilogy is apparently some of Abercrombie’s best writing and I’ve always kicked myself for not reading it sooner.

Forsaken trilogy by R. J. Barker

One of the series I haven’t quite started but need to get into is the Forsaken series by R. J. Barker. Barker is a very talented author who has been writing some amazing and varied series over the last few years, including his Wounded Kingdom (Age of Assassins, Blood of Assassins and King of Assassins) and Tide Child trilogies (The Bone Ships, Call of the Bone Ships and The Bone Ship’s Wake). I’m also currently nearing the end of his latest novel, Mortedant’s Peril, which is so damn good and is really convincing me to read more of Barker’s work. As such, I feel that I need to mention the Forsaken books here, which is a series that I completely failed to read, despite having every intention to check out. Filled with heroes, gods, failed prophecies and continuous winter, all three Forsaken books sounded incredible, but I never had the time to read them. This is something I need to fix, and this entire trilogy is very high of my must-read list, especially as everything Barker writes is so damn addictive and complex.

Sigma Force by James Rollins

Years ago, I had the pleasure of reading some of the earlier books in James Rollins’ Sigma Force series. A fun thriller series that followed a secretive special forces team as they investigate several unusual events around the world; the Sigma Force books are a major action series with some very crazy cases. I have long meant to get back into the Sigma Force books, and I really want to start from the beginning and follow it through to some of it’s outrageous sounding latest entries. I have a feeling that I will have an exceptional time starting this series again, and I’m curious to see just how weird things get in the Sigma Force books.

The Buccaneers trilogy by R. A. Salvatore

I’m currently behind on a couple of series and trilogies released by legendary fantasy author R. A. Salvatore, but the one I most want to check out is The Buccaneers. A compelling series set in Salvatore’s Corona universe, The Buccaneers trilogy serves as a both a continuation of some storylines started in the classic Demon War Saga, as well as the more recent The Coven trilogy (Child of a Mad God, Reckoning of Fallen Gods and Song of the Risen God). I’m very curious to check out this more nautical themed fantasy series, and it will be interest to see how Salvatore’s awesome overarching narratives continue. A fantastic series that serves as an excellent final entry for this list.

Well, that’s the end of this latest list. As you can see, there are some amazing series out there that I need to get back into. I’m pretty happy with how this list came together, and hopefully I will be able to find the time to go back and read this series soon. Let me know what series and authors you need to catch up on in the comments below.

WWW Wednesday – 12 August 2026

On August 15, 2026 By The Unseen LibraryIn WWW WednesdayLeave a comment

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

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

So, let’s get to it.

What are you currently reading:

He Who Fights With Monsters by Travis Deverell (Trade Paperback)

This week I started reading the compelling LitRPG novel He Who Fights With Monsters by Australian author Travis Deverell, better known as Shirtaloon. A reprinting of his novel originally released online, He Who Fights With Monsters is a progressive fantasy tale that follows a random Australian dragged to an elaborate fantasy world. I’m making some good progress with this massive fantasy novel, which has a great adventure story behind it, and I’m hoping to knock it off in the next week or so.

Mortedant’s Peril by R. J. Barker (Audiobook)

I’m still going with the outstanding fantasy novel Mortedant’s Peril at the moment. The latest book from R. J. Barker, Mortedant’s Peril follows a man who can talk to the dead, as he attempts to unravel a dangerous conspiracy within his fractious fantasy city. I am having an exceptional time listening to Mortedant’s Peril, which has an addictive narrative, an intriguing setting, and a very clever mystery behind it. I am hoping to finish off Mortedant’s Peril in the next week, and I’m very curious to see how Barker ends this incredible book.

What did you recently finish reading?

The Mortons by Justine Larbalestier and Scott Westerfeld (Trade Paperback)

I managed to finish off the entertaining crime fiction novel, The Mortons this week. Written by the team of Justine Larbalestier and Scott Westerfeld, The Mortons is a compelling novel that follows a member of an elite criminal family as she becomes part of their murderous business. An outstanding read with a very unique story behind it.

A Trade of Blood by Robert Jackson Bennett (ebook)

I also powered through the new Robert Jackson Bennett novel, A Trade of Blood this week. One of my most anticipated books of 2026, A Trade of Blood lived up to all the hype, with another exceptional and clever fantasy murder mystery narrative. One of the best novels of 2026, this incredible and addictive read comes very highly recommended.

The Deep and the Drowned by Ian Green (ebook)

Finally, I managed to also read the epic fantasy novel, The Deep and the Drowned by Ian Green, this week. An exciting and powerful fantasy novel set on the high seas, this was a great novel and one you can really get lost in.

What do you think you’ll read next?

The Reckoning by Vikki Petraitis

If I manage to knock off He Who Fights With Monsters this week, I’ll probably dive into the next Vikki Petraitis novel, The Reckoning next. A continuation of her series that dives into gender violence in small town Australia, The Reckoning looks set to be another intriguing and confronting novel and should be another top piece of Australian fiction for 2026.

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

WWW Wednesday – 5 August 2026

On August 8, 2026 By The Unseen LibraryIn WWW WednesdayLeave a comment

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

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

So, let’s get to it.

What are you currently reading:

The Mortons by Justine Larbalestier and Scott Westerfeld (Trade Paperback)

I’ve started reading the compelling and entertaining crime fiction novel, The Mortons this week. Written by the team of Justine Larbalestier and Scott Westerfeld, The Mortons is a compelling novel that follows a member of an elite criminal family as she becomes part of their murderous business. I’ve already made a good amount of progress with The Mortons, which is turning out to be a fantastic and impressive read. I will hopefully finish The Mortons off in the next day or two, and I’m very curious to see where its story goes.

Mortedant’s Peril by R. J. Barker (Audiobook)

After recently mentioning it in a Top Ten List about books from the first half of the year I still need to read, I decided to listen to the outstanding fantasy novel Mortedant’s Peril this week. The latest book from R. J. Barker, Mortedant’s Peril follows a man who can talk to the dead, as he attempts to unravel a dangerous conspiracy within his fractious fantasy city. I am having an exceptional time listening to Mortedant’s Peril, which has an addictive narrative, an intriguing setting, and a fun sense of adventure to it. I am hoping to get through a lot of Mortedant’s Peril in the next week, and I’m very curious to see where Barker takes this awesome book

What did you recently finish reading?

Bad Neighbours by Joanna Jenkins (Trade Paperback)

I managed to finish off the new Joanna Jenkins crime fiction novel, Bad Neighbours this week. The follow-up to Jenkins’ previous Australian books, How to Kill a Client and The Bluff, Bad Neighbours was a compelling crime fiction read, and I deeply enjoyed it’s fantastic story and amazing twists.

Warhammer 40,000: Ghosts of Cadia by Rob Young (Audiobook)

I also finished off the latest Rob Young Warhammer 40,000 novel Ghosts of Cadia. The sequel to Young’s previous novel, Longshot, Ghosts of Cadia was a compelling, action-charged read that I couldn’t get enough of. An epic and exciting novel that comes highly recommended.

Stay Buried by Jane R. Miles (Trade Paperback)

A dark and complex Australian crime fiction debut, that makes interesting use of a major historical tragedy.

What do you think you’ll read next?

A Trade of Blood by Robert Jackson Bennett

The next book I am hoping to read is the new Robert Jackson Bennett novel, A Trade of Blood. One of my most anticipated books of 2026, A Trade of Blood will follow on from Bennett’s previous novels The Tainted Cup and A Drop of Corruption, with more exceptional fantasy crime fiction hijinks. I have no doubt A Trade of Blood is going to be exceptional, and I am so very excited to finally read this book.

The Deep and the Drowned by Ian Green

I am also hoping to read the epic fantasy novel, The Deep and the Drowned by Ian Green, this week as well. I love the sound of The Deep and the Drowned’s exciting plot, as well as its outstanding cover, and I have no doubt I am going to have an exceptional time with this book.

