Tag: Richard Swan

Top Ten Tuesday – One-Word Reviews for the Last Ten Books I Read

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Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly challenge 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 tasked with reviewing the last ten books they have read with only a single word.

I must admit that this list turned out to be a bit of a challenge for me, as I’m not exactly known for doing short reviews.  Regular readers of this blog will know that I tend to post excessively long reviews of books, especially if it proved to be particularly good.  As such, I struggled a little to use only a single word to describe some of the recent books I have enjoyed, as I really don’t think that I’m doing them justice.  Still, I gave it a good go, and I’m happy that the below descriptions of the last ten books I have had the pleasure of finishing are very fitting and will hopefully encourage people to check them out.

Top Ten List:

The French Illusion by John Grisham

Thrilling

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Warhammer 40,000: Bjorn the Fell-Handed by Justin D. Hill

Epic

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We Are For The Dark by Gretchen McNeil

Demonic

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The Only Way Out Is Up by Django Wexler

Robots!!!

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He Who Fights With Monsters – Hero by Travis Deverell

Irresistible

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Serenity Falls by C. J. Tudor

Spooky

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Hard Town by Adam Plantinga

Cathartic

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Warhammer 40,000: Voice of Command by Richard Swan

Intense

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He Who Fights With Monsters – Adventurer by Travis Deverell

Exhilarating

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138 Main Street by Gavin Bell

Memorable

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That’s the end of my latest Top Ten list.  While I’m still not entirely sure a single word review was enough, I think this list turned out pretty well, and I enjoyed the unique takes I had on this interesting range of great novels.  I hope people end up checking out some of these above books for themselves, as each of them were quite exciting and impressive in their own ways.  Let me know what recent books you’ve recently finished off in the comments below, and if you can do so in one word, that would be very cool.

Warhammer 40,000: Voice of Command by Richard Swan

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Audiobook, Extended Universe, Science Fiction, Tie-in Novel, Warhammer1 Comment

Publisher: Black Library (Audiobook – 19 September 2026)

Series: Warhammer 40,000

Length: 9 hours and 17 minutes

My Rating: 4.75 out of 5 stars

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Acclaimed fantasy and science fiction author Richard Swan descends into the brutal Warhammer 40,000 universe with the outstanding novel Voice of Command, a captivating read that perfectly encapsulates the hell of war in this grimdark franchise.

2026 has been an impressive year for Australian author Richard Swan, who has already released several amazing fantasy and science fiction novels.  After having a great time with his impressive The Infinite State (as well as highlighting the upcoming sequel, The Guerilla Republic), I was keen to read more from Swan, especially when I saw that he was releasing a novel in the Warhammer 40,000 universe.  While Swan has previously released some Warhammer short stories, Voice of Command is his first full-length Warhammer 40,000 novel, and boy was it a compelling and intense debut.

Following the fall of Cadia and the horrors its destruction unleashed upon the galaxy, various Cadian regiments continue to fight across the massed battlefields of the Imperium of Man, determined to keep humanity alive and the Emperor’s light burning.  However, even the most dedicated of Cadian soldiers can crack, especially when faced with impossible odds and capricious commanders, and none know this better than the 2002nd Cadian Mechanised Regiment.

Deployed on the planet of Nymea, the 2002nd serve as a floating unit, helping Nymean regiments put down a Chaos incursion that corrupted many of the planet’s citizens.  After two years of brutal warfare to reclaim the planet, Imperial forces are finally on the cusp of victory.  To win, all they need to do is recapture the once beautiful shrine-city Saint Stanislava’s Adoration, now turned into a sprawling ruin, twisted and corrupted by Chaos.

For Colonel Gabriel ‘Venom’ Velterson, leader of the 2002nd, the end cannot come quickly enough.  When his troops are not bathed in the toxic light of a mysterious blue star or enduring the endless heresy broadcast over the hijacked vox-network, they’re being squandered by Nymean commanders.  As the battle begins and all the regiment’s problems come to a head, the forces of Chaos unleash all their twisted methods to destroy the invading force, and soon the fate of Nymea and the entire 2002nd rests in the hands of a few brave soldiers.

Voice of Command was a very impressive Warhammer novel from Swan, who effortlessly portrays the full horrors of this universe.  A complex and brutal character-driven read that you won’t be able to get away from, Voice of Command is a highly recommended novel that is really worth checking out.

I had an amazing time with Voice of Command, especially as Swan portrays a gritty war story around several highly flawed characters.  Set towards the end of a gruelling campaign, Voice of Command follows several members of the 2002nd Cadian Mechanised Regiment, including its commander, commissar, priest, newly promoted captain, and later on a Kasrkin commander and his pilot, as they all attempt to lead and survive amid the chaos of war.  Starting off during the planning stage for the final battle of this campaign, you are given an effective introduction to each of these major characters and their roles in the larger regiment.  Each of these characters’ issues are well established in the first half of the book, and they become major factors for the protagonists and the plot going forward.

After the intriguing first half of book, the plot of Voice of Command switches to follow the 2002nd’s incursion into Saint Stanislava’s Adoration.  Soon devolving into a series of bloody encounters, Swan continues to follow the trouble protagonists and explores the various problems that were previously introduced.  This includes the regiment’s lack of trust for its newest captain, anger clouding the judgement of the commander, and the corruption of its mentally weary priest, all of which come to a head during the battle.  This results in a particularly brutal and fast-paced second half, filled with intense and mobile battles for survival as the protagonists attempt to overcome the major threats around them.  Swan doesn’t hold back when featuring the various horrors of war in the Warhammer universe, and the resulting action-filled plot was so damn good, especially as the protagonists are forced to face attacks on multiple complex fronts.  Following a particularly cool final series of battles, Swan ends Voice of Command on an interesting and powerful note, with all the remaining characters fundamentally changing, and not always for the better.  The author also leaves a couple of key plotlines open, which could lead to an interesting sequel, something I’d be extremely keen for.

I really enjoyed Swan’s style for Voice of Command, as he produced a layered read, loaded with multiple compelling character perspectives, all set perfectly within the Warhammer 40,000 universe.  The utilisation of multiple alternating character perspectives was particularly effective, and there was an excellent balance between the multiple overlapping storylines and personal narratives.  The various action sequences, especially in the second half of Voice of Command, were very impressive as Swan portrays running tank battles, urban fighting between infantry and fixed positions, and even more unusual situations as the Imperial soldiers face off against eldritch horrors.  Thanks to some of these antagonists, Voice of Command has a horror vibe to it at times, and Swan’s descriptive writing really helps to hammer home just how crazy and terrifying some of the encounters are.

