WWW Wednesday – 21 January 2026

On January 24, 2026 By The Unseen LibraryIn WWW WednesdayLeave a comment

WWW Wednesday is a weekly post hosted by Taking on a World of Words, where bloggers share the books that they’ve recently finished, what they are currently reading and what books they are planning to read next. Essentially you have to answer three questions (the Three Ws):

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

So, let’s get to it.

What are you currently reading:

A Sociopath’s Guide to a Successful Marriage by M. K. Oliver (ebook)

I’m still going with the fantastic 2026 debut thriller, A Sociopath’s Guide to a Successful Marriage by M. K. Oliver this week. While I didn’t get as much reading time to enjoy this book as I had hoped, it is still proving to be an amazing book that follows the titular sociopath as she attempts to maintain her perfect, busy life after brutally killing someone in her house. I’m hoping to finish it off in the next couple of days, and I cannot wait to see where the crazy story goes next.

Twelve Months by Jim Butcher (Audiobook)

After years of waiting, we finally have a new entry in the Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher, the epic new release, Twelve Months, which I started reading today. One of my most anticipated releases of 2026, Twelve Months sees the highly damaged wizard protagonist try to survive the turbulent year following the destructive battle for Chicago, forced to complete multiple quests while also overcoming his grief. I am already flying through this outstanding novel in its audiobook format, and I am loving every single second I spend reading Twelve Months.

What did you recently finish reading?

Warhammer 40,000: The Last Ditch by Sandy Mitchell (Audiobook)

I ended up quickly finishing off the addictive Ciaphas Cain book, The Last Ditch. The eighth book in Sandy Mitchell’s amazing series, The Last Ditch combined awesome action and excellent humour with great Warhammer elements. Review to follow soon

Warhammer 40,000: The Greater Good by Sandy Mitchell (Audiobook)

I instantly jumped from The Last Ditch to the next book in the series, The Greater Good, which proved to be another incredible Warhammer 40,000 audiobook. A slick and clever read that kept you hooked all the way to the end, The Greater Good was an outstanding novel from one of the very best Warhammer authors.

What do you think you’ll read next?

Red Star Rebels by Amie Kaufman (ebook)

I’m hoping to read the entertaining young adult novel, Red Star Rebels by Amie Kaufman next, which sounds like a ton of high-octane fun.

Dawn of the Firebird by Sarah Mughal Rana (ebook)

I’m also hoping to start the intriguing debut fantasy novel, Dawn of the Firebird, this week. I think this new book has a ton of potential and I can’t wait to get into it.

That’s it for this week; check back in next Wednesday to see what progress I’ve made on my reading and what books I’ll be looking at next.

Top Ten Tuesday – My Favourite Debuts of 2025

On January 22, 2026 By The Unseen LibraryIn List2 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme that currently resides at The Artsy Reader Girl and features bloggers sharing lists on various book topics. The official topic for this week involved listing your Bookish Goals for 2026, which while interesting, is something I don’t think I can contribute to. Instead, for this week I am going to continue listing some of my favourite books of 2025 (make sure to check out my previous lists that highlighted my favourite sequels, audiobooks, pre-2025 novels, new-to-me-authors in 2025 and overall favourite books of 2025), by examining my favourite debuts released in 2025.

2025 was an awesome year for debuts as there were an excellent array of new authors releasing some impressive and entertaining first novels. I always love checking out new authors when they produce their first book or dive into a whole new genre, and I was blown away with some of the debut talent on display this year. As such, I am glad that I can highlight some of the absolute best of these releases in this Top Ten list.

To be eligible for this list, the book had to be a 2025 release that was either the author’s first novel ever, or a novel that was substantially different from an author’s previous work (their debut in the genre). I ended up reading quite a few good debuts in 2025, which allowed me to pull together a full list of 10 books. I am pretty happy with the results, and I feel that this list captures my favourite debuts of the year and highlights them accordingly. So, let us see what made the cut.

Top Ten List:

Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino

The first debut I want to highlight on this list is the very fun crime fiction novel, Best Offer Wins. An impressive debut book from Marsia Kashino, Best Offer Wins follows an obsessed character, who after having her heart broken by the housing market too many times, vows to do whatever she needs to get her dream house. A wonderfully over-the-top and addictive read, Best Offer Wins was an amazing first outing from Kashino and one I had so much fun reading.

Warhammer 40,000: The Remnant Blade by Mike Vincent

Warhammer fiction is always a franchise that has a lot of new authors making their big debut, and this was particularly true in 2025 with some awesome first-time books from talented debuting authors. One of my favourites was The Remnant Blade by Mike Vincent, which was one of my favourite Warhammer 40,000 books of last year. Following a small band of terrifying Night Lords Chaos Space Marines as they bring fear and death to all their enemies, The Remnant Blade was an extremely epic novel, and I was very impressed by Mike Vincent, who showed himself to be a new Warhammer author to watch.

Seven Recipes for Revolution by Ryan Rose

One of the more compelling fantasy novels of 2025 was the outstanding debut Seven Recipes for Revolution. A great first outing from Ryan Rose, Seven Recipes for Revolution saw a lowly nobody rise to become an acclaimed and powerful chef in a society based around magical food that grants deadly abilities. Loaded with twists, clever action and a ton of outrageous cookery, Seven Recipes for Revolution was an outstanding read, and I’m already excited to read the sequel coming out later this year.

The Reunion by Bronwyn Rivers

I always love reading some awesome debut Australian fiction, and one of the best examples from last year was The Reunion by Bronwyn Rivers. Set in the Blue Mountains, The Reunion follows a group of former friends who find themselves forced to remember the tragic events the drove them apart years before. A slick and compelling debut that grabs your attention quickly, The Reunion was an excellent crime fiction read that makes full use of its Australian bush setting.

The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson

The next book on this list was one of my favourite novels of 2025, with The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson. A complex and highly addictive novel, The Raven Scholar was Hodgson’s debut in the fantasy genre (having previously written historical crime), and boy was it something special. Set around several skilled competitors as they attempt to win a tournament to become king, The Raven Scholar forced them also contend with murder, betrayal and a deadly conspiracy. An exceptional novel that I just could not put down, The Raven Scholar was an exceptional read, and it was so impressive how well Hodgson adapted to a new and very different genre.

An Ethical Guide to Murder by Jenny Morris

Jenny Morris presented one of the more unique crime fiction debuts of 2025, with the thought-provoking novel An Ethical Guide to Murder. Following a damaged protagonist who develops the ability to transfer life between people, An Ethical Guide to Murder soon goes to a dark place as the protagonist becomes a deadly vigilante. Clever and deeply intense, this was a great debut for an excellent author.