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

Top Ten Tuesday – Novels from the First Half of 2026 that I still Need to Read

On July 31, 2026 By The Unseen LibraryIn List2 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature that currently resides at The Artsy Reader Girl and features bloggers sharing lists on various book topics. In addition to my other Top Ten List of the night that looked at the best Australian novels I have so far enjoyed in 2026, I’m also going to highlight the top books from the first half of the year that I still need to read.

While I have already enjoyed a substantial number of outstanding books in 2026, there are still quite a few impressive novels from the first half of the year that I have yet to read. Many of these were on my most anticipated books lists for 2026, and while I was really excited for them, I have honestly not had a chance to check all of them out yet. Therefore, I am going to use this list to shame myself in the hope that it gets me into gear to finally check out these epic reads. This proved to be an easy list to pull together, as many of these books have been weighing on my mind for a while. All 10 novels below (plus honourable mentions) sound really, really good, and I hope I get the chance to read all of them soon.

Honourable Mentions:

The Death Row Club by V. A. Vazquez

A fun sounding thriller that I am still hoping to read.

The Arcadian by Steven Pressfield

An excellent historical fiction novel from Steven Pressfield, whose previous work has been so damn good.

The Crossroads by C. J. Box

I really need to check out The Crossroads by C. J. Box at some point, especially after having so much fun with the other books in Box’s main series.

I, Claudia by D. N. Potter

A very entertaining and comedy laden crime fiction read that I’m still hoping to check out.

Top Ten List:

First Mage on the Moon by Cameron Johnston

Let’s start this list off with a book I’m still hoping to read soon, First Mage on the Moon by Cameron Johnston. The latest unique standalone fantasy offering from Johnston (whose previous works include The Maleficent Seven and The Last Shield), First Mage on the Moon is a fantastic release I regret not checking out sooner. I’m very curious to see if the titular mage protagonist ends up making it to the moon, and I will be making a major effort to read this book before the end of the year.

Blindside by Michael Mammay

After loving the rest of the books in Michael Mammay’s Planetside series (Planetside, Spaceside, Colonyside and Darkside), I’m surprised I haven’t gotten around to reading the latest entry, Blindside, yet. Set to feature another intense thriller narrative of corporate secrets and intrigue in the far future, Blindside sounds quite amazing, and I’ve been keen to read it for a while. I’m hoping to check this out at some point soon, especially on audiobook, and I cannot wait to continue this series when I get a chance.

Click by Sarah Bailey

One of the bigger Australian fiction releases of 2026 that I still need to check out is the fascinating sounding Click by Sarah Bailey. A follow-up to Bailey’s acclaimed novel, The Housemate, Click has a lot of potential to be one of my favourite Australian books of the year. I unfortunately haven’t had a chance to check it out yet, but I know I will enjoy it when I do.

Warhammer 40,000: Death Rider by Rhuairidh James

Fans of this blog know that I always try to read every new Warhammer 40,000 novel as soon as it comes out, however, with the sheer number of Warhammer books released each year this isn’t always possible. As such, one of the more intriguing debuts of the year, Death Rider by Rhuairidh James slipped through the cracks, and I haven’t had a chance to get around to reading it yet. Set to follow a commissar caught up in a military disaster, Death Rider has a fantastic premise, as the commissar’s duty requires him to convince his troops to retreat, rather than make a last stand. I have a feeling this is going to be a particularly awesome Warhammer novel, and I’m going to try and read it soon.

City of Others by Jared Poon

Another major 2026 debut I want to check out is the intriguing sounding City of Others by Jared Poon. A compelling urban fantasy set in Singapore, City of Others has been on my radar for a while, and I am very keen to read it this year. Sure to be a top read, I cannot wait to finally get into City of Others.

Mortedant’s Peril by R. J. Barker

One of the fantasy books I feel most guilty about not reading yet is Mortedant’s Peril. The new book from R. J. Barker, a fantasy author who has impressed me many times in the past, Mortedant’s Peril follows the hectic adventures of a man who talked to the wrong ghost and found out some terrible secrets about his beloved fantasy city. I really love the sound of Mortedant’s Peril’s plot and based on how good an author Barker is, I know that this is likely one of the better books of the year. I really need to try and get to Mortedant’s Peril in the next few months, and I cannot wait to see how this book turns out.

Parallax by Jeremy Robinson

I’ve done well reading some new stuff from awesome science fiction author Jeremy Robinson this year, especially his outstanding novel 30Seven (one of my favourite books and audiobooks from the first half of 2026). However, I missed out on reading one of his other new release, Parallax. A high-concept read that sees a trouble protagonist who can see things that aren’t supposed to be there, dragged into an elaborate and ancient labyrinth to uncover a terrible secret, Parallax sounds like an incredible read with some of Robinson’s more out-there ideas. I’m hoping to get to Parallax at some point this year, although whether I will have the chance before Robinson’s third 2026 novel, Settle Down, comes out, remains to be seen.

Star Wars Outlaws: Low Red Moon by Mike Chen

I always love a good Star Wars read, and as such I’m disappointed that I haven’t had the chance to read the new Mike Chen Star Wars novel, Low Red Moon. A tie-in to the Star Wars Outlaws game, Low Red Moon looks set to follow two of the games more interesting characters, and the events that led up to their dark actions in Outlaws. Set to provide some fascinating insights into the criminal underworld in the Imperial era of Star Wars lore, Low Red Moon sounds pretty awesome, and I am very much hoping to read it at some point this year. If I do, it will probably be on audiobook, as it is narrated by two of the voice actors from Outlaws revisiting their main roles from the game.

Daughter of Crows by Mark Lawrence

One of the bigger fantasy releases of 2026 I’ve so far failed to read is the new Mark Lawrence novel, Daughter of Crows, which starts his new The Academy of Kindness series. Lawrence is always an excellent author to check out, and this new novel sounds quite fun, with a dark take on the classic magical school narrative. I will have to see how I go with reading Daughter of Crows this year, but I am sure it will prove to be an outstanding novel when I finally get to it.

Warhammer 40,000: Veterans of the Fall by William Crowe

The final book from the first half of 2026 that I still need to read is the Warhammer 40,000 novel Veterans of the Fall. A collection of shorter stories combined into one novel; Veterans of the Fall follows an elite group of desperate survivors as they fight to remain on world essentially already fallen to the enemy. I have heard that this novel is an amazing and action packed read, and I am really hoping I get the chance to dive into it at some point this year. A great final entry on this list of awesome books I really need to read before the end of 2026.

Well, that is the end of this latest list. As you can see, there are a bunch of exceptional novels from the first half of the year that I need to check out. All the above books sound incredibly epic, and I am going to have to try a lot harder to start reading through them. In the meantime, let me know which books released in the first half of the year you most regret not reading in the comments below.

Top Ten Tuesday – Books on my Autumn 2026 To Be Read (TBR) List

On February 27, 2026 By The Unseen LibraryIn ListLeave a comment

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 have a Thanksgiving freebie which I am going to use to look at some upcoming books. This is because today is the last Tuesday before Autumn 2026, and I thought this would be a good opportunity to do my quarterly post about the best upcoming books I am looking forward to reading 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 ten books coming out between 1 March 2026 and 31 May 2026 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 2026.

Honourable Mentions:

Daughter of Crows by Mark Lawrence – 26 March 2026

An intriguing new fantasy novel from the always impressive Mark Lawrence.

Redbelly Crossing by Candice Fox – 28 April 2026

A cool outback thriller set to feature murder, mayhem and a ton of family drama, Redbelly Crossing sounds fun and I cannot wait to read my next Candice Fox book.

Dark Sanctuary by Sarah Barrie – 28 April 2026

Another cool Australian thriller that looks set to feature some intriguing and disturbing dark twists.