In addition to being extremely well written, Voice of Command is also an excellent piece of Warhammer 40,000 fiction.  Swan does an excellent job setting his story within the Warhammer universe, and I loved how effectively he utilises key plot points and the general grimdark feel of the universe to enhance his narrative.  His depictions of various aspects of this universe, especially the Chaos horrors, are impressive, and this is one of the more grimdark human soldier focused Warhammer novels I have read this year.  I particularly enjoyed how he portrayed the impact of terrible morale and enemy propaganda on the main Cadian regiment.  While Swan does revisit some elements of the Cadians that have been a bit overused in recent years, such as the depression around the loss of the planet and the inclusion of non-Cadians into their existing regiments, the author explores them a fresh way, which helps make this book stand out.  While Swan does touch on some of the more complex elements of this franchise, especially when it comes to the Chaos adversaries, I think Swan’s detailed writing style and focus on very human characters makes Voice of Command a book that general science fiction readers can dive into and easily enjoy.  Indeed, Voice of Command would make for an interesting introduction to Warhammer 40,000 fiction, especially for fans of Swan following the author to the franchise.

As I have mentioned a few times above, a key highlight of Voice of Command was the incredible characters that Swan featured, with the plot centred around several flawed and damaged protagonists.  Their various journeys through the fires of war, loss and change all move the plot in some complex directions while adding some intense drama to the core of the book.  All these characters are compelling and broken in different ways.  For example, the nominal main character Colonel Gabriel ‘Venom’ Velterson, the leader of the 2002nd, is a tired and very angry senior officer who has lost much in the years following the fall of Cadia.  Much of this book revolves around him trying to inspire his troops and keep his anger in check, while also dealing with unreliable or manipulative allies, as well as despair over the loss of his regiment’s Cadian identity.

Other great characters in Voice of Command include Commissar Viktoria Massen, a veteran commissar who has found herself more concerned with her regiment’s spiritual health, rather than maintaining discipline.  Considered a soft touch by the regiment, Massen is forced to confront her faith and her failings in this novel, which results in some very intense moments.  Also of note is newly promoted captain Karwyn Thorne, who is finding the transition from enlisted man to officer hard, especially when it comes to gaining the respect of his men.  I found Swan’s depictions of Thorne failing to connect with his unit to be particularly well-written and relatable, with the author writing in some hard lessons about command, sacrifice and responsibility with Thorne’s storyline.  Voice of Command also features a compelling Kasrkin character with Sergeant Major Tal Bayer, who has a certain level of suicidal depression around him, before accepting his unlikely found family of a sassy pilot and surprisingly philosophical bullgryn.

The regiment’s priest, Father Sebastian Gustavus, also needs to be mentioned, especially as he has one of the more troubling arcs in the narrative.  Already mentally wrecked after years of tending to the flagging spiritual needs of the 2002nd, Father Gustavus finds himself opened to change in all the wrong ways.  His resulting fall is a key part of the book, especially as it results in great conflict with some of the other characters, and I loved the realistic anger that turns to hubris for Gustavus as the book continues.  Other characters, including the regiment’s psyker, who forms an unlikely relationship with Venom, a charismatic colour sergeant, and two ratling snipers who keep turning up somehow always with food, and the cast of Voice of Command was very impressive and well written.  I really cannot emphasise how compelling their respective character arcs proved to be, and Swan’s ability to capture their complex and often dark growth, was one of the best parts of this book.

Unsurprisingly, I checked out Voice of Command on audiobook, which is still the best way to enjoy this epic franchise.  Audiobook narration always effectively highlights the insanity, carnage and brutality of Warhammer novels, and this was particularly true with Voice of Command, which was effortlessly brought to life by narrator David Seddon.  Seddon, whose narration I have previously enjoyed in Kasrkin by Edoardo Albert and Leontus: Lord Solar by Rob Young, did another outstanding job with Voice of Command, diving into the heart of the story and conveying all the action and drama with his voice.  I loved the unique voices he gave to all the key members of the cast, and he really captured their personalities and emotions as they dive deeper into the campaign.  Special mention needs to be made for the perfectly accented voice that Seddon gave to the priest, Father Gustavus, as well as some of the weirder and manipulative voices of the Chaos cultists the cast hear over the vox or in their heads.  This outstanding narration and clever voice work deeply enhances Voice of Command’s already outstanding story and writing, and I really powered through Voice of Command’s 9-hour-plus runtime.  As such, the Voice of Command audiobook comes very highly recommended, and you will an outstanding time listening to this amazing novel.

Richard Swan continues to showcase his incredible writing ability with the awesome and intense Voice of Command.  Featuring a great story, loaded with wonderfully damaged characters and amazing action, Voice of Command was a highly captivating novel that I couldn’t get away from.  I hope that Swan writes more Warhammer novels in the future, and I fully intend to read any books in this franchise he writes, especially if he revisits the great characters of the 2002nd Cadian Mechanised Regiment.

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WWW Wednesday – 14 October 2026

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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 – Hero by Travis Deverell

After having a blast with the first two volumes of the awesome He Who Fights With Monsters series, Outworlder and Adventurer, I have quickly dived into the third volume, Hero. Once again following the adventures of a complex protagonist as he explores a cool LitRPG world, Hero is off to a great start with some impressive moments. I’ve only made a bit of progress on Hero so far, but I’m expecting to power through a lot of it in the coming days.

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The Only Way Out is Up by Django Wexler (Audiobook)

I’ve been having a blast listening to the awesome fantasy audiobook The Only Way Out Is Up by Django Wexler this week.  An outstanding novel set around magical robot fights in an layered underground city, The Only Way Out Is Up is proving to be an exceptional read with some amazing concepts and great humour.  I am currently halfway through this audiobook, and I look forward to seeing how this fantastic novel continues.

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What did you recently finish reading?

Serenity Falls by C. J. Tudor (Trade Paperback)

I managed to finish off the new C. J. Tudor horror novel Serenity Falls this week.  An intriguing read that explores the dark side of a seemingly perfect community, Serenity Falls has an excellent plot behind it, backed up by the very talented writing of Tudor.  An outstanding novel I’m glad I checked out.

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Warhammer 40,000: Voice of Command by Richard Swan (Audiobook)

I also finished of the impressive Warhammer 40,000 novel, Voice of Command by Richard Swan this week. One of the darker Warhammer novels of 2026, Voice of Command an outstanding book that I am hoping to review soon.

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What do you think you’ll read next?