Gunnawah by Ronni Salt

One of the more unique Australian novels of 2025 was the amazing debut from Ronni Salt, Gunnawah. Set in small-town Australian during the turbulent 1970s, Gunnawah tells its own unique story set around the backdrop of historical drug wars and corruption. An excellent novel and an outstanding debut.

Warhammer 40,000: Final Deployment by R. S. Wilt

The other Warhammer 40,000 debut of 2025 that I want to highlight on this list is Final Deployment by R. S. Wilt. Following a small band of elite soldiers as they attempt to stop a planet-wide rebellion, Final Deployment was an exceptional action novel, especially as the protagonists soon find themselves outmatched by three deadly opponents. An ultra-awesome read from start to finish, Final Deployment was so damn good, and I will be grabbing more Warhammer 40,000 novels from Wilt going forward.

Gone Before Goodbye by Harlan Coben and Reese Witherspoon

This next entry on the list features a great thriller that was written by two interesting authors. While leading thriller author Harlan Coben is not a new contributor to the crime fiction genre, it was the first book he wrote with actress Reese Witherspoon. Serving as both the debut novel from this great pair, as well as Reese Witherspoon’s very first book, Gone Before Goodbye was an easy inclusion on this list, especially as it featured a fun and intense thriller narrative. It will be interesting to see if these two write together again, and I personally would also be keen for Witherspoon to write her own solo book.

Of Flame and Fury by Mikayla Bridge

The final book on this list was the excellent young adult fantasy novel, Of Flame and Fury. The debut of Australian author Mikayla Bridge, Of Flame and Fury was a great read, that featured an entertaining enemies-to-lovers narrative set around racing giant phoenixes. Initially appearing to be typical young adult fantasy fare, Bridge produces a very complex narrative in Of Flame and Fury that really impressed me, especially when it comes to the book’s big twist. I ended up having an absolute blast with Of Flame and Fury, and it is a very worthy book to end this list on.

Well, that is the end of this list. As you can, there were some incredible debut novels that came out this year and I had a blast getting through all of them. Each of the above debuts are really worth checking out, and I had an amazing time exploring these talented authors’ first forays into fiction. I am excited to see what these authors produce next, and I have a feeling that quite a few are going to become major names in their genres. I am also excited to see what amazing debuts come out in 2026, and I am currently enjoying my first debut from this year with A Sociopath’s Guide to a Successful Marriage by M. K. Oliver. Make sure to check back this time next year to see what debuts from 2026 are the best from this year.

WWW Wednesday – 14 January 2026

On January 17, 2026 By The Unseen LibraryIn WWW WednesdayLeave a comment

WWW Wednesday is a weekly post hosted by Taking on a World of Words, where bloggers share the books that they’ve recently finished, what they are currently reading and what books they are planning to read next. Essentially you have to answer three questions (the Three Ws):

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

So, let’s get to it.

What are you currently reading:

A Sociopath’s Guide to a Successful Marriage by M. K. Oliver (ebook)

I had a lot of fun this week starting the fantastic 2026 debut thriller, A Sociopath’s Guide to a Successful Marriage by new author M. K. Oliver. An amazing book that follows the titular sociopath as she attempts to maintain her perfect, busy life after brutally killing someone in her house, A Sociopath’s Guide to a Successful Marriage is proving to be a very entertaining read, and I’m really enjoying it. While I haven’t made a ton of progress on A Sociopath’s Guide to a Successful Marriage yet, I’m hoping to finish it off in the next couple of days, and I cannot wait to see where the crazy story goes next.

Warhammer 40,000: The Last Ditch by Sandy Mitchell (Audiobook)

Even after finishing two other Warhammer 40,000 novels in quick succession, I was still in the mood for more books from my favourite franchise, so I decided to dive back into the always reliable and addictive Ciaphas Cain series, with The Last Ditch. The eighth book in Sandy Mitchell’s amazing series, The Last Ditch follows the supposedly cowardly Commissar Cain as he finds himself thrown into another deadly situation in the grimdark future. I have a lot of love for this amazing series, especially as it combines awesome action and excellent humour with great Warhammer elements. I’m currently powering through The Last Ditch, which is proving to be another outstanding book from Mitchell, and I cannot wait to see where it goes next.

What did you recently finish reading?

On the Edge by Kate Horan (Trade Paperback)

I managed to finish off the excellent Australian crime fiction novel, On the Edge by Kate Hora, this week. A compelling and moving novel that makes great use of its small-town setting, On the Edge was an excellent piece of Australian fiction that is worth checking out.

Warhammer 40,000: Vagabond Squadron by Robbie MacNiven (Audiobook)

I also managed to get through the impressive novel Vagabond Squadron by Robbie MacNiven (whose previous novel Oaths of Damnation I deeply enjoyed). An exciting read that follows an elite squadron of transport pilots who are forced through hell in the grimdark battlegrounds of the Warhammer 40,000 universe, Vagabond Squadron was extremely good, and I had such an exceptional time getting through it.

What do you think you’ll read next?

The Trespassers by Jennifer Lynn Alvarez

I’m still hoping to read the late 2025 young adult thriller The Trespassers in the next week. This new thriller from Jennifer Lynn Alvarez is an amazing sounding novel that will follow a group of teens as they try to cover up the events of a deadly party in the Alaskan wilderness. I have been looking forward to reading The Trespassers for a while, especially after deeply enjoying Alvarez’s previous young adult thrillers, Lies Like Wildfire and Friends Like These, and I am sure this is going to be another gripping novel.

That’s it for this week; check back in next Wednesday to see what progress I’ve made on my reading and what books I’ll be looking at next.

WWW Wednesday – 7 January 2026

On January 10, 2026 By The Unseen LibraryIn WWW WednesdayLeave a comment

WWW Wednesday is a weekly post hosted by Taking on a World of Words, where bloggers share the books that they’ve recently finished, what they are currently reading and what books they are planning to read next. Essentially you have to answer three questions (the Three Ws):

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

So, let’s get to it.

What are you currently reading:

On the Edge by Kate Horan (Trade Paperback)

This week I started to read the intriguing new Australian crime fiction novel, On the Edge by Kate Hora, next. Set in smalltown Australia, On the Edge follows a damaged protagonist who returns to her old hometown, years after her best friend was murdered. I’ve made a fair bit of progress with On the Edge so far, and it is proving to be an excellent and compelling read. I’m hoping to finish On the Edge off in the next few days and I cannot wait to see how it turns out.

