Tag: Usagi Yojimbo

Waiting on Wednesday – Usagi Yojimbo: Volume 40: The Crow by Stan Sakai

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Comics/Manga, Waiting on Wednesday3 Comments

Welcome to my weekly segment, Waiting on Wednesday, where I look at upcoming books that I am planning to order and review in the next few months and which I think I will really enjoy.  Stay tuned to see reviews of these books when I get a copy of them.  For this week’s waiting on Wednesday, I highlight the next awesome volume of one of my favourite comic book series with Usagi Yojimbo: The Crow by Stan Sakai.

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Fans of this blog will know that I am a massive fan of the Usagi Yojimbo comic series by iconic writer and artist Stan Sakai, indeed I literally just published a review for the 39th volume, Ice and Snow (one of my favourite books of 2024), yesterday.  Following a rabbit ronin who travels around an animal filled Feudal Japan, the Usagi Yojimbo series is a classic comic that combines intriguing samurai focused storylines with beautiful artwork to great effect.

Sakai has been on a real roll of late with this series, especially since he adapted colour to his artwork, and there have been some truly impressive volumes, including Bunraku and Other Stories (one of my favourite books of 2020), Homecoming (one of my favourite books of 2021), Tengu War! and Crossroads (both of which were among my favourite books of 2022) and The Green Dragon (one of my favourite books of 2023).  All these comics have been extremely epic with some inventive narratives, and I have so much fun reading them multiple times.

Due to how awesome I always find the Usagi Yojimbo series, it is a must-get for me each year, and I always grab the new comic the second it comes out.  Usually, fans of the series are forced to wait a whole year between volumes, but luckily for us they are releasing the next inclusion very soon with the 40th volume in the series The Crow.  Currently set for release in early February 2025, The Crow will pit Usagi against a new dangerous opponent, while old friends return to cause even more trouble.


Plot Synopsis:

The adventures continue for the rabbit ronin Usagi and his cousin Yukichi!

Finally making it out of the frozen mountains, Usagi and Yukichi come across a merchant being attacked by four brigands.

They rescue the supposed merchant only to discover much later that he is really a criminal with a huge bounty on his head! Of course, wherever there is a huge reward you will find bounty hunters Gen and Stray Dog…and other unscrupulous trackers!


While brief, the above plot synopsis is full of potential, and I like the sound of where The Crow’s story is going.  While having Usagi rescuing a merchant with dark secrets is a bit of a common occurrence in the Usagi Yojimbo series, the inclusion of a hidden criminal and the return of Usagi’s old friends Gen and Stray Dog should result in a fun and exciting narrative.  Gen, the surly and greedy rhinoceros samurai is always a great comedic character, especially when teamed up with the bounty obsessed Stray Dog, and it will be great to once again seem them interact with the more straightlaced Usagi.  Throw in rival trackers and other potential villains and The Crow should be another action-packed blast, filled with well-drawn carnage.

To be honest, I already know that I am going to grab this new Usagi Yojimbo volume the moment it comes out and I will love it unconditionally.  I have such a great respect and appreciation for this exceptional series, and I refuse to believe I will find anything to hate in this upcoming comic, especially if Stan Sakai keeps up all the skill and creativity he’s been putting into the last few volumes. I cannot wait to see the elaborate stories contained within The Crow, as well as the awesome and captivating artwork, and I’m sure this will be something special.  The Crow is already one of my most anticipated reads for the new year and it is almost guaranteed to get a five-star rating from me.  Check back in a couple of months to see my glowing review for Usagi Yojimbo: The Crow, and make sure to also check out my other Waiting on Wednesday this week for When the Moon Hits Your Eye by John Scalzi.

Top Ten Tuesday – My Favourite Books of 2024

On By The Unseen LibraryIn List47 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme that currently resides at The Artsy Reader Girl and feature bloggers sharing lists on various book topics.  As we roll into the new year I am going to list my absolute favourite books of 2024, which is something I look forward to every year.  This is a continuation of several lists I have done in recent weeks that highlighted the authors and books that have most impressed me this year.  Previous lists looked at topics like my favourite pre-2024 novels, as well as my favourite audiobooks, sequels, and new-to-me authors of 2024.  However, this list is the big one as it covers my absolute favourite releases of the year, of which there are quite a few.

I think we can all agree that 2024 has been another rollercoaster year for the world, but thankfully readers got a little bit of solace as this was an amazing year for books, with a huge range of incredible releases coming out across the genres.  Not only did several outstanding new series start but we had some exceptional debuts, and some big continuations of established works.  I have had an amazing time reading or listening to some outstanding books this year and quite a few releases have become instant favourites.  I must admit that I somewhat struggled to pull this list together, as there were so many books that deserved to be mentioned.  Therefore, because I am a very soft touch, and because the quality of the books I read this year was so impressive, I have decided to expand this list out to 20 entries (just like I have the last five years, I’m a very soft touch).  These 20 books are my absolute favourites from 2024, and I would strongly recommend every one of them to anyone interested in a great read.

To make it onto this list a book only needed to be released here in Australia during 2024.  I have naturally excluded anything I have not read yet, even though there were quite a few awesome-sounding books I sadly didn’t squeeze into my reading schedule.  I decided to leave off my usual Honourable Mentions section as the extra 10 entries make it unnecessary.  There will be a bit of crossover between the below entries and some of my previous lists.  For example, several of these novels appeared on my Top Ten Favourite Audiobooks of 2024 list and my Top Ten Favourite Books from the First Half of 2024 list, which I ran back into July.  Overall, I am very happy with how this Top 20 list turned out and I think it contains a pretty good range of novels that showcase the different types of books that I chose to read this year.  So, without further ado, here is the list.

 

Top Twenty List:

The Dragon in Winter by Jonathan Maberry

Let’s start this list off with the exceptional fantasy novel, The Dragon in Winter by Jonathan Maberry.  The third and final book in the Kagen the Damned trilogy, The Dragon in Winter follows on from the exciting and impressive reads,  Kagen the Damned (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2022) and  Son of the Poison Rose (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2023).  Featuring an outstanding and action-packed dark fantasy storyline that saw the damned and damaged series protagonist attempt to finally get his vengeance during the final battles of a brutal war.  Intense, powerful and loaded with some dramatic character moments, The Dragon in Winter was an awesome end to one of my favourite fantasy trilogies and I was enthralled the entire way through this great book.

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We Solve Murders by Richard Osman

Richard Osman has really become a notable fixture on these end of year lists thanks to his brilliant and hilarious Thursday Murder Club books (The Thursday Murder Club, The Man Who Died Twice, The Bullet That Missed and The Last Devil to Die).  This year he presented readers with a new treat in the standalone thriller, We Solve Murders.  Featuring the exceptional humour and fantastic writing that made the Thursday Murder Club books so much fun, We Solve Murders is a clever and addictive international thriller focused on a great new group of protagonists.  Witty, charming and extraordinarily compelling, We Solve Murders was another incredible novel from Osman that I cannot recommend enough.