We Are For The Dark by Gretchen McNeil

I’m hoping to dive into the cool horror thriller We Are For The Dark by Gretchen McNeil this week. Set to follow a priest and a cop as they attempt to investigate unusual events at an isolated island, We Are For The Dark sounds really cool, and I’m very keen to check it out.

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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 – 7 October 2026

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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:

Serenity Falls by C. J. Tudor (Trade Paperback)

I was in a horror mood this week, so I decided to check out the new C. J. Tudor novel Serenity Falls.  An intriguing read that explores the dark side of a seemingly perfect community, Serenity Falls has an excellent plot behind it, backed up by the very talented writing of Tudor.  I’ve only made a little progress on Serenity Falls so far, but it has already captured my interest and I cannot wait to see where the story goes next.

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Warhammer 40,000: Voice of Command by Richard Swan (Audiobook)

After having an incredible time with Richard Swan’s other science fiction novel of 2026, The Infinite State, I just had to listen to his recently released Warhammer 40,000 novel, Voice of Command.  Swan’s first full Warhammer 40,000 novel, Voice of Command follows a demoralised regiment as they encounter betrayal, dissent and corruption, putting down a manipulative rebellion.  One of the darker Warhammer novels of 2026, Voice of Command is proving to be pretty damn incredible, and I am hoping to finish it off in the next few days.

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What did you recently finish reading?

We Chase Shadows by Richard Osman (Audiobook)

I managed to finish off the highly entertaining murder mystery, We Chase Shadows by Richard Osman this week. One of my most anticipated novels for the second half of 2026, We Chase Shadows is the sequel to Osman’s previous exceptional novel, We Solve Murders and follows some of Osman’s more unique protagonists as they attempt to solve another international mystery. An exceptional read with some real heart and brilliant humour behind it; this book comes very highly recommended.

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Scion by James Islington (Trade Paperback)

I also recently got through the cool science fiction thriller, Scion by Australian author James Islington. A futuristic thriller that sees an enhanced assassin try to protect her target rather than kill him, Scion was an excellent read that I had a lot of fun with.

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138 Main Street by Gavin Bell (Hardcover)

An intense and compelling thriller with a brilliant story hook behind it, 138 Main Street was a fantastic novel, and I’m hoping to review it soon.

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

After falling in love with the first He Who Fights With Monsters novel, Outworlder, I made sure to also read the recently re-released second novel, Adventurer.  A highly entertaining and addictive fantasy novel, I powered through the massive volume of Adventurer in no time at all. I will be publishing a review up for Adventurer this weekend with a full five-star rating.

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Hard Town by Adam Plantinga (Trade Paperback)

An intense and brutal thriller that I got through extremely quickly. Highly recommended.

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What do you think you’ll read next?

He Who Fights With Monsters – Hero by Travis Deverell

My plan for this week is to dive into the next volume of He Who Fights With Monsters the very second I finish off Serenity Falls.  This next volume, Hero, will continue to follow the adventures of a complex protagonist as he explores a cool LitRPG world, and I cannot wait to see what carnage and insanity he unleashes in this third volume.  An epic read I already know I am going to love.

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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.

Waiting on Wednesday – The Guerrilla Republic by Richard Swan

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Australian, Science Fiction, Thriller, Waiting on Wednesday1 Comment

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 Waiting on Wednesday, I check out one of the top sequels and science fiction novels coming out in 2027, with the epic sounding read The Guerrilla Republic by Richard Swan.

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I think that all fantasy and science fiction fans can agree that 2026 has been an amazing year for Australian author Richard Swan.  Not only has he continued some of his epic fantasy series this year to major acclaim, but he has also been writing some exceptional pieces of science fiction.  Indeed, I am currently in the middle of reading his very first Warhammer novel, with the dark and compelling Warhammer 40,000 entry Voice of Command.  However, with this post I want to focus on his epic Decurion Saga series, which I had the very great pleasure of starting this year with The Infinite State.

The Decurion Saga is an awesome new science fiction series set in a far future dominated by the fascist Decurion Empire and it’s ruling Pater Aeternus party.  The first book in this series, The Infinite State, introduced readers to this setting, and started following three intriguing perspective protagonists as they tried to survive and escape the evils of this empire.  These attempts to escape included one wealthy individual buying her own planet outside of the Empire’s influence to set up a new democracy, which the other characters eventually gravitated to.  A timely and intense read with some impressive twists and narrative ideas, The Infinite State was an incredible read that I already consider to be amongst the best novels, and audiobooks, of 2026.  I honestly cannot wait to see how Swan continues the story from the first book, which is why I have been keeping an eye out for a potential sequel the moment I finished off The Infinite State.

It really didn’t take long for Swan to announce this sequel, as the second book in the Decurion Saga is set for release in August 2027.  Titled The Guerrilla Republic, this awesome sounding sequel will continue the intrigue and threat from the first book, as the three protagonists fight to keep their new planet safe from the jealous and malicious grasp of Pater Aeternus.

Plot Synopsis:

With The Guerrilla Republic, International bestselling author Richard Swan weaves an epic tale of galaxy-spanning intrigue. Following the events of The Infinite State, the rebels have succeeded and independence has been won—but the fight for true freedom has only just begun.

TYRANNY IS AN ABERRATION

Katherine may have escaped the Decurion Empire, but her problems are only just beginning. As Gabriel gears up for its first democratic elections, she is nearly killed by an orbital mining laser. A freak industrial accident? Or something more sinister?

PATER AETERNUS IS EVIL

Cyprian is struggling to adapt to his new life in the Republic. His children are recovering from their re-education, whilst his department is being overwhelmed with reports of sabotage and corruption. Life in Kada Gamar wasn’t better, but it was certainly simpler.

IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE THIS WAY

Julian has a promise to keep to Kamilla Makar. The only problem is, she’s in the Labyrinth, a vast subterranean prison complex in the very heart of the Empire. A daring rescue operation may be the only answer—but can Gabriel afford to poke the slumbering Decurion giant?

Now this sounds like an extremely epic sequel.  I honestly was planning to read The Guerrilla Republic no matter what next year, but the above plot synopsis sounds so damn cool and has got me very excited.  It looks like Swan will once again centre his story around the three main protagonists, including the President of the newly formed republic of Gabriel, Katherine Fuller, who bought the planet and made it’s independence possible, former Decurion Empire cop Cyprian Reis, who has taken up the role of Gabriel’s head of security, and famed hypersled pilot Julian Yashego, who has fled to Gabriel after experiencing the horrors of Pater Aeternus’ hated.  Based on the above synopsis, Swan is hoping to get a good mixture of storylines going, with Katherine having to deal with the politics of running a new planet, Cyprian sorting out a mystery and encountering potential threats on the ground, and Julian potentially getting involved in espionage back in the Decurion Empire.

