Tag: Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday – Serenity Falls by C. J. Tudor

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Welcome to my weekly segment, Waiting on Wednesday, where I look at upcoming books that I am planning to order and review in the next few months and which I think I will really enjoy.  Stay tuned to see reviews of these books when I get a copy of them.  This week I’m doing several Waiting on Wednesday posts, and the final upcoming book I want to highlight is the excellent and sure-to-be spooky thriller, Serenity Falls by C. J. Tudor

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C. J. Tudor is a talented and highly inventive author who has been releasing some intriguing reads over the last couple of years. Starting with her 2018 debut, The Chalk Man, Tudor has consistently produced some compelling books with clever horror or psychological thriller elements. Her other books include The Hiding Place (also titled The Taking of Annie Thorne), The Other People, The Burning Girls and The Drift.

I personally became a fan of Tudor when I read her latest book, The Gathering, an intriguing murder mystery with a great vampiric twist behind it.  The Gathering proved to be quite an exceptional read, and it ended up being one of my favourite books of 2024.  After this great first experience from Tudor, I am extremely keen to read from her, and it looks like I’m going to get the chance later this year.  That’s because Tudor’s next novel Serenity Falls, is coming out in September 2026.

Set to feature a unique horror plot, Serenity Falls will follow a small family who travel to the titular town in the United States.  Unsurprisingly, Serenity Falls is far from the safe and happy town everyone believes it to be, and it looks like Tudor has come up with a compelling and freaky array discoveries to push her protagonists over the edge.  I’m personally very curious to see where this unique story goes, and I have a feeling that Tudor has cooked up something quite disturbing and addictive in this upcoming novel.  As such, I have very high hopes for Serenity Falls, and I have a feeling it is going to be one of the very best books of 2026.

Plot Synopsis:

Welcome to Serenity Falls – the most idyllic, and safest, town in the US – a place to grow up, grow your family and grow old together. For Dan and his daughter, Sadie, it’s the perfect relocation option. A fresh start, thousands of miles from their troubled past in the UK.

But their idyll is shattered when they find a dead body in the swimming pool of their new house – a house Dan’s late mother kept secret from him all his life.

It’s just the start of a series of disturbing discoveries. Abandoned houses where people have seemingly just upped and left. The strange woman Sadie sees around town putting up ‘missing’ posters for a child who drowned almost thirty years ago. An ice cream van that drives around at night making sure residents are asleep…

As plans gear up to celebrate Serenity Falls’ fiftieth anniversary, something is stirring beneath the surface of the blissful façade. Is Serenity Falls really the perfect town or is it founded on something far darker? And is someone so desperate to keep its secrets that they’d resort to anything to preserve them?

Welcome to Serenity Falls.
Once you’re here, you’re here to stay.

Waiting on Wednesday – Scion by James Islington

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Welcome to my weekly segment, Waiting on Wednesday, where I look at upcoming books that I am planning to order and review in the next few months and which I think I will really enjoy.  Stay tuned to see reviews of these books when I get a copy of them.  This week I’m doing several different Waiting on Wednesday posts, including my first one for Upon the Forge of Battle by Anthony Ryan.  I’m following up this fun fantasy adventure with a cool science fiction thriller from a rising Australian author, with Scion by James Islington.

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

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

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

Plot Synopsis:

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

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

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

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

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

Still, what could go wrong?

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

Waiting on Wednesday – Upon the Forge of Battle by Anthony Ryan

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Welcome to my weekly segment, Waiting on Wednesday, where I look at upcoming books that I am planning to order and review in the next few months and which I think I will really enjoy.  Stay tuned to see reviews of these books when I get a copy of them.  This week I’m actually going to do a few Waiting on Wednesday posts to make up for my recent shortfall in updates.  As such, I’m starting this ultra-Wednesday post series off strong with one my most anticipated books for 2026, the epic upcoming fantasy novel Upon the Forge of Battle by Anthony Ryan.