Sister Svangerd and the Devil You Know by K. J. Parker – 12 May 2026

Another 2026 release from the legendary and hilarious K. J. Parker. Details of this book are still a little scarce, and I haven’t had the chance to read the first book in the series yet, however, I have no doubt this is going to be a particularly funny

Top Ten List:

Red Empire by Jonathan Maberry – 10 March 2026

First up on this list we have a fantastic new novel from one of my favourite thriller authors, Jonathan Maberry, with the awesome sounding Red Empire. The fifth book in Maberry’s Rogue Team International series (which previously featured Rage, Relentless, Cave 13 and Burn to Shine), Red Empire will see the damaged protagonist engage with an old foe, with the fate of the world once again hanging in the balance. At the same time, darker secrets about the mysterious leader of the Rogue Team International organisation will finally come to light, secrets that Maberry fans like me have been anticipating for years. As such, Red Empire is extremely high on my to-read list for March, and I cannot wait to see how it turns out.

Dead Fall Lake by S. R. White – 17 March 2026

One of the more unique authors of Australian crime fiction will continue with his fantastic tales of outback murder in his new novel, Dead Fall Lake. Following on from Prisoner, Red Dirt Road and White Ash Ridge, Dead Fall Lake will force its detective protagonist to investigate the murder of a local sports hero, whose body is found in a sinkhole he routinely freedived into. This has the potential to be an outstanding Australian murder novel as White will no doubt write another amazing and complex mystery.

Blindside by Michael Mammay – 24 March 2026

One of my favourite science fiction thriller series, the Planetside books by Michael Mammay, looks set to continue in 2026 with the cool new novel Blindside. Set in the future and following a retired military colonel as he disrupts the genocidal schemes of corrupt corporations, the Planetside books (including Planetside, Spaceside, Colonyside and Darkside), have been extremely impressive since day one. This new entry will see the protagonist and his team attempt to unravel a dark conspiracy surrounding him, as old enemies seek revenge. I already know that Blindside is going to be an incredible read, and I look forward to seeing what cool and twisty narrative Mammay has cooked up for us this time.

First Mage on the Moon by Cameron Johnston – 14 April 2026

Over the last few years, one of the more unique authors of dark fantasy fiction has been the very inventive and entertaining Cameron Johnston, who has written some amazing books over the years, including his Age of Tyranny novels, The Traitor God and God of Broken Things, The Maleficent Seven, and The Last Shield (one of my favourite books of 2024). His next book looks to be his most ambitious yet, with the awesome First Mage on the Moon. As the name suggests, this fun new novel will see a group of mages attempt to use their magic to create a ship capable of travelling into space towards the moon in the hope of ending an ongoing war. I love the sound of this unique fantasy fiction plot and Cameron Johnston is sure to create something very special with this outstanding new book.

Paradox by Douglas Preston and Aletheia Preston – 21 April 2026

Legendary thriller author Douglas Preston teams up with his daughter Aletheia for a very cool and intriguing new novel. The sequel to Preston’s previous novel, Extinction, which featured a brutal murder committed by cloned neanderthals, Paradox looks set to continue the weirdness, as the two protagonists from the first book attempt to uncover a complex crime in the Colorado wilderness which leads to a deeper conspiracy. I am so very eager to read Paradox when it comes out, especially after loving everything about Extinction, and it will be interesting see how this father/daughter team continues this unique series.

Sisters of the Lizard by Jackson Ford – 5 May 2026

Last year I had the very great pleasure of reading my first book from fantasy and science fiction author Jackson Ford, The Bone Raiders, which saw a group of grassland thieves attempt to train giant, fire-breathing lizards as the ultimate mounts to defeat an encroaching empire. A funny and exciting read, The Bone Raiders was a ton of fun, which Ford is looking to expand this year with the awesome sounding sequel, Sisters of the Lizard. Set to explore the consequences of their game changing actions from the first book, Sisters of the Lizard looks set to be another amazing novel from Ford that is guaranteed to keep me entertained.

Our Lady of Blades by Sebastien de Castell -12 May 2026

One of the fantasy books I am mostly looking forward to in the next three months is Our Lady of the Blades by Sebastien de Castell. The next book in de Castell’s Court of Shadows series (Play of Shadows and Crucible of Chaos), which is set in his larger Greatcoat universe, Our Lady of Blades will be another mostly standalone fantasy read, that explores conspiracies and crimes in the author’s fantasy realm. This next book sounds particularly impressive with an The Count of Monte Cristo inspired plot, as it follows a masked duellist who seeks revenge on her city’s elite after her family was betrayed and destroyed. I have been looking forward to Our Lady of the Blades for a while now, and it should prove to be one of the more interesting and captivating books of the year, especially when de Castell ties it into his larger series.

A Parade of Horribles by Matt Dinniman – 12 May 2026

I had to feature the epic upcoming novel A Parade of Horribles, which is one of the most anticipated releases of the year. The eighth book in Matt Dinniman’s exceedingly popular Dungeon Crawler Carl series, A Parade of Horribles will continue to follow protagonists Carl and his sentient cat Princess Donut, as they attempt to survive the increasingly deadly and utterly bonkers dungeon formed from the detritus of a destroyed Earth. This next book sounds very fun, with a crazy set of race tasks, as well as hidden horrors coming up from the lower levels which will no doubt make this book even more outrageous. I have so much love for this series after become irreversibly addicted to it last year (highlights include Dungeon Crawler Carl, The Butcher’s Masquerade and The Eye of the Bedlam Bride), and I am so damn eager to see how this series will continue. I personally am planning to listen to A Parade of Horribles on audiobook (narrated by the insanely talented Jeff Hays), and I cannot wait to see how this new novel unfolds. This book is going to be epic, and I will be reading A Parade of Horribles the very second it is released.

Mortedant’s Peril by R. J. Barker – 19 May 2026

Next is the epic upcoming fantasy novel from R. J. Barker, Mortedant’s Peril. An intriguing sounding urban fantasy, Mortedant’s Peril will follow a protagonist hunted throughout his city for reading the final thoughts of the wrong dead man. I have a lot of confidence that Barker is going to pull out something special with this new novel, especially after impressing with all his previous trilogies, and I am confident that Mortedant’s Peril is going to be a top book of 2026.

Ironwood by Michael Connelly – 19 May 2026

The final books I want to feature on this list is potentially one of the best crime fiction novels of 2026, with the next upcoming Michael Connelly book, Ironwood. The sequel to his 2025 novel Nightshade, Ironwood will once again focus on Connelly’s new protagonist Detective Stilwell, as he attempts to solve crimes from his banished post of Catalina Island. However, in this book, he finds himself teaming up with another Connelly protagonist, with Detective Renée Ballard serving as a supporting character. This should result in quite an intense and addictive crime fiction read, and I am particularly keen to read Ironwood as soon as I can.

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. There are some really impressive books coming out in this part of 2026, 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 bit of reading to do soon.

Top Ten Tuesday – My Most Anticipated Books Releasing in the First Half of 2026

On January 7, 2026 By The Unseen LibraryIn List8 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 Top Ten Tuesday, I will be listing my most anticipated books for the first half of the year. This is a regular post I do each year and I always look forward to highlighting the most awesome looking books coming out in the next six months.

2026 is shaping up to be an outstanding year for awesome and impressive fiction with a ton of epic and amazing sounding novels set for release throughout the year. I am particularly excited about the next six months as there are some deeply impressive books coming out that I am extremely keen for. This includes some fantastic sounding sequels, continuations to brilliant series, and several cool new novels from some very talented authors. Because there are so many incredible reads coming out across the genres, I am extending this list out to a Top Twenty list to cover all the big release coming out until July. I have already highlighted several of these books in some previous lists and Waiting on Wednesday articles which has made me really appreciate just how awesome the upcoming year is going to be.