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Warhammer 40,000: Above and Beyond by Denny Flowers

2024 proved to be an outstanding year for Warhammer 40,000 fiction, and I had the pleasure of reading multiple fantastic novels from this franchise.  One of the best was the captivating and cynical novel, Above and Beyond.  The sequel to one of my favourite Warhammer 40,000 novels, Outgunned, Above and Beyond reunites Flower’s damaged protagonists, a broken propaganda expert and a crass heroic pilot, for another outrageous adventure.  Cleverly examining the role propaganda plays in the wars of the grim future, Above and Beyond ended up being a very exciting and powerful thriller that I could not get enough off.  An incredible novel from one of the fastest rising Warhammer authors (make sure to also check Flower’s novella in Da Red Gobbo Collection).

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The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett

Earlier this year I had the great pleasure of reading The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett.  An intriguing combination of fantasy and crime fiction, The Tainted Cup focussed on an unusual investigative duo in a monster besieged fantasy kingdom as they attempt to uncover the truth behind a series of brutal magical killings.  The Tainted Cup proved to be an exceptional and intelligent novel I could not put down as Jackson effortlessly combined complex fantasy elements with his brilliant murder mystery narrative.  One of the most inventive books of 2024, The Tainted Cup was something truly special, and I cannot wait to dive into the sequel, A Drop of Corruption, in the new year.

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The Chaos Agent by Mark Greaney

I had a brilliant time in 2024 continuing Mark Greaney’s awesome Gray Man spy thriller series with The Chaos Agent.  Setting his iconic spy protagonist against a dangerous and terrifying new enemy, The Chaos Agent had a fantastic story behind it that proceeded to get very crazy once some memorable weapons are unleashed.  An amazing entry in one of the best thriller series out there, The Chaos Agent was epic from start to finish and leaves readers on a major cliffhanger that I am looking forward to seeing resolved in 2025 with Midnight Black.

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The Gathering by C. J. Tudor

One of the more unique novels of 2024 had to be The Gathering by C. J. Tudor.  A powerful and clever murder mystery set in a world where vampires exist, The Gathering follows a government vampire expert who travels to an isolated town to determine whether a recent murder was as vampire kill and whether the local colony should be exterminated.  Blending a great small-town murder narrative with an inventive world history featuring vampires, The Gathering was such a compelling and dark book, and I loved every single second I spent reading it.

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Play of Shadows by Sebastien De Castell

While I have previously enjoyed some of Sebastien De Castell’s great fantasy fiction before with The Malevolent Seven, this year I dove into his Greatcoat’s universe with the relentlessly entertaining novel, Play of Shadows.  The first book in his new Court of Shadows series, Play of Shadows followed a fugitive actor who gains the ability to manifest the spirt of a notorious historical villain whenever he appears on stage.  Suddenly caught in a massive city-wide conspiracy, the protagonist needs to survive to tell the spirit’s true story and soon finds out just how deadly the theatre can be.  A truly fantastic and fun novel that I couldn’t stop reading, Play of Shadows had such a unique and powerful story behind it that perfectly fit into the author’s existing universe.  A highly recommended novel, especially when read in concert with the outstanding prequel, Crucible of Chaos, that was released just in advance of Play of Shadows.

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The Mercy Chair by M. W. Craven

Awesome crime fiction author M. W. Craven had a great 2024, as he released two books including the outrageous thriller Nobody’s Hero.  However, my favourite novel of his was the sixth book in the Washington Poe series, The Mercy Chair.  Following the author’s cynical protagonist and his unusual team as they investigate the brutal murder of a controversial religious leader, The Mercy Chair contained an exceptionally intense narrative as the protagonists uncover a raft of shocking secrets that will shake you to your very core.  A dark and twisty British murder mystery, The Mercy Chair was a truly remarkable read that had me hooked from start to finish thanks to its barrage of clever reveals.  One of the best pure murder mysteries of 2024.

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NecroTek by Jonathan Maberry

In addition to The Dragon in Winter, Jonathan Maberry also released the dark and compelling science fiction novel, NecroTek.  A cool dive into pure science fiction, Maberry utilised his usual style to effectively tell a massive tale of survival in strange space as the protagonists encounter Lovecraftian horrors and must fight them using necromancy-infused alien technology.  Intense, compelling, and loaded with some powerful human moments, NecroTek was another impressive novel from Maberry in 2025 that I had to feature here as well.

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The Fury of the Gods by John Gwynne

John Gwynne brought his epic Bloodsworn Saga to an end in a big way with The Fury of the Gods.  The final book in the trilogy that has previously featured the amazing reads The Shadow of the Gods and The Hunger of the Gods, The Fury of the Gods was a very awesome read that saw all the various character arcs finally come together as everyone picked a side in massive war between gods and mortals.  Making full use of the series’ Viking aesthetic, The Fury of the Gods was an exceptional fantasy epic from start to finish, and I deeply enjoyed how Gwynne brought everything together.

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Service Model by Adrian Tchaikovsky

This was a bumper year for Adrian Tchaikovsky as he released several amazing books across the science fiction and fantasy genres.  Of the ones I have so far read my favourite was Service Model.  An intriguing and captivating novel that follows a robot exploring a post-apocalyptic wasteland, this book was filled with great humour and cynical take on the future of humanity.  Service Model ended up being a very highly entertaining novel that I cannot recommend enough, especially to readers looking for something particularly clever and funny.

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Usagi Yojimbo: Volume 39: Ice and Snow by Stan Sakai

A surely unsurprising inclusion on this list is the latest Usagi Yojimbo comic, Ice and Snow by Stan Sakai.  One of my favourite comic series, I always make sure to grab the new Usagi Yojimbo volume each year and they always prove to be quite exceptional.  Ice and Snow was a particularly epic entry in the series, as the protagonists face off against a raft of supernatural foes, including Usagi’s dark nemesis Jei.  Beautifully drawn and incredibly fun to read, Ice and Snow was another brilliant and beautiful comic that I powered through the second I got my hands on it.

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Warhammer 40,000: Renegades: Lord of Excess by Rich McCormick

The other Warhammer 40,000 novel I wanted to include on this list was the twisted Renegades: Lord of Excess.  The debut novel of Rich McCormick, Lord of Excess followed a warband of the hedonistic Emperor’s Children traitor Space Marines as they take over an isolated planet.  McCormick perfectly captures the obsessive nature of his colourful characters, and I loved seeing the villain’s perspective in this deliciously dark novel.  I had an incredible time with this warped and complex character driven novel, and McCormick is an impressive new talent to keep an eye on.

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The Last Shield by Cameron Johnston

After wowing me with amazing books like The Traitor God, God of Broken Things and The Maleficent Seven, Cameron Johnston continues to get even better as an author with his 2024 release, The Last Shield.  Essentially a gender-bent, fantasy fiction Die Hard, The Last Shield sees a group of bandits and traitors take over a royal palace to rob its vault filled with powerful magical artifacts.  The only hope the inhabitants have is the wounded commander of the palace guard, who fights back from the many hidden passages to save those she loves.  Clever, compelling and loaded with so much incredible action, The Last Shield was a highly addictive read that I really couldn’t put down and Johnston is swiftly becoming one of my favourite dark fantasy authors.

