Top Ten Tuesday – Books I Want to Read Before the End of 2026

On November 10, 2026 By The Unseen LibraryIn List4 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly task that currently resides at The Artsy Reader Girl and features bloggers sharing lists on various book topics. For this latest Top Ten Tuesday the official topic involved listing book characters they wish were real people. However, I am going to do something a little different and instead I am going to list the top ten novels I want to read before the end of 2026.

We are once again nearing the end of another interesting and chaotic year, with only around 50 days left in it. While I am rather keen to see what’s going to happen in 2027, I am very mindful of the big pile of novels from this year currently sitting on my table (and a couple of bookshelves, and several parts of the floor). So, with that in mind, I thought I would pull together a list to inspire me to read these books and knock them out before this year comes to an end.

For this list I have had a look through my many book piles and reading lists to work out which novels I really need to read before the year ends. To focus this on the books that are cluttering up my house or my audiobook storage, I decided to exclude novels that I do not currently have copies of (such The Sword of Rome by Simon Scarrow) or books featured in my latest Book Haul post (I need a chance to actually read them). Using these parameters, I was able to come up with a list of 10 books (with some honourable mentions), that I would really like to read before the year ends. This list includes an interesting range of novels, including some big 2026 releases and some other novels that came in under the radar. All 10 sound like outstanding reads and I desperately hope I have time to read them all.

Honourable Mentions:

Full Circle by Chris Hammer

A cool standalone novel from a major Australian crime fiction author, whose books I always accidently avoid reading.

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The Dungeon Book by Gareth Hanrahan

An entertaining fantasy novel that has been on my radar for a while.

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The Cruise by Naïma Brown

A very interesting nautical revenge thriller with a fun plot behind it.

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Eight Tastes of Treachery by Ryan Rose

The sequel to the excellent 2025 debut, Seven Recipes for Revolution, Eight Tastes of Treachery sounds like an amazing follow-up and I’m keen to continue the series.

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Top Ten List:

Star Wars: Edge of the Abyss by Rebecca Roanhorse

The first book on this list is the Star Wars novel, Edge of the Abyss. The second book in the Reign of the Empire series, Edge of the Abyss serves as a sequel to The Mask of Fear and will continue to focus on tyrannical rule of the Empire. I have had the audiobook version of Edge of the Abyss loaded up on my phone for a while, and it is a key book I want to check out before the end of the year. I honestly might even start trying to listen to it next, especially as this book has an exciting and interesting plot, as well as a new author helming the second entry with the talented Rebecca Roanhorse.

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First Mage on the Moon by Cameron Johnston

After having a blast with some of his other outstanding standalone fantasy novels, such as The Maleficent Nine and The Last Shield, I am keen to check out Cameron Johnston’s 2026 release, First Mage on the Moon. Featuring a fantastic plot about a group of wizards trying to secretly produce a magical rocket that can go to the moon, First Mage on the Moon sounds like an incredible read, and its one I’m very confident I am going to love. I’ve currently got First Mage on the Moon on audiobook, but I might also seek out a paperback copy going forward in case that gives me more opportunity to read this book before the end of 2026.

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One of Us is Guilty by Steve Cavanagh

A key crime fiction novel I still need to read this year is the legal thriller One of Us is Guilty by Steve Cavanagh. The latest book in the author’s Eddie Flynn series, One of Us is Guilty will see the protagonist attempt to unravel another complex case, this time involving a seemingly perfect married couple accused of murder. Sure to be a gripping read that I will power through very quickly, I’m hoping to check this novel out soon as I know I’ll have a lot of fun with it.

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The Malevolent Nine by Sebastien de Castell

One of the more entertaining novels I need to read before the end of 2026 is The Malevolent Nine by Sebastien de Castell. The third and final book in the author’s Malevolent series (which previously featured The Malevolent Seven and The Malevolent Eight), The Malevolent Nine will see nine highly damaged mages make one final attempt to save their world from the combined forces of heaven and hell, in what is sure to be a particularly crazy adventure. I have no doubt this will be a bonkers read, and I will love every second of it.

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Blindside by Michael Mammay

I still haven’t had the chance to read the latest Planetside book by Michael Mammay yet, with the 2026 novel Blindside. The fifth book in this fantastic science fiction thriller series that follows a retired military officer who finds himself drawn into various conspiracies involving giant space corporations, Blindside sounds like another awesome read with an interesting new plot focus. I have had an incredible time with this series so far and I really need to check Blindside out soon, especially as Mammay already has a sixth book in the series planned for next year.

