Tag: Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday – Interceptor City and Elemental Council

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Extended Universe, Science Fiction, Tie-in Novel, Waiting on Wednesday, Warhammer5 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 two epic upcoming Warhammer 40,000 novels that are sure to be extremely awesome, Interceptor City and Elemental Council.

I have been on a massive Warhammer 40,000 roll lately, brought on by all the amazing books from this franchise that have been released this year.  I actually did another Waiting on Wednesday post on upcoming Warhammer 40,000 novels a few weeks ago, but in the short time since I published that post, even more fantastic new entries in the franchise have been announced.  As such, I thought I would do a quickly supplementary Waiting on Wednesday here to highlight another two epic upcoming Warhammer 40,000 books I am hoping to get my hands on.

The first of these books is Interceptor City by Dan Abnett.  Abnett is an absolute master of Warhammer 40,000 fiction, having written multiple novels within the franchise, including a couple of series universally accepted as the seminal works of Warhammer fiction.  I have fallen deeply in love with many of Abnett’s books, with his Eisenhorn trilogy and Gaunt’s Ghosts books earning a well-deserved place on my list of best Warhammer 40,000 novels.  As such, I will instantly grab anything new written by Abnett, but his next book, Interceptor City, is going to be something very special indeed.

Interceptor City is the long-awaited sequel to one of Abnett’s best novels, Double Eagle.  Double Eagle was a brilliant and epic read that followed a band of aerial fighter pilots as they attempt to save a planet under siege from a horde of enemy bombers and fighters.  I just read Double Eagle for the first time a couple of weeks ago in preparation for this sequel and it is frankly one of my new favourite Warhammer 40,000 books, especially as it featured an impressive story, great characters, and some of the most exciting and elaborate aerial action sequences you are likely to see.  I cannot emphasise just how impressive Double Eagle was, and it got a very easy five-star rating from me.  As such, I am extremely excited to now get my hands on the sequel, and Interceptor City has a great plot concept behind it.

Plot Synopsis:

The Imperium is locked into a gruelling war of attrition for the fate of Vesperus during the Sabbat Worlds Crusade – a dead hive on the planet Lysander nicknamed ‘Interceptor City’. Former ace fighter pilot Bree Jagdea is forced to give up her relatively safe life of supply runs, and is enlisted in the infamous Circus 66 squadron, whose contributions to the war effort are far more dangerous. In Vesperus’ lethal rat runs, the smallest error means certain death – the only question is whether Bree can make it through this hellish gauntlet alive.

While the plot synopsis above is a little short, it none-the-less has got me very excited for Interceptor City.  Bringing back one of the main protagonists of Double Eagle, Bree Jagdea, for another dangerous flying adventure is going to be a ton of fun, and I look forward to seeing how the character has evolved since her previous book, especially when dragged into another dangerous fighter ace squadron.  It also looks liked Abnett is setting up a pretty awesome scenario with the pilots forced to fight another brutal war, this time in the remnants of a Hive City.

Look, based on how much I love Abnett’s writing and just how awesome and epic the first book in this series, Double Eagle, was, there was no way that I wasn’t grabbing Interceptor City later this year.  However, I really love the cool sound of the plot above, and I cannot wait to see what crazy aerial antics Abnett will feature in the gritty spires of this new setting.  I am expecting another particularly impressive and action-packed adventure in Interceptor City, and I have a feeling this will end up being my favourite Warhammer 40,000 novel released in 2024.

In addition to the awesome Interceptor City, we will also be blessed with a more unique and intriguing Warhammer 40,000 novel with Elemental Council by author Noah Van Nguyen.  Set to focus on the always fascinating T’au faction, Elemental Council will see a band of specialist T’au come together in one ruling body to ensure the successful subjugation of a conquered human planet.  However, as this is the Warhammer universe, nothing is going to go their way.

Plot Synopsis:

As the Fifth Sphere Expansion continues to annex Imperial worlds on the galactic fringe, fewer and fewer planets are acquiescing peacefully to the change in leadership as the T’au Empire heads deeper into human space. Pockets of resistance are a constant thorn in their side, and one such insurrection threatens to overwhelm the recently acquired world of Cao Quo in Elemental Council – a new Warhammer 40,000 novel written by Noah Van Nguyen, author of The Godeater’s Son and Yndrasta: The Celestial Spear.

This exciting new story of intrigue and clandestine warfare stars an Elemental Council, luminaries from each of the Empire’s castes. Brought together by the enigmatic ethereal Yor’i to pacify the resistance, they’ll need to work together to forge their unique skills into an unbeatable team.

And unbeatable they will need to be, as the insurgency is no mere rabble of disorganised instigators, but one commanded by the ruthless and brilliant Brother-Sergeant Artamax – a Space Marine of the Raptors Chapter. As one of the few Chapters to specialise in sabotage, infiltration, and guerilla warfare, the Raptors are exactly the kind of Astartes you don’t want meddling in the stability of a newly conquered world.

If that was all they had to contend with, the Elemental Council would be hard-pressed, but soon even more devious enemies begin to emerge from both sides of the divide, with the fate of Cao Quo in the balance. Who they are and what their goals are is a mystery, but one you’ll be able to uncover soon.

The T’au are one of the more interesting factions in the Warhammer 40,000 canon, and there is an unfortunate dearth of books told from their perspective.  As such, I am curious to read Elemental Council when it comes out, especially as you will get a good look at each of the T’au’s four castes and how they work together for the Greater Good.  Of course, I am also quite intrigued to see how these brilliant T’au minds fare against the relentless fury of a deadly Space Marine, and I like the idea of a sabotage focuses lone Space Marine, and what over enemies emerge, gumming up the works for them behind the lines.  This mixture of unique, faction-specific characters has a lot of potential, and I cannot wait to see what sort of awesome and elaborate narrative the author comes up with here.