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King’s Enemy by Ian Ross

Ian Ross brought his incredible de Norton historical fiction series to a gripping end with King’s Enemy.  Following on from Battle Song and the other 2024 release War Cry, King’s Enemy saw the recently knighted protagonist, Adam de Norton, declared a traitor and king’s enemy for the role he played in Simon de Montford’s rebellion.  Determined to fight back after losing everything, de Norton journeys towards the last bastion of resistance against the crown and finds himself engulfed in one of the most famous sieges in English history.  A fantastic and captivating novel loaded with adventure, action and some fascinating historical detail; King’s Enemy was an outstanding book that is really worth checking out.

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A Tide of Black Steel by Anthony Ryan

Acclaimed fantasy author Anthony Ryan followed up his Covenant of Steel series (The Pariah, The Martyr and The Traitor) in a big way with the new book, A Tide of Black Steel.  Featuring an exciting and intriguing new narrative that expands Ryan’s existing setting, A Tide of Black Steel was an epic fantasy novel that I had so much fun with, especially on audiobook.

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Darkside by Michael Mammay

Another awesome novel that is particularly cool on audiobook is Darkside by Michael Mammay.  The fourth book in the author’s excellent Planetside series (Planetside, Spaceside and Colonyside), Darkside follows a maverick former military officer when he investigates a missing persons case at a mining operation on an isolated moon.  Featuring intrigue, mystery and warring corporations, Darkside was another exceptional read from Mammay and one I really got hooked on.

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You Like it Darker by Stephen King

I just had to highlight the exceptional short story collection You Like It Darker by the legendary Stephen King on this list.  Featuring 12 short stories from King, You Like it Darker was a horror-themed thrill ride from start to finish as the author wowed me with his versatility and unique narratives.  This volume contains some noteworthy short stories, including a sequel to Cujo and an outstanding story about the downsides of psychic visions, all of which grabbed my imagination and refused to let go.  I loved every second I spent with You Like It Darker, and I cannot wait to experience more Stephen King awesomeness in 2025, especially with the epic upcoming book Never Flinch.

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Blood Over Bright Haven by M. L. Wang

One of the most inventive and powerful fantasy novels I read this year was Blood Over Bright Haven by M. L. Wang, which, while technically released as an independent novel last year, I’m counting it as a 2024 release as that’s when it officially came out here in Australia.  I have so much love for Blood Over Bright Haven, as Wang centres a complex and emotionally charged narrative around an intriguing and unique magical system.  The result is an intense and memorable book that hits the reader with some amazing twists.  I honestly have still not recovered from all the big reveals of this book, and it was all I needed to read to become a major fan of this awesome author.

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Deep Black by Miles Cameron

The last book I want to highlight on this list is the massive and captivating science fiction epic Deep Black by Miles Cameron.  The sequel to the exceptional Artifact Space, Deep Black continues to follow a gigantic human trading space vessel as it attempts to survive a complex conspiracy to destroy it.  Featuring some impressive science fiction detail, powerful action sequences, and an elaborate plot, Deep Black was an outstanding read and a worthy final entry for this best-of-2024 post.

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Well, those are my 20 favourite books of 2024. It turned out to be quite a good list in the end, and I am very glad that I was able to highlight so many fantastic books.  2025 is set to be another excellent year for amazing reads, and I will be examining some of my most anticipated books next week.  In the meantime, let me know what your favourite books of 2024 were in the comments below, and make sure you all have a happy and safe New Years.

Usagi Yojimbo: Volume 39: Ice and Snow by Stan Sakai

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Comics/Manga, Five-Star Books4 Comments

Publisher: Dark Horse Comics (Paperback – 26 November 2024)

Series: Usagi Yojimbo – Volume 39

Length: 160 pages

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

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Acclaimed comic author and artist Stan Sakai continues his iconic Usagi Yojimbo series in a big way with the exceptional 39th volume, Ice and Snow.

Fans of this blog will know that I am a massive fan of the incredible Usagi Yojimbo comic series, which I have been reading for many years and is one of my favourite comic book series.  The brainchild of Stan Sakai, who both writes and draws the comic, Usagi Yojimbo is a unique series that follows a rabbit ronin samurai as he wanders around an anthropomorphic feudal Japan, getting involved in all manner of deadly and dangerous adventures, both mundane and supernatural.  The Usagi Yojimbo comics are so much fun, and I love the compelling stories, distinctive artwork and memorable characters who are contained within its beautiful pages.  This series has been so damn awesome of late, with some amazing coloured volumes, including Bunraku and Other Stories (one of my favourite books of 2020), Homecoming (one of my favourite books of 2021), Tengu War! and Crossroads (both of which were among my favourite books of 2022) and The Green Dragon (one of my favourite books of 2023).

This latest volume, Ice and Snow, is an intriguing addition to the series as it continues to follow some of the storylines from the previous volumes while also featuring a single overarching narrative rather than several shorter stories.  Ice and Snow is also the series’ return to Dark Horse Comics, who previously published the series for 22 years (from Volume 8: Shades of Death to Volume 33: The Hidden).  This return to Dark Horse has allowed for another intriguing read that featured a major confrontation between Usagi and one of his most dangerous foes.

Miyamoto Usagi, travelling ronin and occasional Yojimbo, continues to wander the lands, seeking adventure and helping his friends where possible.  Now travelling with his cousin Yukichi, Usagi finds himself moving through the cold and snowy mountain tops of Northern Japan, having just escaped a confrontation between rival ninja clans in the pair’s last adventure.  Determined to return to warmer climates, Usagi and Yukichi once again find themselves in trouble amongst the mountain peaks.

Cold and seeking shelter, Usagi and Yukichi encounter nothing but bandits and mysterious creatures as they continue their journey.  Desperate for warmth, they decide to spend the night inside the hut of strange woman, only to find themselves trapped by the cold heart of a dangerous spirit, Yuki-Onna, the lady of the snow, who is determined to feast on them.

However, the attentions of a powerful spirt of the snow are the least of Usagi and Yukichi’s problems, as a far more terrifying monster haunts the mountains.  The demonic black spearman Jei, the Blade of the Gods, has long hunted Usagi, believing that by killing the rabbit ronin he will ascend to godhood.  Now leading a group of mountain bandits, Jei relentlessly chases after Usagi and Yukichi, determined to end their feud once and for all.  Can Usagi once again weather the dark storm that is the unstoppable Jei, or will this be the moment he finally falls to his deranged nemesis’s black blade?

Ice and Snow was another amazing volume from Sakai that provides a cool new adventure for the author’s iconic protagonist.  Featuring an excellent main storyline loaded with peril and dark confrontation, Ice and Snow had me hooked the entire way through, especially as it featured Sakai’s gorgeous artwork.