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Upon the Forge of Battle by Anthony Ryan

I’m surprised that I haven’t already read the latest fantasy novel from Anthony Ryan, Upon the Forge of Battle. 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’m very excited to see how this series comes to an end, and I’m hoping to check out Upon the Forge of Battle very soon (assuming I don’t get distracted by Ryan’s other 2026 release, Reapers).

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SHOT by Shelley Burr

Another book I’m hoping to read very soon is the Australian thriller SHOT. Written by rising Australian crime fiction author Shelley Burr, SHOT will see a controversial true crime reporter try to find a different suspect in a notorious case where only one person could have possibly been the killer. I’ve had an outstanding time reading Burr’s previous novels and I’m very keen to see how her latest mystery unfolds, especially as this one has a very compelling plot idea behind it.

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City of Others by Jared Poon

The next entry on this list is a book that I have been meaning to read since it came out in January, City of Others. The debut novel of Jared Poon, City of Others is an awesome sounding urban fantasy that I have been excited about since I first read its plot. Set in Singapore, City of Others promises to be an exciting book and I’m very keen to get through in 2026.

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Duel of Beasts by Boyd and Beth Morrison

One of the main historical fiction novels of the year I still need to read is Duel of Beasts by the fantastic writing team of siblings Boyd and Beth Morrison. The fourth book in the author’s Tales of the Lawless Land series, Duel of Beasts will once again follow the married protagonists of the series as they travel around medieval Europe getting into trouble. This time set in Spain, Duel of Beasts will see the protagonists get dragged into a bitter dispute that forces them to contend with a dangerous enemy, wielding a menagerie of deadly animals as a weapon. I love the sound of Duel of Beast’s awesome plot, and I have no doubt it will be just as epic as the rest of the series.

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Outlaw by Jim Butcher

The final book I need to read before the end of 2026 is the novella Outlaw by Jim Butcher. A fun side addition to Jim Butcher’s long-running Dresden Files series, Outlaw has been on my audiobook list for a while, and I just need to make a little time to check it out. Considering its length, I should be able to knock this one off quickly, and I look forward to seeing how it comes together. A very worthy, if shorter, final entry for this list.

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That’s the end of this week’s Top Ten list. I am happy with how this list turned out as I am extremely keen to read every one of the novels listed above. All of them have an amazing amount of potential and I think several could end up being some of my favourite books of 2026. Make sure to check back in a few weeks to see if I have managed to get around to reading any of them yet. In the meantime, let me know which books you really want to read before the end of 2026 and best of luck getting through them.

Book Haul – 27 September 2026

On September 27, 2026 By The Unseen LibraryIn Book HaulLeave a comment

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.

Top Ten Tuesday – Most Anticipated Books Releasing During the Second Half of 2026 (Mystery, Thriller and Historical Fiction)

On July 1, 2026 By The Unseen LibraryIn Historical Fiction, List, Murder Mystery, Thriller1 Comment

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme that currently resides at The Artsy Reader Girl and features bloggers sharing lists on various book topics. In this list, I continue to examine my most anticipated releases for the second half of 2026. While my other list of the night looked at the best upcoming fantasy and science fiction novels, this list will look at the crime fiction, thrillers, and historical fiction novels that I am most excited for in the next six months.

Just like with my previous article about upcoming fantasy and science fiction books, this was a bit of a difficult list to pull together. Even after I excluded fantasy and science fiction novels from it, there were still a ton of great books I could feature, and I had a hard time deciding what to cut. I was eventually able to whittle it down to a top ten list (with an honourable mentions section), and I am pretty happy with how it turned out. Just like with my fantasy and science fiction list, the following list does a great job of highlighting what books I am most excited for in the second half of the year, so let us see what makes the cut.

Honourable Mentions:

The Unknown by Riley Sager – 4 August 2026

An intriguing and spooky thriller from the always impressive Riley Sager.

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King’s Ransom by Matthew Reilly – 29 September 2026

A new book from one of Australia’s best-known authors, Matthew Reilly, King’s Ransom sounds like a fantastic novel with a layered detective plot behind it. I’m very keen to read this book, although I’m leaving it as an honourable mention for now as I still need to read the initial book in this series, The Detective.

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The French Illusion by John Grisham – 29 September 2026

Another intriguing and intense legal thriller from the legendary John Grisham, this time involving a kidnapping in Paris and the lawyer sent in to help.

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Choppy Water by Jack Heath – 3 November 2026

A fun upcoming novel from one of my favourite Australian authors, Jack Heath. Choppy Water (no cover yet) has a very entertaining plot about a murder on a cruise ship, that I know I’m going to love.