These potential storylines all sound extremely compelling, and I am very curious to see how they unfold.  I have no doubt that Swan will wrap them together into a cohesive and intense overlapping narrative in The Guerilla Republic, all centred around the potential interference of the Decurion Empire on Gabriel, while the protagonists attempt to fight back against an unbeatable enemy.  I’m looking forward to seeing how each of these complex and highly damaged characters will continue to develop in this sequel, especially now they are nominally free of the oppressive control of Pater Aeternus.  I’m also sure that we’ll see more from the dangerous antagonists who were so effectively featured in The Infinite State, and the resulting confrontations and battles across the arenas of politics, espionage, intrigue and war, are going to be amazing.

Look, after how damn good The Infinite State was last year, there is no chance at all that I won’t be grabbing The Guerrilla Republic in 2027, and I honestly think it’s going to be one of the absolute best science fiction reads of next year.  As such, I am planning to read The Guerrilla Republic as soon as I can, probably on its epic audiobook version.  If you haven’t had the chance to read The Infinite State yet, make sure you do, especially before The Guerrilla Republic comes out next year.

The Infinite State by Richard Swan

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Audiobook, Australian, Five-Star Books, Science Fiction, Thriller2 Comments

Publisher: Gollancz (Audiobook – 28 July 2026)

Series: The Decurion Saga – Book One

Length: 15 hours and 19 minutes

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

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One of Australia’s most prominent science fiction and fantasy authors, Richard Swan, starts a bold new series with the powerful and deeply compelling novel The Infinite State, an outstanding science fiction read with some relevant messaging.

Few fantasy authors have been as successful in recent years as Australian Richard Swan.  A talented author with some unique stories under his belt, Swan has gained a lot of attention in recent years thanks to his Empire of the Wolf series, which started in 2022 with The Justice of Kings.  A complex series that examined law and order in a crumbling fantasy empire, the Empire of the Wolf books proved to be very popular, enough so that Swan is currently following up the original trilogy with his The Great Silence sequel series, which examines a whole new era for his established world.

While I am more familiar with his fantasy fiction work, Swan also has a bit of experience with science fiction, which includes his latest release The Infinite State. The first book in Swan’s new Decurion Saga, The Infinite State follows several protagonists as they attempt to escape a fascist space government.  I have been looking forward to reading The Infinite State since I first heard about it, and made sure to listen to it on audiobook as soon as I could.

Plot Synopsis:

WHO GIVES YOU LIFE?
PATER AETERNUS.

Katherine Fuller’s husband is dead. As an esteemed member of Pater Aeternus—governing party of the fascist, galaxy-spanning Decurion Empire—he has left behind an estate of immeasurable wealth. And Katherine is going to inherit it.

WHO GIVES YOU PURPOSE?
PATER AETERNUS.

Life under the Eternal Father is rigidly stratified, surveilled, and controlled—each new day to be endured, not lived. But with Katherine’s newfound fortune, she is presented with a rare and dangerous opportunity: purchase a virgin world, and create a better, fairer society.

WHO GIVES YOU JOY?
PATER AETERNUS.

But the Empire cannot allow its wayward daughter to succeed. And as Katherine works in secret, recruiting allies she’s not even sure she can trust, she will discover exactly how far Pater Aeternus is willing to go to stop her. Because Katherine is going to create something nobody has seen for many years.

A democracy.

Wow, now that was a truly impressive read.  Richard Swan was firing on all cylinders with The Infinite State, producing a powerful and highly addictive character-driven book that I had an amazing time getting through.  Captivating, insightful and perfectly introducing an exciting and dark futuristic universe, The Infinite State was so damn good, and I have to give it a full five-star read, especially in its audiobook format.

Swan produces a highly impressive narrative for The Infinite State that follows three compelling protagonists as they attempt to overcome and escape the evils of the Decurion Empire.  This includes Katherine Fuller, the widow of a high-ranking party official, who finds herself inheriting a vast fortune upon her husband’s death.  Already disillusioned with the Empire, Katherine embarks on the radical plan of buying her own planet and setting it up as a democracy.  The book also follows Julian Yashego, a famous hypersled pilot born on an independent planet outside the Decurion Empire.  Having been recruited to race for the premier team in the Decurion hypersled circuit, Julian is forced to contend with the unforgiving politics and propaganda machine of the empire as an outsider, especially when his personal secrets are discovered.  The third storyline follows Cyprian Reis, a weary inspector charged with investigating murders in the empire’s capital, Kada Gamar.  However, his latest case, a mutilated body fished out of the river, sees him caught between two competing factions of the Pater Aeternus party, while also trying to reign in his ambitious and unhinged young partner.

There is a great mixture of elements in this first part of the book, as Swan successfully develops three complex character-focused storylines that initially exist independent of each other.  This includes a moving personal journey to independence in Katherine’s POV with a lot of key universe-building, a look at the true dark side of the regime in Julian’s storyline that also has a compelling science fiction sports element to it, and an exciting noir crime story in Cyprian’s chapters, all told in the shadow of Pater Aeternus influence.  This was honestly one of those rare multi-POV novels where I enjoyed each of the storylines equally, and I deeply enjoyed the separate narrative threads.  While these storylines are kept separate for most of The Infinite State, they produce an impressive overarching narrative, with some overlapping ideas and supporting characters.  You also become highly invested in each protagonist’s specific journeys, as well as their attempts to survive the party’s attention.  Swan eventually brings the three storylines together in the final third of The Infinite State, which has an interesting change of setting to Katherine’s newly established world.  The author does a good job of bringing these characters together naturally, and none of the storylines are negatively impacted by the suddenly joined narrative.  All of this results in an exciting and captivating conclusion that brings some excellent action to the book and introduces some great reveals.  Swan wraps everything up quite nicely with some big climatic moments that allow each of the protagonists to shine in their own unique ways.  At the same, Swan leaves several storylines open for the sequel, ensuring that readers will need to come back and check out the rest of the books in the series.

