Tag: The Book That Broke the World

Top Ten Tuesday – My Favourite Sequels of 2024

On By The Unseen LibraryIn List8 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme that currently resides at The Artsy Reader Girl and features bloggers sharing lists on various book topics.  The official topic for this week’s Top Ten Tuesday required participants to list their most anticipated books for Summer (Winter for the Northern Hemisphere).  However, as I have already done this list a few weeks ago, I decided to continue with my annual end-of-year lists that I have been working on the last few weeks.  I have already covered my favourite new-to-me authors I read in 2024, as well as the best pre-2024 novels I read this year, but in this week’s list I am going to highlight the best sequels I read in 2024.  This is a relatively new topic that I only started exploring in 2023, however I had fun doing it last year so decided to replicate it again now.

Everyone loves a good sequel, and nearly every novelist and author has written some form of sequel in their career.  I’m sure we can all name some awesome books that requires some form of continuation and each year the talented authors we follow produce interesting sequel novels that cleverly expand from outstanding first novels.  I read a ton of sequels every year and I felt that it was about time that I highlighted the very best sequels of the year in a specific post.

To complete this list, I pulled together the best sequels released in 2024 that I had the pleasure of reading.  I primarily focused on second novels in a series that were released this year, especially those that I felt were outstanding follow ups to an impressive first novel and which followed the same characters or storylines.  For my top ten list, I prioritised those books I considered to be the best sequel, so while I might have enjoyed a specific novel more overall, if a book was a better sequel, it made the cut instead.  I think the resulting top ten list turned out pretty well as a result, and definitely highlights my favourite sequels released in 2024.

Honourable Mentions:

The Murder Inn by James Patterson and Candice Fox

The superstar team of James Patterson and Australian author Candice Fox had a great time returning to the unusual group of protagonists living at The Inn by the Sea, with their entertaining thriller, The Murder Inn.  The sequel to their previous novel, The Inn, The Murder Inn is a highly entertaining read and a great novel for fans of both these authors.

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The Heart of the World by Amie Kaufman

A fast-paced and emotionally charged young adult fantasy novel from Australian author Amie Kaufman that finishes the story started in The Isles of the Gods.

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The Wrong Hands by Mark Billingham

The highly entertaining novel, The Wrong Hands, was a very fun book that followed on from Billingham’s first DS Declan Miller book, The Last Dance.

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Top Ten Tuesday:

Warhammer 40,000: Above and Beyond by Denny Flowers

The first book on this list is one of my favourite sequels of 2024, Above and Beyond by Denny Flowers.  The follow-up to Flowers’ previous awesome Warhammer 40,000 novel, Outgunned, Above and Beyond reunites two of Flower’s complex and traumatised protagonists, a newly cynical propaganda expert and a broken war hero, and throws them into hell.  Taking them into another adventure laden with intrigue, lies and manipulation, Above and Beyond was Flowers’ best novel yet, and I loved how effectively it continued the epic story from Outgunned.

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Nobody’s Hero by M. W. Craven

M. W. Craven had a brilliant year in 2024, as not only did he release the exceptional and dark murder mystery, The Mercy Chair, but he also presented the fantastic novel, Nobody’s Hero. A sequel to his 2023 novel, Fearless, Nobody’s Hero is a beautifully over-the-top thriller loaded with brutal action and so much fun. Providing a very interesting continuation to several storylines started in Fearless while also standing on its on with its excessive plot, Nobody’s Hero is a great book and a wonderful sequel.

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War Cry by Ian Ross

Ian Ross continued his exciting historical adventures this year with War Cry, the fantastic follow-up to his captivating read, Battle Song.  Battle Song, one of my favourite books of 2023, introduced readers to a young squire who participated into one of England’s more intriguing historical civil wars, and featured an exceptionally addictive story.  Ross continued the series in a big way with his sequel, War Cry, that dragged his protagonist, now a knight, into the next stage of war, and all the tragedy that contains.  I had a great time with this sequel, and it really moved the overarching story along in a big way.  Special mention also needs to go to the third book in the series King’s Enemy, that also came out this year, and which ended the series in an excellent manner.

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The Girl in Question by Tess Sharpe

Back in 2021 I had the very great pleasure of reading the particularly intense and clever young adult thriller, The Girls I’ve Been by Tess Sharpe, that followed a teenage former con artist caught up in a bank robbery.  I really loved The Girls I’ve Been, and I was very happy that Sharpe released a sequel this year in The Girl in Question.  Another captivating and exciting read that I really got hooked on, especially with its distinctive style and damaged teenage protagonists, The Girl in Question was an outstanding sequel that comes highly recommended.

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Deep Black by Miles Cameron

The most recent sequel I have picked up was Deep Black by Miles Cameron, which contains a massive and complex science fiction adventure.  The sequel to his previous novel, Artifact Space, Deep Black continues the great narrative of exploration and interstellar mystery, as the crew of a massive human trading vessel attempts to learn more about a series attacks trying to destroy it.  Cameron’s inventiveness and great character work is on full display in Deep Black, and I loved how he continued the outstanding story started in Artifact Space.