For this list, I am only featuring books that are set for release in Australia or on Netgalley between 1 January 2026 and 30 June 2026 which I have some descent details about. I ended up with a huge collection of exceptional novels that I wanted to feature, which made completing this list surprisingly difficult. I made it a little easier on myself by only including one book per author, which helped considerably, and I was eventually able to break it down to the best 20 books and I feel that I have capture the books that are going to be the best fiction reads of the first half of 2026. So let us see what made the cut.

Top Twenty List:

The Right to Remain by James Grippando – 6 January 2026

Let’s start this list off with some awesome legal thriller fiction, with the cool new book from James Grippando, The Right to Remain. The 20^th book in the author’s Jack Swyteck series (of which I’ve previously enjoyed Goodbye Girl and Grave Danger), The Right to Remain will once again follow Grippando’s lawyer protagonist into a complex courtroom battle as he attempts to defend a man who literally refuses to say a single word in his own defence. The Right to Remain has a very interesting plot idea behind it and I cannot wait to check it out.

Dark Desert Road by Tim Ayliffe – 6 January 2026

There are quite a few excellent Australian novels coming out in the first half of 2026, but one of the ones I’m most excited for is Dark Desert Road. A new novel from Australian author Tim Ayliffe, who has previously impressed with his John Bailey series, Dark Desert Road will serve as an interesting change of pace from the author, as he provides a more thriller-based narrative around a new protagonist, while also touching on some worrying contemporary issues in Australia. I am extremely curious to see how Dark Desert Road turns out, and I’m hoping to read this book very soon.

City of Others by Jared Poon – 13 January 2026

One very fun debut that I am excited for in the coming months is the amazing sounding fantasy novel City of Others by Jared Poon. A cool urban fantasy set in Singapore, City of Others will follow an overworked bureaucrat tasked with keeping the city’s supernatural population happy while also attempting to stop all of Singapore from disappearing. Due to its entertaining plot and interesting setting, I think this debut has a lot of potential and I am extremely excited to check it out.

Twelve Months by Jim Butcher – 20 January 2026

One of the fantasy novels that I am most excited to read in 2026 is Twelve Months, the long-awaited 18^th book in Jim Butcher’s iconic Dresden Files series. Set in the aftermath of the devastating Battle Ground (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2020), Twelve Months will see the grieving wizard protagonist continue to protect Chicago from all manner of dark supernatural threats, while also forced to deal with the complex magical politics infecting his life. I cannot wait to see how this series continues, especially after power reading the entire series after loving Battle Ground (all of which was pretty damn epic, including Dead Beat, Changes and Skin Games, just to name a few). If Butcher continues to feature his usual complex characters, impressive narratives and clever worldbuilding, Twelve Months will easily be another exceptional read, and I am so damn eager to read this new Dresden Files offering.

30Seven by Jeremy Robinson – 20 January 2026

One of the more inventive authors of science fiction thrillers, Jeremy Robinson, is set to have a very successful 2026, with a couple of fantastic novels on the way. The first of these is the particularly awesome novel 30Seven, which has such an epic alien abduction plot. I love the sound of this book, especially as the protagonist will not only have to protect his child from the aliens, but also from a human serial killer who has been abducted alongside them. One of the more distinctive science fiction novels coming out, I already know that 30Seven is going to be awesome and I’m very excited for it.

Sister Svangerd and the Not Quite Dead by K. J. Parker – 27 January 2026

The always entertaining K. J. Parker returns with a cool new comedy fantasy series in 2026, starting with the awesome book Sister Svangerd and the Not Quite Dead. The first book in the Loyal Opposition trilogy, Sister Svangerd and the Not Quite Dead will introduce the trilogy’s titular protagonist, a faithful nun who also serves as her church’s murderous fixer. Tasked with making a meddling princess disappear, Sister Svangerd infiltrates a famed religious conference, only to encounter religious intrigue, murder and revenge, that they need to navigate their mission around. I really love the sound of this book, and I cannot wait to see what over-the-top schemes and plots the protagonist will need to overcome. This is going to be such an epic book, and Parker already has a sequel set for release in May 2026 with Sister Svangerd and the Devil You Know, which I also have very high hopes for.

Jigsaw by Jonathan Kellerman – 3 February 2026

Over the last few years, I have come to really enjoy the compelling and unique mysteries of Jonathan Kellerman’s Alex Delaware series. Following two fun protagonists as they attempt to solve some of the more unusual murders in Los Angeles, the long-running Alex Delaware series always provides a fantastic mystery in the new year. Kellerman’s next book is the particularly intriguing sounding Jigsaw that will see the protagonists investigate two seemingly unconnected murders, neither of which are what they seem. I have had such a great time with the previous Alex Delaware novels, and I cannot wait to see how this new book turns out.

Antihero by Gregg Hurwitz – 10 February 2026

Greggy Hurwitz will continue to explore his complex former spy, turned vigilante protagonist Evan Smoake in the upcoming new Orphan X novel, Antihero. Following on from the traumatic events of Nemesis, Antihero will see a further damaged Evan attempt to save a woman in trouble. However, Evan finds himself with an unusual handicap, as his new client doesn’t want him to hurt anyone. I have no doubt that Antihero is going to be one of the more distinctive and emotionally charged entries in an always exceptional series, although I’m a little worried about what trauma Hurwitz puts his protagonist through next.

Pretenders to the Throne of God by Adrian Tchaikovsky – 12 February 2026

While the always impressive Adrian Tchaikovsky has several intriguing novels coming out in early 2026 (including the awesome sounding Green City Wars), the book of his I am most excited for is Pretenders to the Throne of God. The fourth book in Tchaikovsky’s Tyrant Philosophers series, Pretenders to the Throne of God will follow on from City of Last Chances (one of my favourite audiobooks of 2023), House of Open Wounds (one of my favourite books of 2023) and Days of Shattered Faith (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2025). This new novel will once again follow a complex group of characters as they attempt to survive the dark expansion of a fanatical militaristic empire, this time centred around the siege of a magical city. The last three books in this series have been amongst the cleverest and most compelling pieces of fantasy fiction I have had the pleasure of reading, and I have no doubt that this upcoming book is going to be just as impressive.

The Hard Line by Mark Greaney – 24 February 2026

The thriller hits keep on coming in early 2026, as we also have a new Gray Man novel from Mark Greaney with The Hard Line. An amazing sounding continuation of this iconic thriller series, The Hard Line will see the protagonist forced to deal with family drama, while also contending with a vengeful assassin who may be even more skilled than he is. This sounds like another particularly incredible inclusion in one of the best ongoing spy thriller series out there, and I cannot wait to see all the elaborate action sequences and clever storytelling The Hard Line is sure to contain.

Red Empire by Jonathan Maberry – 10 March 2026

I doubt anyone familiar with my blog will be too surprised that a new Jonathan Maberry novel is making this list, especially after I have spent the last few weeks talking up Maberry’s most recent release, Cold War. Maberry’s next novel, Red Empire, will be the fifth book in the Rogue Team International series, which itself is a spinoff of the author’s epic Joe Ledger novels. Following on from excellent books like Rage, Relentless, Cave 13 and Burn to Shine, Red Empire will see the protagonists fight against an old enemy determined to unleash unimaginable destruction. This new novel from Maberry sounds pretty damn incredible, and I am very eager to read it, especially as the synopsis promises some big reveals regarding an enigmatic figure who has intrigued fans since the very first Joe Ledger book.

