Tag: Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday – Endgame by Sarah Barrie

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Australian, 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.  I run this segment in conjunction with the Can’t-Wait Wednesday meme that is currently running at Wishful Endings.  Stay tuned to see reviews of these books when I get a copy of them.  For this latest Waiting on Wednesday, I look at an epic upcoming Australian thriller that is bound to get very dark, with Endgame by Sarah Barrie.

Endgame Cover

Amazon

I have a lot of love for complex reads by my fellow Australians, and boy have there some great Australian crime fiction series coming out in recent years.  One of my absolute favourites has been the Lexi Winter series by impressive Australian author Sarah Barrie.  A dark and compelling crime fiction series, the Lexi Winter books follow the titular protagonist whose childhood was destroyed by a murderous paedophile.  Growing up rough, Lexi became a talented hacker and vigilante, who targeted suspected child abusers.  The first book in the series, Unforgiven, saw Lexi team up with several intriguing police characters when the man who ruined her life once again began killing young children.  Unforgiven was an extremely awesome and captivating novel, that effortlessly blended powerful character work with a dark thriller scenario that kept me on my toes the entire way through.  This ended up being one of my favourite Australian books of 2021, and I deeply enjoyed it.

Due to how good Unforgiven was, I ended up grabbing the next two books in the series the second they came out.  Made up of Retribution (one of my favourite Australian books of 2022) and Vendetta (one of my favourite Australian books of 2023), the Lexi Winter series went in some very interesting directions as Lexi attempted to make the jump from vigilante to legitimate police officer, while also facing off against criminals and demons from her past.  Both sequels were extremely compelling and exciting, and I have had so much fun with this great Australian series.

Naturally, I am very eager to see how this series is going to come to an end, and it looks like Barrie is about to put the finishing touches on her captivating story, with the upcoming book Endgame.  Billed as the fourth and final entry in the series, Endgame will force the protagonist to go up against her nemesis in a final game of cat and mouse that will destroy everyone around her.  Set for release in late October 2024, Endgame sounds extremely cool, and you can see that Barrie is going to bring the emotional pain to her readers in this finale.

Plot Synopsis:

Vigilante turned cop Lexi Winter is drawn into the investigation of a chain of apparently random murders. As the bodies pile up, Lexi realises she is a pawn in a psychotic – and deadly – game.

Lexi Winter is studying for her detective exams but her nemesis Vaughn is out there somewhere and her concentration is fractured. Just as she’s wondering if her hypervigilance is tipping over into madness, Vaughn resurfaces and issues a challenge. Five people will be dead by the end of the month. If Lexi can identify and save the last one before the deadline, he’ll turn himself in.

As Lexi’s colleagues scramble to untangle what it all means, Lexi is implicated deeper and deeper into the murders. On top of this, she begins to see a strange figure everywhere she goes. Branded as suffering from PTSD, Lexi’s credibility is in tatters with her colleagues, but Lexi knows it isn’t her mind that is the problem. A wicked game is afoot, and Lexi is just a chess piece in play – and she suspects that check mate will mean her death. There is only one thing that Lexi can do – play along, wait for the chance to strike back, and bring about the endgame…

Now this sounds like a very epic addition to the series as Barrie is definitely planning to end this story on a very dark note, which I am very there for.  A violent game of cat and mouse between the series’ big bad and a traumatised protagonist is an extremely strong basis for a story, and you have to know that Barrie is going to really dive into the dark side of Lexi’s mind in Endgame.  Having the protagonist once again isolated from all the new friends and connections she has made as they lose faith in her sanity is going to be very hard to watch, but I am confident that it will lead to a great overall story.

I have no doubt whatsoever that Endgame is going to be an extremely awesome piece of Australian crime fiction.  Sarah Barrie has been absolutely killing it with her Lexi Winter books the last couple of years, and this dark conclusion she has been building towards is going to be epic.  I am even more excited for Endgame after the above plot synopsis, and this may end up being one of the most compelling and emotionally charged novels I read this year.

Waiting on Wednesday – Revenge of Rome by Simon Scarrow

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Historical Fiction, Waiting on Wednesday6 Comments

Welcome to my weekly segment, Waiting on Wednesday, where I look at upcoming books that I am planning to order and review in the next few months and which I think I will really enjoy.  I run this segment in conjunction with the Can’t-Wait Wednesday meme that is currently running at Wishful Endings.  Stay tuned to see reviews of these books when I get a copy of them.  In this week’s Waiting on Wednesday, I look at an awesome upcoming historical fiction novel from one of my favourite authors with Revenge of Rome by Simon Scarrow.

Revenge of Rome Cover

Amazon

Readers of this blog will no doubt be very familiar with my constant praise of Simon Scarrow and his exceptional historical fiction novels.  An author who I have been a massive fan of for a very long time, Scarrow has written some amazing and varied pieces of historical fiction over the years, and I have made a real effort to read them all.  His most iconic books are part of his long-running Eagles of the Empire series, which follow two veteran Roman soldiers through every major battlefield and conflict of their historical period.  I have had a wonderful time with this series over the years, and readers can find reviews for several of the more recent entries, such as The Blood of Rome, Traitors of Rome, The Emperor’s Exile, The Honour of Rome, Death to the Emperor and Rebellion, on this blog.