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Play of Shadows by Sebastien de Castell

I’m slightly cheating with the next entry on this list, Play of Shadows, as it is technically the first book in de Castell’s new Court of Shadows series.  However, at the same time Play of Shadows is also a loosely connected sequel to de Castell’s previous novel, Crucible of Chaos, which was released in advance of Play of Shadows as a prequel.  As such, I am counting Play of Shadows as a sequel, and frankly the book was so good I want to highlight it as many times as I can in the coming weeks.  An entertaining, compelling and unique fantasy novel, Play of Shadows saw a young actor unravel an ancient conspiracy infecting his city when he gains the ability to manifest the spirt of a notorious historical villain while on the stage.  A brilliant, witty and highly addictive read, Play of Shadows really impressed me, and I am so very eager to see how this series continues in the future.

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Dark Arena by Jack Beaumont

Another outstanding sequel I was happy to read this year was the intricate spy thriller Dark Arena by Jack Beaumont.  A particularly authentic spy novel set in Paris, Dark Arena serves as a sequel the Beaumont’s debut, The Frenchman (one of my favourite debut novels of 2021), and follows members of France’s intelligence community as they attempt to unravel a deadly plot impacting all of Europe.  A gripping read that served as a great continuation to The Frenchman, Dark Arena is an amazing sequel that is worth checking out.

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Warhammer 40,000: Da Big Dakka by Mike Brooks

I had a lot of fun with Warhammer fiction in 2024, and that includes the outstanding Da Big Dakka by Mike Brooks.  The direct sequel to Brooks’ hilarious Warhammer 40,000 novel, Brutal Kunnin, Da Big Dakka showcases the continued adventure of Brooks’ ork protagonist as he brings war, fighting and brutal fun to all corners of the galaxy.  This second book pits the orks against a tricky new foe in the most dangerous city in the universe, and the result is as hectic and bloody as you would expect.  Pure chaotic fun that any fan of Warhammer 40,000 fiction can enjoy.

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The Book That Broke the World by Mark Lawrence

Another highly complex and powerful fantasy novel from the always impressive Mark Lawrence, The Book That Broke the World is a great follow-up to the 2023 novel, The Book That Wouldn’t Burn.  Continuing the elaborate narrative from the first book, while also expanding out the twists, turns and intricate details, The Book That Broke the World was a very smart novel that serves as a very satisfying sequel to The Book That Wouldn’t Burn and is very much worth checking out.

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Sentinel by Mark Greaney

The final sequel I want to highlight on this list is the action-packed novel, Sentinel.  The follow-up to the action-thriller, Armored, Sentinel throws the protagonist of the first book into an elaborate coup in Africa, with his family’s safety also at risk.  A highly exciting and compelling novel, loaded with impressive action and an elaborate narrative, Sentinel was an awesome sequel and I look forward to seeing how Greaney will continue this series in the future.

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Well, that’s it for this list.  As you can see, I have read several outstanding sequels this year and had a wonderful time doing so.  Every entry above was an epic novel, and I loved how they each successfully continued impressive story threads started in the previous novel.  All these books come highly recommended, and I cannot wait to see how these talented authors add to their already awesome series in the future.

Quick Review – The Book That Broke the World by Mark Lawrence

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Fantasy, Quick Review6 Comments

Publisher: Harper Voyager (Trade Paperback – 9 April 2024)

Series: The Library Trilogy – Book Two

Length: 369 pages

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

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The master of elaborate fantasy fiction continues his outstanding and intricate Library trilogy with the captivating novel, The Book That Broke the World.

Mark Lawrence is an exceptional author who has been wowing fantasy and science fiction fans since 2011 with impressive reads that borrow heavily from both genres.  Some of his better-known series include the Broken Empire novels, the Book of the Ancestor trilogy and The Book of the Ice trilogy (which includes The Girl and the Stars and The Girl and the Mountain).  His current body of work, the Library trilogy, might be his most ambitious series yet as he envisions a complex and intense story of hope, discovery and secrets within an impossible library that bends time, reality and the lives of its many alien inhabitants.  The first book in the series, The Book That Wouldn’t Burn, was an epic read that told the story of Evar and Livira, two teenagers brought to the library in very different circumstances, who work to uncover its many mysteries.  This was such a great read, especially as Lawrence loaded in a particularly clever central twist that blew my mind, and The Book That Wouldn’t Burn ended up being one of my favourite books of 2023.  As such, the sequel, The Book That Broke the World, was one of my most anticipated reads for 2024, and it ended being a very interesting second entry in this amazing series.


Plot Synopsis:

We fight for the people we love. We fight for the ideas we want to be true.

Evar and Livira stand side by side and yet far beyond each other’s reach. Evar is forced to flee the library, driven before an implacable foe. Livira, trapped in a ghost world, has to recover her book if she’s to return to her life. While Evar’s journey leads him outside into the vastness of a world he’s never seen, Livira’s destination lies deep inside her own writing, where she must wrestle with her stories in order to reclaim the volume in which they were written.

And all the while, the library quietly weaves thread to thread, bringing the scattered elements of Livira’s old life – friends and foe alike – back together beneath new skies.

Long ago, a lie was told, and with the passing years it has grown and spread, a small push leading to a chain of desperate consequences. Now, as one edifice topples into the next with ever-growing violence, it threatens to break the world. The secret war that defines the library has chosen its champions and set them on the board. The time has come when they must fight for what they believe, or lose everything.