Blindside by Michael Mammay – 24 March 2026

One of the big science fiction novels I’m looking forward to reading in early 2026 is Blindside by the very talented Michael Mammay. Part of the author’s very impressive Planetside series, Blindside will see Mammay’s retired soldier protagonist, Colonel Carl Butler, engage in a new thrilling story when old enemies target those closest to him. However, this time the enemy is ready for Butler’s cowboy antics, and all hell looks set to be unleashed. I am extremely eager to get my hands on Blindside in March, especially after deeply enjoying all the previous Planetside novels like Planetside, Spaceside, Colonyside and Darkside, and I have no doubt this next book is going to be particularly captivating.

First Mage on the Moon by Cameron Johnston – 14 April 2026

One of the more unique fantasy novels on this list is the very entertainingly titled First Mage on the Moon by Cameron Johnston. Johnston, who has previously deeply impressed with over-the-top fantasy novels like The Maleficent Seven and The Last Shield, is going all out again with his new novel, which as the title suggests, will see a group of mages attempt to fly to their moon. Sure to be an extremely epic book that will combine magic with elaborate technology in a war-torn nation, First Mage on the Moon sounds like a particularly unique and crazy read, and I for one cannot wait to check it out.

Dark Sanctuary by Sarah Barrie – 28 April 2026

One of the darker pieces of Australian fiction I am looking forward to in 2026 is the new book from Sarah Barrie, Dark Sanctuary. Barrie, who really impressed me with her Lexi Winter novels (Unforgiven, Retribution, Vendetta and Endgame), looks set to drop another elaborate and twisted thriller in Dark Sanctuary, and I love the cool synopsis for this book that will follow several people dragged into a series of connected crimes. I look forward to seeing what Barrie’s outstanding imagination has cooked up this time, and I feel that Dark Sanctuary has the potential to be one of the top Australian fiction releases of the year.

Sisters of the Lizard by Jackson Ford – 5 May 2026

One of the more unique entries coming out in the coming months is the very entertaining Sisters of the Lizard by Jackson Ford. The fun follow-up to Ford’s amazing 2025 novel, The Bone Raiders, which saw a small group of raiders attempt to keep their freedom by taming giant, fire-breathing lizards to use as mounts, Sisters of the Lizard will continue these character’s adventures, as they face off against new foes and dangers. I already know this is going to be an amazing and highly exciting novel, and I cannot wait to see where Ford takes his unique and extremely funny narrative idea going forward.

Our Lady of Blades by Sebastien de Castell – 12 May 2026

The next entry on this list was one I’d hoped to read last year, however, Our Lady of Blades got pushed back to 2026 (at least we got the bonkers novel The Malevolent Eight in 2025). Luckily, we don’t have too much longer to wait until Our Lady of Blades comes out, and it now looks set to be one of the top fantasy releases of 2026. The next book in de Castell’s Court of Shadows series (part of his larger Greatcoats universe), Our Lady of Blades will follow on from the loosely connected novels Crucible of Chaos and Play of Shadows. Featuring an intriguing story of revenge and redemption in a city obsessed with duels, Our Lady of Blades will feature de Castell’s trademark humour, complex storytelling, and expansion of his elaborate fantasy world. I look forward to seeing how Our Lady of Blades ties into the other Court of Shadows novels, and I have a feeling this is going to be a particularly impressive fantasy highlight of 2026.

A Parade of Horribles by Matt Dinniman – 12 May 2026

While I was tempted to include Matt Dinniman’s other planned 2026 novel, Operation Bounce House, on this list, I instead had to feature the epic upcoming novel A Parade of Horribles (cover yet to be released), which is one of the most anticipated releases of the year. The eighth book in Matt Dinniman’s exceedingly popular Dungeon Crawler Carl series, A Parade of Horribles will continue to follow protagonists Carl and his sentient cat Princess Donut, as they attempt to survive the increasingly deadly and utterly bonkers dungeon formed from the detritus of a destroyed Earth. While most of the details about A Parade of Horribles’ plot have yet to be released (it will apparently have a cool race focussed plot, which gives me some awesome Mad Max flashes), you have to know it is going to be something particularly epic and incredible, especially as all the previous novels in the series have been utterly exceptional and brilliantly bonkers. I have so much love for this series after having become irreversibly addicted to it last year (highlights include Dungeon Crawler Carl, The Butcher’s Masquerade and The Eye of the Bedlam Bride), and I am so damn eager to see how this series will continue. I personally am planning to listen to A Parade of Horribles on audiobook (narrated by the insanely talented Jeff Hays), and I cannot wait to see how this new novel unfolds. If you haven’t experienced the Dungeon Crawler Carl series yet, do yourself a favour and check them out on audiobook before A Parade of Horribles comes out, you will not be disappointed!

Ironwood by Michael Connelly – 19 May 2026

One of the last crime fiction books I want to feature on this list has the potential to be one of the best with the next fantastic novel from Michael Connelly, Ironwood. The sequel to his intriguing 2025 novel Nightshade, Ironwood will once again focus on Connelly’s new protagonist Detective Stilwell, as he attempts to solve crimes from his banished post of Catalina Island. However, in this book, he finds himself teaming up with another Connelly protagonist, with Detective Renée Ballard serving as a supporting character. This should result in quite an intense and addictive crime fiction read, and I am particularly keen to read Ironwood as soon as I can.

Mortedant’s Peril by R. J. Barker – 19 May 2026

The penultimate book I want to highlight is the epic new fantasy novel from R. J. Barker, Mortedant’s Peril. An intriguing sounding urban fantasy, Mortedant’s Peril will follow a protagonist hunted throughout his city for reading the final thoughts of the wrong dead man. I have a lot of confidence that Barker is going to pull out something special with this new novel, especially after impressing with all his previous trilogies, and I am confident that Mortedant’s Peril is going to be a top book of 2026.

A Trade of Blood by Robert Jackson Bennett – 9 June 2026

Perhaps one of the most impressive and addictive new fantasy series from the last two years has been the Shadow of the Leviathan books by Robert Jackson Bennett. An extremely clever and compelling fantasy murder mystery series that sees the chaotic team of an over-enhanced investigator and her faithful assistant, solve impossible crimes in a nation constantly under attack from giant monsters. Both the previous books in this series, The Tainted Cup and A Drop of Corruption, have been exceptional five-star reads, and I have been eagerly waiting for the next entry in the series ever since I finished the last page of the second Shadow of the Leviathan novel. This third upcoming book, A Trade of Blood (cover yet to be released), will see the protagonist attempt to stop a violent civil war by proving that a member of a powerful family is innocent of a gruesome murder. However, the protagonists soon find themselves dragged into a dark conspiracy against a ruthless opponent determined to destroy the nation. A Trade of Blood sounds just as incredible as the previous two Shadow of the Leviathan novels, and I cannot wait to unwind this latest narrative and it’s no-doubt elaborate and captivating fantasy-based mystery.

Well, that’s the end of this first list. As you can see, there are some mighty impressive novels coming out the first half of this year. All the above entries on this list have an incredible amount of potential and I have a feeling I am going to deeply enjoy every single of one of these great reads. 2026 is going to be an outstanding year for fiction, not only with these amazing books, but because of some of the other ones potentially coming out later this year. I look forward to seeing how all these cool novels turn out, and I think I am going to have an extremely incredible time reading these authors in 2026.

Waiting on Wednesday – Mortedant’s Peril by R. J. Barker

On October 31, 2025 By The Unseen LibraryIn Fantasy, Waiting on Wednesday5 Comments

Welcome to my weekly segment, Waiting on Wednesday, where I look at upcoming books that I am planning to order and review in the next few months and which I think I will really enjoy. Stay tuned to see reviews of these books when I get a copy of them. For this latest Waiting on Wednesday, I highlight one of the more intriguing and potential laden fantasy novels of 2026 with the awesome upcoming book, Mortedant’s Peril by the always impressive R. J. Barker.

Ever since I started getting back into fantasy fiction a few years ago, I have had the pleasure of reading some truly amazing works from a range of very talented authors. However, few authors have engaged me with their creativity, cleverness and ability to bring complex characters to life than the phenomenal and continually improving author, R. J. Barker.

