Top Ten Tuesday – My Favourite Australian Books from the First Half of 2026

On July 31, 2026July 31, 2026 By The Unseen LibraryIn Australian, List2 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature that currently resides at The Artsy Reader Girl and features bloggers sharing lists on various book topics. The official topic for this week’s Top Ten Tuesday was to list a participant’s books that they had to have immediately but still haven’t read. While this is an interesting concept, I’m instead going to do something different and will provide two separate lists here that continue my theme of recapping the first half of 2026.

I have had a lot of fun recapping some of the best books, audiobooks and new-to-me-authors from the first half of 2026 in previous weeks, but I also need to spend this time highlighting releases from outstanding Australian authors. While I generally tend to read a great deal of Australian fiction each year due to my location, I have found that the first half of 2026 has been a particularly impressive year for Australian fiction, with some truly outstanding novels from very talented local authors.

As such, I thought I would take this opportunity to highlight some of the very best Australian talents who have so far released books in 2026. To make it onto this list, the book had to be released by an Australia author this year. I tend to take a bit of a different approach to Australian fiction than some other bloggers, as I highlight all books written by Australian authors rather than novels purely set in Australia or featuring Australian characters. The eventual list I pulled together was pretty long, but I was eventually able to whittle it down into the absolute best Australian books of the year so far, which included some amazing reads from across the genres.

Honourable Mentions:

On the Edge by Kate Horan

A compelling and intense novel about secrets in small town Australia.

Red Star Rebels by Amie Kaufman

A very exciting young adult science fiction novel from a major Australian author.

The Writers Retreat by Victoria Brownlee

An intriguing novel with a great take on a recent mystery trope.

We Did It Anyway by Carla Salmon

A fun Australian young adult adventure novel that serves as a sequel to Salmon’s debut We Saw What You Started.

Top Ten Tuesday:

The Red Winter by Cameron Sulivan

A novel that has been a highlight of several of my previous lists, The Red Winter was an excellent debut from Australian author Cameron Sulivan. A unique and compelling read that combined fun fantasy elements with some fascinating dives into French history, The Red Winter was an exceptional novel that had me hooked very early on. A highly recommended book that is a wonderful first entry on this list.

The Lineup by Nicholas Timms

Next up we have probably the most ‘Australian’ novel on this list, with The Lineup by Nicholas Timms. A very compelling crime fiction debut that follows a former surfer who returns home to Byron Bay to find a killer, The Lineup was very impressive novel with some real heart to it. I deeply enjoyed this book, and it truly showcased how distinctive Australian crime fiction can be.

Redbelly Crossing by Candice Fox

One of Australia’s best known crime fiction authors continues to pump out awesome hits in 2026 with Redbelly Crossing by Candice Fox. A powerful standalone Australian thriller, Redbelly Crossing follows two damaged siblings as they investigate a murder in their remote hometown. However, dark secrets soon set the siblings against each other with deadly results. This was a particularly intense read from Fox, who taps into some real-life Australian tragedy with powerful results.

How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates by Shailee Thompson

New Australian author Shailee Thompson had one of the more exciting debuts of 2026, with How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates. A wonderfully entertaining thriller that brings together elements from the horror and rom com genres, How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates was a lot of fun, and I enjoyed Thompson’s extreme take on speed dating.

The Yacht by Kayte Nunn

Another crime fiction read with some international flair was The Yacht by Australian author Kayte Nunn. Set in the sunny waters of Spain, The Yacht sees an ultra-rich family deal with drama aboard their new mega-yacht, while vengeful crewmembers watch from below deck. Expertly bringing together class struggles with some excellent crime fiction elements, The Yacht was a striking standalone novel that is really worth checking out.

Dark Desert Road by Tim Ayliffe

One of my favourite Australian authors Tim Ayliffe had an excellent 2026 with the standalone novel Dark Desert Road. Following two estranged sisters caught on opposites sides of radical sovereign citizens, Dark Desert Road was a gritty and powerful thriller that took an interesting look at a rising element of Australian society. An outstanding read that comes highly recommended.

Warhammer 40,000: Da Freebooterz Code by Justin Woolley

I’m happy that I can include one book from my favourite franchise on this list, with the recent Warhammer 40,000 book Da Freebooterz Code. Written by Australian author Justin Woolley, Da Freebooterz Code was one of the funniest books of the year that saw an ambitious ork pirate facing off against a vengeful human captain. A wonderful and highly entertaining novel that comes highly recommended, especially on audiobook.

The Shark by Emma Styles

Next on this list we have the fascinating and unique crime fiction read, The Shark by Emma Styles. Following two damaged women who have been impacted in different ways by a serial killer haunting Perth, The Shark sees these protagonists attempt to take control of the situation in a very dark way. An intriguing psychological thriller, The Shark was a great read that will stick in the mind well after you’ve finished reading it.

The Couples Retreat by Mercedes Mercier

Mercedes Mercier takes the reader to the iconic Kangaroo Island with her latest novel, The Couples Retreat. Following two separate protagonists caught up in a dramatic mass murder on the island, The Couples Retreat was a fantastic piece of crime fiction that proves easy to get caught up in. Filled with compelling characters and interesting twists, The Couples Retreat is worth reading and I enjoyed its compelling mystery.