The Library Trilogy is about many things: adventure, discovery, and romance, but it’s also a love letter to books and the places where they live. The focus is on one vast and timeless library, but the love expands to encompass smaller more personal collections, and bookshops of all shades too.


Lawrence had to achieve a lot in this sequel, as he needed provided a compelling follow-up to his previous novel while also advancing the story in a clever and unique manner.  I felt that he succeeded on all fronts, as The Book That Broke the World proved to be just as complex, intense and addictive as the first book in the series.  Set in the immediate aftermath of the shocking events of The Book That Wouldn’t Burn, The Book That Broke the World continues to follow star-crossed lovers Evar and Livira as they to try and find each other despite the insurmountable odds of existing in different times and being born different species who are constantly at war with each other.  This new novel once again sees them parted, primarily due to one of the characters being a ghostly presence in the other protagonists’ time, and they soon end up discovering new periods of history within the library as war, strife and a new dangerous race upset the balance of events.  There is a certain feeling of tragedy and frustration for much of Evar and Livira’s narrative, as the two remain separated from each other, and you really get invested in their story, as well as the lives of their associated supporting characters, especially as the blending of timelines leads to some new interactions.

While it was great to continue to follow the adventure of the same main characters from the first book, the thing that made The Book That Broke the World’s narrative really stand out was the inclusion of new point-of-view protagonists whose additional narrative supported the unique story of Evar and Livira.  The first of these, Arpix, was a major secondary character in The Book That Wouldn’t Burn, and his use as a perspective protagonist here was very effective, especially as it allowed for a more measured view of some of the crazy events occurring throughout the book.  Arpix was a great character in this sequel, and I especially enjoyed seeing him interact with Evar and his family as Lawrence throws him into a delightful romance narrative with a very unlikely but entertaining figure.

However, it was the other additional point-of-view character who really turned The Book That Broke the World into something special, as Lawrence introduced a seemingly new protagonist, Celcha, a slave in the city surrounding the library, who finds herself drawn to its secrets thanks to the machinations of her unusual brother and the ghosts that visit him.  A member of an alien species who came from a different period than Evar and Livira, Celcha has an intriguing narrative within The Book That Broke the World, as she tries to escape the manipulations of other visitors from the library while also trying to learn more about her species.  Celcha’s narrative is at first separated from the rest of the storylines, and it is initially unclear what role it is going to play in the larger plot.  However, the way that Lawrence ends up tying it together with the rest of the plot is very clever, especially as he utilises the uncertainty of when Celcha’s story fits into the overarching timeframe of the narrative to tie up many mysteries from the first book while weaving in a complex new player.  These intriguing, character driven arcs come together extremely well by the end of the story, and you will be amazed at how well Lawrence’s many complex puzzle pieces fit together by the end for an addictive and memorable narrative.

As with most of Lawrence’s writing, The Book That Broke the World is a very complex and lore-heavy book that requires readers to really pay attention to the many, many details loaded into the overall text of the plot.  This results in a very elaborate narrative as Lawrence is constantly working in compelling details about his intriguing universe while also layering down constant hints and plot points that will become relevant later for twists and other reveals.  Readers really get caught up in the majesty of the massive setting of the Library trilogy, and I really appreciated how Lawrence was capable of blending fantasy elements with more science fiction focused occurrences, like advanced technology and time travel.  I also loved how well the author used the various character perspectives to further enhance the scope of the narrative and the setting, and you must appreciate the mystery and scope of his ambitious setting and the elaborate narrative around it, especially when it comes to the many fascinating side characters and protagonists he works in the plot.

While this proves to be a great book to read, it isn’t always the easiest novel to follow, as Lawrence throws in a lot of high-concept moments and plot points that sometimes seem a little too complicated for the narrative’s own good.  Readers are also required to remember a lot of key details from The Book That Wouldn’t Burn to fully appreciate the scope and cleverness of this second entry in the series.  While I was able to recall most of the details of the first book (the recap at the front was quite helpful), I can imagine some readers might have a little more difficulty, especially if there is a big gap between reads in the series.  Despite that, I think it would be possible to jump into the Library series from this second novel, but you really would be better off reading The Book That Wouldn’t Burn first as it allows you to become much more invested in the various compelling character arcs and emotionally laden storylines.

Mark Lawrence continues to showcase his inventive and unique fantasy style with The Book That Broke the World.  Providing readers with a complex and compelling sequel to his first Library novel, The Book That Broke the World continues the intense narrative in some fantastic directions, while constantly working to make the plot even more intricate and powerful.  An outstanding piece of fantasy fiction that will keep you guessing to the end, The Book That Broke the World comes highly recommended, and I look forward to the fast-approaching final entry in the series that is out in a few months’ time.

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Book Haul – 20 May 2024

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I have been having another excellent couple of weeks for books, and 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.

The Book That Broke the World by Mark Lawrence

The Book That Broke the World Cover

The first recently received book I want to highlight is The Book That Broke the World by Mark Lawrence.  The sequel to The Book That Wouldn’t Burn, one of my favourite novels of 2023, The Book That Broke the World was an epic and complex fantasy novel that followed several complex protagonists in an impossible library.  I have already read The Book That Broke the World, and it proved to be an exceptional novel that draws you in with its complicated and elaborate narrative. 