Barker debuted back in 2017 with his debut novel, Age of Assassins that kicked off The Wounded Kingdom trilogy. Following an apprentice assassin and his master as they attempt to unravel a political conspiracy in a dark castle, Age of Assassins was an awesome book that served as a great introduction to Barker’s writing style. However, Age of Assassins was only the start, as he soon followed up this first book with two epic sequels, Blood of Assassins and King of Assassins, both of which saw the aging protagonist become involved in several elaborate plots and battles as he tries to keep his king/best friend alive. Both these novels were extremely incredible, and Barker seemed to markedly improve as a writer with each book, with King of Assassins being an exceptional, five-star read, especially with its many dark twists.

As such, by the end of The Wounded Kingdom trilogy, I was very impressed with Barker, however, he was just getting started. In 2019, only two years after his debut, Barker unleashed a second trilogy with The Tide Child series. Set in a whole new fantasy world, The Tide Child trilogy was an intriguing nautical-based dark fantasy that followed a crew of a condemned ship, made of dragon bone, as they attempt to survive the dark machinations of a corrupt government while attempting to bring back the ancient sea dragons previously hunted to extinction. This incredible trilogy stated with The Bone Ships (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2019), an excellent and powerful read that perfectly introduced the trilogy’s main characters and showcased just how far Barker had come as an author as he seamlessly dived into a whole new sub-genre of fantasy fiction by pulling together an epic and grim tale on the high seas. The following two novels, Call of the Bone Ships and The Bone Ship’s Wake (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2021), were incredible sequels the expertly continued the great story while providing some powerful development to the main characters. Everything was given a dramatic and fitting ending in the final novel and The Tide Child series ended up being one of the very best trilogies I have ever read.

Naturally, after how exceptional Barker’s first two trilogies were, I was quite eager to see what this talented author would do next. Unfortunately, I quite spectacularly failed to read his 2022 release, Gods of the Wyrdwood, as well as the following novels in the Forsaken trilogy. This honestly wasn’t a conscious decision on my part, as I was really looking forward to Gods of the Wyrdwood, but for some inexplicable reason it just never happened. As such, it’s been a little while since I’ve had the pleasure of reading a Barker novel, and that is something I plan to rectify in 2026.

My opportunity for redemption when it comes to being a Barker fan will come in the form of his next upcoming novel, Mortedant’s Peril, which is set for release in May 2026. An intriguing sounding book, Mortedant’s Peril will see a protagonist who can speak to the dead become a fugitive in his own city after being framed for murder.

Plot Synopsis:

In a city of ancient automata, strange spirits, and sleeping gods, a cleric of death finds his own life on the line in this vividly imagined fantasy murder mystery from the acclaimed author of The Bone Ships and Age of Assassins.

He can speak to the dead. But the living want him silenced . . .

Irody Hasp’s unique gift is his curse: he reads the final thoughts of the dead. But a routine reading of a lowly records keeper implicates him in a vast, high-level conspiracy. Then the unthinkable happens: his own apprentice is brutally murdered and Irody is framed for the crime. As he stumbles deeper into a web of magic and betrayal, he draws the attention of the City of Elbay’s most powerful and ruthless figures.

With the city’s corrupt elite closing in, Irody has just one chance to clear his name and expose the truth. No Mortedant is popular, but the uncompromising Irody is even less popular than most. So he’s forced to rely on unlikely allies: Mirial, a cunning street urchin, and Whisper, one of the enigmatic sea people. As this unlikely trio unearths Elbay’s darkest secrets, they discover a city where lives are expendable and every faction, from guilds to nobles to thieves, battles for control. Three insignificant outsiders must fight not just for their lives, but for everything their people hold dear – and the fate of their magical city.

I really like the sound of Mortendant’s Peril’s plot, especially as Barker is diving into another cool sub-set of fantasy fiction, this time with an urban fantasy thriller. Set in a cool new fantasy city, loaded with guilds, thieves, factions and magic, Mortedant’s Peril will throw the author’s no-doubt complex protagonist into a massive conspiracy that he’ll need to uncover with the help of his ability to speak to the dead and a band of unlikely comrades. This sort of scenario has produced some outstanding fantasy narratives in the past, and I cannot wait to see Barker’s take on it. Based on my prior experiences with the author’s work, I am expecting a dark and engaging tale, loaded with compelling protagonists and impressive character development.

Pretty much the moment that I heard R. J. Barker had a new fantasy novel coming out in 2026, I knew I was going to grab it. Barker is such an impressive author, and his previous works that I have had the pleasure of reading have all been so damn good. Combine that with the awesome plot synopsis above and Mortedant’s Peril is now one of fantasy books I most looking forward to in 2026. I have no doubt at all that Barker is going to once again wow me with his outstanding writing, and I just know Mortedant’s Peril is going to be something special.

Top Ten Tuesday – Books That Feature Travel

On May 21, 2025 By The Unseen LibraryIn List2 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 are encouraged to list their favourite ten books that feature travel in them. While this guiding topic could reference a lot of different things, I’m choosing to interpret it as books where the participants are required to go on long journeys away from home, possibly in a quest-like manner, or novels where the act of traveling is essential to the plot. As such, my list is filled with a fair amount of fantasy and science fiction, with a few other interesting entries as well. I actually came up with quite a few potential choices for this list, but I was eventually able to whittle it down into a compelling Top Ten list alongside my usual generous Honourable Mentions section. So let us see what made the cut.

Honourable Mentions:

Eragon by Christopher Paolini

A classic young adult fantasy tale where the protagonist travels far from home to discover his destiny.

Amazon

Empire of Silence by Christopher Ruocchio

Vast intergalactic journeys are the order of the day in this brilliant science fiction read.

Trollslayer by William King

An awesome collection of connected tales, where the two protagonists journey all over the Warhammer Fantasy world looking for trouble.

How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying by Django Wexler

One of the funnier entries on this list. How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying was a great book that saw a young woman repeatedly journey across a fantasy land to become the next dark lord.

Top Ten List:

The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien

A very easy place to start is with the works of J. R. R. Tolkien whose books were all about epic quests and long journeys. While all three books in The Lord of the Rings trilogy would have worked here, I’m going with the original classic, The Hobbit, that saw a very brave hobbit journey across Middle Earth on a grand adventure.

Witches Abroad by Terry Pratchett

From Tolkien to Pratchett, I’m starting this list off with some real fantasy fiction heavyweights. Terry Pratchett was another author whose stories often featured grand quests across the titular Discworld, even though his protagonists were often a lot more reluctant to go on them. There were quite a few different Discworld books I could have featured here (as well as some of Pratchett’s standalone novels like Strata or The Carpet People), however, I’m going to go with one of my favourites, Witches Abroad, which fits the travel theme extremely well. Following three of Pratchett’s witch protagonists as they go on an extended holiday to a fairy-tale plagued city, Witches Abroad is a very funny read and one of the better Discworld books.

Hawk Quest by Robert Lyndon

Moving outside of fantasy fiction for a bit we have the epic historical fiction novel Hawk Quest by Robert Lyndon. A massive adventure novel, Hawk Quest follows an eclectic group of protagonists in the 11^th century as they transport rare hawks to the Holy Land to serve as ransom for an imprisoned knight. Requiring a trek across medieval Europe, Hawk Quest is a brilliant novel that is all about travelling impossible distances.

Magician by Raymond E. Feist

I just had to feature the outstanding classic fantasy read Magician by Raymond E. Feist on this list, which sees all its protagonists embark on great adventures across Feist’s fantasy realms. All the key characters engage in some massive travels in this novel via ship, horseback and more, including the main protagonist who journeys to a whole other fantasy dimension and back again, just to hammer home how important travel is for this outstanding read.