Dark Sanctuary by Sarah Barrie

The final piece of Australian fiction that I want to highlight on this list is the twisted thriller Dark Sanctuary. Written by Sarah Barrie, who excels as showcasing the dark side of Australian crime fiction, Dark Sanctuary was a chilling novel about murder and buried secrets told from three different perspectives. Barrie really outdid herself with this powerful book about a deranged serial killer with some unique motives, and Dark Sanctuary ended up being a spectacular and memorable read that is a very worthy novel to end this list on.

As you can see from the above, I have managed to check out a bunch of epic Australian novels in the first half of this year. Each of the above were exceptional and fun reads and I would strongly recommend to everyone. I look forward to reading more awesome Australian books in the second half of 2026, with some many upcoming books likely to make the end-of-year version of this list like Choppy Water by Jack Heath and Bad Neighbours by Joanna Jenkins. Make sure to check out my other recent lists about the first half of 2026, especially my other Top Ten Tuesday post tonight, and let me know what cool Australian books you have already checked out this year.

Warhammer 40,000: Da Freebooterz Code by Justin Woolley

On July 30, 2026 By The Unseen LibraryIn Audiobook, Australian, Comedy/Satire, Extended Universe, Five-Star Books, Science Fiction, Tie-in Novel, Warhammer1 Comment

Publisher: Black Library (Audiobook – 9 May 2026)

Series: Warhammer 40,000

Length: 9 hours and 41 minutes

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Australian author Justin Woolley returns to the insane world of Warhammer 40,000 fiction with one of the funniest books of the year, the outstanding Da Freebooterz Code.

Readers of this blog will know that I have a lot of love for Warhammer 40,000 fiction which produces so many outstanding books each year. While many Warhammer novels are enjoyable because they have awesome action or intense grimdark themes, some stand out because they are incredibly funny and use humour to enhance the darker elements of the setting. One of the best recent authors who uses humour in Warhammer 40,000 is Justin Woolley, who has a particular affinity for the hilarious ork faction. His first Warhammer 40,000 novel, Catachan Devil, had a hilarious partial focus on ork characters, and watching their crazy exploits alongside the perspective of serious and grim human soldiers ensured that Catachan Devil was a particularly funny and compelling read. As such, I have been eager to read more from Woolley for a while, and I was quite excited when his latest novel, Da Freebooterz Code was announced, especially as Woolley was going to look at a group of ork pirates.

In the depths of space, there are few beings that have as much fun as an ork freebooter, an unusual breed of ork who haunt the stars in ramshackle ships. The life of an ork freebooter is consumed with raiding, looting and destroying any ship unlucky enough to encounter them. However, only the most successful ork leader can keep control of a band of freebooterz, and if a kaptin fails to find enough loot then an ambitious underlying can do a mutiny to take control of the ship and their pointy hat. However, the next kaptin of the Gork’s Revenge has a different plan.

After accidently taking over the ship, Kaptin Skeeg Horntoof finds himself with several hungry underlings eying his position. Luckily, Horntoof is an ork of rare ambition, and his crazy and ambitious plans soon leads his crew into a new period of raids and pillage. However, Horntoof’s most unique and potentially un-orky idea is to lay down Da Freebooterz Code, a set of rules so outrageous that the rest of the orks can’t help but follow along.

Now determined to use his code to rally more orks to his cause to become the greatest freebooter the galaxy has ever seen, Horntoof embarks on a series of daring raids to find more loot. However, Horntoof soon finds his ship floating into the Gulf of Gannemedes, an area of space protected by legendary rogue trader Lord Captain Antoinette von Hume, who vows to destroy the ork menace encroaching into her territory. However, when tragedy strikes, von Hume finds herself becoming obsessed with the hunt for Horntoof and his ship, determined to wipe out the ork kaptin no matter the cost. Caught between mutiny plots and a deranged human chasing him across the stars, can Horntoof fulfil his dream, or will he go up in flames alongside his ship and crew?

Da Freebooterz Code was an outstanding and highly entertaining Warhammer 40,000 novel from Justin Woolley that provides laughs, thrills and captivating characters in spades. Featuring a powerful story of ambition and revenge perfectly set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe, Da Freebooterz Code was an incredible read that was a true highlight from the first half of 2026.

Woolley did an amazing job pulling together an exciting and compelling narrative for Da Freebooterz Code, that is both funny and a little tragic. Primarily a character-driven narrative focusing on some intriguing protagonists, Da Freebooterz Code is broken into two major storylines that cleverly interact with each other as the book progresses. Woolley effectively introduces you to both major protagonists, Kaptin Skeeg Horntoof and Lord Captain Antoinette von Hume, early in the plot and you soon get very invested in their different narrative threads. There is the more humour laden narrative around Horntoof, as he learns the ropes of being a kaptin and starts his ambitious plans. Woolley also provides a great early introduction to the more rigid von Hume, as she is drawn back into the Gulf of Gannemedes in response to Horntoof’s raids. The author sets up some interesting early elements in this first part of the book, and there are some fun early contrasts between the two different storylines.