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Top Ten Tuesday:

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

The legal shenanigans of Steve Cavanagh’s Eddie Flynn series look set to continue with the awesome sounding new book, One of Us Is Guilty. In this latest book, conman turned lawyer Eddie Flynn needs to figure out which member of a rich and supposedly perfect couple committed a brutal murder and which one is innocent. I love the sound of this cool new plot from Cavanagh, and I can’t wait to see the author’s next batch of crazy legal antics unfold.

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

The amazing author duo of Boyd and Beth Morrison look set to continue their exciting historical adventures with the upcoming fourth Tales of the Lawless Land novel, Duel of Beasts. Bringing back wandering knight Gerard Fox and his wife Willa as they journey across Europe, Duel of Beasts sees the two protagonists venture through medieval Spain to protect a recently widowed noblewoman from a vengeful relative. However, their latest adventure pits them against a menagerie of deadly beasts that are unleashed to hunt them throughout the countryside. This new book sounds just as fun and over-the-top as the previous Tales of the Lawless Land entries, and I have a feeling this one is going to be particularly entertaining.

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Bad Neighbours by Joanna Jenkins – 4 August 2026

The next book I am excited to check out is Bad Neighbours by Australian author Joanna Jenkins. The author’s third book, Bad Neighbours will follow on from the excellent How to Kill a Client and The Bluff and sees Jenkin’s lawyer protagonist investigate the murder of a vagrant at her seemingly perfect new apartment building. Based on how impressive Jenkin’s last two novels have been, I strongly believe that Bad Neighbours will be one of the stronger Australian crime fiction novels of 2026, and I cannot wait to dive into it.

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

Highly entertaining escapes are sure to occur in the upcoming thriller novel, The Killer’s Mark by M. W. Craven. The next entry in the over-the-top Washington Poe series, The Killer’s Mark will see Craven’s extremely amusing protagonists start their own private detective agency and get drawn into a sinister case filled with dark secrets and conspiracies. I have had such an incredible time reading Craven’s last two books (especially his ultra-twisty novel The Mercy Chair), and I cannot wait to see what intriguing and unusual investigation the author has cooked up for The Killer’s Mark.

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We Chase Shadows by Richard Osman – 15 September 2026

Richard Osman continues his crime fiction domination in 2026 with his next novel, We Chase Shadows. The sequel to his outstanding novel, We Solve Murders (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2024), We Chase Shadows brings back the incredible cast of his previous novel and sets them on another globe-trotting investigation. Set to feature another hilarious and deeply clever mystery with some fantastic characters, We Chase Shadows is going to be amazing and will probably be one of my favourite books of the year.

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Serenity Falls by C. J. Tudor – 15 September 2026

One of the more unusual and potentially scary novels I am looking forward to in the second half of 2026, is the upcoming horror thriller from C. J. Tudor, Serenity Falls. Following a father and daughter who move to the idyllic town of Serenity Falls, this novel looks set to quickly go off the rails, with mysterious deaths and other dark secrets haunting the new inhabitants. Tudor has produced some incredible reads in the past, including her 2024 novel The Gathering, and I’m so excited to see what her next shocking book is going to contain. I did wonder if I should include Serenity Falls on my fantasy and science fiction list, but I have a feeling readers won’t truly know the cause of the dark events in this novel until the very end. As such, I’m leaving Serenity Falls as an entry on this list, and I know I’m going to love it no matter what.

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Adam & Eve by Jeffrey Archer – 6 October 2026

After years of producing heartwarming and entertaining reads, the iconic Jeffrey Archer will finish off his literary career with his final novel, Adam & Eve. A historical epic, Adam & Eve will follow an unlikely couple and their journey towards World War II, with their forbidden relationship impacting the course of the war. Likely filled with compelling historical detail and fantastic character-driven drama, Adam & Eve should be an outstanding final outing from Archer, and I look forward to seeing the entire story unfold.

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Shot by Shelley Burr – 27 October 2026

After finishing off her debut PI Lane Holland series (featuring Wake, Ripper and Vanish), Australian author Shelley Burr has another outstanding upcoming mystery that I’m very excited for, Shot. Set to follow a damaged true-crime vlogger as she attempts to solve a particularly infamous double murder, Shot sounds like an incredible read, and I’m already quite curious about its mystery.