It looks like Warhammer 40,000 fans are in for an awesome time in the coming months, as we have another two epic books coming out soon.  Interceptor City and Elemental Council sound so damn cool, and I look forward to exploring their compelling new narratives.  I honestly believe that both these Warhammer 40,000 books have a ton of potential, and I am very excited to get my hands on them once they come out.

Waiting on Wednesday – Whisper in the Wind by Luke Arnold

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Australian, Fantasy, Waiting on Wednesday5 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.  In this latest Waiting on Wednesday, I check out an exciting and intriguing upcoming addition to a unique fantasy series with Whisper in the Wind by Luke Arnold.

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Back in 2020 I was lucky enough to get my hands on a very interesting fantasy book, The Last Smile in Sunder City.  The debut novel of actor turned author Luke Arnold and the first book in his Fetch Phillips series, The Last Smile in Sunder City was a dark and compelling fantasy book with an excellent hook to it.  The series is set in a fantasy realm where magic has been destroyed, and the various former magical creatures are now disfigured, depowered or dying, and the previously oppressed humans find themselves with an advantage.  Following the titular character of Fetch Phillips a depressed human private investigator and odd-jobs man with a desire to help the formerly magical creatures, The Last Smile in Sunder City saw him attempt to find missing children, while also discovering a potential cure for the lost magic.  This proved to be an outstanding book, especially with its unique setting and its compelling character arc around Fetch, who is shown to be personally responsible for the chaos engulfing the world.  The Last Smile in Sunder City ended up being one of my favourite debuts and top Australian fiction releases in 2020, and I had a wonderful time reading it.

Arnold continued to impress with his Fetch Phillips series as the years continued.  His second book, Dead Man in a Ditch, proved to be a worthy sequel, especially as it introduced a great overarching antagonist for the series, set up a great storyline about technology replacing magic and pushed the protagonist even further down a dark past.  This all cumulated in a brilliant third book One Foot in the Fade, which was probably Arnold’s best book in the series.  After discovering a former genie capable of returning magic to people, Fetch and several companions embark on an intense journey to recover an artefact that could empower her.  This resulted in a particularly gripping read, especially as Fetch’s obsession with undoing his wrong leads him along a particularly dark path.  Arnold ended One Foot in the Fade on an excellent note, as Fetch starts a new era in his journey and tries to find peace a different way.

Due to how much fun I have had with this series in the past, I have been keeping an eye out for another book from Arnold and I was happy to find out that he had a fourth Fetch Phillips book coming out next year.  This fourth book, Whisper in the Wind, is set for release in April 2025, and will set Fetch on another adventure despite his desire to live a simple life.

Plot Synopsis:

The fourth installment of Luke Arnold’s Fetch Phillips series, Whisper in the Wind, takes readers to a very different Sunder City. One where government corruption is rampant and tensions are rising.

Fetch is done being a hero. Once a detective, all he wants now is to run his cafe in peace. Sunder City is still recovering from the sudden and violent end of magic, and if one man can’t solve all its problems, he can at least stop some people going hungry. But when a kid on the run shelters in Fetch’s cafe, and a chain of gruesome murders begins among Sunder’s high and mighty, trouble is brought to Fetch’s door.

There’s a word whispered on the wind, and that word is revolution…

This sounds like another pretty epic entry in the Fetch Phillips series, and I am very interested to see how Arnold is going to continue the series here.  Based on the synopsis above, it seems that Whisper in the Wind is going to be set some point after the third book, with a retired protagonist forced back into his previous problems.  This should be an excellent and natural continuation of the story elements that the author previously set up in the previous books, and I assume we are going to see some of the recurring antagonists and corruption from the previous novels come back to the fore.  As such, I feel that Whisper in the Wind is going to be a very fascinating continuation to this series, and I am very curious to see how Arnold keeps his narrative going.

Due to the impressive quality of the previous novels in this series, I am definitely grabbing Whisper in the Wind when it comes out next year.  Luke Arnold has shown himself to be a particularly skilled fantasy author, and I have become a huge fan of his Fetch Phillips series as a result.  I cannot wait to see how this epic sounding book turns out and I have no doubt that Whisper in the Wind is going to be one of the more interesting fantasy novels of 2025.

Waiting on Wednesday – The Medici Return by Steve Berry

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Thriller, 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.  Stay tuned to see reviews of these books when I get a copy of them.  For this week’s Waiting on Wednesday, I look at an awesome upcoming thriller with the historical conspiracy laden novel, The Medici Return by Steve Berry.

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As we near 2025, I have been looking ahead to see how several long-running series I routinely enjoy are likely to continue.  One of these series are the brilliant Cotton Malone thriller books by impressive author Steve Berry.  A deeply entertaining series of spy thriller novels, the Cotton Malone books follow titular government agent, Cotton Malone, as he uncovers a continuous series of hidden conspiracies and plots that have their roots in various periods of history.  This fantastic overall theme of the Cotton Malone books has produced some excellent novels over the years, and I have had a wonderful time diving into elaborate stories loaded with historical detail, such as The Malta Exchange, The Warsaw Protocol, The Kaiser’s Web, The Last Kingdom and The Atlas Maneuver.  Each of these has been extremely fun and addictive to me, and I always eagerly await to see what unique adventure Berry will produce next.

