Tag: Warhammer 40000

Warhammer 40,000: The Greater Good by Sandy Mitchell

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Audiobook, Extended Universe, Science Fiction, Throwback Thursday, Tie-in Novel, WarhammerLeave a comment

Publisher: Black Library (Audiobook – 1 January 2013)

Series: Ciaphas Cain – Book Nine

Length: 9 hours and 50 minutes

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

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Continue to follow the legendary and complex Commissar Ciaphas Cain into death and danger, with another amazing book in Sandy Mitchell’s awesome Warhammer 40,000 series, The Greater Good.

After recently reviewing the eighth book in Sandy Mitchell’s iconic Ciaphas Cain series, The Last Ditch, I just had to continue following the fun adventures of the Imperium’s most charismatic yet cowardly commissar, Ciaphas Cain.  As such, the moment I finished The Last Ditch, I immediately read the ninth book in the series, The Greater Good, which had a very interesting scenario behind it that builds on several previous storylines from the series.

Commissar Ciaphas Cain, legendary hero of the Imperium of Man and self-declared fraud, is once again thrust into mortal danger when he is assigned to bolster the defences of the human planet of Quadravidia, against the high-tech attacks of the Tau.  Amid the expected brutal fighting against the advanced aliens, Cain is surprised when the Tau not only recognise him amongst the fighting but also single him out to request an unexpected ceasefire right on the cusp of a Tau victory.

Expecting the worst from this unlikely turn of events, Cain is unsurprised when the Tau reveal that an even greater threat is moving towards the sector, a hive fleet of Tyranids.  With neither side capable of fighting both each other and the ravenous Tyranids, the Imperium and the Tau agree to an uneasy truce, with both sides agreeing to coordinate their offensive against the incoming hive fleet.

Accompanied by a Tau ambassador, Cain, his trusty aid Jurgen, and the Imperial fleet journey to the vital Forge World of Fecundia, a potential target for the incoming Tyranids.  Using Fecundia as a base of operations, the Imperium are hopeful the Tyrands will focus their attack on the Tau controlled planets.  However, the chances of Cain remaining out of the fight are always slim, and the commissar soon discovers the existence of a secret facility hidden on the planet, one guaranteed to draw the Tyranids to Fecundia.

Caught between an invading fleet of ravening aliens, and the troubled politics of Fecundia, Cain must rally the defenders for another deadly battle.  However, the secrets lurking within the hidden facility look set to doom them all, and Cain must discover just how far the rot goes in Fecundia, before the entire world is devoured.

The Greater Good was another excellent and highly entertaining Warhammer 40,000 novel from Sandy Mitchell that combines excellent and action-packed storytelling, with a fantastic and humorous protagonist.  Featuring an outstanding story, The Greater Good was a ton of fun from start to finish, and it served as an amazing continuation of one of the best Warhammer 40,000 series out there.

I quite enjoyed the plot of The Greater Good, although it did go in some different directions to what I was expecting.  From the cover and the official plot synopsis, I assumed this novel was going to feature humans and Tau fighting side by side on the initial planet the book is set, after temporarily setting aside their differences.  Instead, the plot is primarily set on a secondary planet of Fecundia, with the only Tau being a controversial ambassador providing some interesting alternative insights.  While this was still a fun and exciting narrative, it did run the risk of being a bit too similar to some of the previous Ciaphas Cain novels that focused on Tyranid invasions.

I felt that Mitchell compensated well for this change in direction, by drawing together an interesting read about infiltration, isolated battles and the Imperium’s research in the Tyranids as they attempt to find ways to defeat them.  Revisiting key story elements from the previous two Ciaphas Cain novels, the protagonist soon finds himself trapped amid a series of controversial and dangerous experiments that begin to attract the Tyranid hive fleet.  After a series of exciting set pieces, including a great extended sequence with the protagonist trapped in an alien filled desert, you reach the final third of the book which primarily takes place in the secret research centre.  Unsurprisingly, things go wrong, and Cain and Jurgen are forced into a seemingly hopeless situation as they fight enemies on all sides.  There were some good twists here, especially around potential betrayals, and while the culprit is easy to predict, there is an excellent amount of uncertainty and red herrings to keep you guessing.  The entire story comes together in an awesome way, filled with Mitchell’s usual excellent fight sequences and humour, and this proved to be a compelling and satisfying addition to the larger series.