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Crucible of Chaos by Sebastien De Castell

Crucible of Chaos Cover

The next book that I want to highlight is the audiobook version of Crucible of Chaos by Sebastien De Castell.  I picked up this audiobook recently due to it being a prequel to De Castell’s other 2024 novel, A Play of Shadows.  Set in the same series but featuring a different protagonist, Crucible of Chaos features a dark and addictive mystery as a travelling magistrate attempts to determine the source of a strange cult that has taken root in an isolated monastery.  I just started reading Crucible of Chaos today and I am loving it’s outstanding and highly entertaining story.

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Eruption by Michael Crichton and James Patterson

Eruption Cover

I was very happy to receive a copy of the upcoming epic thriller Eruption. Written by the superstar team of the late Michael Crichton and the master of thriller fiction James Patterson, Eruption promises to be one of the hottest thrillers of 2024 and I cannot wait to dive into it.

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Camino Ghosts by John Grisham

Camino Ghosts Cover

Another excellent thriller I recently got my hands on was the new John Grisham novel, Camino Ghosts.  An intriguing legal thriller that serves as a sequel to some of Grisham most entertaining reads, Camino Ghosts promises to be a great novel that I cannot wait to dive into.

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The Youngest Son by John Byrnes

The Youngest Son Cover

I was also very happy to receive a copy of the Australian historical fiction novel, The Youngest Son by John Byrnes.  Starting in the 1920’s, The Youngest Son will follow the lives of three different children as they attempt to survive Sydney’s seedy underbelly.  I am very excited to check this novel out, especially after enjoying Byrne’s debut novel, Headland, last year.

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Dragon Rider by Taran Matharu

Dragon Rider Cover

An exciting fantasy novel set around a rebelling prince who steals a dragon egg, Dragon Rider sounds like an excellent novel, and I cannot wait to check it out.  A shoutout as well to the awesome cover, it looks very cool

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Death in the Air by Ram Murali

Death in the Air Cover

I was very interested by one of the most recent books I received, Death in the Air.  A fun and whimsical Indian murder mystery with colonial overtones, Death in the Air sounds like an amazing book and I look forward to reading author Ram Murali’s debut.

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Seeker by Samuel Griffin

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A captivating fantasy debut, Seeker will follow a young slave who is forcibly recruited into an order dedicated to sensing and defeating ancient leviathans.  A very cool book that I hope I get to read soon.

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Song of the Samurai by C. A. Parker

Song of the Samurai Cover

The final book I recently received was the compelling and complex historical fiction novel, Song of the Samurai.  An intriguing novel that will follow a disgraced samurai and musician as he is forced to embark on a dangerous pilgrimage.  I love the sound of this unique debut and I cannot wait to dive into it.

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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 – 15 May 2024

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

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

So, let’s get to it.

What are you currently reading:

The Girl in Question by Tess Sharpe (Trade Paperback)

The Girl in Question Cover

I just started reading the fantastic young adult thriller The Girl in Question by Tess Sharpe.  The sequel to the impressive novel, The Girls I’ve Been, The Girl in Question follows a teenage former con artist and her friends as they go up against gangsters and corrupt FBI agents trying to kill them.  I haven’t gotten too far into The Girl in Question yet, but it is shaping up to be a particularly awesome read.

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Warhammer 40,000: Deathworlder by Victoria Hayward (Audiobook)

Warhammer 40,000 - Deathworlder Cover

I didn’t get as much audiobook listening time as I had hoped this week, so I am still listening to the awesome Warhammer 40,000 novel, Deathworlder.  The debut novel from Victoria Hayward, Deathworlder is a dark and exciting book that follows the best jungle fighters in the galaxy as they are forced to traverse a world slowly being devoured by monstrous aliens. Deathworlder is proving to be a particularly impressive piece of Warhammer 40,000 fiction and I should hopefully finish it off in the next day or so.

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What did you recently finish reading?

The Book That Broke the World by Mark Lawrence (Trade Paperback)

The Book That Broke the World Cover

I managed to finish off the complex science fiction/fantasy hybrid The Book That Broke the World by Mark Lawrence this week.  The sequel to one of my favourite books of 2023, The Book that Wouldn’t Burn, The Book That Broke the World follows several intriguing characters lost in the intricacies of a massive and chaotic library.  An excellent and unique read, I will try to get a review up for it soon.

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What do you think you’ll read next?

Think Twice by Harlan Coben

Think Twice Cover

The next book I am thinking about reading is the intriguing thriller Think Twice by Harlan Coben.  A compelling novel that will see one of Coben’s recurring protagonists investigate recent murders apparently committed by his long-dead friend, Think Twice sounds really cool and I look forward to checking 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 – 8 May 2024

On By The Unseen LibraryIn WWW WednesdayLeave a comment

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

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

So, let’s get to it.

What are you currently reading:

The Book That Broke the World by Mark Lawrence (Trade Paperback)

The Book That Broke the World Cover

I started reading the impressive novel, The Book That Broke the World by Mark Lawrence this week.  The sequel to one of my favourite books of 2023, The Book that Wouldn’t Burn, The Book That Broke the World follows several intriguing characters lost in the intricacies of a massive and chaotic library.  Cleverly combining fantasy and science fiction elements, The Book That Broke the World is a deeply compelling novel, and I am having an outstanding time reading it.