Made up of five separate issues, Ice and Snow features a powerful single storyline which plays to the author’s strengths as he places his protagonists in mortal danger against foes new and old.  The story starts immediately after the events of the previous volume, The Green Dragon, with Usagi and his current travelling companion, Yukichi, still moving through the frigid mountains of Northern Japan.  Encountering the usual array of bandits, Usagi and Yukichi are thrust into action quickly and the initial combat sets the scene nicely for the rest of the comic.  The two soon move from mortal concerns to the supernatural, as the mysterious woman that Usagi and Yukichi seek shelter with predictably turns out to be a deadly monster (Usagi really should know better by this point), determined to eat their lifeforce. 

While these initial battles between Usagi, Yukichi and their various opponents are compelling and exciting, especially the intense fight against Yuki-Onna that was so well showcased by Sakai’s artwork, the best part of the early story involves the return of deranged supernatural warrior Jei.  Travelling with his young companion, Keiko, Jei brings his trademark terror to the local bandits, taking over their gang with violence and fear.  However, when he discovers that Usagi is nearby, he leads his new forces on a lethal hunting mission.  Jei honestly steals the entire comic in these sequences, as he terrorises and murders various members of the bandit gang to make his point.  There is also a fantastic fight between Jei and Yuki-Onna, which was a fantastic battle of the monsters that really highlights Jei as a powerful supernatural threat.

The final major sequence of the comic involves Jei catching up to Usagi and engaging in a brutal fight on a frozen river.  The sheer fear that is shown by the usually implacable Usagi really highlights to the reader just how dangerous Jei is, and I love how well Sakai utilises him as a villain here.  The battle between the two was dark, personal and pushes Usagi more than his usual fights, especially as the sinister Jei just won’t stop coming for him.  Sakai makes sure to have no conclusive end to this conflict, as Usagi will continue to be hunted and haunted by Jei.  This is honestly the best end you could imagine at this point in the series, especially as it plays into the horror movie inspiration for Jei, and readers are left wanting another awesome encounter between the two. 

The final issue in Ice and Snow wraps up this mountainous arc of the series on a somewhat ironic note, as Usagi, Yukichi, and the few survivors of Jei’s bandits seek shelter in an isolated village, only to encounter more monsters in the form of cat demons.  This last battle serves as a great horror cherry at the end of an impressive supernatural Usagi Yojimbo volume, and Sakai had fun with the artwork around the monstrous opponents.  I really enjoyed the overall narrative that Sakai stuck into this volume, and frankly I had and exceptional time with the high-threat, quick paced, multi-issued narrative that took up the entire volume.

This was probably one of the stronger recent Usagi Yojimbo stories, and I loved watching the protagonists attempt to survive an onslaught of supernatural foes.  Sakai cleverly continues a multitude of long-running storylines, including the winter journey from the last couple of volumes, which sees Usagi act as a wise mentor to his younger companion, Yukichi.  However, I was extremely happy that we got to see the continued enmity between Usagi and Jei that has been such an impressive part of the series since the third volume, The Wanderer’s Road (which was first released in 1989).  Inspired by Jason from the Friday the 13th series, Jei is a brilliant villain, and Sakai has done a wonderful job to continuously make him the most intimidating figure in the entire franchise.  Jei honestly seems unstoppable at times, and I love the way he manages to destroy all his opponents except the final rabbit, Usagi.  Sakai manages to make Jei even more sinister by continuing to include Jei’s unlikely travelling companion, Keiko.  A young child who accompanies and is cared for by Jei, Keiko is a true innocent who has been adopted by the Jei as a herald.  Watching this harmless child play in the background of Jei’s various atrocities honestly makes the entire situation even more creepy, and she is such a brilliant part of the antagonist’s aesthetic, especially now that her flute which warns people of Jei’s coming (I loved Usagi’s dark comments about this at the end of issue 4).  Combine this with Usagi’s absolute dread at encountering Jei again, as well as the sheer certainty of his inevitable return, and Jei was so damn intimidating here it was just amazing.

I can’t move away from this latest Usagi Yojimbo volume without highlighting the brilliant artwork that Sakai features within his comic.  Every page of this comic is loaded with well-drawn and powerful pieces of art, which effortlessly combine with the compelling writing to tell the powerful story.  Drawn exclusively by Sakai and featuring colouring from Hi-Fi Colour Design, the art in Ice and Snow is beautiful and highly impactful, as Sakai showcases the actions of his characters and the settings they find themselves in.  While every scene is fantastic in its own way, I must highlight the multiple nature shots featured throughout Ice and Snow.  Sakai channels his love for winter throughout this volume, and you are gifted with some breathtaking drawings of the snow-covered landscape the characters are travelling through.  These landscape shots are so pretty, especially now they are in colour, and the contrast between the white of the snow and the orange sky is amazing.  This includes some wonderful full-page drawings that feature multiple characters within them and all of them look so damn cool.

In addition to the wonderful landscapes and backgrounds that each of the outdoor scenes contain, I also must highlight how well the character actions are drawn throughout Ice and Snow.  Sakai does such an effective job of drawing his characters moving around the world, and you can easily envision what movements are implied from each picture.  The artist’s drawings work really well to portray combat, as the multiple sword fights and other encounters look so cool, and you can see the moving swirl of combat around each panel.  Some of these fight scenes are really dramatic and well set out, and I loved how effectively showcases the skill of his protagonists.

I also love at how impactful some of the character drawings were in this volume, especially when it came to the monsters that Usagi encountered.  Not only do we get some cool cat demons in the last issue, but the lady of the snow, Yuki-Onna, has a great monstrous look around her that makes her seem quite intimidating.  I personally loved the cool panel where an enflamed Yuki-Onna flees from Usagi, and the screaming skull shots that resulted from it were freaky.  However, it is the drawings of Jei that really hit me the hardest in Ice and Snow.  Sakai cleverly backs up his great writing around this character by showing him at his psychotic best, with his unnatural face and expression looking so awesome.  Jei was honestly intimidating or crazy in every single panel he appeared in, and I loved how scary he comes across in colour.  I especially love how impressive the fight between Jei and Usagi looked, as the desperation of their battle and the powerful emotion on both participants faces (with Keiko playing in the background) really hammers home the hatred and fear shared between the two.  I particularly enjoyed this really cool panel where a near-defeated Jei emerges from the frozen river to strike one more time.  Not only does this look so awesome, but it is a clever homage to Jei’s Friday the 13th inspiration, with the deranged killer getting one last surprise swing in.  All these impressive drawings were so amazing to look at, and I loved how Sakai’s artistic style is as impactful and powerful as ever.

Based on my gushing review above, I guess it is obvious that I had an exceptional time with this latest Usagi Yojimbo volume, Ice and Snow, which featured a powerful story loaded with the author’s best supernatural inclusions.  Stan Sakai’s writing and drawings are still very impressive, and I love how moved I was by them in Ice and Snow, even after all these years of being an Usagi Yojimbo fan.  This was such a great comic and it gets a very easy, if inevitable, five-star rating from me.  I cannot wait to continue this series into 2025, especially as the next volume is out very soon and features another awesome sounding story. 

