Tag: Scion

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.

Book Haul – 27 September 2026

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

King’s Ransom by Matthew Reilly

The first recently receive book I want to highlight in this post is the fantastic new novel from Matthew Reilly, King’s Ransom. The sequel to his 2025 novel, The Detective, King’s Ransom brings back the first book’s unique protagonist and sets him on another over-the-top case.  I’ve actually already read this novel and it lived up to all my expectations, containing a particularly addictive narrative I couldn’t stop reading. A highly recommended read that I’m hoping to review soon.

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138 Main Street by Gavin Bell

I was very happy to get my hands on one of the more unique thrillers of 2026, 138 Main Street by Gavin Bell.  Focusing on the hunt for a serial killer murdering people who live at the titular address of the book in various towns across America, 138 Main Street sounds so damn interesting and I love the cool hook. I cannot wait to see how this novel unfolds, and I’ve heard it’s very good.

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Scion by James Islington

One of Australia’s best fantasy authors, James Islington, dives into the world of cyberpunk science fiction with his cool new novel Scion.  Following an enhanced assassin who finds herself forced to work a protection job for a mysterious client, Scion is a fast-paced read with an interesting story.  I’ve actually just started reading Scion and I’m very curious to see how it will come to an end.

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He Who Fights With Monsters: Adventurer by Travis Deverell

After falling in love with the first volume of Travis Deverell’s He Who Fights With Monsters series, Outworlder, I just had to grab a copy of the recently released sequel, Adventurer.  Sure to continue the fantastic LitRPG hijinks of the series, this second He Who Fights With Monsters novel is going to be incredible, and I look forward to diving into it.

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Serenity Falls by C. J. Tudor

Another amazing new novel I recently received was the fantastic horror release from C. J. Tudor, Serenity Falls.  An intriguing read set in a mysterious and seemingly perfect town, Serenity Falls has been on my radar for a while, and I cannot wait to see what dark horrors are contained within.

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One of Us is Guilty by Steve Cavanagh

I had to get my hands on the latest Steve Cavanagh legal thriller, One of Us is Guilty.  Part of the author’s Eddie Flynn series, One of Us is Guilty sees the protagonist forced to uncover which member of a seemingly perfectly married couple committed a murder. I’m very curious to see how this crazy case unfolds, and I have no doubt it is going to be fantastic and fun.

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Hard Town by Adam Plantinga

I have been hoping to read this next entry for a while now, so I’m particularly happy to finally get my hands on Hard Town by Adam Plantinga. His second novel following his debut, The Ascent, Hard Town will see the author’s protagonist engage in another brutal confrontation as he travels the United States.  I had an ton of fun with the author’s first book and I cannot wait to see what carnage unfolds in Hard Town.

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SHOT by Shelley Burr

I’ve also been lucky enough to receive a copy of one of the top Australian crime fiction releases from the second half of 2026 with SHOT by Shelley Burr.  An awesome new release that sees a disgraced journalist attempt to solve an impossible crime, SHOT sounds like an incredible read, and I look forward to diving into it.

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The Malevolent Nine by Sebastian de Castell

One of fantasy fiction’s most compelling authors, Sebastien de Castell, continues his epic 2026 with the sure to be crazy release, The Malevolent Nine.  Following on from de Castell’s insane novels The Malevolent Seven and The Malevolent Eight, The Malevolent Nine will see a group of rogue mages attempt to stop the new rulers of heaven and hell in the most destructive way possible. I have no doubt this book is going to be amazing, and I’m very excited to check it out.

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The Cross by Ronni Salt

Another great Australian book I recently received is The Cross by Ronni Salt. The sequel to her debut, Gunnawah, The Cross will take the reader back to 1970’s rural Australia, and feature the crime fiction misadventures of the residents of the small town of Gunnawah.  I’m very interested in seeing how Salt has improved as a writer since her first book, and I am excited to read this sequel.

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The Missing Season by Jennifer Lynn Alvarez

The final book I recently received was the compelling 2027 murder mystery, The Missing Season.  Written by Jennifer Lynn Alvarez, whose young adult crime fiction novels I have really enjoyed, The Missing Season features another thought-provoking story, as two women embark on different journeys to solve a missing person’s case.  I’m already quite intrigued by this book’s mystery, and I look forward to seeing all the cool twists and turns. A fantastic final novel for this Book Haul post.

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Well, that’s the end of this latest Book Haul post.  As you can see I have quite a bit of reading to do at the moment thanks to all these awesome books that have come in.  Let me know which of the above you are most interested in and make sure to check back in a few weeks to see my reviews of them.