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Warhammer 40,000: Deathworlder by Victoria Hayward (Audiobook)

Warhammer 40,000 - Deathworlder Cover

I literally just started listening to the awesome Warhammer 40,000 novel, Deathworlder.  The debut novel from Victoria Hayward, Deathworlder is a dark and exciting book that follows the best jungle fighters in the galaxy as they are forced to traverse a world slowly being devoured by monstrous aliens.  I have barely made any progress on Deathworlder but I have no doubt this is going to be an amazing listen.

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What did you recently finish reading?

The Silverblood Promise by James Logan (Trade Paperback)

The Silverblood Promise Cover

I managed to power through the epic fantasy novel The Silverblood Promise by James Logan this week.  The debut novel of Logan, The Silverblood Promise was a very awesome book that had me hooked the entire way through.  Review to follow very soon.

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Alien Clay by Adrian Tchaikovsky (Audiobook)

Alien Clay Cover

A twisty and complex science fiction novel that follows a group of convicts on an alien planet as they a forced to contend with both vicious prison guards and the planet’s unique biology.

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The No.1 Lawyer by James Patterson and Nancy Allen (Trade Paperback)

The No.1 Lawyer Cover

I was able to also get through the fantastic legal thriller, The No.1 Lawyer this week.  An addictive and fast-paced book, this was a very cool read and one I had a lot of fun with.

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Warhammer 40,000: Death or Glory by Sandy Mitchell (Audiobook)

Death or Glory Cover

I was in the mood for something I knew I would love so I listened to the fantastic Warhammer 40,000 audiobook, Death or Glory.  The fourth book in the always entertaining Ciaphas Cain series, Death or Glory was an excellent audiobook that I will also be reviewing very soon.

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What do you think you’ll read next?

Death on the Tiber by Lindsey Davis

Death on the Tiber Cover

While I have a few potential books to read next, I think I will probably dive into the new Lindsey Davis novel, Death on the Tiber.  The latest book in Davis’ long-running Flavia Albia historical murder mystery series, Death on the Tiber will see the series protagonist investigate another complex murder in ancient Rome, this time while dealing with demons from her past.  I really love this amazing series and I have no doubt I will have a wonderful time reading Death on the Tiber.

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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 on my Autumn 2024 To-Be-Read (TBR) List

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Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme that currently resides at The Artsy Reader Girl and features bloggers sharing lists on various book topics.  The official Top Ten Tuesday topic for this week required participants to list the most unusual topics that they have looked up online as a result of reading a book, which while interesting, wasn’t something I felt I could contribute to.  However, as this is the first Tuesday of March, I thought this would be a good opportunity to do my quarterly post about the best upcoming books to read in Autumn (Spring for folks in the Northern Hemisphere).  This is a regular post I do at the start of each season, and I always love to highlight some of the most impressive sounding novels coming out in the next three months.

For this list, I have come up with the ten books coming out between 1 March 2024 and 31 May 2024 that I am most excited for.  There are quite a few very cool novels set for release in the next few months that I am looking forward to, including some of my most anticipated books of the year (as well as my most anticipated fantasy/science fiction books of the year).  Due to how impressive some of these upcoming books are, it took me a little while to finalise my list, but I was eventually able to whittle it down into a Top Ten list (with a few honourable mentions).  I have primarily used the Australian publication dates to reflect when I will be able to get these awesome novels, and these might be somewhat different to the rest of the world.  I have previously discussed a number of these books before in prior Waiting on Wednesday articles and I think all of them will turn out to be incredible reads.  I am really excited for the next three months as quite a few up these upcoming reads have the potential to be some of my favourite books of 2024.

Honourable Mentions:

White Ash Ridge by S. R. White – 14 March 2024

White Ash Ridge Cover

A cool, imminent Australian murder mystery with a very intriguing premise behind it.

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The Mystery Writer by Sulari Gentill – 19 March 2024

The Mystery Writer Cover

Another unique novel from one of Australia’s best crime fiction authors.

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Behind a Closed Door by J.D. Barker – 13 May 2024

Behind A Closed Door Cover

A brilliant and dark thriller from the always impressive J. D. Barker

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The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton – 21 May 2024

The Last Murder at the End of the World Cover

A fantastic sounding science fiction thriller with a particularly distinctive murder premise behind it.

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Top Ten List:

Devil’s Kitchen by Candice Fox – 26 March 2024

Devil's Kitchen Cover

The first book on this list is probably the novel I will be reading next, with Devil’s Kitchen by Candice Fox.  A compelling and fun sounding thriller by one of Australia’s most popular crime fiction authors, Devil’s Kitchen sounds extremely awesome and I cannot wait to read it, especially after how much I enjoyed The Murder Inn by Fox earlier this year.

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Alien Clay by Adrian Tchaikovsky – 28 March 2024

Alien Clay Cover

After his exceptional 2023, where he released both City of Last Chances and House of Open Wounds (two of my favourite books of 2023), I am eagerly waiting to read all of Adrian Tchaikovsky’s upcoming books.  His first 2024 release is Alien Clay, an outstanding and entertaining science fiction read set in a deadly prison on an alien planet.  It sounds like Alien Clay will combine over-the-top characters with unique science fiction concepts and I have no doubt that this is going to be one of the most entertaining reads of the next three months.