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In recent years, one of my favourite fantasy authors has been veteran writer Anthony Ryan.  Known for several intriguing and varied series, I become a fan of Ryan when I started reading The Covenant of Steel trilogy.  Following a young bandit turned scribe, who finds himself taking on many roles in his chronicled adventures, including that of knight, spy, rebel and heretical traitor, The Covenant of Steel series was a really impressive example of fantasy fiction, and I had an incredible time with The Pariah (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2021), The Martyr (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2022), and The Traitor (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2023), all of which were five-star reads.

Due to how much I loved these amazing novels, I was very excited in 2024 when Ryan released the first book in the Age of Wrath series, which served as a sequel to the Covenant of Steel books.  The first Age of Wrath novel, A Tide of Black Steel, is set a couple of decades after the events of The Traitor and builds on some of the events of the first series, while also featuring its own unique story.  I really enjoyed A Tide of Black Steel, which veered away from the chronicle style of the previous trilogy, and instead set out a Norse saga inspired tale of adventure and war and it ended up being one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2024.  Ryan followed this first Age of Wrath novel up in a big way last year with Born of an Iron Storm.  A compelling book that perfectly followed on from the twists of the first book and saw the protagonists continue their journeys of self-discovery, Born of an Iron Storm was another impressive read, and it ended up being one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2025.

Unsurprisingly after having such a great time with the previous Age of Wrath novels, I’m quite invested in seeing how the series concludes, which it is set to do later this year with Upon the Forge of Battle.  The third entry in the trilogy, Upon the Forge of Battle will deliver the final batch of carnage and intrigue, as the series’ four fantastic protagonists each encounter their true destinies.

Plot Synopsis:

As the Age of Wrath reaches its bloody conclusion, the world will be reforged in steel and fire …

Thera Blackspear was once champion to the Sister Queens. Now she’s a queen herself, with Elvine as her spear maiden, wielding a weapon forged by the gods. But while the traitorous Sister Lore plots in the shadows, Ascarlia will never be safe.

Felnir has won a crown of his own and forged a kingdom at the tip of his divine blade. Yet his dreams are troubled by visions of the brother he thought long dead. A brother who needs his help, and whom Felnir would give anything to save—even his hard-won kingship.

Ruhlin’s many victories have made him a hero to the Morvek, who believe he is the prophesied saviour who will overthrow their Nihlvarian enemies. But now he finds himself a prisoner of the Vortigurn, the King of Nihlvar, who has secrets and schemes of his own. Secrets that could unmake the world.

I love the sound of this new awesome novel from Ryan, and I think it has a narrative with a lot of potential.  While there aren’t too many surprising details captured in the above synopsis, it’s clear that Ryan has some big plans when it comes to finalising this series and I’m very curious to see how each of the four storylines come together.  I’m expecting a lot more crossover between these character arcs in this novel, and I’ll also be interested in seeing if certain characters from the Covenant of Steel novels appear.  All this looks set to produce a pretty epic overarching story, and I have faith that it’s going to be very special.

Thanks to how deeply enjoyed the previous entries in this series, there is no way I won’t be grabbing Upon the Forge of Battle later this year.  Anthony Ryan has set up some awesome narrative threads that I cannot wait to see resolved, and I am expecting even more carnage, treachery and complex character resolutions in this upcoming novel.  Likely to be one of my favourite fantasy novels of 2026, Upon the Forge of Battle is going to be good and I plan to read it the first chance I get.

Waiting on Wednesday – Hide and Seek by Chris Carter

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Welcome to my weekly segment, Waiting on Wednesday, where I look at upcoming books that I am planning to order and review in the next few months and which I think I will really enjoy.  Stay tuned to see reviews of these books when I get a copy of them.  In my latest Waiting on Wednesday, I highlight an excellent upcoming thriller with some dark twists to it, with Hide and Seek by Chris Carter.

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Regular readers of this blog will know that I have a certain love for unusual or unique thrillers, especially those that promise to take the reader to compelling and unexpected places.  This has led me to some truly wonderful books over the years and the next novel this love for distinctive thrillers is steering me towards is the intriguing upcoming release, Hide and Seek.