After this excellent introduction, Woolley cleverly leads both storylines towards an initial collision between the opposing protagonists, which results in a sudden reversal of fortunes that changes the entire status quo of the story and makes you see both protagonists in a very different light. Horntoof’s narrative becomes a fun story of ork politics and betrayals, as he fights to maintain control of a new tool that could give him everything he wants. Meanwhile the storyline around von Hume dissolves into a tale of mass tragedy and revenge, with the rogue trader focusing her wrath on Horntoof as the being responsible for her losing everything. This leads to a powerful central part of the book, with the dark narrative around the now unstable von Hume, perfectly matched by the unsubtle machinations of the orks around Horntoof. Woolley does an excellent job alternating between these two main threads, and I loved the contrast in humour and emotional depth that emerged.

Everything leads up to the final third of Da Freebooterz Code, which was the strongest part of the book. Woolley provides some similar initial obstacles for both Horntoof and von Hume, as they are forced to overcome obstacles from treacherous or ambitious rivals of their own species. However, their determination soon sees the two protagonists finally facing off against each other in a series of compelling and emotionally charged sequences. I loved some of the twists and reveals that came out in this final part of the book, especially as you realise that Woolley had laid down some interesting early clues hinting at them. The big confrontation was everything you could hope it would be with some even-handed action, alternating betrayals, and fantastic interactions between the main two characters. The result of this confrontation was pretty perfect, especially with disappointments on both sides, and you really come away equally appreciating these very different protagonists. Woolley also leads the main plot open for continuation, and I frankly would love to see the main story threads from Da Freebooterz Code continue, especially after all the hilarious, yet dramatic, build-up contained in this brilliant narrative.

I really loved how this story came together, as Woolley leans into the over-the-top nature of the Warhammer 40,000 setting and pulls as much humour from it as possible. Much of this is because at least half the book is focused around the always hilarious ork faction, and Woolley excels at showcasing the innate comedic charm of these seemingly unsophisticated alien brutes. The character dynamics and dialogue between the various orks is so damn amusing, and their interactions with humans, who they really don’t understand, is just amazing. The craziness of this faction is even further enhanced by the fact that all the ork characters are emulating classic pirate tropes, which essentially results in Da Freebooterz Code become a book about a backstabbing band of the dumbest pirates possible, constantly failing upwards. There are also some clever pirate-themed jokes and puns thrown in as well, and I honestly had some laugh-out-load moments when I first heard them. What makes this humour even better is the way in which Woolley writes the human perspective chapters in Da Freebooterz Code almost entirely dead serious, with the human characters forced to continuously deal with the brutal destruction left in the ork’s wake. The alternating chapters contrasted off each other extremely effectively, with both the ork humour and the tragedy of the human characters enhanced when compared to the other. Woolley also balances this well written, alternating character-driven comedy and drama with some amazing action sequences. I especially enjoyed the multiple space battles between warring ships, especially when the orks go for some outrageous strategies, while the entertaining and excessively violent fight scenes aboard ship are always quite fun.

I felt that Da Freebooterz Code was a particularly awesome entry in the wider Warhammer 40,000 franchise that will appeal to a wide range of readers. Pretty much anyone who loves an entertaining science fiction romp can dive into Da Freebooterz Code and fully appreciate the story, as it is very accessible to new readers unfamiliar with the franchise. Indeed, Da Freebooterz Code would be a good starting point as it showcases both the over-the-top nature of the Warhammer 40,000 universe, as well as the inevitable tragedy lying beneath the surface. Established Warhammer fans will obviously get a little more out of Da Freebooterz Code than other readers, especially as Woolley dives into two unique sub-factions, rogue traders of the Imperium of Man, and freebooter ork pirates. The author provides some compelling insights into both these sub-factions, especially that of the rogue traders, and it was fascinating to see the contrasting mindsets of both groups. This was probably one of the more purely entertaining romps into the Warhammer 40,000 universe I have had the pleasure of exploring in recent years, and I would really recommend it to anyone looking to explore the franchise at any level.

The writing element of Da Freeboterz Code that turned it into one of the top Warhammer books of the year were the amazing character arcs that Woolley loaded into the story. These character arcs produced some deeply complex storylines, and I really appreciated the range of fun or damaged figures that emerged. Much of the book’s focus lies around the very entertaining ork Kaptin Skeeg Horntoof, a new freebooter kaptin attempting to make a name for himself. Initially shown to be an inexperienced figure well out of his depth thanks to the machinations of his crew, Horntoof quickly proves to be a somewhat canny ork, using his ambition and imagination to increase his influence. I loved how Horntoof evolved in his role, and his over-the-top plans and growing appreciation for a talented human rival allowed for some particularly entertaining moments. Horntoof’s perspective chapters are well supplemented by several other fun ork characters, who seek to help or hinder him on his journey, including a mad mek and several amusing bridge crewmembers. My favourite, though, is the ship’s second-in-command Blak Skad, a surprisingly clever ork who has realised the danger of being in command of a group of freebooterz. Blak Skad spends much of the book attempting to manipulate Horntoof into commanding the ship the way he wants, and his complex relationship with his new kaptin results in several fantastic moments of tense hilarity.

While the ork characters were a lot of fun, the protagonist who was a surprising highlight of Da Freebooterz Code was the human rogue trader Lord Captain Antoinette von Hume. A proud and experienced captain defined by her extensive family legacy, von Hume’s whole storyline revolves around her experiencing failure and defeat for the first time in her life. Mentally unravelling and hearing the judgemental voices of her ancestors, von Hume descends into a dark spiral driven by her desire for revenge. The focus on von Hume’s overwhelming obsession to destroy Horntoof, no matter the cost, was a brilliant dramatic foil to Da Freebooterz Code’s usual comedy, and I loved seeing her storyline get darker and darker. Throw in several of von Hume’s loyal family/crewmembers, who get caught up in her dangerous story, and a corrupt space station governor who serves as a snivelling secondary antagonist and the human characters do a wonderful job stacking up in a book primarily focused on orks.