While The Eagles of the Empire series is always very good, Scarrow has been on a particularly strong roll lately as he portrays the events of Boudica’s rebellion in exquisite and heartbreaking detail, covering all the evils done by both sides during the conflict.  With his protagonists firmly in the middle of the action, books like Death to the Emperor and Rebellion have been some of the best entries in the series, and I loved the compelling and powerful narrative that Scarrow wove around these iconic events.  However, the story of the rebellion and Boudica still isn’t over, and Scarrow looks to bring it to an intense end with the next novel in the series, Revenge of Rome.

Revenge of Rome will be the 23rd book in the Eagles of the Empire series and will be set in the immediate aftermath of the big climatic battle that shattered Boudica’s army.  This upcoming book will see protagonists Cato and Macro forced to chase after Boudica to get Rome’s revenge for the destruction the rebelling Britons wrought.

Plot Synopsis:

ROME AND BOUDICA. A DUEL TO THE DEATH.

AD 61. Britannia is divided.

The rebel horde has been defeated. But the leader, Boudica, and her remaining warriors are still at large. With them is the eagle standard of the Ninth Legion, taken in ambush, flaunted as proof that Rome can yet be beaten.

The embers of rebellion are still glowing . . .

The toll has been heavy, with countless men lost, and major towns in ruins. The bodies of the dead are strewn across the streets. And for Centurion Macro, there is the scarring knowledge that his mother perished in the attack on Londinium.

As Macro’s heart burns for revenge, he and his comrade-in-arms Prefect Cato are tasked with hunting down the remnants of the enemy army. There can be no peace until the queen is captured or killed. And Roman honour will only be restored when the eagle standard has been recovered.

I have been very much looking forward to this new Eagles of the Empire book ever since I read the last gripping page of the preceding novel Rebellion, especially as Scarrow left several powerful storylines unfinished.  It looks like many of these plot points are going to be resolved in Revenge of Rome, as Cato and Macro try to hunt down Boudica and either capture or kill her.  I love the idea of this story concept for the new book, especially as it likely to result in a lot of epic moments.  Not only will be get some more intense action as the remaining Roman units attempt to bring the remaining rebels to heel, but it also looks like we are going to get a powerful look at the traumatic aftermath of the destruction caused by the latest conflict.

This will no doubt lead to some dark and captivating character moments, especially for the character of Macro, who lost his mother, friends and hope of a quiet retirement due to the rebellion he unintentionally helped start.  I cannot wait to see how Macro’s character arc unfolds in Revenge of Rome, especially as Scarrow has built up so many different connections to Boudica in recent books.  I have no doubt the inevitable confrontation between Macro and Boudica is going to be something extremely dramatic, as there is plenty of enmity and guilt on both sides, and it will be very interesting to see how certain issues between the two are decided.  I think that these character elements will make Revenge of Rome one of the most emotionally charged novels in the entire Eagles of the Empire series and I cannot wait to see it all unfold.

Revenge of Rome was always going to be very high on my to-read list, as this any Scarrow novel is an instant get more me.  However, I am very invested in seeing how the current Eagles of the Empire storyline continues in Revenge of Rome, especially some of the compelling character elements that Scarrow has been cleverly building up in the last couple of books.  Sure to feature a ton of conflict, personal trauma, and dramatic interactions, Revenge of Rome is going to be an awesome read, and it is already one of my most anticipated novels for the second half of 2024.

Waiting on Wednesday – Nemesis by Gregg Hurwitz

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Thriller, 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.  I run this segment in conjunction with the Can’t-Wait Wednesday meme that is currently running at Wishful Endings.  Stay tuned to see reviews of these books when I get a copy of them.  For my latest Waiting on Wednesday, I look ahead to 2025 and highlight an awesome thriller from one of my favourite authors with Nemesis by Gregg Hurwitz.

Nemesis Cover

Amazon

I have made no secret about the fact that I am a huge fan of Gregg Hurwitz’s Orphan X series at the moment.  The Orphan X books, which started back in 2016, follows the adventures of Evan Smoak, the former government assassin known as Orphan X, who now spends his time seeking redemption as the vigilante of last resort, the Nowhere Man.  This series is so much fun, and I always get very hooked on the elaborate narratives that Hurwitz comes up for with.  All the most recent Orphan X books have been extremely incredible, and I had a wonderful time reading and reviewing entries like Out of the Dark, Into the Fire, Prodigal Son, Dark Horse, The Last Orphan and Lone Wolf, especially as Hurwitz combines complex characters with intense action.

Due to how much I have enjoyed the last several books, the Orphan X series is a must-read for me each year and I try to get through them as soon as I can.  While we’re not even halfway through 2024 yet, I am already excited for the next book in the series, especially as Hurwitz looks set to release a particularly compelling and moving entry, with the epic sounding Nemesis.  Set for release in February 2025, Nemesis will be the 10th Orphan X book and will pit Evan against his most dangerous enemy yet, his very best friend.

Plot Synopsis:

In the latest explosive novel in this New York Times bestselling series, Evan Smoak, having shaped his life with a rigid set of rules, finds himself at odds with his oldest friend in the world, where principles are in conflict with honor―and everyone is the loser.