Long-term fans of this Warhammer 40,000 series will know that Mitchell has a set format for the Ciaphas Cain books that blends clever character-driven humour with the usual grim action and lore of the universe.  This was also the case for The Greater Good, which features the usual chronicle style told from the protagonist’s perspective, bolstered by funny external commentary from a fictional editor, who also adds in some entertaining in-universe texts for some additional context.  While this style and certain narrative elements are very familiar, especially if you read a few of these books in a row, The Greater Good was still an awesome novel, and Mitchell did make it stand out by adding in some intrigue with Tyranid infiltrators, as well as some curious looks at diplomacy between the Imperium and the Tau.  I quite enjoyed seeing the conflicts that emerged between the various factions of this impromptu alliance, especially as Cain and the Imperial Guard had more issues with their Adeptus Mechanicus and Space Marine allies than the Tau.  Add to that Mitchell’s usually impressive humour and wonderful action set pieces, and The Greater Good was an overall outstanding novel that I quickly powered through.

While most of the Ciaphas Cain books work well as standalone reads that are very accessible to new readers, The Greater Good stood out as it had more of a connection to the previous entries in the series.  There were a lot of heavy references to the events of For the Emperor, The Emperor’s Finest and The Last Ditch, with key plot elements and some returning characters coming into the play during The Greater Good’s narrative.  As someone who enjoyed all the previous books, it was nice to see the consequences and aftermath of these prior adventures be utilised in this entry’s plot, and I think that long-term fans will really appreciate it.  These references also helped to dispel some of the usual issues this series has with reusing descriptions and thoughts from the previous books.  While much of the plot is geared towards established fans, new readers can still easily follow The Greater Good’s plot without too much issue, as Mitchell does an excellent job of recapping these previous adventures.  As such, The Greater Good proves to be an amazing overall entry in the Ciaphas Cain series, especially as it remains accessible and enjoyable to readers of varying experiences.

As always, I must give a shoutout to the outstanding cast of this novel, especially as there is an interesting array of unique characters contained within.  This includes a great mix of familiar and new characters, with much of the action focused on the titular Commissar Ciaphas Cain, who remains the usual complex rogue we’re so familiar with.  It is always fun to see Cain struggle with his imposter syndrome and supposed cowardice, and Mitchell ensures that the protagonist is the main source of the book’s humour thanks to his self-centred narration and hilarious insights into the usual grimdark universe.  Cain’s aide Jurgen remains an excellent source of additional entertainment, while Inquisitor Amberly Vail is once again perfect as the overarching editor of the story, providing her sarcastic insights and corrections to Cain’s actions and conclusions.  Throw in a captivating combination of new or minor characters, including a frustrated general, a calculating Tau ambassador, some returning Space Marines and a cunning Tech Priest with her own agenda, and the cast of The Greater Good is exceptional and drives the story into some fascinating places.

After hyping up the audiobook versions of all the previous Ciaphas Cain entries, I doubt anyone will be too surprised that I decided to check out The Greater Good on this format.  All Warhammer 40,000 novels are damn awesome on audiobook, and The Greater Good is a particularly epic example of this.  Coming in with a runtime just short of 10 hours, The Greater Good audiobook is an amazing listen that is easy to get addicted to, especially as the excellent use of several outstanding narrators really helps to enhance and highlight Mitchell’s unique writing style.