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WWW Wednesday – 4 December 2024

On By The Unseen LibraryIn WWW Wednesday1 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:

Endgame by Sarah Barrie (Trade Paperback)

I’m still going with the dark Australian thriller Endgame by Sarah Barrie. The final book in Barrie’s Lexi Winters series, Endgame sets an unconventional cop against a deadly killer in a revenge filled game of cat-and-mouse. I haven’t made as much progress on Endgame as I would have liked, but I am still really enjoying this book, and I cannot wait to see how this series comes to an end.

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Warhammer 40,000: Da Red Gobbo Collection by Mike Brooks, Denny Flowers and Rhuairidh James (Audiobook)

I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to listen to the awesome Warhammer 40,000 audiobook, Da Red Gobbo Collection.  A collection of several Warhammer 40,000 novellas and short stories from three talented authors, Da Red Gobbo Collection showcases various tales of the Red Gobbo, a revolutionary grot leading the uprising against their orc leaders.  A particularly fun collection of entertaining Warhammer stories, Da Red Gobbo Collection is proving to be really funny, and I am loving the audiobook version of it.

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What did you recently finish reading?

Warhammer 40,000: Broken Crusade by Steven B. Fischer (Audiobook)

I managed to knock off the Warhammer 40,000 audiobook, Broken Crusade by Steven B. Fischer this week.  A particularly gothic Warhammer 40,000 novel, this was an intense and gripping book that I deeply enjoyed.

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Usagi Yojimbo: Volume 39: Ice and Snow by Stan Sakai (Trade Paperback)

As promised, I read the new Usagi Yojimbo comic the second I got my hands on it, and it was so damn awesome.  Review to hopefully follow soon.

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10 Rules for the Perfect Murder by James Patterson and Chris Tebbetts (Audiobook)

An excellent and entertaining full cast audiobook that I recently powered through on a short road trip.

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What do you think you’ll read next?

Deep Black by Miles Cameron

I’m hoping to start up the impressive science fiction novel, Deep Black next.  The sequel to Cameron’s previous novel, Artifact Space, Deep Black has a ton of potential, and I look forward to seeing how it turns 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.

Book Haul – 1 December 2024

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I’ve had a 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.

Usagi Yojimbo: Volume 39: Ice and Snow by Stan Sakai

First up I have the latest volume of one of my favourite comic series, Usagi Yojimbo: Ice and Snow.  Pitting the rabbit samurai protagonists against several relentless supernatural foes, including Usagi’s archenemy Jei, Ice and Snow was a great addition to this awesome series, and I read it the very second I got my hands on it.

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Deep Black by Miles Cameron

Next up we have the epic science fiction novel, Deep Black by Miles Cameron.  The sequel to Cameron’s excellent novel, Artifact Space, Deep Black will continue to follow the inhabitants of a massive human trading ship as it attempts to survive a nefarious plot to destroy it.  I really loved Artifact Space and I cannot wait to see how Cameron continues the story.  I am hoping to read Deep Black next, and I know I am going to really enjoy it.

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The Last Hour Between Worlds by Melissa Caruso

I was also very happy to get my hands on a copy of The Last Hour Between Worlds by Melissa Caruso.  A cool new fantasy novel from Caruso, an author who has really impressed me in the past, The Last Hour Between Worlds will see an unlikely pair of rivals team up to investigate a deadly magical mystery.  I am deeply intrigued by the synopsis for The Last Hour Between Worlds and I have no doubt this will end up being one of my favourite fantasy books of 2024.

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A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett

I was exceedingly lucky to receive an early copy of A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett, which is one of the top books coming out in 2025.  The sequel to the exceptional fantasy crime fiction novel, The Tainted Cup (one of my favourite books from the first half of 2024), A Drop of Corruption will continue to follow two unlikely investigators as they attempt to uncover dire plots to their monster-besieged kingdom.  A Drop of Corruption is going to be such an epic novel, especially after Bennett blew me away with The Tainted Cup, and this will probably end up being one of my top reads of 2025.  I am going to enjoy this book as early as I can (probably once we hit 2025 proper), and I cannot wait to dive into its outstanding story.

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The Ascent by Adam Plantinga

An awesome and cool thriller debut that I have been meaning to check out all year, The Ascent sees a small group of survivors attempt to fight their way to the top floor of a rioting prison.  This sounds like a very fun and exciting book, and I cannot wait to dive into it.

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Exodus: The Archimedes Engine by Peter F. Hamilton

A massive and complex science fiction novel from iconic author Peter F. Hamilton, Exodus: The Archimedes Machine, sounds like a very interesting read and I hope that I get the chance to check it out.

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Unhallowed Halls by Lili Wilkinson

Another hit 2025 novel I was lucky enough to receive an early copy of was Unhallowed Halls by Lili Wilkinson.  A fun young adult dark academia novel that will see a young protagonist investigate a mysterious Scottish boarding school with a demonic edge to it, Unhallowed Halls sounds very entertaining, and I have really enjoyed Wilkinson’s other young adult books in the past (see my reviews for The Erasure Initiative and After the Lights Go Out).  I look forward to diving into this book and I cannot wait to see what complex narrative Wilkinson has come up with this time.

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Seven Recipes for Revolution by Ryan Rose

The final book I recently received that I want to highlight in this post is the awesome 2025 fantasy novel, Seven Recipes for Revolution by Ryan Rose.  An outstanding novel based around magical cooking, Seven Recipes for Revolution has so much potential, and I feel that it is going to be one of the more unique books of next year. 

 

 

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 – 27 November 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:

Endgame by Sarah Barrie (Trade Paperback)

I have just started reading the dark Australian thriller Endgame by Sarah Barrie. The final book in Barrie’s Lexi Winters series, Endgame sets an unconventional cop against a deadly killer in a revenge filled game of cat-and-mouse. I have only made a little progress on Endgame so far, but this will probably end up being one of the best Australian novels of 2024, and I look forward to seeing how the entire story comes together.

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Warhammer 40,000: Broken Crusade by Steven B. Fischer (Audiobook)

I didn’t make as much progress on the new Warhammer 40,000 audiobook, Broken Crusade by Steven B. Fischer, as I would have liked this week, but I am still really enjoying it.  Following on the grim and fanatical Black Templar Space Marine chapter, Broken Crusade really dives into the gothic elements of the Warhammer 40,000 novel to create a distinctive setting.  I am hoping to knock off Broken Crusade in the next few days and I cannot wait to see how Fischer brings it to an end.

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What did you recently finish reading?

Nobody’s Hero by M. W. Craven (Trade Paperback)

An over-the-top thriller that is easily one of the most entertaining books of 2024. Review to follow soon.

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Revenge of Rome by Simon Scarrow (Trade Paperback)

Another outstanding historical fiction outing from Simon Scarrow that had me hooked from the very beginning.  Highly recommended.

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What do you think you’ll read next?

Usagi Yojimbo: Volume 39: Ice and Snow by Stan Sakai

I’m very excited because I have a copy of the new Usagi Yojimbo volume, Ice and Snow, on its way.  One of my favourite comic series, I always deeply enjoy reading the new Usagi Yojimbo comic each year and I cannot wait to finally get my hands on Ice and Snow.  Set to feature a gripping new showdown between Usagi and his mortal enemy, the supernatural killer Jei, Ice and Snow should be a particularly epic entry in the series, and I am planning to read it the very second I get my hands on it.