Artifact Space by Miles Cameron

To mix things up a bit I had to include the cool science fiction novel, Artifact Space by Miles Cameron. While quite a few of Cameron’s books features lengthy quests or travelling great distances (such as his novel Dark Forge), I decided to go with Artifact Space as it probably features the furthest distance travelled as the protagonist embarks on a massive trade ship going to the edge of known human space. An ambitious and compelling read, Artifact Space is an excellent novel where the protagonists end up going so very far away from home.

Streams of Silver by R. A. Salvatore

Another author whose books often feature grand journeys is legendary fantasy writer R. A. Salvatore. I was honestly spoiled for choice when it came to Salvatore’s books, as so many are travel-focused, but in the end, I went with Streams of Silver. The second book in the Icewind Dale trilogy, Streams of Silver sees Salvatore’s entertaining party of protagonists leave on a quest to recover the legendary Mithril Halls, traversing all manner of fantasy landscape along the way. A classic fantasy adventure with a ton of travel, Streams of Silver is a very worthy addition to this list.

Bullet Train by Kōtarō Isaka

For something a little different I decided to include the cool thriller Bullet Train by Japanese author Kōtarō Isaka. Set aboard a moving bullet train, this fun book sees several dangerous killers attempt to outfox each other before the train arrives at its final deadly destination. I think the constant moving train and the ticking clock as it gets closer to the end of the line qualify this thriller nicely as a book containing travel, and I honestly had a ton of fun getting through both the Bullet Train novel, and its entertaining movie adaptation.

The Bone Ships by R. J. Barker

Nothing says epic travel more than a group of condemned criminals navigating a ship made of bone across a deadly ocean to hunt down a sea dragon. The always impressive R. J. Barker makes this insane concept work extremely well with some of the very best fantasy nautical scenes you are likely to read. A truly incredible novel that you will not be able to put down.

The Falcon of Sparta by Conn Iggulden

Going back to history we have the fantastic read The Falcon of Sparta from amazing author Conn Iggulden. Loosely based on the Anabasis by Xenophon, The Falcon of Sparta follows ten thousand Greek mercenaries and camp followers who attempt to escape Persia by land back to Greece following the Battle of Cunaxa. An awesome book that makes use of one of history’s most unlikely journeys.

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

The final book I want to feature on this list is the complex space adventure Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. Following a lone scientist sent to another star system to find a way to stop the sun from dimming, Project Hail Mary features a darker, yet highly compelling take on a travel narrative that is extremely impressive and addictive. A truly exceptional read, this was a great novel to end this list on, and I cannot recommend it enough.

And that’s the end of this latest Top Ten list. As you can see, I’ve had the pleasure of reading some really great books that feature amazing travel elements, and this Top Ten list is only just scratching the surface of the novels I could talk about. I’m pretty happy with how this latest list turned out and I look forward to seeing what other travel-focused books people want to recommend in the comments below.

Top Ten Tuesday – My Favourite Literary Trilogies – April 2024

On April 16, 2024 By The Unseen LibraryIn List9 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. While the official topic for this week’s Top Ten Tuesday required participants to list the 10 characters they would like to go on vacation with, I have decided to do something a little different, and instead I will be updating my favourite literary trilogies list from a few years ago.

Trilogies in literature are a long-running and deeply fun tradition that packs an epic connected tale, into three consecutive novels. There are some truly amazing trilogies out there, from the classics, like The Lord of the Rings, to some recent trilogies that I have been deeply enjoying. Indeed, 2023 just saw the end of several epic and outstanding literary trilogies, while 2024 will see some intriguing new trilogies start up. I have had the great pleasure of reading some truly awesome and exciting trilogies over the years, and back in 2021 I had a wonderful time coming up with a list that featured my absolute favourite literary trilogies. Since I had so much fun last week updating my favourite Warhammer 40,000 fiction list, I figured it was also time to update my previous trilogy list, especially as I had more than enough new entries to highlight.

This proved to be a fun update to pull together, especially as I had a great wealth of new potential trilogies to feature on this list. To be eligible, the proposed trilogy must consist of three, inter-connected novels. I only included series that were intended to end after three novels, rather than by happenstance, so that means that series like The Gentleman Bastards will not be featured (it technically has a fourth novel on the way). This meant that a previous entry, the Planetside books by Michael Mammay (made up of Planetside, Spaceside and Colonyside), had to be taken off this new list because Mammay has just announced a fourth book. I also excluded trilogies that I have not yet completed, even if I have already read and deeply enjoyed the first two novels. This is because I really need to see how the third book turns out, as a bad third entry can easily spoil a trilogy that starts out strong.

Even with these restrictions, I ended up with a descent list of trilogies, which took me a little while to cull down and which resulted in a generous honourable mentions section. I am judging these trilogies on several factors, including how complete their story is, how well connected the novels are, and whether the component novels provide good introductions, conclusions and connections to the other books in the trilogy. Overall, I am very happy with how this latest version of this list turned out, even though I combined a couple of entries together, and I think that this accurately represents the best trilogies that I have so far finished.

Honourable Mentions:

Swords and Fire trilogy by Melissa Caruso

My first honourable mention is the debut trilogy from talented fantasy author Melissa Caruso. Featuring The Tethered Mage, The Defiant Heir, and The Unbound Empire, the Swords and Fire trilogy tells the tale of the unlikely partnership of an ambitious noble and a reckless, ultra-powerful mage, whose fates are literally bound together. This is an amazing and inventive fantasy trilogy that pits this duo against conspiracies, a nation of terrifying magical users, and their own substantial personal issues.

Star Wars: Alphabet Squadron trilogy by Alexander Freed

There are some great Star Wars series out there, and one of the very best is the Alphabet Squadron trilogy by Alexander Freed. Made up of Alphabet Squadron, Shadow Fall and Victory’s Price, this trilogy followed a group of pilots in the immediate aftermath of Return of the Jedi, as they continue to fight the brutal war to claim the universe. This trilogy combined a gritty and complex war story with the iconic Star Wars universe to create three impressive novels that work brilliantly as an overarching series.

The Century trilogy by Ken Follett

A massive and comprehensive historical fiction trilogy, made up of Fall of Giants, Winter of the World and Edge of Eternity. These books take place throughout the 20^th century and follow three generations of several families as they navigate the century’s big historical events, including two world wars and the Cold War. Some of the best historical fiction writing you are ever likely to see; this is a powerful and captivating series.

The Icewind Dale trilogy by R. A. Salvatore

Iconic fantasy author, R. A. Salvatore, has made a career out of writing trilogies, and there were several I could have included, especially his Dark Elf trilogy. However, I think that his debut Icewind Dale series, is his most consistently impressive trilogy. While the first novel, The Crystal Shard is a tad rough, the second and third books, Streams of Silver and The Halfling’s Gem, more than make up for it, and produce a brilliant overall story that perfectly set up all his iconic characters for decades to follow.

Top Ten List:

The First Law trilogy by Joe Abercrombie

Let us start this list off with the dark fantasy masterpiece that is Joe Abercrombie’s The First Law trilogy. Consisting of The Blade Itself, Before they are Hanged and Last Argument of Kings, this amazing trilogy follows a group of extremely complex and damaged characters as they attempt to navigate a dark world filled with betrayal, uncontrolled ambition, and all manner of human monsters. All three books are really incredible, with The Blade Itself providing an outstanding introduction, while Last Argument of Kings wraps everything up perfectly and leaves the reader with a troubling but memorable conclusion. I powered through this trilogy in a very short time, and it remains one of my all-time favourite pieces of fantasy fiction.