The Greater Good audiobook features an impressive six separate narrators, all of whom will be quite well known by Warhammer audiobook enthusiasts.  As with the rest of the series, most of the work is done by returning narrators Stephen Perring and Penelope Rawlins, both of whom have a key role in this production.  Perring serves as the entertaining and flippant voice of Cain as he recounts this adventure in his own words, while Rawlins is the voice of Inquisitor Vail as she provides her editorial notes throughout the plot and introduces other intermissions.  These two have long proven themselves to be perfect main narrators for the Ciaphas Cain books, and they fulfilled their roles in The Greater Good extremely well, full grasping the complexity of their respective characters.  The other four narrators for this audiobook, Matthew Hunt, Andrew James Spooner, John Banks and Tara Rawson, have minor but entertaining roles in this audiobook, providing voices for the various in-universe history texts and other books/messages that appear at various parts of the book, which allows for some additional comedy.  This mixed narration comes together extremely well throughout the entirety of The Greater Good, resulting in a particularly epic listen.  As such, I would once again recommend that potential readers of this Ciaphas Cain novel check out the audiobook version, as there is frankly no better way to enjoy The Greater Good.

With yet another clever, exciting and hilarious take on the epic Warhammer 40,000 universe, the ninth Ciaphas Cain novel, The Greater Good, was an outstanding addition to the series that I had a wonderful time listening to.  Utilising his tried and tested writing style, Sandy Mitchell produces another compelling and entertaining read that proves to be highly addictive and a lot of fun to get through.  I really enjoyed this excellent entry in the Ciaphas Cain series, and I am hoping to finish off this series by the end of the year.

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Warhammer 40,000: The Last Ditch by Sandy Mitchell

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Audiobook, Extended Universe, Science Fiction, Throwback Thursday, Tie-in Novel, Warhammer1 Comment

Publisher: Black Library (Audiobook – 1 February 2012)

Series: Ciaphas Cain – Book Eight

Length: 9 hours and 29 minutes

My Rating: 4.75 out of 5 stars

Amazon

The mighty hero of the Imperium returns for another rip-roaring and highly entertaining Warhammer 40,000 adventure, with The Last Ditch by Sandy Mitchell, a wonderful Ciaphas Cain novel that proves exceptionally hard to put down.

I have been in a real Warhammer 40,000 mood lately, so I decided to continue my exploration of the franchise by diving back into one of its best and most hilarious series with another Ciaphas Cain novel by Sandy Mitchell.  The Ciaphas Cain series are particularly awesome Warhammer 40,000 novels that follow the adventures of the legendary human hero Commissar Ciaphas Cain as he faces down the many horrors the grimdark Warhammer universe has to offer.  However, what sets the series apart from other series in the franchise is the fantastic tongue-in-cheek way in which the supposed hero of the series sees himself as a substantial coward concerned more with his own survival, and whose heroic exploits are down more to luck and chance.  This results in a fantastic collection of books, each one of which throws the protagonist into danger despite his best efforts, often resulting in a series of hilarious and over-the-top adventures.  I have had an outstanding team reading the previous entries in the series, including For the Emperor, Caves of Ice, The Traitor’s Hand, Death or Glory, Duty Calls, Cain’s Last Stand and The Emperor’s Finest, and I have been eager to read the eighth novel in the series, The Last Ditch for some time.

Commissar Ciaphas Cain, famed hero of the Imperium of Man, is at the height of his legendary career, fighting back the many enemies of humanity despite his best attempts to stay out of battle.  However, despite his reputation usually landing him in the most challenging of conflicts, Cain’s next mission seems to be relatively straightforward.  Once again accompanied by the Valhallan 597th regiment of Imperial Guard, Cain is tasked with eradicating a simple ork infestation on the frozen planet of Nusquam Fundumentibus.  However, not even Cain’s most pessimistic musings of the future can prepare him for the horrors to come.

Travelling aboard a disreputable freighter, Cain and his soldiers are forced to make a deadly crashlanding on Nusquam Fundumentibus, right into the middle of an ork horde.  Engaged in a desperate fight for their lives against the greenskins, the Imperial Guard are blind to other threats hiding on the planet, threats that are far more insidious than a group of rampaging orks.

As the conflict continues and several isolated communities on the planet start to go dark, Cain soon becomes aware that something apart from the orks are stalking the citizens of Nusquam Fundumentibus.  Something ancient and malevolent lies hidden beneath the ice of the planet, and the new war has finally woken them up.  Outnumbered and outmatched, the Imperial Guard need to pull a desperate and no doubt suicidal plan to survive.  Luckily, they have a bonified hero to lead the charge, even if he’d rather be anywhere else in the galaxy.