As such, one of my most anticipated thrillers coming out in the first half of 2025 is the intriguing novel, The Medici Return.  The 19th book in the Cotton Malone series, The Medici Return will see Berry dive into yet another intriguing period of history that will result in an intense and world-altering plot.

Plot Synopsis:

Former Justice Department operative, Cotton Malone, has been asked to assist the Swiss guard with determining whether Cardinal Jason Richter has engaged in bribery and theft. It’s a favor for Stephanie Nelle, once his boss at the Magellan Billet, who is doing a favor for the Vatican. But nothing is as it seems. Four hundred thousand euros are found, a Swiss Guardsman is murdered, and a killer sets his sights on both Cotton and the cardinal.

Together they are thrust into a search for a forgotten document, a 16th century Pledge of Christ executed by Pope Julius II that reveals a debt owed by the Vatican, still valid after five centuries, now worth in the trillions of dollars. But when the trail to collecting that debt leads Cotton to the famed Medici of Florence—a family that history says died out, without heirs, centuries ago—he realizes that two more things also hang in the balance. Who will be the next prime minister of Italy, and who will become the next pope.

From a quiet hilltop village in central Germany, to the ancient city of Siena with its famed Palio horse race, and finally to the historic piazzas, churches, and crypts of Florence, Cotton Malone uncovers the answers, one by one, everything hinging on when, and if, the Medici return.

This upcoming Cotton Malone book sounds particularly awesome and intriguing, and I love the main plot revolving around an ancient Vatican debt and the potential implications if the church is forced to pay it off.  I am also very curious about the inclusion of the Medici family of Florence, and it will be interesting to see how Berry works them into the main plot.  Based on how the previous Cotton Malone books have turned out, I am expecting that Berry will do a deep dive into the history and legacy of the Medici family in The Medici Return, and I am for one am eager to learn more about them.  I also love the sound of the various locations that Berry is planning to take the reader in The Medici Return.  Berry always does an amazing job vividly describing the elaborate landscapes and historical sites that the protagonists of his books end up visiting, and I am excited to see what cool new locations will be explored in this new book.

Honestly, I was going to read The Medici Return next year no matter what, as I have really grown to enjoy Steve Berry’s Cotton Malone series.  However, the above synopsis has gotten me extra excited, and I am now deeply intrigued to see what sort of elaborate thriller adventure Berry will come up with for The Medici Return.  The Medici Return will likely be one of the top thriller novels I enjoy in 2024, and I cannot wait to see how Berry utilises the unique history of the Medici family for his latest awesome book.

Waiting on Wednesday – Star Wars: Reign of the Empire: The Mask of Fear by Alexander Freed

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Extended Universe, Science Fiction, Star Wars, Tie-in Novel, Waiting on Wednesday5 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.  In this latest Waiting on Wednesday, I check out one of the most promising upcoming Star Wars tie-in novels, with the first book in Alexander Freed’s Reign of the Empire trilogy, The Mask of Fear.

Amazon

I must admit that I have been a little lax recently in my reading of Star Wars fiction, especially as I have had some amazing experiences with the franchise over the years.  However, there is one upcoming Star Wars trilogy that I won’t be avoiding, and that is the intriguing and epic sounding Reign of the Empire trilogy by acclaimed author Alexander Freed.  Freed is an outstanding author who previously greatly impressed me with his incredible Alphabet Squadron trilogy of Star Wars novels.  Made up of the fantastic novels Alphabet Squadron, Shadow Fall and Victory’s Price, the Alphabet Squadron novels were a dark and gritty war series set in the aftermath of Return of the Jedi, which provided a dark follow-up to the classic film.  I became a big fan of Freed thanks to the Alphabet Squadron trilogy and I have been keen to see what he was going to write next in the Star Wars universe.

Well, it turns out that Freed’s next foray in Star Wars fiction is going to be another intriguing and awesome series with the Reign of the Empire books.  Set after the events of the prequel trilogy, the Reign of the Empire books will provide readers with a fresh take on how the Empire rose and maintained power and how the initial seeds of rebellion were born.  The first book in this series, The Mask of Fear, is currently set for release in February 2025, and it is one of my most anticipated books coming out in the first half of the new year thanks to its exceptional focus.

Plot Synopsis:

Before the Rebellion, the Empire reigns, in book one of a trilogy told through the eyes of Mon Mothma, Bail Organa, and Saw Gerrera.

“In order to ensure the security and continuing stability, the Republic will be reorganized into the first Galactic Empire! For a safe and secure society!”

With one speech, and thunderous applause, Chancellor Palpatine brought the era of the Republic crashing down. In its place rose the Galactic Empire. Across the galaxy, people rejoiced and celebrated the end to war—and the promises of tomorrow. But that tomorrow was a lie. Instead the galaxy became twisted by the cruelty and fear of the Emperor’s rule.

During that terrifying first year of tyranny, Mon Mothma, Saw Gerrera, and Bail Organa face the encroaching darkness. One day, they will be three architects of the Rebel Alliance. But first, each must find purpose and direction in a changing galaxy, while harboring their own secrets, fears, and hopes for a future that may never come, unless they act.

I’m very excited for The Mask of Fear, particularly as Freed looks to expand on the events surrounding the early days of the Empire.  Some previous television shows, such as Andor and The Bad Batch, as well as the Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith comic series, have done an outstanding job of exploring this part of the Star Wars history, and it is frankly one of my favourite periods of the franchise.  I am really interested in seeing Freed’s take on it and based on the author’s previous powerful and intense depictions of the Star Wars universe, I am envisioning a dark and realistic take on the early days of power and the events that led the main characters into their rebellion.  I am especially keen to see how Mon Mothma, Saw Gerrera, and more, reach their state of rebellion in shows like Andor or Star Wars Rebels, and this should be an excellent, wide-reaching, character-driven Star Wars series.