At one time, Evan Smoak was a highly successful black ops assassin known as Orphan X, dedicated to a rigid set of operational rules. Now, even after breaking with the government program, going deep underground, and remaking his life, Smoak is dedicated to his assassin’s Ten Commandments. But for the first time, those principles have put him on a collision course with the man who might be his best friend in the world, Tommy Stojack.

Stojack, a gifted gunsmith who has created much of Evan’s own weapons and combat gear, has apparently crossed one of Evan’s sharply delineated lines. When Evan decides to go to his workshop and have it out with Tommy, Evan finds himself under attack by a group attempting to ambush and kill him. But, with all his training and skills, Evan is extremely hard to kill―and the dispute explodes into open warfare between him and Tommy. Now Evan has no choice, in his mind, than to track down and face down his only friend.

In the meantime, Tommy is honoring an old promise to an Army friend and goes to help his dead friend’s son. In a depressed rural area, with conflicts flaring up, that son is partially responsible for the death of an innocent. And while Tommy is trying to keep him, and his friends, alive, Evan arrives, with vengeance in mind.

The scary thing? Evan isn’t even the most dangerous threat to arrive on the scene.

Well damn, I was already very excited for Nemesis before I knew what it was about, but boy is that a cool sounding plot.  Hurwitz is cleverly continuing the series right after the events of the latest book, Lone Wolf, where Evan discovered that his best friend and armourer Tommy had been helping a rival assassin he’d been hunting.  This was a very compelling ending to an already intense book, and I have been curious for a while how Hurwitz was going to continue it.  Setting up an all-out war between Evan and Tommy sounds pretty damn extreme though, and I cannot wait to see what happens in the resulting carnage.

Based on the synopsis above, I am thinking that Nemesis is going to be another particularly emotionally charged entry in the series, as the protagonist will have to balance his friendship with his unbendable sense of right and wrong.  Likewise, Tommy seems to be trying to do what he thinks is right by helping his friends and other clients, which will no doubt conflict with Evan’s more black and white approach to life.  As such, I feel that this book is going to be a battle between two very stubborn figures, which will no doubt be frustrating for the reader while also continually hitting them in the feels.  Throw in several extra enemies gunning for the protagonists and I think that Nemesis is going to be a very strong entry in this remarkable series.

Honestly, there was no way that I wasn’t grabbing Nemesis next year, as anything new from Hurwitz is an instant must-read for me.  However, after reading the awesome synopsis above, as well as the fantastic conclusion of Lone Wolf, I am even more excited for this new Orphan X book, and I have a feeling it is going to be particularly impressive.  Nemesis has a ton of potential, and I cannot wait to explore Hurwitz’s new captivating narrative, especially as it is bound to bring action, emotion and impressive story writing in equal measure.

Waiting on Wednesday – High Wire by Candice Fox

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Australian, Thriller, Waiting on Wednesday8 Comments

Welcome to my weekly segment, Waiting on Wednesday, where I look at upcoming books that I am planning to order and review in the next few months and which I think I will really enjoy.  I run this segment in conjunction with the Can’t-Wait Wednesday meme that is currently running at Wishful Endings.  Stay tuned to see reviews of these books when I get a copy of them.  In this week’s Waiting on Wednesday, I look at an awesome upcoming piece of Australian fiction from an author who is having a particularly good 2024, with High Wire by Candice Fox.

High Wire Cover

Amazon

This really is the year of the Fox as Australian author Candice Fox introduces her third epic thriller of 2024 with the exciting sounding High Wire.  Fox is an author who I have come to really appreciate over the years, especially as she has wowed me with some truly amazing reads.  This includes her great standalone novels, Fire With Fire, Gathering Dark and The Chase, as well as the novel she cowrote with James Patterson, 2 Sisters Detective Agency.  All these novels feature some intriguing and clever concepts that Fox works into effective and powerful stories that you can’t turn away from.  This was particularly true in 2024 as Fox’s other two books from this year, The Murder Inn (with Patterson) and Devil’s Kitchen, were extremely impressive and really drove home how good an author Fox is.

As such, it is little wonder that I am excited for Fox’s new novel, High Wire, which is currently set for release in late September 2024.  High Wire sees Fox return her focus to the Australian outback, as two people get caught up in all manner of trouble in the very worst place you could imagine.

Plot Synopsis:

You only take the High Wire if you’re desperate – or up to no good.|

A notorious unmarked track through outback Australia, the ‘Wire’ crosses slabs of lawless land, body dumping grounds and mobile phone blackspots.

Harvey Buck is certainly desperate. Racing to be with his dying girlfriend, he encounters Clare Holland, whose car has broken down. He offers the hapless traveller a ride . . . and then their nightmare begins.

The pair are ambushed by a vengeful crew – and strapped into bomb vests. As part of a deadly game, Harvey and Clare are forced to commit a series of increasingly murderous missions, or else be blown to smithereens.

Senior Sergeant Edna Norris is dealing with a runaway teenager; not an unusual job in a place where people go to disappear. But an unfolding crime spree turns this outback cop’s night into a fight for survival. Hot on Harvey and Clare’s trail, Edna finds a burnt-out car, a missing woman, a bank robbery and a bullet-riddled body.

And this road trip from hell has only just begun . . .