The always outstanding Ciaphas Cain series continues in impressive form, as Sandy Mitchell adds further depth to some of the more entertaining and gripping novels in the Warhammer 40,000 franchise.  Combining intense action with the protagonist’s unique insights into the grimdark Warhammer universe, The Last Ditch was a brilliant addition to the series that I couldn’t get enough of.

Mitchell once again came up with an outstanding narrative for The Last Ditch that grabs your attention early on and keeps you hooked to the very end.  I must admit that I was a little apprehensive about reading The Last Ditch, as it looked like Mitchell was going to rehash the similar ice-world story found in Caves of Ice.  However, this book has a very different narrative, while still maintaining all the familiar story elements that make this series to dependable to read.  Starting off on a different footing with a fun transport arc that ends in deadly tears, The Last Ditch has an explosive first third (literally), which provided a lot of initial drama and risk.

The Last Ditch’s story quickly dives into even more awesome action, as the protagonist is reluctantly forced into action against the orks, while other dangerous threats lurk beneath the surface.  I liked how Mitchell did a good job building up tension in advance of the reveal about the true antagonists of the novel, with the reader knowing that something worse was coming thanks to Cain’s prescient narration from the future, and the author used this time to expand on his new setting.  The eventual sequence revealing this enemy had a great horror vibe to it as Cain explored tight quarters underground, and it led naturally into an extended campaign.  The rest of the book is a good mixture of connected action scenes, as Cain and the other characters slowly work out just how desperate the situation is and attempt to take steps to address it.  This works well as an overarching narrative, and you really appreciate the scope of the situation and the protagonist’s continued accidental heroics as he tries to run away.

All this perfectly leads up to a final big sequence, where the desperate protagonists are forced into a particularly brutal fight with little hope of survival.  Unsurprisingly, this requires Cain to engage in another suicide mission, which leads to some of the best action scenes in the entire book.  This entire last section of The Last Ditch is a particularly awesome thrill ride which I powered through so very quickly to see how everything came to an end.  Readers come away very satisfied from The Last Ditch, which honestly was one of the stronger books in this cool series, and I really enjoyed how Mitchell continues to entertain with his amazing and entertaining Warhammer 40,000 premise.

Mitchell maintains pretty much the same writing style for The Last Ditch he has previously utilised in the other Ciaphas Cain books, which allows for a very impressive light read.  It is told primarily in a chronicle/journal format written by an older Cain, which recounts the events of this adventure through the narrow focus of the protagonist’s unreliable memory.  This allows for a fun and self-centred take on events that examines Cain’s reluctant action while also loading up the story with some entertaining humour that provides a great satirical look at the usually grimdark Warhammer 40,000 universe.  This main narrative of action, adventure and supposedly cowardly behaviour is cleverly interspersed with a range of entertaining footnotes, commentary and in-universe texts that have been provided by the account’s patient, if sarcastic, editor, Inquisitor Amberly Vail.  This combination of narrative elements not only cleverly provides readers with and informative and light-hearted look at events taking place outside of Cain’s selfish storytelling, but it also pumps up both the humour and the stakes of the plot, especially as you become aware of the planet-wide impacts of the central adventure.

As with all the books in the series, The Last Ditch does work well as a standalone novel that readers can enjoy without any previous knowledge of the other Ciaphas Cain books, or indeed the wider Warhammer 40,000 universe.  While this novel is set in the middle of Cain’s personal chronology and makes mentions of several previous adventures, readers should have no trouble following along, with the point of these references made clear quickly through the writing and context.  Established fans of the series will also have a lot of fun with this book, especially as Mitchell continues Cain’s adventures with the Valhallan 597th, and there are a lot of entertaining familiar beats with this newer entry.  Like many of the previous books, The Last Ditch does have some repetition issues, with Mitchell reusing a lot of basic story ideas and phrases in Cain and Vail’s descriptions that returning readers will notice.  However, I felt that this entry was distinctive enough, especially with a more horror vibe to it, that any readers can come in and easily enjoy it.  This allows The Last Ditch to remain an awesome addition to the overall series, and it’s one I personally had an outstanding time getting through.