Based on the author, the period of Star Wars history, and the excellent synopsis above, I am expecting a lot of great things from the Reign of the Empire trilogy.  Alexander Freed is such an impressive author, and he is going to weave some real magic be exploring this fantastic part of the franchise.  I have no doubt that The Mask of Fear is going to be a particularly strong introduction to this new trilogy, and this will probably be one of the top science fiction or tie-in novels I read in 2025.  I cannot wait to check it out and I know I will love every second I spend with it.

Waiting on Wednesday – Nobody’s Fool by Harlan Coben

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Thriller, Waiting on Wednesday2 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 latest Waiting on Wednesday, I highlight one of the top upcoming thrillers of 2025 with the intriguing and compelling Nobody’s Fool by Harlan Coben.

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Over the last few years, I have developed a real taste for exciting and distinctive thriller novels, and there are few authors better at delivering complex crime fiction reads than acclaimed author and murder alibi Harlan Coben.  Known for his elaborate and highly clever reads that present gripping mysteries with complex characters, Coben has been dominating the crime fiction genre for years and for very good reason.  I’m personally a little new to Coben, having only read two of his books so far, but both novels, I Will Find You and Think Twice, were extremely epic and had me on my toes the entire time.

Due to how awesome my last few Coben experiences have been, I always keep a close eye on what this author is working on, and I was pleasantly surprised to find some details about his next book, Nobody’s Fool.  Set for release in March 2025, Nobody’s Fool looks set to be another excellent and compelling read based around an intriguing and clever plot idea.

Plot Synopsis:

SPAIN – 2000

Sami Kierce, a young American backpacker, wakes up. He is covered in blood. There’s a knife in his hand.

Beside him, the body of a woman. Anna. Dead. He doesn’t know what happened to her. He begins to scream.

NEW YORK CITY – 2025

Kierce, now a disgraced detective, is teaching night classes when he recognises a familiar face in the crowd.

Anna. It’s unmistakably her. As soon as she sees Kierce, she runs.

For Kierce there is no choice. He knows he must find this woman and solve the impossible mystery that has haunted his every waking moment.

His investigation will bring him face-to-face with his past. Soon he discovers that some secrets should stay buried . . .

Stayed up all night watching Fool Me Once?

You won’t be able to breathe while reading Nobody’s Fool …


Nobody’s Fool sounds like a very interesting and powerful read, as Coben presents another twisty tale of murder, secrets and past mistakes.  Bringing back a key character from one of his biggest novels, Fool Me Once, Nobody’s Fool looks set to be a gripping read that will no doubt really appeal to established fans of the author.  Setting a damaged former detective on the hunt for the dead victim who has haunted him his entire life, Nobody’s Fool will be a gritty and emotionally charged novel, and I am really excited to see how the entire story unfolds.

Due to how impressive my previous forays into Harlan Coben’s novels have been, I was always going to grab Nobody’s Fool when it comes out next year.  However, thanks to the intriguing plot synopsis above, as well as the connection to one of the author’s most popular books, Nobody’s Fool is a must grab for me next year, and I am very, very keen to check it out.  Based purely on the skill of the author alone, Nobody’s Fool has so much damn potential, and I wouldn’t be surprised if this ended up being one of the top thrillers of 2025.

Waiting on Wednesday – 2024 Warhammer 40,000 Books

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Extended Universe, Science Fiction, Tie-in Novel, Waiting on Wednesday, Warhammer11 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 am going to once again dive into my favourite franchise and highlight several Warhammer 40,000 novels still set for release in 2024.

This has been a pretty big year for the iconic Warhammer 40,000 franchise.  The media outside of the tabletop games has been on absolute fire, with massive video games, intense animation, and more, bringing more people into the fandom.  One part of the franchise that has been particularly impressive has been the various novels, short stories and audiobooks that have been released, expanding the lore of the games and other media.  Readers of this blog will know that I have been getting very deep into this extended Warhammer 40,000 fiction in recent years, and I have read so many different books in this fantastic, grim dark setting.

2024 in particular has been great for Warhammer 40,000 fiction, with some very intriguing and unique novels in the setting coming out.  Naturally, I have gone out of my way to check most of these out, with books like Da Big Dakka by Mike Brooks, Deathworlder by Victoria Hayward and Lord of Excess by Rich McCormick greatly impressing me.  However, the year is far from over, and there are many more Warhammer 40,000 books coming out in the next couple of months.

Due to how much I’ve been enjoying this franchise lately, I thought I would take the time to highlight some of the most intriguing Warhammer 40,000 novels coming out in the tail end of the year.  There are several particularly cool books on the horizon, and I am honestly planning to read every one of them the moment they come out.  I’ve got five upcoming books featured below, with most of the information on them coming from the Warhammer Community website.  I unfortunately don’t have actual release dates for a couple of these upcoming books, but they are all set to come out before the end of the year.

The first of these books I want to highlight is Dominion Genesis by Jonathan D. Beer.  Now, Dominion Genesis is actually out in the next couple of days, however, I figured it was still worth featuring here as it sounds pretty damn cool.

Plot Synopsis:

A Warhammer 40,000 Novel

Gryphonne IV is dead – one of the mightiest forge worlds in the arsenal of the Adeptus Mechanicus, succumbed to the relentless hunger of Hive Fleet Leviathan. Devoured. Lost.