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The Book That Broke the World by Mark Lawrence – 9 April 2024

The Book That Broke the World Cover

The gripping sequel to Lawrence’s exceptional 2023 novel, The Book That Wouldn’t Burn, The Book That Broke the World is an awesome upcoming read that I am so very excited for.  Continuing the elaborate narrative started in The Book That Wouldn’t Burn, which follows two connected characters whose lives revolve around a massive library; The Book That Broke the World will no doubt contain more of Lawrence’s exceptional world building and amazing storytelling.

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Star Wars: The Living Force by John Jackson Miller – 9 April 2024

Star Wars - The Living Force Cover

It has been a little while since I read a Star Wars novel, but that is going to change in April when I get my hands on The Living Force by John Jackson Miller.  Set before the events of The Phantom Menace, The Living Force has an intriguing story that will expand out the early lore of the Star Wars franchise.  I cannot wait to see what excellent story Miller has planned for The Living Force, and I have no doubt I am going to love this book.

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Death on the Tiber by Lindsey Davis – 9 April 2024

Death on the Tiber Cover

One of my favourite historical fiction authors, Lindsey Davis, will continue her impressive Flavia Albia series in April with the new book, Death on the Tiber.  Featuring another intriguing mystery set in ancient Rome, Death on the Tiber promises to be a particularly awesome addition to the series, especially as it pits the protagonist against an old foe from her traumatic past.

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Warhammer 40,000: Deathworlder by Victoria Hayward – 23 April 2024

Warhammer 40,000 - Deathworlder Cover

I have been loving some of the great Warhammer 40,000 novels in 2024, but one of my most anticipated releases is Deathworlder by Victoria Hayward.  Set to feature the ultimate battle of survival between the hardest human jungle warriors in the canon and the deadliest aliens, Deathworlder has so much awesome potential and I cannot wait to get my hands on it.

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The Silverblood Promise by James Logan – 7 May 2024

The Silverblood Promise Cover

The fantasy release that has me most intrigued in the next few months is The Silverblood Promise.  The debut novel of James Logan, The Silverblood Promise will combine a cool new fantasy world with thrilling criminal intrigue, as a young lord tries to determine who killed his father in a deadly city.  This book sounds so damn amazing, and I am hoping to dive into it very soon.

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The Girl in Question by Tess Sharpe – 14 May 2024

The Girl in Question Cover

Back in 2021, I had the very great pleasure of reading The Girls I’ve Been by Tess Sharpe, a young adult thriller that pitted a teenage con artist with a past against deadly bank robbers.  I absolutely loved The Girls I’ve Been, and I was excited to find out a sequel, The Girl in Question, is coming out in May.  Set to follow the protagonist as she once again faces off against the ghosts of her past, The Girl in Question is going to be outstanding and I cannot wait to read it.

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Cloaked Deception by Timothy Zahn – 14 May 2024

Cloaked Deception Cover

One of the more unique books coming out in Autumn this year is Cloaked Deception by Timothy Zahn.  An epic and entertaining science fiction thriller, Cloaked Deception features a brilliant narrative that will see a deadly assassination plan involving nuclear weapons become entangled with the theft of advanced cloaking technology.  I love the over-the-top plot of this book, and I cannot wait to see how it unfolds.

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Necrotek by Jonathan Maberry – 28 May 2024

Necrotek Cover

The final book I want to highlight on this list is Necrotek by one of my favourite authors Jonathan Maberry.  The first book in a new series from Maberry, Necrotek is a dark and brutal sounding piece of science fiction that will see human scientists encounter a deadly, Lovecraftian threat in space.  I have no doubt that Maberry is going to deliver another outstanding read here with Necrotek and I cannot wait to get my hands on its audiobook version, especially with the always amazing Ray Porter narrating it.

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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.  Each of the above should be extremely epic, 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 few books to get through soon and they should all be pretty awesome.

Top Ten Tuesday –Most Anticipated Fantasy/Science Fiction Books Releasing in the First Half of 2024:

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Fantasy, List, Science Fiction16 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 the first Top Ten Tuesday, I will be listing my most anticipated upcoming books for the first half of the year.  This is a regular post I do each year and I always look forward to highlighting the most awesome looking books for the start of the year.  Because there are so many incredible reads coming out across the genres, I am doing two versions of this list, this first one that will exclusively look at upcoming fantasy and science fiction books, and another that will focus on upcoming books from other genres, including thrillers, crime fiction, historical fiction and more.

2024 is shaping up to be an outstanding year for fantasy and science fiction with a ton of epic and amazing sounding novels set for release throughout the year.  I am particularly excited about the next six months as there are some deeply impressive books coming out that I am extremely keen for.  This includes some fantastic sounding sequels, continuations to brilliant series, and several cool new novels from some very talented authors.  I have already highlighted several of these books in some previous lists and Waiting on Wednesday articles which has made me really appreciate just how awesome the upcoming year is going to be in the fantasy and science fiction space, hence this list.

Just like with my other list of the night, I am only featuring books that are set for release in Australia or on Netgalley between 1 January 2024 and 30 June 2024 which I have some descent details about.  Despite only being fantasy and science fiction books, I ended up with a huge collection of exceptional novels that I wanted to feature, which made completing this list surprisingly difficult.  I was eventually able to break it down to the best 10 books (with honourable mentions), and I feel that I have capture the books that are going to be the best fantasy and science fiction reads of 2024.  So let us see what made the cut.