I also must once again highlight some of the great character work in this novel, especially when it comes to the main character of Commissar Ciaphas Cain.  A complex figure and self-professed coward, Cain spends most of the book trying to come up with ways to avoid combat and survive the inevitable danger his reputation and own bad lack force him to participate in.  With a very cynical and self-deprecating writing style, Mitchell always tries to emulate classic, comedic and craven military figures like Flashman or Blackadder with his depictions of Cain.  However, despite the protagonist’s best efforts to showcase himself as a dishonourable coward, his resultant heroic actions and Inquisitor Vail’s notes help to show the reader that his is somewhat lying to both us and himself, as he continues to be an inspirational figure.  This allows for quite a complex and relatively light-hearted read, as you are constantly wondering just how honest the protagonist is being with his observations and descriptions of his actions.  This all blends well with Cain’s witty and sarcastic humour, which lightly lampoons the usually serious Warhammer 40,000 universe and ensures that you are constantly entertained as you follow Commissar Cain into danger once again.

The rest of the cast of this novel are also a ton of fun, especially as many fan favourite characters from the previous novels are well utilised here.  This includes Cain’s faithful aide, Jurgen, who continues to toe the line between gormless soldier and ultra-effective sidekick, and is a very entertaining inclusion in any of these books.  Inquisitor Amberly Vail once again has a big impact, despite her actual appearance in the novel being quite negligible, and her no-nonsense overarching commentary allows for quite an amusing read.  The returning members of the Valhallan 597th regiment were a welcome inclusion, and it is always cool to see the close relationship that Cain has with these soldiers after so many adventures.  Throw in a young gung-ho commissar that Cain is forced to school, and a planetary governor trying to stay in control of her planet amongst the chaos of war, and the cast of The Last Ditch was pretty exceptional and continues Mitchell’s habit of showcasing entertaining and complex supporting characters.

I have long extolled the impressive virtues of the audiobook format when it comes to Warhammer 40,000 fiction, as it is just so much fun having the over-the-top stories read out loud.  Some of the very best Warhammer books in this format are the Ciaphas Cain audiobooks, due to their elaborate casts and the fantastic way their narrators capture the unique style of the series.  This is particularly true for The Last Ditch, which was another absolute joy to listen to, as its amazing narrators perfectly captured both the humour and complex action.  Coming in with a decent run time of nine and a half hours, listeners can absolutely fly through The Last Ditch audiobook, which once again features all the awesome elements that the rest of the series had.  This includes the use of several different narrators, with the incredible vocal talents of Stephen Perring, Penelope Rawlins, Emma Gregory, Toby Longworth and Andrew James Spooner, all adding a lot to the impact of this fun and fantastic story.

Perring is particularly awesome as he voices the main plot of The Last Ditch from the perspective of Cain.  Voicing the protagonist’s conflicted memories of the events, Perring perfectly captures the complex personality of the main character, while also providing a fun take on the action and adventure occurring around the protagonist.  Perring has a great range of different voices for this part of the book, with each of the characters getting a very fitting tone that showcases their separate personalities, including many recurring voices the narrator used in previous audiobooks in the series.  Perring is once again supported by Penelope Rawlins, who voices the character of Inquisitor Amberley Vail as she edits Cain’s memoirs.  Rawlins really dives into the sarcastic character of Inquisitor Vail in these supporting parts of the book, providing a calm, indulgently humorous voice that fits the fun feel of the series.  Rawlins’s interruptions and inclusions as Vail complement Perring’s narration extremely well, adding some great  humour to the plot without ruining the flow of the main story.  These two narrators work together extremely well to bring out much of the book’s humour, and I love how they both have kept coming back to this series to ensure some excellent continuity.