High Wire sounds like it is going to be a pretty full-on and intense read, which I am totally here for.  An explosive race across the country with murderous intentions, dangerous games, and two apparently innocent people trapped in badly escalating situation has all the potential to be an amazing story, especially with a talented author like Candice Fox at the wheel.  Throw in the author’s ability to bring the wild outback Australian setting to life, as well as some great and intriguing characters, and I feel that High Wire is going to be a pretty epic book.

Honestly, after the 2024 that Candice Fox has been having, there is no way that I will not be picking up High Wire when it comes out later this year.  Fox’s other two books this year have been extremely impressive, and High Wire looks set to follow that trend.  This upcoming book has such an exciting and over-the-top plot behind it, and I fully believe that Fox will turn it into something special.  This is easily one of my most anticipated pieces of Australian fiction coming out in the second half of 2024 and I cannot wait to read it.

Waiting on Wednesday – Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret by Benjamin Stevenson

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Australian, Comedy/Satire, Murder Mystery, Waiting on Wednesday7 Comments

Welcome to my weekly segment, Waiting on Wednesday, where I look at upcoming books that I am planning to order and review in the next few months and which I think I will really enjoy.  I run this segment in conjunction with the Can’t-Wait Wednesday meme that is currently running at Wishful Endings.  Stay tuned to see reviews of these books when I get a copy of them.  For this latest Waiting on Wednesday, I highlight one of my most anticipated Australian novels of 2024, with the hilarious upcoming crime fiction read, Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret by Benjamin Stevenson.

Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret Cover 1

Amazon

Over the last few years, one of the most consistently impressive and enjoyable Australian authors has been crime fiction author Benjamin Stevenson.  A former comedian (alongside his brother), Stevenson dove into the world of crime fiction with his exciting debut Greenlight (also released as Trust Me When I Lie and She Lies in the Vines), which proved to be a gripping and enjoyable read.  Stevenson followed this up in 2020 with his second novel, Either Side of Midnight, which proved to be an excellent sequel to Greenlight.

While I have really enjoyed his more serious crime fiction novels, Stevenson’s best work is easily his Ernest Cunningham series.  Starting in 2022 with the outrageous and incredible Everyone in My Family has Killed Someone, this series follows a murder mystery expert who finds himself trying to solve an elaborate killing involving his own trapped family.  Everyone in My Family has Killed Someone was such a good book, especially as Stevenson expertly utilised his comedy background to tell a particularly entertaining story, and it ended up being one of my favourite pieces of Australian fiction from 2022.  Not to be outdone, Stevenson followed this book up last year with the awesome sequel, Everyone on this Train is a Suspect.  Once again forcing the protagonist into a unique locked-room mystery, Everyone on this Train is a Suspect proved to be an epic book, especially as it cleverly parodied the crime fiction genre, and it was one of my favourite books and pieces of Australian fiction from 2023.

Needless to say, I have been keeping a close eye out for anymore books from Stevenson, and I was delighted when I found out there was going to be a third Ernest Cunningham novel coming out later this year.  This book, which is set for release in late October 2024, is the awesome sounding Everyone This Christmas has a Secret, which will throw the protagonist into a whole new mess of trouble.

Plot Synopsis:

Benjamin Stevenson returns with a Christmas addition to his bestselling Ernest Cunningham mysteries. Unwrap all the Christmas staples: presents, family, an impossible murder or two, and a deadly advent calendar of clues.

If Knives Out and The Thursday Murder Club kissed under the mistletoe…

My name’s Ernest Cunningham. I used to be a fan of reading Golden Age murder mysteries, until I found myself with a haphazard career getting stuck in the middle of real-life ones. I’d hoped, this Christmas, that any self-respecting murderer would kick their feet up and take it easy over the holidays. I was wrong.

So here I am, backstage at the show of world-famous magician Rylan Blaze, whose benefactor has just been murdered. My suspects are all professional tricksters: masters of the art of misdirection.

THE MAGICIAN
THE ASSISTANT
THE EXECUTIVE
THE HYPNOTIST
THE TWIN
THE COUNSELLOR
THE TECH

My clues are even more abstract: A suspect covered in blood, without a memory of how it got there; A murder committed without setting foot inside the room where it happens; And an advent calendar. Because, you know, it’s Christmas.

If I can see through the illusions, I know I can solve it.

After all, a good murder is just like a magic trick, isn’t it?

Now this sounds like a pretty damn epic read and boy am I going to have fun with it later this year.  Taking his fun concept and turning it into a Christmas-themed murder mystery is a brilliant move from Stevenson and I am really excited to see how it works in Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret.  Focussing the murder on a bunch of different entertainers, all of whom are trained liars and distractors, should result in a complex mystery and I am sure that Stevenson is going to produce a very memorable story around it.  The utterly ridiculous scenario also plays masterfully into Stevenson’s comedy and performance background, so I am sure its going to be loaded with some amazing jokes and references that will appeal to a lot of people.

Look, after all the fun I’ve had with his last few books picking up the new Benjamin Stevenson is a given for me at this point.  However, having a new Ernest Cunningham mystery that features an elaborate and entertaining Christmas themed murder mystery is just gold and there is no way I’m not going to have an absolute blast reading this book.  I am exceedingly excited for Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret and I cannot wait to see how Stevenson continues his outstanding series.  While I am a tad worried about the shorter length of this novel, which might restrict the mystery a little, I am sure that Stevenson has something special planned, and I look forward to seeing it unfold.  Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret has the potential to be one of my favourite books of the year and in my opinion October cannot come soon enough.

Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret Cover 2

Amazon

Waiting on Wednesday – Capture or Kill by Don Bentley (series created by Vince Flynn)

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Thriller, 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.  I run this segment in conjunction with the Can’t-Wait Wednesday meme that is currently running at Wishful Endings.  Stay tuned to see reviews of these books when I get a copy of them.  In my latest Waiting on Wednesday, I highlight a new entry in one of my favourite thriller series that looks to take the franchise in a new direction with Capture or Kill by Don Bentley.

Capture or Kill Cover

Amazon

Ever since I started writing this blog one of the main spy thriller series that I have been enjoying are the exciting Mitch Rapp books.  Initially written by Vince Flynn, the Mitch Rapp books follow a grizzled American spy who is sent out to stop the biggest threats to the United States in a very violent fashion.  The first 14 Mitch Rapp books were written by Flynn before his passing in 2013, with the series subsequently continued by Kyle Mills.  I personally have enjoyed the last several books by Mills, including Red War, Lethal Agent, Total Power, Enemy at the Gates, Oath of Loyalty and Code Red, which have contained some outstanding storylines, including attacks on America’s power grid and a dangerous US President trying to take down the protagonist.  As such, this series is now firmly on my must-read list every year, and I always look forward to an over-the-top adventure with Mitch Rapp.

The 2024 addition to the series is set to come out in September, however, there have been some interesting developments on that front.  The main change is that Kyle Mills is no longer writing the series and instead it has been taken over by veteran thriller author Don Bentley.  Bentley, who already has a lot of experience with other major thriller series, looks to take the series back to its roots with Capture or Kill, especially as it will see Rapp return to take on dangerous threats in the Middle East.

Plot Synopsis:

Mitch Rapp faces an Iranian foe bent on destabilizing the Middle East in the newest thriller from Vince Flynn’s #1 New York Times bestselling series, now written by the “worthy successor to Tom Clancy” (Publishers Weekly) Don Bentley.

April 2011: On a remote mountaintop overlooking the remains of the Iranian nuclear weapons program, Azad Ashani witnesses a Quds Force demonstration of a capability meant to upend America’s war in the Middle East. Ashani, director of the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and Security and Irene Kennedy’s former back channel to the Iranian government, recognizes the demonstration’s true significance, and the nation-ending conflict it will provoke. Alone, Ashani stands no chance of preventing this rush to madness.

But with the help of one man, he just might.

In Washington, DC, CIA director Irene Kennedy briefs the president that the operational window to kill or capture Osama bin Laden at his recently discovered compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan is rapidly closing. But before he’ll authorize a commando raid on Pakistani soil, the president demands irrefutable proof of bin Laden’s presence.

Proof he trusts just one man to provide.

Preventing a looming war in the Middle East while delivering justice for the nearly 3,000 Americans killed on 9/11 would be a big ask for anyone.

Mitch Rapp isn’t just anyone.

This sounds like a pretty fun new adventure for the Mitch Rapp series, and I am very intrigued to see how Bentley takes over the character in this 23rd book.  Pitting Rapp against terrorist foes and the Iranian government is a classic adventure for this action protagonist, and I am curious to see the story go back a few years to 2011.  I have no doubt whatsoever that Capture or Kill is going to be a particularly exciting and epic read, and I cannot wait to get my hands on it later this year.

Waiting on Wednesday – The Devils by Joe Abercrombie

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Fantasy, Waiting on Wednesday7 Comments

Welcome to my weekly segment, Waiting on Wednesday, where I look at upcoming books that I am planning to order and review in the next few months and which I think I will really enjoy.  I run this segment in conjunction with the Can’t-Wait Wednesday meme that is currently running at Wishful Endings.  Stay tuned to see reviews of these books when I get a copy of them.  For this week’s Waiting on Wednesday, I am jumping ahead to 2025 to highlight a book I am particularly excited for with The Devils by Joe Abercrombie.

The Devils Cover 2

Amazon

There are few modern authors more influential in the field of fantasy fiction than the exceptional Joe Abercrombie.  Known for his outstanding dark fantasy novel, Abercrombie has been one of the top authors in the genre for years, especially when wowing readers with his iconic The First Law series.  Currently sitting at nine books, including his original First Law trilogy, his three standalone novels (Best Served Cold, The Heroes and Red Country), and his latest Age of Madness trilogy.  The last of these, the Age of Madness books, are particularly well represented on this blog as they proved to be exceptional books for each of the years they were released.  All three of them, A Little Hatred (one of my favourite books of 2019), The Trouble With Peace (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2020) and The Wisdom of Crowds (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2021), were very highly rated by me and I could not get enough of this series.

Due to how much I have enjoyed Abercrombie’s work in the past I have been eagerly awaiting some new book for him for years.  As such, I was very excited when I found out that he had a novel coming out early next year with The Devils.  Set for release in May 2025, The Devils will take readers to an alternate version of medieval Europe where all manner of dark creatures roam and even darker deeds are committed.  While it isn’t part of the First Law universe, this new book sounds extremely cool, and it really has a lot of potential.