Honourable Mentions:

The Burning Land by David Hair – 1 February 2024

The Burning Land Cover

An intriguing and awesome sound fantasy adventure that will see a group of knights go rogue to try and find the truth about the supposedly holy order that they serve.

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The Trials of Empire by Richard Swan – 13 February 2024

The Trails of Empire Cover

While I am sure that The Trials of Empire is going to be high up on many people’s to-read list for 2024, I’m going to keep it as an honourable mention mainly because I haven’t had the chance to read the second novel, The Tyranny of Faith, yet.  I am hoping to read The Tyranny of Faith before The Trials of Empire comes out, so I can enjoy this awesome sounding novel later this year.

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Exit Black by Joe Pitkin – 20 February 2024

Exit Black Cover

An intriguing science fiction thriller about a futuristic space hotel for the wealthy taken over by terrorists.  Should be very, very fun.

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Top Ten List:

The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett – 13 February 2024

The Tainted Cup Cover

One of the most anticipated fantasy releases of 2024, The Tainted Cup is an awesome and intricate novel that will force two unusual detectives to investigate a death apparently committed by impossible magic.  Robert Jackson Bennett is an outstanding author, and I look forward to immersing myself in his new elaborate world.

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Alien Clay by Adrian Tchaikovsky – 28 March 2024

Alien Clay Cover

An intriguing science fiction thriller set in a massive prison on an alien world, Alien Clay will follow a scientist’s attempts to uncover the secrets of the planet while also dodging the prison’s dangerous warden.  I have really grown to enjoy Tchaikovsky’s writing, especially after his amazing 2023 novels, City of Last Chances and House of Open Wounds, and I have no doubt that Alien Clay will be a fun and impressive read.

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The Book That Broke the World by Mark Lawrence – 9 April 2024

The Book That Broke the World Cover

After deeply impressing me with the incredible and inventive The Book That Wouldn’t Burn (one of my favourite books of 2023), Mark Lawrence continues The Library trilogy in a big way with The Book That Broke the World.  Continuing to follow his intriguing protagonists as they attempt to uncover the crazy secrets of the impossible library at the centre of their lives, The Book That Broke the World looks set to provide more peak Lawrence creativity and imagination and I cannot wait to see what happens next in this amazing series.

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Star Wars: The Living Force by John Jackson Miller – 9 April 2024

Star Wars - The Living Force Cover

I’ve been a bit remiss with my Star Wars reading lately, and I’m hoping to make that up this year by checking out the cool new novel by John Jackson Miller, Star Wars: The Living Force.  Set before the events of The Phantom Menace, The Living Force will follow Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi and all twelve members of the Jedi Council as they investigate how Jedi are perceived in the universe.  Authored by one of the top authors of tie-in fiction, The Living Force should be a pretty awesome read and I am deeply intrigued about a story focusing on the Jedi Council and their politics.

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Extinction by Douglas Preston – 23 April 2024

Extinction Cover

One of the more entertaining and awesome upcoming books of 2024 is Extinction by veteran thriller and science fiction author Douglas Preston.  Set in a resort where ancient animals have been brought back to life with genetic manipulation (when does that ever go wrong), the book will see guests murdered and kidnapped by a gang of eco-terrorists.  Sounding like a fantastic mix of Die Hard and Jurassic Park, I love everything about Extinction, and I am hoping to read it soon.

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Warhammer 40,000: Deathworlder by Victoria Hayward – 23 April 2024

Warhammer 40,000 - Deathworlder Cover

It wouldn’t be one of my lists without at least one Warhammer 40,000 novel, which has been such an epic franchise for me lately.  While there are several great Warhammer 40,000 books coming out in 2024, the one from the first half of the year that appeals to me the most is Deathworlder by Victoria Hayward.  Hayward’s debut novel, Deathworlder will pit two of this universe’s best jungle fighters against each other, as the human Catachan troopers attempt to navigate a world actively being consumed by the insidious alien Tyranids.  This will probably end up being a disturbing and grim survivalist adventure, and I know I will love every second of it.

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The Silverblood Promise by James Logan – 7 May 2024

The Silverblood Promise Cover

One of the books I’m particularly excited for this year is the excellent fantasy debut, The Silverblood Promise by James Logan. This awesome novel will follow a disappointing and caddish heir to a noble house who is thrust into a leadership position and must find out who is responsible for his father’s death in a deadly city of rogues and liars.  I love the sound of this book and it has the potential to be one of the best debuts of 2024.

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The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton – 21 May 2024

The Last Murder at the End of the World Cover

An awesome science fiction murder mystery that I am really looking forward to in 2024 is the intriguing and complex The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton.  Set in the last human settlement after a mysterious apocalypse, the book will see a deadly murder occurs that threatens the entire colony.  To stay alive the protagonists will need to solve the murder before their sanctuary is destroyed, however, the settlement’s security protocols have been activated and erased everyone’s memory of the night in question, even the killers.  Bound to be one of the most compelling and unique murder mysteries of 2024, I am very hyped for The Last Murder at the End of the World, and this should be an exceptional read from Turton. 