While Perring and Rawlins do the main narration, the additional narrators each have a fun supporting role in proceedings.  Emma Gregory probably gets the most use of the three as she once again voices the memoirs of an ambitious officer in Cain’s regiment, retelling events in a particularly bombastic way.  Gregory deliberately over-acts her part of the audiobook to show off the brash personality of the memoir’s author, and you have to love the pomp and self-importance that Gregory adds to her voice work in these scenes.  The other two, Longworth and Spooner, both of whom are well-established narrators of Warhammer fiction in their own right, have a lot of fun with more minor supporting roles in The Last Ditch, and their cool, if short, inclusions added some fun variety to the experience.  The overall result was another excellent listen that really enhances the fun and impact of the story and the larger franchise.  I honestly think that the Ciaphas Cain series has some of the best audiobooks, and The Last Ditch perfectly showcased how well these books come across in this fun format.

With all the fun action, humour and great focus on a fantastically flawed protagonist fans have come to know and love, Sandy Mitchell continues his exceptional Ciaphas Cain Warhammer 40,000 series with The Last Ditch.  A wonderful and deeply entertaining read, The Last Ditch was a joy to read from start to finish and I had such a brilliant time with it.  Indeed, I enjoyed The Last Ditch so much that I immediately dove into the next book in the series, The Greater Good, the second I finished it.

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WWW Wednesday – 4 March 2026

On By The Unseen LibraryIn WWW Wednesday1 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:

Sister Svangerd and the Not Quite Dead by K. J. Parker (Trade Paperback)

I’ve recently started reading the awesome new fantasy novel Sister Svangerd and the Not Quite Dead by the always impressive K. J. Parker.  Following a complicated monk and his murderous nun assistant as they investigate strange occurrences and deaths at a major religious conference, this book is already delivering all of Parker’s trademark chaos, clever humour and complex storytelling as he sets up another outstanding trilogy. I have made a fair bit of progress with Sister Svangerd and the Not Quite Dead so far, and it already looks set to be one of my favourite books of 2026.

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Jigsaw by Jonathan Kellerman (Audiobook)

I’ve also started listening to the new Alex Delaware novel from Jonathan Kellerman, Jigsaw, on audiobook.  The latest entry in Kellerman’s long-running crime fiction series, Jigsaw sees the protagonists investigate two separate and complex murders which may have an interesting connection to each other. I have managed to knock off a good chunk of Jigsaw so far and I am once again enjoying the realistic style and pacing of this compelling novel. I will probably get through this audiobook in the next few days, and I cannot wait to see how this mystery fully unfolds.

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What did you recently finish reading?

The Red Winter by Cameron Sullivan (Trade Paperback)

I absolutely absorbed the awesome Australian debut, The Red Winter by Cameron Sullivan this week, which was so damn good. Primarily set in 18th century France, The Red Winter follows a magical scholar who is forced to face old demons when a monster he previously defeated returns to cause fresh chaos. I had such a great time reading this book, which blended cool fantasy elements with entertaining humour and a curious bit of French history. An outstanding novel I cannot recommend enough.

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Warhammer 40,000: Apostle by David Annandale (Audiobook)

I also managed to finish off the latest Warhammer 40,000 audiobook, Apostle by David Annandale. This was a fantastic and dark read that follows a member of the insidious Word Bearers traitor Space Marines as he attempts to convert an entire planet to worship the Chaos gods. A very clever novel that features a great villain perspective, Apostle was a particularly twisted read that I really enjoyed.

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What do you think you’ll read next?

How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates by Shailee Thompson

I’m in the mood for more cool debuts so the next book I am hoping to check out is the first book from Australian author Shailee Thompson, How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates. A very entertaining sounding read that will feature a deadly series of murders at a speed dating event, in fun and apparently romantic, horror novel. How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates sounds like the perfect book for me, and I look forward to seeing how crazy it turns out to be.

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

WWW Wednesday – 25 February 2026

On 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 Red Winter by Cameron Sullivan (Trade Paperback)

I’ve just started reading the awesome Australian debut, The Red Winter by Cameron Sullivan, which is proving to be a lot of fun. Set in 18th century France, The Red Winter follows a magical scholar who is forced to face old demons when a monster he previously defeated returns to cause fresh chaos. I am already having a great time reading this book, which blends cool fantasy elements with entertaining humour and a curious bit of French history. I’m hoping to really power through The Red Winter this weekend, and I already in love in this cool book from a talented new author.