I was really impressed with how The Infinite State turned out, as Swan produced a gripping science fiction story centred around some great characters intent on escaping an overbearing fascist government.  As I mentioned above, Swan does an excellent job showcasing the story through three separate perspectives, and you really get a fantastic mixture of storylines as a result.  The resulting blend of elements that emerged throughout The Infinite State, including political discourse, espionage, mystery, space colonisation, proxy propaganda battles and more, was so damn good, and Swan did an outstanding job bringing all this together.  I was particularly impressed with the cool background setting surrounding this narrative, as Swan envisions and portrays a chaotic universe dominated by the Decurion Empire and the controlling Pater Aeternus party.  The idea of a vast fascist empire is familiar in the modern context, but Swan makes it his own, showcasing how such an empire could spread throughout the stars, and how other planets would react to it.  The evils and weaknesses of such an empire is on full display, and I appreciated how well Swan showcased the machinations and rivalries of the party’s power players, and how they manipulate the inherent fear, despair and anger of the normal inhabitants.  All this was quite inventive, if worryingly familiar, and the dose of reality in amongst the science fiction added to the emotional impact of the overall story.

I must once again highlight the outstanding main protagonists of The Infinite State, each of whom had unique and emotionally charged personal stories.  These great character arcs worked perfectly as the centre for the main storylines of The Infinite State, and Swan took many of these characters to their extremes as part of the plot.  This includes central character Katherine Fuller, the wife of a high-level party member, who, after several personal loses, decides to finally rebel against the system that has held her down her entire life.  Much of Katherine’s storyline involves her attempting to gain a confidence that has been quashed by Pater Aeternus’s patriarchal system and embark on her own journey.  It was great seeing her start to become a leader in this book, and it will be interesting to see how she continues to develop as the series continues.  Another key protagonist is the dour Cyprian Reis, a senior police inspector who finds himself on the wrong side of a political skirmish between two of Pater Aeternus’s ministers.  Already broken and suicidal at the start of the book, Cyprian finds his long-buried desire for justice clashing with the dark realities of the monsters above him.  Swan perfectly captures the impotent anger of Cyprian as he is manipulated and threatened by everyone, and while there are periods of rage, you can see that deep down Cyprian is a good man who has been wrecked by the system.  Of all the characters, Cyprian has the best redemption arc in the novel, and it was wonderful to see him start to find himself after the dark first half of the book.

The final protagonist is Julian Yashego, who honestly has one of the most complex, if traumatising, character narratives in the entire novel.  A champion racer considered to be the best hypersled driver in the galaxy, Julian is introduced in The Infinite State as a naïve foreigner who doesn’t understand the true dangers of the Decurion Empire.  However, after some early scenes, Julian soon finds his survival tied into his success as a racer, as he gets caught up in certain political machinations.  Things get quite dark for Julian, especially when his personal secrets are uncovered, and you really get drawn into his continuous downward spiral.  Not only does Julian’s storyline have some impressive emotional depth, but I enjoyed how the character’s hypersled background referenced the political battles fought around foreign race-car drivers and the Olympics in Nazi Germany.  Swan’s portrayal of Julian’s trauma was so well written, and he ends up being the protagonist you most relate to as a result.

While most of the focus is understandably on the three perspective protagonists, I do need to mention the great supporting cast featured within The Infinite State, who add some interesting elements to each of the main storylines.  Swan does a great job of introducing these various characters through the eyes of the main protagonists, and there are some fascinating relationships that emerge as a result.  Highlights include Jaroslav Droor, the Decurion Empire’s propaganda minister, who appears to be manipulating many of the key plot points from the shadow.  A malevolent force in both Cyprian’s and Julian’s early storylines, Swan sets Droor up as a sinister Machiavellian figure with a hidden agenda, and it was so fun to see his dark machinations.  Another excellent supporting character is Cyprian’s young partner, Lang, an ambitious investigator with a romanticised view of Pater Aeternus and life in the Decurion Empire.  Thanks to his naivety and near-brainwashed personality, Lang soon becomes a problem for Cyprian, and his worse traits are only enhanced as the story continues.  These great supporting characters, and more, perfectly populate the crazy universe of The Infinite State, and it was fascinating to see their storylines unfold alongside the perspective protagonists.

As I mentioned above, I ended up checking out the audiobook version of The Infinite State, which proved to be an incredible way to enjoy this epic book, as it allowed listeners to really absorb the compelling details of the setting.  Thanks to its use of multiple narrators, The Infinite State audiobook perfectly tells Swan’s complex narrative, while also cleverly giving life to the three protagonists, as well as the compelling supporting cast.  The audiobook does a great job of splitting itself between its three narrators, with each of them taking over the chapters told from the perspective of one of the main protagonists. These narrators include Helen Keeley, who provides a powerful performance in the chapters told from the perspective of Katherine Fuller.  Not only does Keeley provide a refined voice to Fuller, capturing her grief, frustration and determination every step of the way, but she also provides some impressive voices for the various characters that Fuller interacts with, including multiple senior party members.  Another great performance was Chris Rowe, who voices the chapters from the perspective of Julian Yashego, the famous hypersled driver who experiences the dark side of the empire.  This requires Rowe to provide a lot of range, as his initial portrayals of a cocky and naïve athlete are soon tinged with despair.  Rowe does a great job of capturing the changing emotions of his main character, while also providing some terrifying and harsh voices to the dark people he encounters, especially Droor, who comes off as his most sinister here.

The final narrator I need to highlight is Nathaniel Priestley, who fans of Swan might recognise from his work with the author’s fantasy books, and who has another great performance providing the narration of the POV of Cyprian Reis.  Priestley unsurprisingly does an amazing job in The Infinite State, and I loved his take on the weary investigator and the dangerous people he encounters.  This includes a striking accent for Cyprian that fits the character perfectly and helps to enhance the rage and impatience in his voice as he is manipulated and threatened.  All three of these narrators are incredible in The Infinite State, and I enjoyed how their performances were spaced out through the audiobook.  This includes in some of the later chapters, where the quickfire change in perspectives from the three protagonists also includes changes in narrator.  It was also fun to hear the different narrators try to emulate the established character voices of their colleagues, such as when they try to match the accent Priestley gives to Cyprian with varying results.  Overall, I think these narrators brought out the best of The Infinite State and this was one of the more exceptional audiobooks of 2026, that I cannot recommend enough.

Richard Swan continues to showcase his ability to tell an incredible and addictive story, this time diving back into science fiction with The Infinite State.  A brilliant and incredible start to a compelling new series, The Infinite State had me hooked very early on, and I loved seeing the powerful journeys each of Swan’s complex characters took.  I cannot wait to get my hands on the next entry in this series, and I will be very keen to read the sequel in 2027.  In the meantime, I need to get my hands on Swan’s recently released Warhammer 40,000 novel, Voice of Command, which also sounds extremely cool.

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WWW Wednesday – 2 September 2026

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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:

Five Voices by Tamara Moss (ebook)

I’ve just started reading the cool Australian young adult murder mystery Five Voices by Tamara Moss. Featuring an intriguing narrative about a group of podcasters caught up in the murder of one of their own, Five Voices is proving to be a compelling novel and I’m curious to see where its mystery goes.