Warhammer 40,000: Vagabond Squadron by Robbie MacNiven (Audiobook)

I was still in a Warhammer 40,000 mood this week, so I decided to check out the late 2025 release, Vagabond Squadron. The new book from impressive Warhammer author Robbie MacNiven (whose previous novel Oaths of Damnation I deeply enjoyed), Vagabond Squadron is an exciting read that follows an elite squadron of transport pilots who are forced through hell in the grimdark battlegrounds of the Warhammer 40,000 universe. I have been powering through the audiobook version of Vagabond Squadron this week and I’m hoping to finish it off very soon.

What did you recently finish reading?

Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino (Trade Paperback)

I managed to finish off the debut novel from Marisa Kashino, Best Offer Wins, this week. A very fun and entertaining thriller about obsession and desperation in the current housing market, Best Offer Wins was an outstanding novel, and one I had such an amazing time getting through.

Warhammer 40,000: Demolisher by Andy Clark (Audiobook)

I also finished off Warhammer 40,000 novel Demolisher by Andy Clark this week. The sequel to Steel Tread, Demolisher was another outstanding Warhammer 40,000 novel filled with great characters, desperate situations and some amazing tank battles. An epic book I’m hoping to review soon.

What do you think you’ll read next?

The Trespassers by Jennifer Lynn Alvarez

While I have several awesome books to read at the moment, including some great early 2026 releases, the next book I’m intending to read is the late 2025 young adult thriller The Trespassers. This new thriller from Jennifer Lynn Alvarez is an amazing sounding novel that will follow a group of teens as they try to cover up the events of a deadly party in the Alaskan wilderness. I have been looking forward to reading The Trespassers for a while, especially after deeply enjoying Alvarez’s previous young adult thrillers, Lies Like Wildfire and Friends Like These, and I am sure this is going to be another gripping novel.

That’s it for this week; check back in next Wednesday to see what progress I’ve made on my reading and what books I’ll be looking at next.

WWW Wednesday – 31 December 2025

On January 1, 2026 By The Unseen LibraryIn WWW WednesdayLeave a comment

WWW Wednesday is a weekly post hosted by Taking on a World of Words, where bloggers share the books that they’ve recently finished, what they are currently reading and what books they are planning to read next. Essentially you have to answer three questions (the Three Ws):

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

So, let’s get to it.

What are you currently reading:

Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino (Trade Paperback)

I just started reading the unique thriller Best Offer Wins. The debut novel from Marisa Kashino, Best Offer Wins is a fantastic book that shows just how far desperate people are willing to go to get their perfect house. I have only made a little progress on Best Offer Wins so far, but I am enjoying its fun style and interesting story. I am actually hoping to read through most of Best Offer Wins today, and I cannot wait to see how it turns out.

Warhammer 40,000: Demolisher by Andy Clark (Audiobook)

I am still going with the new Warhammer 40,000 novel Demolisher by Andy Clark. The sequel to Clark’s amazing novel Steel Tread, Demolisher once again follows the damaged crew of the tank Steel Tread as they attempt to survive the crazy, grimdark battlefields of the future. I didn’t get as much time to listen to Demolisher this week as I had hoped, but I’m making some good progress on it and should finish it off soon. I cannot wait to see how this hectic read fully unfolds, and this proving to be a very good Warhammer 40,000 novel.

What did you recently finish reading?

Circle of Days by Ken Follett (Hardcover)

I managed to power through and finish off the new Ken Follett book, Circle of Days this week. An excellent historical fiction novel set during the construction of Stonehenge, Circle of Days was a very compelling read with an outstanding story behind it. A highly recommended read that I had a ton of fun with.

What do you think you’ll read next?

On the Edge by Kate Horan

I hoping to read the intriguing new Australian novel, On the Edge by Kate Hora, next. Set in smalltown Australia, On the Edge looks to be a compelling piece of crime fiction and I cannot wait to see how it turns out.

That’s it for this week; check back in next Wednesday to see what progress I’ve made on my reading and what books I’ll be looking at next.

Top Ten Tuesday – My Favourite Books of 2025

On December 31, 2025 By The Unseen LibraryIn List6 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme that currently resides at The Artsy Reader Girl and feature bloggers sharing lists on various book topics. As we roll into the new year I am going to list my absolute favourite books of 2025, which is something I look forward to every year. This is a continuation of several lists I have done in recent weeks that highlighted the authors and books that have most impressed me this year. Previous lists looked at topics like my favourite pre-2025 novels, as well as my favourite audiobooks, sequels, and new-to-me authors of 2025. However, this list is the big one as it covers my absolute favourite releases of the year, of which there are quite a few.

I think we can all agree that 2025 has been another rollercoaster year for the world, but thankfully readers got a little bit of solace as this was an amazing year for books, with a huge range of incredible releases coming out across the genres. Not only did several new series start but we had some exceptional debuts, and some big continuations of established series. I have had an amazing time reading or listening to some outstanding books this year and quite a few releases have become instant favourites. I must admit that I somewhat struggled to pull this list together, as there were so many books that deserved to be mentioned. Therefore, because I am a very soft touch, and because the quality of the books I read this year was so impressive, I have decided to expand this list out to 20 entries (just like I have the last several years, I’m a very soft touch). These 20 books are my absolute favourites from 2025, and I would strongly recommend every one of them to anyone interested in a great read.

To make it onto this list a book only needed to be released here in Australia during 2025. I have naturally excluded anything I have not read yet, even though there were quite a few awesome-sounding books I sadly didn’t squeeze into my reading schedule. I decided to leave off my usual Honourable Mentions section as the extra 10 entries make it unnecessary. There will be a bit of crossover between the below entries and some of my previous lists. For example, several of these novels appeared on my Top Ten Favourite Audiobooks of 2025 list and my Top Ten Favourite Books from the First Half of 2025 list, which I ran back into July. Overall, I am very happy with how this Top 20 list turned out, and I think it contains a pretty good range of novels that showcase the different types of books that I chose to read this year. So, without further ado, here is the list.

Top Twenty List:

The Devils by Joe Abercrombie

The first book I want to highlight on this list was one of my favourite fantasy novels of 2025 with The Devils by Joe Abercrombie. An exceptional and comedic dark fantasy from the master of grimdark fiction, The Devils is set in an alternate medieval Europe and follows several loveable monsters in the employ of the church as they attempt to enthrone a street thief as Empress of Troy. A gloriously over-the-top novel, The Devils was Abercrombie at his best, and I had an exceptional time getting through it.