Hide and Seek is a very awesome sounding read, that will be the first standalone novel from author Chris Carter, who is best known for his acclaimed Robert Hunter novels.  Moving away from chasing killers and monsters in LA, Carter’s new novel will be a gripping and complex read about revenge and psychological torture, as a woman tries to escape the elaborate revenge of her abusive husband.

Set for release in July 2026, Hide and Seek has a very interesting plot behind it and it’s one that I think has a ton of potential.  I am extremely curious to see how this compelling story idea unfolds, and it sounds like it is going to be a truly insane and twisty read.  As such, Hide and Seek is a book I am very excited to read in the second half of 2026, and I look forward to reading my first novel from Chris Carter.

Plot Synopsis:

What if nothing in your life is what it appears to be?

After being trapped in an abusive marriage, Sam Stewart finally manages to gather enough courage to take her husband, Nelson, to court. But before he is sent to prison, he makes her a promise: ‘I will be coming for you. No matter how long it takes.’

And Nelson Stewart isn’t one to make empty promises.

Sam is granted a new name and a new identity. As Mary Smith she moves across the country to start life afresh, but she knows full well what her ex-husband is capable of – and that his reach stretches far beyond prison walls.

What was supposed to be a new beginning for Mary becomes the biggest cat and mouse game of her life, where nothing is quite what it appears to be, where she HIDES and he SEEKS, however long it takes, because to some, revenge can be an art form.

Waiting on Wednesday – Monsters of Ohio by John Scalzi

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Welcome to my weekly segment, Waiting on Wednesday, where I look at upcoming books that I am planning to order and review in the next few months and which I think I will really enjoy.  Stay tuned to see reviews of these books when I get a copy of them.  For this week’s Waiting on Wednesday, I highlight one of the more crazy and fun looking science fiction novels coming out in the second half of 2026, with Monsters of Ohio by John Scalzi.

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In recent years, one of the more entertaining and enjoyable authors of science fiction that I have become a fan of is the always reliably quirky John Scalzi.  A veteran science fiction author who has been providing his unique take on the genre for years, Scalzi is best known for his Old Man’s War and The Interdependency series.  In addition to these established, long-running series, Scalzi has also written a range of distinctive standalone science fiction novels that provide interesting takes on the world, as well as satirising certain elements of pop culture.  I have had a wonderful time reading novels like Redshirts, The Kaiju Preservation Society, Starter Villain and When the Moon Hits Your Eye, which had some amazing and very memorable plot ideas behind them.

All Scalzi’s books that I have had the pleasure of reading have proven to be particularly awesome, with my favourite probably being Redshirts (I love a good Star Trek parody), and I’ve been really trying to read any new books from the author when they come out.  As such, when I saw that Scalzi had a new book coming out in 2026, it instantly flew towards the top of my must-read list.

This new upcoming novel from Scalzi is the tantalizingly titled Monsters of Ohio, which features a very fun cover that matches the outrageous energy of the title.  Currently set for release in November 2026, Monsters of Ohio has a very interesting plot behind it, as cosmic horrors appear amongst the simple people of rural America with chaotic result.

Plot Synopsis:

Richland, Ohio is the same tiny, sleepy rural community it’s been for the last 150 years. But times are hard, as social and economic forces roil the once-placid town.

Now Richland, Ohio is primed to explode – just not in the way anyone expected. Because in Richland, the revolution doesn’t start with a protest. It starts with growing tentacles.

Mike Boyd left Richland decades ago, to find his own way in the world. But when he’s called back to his hometown to tie up loose ends, he finds more going on than he bargained for. He becomes caught up in a sequence of events that will bring this tiny farm village to the attention of the entire world . . . and, perhaps, spell its doom.

This is a very intriguing plot for Monsters of Ohio, and it’s certainly got my attention.  I love the idea of a small town going through economic hard times becomes the target of something a lot stranger and out of this world, and with Scalzi’s trademark wit and cynicism thrown in, it should result in a fascinating and captivating read.  As such, I’m very excited to read Monsters of Ohio later this year, and if it’s as entertaining as Scalzi’s previous books, I’m in for an exceptional time when I get my hands on it.

