I’ve been away on holiday for a few weeks, which has resulted in a lack of major posts on this blog (at least that’s my excuse). One upside about being away is that you tend to come back to a big pile of books, which is always fun to explore. This holiday was no exception as I managed to return to a great collection of awesome books that have built up the last couple of weeks. This includes some major 2025 releases, including a few books likely to be amongst my top books of the year. I am very happy with this collection, and I just had to gloat about it here.
The Devils by Joe Abercrombie
Probably the book I was most excited to receive was the new Joe Abercrombie novel The Devils. The start of a cool new series set in an alternate and dark medieval Europe filled with fantasy creatures, The Devils follow a mismatched group of monsters under the command of the Pope as they attempt to pull off an impossible mission. This was one of my most anticipated fantasy releases of 2025 and I have already started reading it. I’m a good third of the way through The Devils at the moment and it is already proving to be a particularly exceptional read that will likely be one of the best books of the entire year. Highly recommended!
Everybody Wants to Rule the World Except Me by Django Wexler
Another particularly awesome fantasy novel I was very happy to get my hands on was Everybody Wants to Rule the World Except Me by Django Wexler. The sequel to the hilarious 2024 fantasy novel, How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying, Everybody Wants to Rule the World Except Me follows a reluctant fantasy protagonist whose plan to survive by becoming a feared dark lord starts to backfire on her. This will probably end up being one of the funniest books of the year and I am hoping to read it very soon.
Whisper in the Wind by Luke Arnold
Australian author Luke Arnold returns with Whisper in the Wind, the fourth entry in his urban fantasy Fetch Phillips series that follows a damaged investigator desperately trying to bring back magic to a dying fantasy city. I loved the first three books in this series, The Last Smile in Sunder City, Dead Man in a Ditch, and One Foot in the Fade, and I cannot wait to see how this series continues. Another amazing sounding book from an excellent author that I will probably be reading this week.
Stone and Sky by Ben Aaronovitch
The fantasy hits I recently received keep on coming with the epic new Rivers of London novel, Stone and Sky by Ben Aaronovitch. The latest book in one of the best ongoing urban fantasy series, Stone and Sky will follow the series’ police protagonist as he attempts to have a family holiday in Scotland, only to encounter a new dark magical mystery. I really love the sound of this book, and I cannot wait to dive into Stone and Sky’s complex and entertaining story.
The Book That Held Her Heart by Mark Lawrence
Another great book I was lucky enough to recently receive was the third and final book in Mark Lawrence’s Library trilogy, The Book That Held Her Heart. Following on from The Book That Wouldn’t Burn and The Book That Broke the World, The Book That Held Her Heart will show the final battle for the impossible and infinite library, as the separated protagonists must find a way back to each other to save the lives of those closest to them. I am very excited to finish this trilogy off, and The Book That Held Her Heart has a great deal of potential.
Sins of the Fathers by John Byrnes
Another cool Australian historical epic from John Byrnes, who previous impressed me with Headland and The Youngest Son. This new book will follow three children through the early 20th century as they feud throughout key Australian historical events and locations. This will likely be a fun and compelling read that I look forward to checking out.
The Maid’s Secret by Nita Prose
An intriguing new novel from Nita Prose that will continue to showcase the investigations of her unlikely and unusual protagonist.
Paved with Good Intentions by Peter McLean
The final book I have received was the cool fantasy crime novel, Paved With Good Intentions by Peter McLean. A standalone novel set in McLean’s War for the Rose Throne universe, Paved With Good Intentions will follow a woman forced into the spying game as she tries to survive and get back to her children. A very intriguing and cool book from a talented author that I look forward to reading.
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.
The Unseen Library 