Amazon

 

Warhammer 40,000: Apostle by David Annandale (Audiobook)

I’ve continued my obsession with all things Warhammer 40,000, by diving into the latest release in the franchise, Apostle by David Annandale. A fantastic and dark read that follows a member of the insidious Word Bearers traitor Space Marines, as he attempts to convert an entire planet to worship the Chaos gods. A very clever novel that features a great villain perspective, Apostle is proving to be a particularly twisted read that I am quickly powering through. I will definitely be knocking Apostle off in the next few days and I look forward to seeing where this awesome story is going.

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What did you recently finish reading?

Lives of Bitter Rain by Adrian Tchaikovsky (ebook)

I quickly finished off the excellent novella Lives of Bitter Rain by Adrian Tchaikovsky last week. A companion piece to his Tyrant Philosopher’s series, Lives of Bitter Rain follows the early life of the protagonist of Days of Shattered Faith and the events that would shape her into the entertaining and flexible figure we came to know and love.  I really enjoyed this novella and I’m now ready to check out the next book in the series, Pretenders to the Throne of God.

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30Seven by Jeremy Robinson (Audiobook)

I also managed to knock off the excellent and unique science fiction thriller 30Seven by Jeremy Robinson in the last week.  An exceptional novel from a true master of suspense and horror, 30Seven cleverly twists the classic alien abduction narrative on its head by featuring a hidden human serial killer amongst the abductees. One of the best books I’ve so far read in 2026, this book comes very highly recommended and I’m hoping to get a review up for it soon.

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Antihero by Gregg Hurwitz (Trade Paperback)

I also had the great pleasure of reading the new Orphan X book from Gregg Hurwitz this week with Antihero.  Another deep and compelling thriller, Antihero saw Hurwitz’s long running vigilante protagonist attempt to help a woman in trouble without using his usual lethal force. This ended up being another exceptional read from Hurwitz, who utilized his unique style to make something very distinctive and special.

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What do you think you’ll read next?

Sister Svangerd and the Not Quite Dead by K. J. Parker

I’ve got a ton of great books currently sitting on my shelves waiting to be read, but the one with the most potential for laughs is probably Sister Svangerd and the Not Quite Dead by the always impressive K. J. Parker.  Following the murderous fixer of a dangerous church as she attempts to take out her target at a major religious conference, this book looks set to deliver all of Parker’s trademark chaos, clever humour and complex storytelling as he sets up another outstanding trilogy. I already know that Sister Svangerd and the Not Quite Dead is going to be one of my favourite books of 2026, and I cannot wait to finally dive into it.

Amazon

 

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 – 18 February 2026

On 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:

Lives of Bitter Rain by Adrian Tchaikovsky (ebook)

I’ve just started reading the fun novella Lives of Bitter Rain by Adrian Tchaikovsky. A companion piece to his Tyrant Philosopher’s series, Lives of Bitter Rain follows the early life of the protagonist of Days of Shattered Faith and the events that would shape her into the entertaining and flexible figure we came to know and love.  I have been keen to read this novella for a while and I’m glad I finally got the chance right before the next book in the series, Pretenders to the Throne of God comes out.  I will probably knock this novella off today, and I am really enjoying its short, but highly entertaining narrative.

Amazon

 

30Seven by Jeremy Robinson (Audiobook)

I’ve also been enjoying the excellent and unique science fiction thriller 30Seven by Jeremy Robinson in the last week.  An exceptional novel from a true master of suspense and horror, 30Seven cleverly twists the classic alien abduction narrative on its head by featuring a hidden human serial killer amongst the abductees, who starts a killing spree aboard the UFO.  I’m deeply enjoying the exceptional narrative that Robinson pulled together for his latest book, and I cannot wait to see where this crazy story goes next.

Amazon

 

What did you recently finish reading?

Dawn of the Firebird by Sarah Mughal Rana (ebook)

I finally finished off the intriguing debut fantasy novel, Dawn of the Firebird, this week. An elaborate fantasy novel with a unique Middle Eastern style, Dawn of the Firebird follows a young woman whose journey to understand magic and her own power is twisted by betrayal, war and the loss of everyone she loves.  A very complex and compelling read, this book is recommended for those looking for a good alternative to classic European fantasy fiction.