Waiting on Wednesday – Eight Tastes of Treachery by Ryan Rose

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Welcome to my weekly segment, Waiting on Wednesday, where I look at upcoming books that I am planning to order and review in the next few months and which I think I will really enjoy.  Stay tuned to see reviews of these books when I get a copy of them.  In my latest Waiting on Wednesday post, I highlight a very fun upcoming fantasy novel that is likely to be one of the top sequels of the year with Eight Tastes of Treachery by Ryan Rose.

Last year I had the very great pleasure of reading the cool fantasy debut novel, Seven Recipes for Revolution.  The first book from author Ryan Rose, Seven Recipes for Revolution was a gripping and unique read that followed a magical, but lower-class, chef, who found himself in the centre of a revolution.  A compelling novel with a very clever and tasty concept behind it, Seven Recipes for Revolution was an outstanding book, and it ended up being one of my top debuts of 2025.

Due to how awesome I found Rose’s first novel to be, I have been eagerly awaiting a second novel from the author for a while, and I was very excited when I found out that he had a sequel to Seven Recipes for Revolution coming out this year.  This sequel, Eight Tastes of Treachery, is set for release in July 2026, and looks set to be another epic fantasy novel that will take the food-based magic and class warfare of this distinctive fantasy world in a whole new direction.

Plot Synopsis:

Monster Hunter and Empire of the Vampire collide in the adventurous sequel to Seven Recipes for Revolution, guaranteed to make you crave delicious fantasy dishes.

Three years after eating the rich, Paprick Bessa is an infamous warchef known as the Butcher. Numbed by grief and war with the ousted rulers, Paprick no longer enjoys cooking and can’t create new recipes. So when Ranch finally reaches a tenuous ceasefire with the Rare, Paprick seizes the chance to reheat his passions, opening a restaurant with a menu all his own.

But conspiracy interrupts the opening night, his own emphon destroy the restaurant, and all signs point to the neighbouring Empire of the Badgeboar. Whoever orchestrated this threatens to destroy everything Paprick and Ranch’s common fought for, and the Butcher leaves no threat breathing. To find the attacker and stop another all-out war, Paprick, his partner Cori, and his kitchen brigade journey west to curry favour with the Empire’s questionable elite and investigate its mysterious religions.

Treacherous forces and dire prophecies lie in wait for Paprick’s arrival, and all the while, the Rare re-arm in the east. Facing magics and flavours unlike any he’s ever tasted, Paprick will have to choose what matters most: his people, his passions, or his partner. He can’t save all three.

I like the sound of this cool plot for Eight Tastes of Treachery, which I think has a ton of potential.  An intriguing and complex sounding follow-up to the narrative from Seven Recipes for Revolution, this new plot sounds extremely awesome, and I cannot wait to see how it leads up to the dark future we’ve already seen in parts of the first book.  The continued dive into the food-based magic of this world, including some alternate regional recipes is going to be very interesting, and I’m curious to see how this will impact the plot.  I’m also keen to see Rose’s dive into the impacts years of war will have on his protagonist, especially as we’ll likely see it from multiple angles thanks to the series’ chronicle style format.  As such, I’m very excited to read Eight Tastes of Treachery later this year, and I cannot wait to see how Rose continues to develop as a writer.  A sure to be outstanding read from a great rising author!

Waiting on Wednesday – 138 Main Street by Gavin Bell

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Welcome to my weekly segment, Waiting on Wednesday, where I look at upcoming books that I am planning to order and review in the next few months and which I think I will really enjoy.  Stay tuned to see reviews of these books when I get a copy of them.  For this latest Waiting on Wednesday, I highlight a cool upcoming thriller with the awesome sounding 138 Main Street by Gavin Bell.

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I like to think that over the years I have more than proven my love for unique thrillers with intriguing or distinct plot ideas that are near guaranteed to produce amazing and highly entertaining reads.  As such, I always keep an eye out for these sorts of books, and few upcoming novels fit the bill more than the epic 2026 release 138 Main Street, the debut novel of new author Gavin Bell.