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The Hollow by Michael Connelly – 3 November 2026

Easily one of the books that I am most excited to check out in the second half of 2026 is the new Michael Connelly, The Hollow. Once again focussing on Connelly’s most iconic protagonist, Harry Bosch, The Hollow will see an older Bosch attempt to investigate a historic murder that has haunted him since he was a child. Thanks to its deeply personal and intense plot, The Hollow has a ton of potential, especially considering Connelly’s recent track record, and I have no doubt this is going to be one of the top books of the year.

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The Sword of Rome by Simon Scarrow – 5 November 2026

The final book I want to highlight on this list is the upcoming 25^th entry in the epic Eagles of the Empire series by Simon Scarrow, The Sword of Rome. Following on from the political upheaval of Tyrant of Rome, The Sword of Rome will see the protagonists engage in another deadly mission as they travel to the edges of the Roman Empire to fight back an invading army. However, this mission could have grave consequences from the protagonists, as they must content with dangerous Roman politics and gamble with the lives of their families held hostage back in Rome. The Sword of Rome sounds like it is going to be a particularly awesome entry in one of my favourite series, and I cannot wait to see how it comes together.

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Well, that’s the end of my second list. As you can see, there are some outstanding mysteries, thrillers and historical fiction novels coming out in the next six months which should prove to be amazing reads. Combine that with the fantasy and science fiction releases from my previous list and I know that I am going to have an incredible time in the second half of 2026. While I am waiting to get my hands on these books, why not let me 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 June 4, 2026 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.

Top Ten Tuesday – Book Titles Featuring Ordinal Numbers

On March 12, 2026 By The Unseen LibraryIn List1 Comment

Top Ten Tuesday is a fun weekly task that currently resides at The Artsy Reader Girl and features bloggers creating and sharing lists on various book topics. For this week’s Top Ten Tuesday, participants need to list their favourite books that feature ordinal numbers in the title. As defined by The Artsy Reader Girl topic page, ordinal numbers are numbers that define an item’s place in a series, for example whether it’s the first, second, third, etc, book in the series.

This was a very interesting topic, which I was curious to try out. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find a lot of books I’ve read that specifically used a number in the title to correspond where it sat in the series. As such, I’ve been a little creative with this subject and included some more unusual examples, as well as books where the number in the title corresponds to where the novel sits in the series. I’ve also wasn’t too attached to putting the actual numbers in and have relied on a few number-based words (for example first instead of one, twice instead of two and so on). This produced an interesting list from a bunch of different authors, and I ended up liking the final result. So, let’s see what made the cut.

Honourable Mentions:

Fool Me Twice by Jeff Lindsay

The fun second book in Jeff Lindsay’s Riley Wolfe series. A special shoutout also needs to go the third and fourth entries in the series, Three-Edged Sword and The Fourth Rule.

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The Two-Faced Queen by Nick Martell

The ultra-impressive second entry in Nick Martell’s The Legacy of the Mercenary Kings. I’ve left this as an honourable mention as the name really is a coincidence tied to a character’s title.

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Top Ten List:

First Watch by Dale Lucas

My first choice for this list (pun intended), was the cool fantasy crime novel, First Watch by Dale Lucas. An interesting read with an excellent mystery premise behind it, First Watch was the great first book in a series and a fun inclusion here.

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First and Only by Dan Abnett

Another ‘first’ book in a series that identified itself as such in the title was the cool Warhammer 40,000 novel, First and Only by Dan Abnett. Book one in the iconic Gaunt’s Ghosts series, First and Only was a great opening entry that perfectly introduced the series’ scenario and solider characters. An outstanding first book in one of my favourite Warhammer 40,000 series.

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Fool Me Once Harlan Coben

Another cool novel that proclaims’ where it sits in a series is the outstanding read, Fool Me Once from the always impressive Harlan Coben. Previously a standalone novel, Fool Me Once just became the first book in a series after Coben released a sequel in 2025 with Nobody’s Fool, allowing for its inclusion on this list.

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Patient Zero by Jonathan Maberry

I’m being slightly cheeky by including Patient Zero in this list, as it was technically book one in Jonathan Maberry’s Joe Ledger series. However, I think it’s appropriate because the premise of this novel is a team of elite operators attempting to hunt down and killing the first patient in a man-made zombie plague (i.e. the titular patient zero). In some ways, Patient Zero followed a similar trend as it was the first book in a series that quickly and relentlessly spread out into a massive, long-running franchise. As such, I’m going to include Patient Zero on this list, and it comes very highly recommended for those who like an extreme, science fiction thriller.