Warhammer 40,000: Eisenhorn trilogy by Dan Abnett

It was inevitable that a Warhammer 40,000 trilogy was going to end up on this list at some point, and no trilogy deserves it more than the Eisenhorn books (Xenos, Malleus and Hereticus) by Dan Abnett. Considered one of the pillars of Warhammer 40,000 fiction, the Eisenhorn books follow an Imperial Inquisitor, the titular Eisenhorn, as he attempts to root out hidden alien and Chaos threats to humanity. However, throughout the course of the trilogy, Eisenhorn starts to use the methods of his enemies and slowly becomes corrupted by them without even noticing. A brilliant collection of three books that spawned some intriguing sequel series, I cannot recommend this trilogy enough and it is essential readding for all Warhammer fans.

The Empire trilogy by Raymond E. Feist and Janny Wurts

I was spoiled for choice when it came to Raymond E. Feist and his multitude of great trilogies, from his iconic Riftwar Saga to his more recent The Firemane Saga (King of Ashes, Queen of Storms and Master of Furies). However, I think his most consistent and impressive trilogy were The Empire books he cowrote with Janny Wurts. Set at the same time as the Riftwar Saga, this trilogy explored an alien fantasy world with some major Japanese influences. An intense and action-packed fantasy trilogy loaded with political intrigue, family feuds and a female ruler battling for control in a male-dominated world, The Empire books, Daughter of the Empire, Servant of the Empire and Mistress of the Empire, form an exceptional trilogy that is really worth reading.

Amazon

The Siege trilogy and Corax trilogy by K. J. Parker

Since my original list in 2021 I have finished two awesome trilogies by K. J. Parker, The Siege trilogy and the Corax trilogy, both of which were outstanding pieces of fantasy fiction that leaned heavily on humour and cynical insights into human nature to tell their entertaining tales. While the Siege books tell three separate stories connected to the siege of a massive city, the Corax trilogy follows the misadventures of the titular Saevus Corax, a conman battlefield salvager. The Siege books featured three amazing reads, 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, while the Corax series featured the excellent books Saevus Corax Deals with the Dead, Saevus Corax Captures the Castle and Saevus Corax Gets Away with Murder (review to follow soon). Both series were very exciting, clever, and featured a heavy dose of dark wit I honestly found irresistible, enough so that all six books mentioned here got five-star reviews from me. Due to the similarities in style, comedic inclusions, and the fact they are set in the same universe, I had an extremely hard time determining which of these trilogies I enjoyed the most. In fact, it proved so impossible to choose, I ended up calling it a tie and combined the trilogies together into a single entry. Both trilogies are quite impressive, and you are guaranteed to have an outstanding time with all the books in them.

The Tide Child trilogy by R. J. Barker

The trilogy that inspired me to write the first version of this list was the exceptional The Tide Child trilogy by rising fantasy fiction start R. J. Barker. Barker did some incredible work here producing an intense and addictive dark fantasy series that takes place primarily on a naval vessel made from dragon bones. With some exceptional character work, beautifully written scenes, and some truly unique fantasy features, The Tide Child series is one of the absolute best fantasy trilogies out there. All three novels, The Bone Ships (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2019), Call of the Bone Ships, and The Bone Ship’s Wake, are incredible and enchanting reads, which come together to form a brilliant and highly recommend trilogy.

Lessons of the Scholomance trilogy by Naomi Novik

Few trilogies impressed me more in recent years than the Lessons of the Scholomance books by veteran fantasy author Naomi Novik. Essentially a dark take on the magical school genre, the Scholomance books follows a trouble and ultra-destructive teenage magic user who has been sent to the Scholomance, a magical school filled with harsh lessons and infested with hungry monsters. I really got drawn into this elaborate series, especially with its unique setting, damaged characters, and fantastic stakes. Made up of three excellent reads, including A Deadly Education, The Last Graduate and The Golden Enclaves, the Scholomance books were a very powerful series that traumatised the reader (I still haven’t recovered from The Last Graduate’s ending) and took its characters through hell and back, all while also making great use of Novik’s inventive concepts. A brilliant, beautiful, and intense three books that you will not regret picking up.

Legacy of the Mercenary King trilogy by Nick Martell

Out of all the exceptional fantasy trilogies I have enjoyed over the years, few have struck me as hard as the Legacy of the Mercenary King trilogy from Nick Martell. Martell’s debut trilogy, the Legacy of the Mercenary King books follows the scion of a disgraced family who fights to uncover various conspiracies and lies inflicting his city as dark forces move to destroy everything. Starting with The Kingdom of Liars (one of my favourite books, debuts and audiobooks of 2020), the series kept moving from strength to strength as the following two books, The Two-Faced Queen (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2021) and The Voyage of the Forgotten (one of my favourite books of 2022), moved the story in some outstanding directions while continuing to introduce and expand on the series’ impressive characters. Easily one of the best trilogies from a debuting fantasy author I have had the pleasure of reading, the Legacy of the Mercenary Kings books are extremely exceptional, and a guaranteed hit for anyone looking for something fresh and addictive.

The Age of Madness trilogy by Joe Abercrombie

Not content with only having one exceptional fantasy trilogy, Joe Abercrombie had to double down and write the epic sequel trilogy, The Age of Madness, which frankly I had no choice but to give a separate entry on this list. Set a generation after The First Law trilogy, the three Age of Madness novels, A Little Hatred, The Trouble with Peace and The Wisdom of Crowds, contains another outstanding dark fantasy tale following a whole new group of complex and troubled protagonists. This brilliant trilogy featured Abercrombie’s trademark character work, dark storytelling, and cynical edge, which resulted in three outstanding five-star reads. These amazing novels form a deeply thrilling and powerful trilogy which is just as good, if not better than the original First Law novels.

The Covenant of Steel trilogy by Anthony Ryan

Another brilliant fantasy trilogy that I fell in love with recently is The Covenant of Steel books by acclaimed author Anthony Ryan. Made up of The Pariah, The Martyr and The Traitor, The Covenant of Steel books tell the tale of a bandit turned scribe who finds himself caught up in deadly, kingdom changing events, including war, religious upheaval, and supernatural calamities. All three books in this series were quite exceptional, and I love the intricate and impressive overarching narrative they told, which drew you in with powerful storytelling, great characters, and dark twists. I will have to go back and check out some of Ryan’s other series in the future, but for the moment, my eye is on a new trilogy of his, debuting later this year with A Tide of Dark Steel. I have no doubt this new trilogy will be a strong contender for future versions of this list, and I cannot wait to see how Ryan’s next captivating adventure unfolds.

Star Wars: Thrawn and Thrawn Ascendancy trilogy by Timothy Zahn

The final entry on this list is another joint entry with the epic Thrawn and Thrawn Ascendancy trilogies by Timothy Zahn. Bringing back his iconic extended universe character, Grand Admiral Thrawn, to the new Star Wars canon, these trilogies expand on the character’s appearances in recent shows and provide a whole new history to the character. The first trilogy, made up of Thrawn, Alliances and Treason, provides a great coverage of Thrawn’s service to the Empire before the finale of Star Wars: Rebels, while the Thrawn Ascendancy trilogy, made up of Chaos Rising, Greater Good and Lesser Evil, dives into his complex past on his home world. Both trilogies are very well balanced, although I would say they each have a strongest and weakest point to them. I was initially going to feature these as two separate entries, much like I did with John Abercrombie’s books above, however, due to the way they support each other, and because they are both very similar, I felt it was better to combine them into a single entry. All six book are very awesome, and feature some of the best novelised Star Wars space combat sequences you are likely to see. A must read for all Star Wars fans, I really hope that Zahn comes back and writes more Thrawn books, especially after the character had his live action debut last year.

Well, that’s the end of this list. As you can see, I have read some awesome trilogies over the last few years, and I think this update does a great job highlighting some of the best recent additions. I am planning to come back to this list again in a year or two, especially as there are some more outstanding trilogies, I am currently in the middle of that will easy make this list in the future. In the meantime, let me know what your favourite trilogies are in the comments below.