The few magi that survive drift in idleness, robbed of purpose and direction. But there is one who rejects that fate.

READ IT BECAUSE

It’s the gripping tale of an Explorator desperately seeking ancient technologies from humanity’s past as she races against time to restore one of the mightiest forge worlds in the Imperium.

THE STORY

Explorator Talin Sherax seeks ancient and miraculous technologies from humanity’s distant past. When she learns of a fabled relic that could restore all that has been lost, Sherax embarks on a journey, the outcome of which could change everything. Nothing will stand in her way… even if the quest brings her to the brink of heresy.


Dominion Genesis sounds like a very epic novel, and I am looking forward to another intriguing look at the mysterious Adeptus Mechanicus from a new perspective.  Forcing the unique figure of an Explorator, a Adeptus Mechanicus Tech-Priest tasked with finding ancient technology, against the unstoppable force of a ravening Hive Fleet, has a lot of potential, and I am very curious to see how this story turns out.  This will be the second full Warhammer 40,000 novel that Beer has written, with his first book, The King of the Spoil, being one of my top debuts of 2023.  Based on how impressive Beer’s first book turned out, I am very excited for Dominion Genesis, and I have very high hopes for this fantastic novel.

The second upcoming Warhammer 40,000 novel I want to highlight here is the awesome sounding book, Above and Beyond by Denny Flowers.  The sequel to Flowers’ previous novel, Outgunned (one of the best Warhammer 40,000 novels I have read), Above and Beyond is probably the entry on this post that I think has the most potential, and I am very eager to see this series continue.

Plot synopsis:

 When the man responsible for Lucille von Shard’s fame – lowly propagandist Kile Simlex – receives a cryptic message, he is whisked away to join the crusade for which she has become the figurehead. What he finds, however, is not the fighter ace he once knew…

While the details are still a little sparse, I love the sound of Above and Beyond’s plot, primarily because it looks set to bring back the two protagonists from the first book.  The combination of the fearless and slightly suicidal fighter pilot and the inquisitive and thoughtful propaganda expert worked wonders in Outgunned, and I am curious to see how it continues here in the sequel, especially as it sounds like the formerly skilled Lucille von Shard, has lost some of her famed flying ability.  Flowers has shown himself to be a particularly skilled writer, and I am eager to see how Above and Beyond turns out, as frankly this might end up being the best Warhammer book of the year.

The next book that I want to highlight is the interesting and no-doubt lore heavy book, The High Kâhl’s Oath by Gav Thorpe.  The first Warhammer 40,000 novel to really focus on the Leagues of Votann faction (essentially space dwarves), The High Kâhl’s Oath should be a rather unique read for fans of the Black Library.  This foray into Leagues of Votann fiction will be helmed by veteran Warhammer author Gav Thorpe, who has a lot of experience diving into factions across the various Warhammer games.  I am a particular fan of his Last Chancers series (13th Legion and Kill Team), and I’m hoping for another dark and compelling read with The High Kâhl’s Oath.

Plot Synopsis:

Hernkyn Prospect leader Myrtun Dammergot is a member of the Kindred of the Eternal Starforge, and flourishing in this new age of conflict between the Kin and the Imperium, exploiting battles for great personal gain. When a messenger sent from her Kindred’s Hold Ship upends her freewheeling life, she and her companions are thrust into a dangerous venture with high stakes, but a magnificent prize if they succeed. 

I think that The High Kâhl’s Oath is going to be a fascinating and complex Warhammer 40,000 novel which I am quite excited for.  I’m not especially familiar with the Leagues of Votann faction, although they sound like a fun addition to the already crazy Warhammer 40,000 grimdark universe, and I am eager to learn more about them.  Due to this book likely to be quite lore heavy, I can potentially see The High Kâhl’s Oath not working for every reader, although Thorpe has got some substantial experience of highlighting specific factions while still producing great stories (see his dwarf focused Warhammer Fantasy novel, Grudge Bearer).  I am personally really looking forward to The High Kâhl’s Oath, and I cannot wait to see how Thorpe explores these high-tech space faring dwarves.

The fourth novel that I am focusing on here is the recently announced Broken Crusade by Steven B. Fischer.  The second novel from Fischer after their debut novel Witchbringer, Broken Crusade will see the author dive into one of the most iconic Space Marines Chapter, the highly fanatical and dedicated Black Templars.

Plot Synopsis:

On the fringes of the Cicatrix Maledictum, the Black Templars of the Second Dorean Crusade tear through the void to join the crusade fleet on the sands of Tempest – an ancient, storied shrine world. The planet has been assailed by the murderous warbands of the Blood God, and the Black Templars have come to burn it clean of the Ruinous Powers once and for all.

But when a violent warp storm scatters the fleet, the Dauntless Honour is left battered and alone in the void. Besieged by doubt, Castellan Emeric and his brothers must cling to their faith and carve a way to Tempest. For it is there that their battles will truly begin, and the cost of victory may be more than even they are prepared to pay…


Broken Crusade should be another pretty damn awesome Warhammer 40,000 book, and I like the intriguing and dark narrative that Fischer is setting up.  While the Black Templars are a little overused in Warhammer fiction, I think that Broken Crusade is going to show a bit of a different side to them.  The focus on their faith, their isolation, and their sacrifice as they attempt to make their way to the battle on Tempest all has an intriguing harrowing quality, which should make for quite a powerful read.  After how much Fischer impressed me with his complex debut, I am particularly excited for Broken Crusade, and I cannot wait to dive into the psyches of these zealous Space Marines.