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The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman

Moving onto the twos/twice, we have The Man Who Died Twice. The second book in Richard Osman’s exceptional Thursday Murder Club series, The Man Who Died Twice was an excellent novel and a wonderful sequel. A fun and hilarious inclusion for this list.

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The Third Day, The Frost by James Marsden

I just had to include The Third Day, The Frost here, as it is one of my favourite Australian novels. While James Marsden took the name from a Shakespeare line, the title does also correspond with The Third Day, The Frost being the third book in the author’s iconic Tomorrow series. I have a lot of love for this novel, especially as this third entry is easily the best entry in this outstanding young adult war series. A highly recommended read and a very worthy novel to highlight in this post.

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Four Ruined Realms by Mai Corland

The next entry on this list is a little different, as the Four Ruined Realms is the second book in its series. However, as the four decreases from the five in the first book, Five Broken Blades, I think that it counts as an ordinal number as it does indicate to readers where Four Ruined Realms lies in the Broken Blades series. It helps that the third book in the series, Three Shattered Souls (which I still need to read), also negatively changed number to reflect its position in the series, relative to the five in the first book. As such, I think this is an acceptable inclusion for this list, and an interesting loophole I’m happy to exploit.

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The Fifth Elephant by Terry Pratchett

Due to the name of this blog, I generally try to include one of Terry Pratchett’s Discworld novels on my lists, and for this Top Ten Tuesday I’m going to use The Fifth Elephant. A fun and highly entertaining fantasy crime fiction novel set out in an entertaining Transylvania parody setting, The Fifth Elephant is a good inclusion for this list as it is the fifth book in the City Watch sub-series. An excellent book that really expands the setting in some interesting directions for the rest of the Discworld series, The Fifth Elephant fits into this post perfectly, and I’m glad I could highlight Terry Pratchett’s legendary words again.

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The Malevolent Eight by Sebastien de Castell

This next entry is another slightly different inclusion, as The Malevolent Eight is really the second book in a series, rather than the eighth. However, I’m including it here because The Malevolent Eight is the sequel to Sebastien de Castell’s fun, parody-titled dark fantasy novel, The Malevolent Seven, which as you can imagine brought together seven malevolent adventurers for a job. The subsequent title of The Malevolent Eight helps to showcase this book as a sequel to The Malevolent Seven, and as such I think it counts as an ordinal number and a perfect inclusion for this list. A highly recommended read as well, The Malevolent Eight is a ton of fun and I deeply enjoyed getting through it last year.

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Witness 8 by Steve Cavanagh

The final book that I want to include on this list is the highly entertaining legal thriller, Witness 8. A great read on its own, the eight in this title serves to refer to a malevolent witness who is manipulating the events of a trial for her own ends. However, Witness 8 also serves as the eighth book in Steve Cavanagh’s outstanding Eddie Flynn series, so it also works as an ordinal number inclusion. A very cool read whose title works on several levels, Witness 8 is an excellent novel for fans of crazy legal thrillers and the perfect book to end this post on.

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As you can see, I’ve had the pleasure of reading a few cool books with ordinal numbers in their titles over the years. While I didn’t always follow the expected rules for this list, I quite like how it turned out, and I think it nicely shows off some of the unique novels that I have fun reading. I had a great time pulling this latest list together, especially as I needed to think hard about the books I wanted to feature here, and I think the results speak for themselves. Let me know what cool books you’ve enjoyed that had ordinal numbers in the title and make sure to check out some of the above awesome books when you get a chance.

WWW Wednesday – 27 August 2025

On August 27, 2025 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:

Liar’s Game by Jack Beaumont (ebook)

I just started reading the excellent spy thriller, Liar’s Game by rising author Jack Beaumont. A great new entry in a particularly realistic and gripping series, Liar’s Game is already proving to be quite interesting, and I’m keen to see where Beaumont takes his latest story of espionage, betrayal and covert action.

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Star Wars: Sanctuary by Lamar Giles (Audiobook)

I was in the mood for a fun new audiobook so I decided to check out the latest Star Wars release, Sanctuary by Lamar Giles. A tie-in to the Bad Batch animated series, Sanctuary sees the rogue team of clones attempt to pull off several dangerous heists with predictably disastrous results. I have made a little bit of progress on Sanctuary so far, and I’m already really enjoying its cool story and fun take on the Bad Batch characters.

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What did you recently finish reading?

The Bolthole by Peter Papathanasiou (Trade Paperback)

I managed to finish off the excellent Australian crime fiction novel, The Bolthole, this week. The latest book from author Peter Papathanasiou, The Bolthole was a really intriguing novel that I’m glad I got the opportunity to read.