I ended up listening to Da Freebooterz Code on audiobook, which is easily the best format to enjoy any Warhammer novel. Warhammer 40,000 audiobooks always do such a good job of bringing the craziness of the story and setting to life, and Da Freebooterz Code was a particularly impressive example of this, with the book’s fantastic humour and over-the-top elements being effectively showcased. A lot of credit for this awesomeness goes to narrator Harry Myers, who, thanks to his great voice and British accent, perfectly portrays ork characters. I have loved Myers’s portrayal of orks in previous audiobooks like Da Red Gobbo Collection, Warboss and Da Big Dakka by Mike Brooks and Grotsnik Da Mad Dok by Denny Flowers, but his voice work in Da Freebooterz Code is some of his best. Myers goes all out with the orks in Da Freebooterz Code, with some outrageous and original voices that completely fit Woolley’s narrative scenario. The orks in Da Freebooterz Code, especially the main character, are given some over-the-top pirate-themed accents, that blend well with the loud booming ork tones Myers usually utilises. This helps to make Da Freebooterz Code audiobook really stand out, and many of the jokes are so much funnier when read out by someone voicing a laddish alien pirate. Myers’s human voices, in comparison, are a little more subdued, but this helps to showcase the differences between the professional human rogue trader and the ramshackle orks. However, Myers does cut loose in some scenes where the human protagonist loses it, and the result is extremely powerful. All this exceptional voice work makes for a brilliant audiobook listen, and I ended up powering through Da Freebooterz Code’s near 10-hour runtime extremely quickly. Easily one of the best audiobooks from the first half of 2026, Da Freebooterz Code was a damn good listen, and I cannot recommend this format enough.

Justin Woolley shines in his second Warhammer 40,000 novel, Da Freebooterz Code, which once again combines hilarious ork characters with a dramatic human story to create an amazing story. An incredible novel I couldn’t get stop listening to, Da Freebooterz Code was one of the best Warhammer novels of 2026 and you are guaranteed to have an incredible time reading it.

Top Ten Tuesday – My Favourite Audiobooks from the First Half of 2026

On July 15, 2026July 18, 2026 By The Unseen LibraryIn Audiobook, ListLeave a comment

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature that currently resides at The Artsy Reader Girl and features bloggers sharing lists on various book topics. The official topic for this week’s Top Ten Tuesday required participants to list books from authors they are unfamiliar with. While this is an interesting idea, and one I might come back to later, I’m instead going to continue my recent trend of discussing books from the first half of the year and highlight my favourite audiobooks from the first half of 2026. This is a continuation of my Top Ten list from a couple of weeks ago that featured my favourite overall novels from the first half of 2026.

I have a great deal of love for the audiobook format, and it is one of the main ways that I tend to check out books. I have long been a major fan of audiobooks, and it is amazing the various ways in which listening to a book can enhance your enjoyment. An excellent audiobook can really bring you into the story, and I find that listening to a book enhances the amount of detail that you can take in. In addition, other features, such as captivating voices, music and sound effects can really make an audiobook something special, and there some great examples of the format I have enjoyed throughout my life. This year alone I have listened to a ton of outstanding audiobooks, includes some of my favourite books from early 2026. Because I love this format so much, I thought I would take this opportunity to highlight my favourite audiobooks from the first half of the year.

To pull this list off I had a look at all the 2026 releases that I listened to on audiobook to figure out my favourites. It turns out that I have already gone through quite a few this year so there was a large collection of potential additions to this list, which I was eventually able to whittle it down to the best ten audiobooks. There is a bit of a crossover with my previous Favourite Books from the First Half of 2026 list, but I think there are enough new additions to make this list worthwhile. I made sure to feature only the very best audiobooks on this list, and, in addition to the quality of the baseline novel, I also looked at audiobook production and narration. This includes whether the audiobook has outstanding narration or uses music and sound effects to enhance the plot. Keeping these criteria in mind, I came up with the following strong Top Ten List and associated Honourable Mentions, and all the audiobooks listed below were exceptional listens that come very highly recommended by this blog.

Honourable Mentions:

Jigsaw, written by Jonathan Kellerman and narrated by John Rubinstein

A captivating addition to Jonathan Kellerman’s long-running Alex Delaware series. John Rubinstein does an amazing job bringing Kellerman’s characters to life throughout this excellent mystery.

Warhammer 40,000: Chem Dog, written by Callum Davis and narrated by Richard Reed

Callum Davis provides an excellent debut to the Warhammer franchise, with Chem Dog. A very fun read that comes across perfectly on audiobook, especially with talented narrator Richard Reed on board.

The Right to Remain, written by James Grippando and narrated by Jonathan Davis

James Grippando continues his fantastic Jack Swyteck legal thriller series this year with the very clever The Right to Remain. I had an outstanding time listening to The Right to Remain on audiobook, especially with Jonathan Davis (one of the best Star Wars narrators) reading it out.