Plot Synopsises:

A brand-new epic fantasy from New York Times bestselling author Joe Abercrombie, featuring a notorious band of anti-heroes on a delightfully bloody and raucous journey.

Holy work sometimes requires unholy deeds.

Brother Diaz has been summoned to the Sacred City, where he is certain a commendation and grand holy assignment awaits him. But his new flock is made up of unrepentant murderers, practitioners of ghastly magic, and outright monsters, and the mission he is tasked with will require bloody measures from them all in order to achieve its righteous ends.

Elves lurk at our borders and hunger for our flesh, while greedy princes care for nothing but their own ambitions and comfort. With a hellish journey before him, it’s a good thing Brother Diaz has the devils on his side.

Or

Europe stares into the abyss.

Plague and famine stalk the land, monsters lurk in every shadow and greedy princes care for nothing but their own ambitions. Only one thing is certain: the elves will come again, and they will eat everyone.

Sometimes, the darkest paths lead towards the light. Paths on which the righteous will not dare to tread…

And so, buried beneath the sacred splendour of the Celestial Palace, is the secret Chapel of the Holy Expediency. For its congregation of convicted monsters there are no sins that have not been committed, no lines that will not be crossed, and no mission that cannot be turned into a disastrous bloodbath.

Now the hapless Brother Diaz must somehow bind the worst of the worst to a higher cause: to put a thief on the throne of Troy, and unite the sundered church against the coming apocalypse.

When you’re headed through hell, you need the devils on your side.

Well now, this sounds pretty damn awesome.  I honestly never knew that I needed a Joe Abercrombie dark alternate history book where a priest must lead a band of literal monsters to save the world from elves, but now that I know that it exists and is on its way, I cannot wait to read it.  The Devils sounds like such an outrageous novel, and I am getting some very fun The Dirty Dozen vibes from it, which is always great.  I also cannot wait to see Abercrombie’s take on a riven, dark alternate Europe, and I am curious what horrors and unique occurrences his imagine can envision for this landscape.  This setup, combined with an amazing setting and Abercrombie’s brilliant take on human nature and dark fantasy, easily ensures this is going to be an incredible novel.

Look, if I was purely seeing the plot synopsis for The Devils on its own, I would be very interested and would make it a priority to read this awesome upcoming book.  But the fact that it is written by Joe Abercrombie, who is easily one of my favourite authors, there is no way in hell that I am missing out on this book next year.  I have no doubt what-so-ever that The Devils is going to be an exceptional book and I will probably end up loving every single second that I spend reading it.  As far as I’m concerned, the number one contender for best fantasy book of 2025 has just been announced, and if I could walk through time to get a copy of The Devils sooner I would.

The Devils Cover 1

Amazon

Waiting on Wednesday – Darkside by Michael Mammay

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Science 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.  I run this segment in conjunction with the Can’t-Wait Wednesday meme that is currently running at Wishful Endings.  Stay tuned to see reviews of these books when I get a copy of them.  In this latest Waiting on Wednesday post, I highlight a particularly awesome science fiction thriller coming out later this year that I am very excited for, Darkside by Michael Mammay.

Darkside Cover

Amazon

The second half of 2024 is looking particularly awesome, as there are a ton of outstanding books coming out before December.  While I have my eye on quite a few fantasy and science fiction novels in this period, one that has especially caught my eye is the outstanding sounding novel, Darkside by Michael Mammay, which will bring me back to the author’s epic and impressive Planetside series.

The Planetside series is an excellent science fiction series that features high-stakes military thriller storylines in the far future.  I have been a big fan of this series since the beginning, when, by chance, I chose to listen to the first book in the series, Planetside.  Mammay’s debut novel, Planetside was an outstanding book that saw a retired military colonel, Carl Butler, sent to an alien planet to find a missing officer.  However, he soon finds himself involved in an elaborate conspiracy as alien forces and members of his own side try to stop him.  I had an awesome time with Planetside and it ended up being one of my favourite books of 2018, especially as Mammay ended everything with a pretty epic final twist.

Mammay followed up Planetside the next year with the fantastic thriller Spaceside, that saw the protagonist deal with the many consequences of his previous adventure, and which also ended on a bang.  This was another amazing read and Spaceside ended up being one of my favourite books of 2019.  The exciting series continued in 2021 with Colonyside as Butler was once again dragged into a dangerous conspiracy on a planet, this time involving a corrupt company and dangerous alien fauna.  An outstanding novel that had me on edge the entire time, Colonyside was a pretty awesome book, and unsurprisingly was one of my favourite novels and audiobooks of 2021.

While I haven’t been able to make time to check out some of Mammay’s other intriguing science fiction novels, the Planetside series is something that I will not be able to ignore, so I was very excited when I found out that Mammay was releasing a fourth book, Darkside, later this year.  Set for release in September, Darkside will see the return of the Butler as he is forced into another elaborate adventure, this time on a moon where everyone wants to kill him.

Plot Synopsis:

In this thrilling, action-packed fourth installment in the Planetside series from acclaimed science fiction author Michael Mammay, retired Colonel Carl Butler gears up for another military investigation, full of danger, corporate intrigue, and tech people would kill for—perfect for fans of John Scalzi and Craig Alanson.