Cold War by Jonathan Maberry

Diabolical dark fiction master Jonathan Maberry is an author who has appeared consistently on these end-of-year lists since I started them, and 2025 is no exception. Maberry had two books out in 2025, including the twisted thriller Burn to Shine. However, my favourite book of Maberry’s this year is the outstanding science fiction novel Cold War. The sequel to his 2024 release, NecroTek, Cold War was a gripping read that sees groups of stranded humanity facing off against Lovecraftian horrors in the future. Featuring an intriguing narrative split, awesome action and some classic Maberry horror, Cold War was another excellent novel, especially on audiobook.

Usagi Yojimbo: The Crow and Ten Thousand Plums by Stan Sakai

It’s kind of inevitable the new volumes of the Usagi Yojimbo comic series are going to appear on this end of year list. One of my favourite comic series, the Usagi Yojimbo comics follow a rabbit ronin as he traverses an alternate version of feudal Japan. I have so much love for this series, and creator Stan Sakai released two exceptional volumes this year with The Crow and Ten Thousand Plums. Both were amazing and intricate reads, and I loved every second I spent reading them. Due to how impressive there were, I am combining these two volumes together into one entry, and as both comics are very worthy inclusions to this list.

Days of Shattered Faith by Adrian Tchaikovsky

Easily one of the more impressive and complex fantasy novels on this list is the incredible Days of Shattered Faith by the highly inventive Adrian Tchaikovsky. The third book in the author’s Tyrant Philosopher’s series, Days of Shattered Faith follows on from City of Last Chances and House of Open Wounds and focuses on a new fantasy city beset by internal strife and dangerous diplomats. A unique read, Days of Shattered Faith was one of the best books of the year, and I loved every second I spent in Tchaikovsky’s latest complex cityscape.

Nemesis by Gregg Hurwitz

Acclaimed thriller author Gregg Hurwitz ensured readers were hooked this year with one of his best Orphan X novels, Nemesis. The 10^th book in the Orphan X series, Nemesis sees the relentless protagonist forced to go to war with his only friend in an emotionally charged and complex read. Filled with exceptional character moments, Nemesis was an especially compelling novel that keeps you hooked all the way to its powerful and heartbreaking end. I really loved Nemesis, although I way never forgive Hurwitz for what he put me through with this book.

Warhammer 40,000: Interceptor City by Dan Abnett

I had so much fun returning to the skies this year with the incredible Warhammer 40,000 novel, Interceptor City. The sequel to Dan Abnett’s iconic book Double Eagle, Interceptor City saw the first novel’s protagonist return for another harrowing tour of duty, this time flying fighter aircraft in the ruins of a gigantic city. Featuring some of the best aerial combat sequences you are ever going to read, Interceptor City was a true highlight of 2025 and a must-read for all Warhammer 40,000 fans.

A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett

The new master of fantasy crime fiction, Robert Jackson Bennett had another exceptional year, thanks to his new novel A Drop of Corruption. The sequel to his exceptional novel The Tainted Cup (one of my favourite books of 2024), A Drop of Corruption sees an enhanced investigator and her loyal assistant, attempt to solve an impossible disappearance in an empire constantly under attack by giant monsters. Featuring a particularly elaborate and impressive murder mystery that makes full of it’s fantasy setting, A Drop of Corruption was unbelievably good, and I cannot get over how awesome and complex the story turned out. I love this series from Bennet so damn much and I cannot wait to read the third book in 2026.

Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins

The iconic Hunger Games franchise got a major boost in 2025, thanks to the outstanding prequel novel Sunrise on the Reaping. Set at the 50^th Hunger Games, Sunrise on the Reaping follows a fan favourite as he tries to survive the deadliest games of all time. Suzanne Collins honestly outdid herself with this latest Hunger Games books, especially as she subverted all expectations and showcased a story with so many clever twists and manipulated surprises, all wrapped up with earthshaking tragedy. The Hunger Games series will never be the same again, and I am still not over just how far Collins went with this exceptional read.

Midnight Black by Mark Greaney

Mark Greaney continues to showcase why he is one of the very best authors of spy fiction with the amazing 2025 release, Midnight Black. A particularly exciting and intense entry in Greaney’s Gray Man series, Midnight Black sees an exhausted version of Greaney’s long-running protagonist attempt the impossible, as he takes on the entire Russian state to free the women he loves. An extremely exciting and moving novel, Midnight Black was Greaney at his very best, and I powered through this book so damn quickly.

The Malevolent Eight by Sebastian De Castell

This year, author Sebastian De Castell followed up his amazing fantasy novel, The Malevolent Seven, with an even more outrageous and frankly bonkers sequel, The Malevolent Eight. Following a group eight crazy individuals as they attempt to stop the warring armies of heaven and hell, The Malevolent Eight was utter chaos from start to finish, and I loved every second of it, vampiric kangaroo included. One of the funnier books of 2025, The Malevolent Eight comes highly recommended, especially for those who like their fantasy novels as cleverly weird as possible.

The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson

Another excellent fantasy novel released in 2025 was the very impressive and elaborate book, The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson. The author’s first foray into fantasy fiction, The Raven Scholar featured a fantastic tournament plot, with several champions competing to become the ruler of a divided realm. However, nothing is as it seems, and the contenders, including a damaged scholar dragged into the proceedings, are forced to contend with murder, intrigue and betrayal at every turn. A wonderful piece of fantasy fiction from a very talented new voice in the genre.

Never Flinch by Stephen King

The legendary Stephen King continues his domination of all thing’s fiction with the brilliant and deeply addictive Never Flinch. A sequel to the outstanding novel Holly, Never Flinch sees unlikely investigator, Holly Gibney, attempt to stop two deadly predators attempting to kill in her town, including a guilt-riddled serial killer and a troubled stalker. An excellent character-driven read, Never Flinch had me hooked very early on, and I still cannot get over how intense the last third of the book turned out.

Born of an Iron Storm by Anthony Ryan

I had to include the awesome new fantasy novel from Anthony Ryan, Born of an Iron Storm, on this list. The second book in the author’s Viking-inspired Age of Wrath series, Born of an Iron Storm perfectly followed on from last years A Tide of Black Steel (as well as Ryan’s previous Covenant of Steel trilogy), and treated readers to a powerful narrative shown through the eyes of four different heroes. Loaded with cool world-building, great characters, and an adventure-laden plot, Born of an Iron Storm was an amazing read, and one I couldn’t get enough of.