Warhammer 40,000: Ghost Legion, written by Mike Brooks and narrated by Alex Lanipekun

Another great Warhammer 40,000 audiobook from earlier this year. Ghost Legion was a fantastic sequel to Brooks’ previous novel Harrowmaster, with a new narrator reading it out.

Top Ten List:

A Parade of Horribles, written by Matt Dinniman and narrated by Jeff Hays

Let’s start this list off with one of the more outrageous, epic and highly entertaining audiobooks of 2026, A Parade of Horribles. The eighth book in Matt Dinniman’s deeply impressive Dungeon Crawler Carl series, A Parade of Horribles is an outstanding and hilarious new entry in the series, which sees the surviving protagonists forced to compete in a series of deadly, whacky races as they continue to traverse the dungeon. Not only was this a particularly awesome book by itself, but it also had an exceptional audiobook version. Now, if you know anything about the Dungeon Crawler Carl series then you know that the audiobooks are the best format to enjoy the stories in thanks to the excessive range of entertaining and distinctive voices from narrator Jeff Hays. Hays has so much fun providing all the awesome voices in A Parade of Horribles and his brilliant take on the characters and crazy events was just perfect. While, as an Australian I have ‘thoughts’ about the accent he gave to some giant kangaroos, the rest of the voices he came up with were so damn good, with an unhinged AI and a certain talking cat being impressive highlights. Also, there are some exceptional musical chapters and other inclusions in this audiobook, which make A Parade of Horribles worth listening just on their own. Honestly, A Parade of Horribles’ audiobook was on a whole other level, and if you haven’t started listening to Dungeon Crawler Carl, you are missing out!

Warhammer 40,000: Ghazghkull Thraka: Warlord of Warlords, written by Denny Flowers and narrated by Harry Myers

I doubt anyone familiar with my blog is going to be too surprised that there are going to be a lot of Warhammer 40,000 audiobooks on this list. I have a lot of love of Warhammer fiction, and the audiobook formats are always the best way to enjoy these epic and entertaining novels. As such, one of the big entries on this list is the outstanding 2026 audiobook Ghazghkull Thraka: Warlord of Warlords. The latest novel from Denny Flowers, Warlord of Warlords was an addictive and awesome read that focused on the entertaining ork faction and their legendary new leader. Filled with humour, over-the-top action and some very interesting dives into ork lore, Warlord of Warlords was a great book on its own, but his was further enhanced by the excellent audiobook version. Much of this is down to the narration of Harry Myers, who frankly portrays the orks better than anyone else in the current stable of Warhammer audiobook narrators. His booming, laddish voice for the orks was just golden, and listening to a whole bevy of orks fight and scheme made for such an outstanding audiobook. A wonderful listen guaranteed to get a chuckle out of any Warhammer fan.

Twelve Months, written by Jim Butcher and narrated by James Marsters

When pulling together a list of the best audiobooks of 2026, there is no way I can exclude Twelve Months by Jim Butcher. The long-anticipated 18^th entry in Butcher’s Dresden Files series, Twelve Months showcases the dark fallout from the epic novel Battle Ground, with a particular focus on the mental trauma of the series protagonist. Twelve Months was one of Butcher’s most impressive reads, and it’s unsurprising that the audiobook version was also quite exceptional. Not only does Twelve Months’ emotional narrative become even more impactful when read out, but this audiobook also sees the return of the legendary James Marsters as narrator. Marsters, who has narrated all the Dresden Files books, has long figured out the best way to portray all the great characters in this series, and his work in Twelve Months was impeccable and captivating. I especially love how Marsters handled narrating the anguish and despair of the point-of-view protagonist, and this was one of his best audiobook performances. A standout audiobook from a series with so many amazing listens.

Red Empire, written by Jonathan Maberry and narrated by Ray Porter

It’s a rare year when one of Jonathan Maberry’s outstanding novels doesn’t appear on my regular lists of best audiobooks. This is because Maberry’s over-the-top books are so perfectly crazy and the awesome action and fantastic characters really come across when read out, especially with the very talented recurring narrator Ray Porter on the job. Maberry’s latest novel, Red Empire, was a particularly epic audiobook, which not only featured an excellent story, but because it has some of Porter’s best narration. I only just finished Red Empire today, and it is one of my favourites from his current Rogue Team International series, especially with some cool revelations about some key characters and some powerful tragedies loaded into the plot. An exceptional novel with an even more impressive audiobook.

Pretenders to the Throne of God, written by Adrian Tchaikovsky and narrated by David Thorpe

One of the more compelling and thought-provoking fantasy audiobooks of 2026 was Pretenders to the Throne of God by the always impressive Adrian Tchaikovsky. The fourth book in Tchaikovksy’s incredible Tyrant Philosophers series (City of Last Chances, House of Open Wounds and Days of Shattered Faith), Pretenders to the Throne of God told the complex tale of personal struggles, humorous brushes with authority and alternating motivations, all set to the background of a besieged fantasy city. A highly addictive read, loaded with moving character arcs and elaborate fantasy elements, Pretenders to the Throne of God was so damn good as both a novel, and an audiobook. Narrator David Thorpe expertly captures Tchaikovsky’s witty tone with his voice work, and I loved how he perfectly voiced all the unique characters, bringing their complex struggles to life. This was such an amazing audiobook, and I cannot recommend this series enough.