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This Inevitable Ruin by Matt Dinniman (Audiobook)

After a couple of weeks of chain listening, I am now up to date with the incredible Dungeon Crawler Carl series by Matt Dinniman. The seventh and most recently released novel, This Inevitable Ruin, was a particularly epic read, which saw the protagonists engage in an all-out war against multiple armies of alien players. A truly impressive entry in an amazing series, This Inevitable Ruin was so damn good, and I absolutely powered through it.

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Two Kinds of Stranger by Steve Cavanagh (Trade Paperback)

I also managed to read is the awesome new Eddie Flynn novel from Steve Cavanagh, Two Kinds of Stranger. A cool legal thriller with an addictive plot, Two Kinds of Stranger was a very entertaining read that I had an outstanding time with.

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The Final Vow by M. W. Craven (Trade Paperback)

The final book I got through this week was the epic thriller, The Final Vow by M. W. Craven. Featuring an outstanding narrative about a deadly sniper terrorising England, The Final Vow was everything I’d expected after being blown away by The Mercy Chair last year, and this was easily one of the best thrillers of 2025. Review to hopefully follow soon.

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What do you think you’ll read next?

The Stolen by Vikki Petraitis

The next book I am hoping to read is the compelling new Australian crime fiction novel, The Stolen by Vikki Petraitis. The sequel to Petraitis’s previous novel, The Unbelieved, The Stolen once again takes the reader back to a troubled small town, infected with systemic issues. The Stolen looks set to be another deep and moving read, and I am looking forward to diving into it this week.

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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 – Books with Occupations in the Title

On August 26, 2025 By The Unseen LibraryIn List5 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature that currently resides at The Artsy Reader Girl and features bloggers sharing lists on various book topics. For this week’s Top Ten Tuesday, participants get a freebie option, allowing them to post whatever they want. I’m going to use this freebie to jump ahead and do next week’s topic, mainly because I’m hoping to highlight upcoming books for Spring 2025 next Tuesday. As such, this week I will be listing my favourite books that have occupations in the title.

This was an interesting list topic, and I always enjoy Top Ten Tuesday tasks where I can dive into the titles of the various unique books I have had the pleasure of reading over the years. Listing occupations featured in titles was a cool choice, and there are a surprising number of books out there that feature job titles or professions in their names. I ended up with a substantial list of potential inclusions for this week’s Top Ten Tuesday, so I made sure to restrict entries to one book from each author. I also tried to show the most varied list of occupations I could, as I didn’t want my list to get bogged down in the various uses of solider or miliary ranks. I think my resulting list had a great combination of various occupations used in book titles, and it liked the intriguing combination of novels that emerged.

Honourable Mentions:

The Recruiter by Gregg Podolksi

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The No.1 Lawyer by James Patterson and Nancy Allen

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The Interpreter by Brooke Robinson

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The Maid by Nita Prose

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Top Ten Tuesday:

Usagi Yojimbo: Volume 30: Thieves and Spies by Stan Sakai

A classic entry from one of my favourite comic series. While early volumes The Ronin and Samurai would have also been excellent choices for this list, I’m instead going with the 30^th volume, Thieves and Spies, which features two separate occupations in the title.

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The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson

An excellent recent fantasy novel that follows a scholar character as she tries to uncover a dark conspiracy amongst a complex and deadly tournament. Scholar was a great occupation to have in the title, and I deeply enjoyed this epic fantasy read.

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Mr Einstein’s Secretary by Matthew Reilly

A deeply captivating historical fiction novel that follows a talented secretary who finds herself involved in multiple world events in the lead up to World War II.

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The Judge’s List by John Grisham

A judge is an excellent occupation to feature on this list, especially as this judge has some very dark secrets.

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Guards! Guards! by Terry Pratchett

A classic novel from the legendary Terry Pratchett that follows the humble city guard in a fantasy city as they come face to face with a magical murder. This is an incredible novel and a great choice for this list. Other books from Pratchett such as Men at Arms or Reaper Man might have fit in here nicely as well, but Guards! Guards! was my first choice for this list, and I’m glad I get to highlight it again.

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The Chaos Agent by Mark Greaney

I suppose that it was inevitable that a book in one of my favourite, long-running spy thriller series would feature “agent” in one of its titles, which is a great way to describe the occupation of the protagonist. This particular novel from Greaney was a great addition to the Gray Man series, and readers are in for a wild time with its cool plot and compelling action.