The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman

Richard Osman returned to his Thursday Murder Club series this year, with the latest book The Impossible Fortune. Following the retiree protagonists as they try to uncover the secret behind a mysterious vault and its missing owner, The Impossible Fortune was a wonderful novel, that really dove into its amazing character’s lives after the great tragedy of the previous Thursday Murder Club book. Osman perfectly reconnected with all his great characters again, and this ended up being a very clever and heartwarming read.

King Sorrow by Joe Hill

For the first time ever, I have two separate family members appear on this list, thanks to the amazing Joe Hill trying to outshine his father. Hill’s new book is the massive, but deeply captivating King Sorrow, an elaborate fantasy horror novel with an exceptional plot behind it. Following a group of damaged friends who inadvertently forge a Faustian bargain with an interdimensional dragon, King Sorrow follows these figures over multiple years, as each member of the group is forced to designate several victims for the dragon to hunt down and kill. A complex and very powerful novel with some amazing characters, King Sorrow proved to be an outstanding book to fall in love with, and I still cannot get over some of the outstanding twists and turns Hill imagined.

The Strength of the Few by James Islington

The much-anticipated fantasy novel, The Strength of the Few, lived up to all the hype surrounding it, and ended up being one of the top books from the end of 2025. The sequel to Islington’s exceptional The Will of the Many (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2023), The Strength of the Few was an extremely ambitious read that followed three separate versions of the same protagonist as he lives through simultaneous adventures of three parallel worlds. A particularly intricate and intelligent fantasy novel, The Strength of the Few was a true highlight of the year, and I cannot recommend this impressive fantasy series enough.

Artifact by Jeremy Robinson

The always impressive Jeremy Robinson produced another captivating, standalone science fiction horror read this year with the fantastic novel Artifact. Following a small group of likeable and isolated Alaskans who attempt to discover what went wrong at the secretive scientific research laboratory hidden at the outskirts of town, Artifact was an ultra-exciting read that went to some dark places. An outstanding novel that is really worth checking out on audiobook.

The Proving Ground by Michael Connelly

While I was spoiled for choice with Michael Connelly books in 2025 (including the great murder mystery Nightshade), my favourite was The Proving Ground. The latest Lincoln Lawyer novel, The Proving Ground saw the titular character attempt to take down an artificial intelligence company who he believes is partially responsible for a young girl’s murder. Clever, insightful and very addictive, The Proving Ground was a brilliant legal thriller and one I can’t stop thinking about.

Star Wars: Sanctuary by Lamar Giles

There were several amazing Star Wars books this year, including The Mask of Fear and Master of Evil, however, I had to focus on the amazing and highly entertaining novel, Sanctuary by Lamar Giles. A tie-in to the Bad Batch animated series, Sanctuary was an extremely entertaining and captivating read that saw the unruly clone protagonists attempt to pull off several easy-money gigs. Unsurprisingly, all their clever plans fall apart, and the protagonists and their trouble-causing cargo soon find themselves being chased by a brilliant ISB agent and a psychotic, uber-wealthy crime lord. Relentlessly entertaining and compelling, but with some real heart, Sanctuary was an exceptional Star Wars novel, and one I cannot recommend enough.

Whisper in the Wind by Luke Arnold

The final book I want to highlight on this list is the captivating urban fantasy novel, Whisper in the Wind. The fourth book in Australian author Luke Arnold’s Fetch Phillips series, Whisper in the Wind sees the very damaged protagonist once again dragged into a dangerous attempt to bring magic back to his devastated city. However, forced to contend with the city’s new elites, and their dark plans, Fetch finds himself pushed to his limit as his attempts at living a quiet life are blown to hell. A complex and wonderfully written novel, Whisper in the Wind is an impressive entry in one of the more compelling ongoing fantasy series, and Luke Arnold honestly gets better with every book he writes. A highly recommended read and a very worthy final inclusion on this list.

Well, those are my 20 favourite books of 2025. It turned out to be quite a good list in the end, and I am very glad that I was able to highlight so many fantastic books. 2026 is set to be another excellent year for amazing reads, and I will be examining some of my most anticipated books next week. In the meantime, let me know what your favourite books of 2025 were in the comments below, and make sure you all have a happy and safe New Years.

WWW Wednesday – 24 December 2025

On December 27, 2025 By The Unseen LibraryIn WWW WednesdayLeave a comment

WWW Wednesday is a weekly post hosted by Taking on a World of Words, where bloggers share the books that they’ve recently finished, what they are currently reading and what books they are planning to read next. Essentially you have to answer three questions (the Three Ws):

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

So, let’s get to it.

What are you currently reading:

Circle of Days by Ken Follett (Hardcover)

I managed to start reading the new Ken Follett book, Circle of Days this week. An excellent historical fiction novel set during the construction of Stonehenge, Circle of Days has been on my to-read list for a while. I haven’t made too much progress with Circle of Days yet, but I’m quite enjoying the compelling story. I’m hoping to power through this book over the next few days and I’m very keen to see how its full narrative unfolds.

Warhammer 40,000: Demolisher by Andy Clark (Audiobook)

I also dove back into Warhammer 40,000 fiction this week with the recently released Demolisher by Andy Clark. The sequel to Clark’s amazing novel Steel Tread, Demolisher once again follows the damaged crew of the tank Steel Tread as they attempt to survive the crazy, grimdark battlefields of the future. I’ve already made a bit of progress with Demolisher this week and I’m hoping to finish it off in the next day or so, especially as I’m enjoying the compelling narrative of war, intrigue and dangerous personal conflicts.

What did you recently finish reading?

The Blackfire Blade by James Logan (Trade Paperback)

I managed to power through the compelling fantasy novel The Blackfire Blade by James Logan this week. The sequel to Logan’s excellent debut, The Silverblood Promise, The Blackfire Blade was a very exciting and captivating read and I’m very glad I got the chance to read it. Review to hopefully follow soon.

Star Wars: Master of Evil by Adam Christopher (Audiobook)

I also managed to finish off the Star Wars audiobook, Master of Evil by Adam Christopher this week. An intriguing novel that follows the newly created Darth Vader on a journey of discovery as he tries to fully understand the dark side of the Force, Master of Evil was a fascinating read that I had a great time with. Make sure to check out my review for it here, as well as its inclusion in my recently posted list about my favourite audiobooks of 2025.

What do you think you’ll read next?

Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino

The next book I’m hoping to read is the cool sounding thriller Best Offer Wins. The debut novel from Marisa Kashino, Best Offer Wins is a fantastic sounding book that will show just how far people are willing to go to get their perfect house. I really love the sound of Best Offer Wins, and I look forward to checking it out.

That’s it for this week; check back in next Wednesday to see what progress I’ve made on my reading and what books I’ll be looking at next.