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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 –Book Titles Containing Place Names

On By The Unseen LibraryIn List4 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, contributors are tasked with listing their ten favourite books that have a destination title, or a title that contains the name of a place.  This includes either fictional or non-fictional place names and serves as a rather interesting challenge for participating bloggers.

I had a fun pulling this latest list together, and it proved intriguing to dive through my various bookshelves to see what cool novels and comics I could find with the appropriate titles.  It turns out that there were quite a few books I have read that featured destinations or places in their titles, and I managed to come up with quite a unique list.  This post features an excellent blend of fictional and non-fictional place names, and I think they play off each other nicely.  While this list is a little heavy on books from my favourite authors and universes, I am happy with how everything turned out, and it represents a very Unseen Library take on the topic.  So let us see what made the cut.

Honourable Mentions:

Essex Dogs by Dan Jones

A fun name for a great historical read.

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The Moscow Offensive by Dale Brown

An outstanding thriller that pits Russians against the United States with advanced weaponry.

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Rome’s Sacred Flame by Robert Fabbri

A complex and entertaining historical fiction book that covers an insane period of Roman history.

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Warhammer 40,000: The Guns of Tanith by Dan Abnett

A particularly awesome Warhammer 40,000 novel.  The place name, Tanith, refers to the home planet of the main regiment of the book, although as it’s been destroyed at this point and more of a concept, I decided to only include this as an honourable mention.

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Top Ten List:

The Gates of Athens by Conn Iggulden

A great historical fiction book about the Persian wars in Greece and focuses on the turbulent politics of Athens during the period.

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The Last Smile in Sunder City by Luke Arnold

An intriguing fantasy debut from a talented Australian author.  The title references the main setting for the series, Sunder City, a formerly great magical city laid low by catastrophe.

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Warhammer 40,000: Siege of Vraks by Steve Lyons

I have a few Warhammer 40,000 novels in this list, as the franchise has a tendency to name books after war locations.  The planet of Vraks identified in the title was a fortress world, and this book recounts a particularly brutal siege to claim it.  An outstanding Warhammer 40,000 novel with a catchy title.

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Hill 112 by Adrian Goldsworthy

A complex and fascinating historical fiction book from earlier this year.  The titular Hill 112 was a vital World War II location in the early days of the Allies’ invasion of Normandy, and this book provides a powerful account of the battle to claim and hold it.

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Usagi Yojimbo: Duel at Kitanoji by Stan Sakai

I had to feature an Usagi Yojimbo comic on this list, and the one I chose was the brilliant and moving volume, Duel at Kitanoji.  Following the events that led up to a duel between two samurai masters that the protagonist deeply respects, this was a particularly impressive Usagi Yojimbo comic.  The place, Kitanoji, referenced in the title, was a shrine where the two duellists chose to fight to the death, and I think that it helps to create a memorable and complex name for this volume.

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The Secret Runners of New York by Mathew Reilly

An awesome young adult thriller that follows a group of students who follow secret pathways around New York to visit a future version of the city.

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Warhammer 40,000: The Fall of Cadia by Robert Rath

Another epic Warhammer 40,000 novel with a place name in the title is The Fall of Cadia by Robert Rath.  Recounting a major lore event in the Warhammer 40,000 canon, this book follows the last day of the iconic Warhammer world of Cadia as it faces its doom during the 13th Black Crusade.  A particularly impressive and captivating read, this was a very easy choice to include on this list.

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Traitors of Rome by Simon Scarrow

There were actually a few books in Simon Scarrow’s long-running Eagles of the Empire historical fiction series that featured Rome in the title, including the next, upcoming entry in the series, Revenge of Rome.  However, for the moment I have included the excellent novel, Traitors of Rome, which proved to be an exciting and intense addition to the series.

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A Darkness at Sethanon by Raymond E. Feist

A key book in Raymond E. Feist’s original Riftwar Cycle trilogy, this title refers to the major battle of the book that sees an epic confrontation at the town of Sethanon.

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Star Wars: Darth Vader: The Shu-Torun War by Kieron Gillen and Salvador Larroca

The final entry on this list is the very cool Star Wars comic, The Shu-Torun War.  Part of an extremely awesome series that focused on the iconic character of Darth Vader, The Shu-Torun War was a strong entry in the series that recounts Vader’s actions in brutally supressing a rebellion on the vital planet of Shu-Torun.  An impressive comic that takes the reader on a dark adventure, this was a fantastic addition to this list that I was glad I could include.

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That’s my latest list.  As you can see, there are some great books out there that feature titles with destinations included within.  I like the cool range of books and locations I picked out in the above list and proved to be a lot of fun to pull it together.  All the above books are fantastic reads as well, and you can have an amazing time getting through them.  In the meantime, let me know what your favourite books with destinations in the titles are in the comments below.

Top Ten Tuesday – Most Anticipated Books Releasing During the Second Half of 2024 (Mystery, Thriller and Historical Fiction)

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Historical Fiction, List, Murder Mystery, Thriller12 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.  In this list, I continue to examine my most anticipated releases for the second half of 2024.  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:

Confessions of the Dead by James Patterson and J. D. Barker – 2 July 2024

Confessions of the Dead Cover

An intriguing thriller from a team who previously produced the incredible novel, Death of the Black Widow.

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Capture or Kill by Don Bentley – 3 September 2024

Capture or Kill Cover

The iconic and action-packed Mitch Rapp series returns with a new author at the helm, as Don Bentley provides a compelling new adventure.

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Nobody’s Hero by M. W. Craven – 8 October 2024

Nobody's Hero Cover 2

An intriguing sounding follow up to Craven’s 2023 novel, Fearless, Nobody’s Hero sounds like a lot of fun.  I am looking forward to reading this book, especially as I am currently having an outstanding time reading Craven’s other 2024 book, The Mercy Chair.

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Endgame by Sarah Barrie – 30 October 2024

Endgame Cover

The fourth book in one of my favourite Australian series, Endgame will follow on from Barrie’s previous amazing reads, Unforgiven, Retribution and Vendetta.

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Top Ten List:

The Wrong Man by Tim Ayliffe – 3 July 2024

The Wrong Man Cover

The first book I want to highlight in this list is the excellent Australian thriller, The Wrong Man by Tim Ayliffe.  Following on from the author’s previous John Bailey books, The Greater Good, State of Fear, The Enemy Within and Killer Traitor Spy, The Wrong Man has a great mystery behind it that sounds extremely intriguing.  I already have a copy of this book, and I am very curious to see how it unfolds.

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Witness 8 by Steve Cavanagh – 13 August 2024

Witness 8 Cover

One of my favourite legal thriller authors, Steve Cavanagh, returns with another twisty and entertaining courtroom drama, Witness 8.  The eighth book in Cavanagh’s Eddie Flynn series, Witness 8 will see the conman turned defence attorney protagonist try to save an innocent man implicated by a witness with her own sinister agenda.  I have had an outstanding time with Cavanagh’s last several books, including The Devil’s Advocate, The Accomplice and Kill For Me Kill For You, and Witness 8 looks set to be another incredible read.