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The Infinite State by Richard Swan (Audiobook)

I was in the mood for a unique audiobook this week, so I decided to listen to The Infinite State by Richard Swan. A captivating science fiction novel that sees several protagonists attempt to survive the tyrannies of a fascist space empire, including by buying their own planet, The Infinite State already has me hooked and I’m very curious to see where it goes.

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What did you recently finish reading?

The Doubles by Jacob K. Gallagher (Trade Paperback)

I had a very successful week of reading, which started when I finished off the intriguing Australian urban fantasy novel The Doubles by Jacob K. Gallagher. Set in rural New South Wales, The Doubles follows a human agent of angelic powers as she attempts to discover a sinister magical trespasser killing children. An excellent debut, this was a great read I’m really glad I got the chance to check out.

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

I also finished off 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 expedition.  This ended up being an exceptional audiobook, and one of my favourite Warhammer books of 2026.

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Web of Spies by Tim Ayliffe (Trade Paperback)

A cool young adult Australian spy thriller from one of my favourite Australian authors. I was very curious to see Ayliffe’s first foray into young adult fiction, and this was a great read for younger teens.

 

The Killing Rules by Bree Despain (ebook)

I was on a real young adult kick this week as I also powered through the wonderful and exciting novel, The Killing Rules by Bree Despain.  A very entertaining horror/thriller hybrid that follows a murderous cheerleader who goes after terrible men, The Killing Rules was an outstanding read that I had a ton of fun with.

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What do you think you’ll read next?

The Daughter’s War by Christopher Buehlman 

I’ve got a few things on my shelf to check out at the moment, but I think I might take the opportunity to read The Daughter’s War by Christopher Buehlman next. A prequel to Buehlman’s impressive novel The Blacktongue Thief, The Daughter’s War sounds like an incredible and dark war novel and I’m very keen to finally read it, especially with the third book in the series coming out very soon.

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

Top Ten Tuesday – Most Anticipated Books Releasing During the Second Half of 2026 (Fantasy and Science Fiction)

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Fantasy, List, Science Fiction2 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme that currently resides at The Artsy Reader Girl and features bloggers sharing lists on various book topics.  For this latest Top Ten Tuesday participants need to list their top anticipated releases for the second half of 2026.  I am planning to do two versions of this list, one that will exclusively look at upcoming thrillers, crime fiction, historical fiction, and more, and this one that will focus on upcoming fantasy and science fiction books.

2026 has so far been an amazing year for books (something I will cover in next week’s Top Ten Tuesday), with some impressive novels coming out and blowing me away.  However, the year is far from over and there are so many epic-sounding novels set for release in the second half of 2026.  To fill out this list I have scoured my list of anticipated upcoming releases and tried to work out which of the books coming out between the start of July and the end of December I am most looking forward to.  I already have a couple of these books, but I think it’s worth including them here, especially as I still need to make time to read them.

I had initially intended to only do a single list featuring all the genres, however, I ended up with way too many awesome upcoming novels on my radar.  So, to fairly feature them all, and to save myself from some hard decisions, I decided to split this post into two separate lists, starting with this one on fantasy and science fiction.  I still had to cut out several impressive upcoming releases, but I was a lot happier with how these lists turned out, especially as I was able to feature so many epic upcoming reads that I am going to have the most fun reading.  Due to how much potential that I think the entries on this list have, several have previously appeared in my weekly Waiting on Wednesday articles, as well as on my recent Winter TBR list.   So let us get to my selections and find out which upcoming novels are my most anticipated fantasy and science fiction releases for the second half of 2026.

Honourable Mentions:

The Infinite State by Richard Swan – 4 August 2026

An intriguing science fiction read from a rising Australian author known for his compelling fantasy books.

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The Deep and the Drowned by Ian Green – 6 August 2026

An epic fantasy novel with an outstanding cover that also sounds like an extremely awesome read.

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Scion by James Islington – 1 September 2026

A cool science fiction thriller from the very impressive James Islington.  This will be an interesting departure from some of Islington’s recent, massive fantasy novels, and I’m keen to explore this Australian author’s alternate work.

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Absolon Creed by R. S. Ford – 10 November 2026

An interesting sounding dark fantasy novel, which sees a feared knight investigate a murder within a city besieged by eldritch forces.

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Top Ten Tuesday:

A Trade of Blood by Robert Jackson Bennett – 11 August 2026

Let’s start this list off on a high note with the new book from Robert Jackson Bennett, A Trade of Blood.  Following on from Bennett’s exceptional novels The Tainted Cup (one of my favourite books of 2024) and A Drop of Corruption (one of my favourite books of 2025), A Trade of Blood will return the reader to a chaotic land constantly under attack from giant sea monsters to follow an unusual investigative duo of a troubled detective and her practical assistant.  This time attempting to stop a civil war by proving a clearly guilty party did not actually commit a murder, A Trade of Blood sound very intriguing and I am very curious about where it’s narrative will go.  Based on how exceptional the first two books in this series were, I already know that A Trade of Blood is going to be one of the top books of 2026.

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The Dungeon Book by Gareth Hanrahan – 11 August 2026

The next book on this list is one of the more entertaining entries, with The Dungeon Book by Gareth Hanrahan.  Set to follow a surprisingly innocent protagonist raised in a fantasy dungeon by various classic monsters and beasts, The Dungeon Book has a very amusing plot behind it, especially when our hero encounters true evil entering the dungeon, other humans.  I love the sound of this amazing upcoming novel, and The Dungeon Book seems like something that I can have a lot of fun with.

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Upon the Forge of Battle by Anthony Ryan – 25 August 2026

After consistently having an incredible time with Anthony Ryan’s various fantasy novels over the last few years, there is no way that I will be missing out on Upon the Forge of Battle in 2026.  The third and final book in Ryan’s Age of Wrath series, Upon the Forge of Battle will conclude the outstanding, Viking-themed story already featured in A Tide of Black Steel and Born of an Iron Storm.  I am excited to see how all the big character arcs in this series come together, and I have no doubt Upon the Forge of Battle is going to be an epic final entry in a very strong series.

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Settle Down by Jeremy Robinson – 25 August 2026

After already impressing me with the twisted and compelling 30Seven (review to follow very soon) Jeremy Robinson will provide even more entertaining science fiction hijinks in 2026 with his next novel, Settle Down.  Another science fiction hybrid, Settle Down will feature a unique combination of genres when a group of plane-crash survivors find out that the rest of the world has been invaded by aliens while they’ve been marooned on an isolated island.  This is honestly one of the more entertaining plot ideas I’ve seen in 2026, and I’m sure Robinson is going to turn Settle Down into a particularly clever and powerful novel.