Colonel Butler has paid his dues and just wants to enjoy his retirement on a remote planet. But the galaxy has had other plans. He has been roped into searching for a politician’s missing son and an industry magnate’s missing daughter. He has been kidnapped, violated numerous laws, and caused the destruction of colonial facilities. He’s famous—or infamous, depending on who you ask—praised and reviled in equal measure across the galaxy for his exploits.

And he is determined to never let the government drag him into another investigation.

But when a runaway twelve-year-old girl whose father has gone missing asks him for help, well…it’s a lot harder to say no.

The girl’s father, Jorge Ramiro, was supposed to have been on Taug, a moon orbiting the gas giant Ridia 5, working on a dig with a famous archaeologist. But now there’s no sign of him and no record of him being there. Mining operations on the moon are run by two different consortiums, Caliber and Omicron—both of which have tried to kill Butler in the past. Butler doesn’t believe in coincidence.

Landing on Taug with his right-hand man Mac, computer genius Ganos, and an elite security squad, Butler soon finds that they’ve charged back into the crosshairs—because Ramiro is not the only who has disappeared, and the perpetual darkside of this moon is hiding more than the truth about a missing archaeologist…

Now this is going to be good.  Mammay has built up quite an interesting narrative around Butler during the first three books in the series, and this fourth entry, Darkside, will make great use of them.  While forcing Butler, who by this point is one of the most infamous and controversial figures in the galaxy, into yet another sinister investigation is par for the course in this series, I am very much looking forward to seeing how this plays out.  Not only will we have a cool new environment, a mysterious moon with alien archaeology, but we will see Butler have to contend with multiple old enemies in the form of two companies he has crossed paths with before.

As such, I see Darkside playing out as a very elaborate mystery thriller as Butler tries to figure out which of his enemies are behind this new plot, while both companies try to kill them.  Watching the direct old soldier go up against intrigue, politics and dangerous schemes is going to be a ton of fun, and I cannot wait to see what elaborate story emerges, especially as these conspiracies are never simple.  I am also intrigued to see how Butler has evolved since his last adventure, especially as every time he’s in action, he seems to do something utterly destructive.  This reputation is a bit of a double-edged sword for the protagonist, and I am sure it will come into play in some interesting ways, especially if his opponents seek to exploit it again.  There are so many other cool elements that could come into play here, and I have no doubt this is going to be epic.

Honestly, there is no way that I am missing Darkside later this year when it comes out.  I am way too invested in the Planetside series by Michael Mammay and I am very intrigued to see how it continues, especially as the protagonist is still dealing with the fallout of his previous adventures.  I have no doubt whatsoever that Darkside is going to be an impressive and outstanding read, and it will probably end up being one of my top books of the year.  I am already in love with the cover and I cannot wait to see how this novel unfolds.  At this point I am planning to check out Darkside on audiobook, mainly because it will likely feature the narration of the always epic R. C. Bray, and I know that will make this amazing novel that much better.

Waiting on Wednesday – Witness 8 by Steve Cavanagh

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Thriller, 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.  I run this segment in conjunction with the Can’t-Wait Wednesday meme that is currently running at Wishful Endings.  Stay tuned to see reviews of these books when I get a copy of them.  For this week’s Waiting on Wednesday, I highlight an exciting and epic upcoming legal thriller with Witness 8 by Steve Cavanagh.

Witness 8 Cover

Amazon

Over the last few years, I have really grown to enjoy the work of thriller author Steve Cavanah.  A compelling author with an awesome body of work, Cavanagh routinely produces intense and captivating thrillers with unique plots that really draw the reader in.  For example, last year, Cavanagh released the impressive novel Kill For Me Kill For You, which provided a fantastic new take on the classic plot of Strangers on a Train.  The distinctive thriller storylines that the author features in his works really appeal to me and Cavanagh is currently on my must-read list every year.

Cavanagh is best known for his Eddie Flynn legal thriller series, which is his main body of work.  Starting in 2015 with The Defence, the Eddie Flynn novels follow a former conman turned defence attorney who finds himself involved in a series of unique and deadly cases.  I have had a wonderful time with some of the latest books in the series, including The Devil’s Advocate, which saw Flynn attempt to save an innocent man from a murderous district attorney, and The Accomplice, where Flynn’s client was the wife and alleged accomplice of a brutal serial killer.  I had an exceptional time with these amazing legal thrillers, and I have been very excited to see how Cavanagh will continue the Eddie Flynn series in the future.

It looks like we won’t have to wait too much longer for the next book from Cavanagh, as we have a new novel coming out in August with Witness 8.  The eighth book in the Eddie Flynn series, Witness 8 will see Flynn defend another innocent person in unusual circumstances as the prime witness in a murder trial plays her own twisted games.

Plot Synopsis:

Ruby Johnson is a nanny and maid to wealthy families in Manhattan’s West 74th Street.
She knows their routines. Their secrets.
One night, on her way home, Ruby witnesses a neighbour’s murder.

She knows the victim. She knows the killer.
She makes an anonymous call to the police and names the murderer.
But Ruby didn’t tell the truth…
Because there’s something wrong with Ruby Johnson.

Eddie Flynn, conman turned trial lawyer, must defend an innocent man accused of this terrible crime.