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

While some of the Warhammer 40,000 audiobooks of 2026 are great because they are fun and funny, this next entry, Hive, was particularly amazing because it dove into the grimdark roots of the universe. One of the longest and most complex Warhammer audiobooks, Hive was an exceptional read by one of the franchises best authors, Dan Abnett, that dove into conspiracies, rebellions and plant-ending plots in one of the franchises’ gigantic hive cities. A sprawling novel that wove multiple unique character arcs into one gripping narrative, Hive was so damn good, and I was deeply impressed with how amazing it came out in the audiobook format. The always amazing Toby Longworth, who has narrating most of Abnett’s many Warhammer books, did another incredible job in Hive, voicing the entire massive (and I do mean massive) cast, on his own. Not only does each character get their own voice, but Longworth perfectly captured the distinctive slang, language and accents of the hive city, enhancing the setting and allowing you to really envision the city and its trouble inhabitants. I was absolutely enthralled with this wonderful audiobook, and Hive is Warhammer fiction at it’s very best.

The Hard Line, written by Mark Greaney and narrated by Jay Snyder

One of the best spy thrillers of 2026 for me so far is The Hard Line by Mark Greaney. An excellent addition to Greaney’s long-running Gray Man series, The Hard Line was particularly awesome, loaded with some excellent action, intrigue and interesting character moments. I made sure to listen to The Hard Line on audiobook, which once again features narrator Jay Snyder. Snyder always does an outstanding job bringing Greaney’s espionage vision to life, and his narration adds to the tension of the plot, especially when describing the action scenes from multiple angles. I really loved how easy it is to absorb and become addicted to Greaney’s great stories on this format, and The Hard Line is a must-listen for all audiobook fans looking for an exciting and clever thriller.

30Seven, written by Jeremy Robinson and narrated by Scott Brick

Jeremy Robinson is an author who often appears on my best audiobook lists, and I love his complex and intense reads. In 2026 Robinson once again makes an appearance, especially with his unique and dark standalone science fiction thriller, 30Seven. An entertaining and disturbing novel that sets a serial killer loose amid an alien abduction narrative, 30Seven was a great book, whose unique narrative perfectly came across on audiobook. What was interesting with 30Seven is that it featured Robinson’s first collaboration with iconic audiobook narrator Scott Brick. Brick clearly has fun taking a break from his usual thriller work, and he provides an entertaining and haunting narration to this gripping read. I loved how well Brick enhanced this audiobook with his voice work, especially in scenes told from the killer’s perspective. A particularly fun audiobook, it will be interesting to see how some of Robinson’s other audiobooks this year (Parallax and the upcoming Settle Down) stand up to it.

Warhammer 40,000: Da Freebooterz Code, written by Justin Woolley and narrated by Harry Myers

The final Warhammer 40,000 audiobook I’m going to feature on this list, is the comedic goldmine that is Da Freebooterz Code. The second Warhammer novel by Justin Woolley, Da Freebooterz Code follows the alternating views of a bold ork pirate captain and a slowly unravelling rogue trader, as they engage in a brutal space war. One of the funniest Warhammer books I have read, Da Freebooterz Code was an incredible read, that gets even better on audiobook. Harry Myers, the only narrator to appear on this list twice, does another awesome job with Da Freebooterz Code, and once again loved his take on the orks. I particularly loved how, rather than just reusing the same ork voices he had in Warlord of Warlords, Myers went out of his way to make the orks in Da Freebooterz Code sound more ‘piratey’, which was just brilliant. Another exceptional Warhammer 40,000 audiobook.

Operation Bounce House, written by Matt Dinniman and narrated by Travis Baldree

Matt Dinniman is having an exceptional 2026, with two particularly awesome reads. His second for this list, Operation Bounce House, was a clever and heartfelt standalone science fiction novel, that saw a peaceful colony world invaded by destructive mechs remotely piloted by bloodthirsty Earth gamers. A very interesting and moving read from Dinniman, which is also further enhanced by an excellent audiobook version, this time narrated by Travis Baldree. Baldree, a narrator who fans of Dungeon Crawler Carl would be familiar with thanks to his work in The Eye of the Bedlam Bride, does an incredible job at bringing Operation Bounce House to life with his voice work. I really liked the personal and emotionally charged take Baldree had for this audiobook, and it resulted in one of the more moving audiobooks of 2026. A fantastic and powerful final audiobook entry for this list.

Well, that’s the end of this latest list. As you can see, there have been some very good audiobooks out in the first half of 2026. It will be interesting to see which books make the cut later in the year, especially as I currently have several major 2026 audiobooks currently sitting on my phone, waiting to be listened to. While I get to that, make sure to let me know what your favourite audiobooks of 2026 so far are in the comments below.

Top Ten Tuesday – My Favourite Books From the First Half of 2026

On July 10, 2026 By The Unseen LibraryIn List4 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 week’s Top Ten Tuesday involved listing books with a word of your choice in the title. While this is an interesting topic which I might come back to later, I had already decided in advance that this week I would take this opportunity to celebrate the fact that we are into the second half of 2026 by highlighting some amazing books from the first half of the year.