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The Wolves of War by John Gwynne – 8 September 2026

Even more Viking-inspired adventure is in store for fantasy fans in the second half of 2026, with the new book from the acclaimed John Gwynne, The Wolves of War.  The first book in The Wolfheart Chronicles, The Wolves of War will see an unlikely protagonist attempt to master her powers to save everyone she loves from a looming war.  I am really looking forward to reading this book, especially after loving every second of Gwynne’s previous Bloodsworn Saga, and it seems like The Wolves of War is going to be a particularly powerful and personal novel from this author.  An exciting and cool book for the second half of 2026.

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Star Wars: Edge of the Abyss by Rebecca Roanhorse – 15 September 2026

Star Wars fans have a lot to look forward to in the second half of 2026, with the next book in the Reign of the Empire series, Edge of the Abyss.  Following on from The Mask of Fear, this second Reign of the Empire novel will be written by Rebecca Roanhorse and will chart the early days of the Rebel Alliance.  Following several key extended universe characters, Edge of the Abyss will feature a great mixture of space politics, personal storylines and compelling insights into one of the best periods of Star Wars lore.  I am quite excited to see how Roanhorse will continue this series, and I can’t wait to get my next dose of Star Wars nerdom.

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The Only Way Out is Up by Django Wexler – 29 September 2026

Another delightful book that I’m excited for later this year is the exciting science fiction novel, The Only Way Out is Up by Django Wexler.  Set to follow a small-time scrap salvager and his pet robot as they enters a legendary robot fighting tournament, The Only Way Out is Up sounds like a ton of awesome fun, and I am very keen to read it, especially after loving some of Wexler’s previous works.

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The Thrice-Bound Fool by Christopher Buehlman – 13 October 2026

One of the most anticipated fantasy novels coming out in the second half of 2026 is The Thrice-Bound Fool by Christopher Buehlman.  The long-awaited sequel to Buehlman’s beloved The Blacktongue Thief, The Thrice-Bound Fool will see the protagonists from the first book embark on a continent spanning quest as they attempt to survive a deadly guild of killers coming after them.  I am excited for this book after finally reading The Blacktongue Thief earlier this year, and I’m also hoping to read the prequel novel, The Daughter’s War before The Thrice-Bound Fool comes out in October.

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Ghosts of the Void by Jonathan Maberry – 13 October 2026

One of my favourite authors, Jonathan Maberry, brings one of his series to a close later this year with Ghosts of the Void.  The third and final book in the NecroTek trilogy, Ghosts of the Void will follow on from NecroTek and Cold War and will follow a stranded group of humans as they attempt to fight a galactic war against cosmic horrors.  I’ve had a brilliant time with this shocking series, and I’m sure that Maberry has some excellent dark twists in store to finish it off.

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Monsters of Ohio by John Scalzi – 3 November 2026

The final book on this list is the next entertaining release from the wonderful John Scalzi, Monsters of Ohio.  A very compelling sounding standalone novel, Monsters of Ohio will take readers on an unusual journey when strange, world-changing events start in a small town in Ohio.  Scalzi always provides some clever and thought-provoking reads, and I’m sure that Monsters of Ohio is going to be a fantastic novel for the end of 2026.

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

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

On By The Unseen LibraryIn List3 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme that currently resides at The Artsy Reader Girl and features bloggers sharing lists on various book topics. 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 first Tuesday of Winter 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 Winter (Summer for folks in the Northern Hemisphere). This is a regular post I do at the start of each season, and I always love to highlight some of the most impressive sounding novels coming out in the next three months.

For this list, I have come up with ten books coming out between 1 June 2026 and 31 August 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 even have some early copies of a some of them (I’m hoping to read them soon). 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:

Hide and Seek by Chris Carter – 16 July 2026

A compelling and chilling thriller that I think has a ton of potential.

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Eight Tastes of Treachery by Ryan Rose – 21 July 2026

An intriguing food-based fantasy novel, that will serve as a sequel to last year’s fun debut, Seven Recipes for Revolution.

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The Unknown by Riley Sager – 4 August 2026

A very interesting upcoming mystery novel about missing people on a spooky island, with compelling horror elements also thrown into the mix.

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The Calamities by Chuck Wendig – 18 August 2026

An exciting tale of familial bonds and betrayal, when the scion of a half-demon business dynasty decides to turn his back on his family’s evil ways.

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Top Ten Tuesday:

Green City Wars by Adrian Tchaikovsky – 30 June 2026

The first book I want to highlight in this Top Ten list is the new upcoming novel from Adrian Tchaikovksy, Green City Wars.  One of Tchaikovsky’s more entertaining and distinctive scenarios (which is saying a lot), Green City Wars is a noir-inspired mystery, set in science fiction world where humans are served by unseen, genetically enhanced animals.  Set to feature a fun cast of sentient animals attempting to solve their problems without disturbing their human masters, Green City Wars sounds delightful, and I cannot wait to dive into it.

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One of Us Is Guilty by Steve Cavanagh – 28 July 2026

One of my favourite thriller authors, Steve Cavanagh, returns in 2026 with a new complex legal thriller.  Part of his Eddie Flynn series, One of Us is Guilty will see the protagonist try to determine which member of a seemingly perfect couple committed a brutal murder and which one of them is being set up by their partner.  Sure to be another awesome read with some fantastic legal twists, One of Us is Guilty is going to be an outstanding, and I’ve very excited to read it.

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The Infinite State by Richard Swan – 28 July 2026

Australian fantasy author Richard Swan takes a break from his acclaimed Empire of the Wolf/The Great Silence novels, and instead presents a cool, standalone science fiction release with The Infinite State.  Set to follow a suddenly ultra-wealthy widow and her allies as they attempt to buy a planet to set up a democracy in defiance of a galaxy-spanning fascist government.  I love the sound of this intriguing narrative, especially as Swan will likely utilise his prior Warhammer 40,000 experience, to create a unique and insightful read.

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Duel of Beasts by Boyd and Beth Morrison – 30 July 2026

The team of Boyd and Beth Morrison look set to continue their historical hijinks with their fourth Tale of the Lawless Land entry coming out soon.  This time set in medieval Spain, Duel of the Beasts will see the series protagonists get involved to help another helpless sole, only to find themselves hunted across the country.  Sure to be an exciting and intense historical thriller, Duel of the Beasts is going to be an awesome read.