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Priest of Bones by Peter McLean

An impressive and awesome fantasy novel that follows returning soldiers determined to take over their home city’s underworld. While the “priest” in this title is a little more criminal you would usually associate with the occupation, it still works to make this book a worthy entry to this list.

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The Devil’s Advocate by Steve Cavanagh

A title taken from a classic saying, advocate works as an occupation for the sake of this list, and I was pleased to feature a fun legal thriller from Steve Cavanagh.

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The Queen’s Captain by Peter Watt

I had a few novels with the occupation of “captain” in the title, but I decided to go with The Queen’s Captain by Australian author Peter Watt. While captain here refers to a military rank, the word also works to describe a general occupation, so I think it works well for this list.

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Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb

The final novel I want to feature on this list is Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb. There were several amazing books I could have used here that featured the nefarious occupation of “assassin” in the title, but I decided to go with this beloved fantasy novel, which I deeply enjoyed reading years ago. Following a young bastard prince who finds a new, secret occupation as a court assassin, Assassin’s Apprentice is true classic and it rounds out this list perfectly.

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Well, that’s the end of this list. I had fun listing my top books with occupations in the titles, and I’m happy with how the above list turned out, especially as there is an interesting collection of books there. All the above come highly recommended, and I hope everyone else enjoys this topic when they look over it next week.

WWW Wednesday – 20 August 2025

On August 20, 2025 By The Unseen LibraryIn WWW Wednesday1 Comment

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

So, let’s get to it.

What are you currently reading:

The Bolthole by Peter Papathanasiou (Trade Paperback)

I’m still going with the Australian crime fiction novel, The Bolthole, as I didn’t get a lot of reading time this week. The latest book from author Peter Papathanasiou, The Bolthole is set on Kangaroo Island and focusses on the disappearance of a rich man, while also featuring a battle for the island’s identity. The Bolthole is so far proving to be a really intriguing novel and I’m hoping to find some time in the next few days to finish it off.

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This Inevitable Ruin by Matt Dinniman (Audiobook)

While I didn’t have a lot of physical reading time this week, I did get the chance to listen to get through a lot of audiobooks, so I have continued on with the incredible Dungeon Crawler Carl series by Matt Dinniman. I’ve just started to listen to the seventh and most recently released novel, This Inevitable Ruin, which sees the protagonists fight an all-out war against multiple armies of alien players in an event known as Faction Wars. I have been very excited to see Faction Wars for several books now and I cannot wait to see just how crazy this new novel gets. I’m currently making some good progress on This Inevitable Ruin, but due to its length I will probably still be listening to it next week. This will likely be one of the most awesome audiobooks I enjoy this year, and I cannot wait to see how everything unfolds, especially as there is so much potential for tragedy and mayhem.

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What did you recently finish reading?

The Eye of the Bedlam Bride by Matt Dinniman (Audiobook)

Due to how obsessed I am with Matt Dinniman’s Dungeon Crawler Carl series, I powered through the sixth book in the series, The Eye of the Bedlam Bride this week. A very awesome entry in the larger series, The Eye of the Bedlam Bride featured a cool new dungeon floor with an interesting monster card concept behind it, which allowed Dinniman to continue his unique story in some interesting ways. This actually proved to be one of the more intense and complex Dungeon Crawler Carl novels, and I had such an epic time getting through it.

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What do you think you’ll read next?

The Final Vow by M. W. Craven

The next book I am going to try and read is the epic new thriller, The Final Vow by M. W. Craven. A very awesome sounding novel that will see Craven’s protagonist face off against a deadly sniper terrorising England, The Final Vow has a ton of potential, and I am very excited to see how the story unfolds, especially after being enthralled by The Mercy Chair last year. I have a strong feeling that The Final Vow is going to be one of the top books of 2025, and I am extremely excited to see how it unfolds.

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Two Kinds of Stranger by Steve Cavanagh

I am also hoping to read is the awesome upcoming Eddie Flynn novel from Steve Cavanagh, Two Kinds of Stranger in the next week. A cool legal thriller with an intriguing plot idea behind it, I have no doubt Two Kinds of Stranger is going to be a very entertaining read, and I look forward to unwinding its awesome story.

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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 – 4 August 2025

On August 4, 2025 By The Unseen LibraryIn Book HaulLeave a comment

I’ve had an excellent couple of weeks for books, as I was lucky enough to receive several incredible and amazing new novels from local publishers and Netgalley. 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.