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Precipice by Robert Harris – 27 August 2024

Precipice Cover

Acclaimed author Robert Harris brings another infamous historical scandal to life with Precipice.  Set during World War I, Precipice will craft a spy thriller around the intriguing affair between Venetia Stanley and Prime Minister H. H. Asquith.  I am very curious to see what spin Harris puts on these events and it should be a very gripping book.

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Usagi Yojimbo: Volume 39: Ice and Snow by Stan Sakai – 10 September 2024

Usagi Yojimbo - Ice and Snow Cover

A key highlight of my reading year is always the new Usagi Yojimbo comic by Stan Sakai, which is one of my favourite comic series.  Luckily for me the new volume is nearly here with the 39th volume Ice and Snow coming out in September.  This new entry sounds particularly epic as it will pit the protagonist against his most deadly enemy, this time in the freezing snow.  I am very excited for this cool new comic, and I already know I am going to love it to death.

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King’s Enemy by Ian Ross – 12 September 2024

King's Enemy Cover

There is no way that I am missing out on the fantastic upcoming novel, King’s Enemy by historical fiction author Ian Ross.  The gripping final book in the de Norton trilogy, which has previously featured the amazing books Battle Song and War Cry, King’s Enemy will follow the now fugitive protagonist as he faces the consequences of supporting a rebellion against the crown.  This book looks to end the trilogy in an interesting way, and I cannot wait to see how this compelling adventure, set amid one of England’s more intriguing civil wars, concludes.

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We Solve Murders by Richard Osman – 17 September 2024

We Solve Murders Cover

Easily one of my most anticipated books for the second half of 2024 is the new Richard Osman book, We Solve Murders.  Osman has proven to be an exceptional author over the last few years with his Thursday Murder Club series, which includes The Thursday Murder Club (one of my favourite books, debuts and audiobooks of 2020), The Man Who Died Twice (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2021), The Bullet That Missed (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2022) and The Last Devil to Die (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2023).  All these books have been incredible, and I know that Osman’s new release, We Solve Murders is going to be just as good.  Focussing on a father/daughter investigative team, We Solve Murders has so much damn potential and I cannot wait to check it out.

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High Wire by Candice Fox – 24 September 2024

High Wire Cover

A gripping and high-stakes Australian thriller from the always impressive Candice Fox, High Wire will follow two explosive-rigged strangers in the Australian outback forced to complete a series of dangerous tasks.  Fox has been on a real roll this year, releasing the intense Devil’s Kitchen and the fun thriller The Murder Inn (with James Patterson), and I have no doubt that High Wire is also going to be very impressive.

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Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret by Benjamin Stevenson – 22 October 2024

Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret Cover 1

After blowing me away with his last two novels, Everyone in My Family has Killed Someone and Everyone on this Train is a Suspect, Australian author Benjamin Stevenson is producing another awesome read in 2024 with Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret.  A Christmas themed murder mystery treat that will once again showcase Stevenson’s wit and love for the mystery genre, Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret is going to be an outstanding read and I cannot wait to get my hands on it.

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The Waiting by Michael Connelly – 5 November 2024

The Waiting Cover

It wouldn’t be the second half of a year without a new crime fiction read from Michael Connelly.  In this case we have The Waiting, which will once again bring together two of Connelly’s best detectives as part of the Ballard and Bosch series.  This latest book will see the protagonists investigate several murders throughout L. A., including a compelling cold case.  However, readers are also in for a treat with double the Bosch, as Connelly brings Bosch’s daughter in as a main character for the first time.  I cannot wait to see how The Waiting unfolds, and it is probably going to be one of my favourite crime fiction reads of 2024.

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Revenge of Rome by Simon Scarrow – 7 November 2024

Revenge of Rome Cover

The final book I want to highlight in this list is the epic upcoming historical fiction novel, Revenge of Rome by Simon Scarrow.  The 23rd book in one of my all-time favourite series, Revenge of Rome will follow on from the chaotic events of Scarrow’s last two books, Death to the Emperor and Rebellion, which saw the destruction levelled by Boudica’s rebellion.  This new novel will force the protagonists to hunt down the defeated Queen Boudica, which will no doubt result in another harrowing and compelling adventure, especially as one protagonist has a dark connection to the fugitive queen.  I have no doubt this is going to be an outstanding book, and I cannot wait to read it.

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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 2024.  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 – Book with Plant/Nature Themed Titles

On By The Unseen LibraryIn List7 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.  In this week’s Top Ten Tuesday, participants are tasked with listing their favourite books that have either covers or titles with things found in nature, be that plant, trees, animals, woodland features, or bodies of water.  Since I’ve done a few lists with similar topics in the past, I decided to place a bit of a handicap on myself and focus this list entirely on books with plant themed titles.  This resulted in an interesting list filled with some great books that I had an awesome time reading.

To qualify for this list, the book had to have some form of plant related word or theme in its title, such as trees, flowers, or other plant terms.  I made sure to especially focus on those titles where the plant reference had some relevance to the plot of the book, as that made their inclusion even more important.  This proved to be a bit of a hard list to come up with as I apparently have not read as many books that featured plants in the title as I had hoped.  However, I was eventually able to come up with ten excellent books to include on this list, including a few releases from some of my favourite authors.  So let us see what has made the cut.

Top Ten Tuesday:

Silverthorn by Raymond E. Feist

Silverthorn Cover 2

Let’s start this list off with a true classic, Silverthorn by Raymond E. Feist.  The sequel to Feist’s iconic debut novel, Magician, Silverthorn is a complex and powerful read that masterfully continues the great story started in the first book.  The title, Silverthorn, refers to a magical plant which the protagonists need to find to save a princess from dying.  An amazing read and a great first entry to this list.

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The Lion: Son of the Forest by Mike Brooks

The Lion - Son of the Forest Cover

An outstanding piece of Warhammer 40,000 fiction that saw a legendary figure return when humanity needs him most.  The forest featured in the title has some interesting and symbolic implications on the plot, and I was glad I got to feature this book on this list.

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Desert Star by Michael Connelly

Desert Star Cover

One of the latest books from legendary crime fiction author Michael Connelly, Desert Star is an outstanding later addition to his Ballard and Bosch combo series, that followed two of his best detective characters as they investigate several cold cases.  Desert Star refers to the flower of the same name, which appears near the desert graves of the book’s victims, which makes it a pretty killer title.

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Son of the Poison Rose by Jonathan Maberry

Son of the Poison Rose Cover

One of the first books I thought of when I came up with this list was Son of the Poison Rose by Jonathan Maberry.  The sequel to the epic dark fantasy novel Kagen the Damned, Son of the Poison Rose was an outstanding book, loaded with action, revenge and some truly dark moments.  A highly recommended read with a compelling title behind it.