Top Ten Tuesday – My Favourite Audiobooks of 2025

On December 25, 2025 By The Unseen LibraryIn Audiobook, List9 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme that currently reside at The Artsy Reader Girl and features bloggers sharing lists on various book topics. The official topic for this list involved listing the ten top books you hope that Santa would bring you this year. While this is a fun sounding topic, I am instead going to continue my annual end of year wrap up of the best books I read in 2025. In previous weeks I have highlighted some of the best pre-2025 novels, best new-to-me-authors and best 2025 sequels I read in the last year. However, this week I am going to look at something near and dear to my hear, the best audiobooks of 2025.

Readers of this blog only need to check out my extensive audiobook category to the right to know that I have a lot of love for the audiobook format. In my opinion, the audiobook is often the best way to experience a good book and in many cases this format makes a novel far more enjoyable. As a result, I listened to quite a few audiobooks this year, and while a good chunk of them were books released before 2025 and featured in my Throwback Thursday posts, most were released this year. There were some truly outstanding and impressive audiobooks released in 2025 and I knew going in that I was going to have an extremely hard time coming up with a final version of this list.

For this list I have only included audiobooks released in 2025 that I have listened to, which left me with a long list of extremely impressive audiobooks which I wanted to include in this post. To help cut this down, I considered a range of factors, including the quality of the original novel, the skill of the narrator, production value, pacing and other features. I was eventually able to reduce the list down to the absolute best 10 audiobooks, with my typical generous honourable mentions section. I had to make some very hard decisions here, and I ended up excluding several extremely good audiobooks from the main list. Still, I think it really represents the best audiobooks I enjoyed this year and there are some amazing productions below.

Honourable Mentions:

Burn to Shine, written by Jonathan Maberry and narrated by Ray Porter

The latest book in the always excellent Joe Ledger series by Jonathan Maberry that always comes across awesome on audiobook.

Four Ruined Realms, written by Mai Corland and narrated by Greg Chun, Zion Jang, Roger Yeh, Donald Chang, Jaine Ye and Sophie Oda.

An excellent and elaborate fantasy novel whose audiobook made perfect use of several great narrators.

Sunrise on the Reaping, written by Suzanne Collins and narrated by Jefferson White

More Hunger Games excitement expertly brought to life from a great new narrator.

Warhammer 40,000: Grotsnik: Da Mad Dok, written by Denny Flowers and narrated by Harry Myers

Hilarious Warhammer 40,000 fun from the impressive Denny Flowers, featuring one of the franchise’s very best narrators, Harry Myers.

Top Ten List:

Warhammer 40,000: Interceptor City, written by Dan Abnett and narrated by Toby Longworth

While I had the great pleasure of listening to several impressive Warhammer 40,000 audiobooks in 2025, my favourite had to be the awesome and addictive Interceptor City by Dan Abnett. The sequel to Abnett’s classic Warhammer 40,000 novel, Double Eagle, Interceptor City was an impressive listen that saw the returning protagonist forced back into aerial combat, this time fighting for survival admit the towers of a giant, ruined city. I deeply enjoyed Interceptor City especially on audiobook, voiced by one of my favourite narrators Toby Longworth. The audiobook version really enhanced the epic flying fight sequences of Interceptor City, and this was one of the very best listens of the year.

The Devils, written by Joe Abercrombie and narrated by Steven Pacey

Legendary grimdark fantasy author Joe Abercrombie returned in a big way in 2025 with his incredible novel The Devils. Set in an alternate, medieval Europe, The Devils follows an elite group of literal monsters controlled by the church as they engage on a deadly mission to crown a queen. This was one of the more compelling and entertaining novels of the year, and I must highlight the great audiobook version narrated by Abercrombie’s long-time collaborator Steven Pacey. Pacey did an amazing job voicing all the unique characters in The Devils, and few narrators work as well with Abercrombie’s impressive storytelling and fantastic writing as Pacey.

Cold War, written by Jonathan Maberry and narrated by Ray Porter

I doubt anyone is too surprised that an audiobook written by Jonathan Maberry is appearing on this list. Maberry’s outstanding and ultra-intense novels always come out extremely well on the audiobook format, especially with the legendary Ray Porter narrating, who always perfectly matches the tone and tension of Maberry’s stories, while also providing impressive voices for his cast. Of the two Maberry audiobooks released in 2025, my favourite was the dark science fiction novel Cold War. Serving as a sequel to one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2024, NecroTek, Cold War was a brilliant follow-up, that really took the series in some powerful directions. Porter once again brought out all the inherent fear and craziness of Maberry’s great writing, and the result was an exceptional audiobook that I could not get enough of.

Never Flinch, written by Stephen King and narrated by Jessie Mueller

The iconic Stephen King continued to dominate the crime fiction genre in 2025 with the outstanding new Holly Gibney novel Never Flinch. Following on from books like Mr Mercedes, The Outsider and Holly, Never Flinch once again saw King’s unique protagonist investigating dark crimes in her city. However, this time there are two different killers stalking those close to her, and the resulting story was laden with threat, high stakes and deadly sequences. I really enjoyed how the audiobook version of Never Flinch turned out, and new narrator Jessie Mueller killed it voicing the various characters in Never Flinch, as well as providing the occasional bit of singing. A very spectacular audiobook and easily the best way to enjoy the latest Stephen King novel.

Star Wars: Sanctuary, written by Lamar Giles and narrated by Marc Thompson

Everyone knows that I’m a sucker for Star Wars audiobooks, and one of the best of 2025 was the addictive listen Sanctuary. A tie-in to The Bad Batch animated series, Sanctuary follows the rogue clones of the titular squad engage in some dangerous missions to help those closest to them. A compelling and fun adventure novel that expertly captures the characters from the show, Sanctuary got even better thanks to its audiobook adaptation. Not only was the iconic Star Wars music and sound effects expertly utilised throughout the audiobook run, but the always impressive Marc Thompson proved to be an outstanding narrator, providing exceptional imitations of the show’s cast. A fantastic and highly addictive listen, Sanctuary was a Star Wars audiobook at its best.

Days of Shattered Faith, written by Adrian Tchaikovsky and narrated by David Thorpe

One of the more elaborate and entertaining fantasy audiobooks of 2025 was the amazing Days of Shattered Faith by Adrian Tchaikovsky. The third book in the author’s Tyrant Philosophers series (following on from City of Last Chances and House of Open Wounds), Days of Shattered Faith was an incredible piece of fantasy fiction that detailed the intrigues and betrayals taking place within crumbling kingdom besieged by friendly diplomats. I loved this book, and I was really impressed with how effectively Tchaikovsky’s elaborate and clever narrative was showcased on audiobook. David Thorpe did an outstanding job showcasing all of Tchaikovsky’s compelling detail and subtle twists with his narration, while also matching the author’s tone, and the resulting audiobook proved to be a complex and highly enjoyable treat to listen to.