The final book I want to highlight in this post was only just announced, but it could end up being one of the top books of 2024 with Leontus: Lord Solar by Rob Young.  Young is another relatively new Warhammer 40,000 author who impressed me last year with his debut novel Longshot.  His second book will provide an interesting look at a major character in the lore who has been gaining a lot of attention lately, Arcadian Leontus, Lord Commander of Segmentum Solar.

Plot Synopsis:

A saviour pod screams a flaming path through the skies of Fortuna Minor, almost lost amidst the debris that rains down over the arid plains below. The Imperial fleet in orbit is in full retreat, their deployment undone by orkish cunning.

Those lucky enough to make planetfall find the world a false sanctuary – one overrun by Speed Waaaghs!, its population enslaved to build weaponised effigies of the foul ork gods. For the Imperial forces, every hour will be a hopeless fight for survival.

But the man in the saviour pod is Arcadian Leontus – Lord Commander of the Segmentum Solar, peerless tactician and mastermind of countless victories. Even stripped of his armies and separated from his loyal steed Konstantin, Leontus has no intention to merely survive this war. He intends to win it.

Leontus: Lord Solar is the latest Black Library novel by Rob Young – a rip-roaring tale about one of the most powerful men in the Imperium fighting a desperate personal battle against endless tides of orks. Stranded on an occupied planet, he must rebuild an army to wrest it back.

This another fun and exciting upcoming Warhammer book that I am think I am going to have a very good time reading.  The plot of Leontus: Lord Solar reminds me a little of the Ciaphas Cain novel, Death or Glory, although I imagine that Young is going to play this book a little more serious and have Leontus engage in a series of strategic battles rather than trying to run away like a certain commissar.  It will be interesting to see how Young portrays Leontus, and I’m hoping that the author really captures the character’s tactical prowess and drive.  This should an action-packed Warhammer novel and I cannot wait to dive into it.

As you can see there are still a ton of really cool Warhammer 40,000 books coming out in final few months of 2024, and I haven’t even mentioned a couple of recent releases I’m still waiting to grab, or any other books that still haven’t been announced.  I think all the above are going to be really fun books to check out, and I love the variety of stories, factions and authors these five novels represent.  This has been such a great year for Warhammer fans, and if you don’t know about this franchise already, you are really missing out.

Waiting on Wednesday – Gunnawah and The Reunion

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Australian, Murder Mystery, Thriller, Waiting on Wednesday14 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.  In this latest Waiting on Wednesday, I highlight two intriguing upcoming Australian crime fiction debuts.

2025 is already shaping up to be a big year for Australian crime fiction debuts, as there are several compelling and epic novels from first-time authors set for release next year.  I always love checking out compelling Australian fiction from new authors, and it is fun to see these writers develop their style and produce complex reads set in our distinctive landscapes.  As such, I am very excited for 2025, especially with the focuses of today’s Waiting on Wednesday set for release right at the start of the year.

The first debut I want to highlight is the awesome and unique sounding novel, Gunnawah from new author Ronni Salt.  Set for release on 1 January 2025, Gunnawah is an interesting crime fiction novel, that will feature a rural mystery with a historical background setting.

Plot Synopsis:

It’s 1974 in the Riverina

The weather is hot

But the body in the Murray River is stone cold . . .

A captivating and compulsive crime thriller about guns, drugs and a young woman dead on the money

Riverina 1974:

When nineteen-year-old farmgirl Adelaide Hoffman applies for a cadetship at the Gunnawah Gazette, she sees it as her ticket out of a life too small for her. Its owner, Valdene Bullark, sees something of the girl she once was in young Adelaide.

Val puts Adelaide straight to work. What starts as a routine assignment covering an irrigation project soon puts Adelaide on the trail of a much bigger story. Water is money in farming communities, and when Adelaide starts asking questions, it’s as if she’s poked a stick in a bull ant’s nest. Violence follows. Someone will do whatever it takes to stop Adelaide and Val finding out how far the river of corruption and crime runs.

Shady deals. Vested interests. A labyrinth of lies. It seems everyone in Gunnawah has a secret to keep. But how many want to stop Adelaide dead?

Set deep in the heart of rural Australia during the era of Gough Whitlam, pub brawls and flared jeans, Gunnawah is a compulsive crime thriller of corruption, guns and drugs from Australian Noir’s most arresting new voice.

I feel that Gunnawah has a lot going for it, especially as Salt looks set to combine rural crime antics with Australia’s distinctive 1970s vibe.  The combination of 70s nostalgia, unique criminal activity, and plucky characters trying to get to the truth has some big potential, and I’m personally interested in seeing what sort of story Salt has planned here, especially with the focus seemingly on corruption around farmland irrigation.  This is one of the more distinctive crime fiction books coming out in 2025, and I have a feeling that Gunnawah is going to be a top debut of next year, and I cannot wait to see how Salt will impress us.

The other fascinating Australian crime fiction debut coming out in early 2025 that I want to highlight is The Reunion by Bronwyn Rivers.  Set in the iconic and beautiful Blue Mountains wilderness, The Reunion will see five isolated protagonists relive the sins of their shared past as the truth comes for them.  The Reunion has a very cool story concept around it that has really grabbed my attention, and I am quite keen to grab it in February 2025.

Plot Synopsis:

THEY’LL WISH THEY NEVER WENT BACK.

Ten years ago, six teenagers hiked into the Blue Mountains wilderness – and only five came out alive.