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The Grove of the Caesars by Lindsey Davis

The Grove of the Caesars Cover

I just had to include The Grove of the Caesars by Lindsey Davis on this list.  An outstanding part of the Flavia Albia historical murder mystery series, The Grove of the Caesars had a gripping plot about a series of murders taking place in the titular grove.  This was one of Davis’ best mysteries, and I loved how well she explored the historical grove and featured it within the novel.

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Usagi Yojimbo: Grasscutter by Stan Sakai

Usagi Yojimbo - Grasscutter Cover

A particularly impressive entry in the always amazing Usagi Yojimbo comic series.  Grasscutter is a major volume, that sees various figures from the Usagi Yojimbo world fight over the legendary lost royal sword, Grasscutter.  I’m slightly cheating here by including the name of a sword rather than a specific plant, however, I feel that it should count, especially considering how the sword got its iconic name.

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The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

The Priory of the Orange Tree Cover

A classic and powerful fantasy novel with a unique title.  I am sure that many fantasy fans are featuring The Priory of the Orange Tree on their lists this week.

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The Ghost Orchid by Jonathan Kellerman

The Ghost Orchid Cover (2)

One of the latest books I’ve read that was eligible for this list.  The Ghost Orchid was the most recent Alex Delaware novel by Jonathan Kellerman and featured a brilliant and complex murder mystery plot.  The ghost orchid referenced in the title had some interesting and symbolic implications on the plot, and it proved to be a great inclusion for this list.

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Bloody Rose by Nicholas Eames

Bloody Rose Cover

An awesome fantasy novel I had the pleasure of reading a few years ago, Bloody Rose is a pretty damn epic book about a group of celebrity mercenaries.

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The Lion and the Rose by Kate Quinn

The Lion and the Rose Cover

The final book on this list is the compelling historical fiction novel, The Lion and the Rose by Kate Quinn.  Another book that features the rose in its title, The Lion and the Rose was a gripping read that followed members of the infamous Borgia family, and the people who got caught up in their schemes.  An exceptional read and a fantastic inclusion for this list.

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Well, that’s the end of this list.  As you can see, I have read some pretty amazing books that feature plants or plant references in their titles.  All the above books come highly recommended, and I really appreciate how well their plant themed titles perfectly reflect key elements of the books.  Make sure to let me know what your favourite book with a plant title is in the comments below.

Waiting on Wednesday – Usagi Yojimbo: Volume 39: Ice and Snow by Stan Sakai

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Comics/Manga, 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 my latest Waiting on Wednesday, I look at the exciting upcoming volume of one of my favourite comic book series with Usagi Yojimbo: Ice and Snow by the legendary Stan Sakai.

Usagi Yojimbo - Ice and Snow Cover

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Anyone familiar with my blog will know I am a huge, huge fan of the outstanding Usagi Yojimbo comic series.  Set in an alternate version of Feudal Japan populated by anthropomorphic animals the Usagi Yojimbo series follows rabbit ronin Miyamoto Usagi, as he travels the wilds, encountering all manner of trouble.  Written and drawn by the highly acclaimed Stan Sakai, Usagi Yojimbo features some exceptionally beautiful artwork, clever stories, and unique Japanese cultural and mythological elements that help to produce an incredible comic.

I have been a fan of this series for years, and I currently own every single volume which I constantly re-read.  I have also had an amazing time reviewing this series ever since I started my blog, starting back in 2018 when I reviewed the 32nd volume Mysteries.  This led to me reviewing every subsequent volume that came out after 2018, and I have also been working my way through the prior volumes as part of my Throwback Thursday range.  I have been particularly enjoying some of the more recent volumes, especially as publisher IDW released them in colour, including Bunraku and Other Stories (one of my favourite books of 2020), Homecoming (one of my favourite books of 2021), Tengu War! and Crossroads (both of which were among my favourite books of 2022) and The Green Dragon (one of my favourite books of 2023).

Due to how much of a fan I am of this series, I am always excited when I see that a new comic is coming out, and we are getting a very interesting sounding addition to the series in 2024 with the 39th volume, Ice and Snow.  Set for release in September 2024, Ice and Snow will see the Usagi Yojimbo series return to Dark Horse comics, who previously published the series for 22 years (from volume 8: Shades of Death to Volume 33: The Hidden).  It will be interesting to see how the series changes when it returns to Dark Horse, and I am already very keen for this upcoming volume, especially as it has an amazing sounding plot behind it.

Plot Synopsis:

Following the events of “The Green Dragon,” Usagi and Yukichi are still in the snowy mountaintops of Northern Japan.

They are led to the hut of a strange woman hermit who allows them to spend the night. Meanwhile, the maniacal Jei and his familiar, Keiko, are on Usagi’s trail, and they stumble upon a bandit lair and subdue the band of cutthroats and thieves.

Stan Sakai brings his beloved rabbit ronin series back to Dark Horse—featuring full color by colorist team Hi-Fi!

Collects Usagi Yojimbo: Ice and Snow #1–#5.

There is a lot to love about this intriguing upcoming volume.  Not only does it look like Ice and Snow is only going to feature one story, a reliable indicator of an epic Usagi Yojimbo volume, but the plot sounds extremely intense.  There have been some great Usagi Yojimbo adventures lately, and Ice and Snow will probably be a particularly deadly one as it builds on some fantastic story elements from the last few entries  I love that Usagi is still accompanied by his cousin, Yukichi, as the two have made for an interesting duo, and I look forward to seeing more of Sakai’s amazing artwork of the snowy mountain tops of Northern Japan.  However, the main reason why I think that Ice and Snow is going to be great, is that it features the return of the series’ best villain, Jei.

Since his introduction in the third volume, The Wanderer’s Road, Jei has been a particularly deadly and memorable foe.  Portrayed as a dark warrior obsessed with lethal justice and guided by divine voices, the character of Jei appears to live on the borders between the natural and the supernatural.  Thanks to his obsession with Usagi, the two have crossed paths multiple times, and Jei is routinely the only foe that terrifies Usagi, especially as he keeps coming back from the dead, much like the character he is based on (Jei is an homage to Jason from the Friday the 13th franchise).  Pretty much any story that has a version of Jei in it is amazing, and you have to love how creepy Sakai makes him, especially as he now travels around with an innocent little girl.  It has been quite a while since Usagi and Jei faced off, with their last major battle occurring in the 12th volume Grasscutter, although Usagi did encounter a version of Jei possessing one of his friends in Volume 24, Return of the Dark Soul.  As such, this is a showdown long in the making, and the constant hints about Jei in recent volumes have only heightened anticipation.  I cannot wait to see Usagi and Jei come together again, especially as the protagonist will likely be emotionally and physically damaged by the encounter.

I think my fanboy ramblings above make it clear that I am very excited for the next Usagi Yojimbo volume.  Ice and Snow has a ton of potential in my opinion, and I cannot wait to get my hands on it.  Not only is this going to feature Sakai’s usual amazing art, characters and story, but the dark, emotionally charged confrontations that are bound to occur should be extremely amazing.  As such, Ice and Snow is a must-read for me, and I have no doubt it will be one of my favourite things I read in 2024.