Artifact, written by Jeremy Robinson and narrated by R. C. Bray

The team of author Jeremy Robinson and narrator R. C. Bray returned in 2025, with the dark science fiction adventure, Artifact. Following a group of likeable protagonists as they venture into a sinister secret laboratory in the wilderness, Artifact soon turns into a shocking story that you are unable to turn away from. This excellent story is brilliantly enhanced by narrator R. C. Bray’s powerful voice that expertly fits the main protagonist and helps throw the reader into his damaged shoes. As such, this was a very easy book to include on this list, and I cannot wait for more from Robinson and Bray in 2026.

Born of an Iron Storm, written by Anthony Ryan and narrated by Steven Brand

Anthony Ryan continued his awesome fantasy adventures with the epic Born of an Iron Storm. The great follow-up to last year’s A Tide of Black Steel, Born of an Iron Storm continues it’s Viking inspired story in some fantastically big ways. I had an excellent time listening to Born of an Iron Storm on audiobook, especially with returning narrator Steven Brand, and it was one of the best ways to enjoy Ryan’s entertaining narrative.

The Strength of the Few, written by James Islington and narrated by Euan Morton

One of the more elaborate audiobooks of 2025 was intense and ambitious The Strength of the Few by Australian author James Islington. The incredible sequel to The Will of the Many, The Strength of the Few saw the protagonist from the first book split across three separate worlds, resulting in an amazingly layered novel. Thanks to the distinctive narration of Euan Morton, The Strength of the Few works extremely well on audiobook, and I loved how well the author’s intricate detail came across in this powerful audiobook production.

Star Wars: Master of Evil, written by Adam Christopher and narrated by Marc Thompson

The final audiobook that I want to highlight on this list is the captivating listen Master of Evil. Featuring an intriguing narrative set around a recently forged Darth Vader exploring the dark side of the Force, Master of Evil proved to be a powerful, character-driven Star Wars book, with some true heart to it. This great book was once again enhanced by the iconic Star Wars music, sound effects and the voice of Mark Thompson, and there is frankly no better way to enjoy Master of Evil than on audiobook.

Well that is the end of this latest Top Ten list, and as you can see, I have been lucky enough to listen to some awesome audiobooks this year. All the above audiobooks are extremely good and I would highly recommend each of them in their audiobook format. Let me know what your favourite audiobooks of 2025 were in the comments below and make sure to check back next week to see what my overall favourite novels of the year were.

Warhammer 40,000: Grotsnik: Da Mad Dok by Denny Flowers

On December 24, 2025 By The Unseen LibraryIn Audiobook, Extended Universe, Five-Star Books, Science Fiction, Tie-in Novel, Warhammer1 Comment

Publisher: Black Library (Audiobook – 1 July 2025)

Series: Warhammer 40,000

Length: 6 hours and 55 minutes

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

One of my favourite Warhammer 40,000 authors, Denny Flowers, returns with one of the more entertaining novels of 2025 with Grotsnik: Da Mad Dok.

Denny Flowers is an interesting rising author of Warhammer 40,000 fiction who has so far written several particularly notable books. Starting with his cool debut, Fire Made Flesh, Flowers went on to write his two exceptional Lucille von Shard novels, Outgunned and Above and Beyond (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2024), both of which are among some of my favourite pieces of Warhammer 40,000 fiction. I also had a great time with Flowers’s inclusions in Da Red Gobbo Collection, Da Gobbo’s Demise and Da Wrong Type of Green, two hilarious entries that focused the always entertaining orks and grotz. These short stories were quite hilarious, and it made me very excited when I saw that Flowers had a new Warhammer 40,000 novel focusing on the orks coming out this year with Grotsnik: Da Mad Dok.

Plot Synopsis:

“I made Ghazghkull. Not the Gods. Me.”

Grotsnik comes to the aid of Beastboss Bakum on Hive Prome, and it soon becomes apparent that the Mad Dok is feverishly working on something that could change the fate of ork-kind forever.

READ IT BECAUSE
How wild does a painboy have to be to earn the nickname “Mad Dok”? Find out as you follow Grotsnik – with eager scalpel in hand – as he plans his latest galaxy-changing creation. What could it be?

THE STORY
Da Mad Dok Grotsnik, creator of Ghazghkull Thraka, is a painboy beyond legend. What – and who – he harbours in his formidable brain is a mystery to every ork but himself, and an army of orderlies provides him with a constant supply of flesh with which to tinker.

So, when Grotsnik comes to the aid of Beastboss Bakmun, whose rampage on Hive Prome teeters on the brink of going out not with a Waaagh! but with a whimper, Bakmun can’t believe his luck.

Following a series of increasingly unlikely accidents, however, it soon becomes apparent that the Mad Dok is working on something in the depths of his colossal Painwagon. Something big. Something that could change the fate of ork-kind forever, surpassing Grotsnik’s own forging of the Prophet of the Waaagh!…

Denny Flowers continues to showcase why he is one of the fastest-rising authors of Warhammer 40,000 fiction with this highly entertaining and addictive new novel. Perfectly taking on the always entertaining Warhammer orks, including the over-the-top titular character, Grotsnik: Da Mad Dok was an absolute hoot from the very beginning, and I laughed my way through the entire epic story. One of the most hilarious novels of 2025, Grotsnik: Da Mad Dok gets a five-star rating from me due to the pure fun it contained.

Flowers comes up with an exceedingly fun narrative for Grotsnik: Da Mad Dok, which I ended up getting through in a very short amount of time. As the title suggests, this novel follows the machinations of Grotsnik, an ork dok partially responsible for the creation of the legendary Ghazghkull Thraka, the boss of bosses for all ork-kind. However, on the outs with his creation, Grotsnik joins up with a small band of orks led by Beastboss Bakmun, who is attempting to invade a mysterious human city. Amongst this new band of orks is the aptly named Valtun the Patient and his clever grot Ikor, both of whom are very suspicious about Grotsnik’s intentions in joining them, especially once various members of the warband start going missing. What follows is a hilarious series of events as Grotsnik gathers the material for his grand ambitions, while dealing with the strange humans and monsters within the city they are invading, as well as the unique intentions of other ork characters. Primarily told through the perspective of Valtun and Ikor, who find themselves stuck in Grotsnik’s murderous orbit, these perspective protagonists slowly learn more about the titular character’s intentions, as well as the unique modifications he has made to himself, which turns him into something truly sinister.