Set for release in May 2026, 138 Main Street features a very fun crime fiction concept, when a serial killer starts targeting people around the United States who live at a specific address, the titular 138 Main Street.  However, because of the sheer quantity of main streets in America, the FBI are unable to predict where the killer will strike next, resulting in nationwide panic, vigilante violence and more, as the killer plots a revolution.

I love this fantastic plot idea, which is honestly extremely brilliant and entertaining.  If Bell can back up this cool concept with an equally outrageous narrative and some great writing, then I think that 138 Main Street has the potential to be one of the more memorable and impressive crime fiction debuts of the year.  I cannot wait to see how this interesting new book unfolds, and 138 Main Street is sure to be an outstanding read.

Plot Synopsis:

138 MAIN

AN ADDRESS TO DIE FOR…

There’s a killer on the loose. And he’s targeting one specific address—138 Main Street. The problem? There are over 7,000 Main Streets in the USA. And the police and FBI have no clue which one will be next.

For FBI Special Agent Ben Walker and his rookie colleague, Officer Zoe Hill, the pressure to solve the case is unimaginable. There aren’t enough police officers to cover every house, and vigilante residents are attacking anyone who rings their doorbell. Main Street might be one of America’s most popular addresses, but for those living at number 138, it comes down to fight or flight.

Then a manuscript is sent to the New York Times, purporting to be the manifesto of the “Main Street Killer” and demanding radical social change. As the effect of the terror campaign takes hold across the nation, Walker and Hill find themselves in a race against time to stop the killer. But with their target always several steps ahead, and almost 3,800,000 square miles of ground to cover, they’ll have to find him first…

Waiting on Wednesday – The Dungeon Book by Gareth Hanrahan

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Fantasy, Waiting on Wednesday1 Comment

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 a hilarious sounding upcoming fantasy novel with the very interesting read The Dungeon Book by Gareth Hanrahan.

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I’m always on the lookout for fun and unique sounding fantasy novels, and the second half of 2026 has something very special with a new release from acclaimed fantasy author Gareth Hanrahan.  Known for his Black Iron Legacy (which started with his debut The Gutter Prayer) and his Lands of the Firstborn series, Hanrahan has written some very interesting novels over the years, but one of his craziest books could be his next, the upcoming standalone novel The Dungeon Book.

Set for release in August 2026, The Dungeon Book (as told by Cornelius the Skull) will turn the tables on tradition dungeon-focused fantasy stories by telling the story from the perspective of the monsters who inhabit them, including a young human girl with the amusing, if concerning, name of Bait, who is raised by the dungeon denizens and calls them family.  However, when treasure hunters and adventurers start to invade the dungeon, Bait finds herself caught between two worlds and must determine just how monstrous she truly is.

Plot Synopsis:

A young girl is left to die in a wizard’s dungeon but finds a new home with the monsters around her in this humorous and heartfelt standalone epic fantasy from acclaimed author Gareth Hanrahan.

Enter a world of dungeons and dragons, magic and manticores, and goblins and gargoyles . . .

Bait doesn’t remember a time before the dungeon. Before the dragon stole her from her cot. She doesn’t know what her name was before she was handed over to the monstrous denizens of the dungeon beneath the sorcerer’s tower. Luckily for Bait, they decided not to eat her. And so she grew up in the dark – the goblins her adopted family, a vengeful minotaur her protector, a sentient skull her tutor, and a blob of corridor slime her main source of nutrition.

But the labyrinthine dungeon, with its haunted halls, buried temples and forgotten magics, draws treasure hunters like moths to flame. And as the outside world starts to intrude, Bait will learn what it means to be monstrous and she will have to decide where she truly belongs.

I really love the sound of The Dungeon Book, which I think has a ton of potential.  Looking set to combine unique characters with an entertaining fantasy narrative, The Dungeon Book will likely be a hilarious and highly inventive read, that will be both amusing and heartwarming.  I love the idea of seeing a character raised by monsters, especially when they’ll then have to overcome the best, and worst, of humanity.  Sure to be one of the most compelling reads of the year, I think that The Dungeon Book has a ton of potential, especially with Gareth Hanrahan’s amazing imagination behind it, and it is currently one of the top books I am looking forward to in the second half of 2026.