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Necrotek by Jonathan Maberry – 28 May 2024

Necrotek Cover

One of my favourite authors, Jonathan Maberry, returns with an awesome and intense new book in 2024, with Necrotek.  Maberry, who deeply impressed me with his 2023 releases, Son of the Poison Rose and Cave 13 (both of which were amongst my favourite books and audiobooks of 2023), has a great writing style and I look forward to seeing how it translates across to the science fiction genre with Necrotek.  Featuring a dark and horror themed narrative, Necrotek will be Maberry’s first pure science fiction novel, and I cannot wait to dive into his elaborate tale of eldritch space horrors, ancient alien technology, and immortal souls being lodged in deadly machinery.  I have no doubt this will be one of my favourite books of 2024 and I am so damn excited for it.

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Service Model by Adrian Tchaikovsky – 4 June 2024

Service Model Cover

Another outstanding Adrian Tchaikovsky novel coming out in the first half of 2024 is the epic sounding Service Model.  Following a service robot who gains sentience and decides to rebel against its human masters, Service Model has a particularly entertaining plot behind it that looks to be quite amusing while also serving as a critique humanity’s growing reliance on technology.  This honestly sounds like one of the funniest books of the year, and I look forward to seeing even more outrageous adventures, witty comedy and intense social commentary from one of science fiction’s top authors.

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Well, that’s the end of this first list.  As you can see, there are some mighty impressive fantasy and science fiction books coming out the first half of this year.  All the above entries on this list have an incredible amount of potential and I have a feeling I am going to deeply enjoy every single of one of these great reads.  2024 is going to be an outstanding year for these two genres, not only with these amazing books, but because of some of the other ones potentially coming out later this year.  I look forward to seeing how all these cool novels turn out and I think I am going to have an incredible time reading fantasy and science fiction in 2024.  Make sure to also check out my other Top Ten List that looks at the top upcoming books of 2024 from the other genres.

Waiting on Wednesday – The Book That Broke the World by Mark Lawrence

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Fantasy, Waiting on Wednesday6 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.  I run this segment in conjunction with the Can’t-Wait Wednesday meme that is currently running at Wishful Endings.  Stay tuned to see reviews of these books when I get a copy of them.  For this week’s entry I look at one of the most anticipated and potentially imaginative fantasy novels of 2024 with The Book That Broke the World by Mark Lawrence.

The Book That Broke the World Cover

Amazon

In early 2023 I was extremely lucky to receive a copy of the latest book from Mark Lawrence, The Book That Wouldn’t Burn.  The first entry in Lawrence’s The Library trilogy, The Book That Wouldn’t Burn was a bold and compelling novel set in an intriguing new setting of an impossibly large library.  Following two damaged protagonists who have very different experiences about the library and its secrets, The Book That Wouldn’t Burn was an exceptional novel, whose scope, creativity and unique story really drew me in.  I had an incredible time reading The Book That Wouldn’t Burn, and not only did it get a full five-star rating from me, but it was also an easy inclusion on my recent Favourite Books of 2023 list.  I was so very impressed with The Book That Wouldn’t Burn, and I have been eagerly waiting to find out details about a potential sequel and luckily it doesn’t look like I’ll have to much longer to wait.

This upcoming sequel is The Book That Broke the World, which is currently set for release in April 2024.  The Book That Broke the World will take place after the chaotic conclusion of The Book That Wouldn’t Burn and will see the two protagonists thrust into a whole new level of peril as they try to save themselves, their friends, and the library itself.

Plot Synopsis:

Two people living in a world connected by an immense and mysterious library must fight for those they love in the second book in a new trilogy from the international bestselling author of The Book That Wouldn’t Burn.

The Library spans worlds and times. It touches and joins distant places. It is memory and future. And amid its vastness Evar Eventari both found, and lost, Livira Page.

Evar has been forced to flee the library, driven before an implacable foe. Livira, trapped in a ghost world, has to recover the book she wrote—one which is the only true threat to the library’s existence—if she’s to return to her life.

While Evar’s journey leads him outside into a world he’s never seen, Livira’s path will taker her deep inside her own writing, where she must wrestle with her stories in order to reclaim the volume in which they were written.

The secret war that defines the library has chosen its champions and set them on the board. The time has come when they must fight for what they believe, or lose everything.

This sounds like a pretty awesome read and I am so looking forward to it.  Lawrence has cooked up a very interesting plot for The Book That Broke the World, especially as it seems that he is planning to do a reversal on the protagonist’s fates, with Evar trapped outside the library after a lifetime stuck within, while Livira, the cagey outsider who entered the library after her childhood in the desert, will be trapped within learning more about its secrets and herself.  I have no doubt this will be a particularly character-driven plot, and I look forward to seeing how both likeable, yet troubled, protagonists continue to develop.

Based on Lawrence’s writing in the past, I have no doubt that he will continue to develop the elaborate world that surrounds the series in The Book That Broke the World, and I assume we are going to see more timelines, more visions of past and future wars, and more of the long-running conflict between the two races that trade control of the library and its resources.  This, combined with the excellent story and character work, should make for one hell of a read and I cannot wait to dive even further into this amazing series.  As such, The Book That Broke the World is one of my most anticipated books for 2024 and I am so damn excited to see what incredible new narrative threads Lawrence has in store for us.