2026 has already proven to be a fantastic year for books, and I have already read some incredible new releases, including impressive standalone books, amazing entries in established series and fantastic debuts. Because of this, I thought that I would take the time to work out what my top ten favourite books from the first half of 2026 were. To be eligible, a book had to be a particularly epic novel released in the first half of this year. I have excluded any books released during this period that I have not so far read, although a couple of releases I have my eye on might have appeared on this list if I had read them in time.

Coming up with this list proved to be a rather bigger task than I originally intended, as I ended up amassing nearly 20 releases, all of which I consider to be outstanding reads. I was eventually able to whittle this down to an acceptable Top Ten list, although I did include my typical generous honourable mentions section. I am rather happy with how this list turned out, although I am surprised at some of the great recent books that ended up being excluded. Still, the entries below represent what I considered to be some of the best books from the first half of 2026, and I would strongly recommend each and every one of them.

Honourable Mentions:

Green City War by Adrian Tchaikovsky

A captivating and unique thriller featuring genetically engineered animals living in the shadow of the human world. A wonderful and addictive read full of Tchaikovsky’s intense imagination.

Warhammer 40,000: Ghazghkull Thraka: Warlord of Warlords by Denny Flowers

A very impressive Warhammer 40,000 novel that sees the always entertaining orks get involved in all manner of civil war shenanigans. I had a great time with this book which provides one of the best looks at the ork faction in this crazy universe.

Red Empire by Jonathan Maberry

The latest Joe Ledger/Rogue Team International novel from one of my favourite authors Jonathan Maberry, Red Empire features a particularly awesome story which pits the protagonists against some of their worst historical foes, while secrets from their mysterious leader’s past are finally revealed. This is turning out to be one of my favourite books of the year, although I’m going to leave it as an honourable mention as I am only halfway through, and I need to see how the final twists unfold.

Warhammer 40,000: Da Freebooterz Code by Justin Woolley

Another outstanding Warhammer 40,000 novel from rising star Justin Woolley. Featuring an epic story about an ambitious ork pirate captain facing off against an increasingly crazed rogue trader, Da Freebooterz Code was one of the funniest books of 2026 and I had an incredible time reading it.

Top Ten Tuesday:

Twelve Months by Jim Butcher

The first book I want to highlight on this list is one of the best books of 2026 so far, the highly anticipated Twelve Months by Jim Butcher. The 18^th book in Butcher’s acclaimed Dresden Files series, Twelve Months captures the full traumatic fallout of the previous novel Battle Ground and takes the reader on an emotional and compelling journey. One of the more unique and powerful entries in an already incredible series, Twelve Months had me hooked from the very first page and was well worth the five-year gap between it and the previous entry.

A Parade of Horribles by Matt Dinniman

The talented Matt Dinniman continued his insanely good Dungeon Crawler Carl series this year, with A Parade of Horribles, an instant classic in a particularly epic LitRPG series. Taking the surviving characters on a deadly racing car romp, A Parade of Horribles was an exceptional and hilarious read, that I was incapable of putting down. Loaded with amazing characters, impressive world building and some deeply moving moments amongst the chaotic action and amazing comedy, A Parade of Horribles was Dinniman at his very best, and I cannot recommend this book or its accompanying series enough.

Warhammer 40,000: Hive by Dan Abnett

I had to include at least one Warhammer 40,000 novel on this list, and in 2026 my absolute favourite was Hive by Dan Abnett. A complex and layered novel shown from the perspective of multiple characters in a gigantic and isolated hive city filled with billions of people, Hive has the reader follow multiple unique character arcs as revolution, conspiracy and other hidden insanities seek to bring the city down. I was absolutely addicted to this incredible novel right up to the bitter end, and Hive honestly highlights just how damn good and dark a novel in the Warhammer 40,000 universe can be.

The Hard Line by Mark Greaney

Another top novel for me in 2026 was the new Gray Man novel by Mark Greaney, The Hard Line. A wonderful addition to the series that sets up some major ongoing storylines, The Hard Line sees the spy protagonist attempt to uncover a major espionage conspiracy hitting Washington, while also fending off the attentions of a legendary assassin, intent on getting revenge. An ultra-exciting and cleverly written thriller, The Hard Line was another outstand novel from Greaney that I had so much fun with.

Pretenders to the Throne of God by Adrian Tchaikovksy

The master of unique fantasy and science fiction had an exceptional 2026, although my favourite new book from him had to be Pretenders to the Throne of God. The fourth book in the author’s Tyrant Philosophers series (City of Last Chances, House of Open Wounds and Days of Shattered Faith), Pretenders to the Throne of God followed multiple compelling characters around the siege of a fantasy city, with politics, personal ambitions and dark secrets all throwing calamity at both besieger and defender. Featuring a combination of excellent new storylines and the intense return of some familiar characters with major problems, Pretenders to the Throne of God was an exceptional novel from start to finish, and I am so damn excited to see how the series ends next year.

Ironwood by Michael Connelly

The legendary Michael Connelly provided more outstanding crime fiction delight in the first half of 2026 with his new novel, Ironwood. A sequel to his 2025 novel, Nightshade, Ironwood returns the reader to Catalina Island where his latest police protagonist investigates multiple murders occurring on his seemingly picturesque slice of California, only to uncover an even darker conspiracy coming for him. Easily one of the best crime fiction reads of 2026 so far, Ironwood was so damn good and I managed to finish it off extremely quickly. A very easy entry on this list, and one that comes highly recommended.