The survivors have barely seen each other since the tragic bushwalk. Yet when an invitation arrives to attend a 10-year memorial of their friend’s death, Hugh, Charlotte, Alex, Laura and Jack find themselves travelling back into the rugged landscape where it all began.

The weekend at an isolated homestead in the bush – no phone signal, no distractions – should be a chance to reflect and reconnect.

But each of the friends has been carrying secrets from the fateful hike. And someone will stop at nothing to get the truth.

This is another particularly cool sounding book, and I think that Rivers has an excellent story idea that is really going to pay off.  The classic scenario of isolated protagonists revisiting a traumatic event from years before is always a reliable basis for a story, and I am curious to see how Rivers will make it her own.  Unwrapping the separate and joint secrets of five protagonists has a lot of potential, and I cannot wait to see what sort of twists and compelling reveals this new author comes up with.  I am also very excited to see how Rivers will utilise the wilderness setting of the Blue Mountains in The Reunion.  I literally just got back from a holiday in the Blue Mountains, so I can imagine some of the elaborate bushland settings and locals that can be used to hide secrets, bodies and lies.

Overall, I think that both Gunnawah and The Reunion have a lot of potential and I am very excited to read them.  I cannot wait to see how these first Australian crime fiction novels from Ronni Salt and Bronwyn Rivers will turn out and they will probably be amongst my top debut novels of 2025.

Waiting on Wednesday – Midnight Black by Mark Greaney

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Thriller, 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.  Stay tuned to see reviews of these books when I get a copy of them.  For this week’s Waiting on Wednesday, I check out a particularly epic 2025 thriller I know I’m going to absolutely love, with Midnight Black by Mark Greaney.

Amazon

I have been on a massive Mark Greaney kick this year, primarily because the talented Greaney has released two amazing thrillers.  This includes the action-packed read Sentinel (the sequel to his previous novel Armored), which I just reviewed, and his big release of 2024 The Chaos Agent.  An intense and compelling read, The Chaos Agent was one of my favourite books and audiobooks from the first half of 2024, and it will likely top my end of year best-of lists.  I deeply enjoyed The Chaos Agent, and I felt it was a particularly good entry in Greaney’s long-running Gray Man series.

The Gray Man books are an outstanding spy thriller series that follows an elite assassin and former CIA asset as he faces off against an array of dangerous enemies and contemporary thriller plots.  Starting off with the particularly awesome The Gray Man, the series has grown from strength to strength since then and I have been a huge fan of some of the more recent entries.  This includes Mission Critical, One Minute Out (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2020), Relentless (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2021), Sierra Six (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2022) and Burner (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2023).

Due to how impressive this series has been in the past, I am always keen to grab the new Gray Man novel when it comes out each year, and they usually end up being a major highlight for the early parts of the year.  I am particularly interested on getting my hands on the sequel to The Chaos Agent however, as Greaney ended this latest book on a great cliffhanger designed to drag the reader back again.  Luckily, we don’t have too much longer to wait, as the next book in the series, Midnight Black, is coming out in late February 2025.  The 14th entry in this outstanding series, Midnight Black has an exceptional plot behind it that sounds so damn good.

Plot Synopsis:

With his lover imprisoned in a Russian gulag, the Gray Man will stop at nothing to free her in this latest entry in the #1 New York Times bestselling series.

A winter sunrise over the great plains of Russia is no cause for celebration. The temperature barely rises above zero, and the guards at Penal Colony IK22 are determined to take their misery out on the prisoners – chief among them, one Zoya Zakharova.

Once a master spy for Russian foreign intelligence, then the partner and lover of the Gray Man, Zakharova has information the Kremlin wants, and they don’t care what they have to do to get it.

But if they think a thousand miles of frozen wasteland and the combined power of the Russian police state is enough to protect them, they don’t know the Gray Man. He’s coming, and no one’s safe.

So, I really don’t think I need to explain why a book set around a pissed off Gray Man storming a Russian penal colony is going to be awesome.  Greaney did a great job of setting up this scenario in the previous book, and now all he has to do is sit back and ensure the action and intrigue flows heavily during the Gray Man’s assault on the camp and all of Russia in Midnight Black.  The author has done a remarkable job of exploring impossible survival scenarios for his protagonist in the past, and I have a feeling that this one is going to be particularly cool and gruesome, primarily because this will be the highest stakes for his protagonist yet.

Honestly there is no way that I wasn’t going to grab Midnight Black when it comes out next year, and the simple yet awesome scenario that Greaney has set up above is making me very, very excited.  I have no doubt whatsoever that Midnight Black is going to feature some particularly impressive action sequences, and I am imagining the Gray Man storming through all of Russia to get to his goal.  Midnight Black is probably the thriller I am most excited to get my hands on in 2025and I cannot wait to see how Greaney tops his previous books as he grants us more Gray Man goodness.

Waiting on Wednesday – Warrior by Simon Turney

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Historical Fiction, 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.  In this latest entry to my Waiting on Wednesday series, I look at a cool upcoming historical fiction novel with Warrior by Simon Turney.

Amazon

This week I’m still in a massive historical fiction mood, and as I’ve mentioned a few times before, one of my favourite historical settings is the Roman empire.  Due to its popularity and use in various media over the years, Roman historical fiction is one of the most prevalent historical fiction sub-genres, and there are some brilliant authors diving into various periods of Roman rule.  One of my favourites is Simon Turney (who also writes as S. J. A Turney), who has written multiple cool books in this setting over the years, including the deeply compelling novel Commodus.