Amazon

 

Warhammer 40,000: Renegades: Harrowmaster by Mike Brooks (Audiobook)

An exceptional Warhammer 40,000 audiobook from the always impressive Mike Brooks that follows the iconic and villainous Alpha Legion. I had an outstanding time with this book and I’m hoping to get a review up for it soon.

Amazon

 

Operation Bounce House by Matt Dinniman (Audiobook)

I had a hell of a time powering through the epic science fiction novel Operation Bounce House this week.  A brilliant standalone novel from the incredible Matt Dinniman, Operation Bounce House features a compelling narrative as a small human colony world finds itself under attack from mechs piloted by gamers from Earth as part of an elaborate corporate takeover.  A really impressive novel with an amazing story behind it, Operation Bounce House was so damn good, and I cannot recommend it enough.

Amazon

 

What do you think you’ll read next?

Antihero by Gregg Hurwitz

I have a ton of great books currently sitting on my always growing to-read pile, but the book I think I’ll read next is the new Orphan X book from Gregg Hurwitz, Antihero.  Set to be another deep and compelling thriller, Antihero will follow Hurwitz’s long running vigilante protagonist on another dangerous adventure, this time trying to help a woman in trouble without using any violence. I have some very high hopes for this new Orphan X book, and I have no doubt it will be an exceptional read.

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

WWW Wednesday – 28 January 2026

On By The Unseen LibraryIn WWW Wednesday1 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:

Dawn of the Firebird by Sarah Mughal Rana (ebook)

I just started reading the intriguing debut fantasy novel, Dawn of the Firebird, which is off to an excellent start. An elaborate fantasy novel with a unique Middle Eastern style, Dawn of the Firebird follows a young woman whose journey to understand magic and her own power is twisted by betrayal, war and the loss of everyone she loves.  I have only made a little progress on Dawn of the Firebird, but I am so far enjoying its compelling story, which I think has a ton of potential.

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What did you recently finish reading?

Twelve Months by Jim Butcher (Audiobook)

I literally just finished the epic new entry in the Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher, Twelve Months, which was so much better than I could have hoped.  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 absolutely flew through this audiobook, and I loved every single second I spend with Twelve Months thanks to its complex story and brilliant take on loss and moving forward.  One of Jim Butcher’s very best books, and an early contender for best fantasy novel of 2026.

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

I also finished off the fantastic 2026 debut thriller, A Sociopath’s Guide to a Successful Marriage by M. K. Oliver this week. An amazing and hilarious book that follows the titular sociopath as she attempts to maintain her perfect, busy life after brutally killing someone in her house. I had a ton of fun with this novel, and it comes very highly recommended.

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Red Star Rebels by Amie Kaufman (ebook)

Finally, I also managed to power through the entertaining young adult novel, Red Star Rebels by Amie Kaufman, which was an awesome and compelling hoot.  Featuring two damaged teenage protagonists as they attempt to survive a mercenary attack on Mars, Red Star Rebels was a great young adult novel that will appeal to a wide range of readers.

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What do you think you’ll read next?

Warhammer 40,000: Renegades: Harrowmaster by Mike Brooks (Audiobook)

I’ve been having an awesome time with Warhammer 40,000 fiction lately, so I think the next audiobook I’ll check out is the intriguing, villain-focused book Harrowmaster by Mike Brooks, which has been on my to-read list for a while.  Following members of the treacherous and deceitful Alpha Legion, Harrowmaster looks set to feature betrayal and machinations which I cannot wait to check out, especially as Brooks has a sequel to Harrowmaster coming out very soon.

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

WWW Wednesday – 21 January 2026

On 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.

Amazon

 

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.

Amazon

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

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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.

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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.

Amazon

 

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.

Amazon

 

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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 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.

Amazon

 

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.

Amazon

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.

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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.

Amazon

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.

Amazon

 

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 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.

Amazon

 

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.

Amazon

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.

Amazon

 

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.

Amazon

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.

Amazon

 

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.