Our Lady of Blades by Sebastien de Castell

One of the more unique fantasy entries on this list had to be the impressive Our Lady of Blades by Sebastien de Castell. A compelling, character-driven fantasy novel that works as both a standalone read and part of de Castell’s Greatcoat universe, Our Lady of Blades follows a mysterious duellist who returns to her corrupt city to get revenge for her murdered family. However, nothing is what it seems, not even the identity of the protagonist, and the resulting narrative is a wonderful mixture of pain, impressive characters and amazing action.

The Red Winter by Cameron Sullivan

While I knew well in advance of their releases that I was going to love most of the books on this list, the one that took me completely by surprise was the incredible debut novel, The Red Winter by Australian author Cameron Sullivan. An entertaining and moving fantasy epic that takes place across three different periods of French history, The Red Winter was an amazing novel that had me hooked very early on. I especially love how well Sullivan tied The Red Winter’s story into a unique historical event in rural France, and the resulting tale of magic, love and betrayal, was incredible from beginning to end. Easily the best debut of 2026 so far, and one that all fans of fantasy fiction should check out.

30Seven by Jeremy Robinson

Jeremy Robinson continues to provide outrageous science fiction hybrid novels in 2026, as he drops one of his best novels yet, 30Seven. A wonderfully warped novel, 30Seven follows a damaged father who is abducted by aliens alongside his son and multiple campers at an isolated campground. However, things quickly get even more insane when it is revealed that one of the other abductees is the serial killer responsible for the murder of the protagonist’s wife, and who is now unleashing artistic terror across the alien ship. An amazing novel full of twists, horrors and interesting alien encounters, 30Seven was so much fun, and I cannot wait to see what Robinson comes up with next.

Operation Bounce House by Matt Dinniman

The final book on this list is also the second entry from one of my new favourite authors, Matt Dinniman, with the powerful standalone novel, Operation Bounce House. Following a group of colonists on an isolated human world when they are invaded by murderous gamers piloting mechs from back on Earth, Operation Bounce House was a compelling novel about family, community and survival. Featuring a more subtle story than Dinniman’s Dungeon Crawler Carl series, Operation Bounce House was a particularly moving book, that provides its own brand of epic action and clever humour. An exceptional novel from an author who has really shown his ability to craft unique stories and worlds in the first half of 2026.

Well, that’s the end of this latest list. As you can see, I have already read some amazing and epic books so far in 2026 and we are only halfway through the year. I am pretty happy with how this list turned out, and it will be interesting to see which of these books ends up being amongst my top reads of the year. All the novels above come very highly recommended, and you are guaranteed to have a wonderful time reading them. Let me know what your favourite releases for the first half of the year are in the comments below and make sure to check out my two most anticipated reads lists for the second half of 2026 (fantasy and science fiction and other). Make sure to also check out my other Top Ten Tuesday list of the week, where I highlight some of my favourite movies and television shows from the first half of 2026.

WWW Wednesday – 20 May 2026

On May 23, 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:

The Couples Retreat by Mercedes Mercier (Trade Paperback)

I’ve made a bit of progress with the intriguing Australian crime fiction read, The Couples Retreat this week. A compelling novel set on Australia’s iconic Kangaroo Island, this is an interesting read with a compelling murder mystery at its heart. I’m hoping to finally get through the rest of The Couples Retreat in the next week, and I look forward to seeing where this excellent narrative goes.

Warhammer 40,000: Hive by Dan Abnett (Audiobook)

I was very excited to start the new Dan Abnett Warhammer 40,000 novel, Hive, this week. Abnett, who has contributed some amazing entries to the Warhammer 40,000 franchise , has this time imagined a vast political thriller, taking place at multiple points in a gigantic underground hive city. Filled with intricate detail and a ton of great characters, Hive is shaping up to be quite a fantastic read, and it’s one I’m glad I decided to check out. I’ve already managed to make a bit of progress on Hive, and it’s shaping up to be one of the top Warhammer 40,000 novels of 2026.

What did you recently finish reading?

Warhammer 40,000: Da Freebooterz Code by Justin Woolley (Audiobook)

I managed to quickly finish off the awesome new Warhammer 40,000 novel, Da Freebooterz Code, by Justin Woolley last week. A fun and hilariously over-the-top novel that sees an ambitious ork pirate face off against a noble Rogue Trader, Da Freebooterz Code was an outstanding and particularly entertaining book that comes highly recommended.

A Parade of Horribles by Matt Dinniman (Audiobook)

The book I ended up focusing the most on this week was the outstanding new Dungeon Crawler Carl novel from Matt Dinniman, A Parade of Horribles. Continuing all the epic chaos of Dinniman’s incredible LitRPG series, A Parade of Horribles lived up to all its potential, with so many crazy turns and outrageous moments. Easily one of the best books of 2026, I powered through this book so damn fast and I loved every second I spent with it.

What do you think you’ll read next?

Ironwood by Michael Connelly

I hoping to start reading the new Michael Connelly novel, Ironwood next. The sequel to Connelly’s 2025 novel, Nightshade, Ironwood will return the reader to Catalina Island, with gunfights, drug deals and cold cases marring the seemingly perfect island paradise. I’m very much looking forward to reading Ironwood, and it will likely end up being one of the top crime fiction reads of 2026.

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.