Earlier this year I became reacquainted with Turney again when I was lucky enough to receive a copy of his new book, Invader.  The first book in his new Agricola series, Invader focused on the early career of the titular series protagonist, Gnaeus Julius Agricola, a man destined to become one of Rome’s greatest generals.  Invader had a particularly fun narrative behind it which followed Agricola’s earliest exploits in Brittania, amid the start of Boudica’s revolt.  This was an awesome book, and I had a ton of fun getting through it.

Due to how exciting and compelling Invader proved to be, I have been keeping an eye out for additional Agricola books, and I was excited to see that a sequel is coming out in early 2025, with Warrior.  Continuing to follow the burgeoning career of the future general, Warrior sees Agricola forced to compete on a different battlefield of politics and royal influence, as the insanity of Nero works against him, and the Year of the Four Emperors begins.  I love the sound of this cool upcoming book, and I am very curious to see how Turney envisions Agricola’s actions during this turbulent period of Roman history.  I have no doubt Warrior is going to be a particularly impressive read, and I plan to dive into it the moment I get my hands on it.  A fantastic, and highly anticipated upcoming read from an outstanding author.

Plot Synopsis:

The new thrilling Roman historical adventure in a series based around one of the most renowned and intriguing figures of Ancient Rome.

Agricola has won renown in the Roman army for his exploits in Britannia. Now returned to Rome with his new family, he seeks to rise further – but life in the greatest city on earth proves more difficult than he expected. The politics of Rome are on a knife-edge – often literally. The Emperor Nero is unpredictable, the manner of his rule unstable.

Agricola finds himself posted to the troublesome province of Asia Minor. The local governor is ambitious and dangerous… and has close family ties to Nero himself. Falling foul of such a man could mean certain death… and yet a rebellious young warrior like Agricola cannot stay silent for long.

With allies proving few and far between, Agricola experiences personal tragedy and soon seeks revenge. Rome, meanwhile, burns in a great fire… but further tumult is to come in the wake of Nero’s death. Agricola must tread a careful path to stay alive through the Year of the Four Emperors… a year of blood and ruin throughout the empire.

Waiting on Wednesday – The White Fortress by Boyd and Beth Morrison

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Historical Fiction, Thriller, 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. Stay tuned to see reviews of these books when I get a copy of them.  For this latest Waiting on Wednesday, I highlight an awesome upcoming historical adventure novel with The White Fortress from the awesome writing team of Boyd and Beth Morrison.

Amazon

A couple of years ago I had the very great pleasure of the fantastic historical fiction novel, The Lawless Land.  Written by the sibling team of historian Beth Morrison and established thriller author Boyd Morrison, The Lawless Land was an intriguing historical adventure novel that saw an excommunicated knight and a fugitive lady take on a corrupt cardinal in 14th century Paris.  The Lawless Land ended up being one of my favourite novels of 2022, and I really got caught up in its exciting and compelling story.

After the success of their first book, the authors expanded their narrative out into the Tales of the Lawless Land series, which continued to follow the protagonists from the first book as they get involved in additional conflicts and adventures.  The first sequel to The Lawless Land was the 2023 release, The Last True Templar, which saw the protagonists enter into a thrilling treasure hunt around Italy to find a stash of missing Templar treasure.  This was a pretty amazing sequel to the first book, and it solidified my love for this cool new series.

As such, I am very excited to finally have details about the third book in the series, The White Fortress.  Continuing to follow the two protagonists as they journey around Europe, The White Fortress will see them involved in a series of historical hijinks in Croatia.  Set for release in March 2025, this sounds really intriguing read and one I know I’m going to like.

Plot Synopsis:

Croatia, 1351. Daring knight Gerard Fox and his adventurous wife Willa, fresh from a dangerous quest across Italy and Greece, soon find themselves embroiled in a new intrigue as they sail toward the walled city of Dubrovnik.

Having inadvertently hindered a rescue mission, Fox and Willa make amends by helping a desperate Croatian couple forced into a terrible dilemma: either they betray their hometown to a treacherous nobleman and the brutal warlord he serves, or their abducted child will be murdered.

A century-old prophecy and a lost codex written by fabled explorer Marco Polo are key to stopping the warlord’s conquest, which could spark a devastating war along the entire Adriatic coast. Fox and Willa race against time to devise a plan for saving a child, a town, and a country – knowing it could cost them everything if they fail…

Unsurprisingly, I love the sound of this new historical adventure from the Morrison siblings, and I am very interested in the new plot they have come up with.  It sounds like The White Fortress will follow the trends set out in The Last True Templar, with the protagonists helping a new group of supporting characters attempt to stop a deadly enemy by solving a historical mystery, this time around Marco Polo.  This worked really well for The Last True Templar, and I imagine this historical thriller set-up will result in another intense treasure hunt throughout a great historical setting.

Speaking of historical settings, Croatia should be a particularly interesting background for this plot, and I am looking forward to seeing it, mainly because I don’t know a lot about Croatian history.  The previous two Tales of the Lawless Land books were both loaded with historical detail about the settings, and I imagine that we will get some intriguing background in The White Fortress as well.  All of this, as well as the continued focus on the fun pairing of Gerard and Willa, should make for quite an exciting and captivating narrative, and I am very excited to check it out.

Based on how much I enjoyed the previous two novels in this series, there was no way that I am not going to grab a copy of The White Fortress next year.  The previous Tales of the Lawless Land books by Boyd and Beth Morrison have both been extremely good, and I cannot wait to see how this series continues.  I really love the sound of this new entry, and I have a feeling that The White Fortress is going to be one of the best historical fiction books of 2025.