Waiting on Wednesday – The Infinite State by Richard Swan

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Welcome to my weekly segment, Waiting on Wednesday, where I look at upcoming books that I am planning to order and review in the next few months and which I think I will really enjoy.  Stay tuned to see reviews of these books when I get a copy of them.  For this latest Waiting on Wednesday, I highlight an intriguing upcoming science fiction novel from a particularly impressive author, with The Infinite State by Richard Swan.

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Few fantasy authors have been as successful in recent years as writer Richard Swan.  A very talented author with some unique stories under his belt, Swan has gained a lot of positive attention in recent years with his Empire of the Wolf series, which started in 2022 with The Justice of Kings.  A complex series that examined law and order in a crumbling fantasy empire, the Empire of the Wolf books proved to be very popular, enough so that Swan is currently following up the original trilogy with his The Great Silence sequel series, which examines a whole new era for his established world.

While I am more familiar with his fantasy fiction work, Swan also has a bit of experience with science fiction, which is what this Waiting on Wednesday post is primarily going to focus on, as he has an intriguing new novel in the genre coming out later this year.  That book is The Infinite State, a complex upcoming read that will take a compelling look at space fascism and one woman’s attempt to bring the whole twisted system down.  Set for release in late July 2026, The Infinite State has a fascinating plot idea behind it, which I am very curious to check out.

Plot Synopsis:

Sunday Times bestselling author Richard Swan is back with a blistering and fraught science fiction epic.

In this blistering science fiction epic, Sunday Times bestselling author Richard Swan presents a thrilling tale of survival and an eviscerating examination of totalitarianism.

WHO GIVES YOU LIFE?
PATER AETERNUS.

Katherine Fuller’s husband is dead. As an esteemed member of Pater Aeternus – governing party of the fascist, galaxy-spanning Decurion Empire – he has left behind an estate of immeasurable wealth. And Katherine is going to inherit it.

WHO GIVES YOU PURPOSE?
PATER AETERNUS.

Life under the Eternal Father is rigidly stratified, surveilled, and controlled – each new day to be endured, not lived. But with Katherine’s newfound fortune, she is presented with a rare and dangerous opportunity: purchase a virgin world, and create a better, fairer society.

WHO GIVES YOU JOY?
PATER AETERNUS.

But the Empire cannot allow its wayward daughter to succeed. And as Katherine works in secret, recruiting allies she’s not even sure she can trust, she will discover exactly how far Pater Aeternus is willing to go to stop her. Because Katherine is going to create something nobody has seen for many years.

A democracy.

1984 meets The Man in the High Castle in gripping sci-fi The Infinite State from Richard Swan, which begins at a flashpoint in the lives of a widowed party member, a disgraced investigator, and a hypersled pilot – entangled in a plot to escape the suffocating authority of a fascist state.

 Now this sounds like quite an interesting and socially relevant science fiction novel, and it’s one that I am currently quite excited for.  A complex narrative about overthrowing fascism and trying to create your own democratic world has a lot of potential, and it will be cool to see the interplay between science fiction elements and political intrigue in The Infinite State’s plot.  Swan has long proven his ability to create complex and layered fiction worlds and empires, but I’ll be curious to see him dive into the future and explore the dark possibilities that exist there.  There is a lot of possibilities contained within a setting like this, and I’m sure that the resulting story will be particularly interesting and addictive.

Based on my previous positive experiences with Richard Swan, as well as the compelling new narrative suggested in the above synopsis, The Infinite State has definitely piqued my curiosity, is currently very high on my to-read list for the second half of the year.  Sure to combine complex intrigue and machinations with a dark futuristic setting, The Infinite State looks set to be a particularly awesome 2026 novel, and I cannot wait to check it out.

Waiting on Wednesday – A Trade of Blood by Robert Jackson Bennett

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Fantasy, Murder Mystery, Waiting on Wednesday1 Comment

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.  In this latest Waiting on Wednesday post, I highlight an exceptional upcoming fantasy crime novel I already know is going to be one of the top books of the year with A Trade of Blood by Robert Jackson Bennett.