Two Kinds of Stranger by Steve Cavanagh

The first awesome new book I recently received is the new Steve Cavanagh novel, Two Kinds of Stranger. An excellent legal thriller from Cavanagh that will see his former conman protagonist attempt to save an innocent client from a terrible set of circumstances, Two Kinds of Stranger sounds very cool and I am hoping to read it soon.

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The Final Vow by M. W. Craven

Next, we have the exceptional novel from M. W. Craven, The Final Vow. Part of his Washington Poe series, The Final Vow will see Craven’s intense protagonist attempt to stop a deadly sniper terrorizing the UK. I love the sound of this book, and I am very excited to read it, especially after how impressive the previous entry in the series, The Mercy Chair, turned out last year. I honestly believe that The Final Vow is going to end up being one of the top thrillers of 2025 and I cannot wait to dive into it.

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Templar Traitor by Angus Donald

I was very happy to have received a copy of the excellent historical fiction novel, Templar Traitor, this week, especially as I really enjoyed author Angus Donald’s first book many years ago. This latest novel features a very interesting plot about an English knight who joins the Mongol army as it invaded Europe. I am actually reading Templar Traitor now and it is proving to be a very impressive read with a great story behind it.

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The Detective by Matthew Reilly

The always outstanding Matthew Reilly dives into the crime fiction genre this year with The Detective. The Detective will see a new investigator protagonist dive into a long-running case of missing girls and murdered detectives in the American South. The Detective sounds like a particularly awesome read and I am really intrigued to see how this cool novel unfolds.

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High Rise by Gabriel Bergmoser

I am very excited for this next book, High Rise by Australian author Gabriel Bergmoser, which honestly sounds so damn awesome. Featuring a very cool plot about a rogue cop who finds himself being hunted by an entire city’s underworld in his daughter’s apartment building, High Rise has the potential to be one of the most thrilling Australian novels of 2025, and I cannot wait to dive into it.

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Seed by Bri Lee

A compelling thriller about two people stuck out in an isolated seed vault, Seed sounds really good and could be quite an interesting read.

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Blood Like Mine by Stuart Neville

A gritty and layered novel from a very highly regarded thriller author.

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Dead Line by Marc Cameron

An outstanding new novel from Marc Cameron set in Alaska that has a very intriguing plot synopsis behind it.

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Five Found Dead by Sulari Gentill

The final book I recently received is the fantastic murder mystery novel Five Found Dead by Australian author Sulari Gentill. An interesting take on the classic train-based whodunnit, Five Found Dead sounds like quite a compelling read, and I am curious to see what sort of mystery Gentill has planned. I am hoping to start reading Five Found Dead in the next week or so, and it should prove to be a pretty amazing mystery.

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WWW Wednesday – 30 July 2025

On July 31, 2025 By The Unseen LibraryIn WWW WednesdayLeave a comment

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:

Templar Traitor by Angus Donald (ebook)

I was in the mood for some compelling historical fiction this week, so I decided to start reading the interesting novel Templar Traitor by Angus Donald. Following the life of a former Templar Knight who ends up joining a rampaging Mongol horde, Templar Traitor was a really cool sounding book that I’m glad I decided to check out. I’ve made a little progress with this book so far and I’m hoping to finish it off in the next week.

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The Gate of the Feral Gods by Matt Dinniman (Audiobook)

After having so much damn fun with the previous entries in the Dungeon Crawler Carl series, including Dungeon Crawler Carl and Carl’s Doomsday Scenario, I just had to start listening to the fourth book, The Gate of the Feral Gods. Another very entertaining entry in the series, The Gate of the Feral Gods sees Carl and Princess Donut forced to navigate a whole new elaborate level of the dungeon, while trying to survive the many enemies coming for them. I am having a blast with this book so far, and I cannot wait to see where this crazy series goes next.

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What did you recently finish reading?

No Body No Crime by Tess Sharpe (ebook)

A very impressive and captivating thriller from the always amazing Tess Sharpe. I’m hoping to get a review up for this one soon.

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The Dungeon Anarchist’s Cookbook by Matt Dinniman (Audiobook)

The third book in the Dungeon Crawler Carl series I have been talking up for the last few weeks. This entry in the series was a truly epic and outstanding read I couldn’t get enough of.

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What do you think you’ll read next?

Two Kinds of Stranger by Steve Cavanagh

The next book I am hoping to read is the awesome upcoming Eddie Flynn novel from Steve Cavanagh, Two Kinds of Stranger. A cool legal thriller with an intriguing plot idea behind it, I have no doubt Two Kinds of Stranger is going to be a very entertaining read, and I look forward to unwinding its awesome story.

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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.