As Ruby’s deadly game begins, one thing is certain.
It won’t be the last murder this witness is involved in…

I absolutely love the sound of Witness 8’s plot and I already know I am going to love this book.  Cavanagh always has fun portraying corrupt members of the trial process with their own agenda, whether it be death-loving prosecutors or a murderous juror, and his new focus, a lying witness with sinister plans is going to be good.  I have no doubt that Cavanagh is going to twist this case into something special, and I cannot wait to see how the thriller unfolds.  Expect high stakes moments, entertaining court scenes, and over the top legal manoeuvres as the unconventional lawyer protagonist goes up against both the system and the nefarious Ruby.

Honestly there was no way that I wasn’t going to grab Witness 8 when it comes out.  Cavanagh has really impressed me with his last several novels and I am a real sucker for a good legal thriller.  As such, I am extremely confident that I am going to absolutely love Witness 8 and it will probably be one of the most entertaining and exciting books of 2024.  An epic new book from one of my favourite legal thriller authors.

Waiting on Wednesday – King’s Enemy by Ian Ross

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Historical Fiction, 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.  I run this segment in conjunction with the Can’t-Wait Wednesday meme that is currently running at Wishful Endings.  Stay tuned to see reviews of these books when I get a copy of them.  In this latest Waiting on Wednesday, I highlight an awesome and exciting upcoming novel that I know I’m going to love with King’s Enemy by Ian Ross.

King's Enemy Cover

Last year I had the very great pleasure of reading my first book from historical fiction author Ian Ross, with Battle Song.  The first entry of Ross’s de Norton trilogy, Battle Song followed a young English squire, Adam de Norton, who is forced into the service of notorious knight Sir Robert de Dunstanville.  Following Sir Robert across Europe through the tournament scene, Adam soon learns what it is to be a fighter and a knight.  However, when English lord Simon de Montfort rebels against King Henry III, Adam and Robert return home to a civil war, determined to fight on the side that will provide them the greatest reward.  Battle Song ended up being a very epic novel, that was both action-packed and powerfully written, while also featuring an intriguing look at one of England’s lesser-known civil wars.  I had such a great time with Battle Song, and it ended up being one of the best books I read in 2023.

Ross followed up Battle Song with the second novel in the de Norton trilogy, War Cry, which I read earlier this year.  Set shortly after the events of Battle Song, War Cry sees a newly knighted Adam de Norton forced back into war when further rebellions kick off across England in support of the deposed King.  This proved to be an outstanding sequel to Battle Song, and I loved how dark the story got in places, especially the ending where the protagonist loses everything.  This was another exceptional read in my book, and it easily cemented me as a fan of Ross’s writing.

Due to how much fun I had with the first two books in this trilogy, I have been keeping a close eye out for the third book.  Luckily, it doesn’t look like I am going to have to wait too much longer to find out how the trilogy ends as the final entry, King’s Enemy, is set for release in September.  King’s Enemy sounds extremely awesome, especially as it will follow the protagonist and his love interest after they are branded as traitors and forced to flee across England towards a desperate last stand.

Plot Synopsis:

The Battle of Evesham has been fought and lost. The King is triumphant, Simon de Montfort is dead, and Adam de Norton is a prisoner, stripped of everything he once honoured and prized.

Escaping from captivity in the grim castle of Beeston, Adam becomes a fugitive in a country in turmoil. Branded a king’s enemy, he can be slain with impunity.

Together with the widowed Joane de Bohun, Adam flees across a bleak winter landscape, evading both pursuing royal troops and a desperate band of outlaws to seek shelter with a surviving rebel force in the north. But when the rebels are beaten once again, only one place in the land still holds out defiantly against the king: Kenilworth Castle, the mightiest fortress in England.

Joining the garrison of Kenilworth as it prepares for one of the most epic sieges in English history, Adam finds dangerous foes both inside and outside the walls. But as the siege grows ever more brutal, he must decide between a valiant defence and a still more perilous bid for freedom.

Now, after how epically dark the previous book ended, there was no way I wasn’t grabbing King’s Enemy when it came out.  However, I have been even more keen to read this book after seeing the above plot synopsis.  Having the protagonist go from respected knight to royal fugitive is an intriguing turn of events, and I’m sure that Ross will come up with an intense and desperate flight across England.  In addition, the finale of the book is set to take place during one of the longest sieges in English history, which is very, very cool.  I am a huge fan of books that feature epic sieges, and I cannot wait to see how Ross will approach this epic historical event.

Another aspect of King’s Enemy that I am very interested in seeing is the overall fate of the main character, Adam de Norton.  Throughout Battle Song and War Cry, I have become highly invested in Adam’s story, especially as he is one of the few loyal, honourable and chivalrous knights in the plot.  Ross has left open several intriguing character storylines that need to be addressed in the final novel, including his romance with Joane de Bohun, the various enemies he has accumulated throughout the war, and whether he will be allowed to remain a knight and keep his ancestral lands.  I look forward to seeing how Ross wraps up Adam de Norton’s tale, and I cannot wait to find out what happens to this character.

Look, based on how impressive the first two novels in this trilogy have been, there is no chance that I would stop reading it now.  I absolutely need to know how Ian Ross’s captivating historical tale ends, and the fact that the final chapter of the story features a massive siege is all I need to know to grab King’s Enemy the instant it comes out.  As such, King’s Enemy is now one of my most anticipated reads for the second half of 2024 and I am so damn excited for it.