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Bad Neighbours by Joanna Jenkins – 4 August 2026

A more grounded Australian novel that I’m keen to check out this Winter is the new Joanna Jenkins novel, Bad Neighbours.  The follow-up to Jenkins’ How to Kill a Client and The Bluff, Bad Neighbours will see the returning lawyer protagonist forced to investigate her new neighbours to find justice.  I love the sound of this new book from Jenkins, and I cannot wait to see her latest piece of Australian crime fiction.

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The Deep and the Drowned by Ian Green – 6 August 2026

One of the few books on this list from an author I haven’t previously read anything from, The Deep and the Drowned is an intriguing fantasy read that caught my attention a few weeks ago thanks to its cool plot and striking cover.  Featuring a compelling setting of giant, monster-filled seas, multiple chaotic islands, and sailors trying to cross between them, The Deep and the Drowned sounds very awesome, and I’m so glad I’ve gotten an early copy of it.

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A Trade of Blood by Robert Jackson Bennett – 11 August 2026

Probably the Winter 2026 release I’m most excited for is A Trade of Blood by Robert Jackson Bennett.  The third book in a deeply impressive fantasy murder mystery series that follows a unique team of investigators as they attempt to unravel empire-shattering crimes in a nation constantly under siege by giant monsters. This next book will follow the series protagonists as they attempt to prove that a young noble is innocent of murder, despite overwhelming evidence.  The previous novels in this series (The Tainted Cup and A Drop of Corruption), where both exceptional, five-star reads, and I have no doubt that A Trade of Blood is going to be one of the very best novels of the year.

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The Dungeon Book by Gareth Ryder-Hanrahan – 11 August 2026

I always have my eye out for cool and unique reads, and one of the more outrageous fantasy novels coming out in Winter 2026 is The Dungeon Book by Gareth Ryder-Hanrahan.  An entertaining standalone novel that will follow a young human who was raised by the monsters and creatures of a fantasy dungeon, The Dungeon Book sounds like a very fun and inventive upcoming fantasy release and I’m very keen to get my hands on it.

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The Killer’s Mark by M. W. Craven – 11 August 2026

One of modern crime fictions more distinctive voices, M. W. Craven, looks set to bring the chaos once more with his next novel The Killer’s Mark.  Bringing back the excentric protagonists of the Washington Poe series, Craven will present another unique mystery with some outstanding twists.  I’ve had a brilliant time with the last few books of this series, The Mercy Chair and The Final Vow, and I’m sure The Killer’s Mark is going to be another extremely fun murder mystery.

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Upon the Forge of Battle by Anthony Ryan – 25 August 2026

The final book I want to highlight on this list is the awesome upcoming fantasy release, Upon the Forge of Battle by Anthony Ryan.  The third and final book in Ryan’s Age of Wrath series (previous featuring A Tide of Black Steel and Born of an Iron Storm), Upon the Forge of Battle will see the series’ four embattled protagonists attempt to find their destinies as war, intrigue and betrayal overwhelms them.  Based on how impressive the rest of this series has been, Upon the Forge of Battle is likely to be one of the top fantasy books of 2026 and is a very worthy final entry for this list.

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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 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.

Waiting on Wednesday – The Infinite State by Richard Swan

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Science Fiction, Waiting on Wednesday2 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 an intriguing upcoming science fiction novel from a particularly impressive author, with The Infinite State by Richard Swan.

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Few fantasy authors have been as successful in recent years as writer Richard Swan.  A very talented author with some unique stories under his belt, Swan has gained a lot of positive attention in recent years with his Empire of the Wolf series, which started in 2022 with The Justice of Kings.  A complex series that examined law and order in a crumbling fantasy empire, the Empire of the Wolf books proved to be very popular, enough so that Swan is currently following up the original trilogy with his The Great Silence sequel series, which examines a whole new era for his established world.

While I am more familiar with his fantasy fiction work, Swan also has a bit of experience with science fiction, which is what this Waiting on Wednesday post is primarily going to focus on, as he has an intriguing new novel in the genre coming out later this year.  That book is The Infinite State, a complex upcoming read that will take a compelling look at space fascism and one woman’s attempt to bring the whole twisted system down.  Set for release in late July 2026, The Infinite State has a fascinating plot idea behind it, which I am very curious to check out.

Plot Synopsis:

Sunday Times bestselling author Richard Swan is back with a blistering and fraught science fiction epic.

In this blistering science fiction epic, Sunday Times bestselling author Richard Swan presents a thrilling tale of survival and an eviscerating examination of totalitarianism.

WHO GIVES YOU LIFE?
PATER AETERNUS.

Katherine Fuller’s husband is dead. As an esteemed member of Pater Aeternus – governing party of the fascist, galaxy-spanning Decurion Empire – he has left behind an estate of immeasurable wealth. And Katherine is going to inherit it.

WHO GIVES YOU PURPOSE?
PATER AETERNUS.

Life under the Eternal Father is rigidly stratified, surveilled, and controlled – each new day to be endured, not lived. But with Katherine’s newfound fortune, she is presented with a rare and dangerous opportunity: purchase a virgin world, and create a better, fairer society.

WHO GIVES YOU JOY?
PATER AETERNUS.

But the Empire cannot allow its wayward daughter to succeed. And as Katherine works in secret, recruiting allies she’s not even sure she can trust, she will discover exactly how far Pater Aeternus is willing to go to stop her. Because Katherine is going to create something nobody has seen for many years.

A democracy.

1984 meets The Man in the High Castle in gripping sci-fi The Infinite State from Richard Swan, which begins at a flashpoint in the lives of a widowed party member, a disgraced investigator, and a hypersled pilot – entangled in a plot to escape the suffocating authority of a fascist state.

 Now this sounds like quite an interesting and socially relevant science fiction novel, and it’s one that I am currently quite excited for.  A complex narrative about overthrowing fascism and trying to create your own democratic world has a lot of potential, and it will be cool to see the interplay between science fiction elements and political intrigue in The Infinite State’s plot.  Swan has long proven his ability to create complex and layered fiction worlds and empires, but I’ll be curious to see him dive into the future and explore the dark possibilities that exist there.  There is a lot of possibilities contained within a setting like this, and I’m sure that the resulting story will be particularly interesting and addictive.

Based on my previous positive experiences with Richard Swan, as well as the compelling new narrative suggested in the above synopsis, The Infinite State has definitely piqued my curiosity, is currently very high on my to-read list for the second half of the year.  Sure to combine complex intrigue and machinations with a dark futuristic setting, The Infinite State looks set to be a particularly awesome 2026 novel, and I cannot wait to check it out.