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Over the last couple of years, few authors have impressed me as much as the incredible Robert Jackson Bennett.  An established fantasy author with some outstanding series under his belt, Bennett has been wowing readers for years with his complex and elaborate stories.  However, it is Bennett’s latest series that has really showed the world just how good he is, with the incredible Shadow of the Leviathan series.

Set in a fantasy empire constantly besieged by giant sea monsters, the Shadow of the Leviathan series feature exceptionally clever fantasy crime novels that see an unnaturally gifted investigator and her troubled assistant solve impossible murders that threaten to sabotage the safety of the nation.  The series started with The Tainted Cup that perfectly introduced the characters and the setting, while also featuring a great story of murder, deceit and intrigue.  Thanks to its clever fantasy elements out outstanding mystery, The Tainted Cup ended up being one of my favourite books of 2024, and I had such a great time getting through this incredible read.  Due to how awesome the first book in the series was, I ended up reading the sequel, A Drop of Corruption as soon as I could last year.  This sequel ended up being just as good, if not better, than the first book in the series, and I loved the new elaborate mystery and scenario that Bennett came up with.  A Drop of Corruption ended up getting another five-star rating from me, as well as being one of my favourite books of 2025.

After having such an incredible time with the first two Shadow of the Leviathan books, I’ve made sure to keep an eye out for the next book in the series, and I am very happy that a third entry is coming out soon.  This next entry is the very promisingly titled A Trade of Blood, which is currently set for release in August 2026.  Featuring another awesome fantasy crime narrative, A Trade of Blood has a ton of potential, and I really love the sound of this cool upcoming novel.

Plot Synopsis:

In the canton of Sapirdad, two of the Empire’s most powerful families are moments away from going to war with each other, their hundreds of retainers gathered with swords drawn. If blood is spilled, the whole of the empire may be plunged into starvation and chaos.

To deescalate matters, someone must do the impossible: prove that one family’s eldest son is innocent of a gruesome and unforgivable murder, despite the incontrovertible evidence against him.

It is with this undertaking that the great detective Ana Dolabra is tasked, her assistant Din at her side—and the two find themselves racing with great speed and little dignity to the scene.

As ever, the impossible proves little obstacle for the deadly combination of Ana’s intellect and Din’s keen eye, and mere hours after riding into the dusty town, Ana glimpses the greater pattern behind the crime. A deeper, subtler web of death is being woven in plain sight, by a mastermind with an ancient magical technology at his disposal.

But even Ana’s uncanny insight is of little use when each new suspect she uncovers ends up dead–with each new killing calculated to bring tensions between the two rival clans past the boiling point. And as Din pursues their adversary through the canton’s wild ranges, sprawling ranches, and reeking slaughterhouses, he finds his loyalties divided in unexpected ways.

I already love the sound of A Trade of Blood, and it looks like Bennett has another outstanding fantasy murder mystery in store for us.  This upcoming novel has a great synopsis behind it, and I am very curious to see both the initial crime that the protagonists need to uncover to avoid a civil war, as well as the resulting killings that intend to stoke the conflict even further.  It will be very interesting to see the protagonists, Ana and Din, try to solve this case while dealing with their own issues at the same time, and I am very curious to see how Bennett will test this unlikely pairing going forward.  The inclusion of another extremely devious villain for this book, seems particularly promising, and I look forward to seeing the resulting battle of wits between the antagonist and the unstable but brilliant Ana, which will no doubt be entertaining and clever.

Based on how damn good the last two Shadow of the Leviathan novels turned out to be, there is no way in hell I am missing out on A Trade of Blood later this year.  Robert Jackson Bennett has been on an absolute roll with this series, which I have no doubt he will easily continue with this third book.  I will be grabbing A Trade of Blood no matter what this year, but after reading the exceptional synopsis above, I am even more excited for this epic upcoming novel.  I have no doubt at all that A Trade of Blood is going to be one of the very best novels of 2026, and it is one of the books I am most looking forward to this year.