WWW Wednesday – 23 September 2026

On 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:

We Chase Shadows by Richard Osman (Audiobook)

I’ve started listening to 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 attempt to uncover another international mystery. This novel is so far proving to be pretty amazing, featuring a compelling case and Osman’s always entertaining humour, which is so much fun to get through.  I cannot wait to see where Osman takes this incredible story and I am hoping to finish off We Chase Shadows in the next week or so.

Amazon

What did you recently finish reading?

The Facilite Con by Dick Wybrow (ebook)

An entertaining novel that saw an unusual crew attempt to pull off a deadly heist, this was a fun read that I had a blast with.

Amazon

 

Settle Down by Jeremy Robinson (Audiobook)

Jeremy Robinson follows up his first epic novel of 2026, 30Seven, in a big way with his latest science fiction adventure Settle Down.  A dark and powerful read with a great hook, Settle Down was so damn good, and I cannot recommend it enough.

Amazon

 

King’s Ransom by Matthew Reilly (Trade Paperback)

I was lucky enough to get my hands on King’s Ransom by Matthew Reilly this week, and I honestly started reading it right away.  The sequel to Reilly’s previous novel, The Detective, King’s Ransom was an extremely entertaining thriller with a highly over-the-top plot that I honestly could not put down.  One of the most addictive, if crazy, thrillers of 2026, King’s Ransom was just amazing and I’m hoping to review it soon.

Amazon

What do you think you’ll read next?

Scion by James Islington

The next book I am hoping to start reading is the 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 sounds like an incredible read, and I am very curious to try out my first science fiction read from Islington.

Amazon

 

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.

Waiting on Wednesday – Scion by James Islington

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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.  This week I’m doing several different Waiting on Wednesday posts, including my first one for Upon the Forge of Battle by Anthony Ryan.  I’m following up this fun fantasy adventure with a cool science fiction thriller from a rising Australian author, with Scion by James Islington.

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Few fantasy writers are as beloved right now as Australia’s James Islington.  A talented author with the ability to create truly elaborate worlds, Islington has gained a big following in recent years thanks to his exceptional Hierarchy series.  An intricate and complex series, the Hierarchy books follow a damaged protagonist as he attempts to overcome dark conspiracies and ancient magical threats across a multiverse.  This series started with The Will of the Many, where it introduced Vis Telimus, a fugitive prince who finds himself enrolled in an academy for the children of the elite members of the nation that conquered his homeland.  The resulting narrative saw Vis to deal with elaborate ancient puzzles, the unique magic of his world, unlikely friendships, deadly rebels, and all his hidden secrets potentially becoming uncovered. I had such an amazing time reading The Will of the Many that it got a very easy five-star rating from me, and it ended up topping several of my end-of-year lists for 2023, including my favourite book, audiobook, new-to-me author and Australian fiction lists.

Naturally after enjoying such an awesome read from Islington, I eagerly picked up the sequel last year as soon as I could with The Strength of the Few.  A fantastic and ambitious read that cleverly followed three separate versions of the protagonist who were replicated and transported to alternate mirror worlds.  This complex new take on the story was very impressive, with each version of Vis encountering tragedy, adversity and friendship as they attempted to survive.  An outstanding second entry, The Strength of the Few was one of my favourite books, audiobooks, sequels and Australian Fiction releases of 2025, and I cannot recommend it enough.

After having so much fun with these amazing books, I’m honestly very keen to read more from Islington, and while the third Hierarchy novel is probably a little way off, fans are still getting a new story from this awesome author in 2026 with Scion.  An action-packed science fiction thriller, Scion follows a futuristic contract killer who gets into all manner of trouble when she decides to take on a job protecting someone.  Set for release in September 2026, Scion sounds like an interesting change of pace from Islington, and it’s caught my attention.

Plot Synopsis:

Scion is a gripping sci-fi thriller in which a contract killer assigned to protect a scientist from assassination finds himself in the crosshairs.

My name’s Azure. I kill rich idiots for a living. All completely legal, of course, even if it does still make the old-fashioned crowd a bit uncomfortable. Once the ultra-wealthy realised they had a way to live forever—limited resources be damned—there was only ever going to be one real deterrent.

In the end, it’s like a lot of people’s jobs. I have to deal with a ton of boring planning. Inconvenient hours. Some awkward face-to-face interactions. And, like most of us, I’m only clocking on to crawl out from beneath my debts. It can be dirty work sometimes, sure, but someone’s got to do it.

Luckily, my genetic enhancements make me really, really good at it.

This next job, though…strange, that it got thrown my way. I haven’t had to protect a client in years.

Still, what could go wrong?

This new book from James Islington sounds pretty damn awesome, and I’m already very keen to check out Scion later this year.  An exciting and unique science fiction thriller in the hands of the uber talented Islington sounds like an absolute treat, and I have no doubt at all that this will be a very cool and addictive read.  As such, Scion is now one of my most anticipated releases for the second half of 2026, and I cannot wait to get my hands on it.