Flowers moves this story along at a very quick pace full of funny interactions, crazy battles and the typical brutish humour that all fans of the orks will appreciate. The action-packed and regularly over-the-top scenes that emerged were so damn fun, and there is honestly not a single slow moment in this book. At the same time, Flowers installs a clever story throughout Grotsnik: Da Mad Dok, mostly based around the maniacal machinations of the titular character and his attempt to outsmart the suspicious Valtun. It all leads up to a very entertaining ending that completely changes your perspective of Grotsnik’s intentions, while also leaving some of the remaining characters in ironic situations. I personally loved where the multiple character arcs ended up at the end of this book, and while Valtun and Ikor were both great central figures, Grotsnik really stole the show with his weird behaviour, insane experiments, and the hilarious interactions he had with his unsuspecting patients/victims. An overall awesome and well-written story that is guaranteed to suck you in with its exceptionally crazy characters and entertaining storytelling.

As with a lot of Warhammer 40,000 fiction, Flowers’s Da Mad Dok book is probably best read by established fans of the franchise, who will have a lot of fun seeing the titular character come to life. Grotsnik’s unique mentality and connection to the most iconic ork character, Ghazghkull Thraka, makes him a very interesting figure to follow for those in love with the Warhammer canon, and Flowers clearly had a lot of fun utilising him in his story. However, Flowers has already proven himself to be a very good at making his previous Warhammer 40,000 novels accessible to all readers, and this book is no exception. Most people with a general knowledge of Warhammer lore and fiction can easily dive into Da Mad Dok’s narrative, and the inherent humour of the characters and the ork faction will keep them coming back for more. I personally loved Flowers’s latest dive into the orks, and his takes on this crazy faction and some of their more distinctive members were both entertaining and accurate to the lore. As such, Da Mad Dok has a ton of appeal, and I think most readers are going to have an exceptional time with it.

As has become my habit with all things Warhammer, I ended up listening to Da Mad Dok on audiobook, which is easily the best way to enjoy this fantastic and fun novel. Coming in with a run time just under seven hours, Da Mad Dok is a very easy audiobook to power through, especially thanks to the great narration of Harry Myers. Myers, who has really impressed me with books like Day of Ascension and The Wraithbone Phoenix, has an outstanding voice for Warhammer 40,000 fiction, which really fits the over-the-top nature of the universe. He is particularly good at doing ork voices, such as in Da Big Dakka, Warboss and Da Red Gobbo Collection audiobooks, so I was very happy that he leant his voices to Da Mad Dok. Myers uses some very fun and excessively gruff voices to bring the various ork characters to life, and the multiple laddish tones he employs are very fitting and very funny. I cannot emphasise just how good Myers’s voice for these outrageous figures is, and I especially love how he changes from his deeper voices for the orks, to the more petulant and squeaky voice for the grot characters. There is even a cool voice he uses for one of the more intimidating and iconic members of the cast towards the end of the book, which sounds particularly epic thanks to some vocal enhancement. This great combination of voices, as well as Myers’s entertaining overall narration was extremely awesome, and it really enhanced Flowers’s already fantastic story. I honestly cannot recommend this Warhammer 40,000 audiobook enough, and it ended up being one of my favourite listens of the year.

Thanks to the outstanding humour and overall craziness of its characters, Grotsnik: Da Mad Dok was a truly wonderful Warhammer 40,000 novel that is very easy to fall in love with. Denny Flowers excelled at showcasing both the orks in general, and the cruelty and insanity of the titular characters, and the resulting intense and exciting story was a true joy to listen to. An overall exceptional read, I cannot wait to see what epic Warhammer fiction Flowers writes next.

WWW Wednesday – 17 December 2025

On December 20, 2025 By The Unseen LibraryIn WWW WednesdayLeave a comment

WWW Wednesday is a weekly post hosted by Taking on a World of Words, where bloggers share the books that they’ve recently finished, what they are currently reading and what books they are planning to read next. Essentially you have to answer three questions (the Three Ws):

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

So, let’s get to it.

What are you currently reading:

The Blackfire Blade by James Logan (Trade Paperback)

I started reading the compelling fantasy novel The Blackfire Blade by James Logan this week. The sequel to Logan’s excellent debut, The Silverblood Promise, The Blackfire Blade is a very fun read that follows a troubled protagonist and his unlikely companions travel to a new, unique fantasy city for their own mission, only to get sidetracked by crazy local plots and conspiracies. I’ve been looking forward to reading this book for a while, and it is proving to be a very exciting and captivating read. I’m hoping to power through The Blackfire Blade this week, and I cannot wait to see how the entertaining plot comes together.

Star Wars: Master of Evil by Adam Christopher (Audiobook)

I’m still listening to the recently released Star Wars audiobook, Master of Evil by Adam Christopher. An intriguing novel that follows the newly created Darth Vader on a journey of discovery as he tries to fully understand the dark side of the Force, Master of Evil is a fascinating read that I have been looking forward for a while. I’ve only got a little bit of Master of Evil left and I’m hoping to finish it off this weekend, especially as it is proving to be a highly compelling listen.

What did you recently finish reading?

King Sorrow by Joe Hill (Trade Paperback)

I powered through the massive and addictive horror novel, King Sorrow by Joe Hill this week. A particularly epic novel that follows a group of friends who make a dark deal with an ancient evil, King Sorrow was an exceptional read, with a fantastic story, compelling imagery and a growing sense of dread. A highly recommended novel that effortlessly drags you in.

What do you think you’ll read next?

Circle of Days by Ken Follett

If I get through The Blackfire Blade this week, I’m hoping to start reading the new Ken Follett book, Circle of Days. An excellent sounding historical fiction novel set during the construction of Stonehenge, Circle of Days has been on my to-read list for a while, and I’m very keen to see how this book unfolds. Likely to be one of my favourite releases of 2025, I cannot wait to finally read Circle of Days.

Warhammer 40,000: Demolisher by Andy Clark

I’m also hoping to dive back into Warhammer 40,000 fiction this week with the recently released Demolisher by Andy Clark. The sequel to Clark’s amazing novel Steel Tread, Demolisher will once again follow the damaged tank crew as they attempt to survive the crazy, grimdark battlefields of the future. I’m very much looking forward to this book, and it has so much potential to be awesome.

That’s it for this week; check back in next Wednesday to see what progress I’ve made on my reading and what books I’ll be looking at next.