Top Ten Tuesday – Series or Authors I Need to Catch Up On

On August 19, 2026 By The Unseen LibraryIn List4 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. For this week’s Top Ten Tuesday, participants need to list their top series that they need to catch up on. I felt this was a very interesting list to get involved with, as there are several awesome series out there that I’ve partially read, or whose authors I’m already familiar with that I need to read more from. I ended up coming up with 10 excellent entries for this list, as well as some great honourable mentions. I honestly really need to explore each of these series a lot more and hopefully including them here will inspire me. So let us see what made the cut.

Honourable Mentions:

Empire series by Anthony Riches

An exciting and well-written historical fiction series set in ancient Rome. I’ve read a few books in this series, including the 11^th book River of Gold, but I’ll probably jump back to the start and read the series in its entirety.

A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R. R. Martin

A big series with a lot of baggage around it. I’ve already read A Game of Thrones, but I really need to read all the other book, especially as I’m curious about how the show diverged from the book plot. The size of these books and how long they will take me to read them are generally the main reason I haven’t dived into this series yet, although I would probably try if the next book in the series ever gets released.

Flavia Albia/Falco series by Lindsey Davis

I’ve currently a few books behind on the Flavia Albia series, which I hope to catch up to at some point. I also really need to read Davis’ original Falco series set before it.

Warhammer: The Horus Heresy by various authors

An incredibly complex and elaborate Warhammer series that serves as an extended origin story for the current Warhammer 40,000 canon. I’ve so far only touched the edges of this combined series, and I hope to take the time and probably read the entire thing at some point (although it’s another major time investment).

Top Ten List:

The Powder Mage trilogy by Brian McClellan

First on this list we have the very awesome Powder Mage trilogy by Brian McClellan. An exceptional fantasy series that follows revolution and civil war involving gunpowder snorting mages, The Powder Mage trilogy is a major series with some epic action behind it. I’ve already started this series by powering through the first book, Promise of Blood, which was an outstanding five-star read. However, I never got the chance to dive into the rest of the books, which is something I’ve really regretted. I fully intend to read the rest of The Powder Mage novels at some point, and this will probably lead me to the sequel Gods of Blood and Powder trilogy. An excellent first entry for this list, and one which is a real reading priority for me.

Warhammer 40,000: Gaunt’s Ghosts series by Dan Abnett

In this next entry we have a series that I’ve already made a fair bit of progress with, the Gaunt’s Ghosts series by Dan Abnett. One of my favourite Warhammer 40,000 series, the Gaunt’s Ghosts books follow the exploits of a regiment of regular human soldiers, attempting to survive in the grimdark Warhammer universe. I have had an exceptional time with this series, which has featured some amazing books like First and Only, Necropolis, The Guns of Tanith and Straight Silver. I have so far read seven Gaunt’s Ghosts books, but stopped after Sabbat Martyr, which served as a the end point for an arc within the series. I honestly needed a break after some key deaths in the last few Gaunt’s Ghosts books, and I’ve been distracted with some other Warhammer novels the last few years. I will hopefully start diving into this series again soon, as it is a key series that any Warhammer fan really needs to check out, and I cannot wait to see how it all comes together.

Infinite Timeline by Jeremy Robinson

One of the more unique series on this list is the elaborate Infinite Timeline series by science fiction thriller author Jeremy Robinson. Initially made up of several seemingly standalone novels with unique storylines, Robinson sought to make a connected universe, when the protagonists of each book eventually interacting and working together to face a larger threat. I managed to read several books in this series, including Tribe, The Dark and Mind Bullet, but due to coming in a little late, I never got the chance to really sink my teeth into it. I’m hoping to go back and read more from this series in the future, although Robinson is keeping me distracted with some of his more recent releases. Overall, though, this was a very cool series concept, and I hope I get the chance to read all the thrilling stories within, especially the awesome sounding Khaos.

The Stormlight Archives by Brandon Sanderson

One of the big fantasy series I really need to continue is the iconic The Stormlight Archives by Brandon Sanderson. One of the author’s biggest series (literally), The Stormlight Archives follows several unique characters in a ravaged fantasy realm of spirits and complex magical items. I really enjoyed the first book in the series, The Way of Kings, which does a wonderful job of setting up the series and which remains the longest audiobook I have ever listened to. However, the insane length of each book in the series is a major reason why I haven’t had the time to keep going with this series. I’m hoping to eventually scratch together some time to listen to The Stormlight Archive, and I’m very curious to see how this series continues. I’m also keen to check out Sanderson’s Mistborn series at some point, as I’ve heard it’s exceptional.

Batman by Tom King

I don’t have a lot of unfinished comic series on my lists, but one I definitely still need to finish off is Tom King’s run on Batman. An extended run of 85 issues, King stewardship of Batman produced some particularly powerful storylines that really dove into the character of Batman and the minds of his damaged rogue’s gallery. I loved every volume of this series I have so far read, although I haven’t had the chance to get into some of the later volumes. This is a mistake I really must fix, especially as these remaining volumes feature some key moments in the wider Batman mythos.

Warhammer Fantasy: Gotrek and Felix series

Probably one of the most iconic series released in the wider Warhammer universe, are the fantasy Gotrek and Felix books. Following a doomed dwarf slayer, determined to find death in glorious battle, and his human companion as they adventure across the cursed Warhammer Fantasy realm, the Gotrek and Felix books are a fantastic series I had an amazing time getting into. I’m currently about seven books into this series, having powered through great entries like Trollslayer, Skavenslayer, Daemonslayer, Dragonslayer, Beastslayer, Vampireslayer and Giantslayer. I’ve stalled a little with the series because Giantslayer was the last Gotrek and Felix book written by original author William King. I’ve heard that the rest of the series is pretty awesome, and I need to make the jump into the next arc written by Nathan Long.

The Great Leveller Trilogy (The First Law series) by Joe Abercrombie

Regular readers of this blog will know that I am massive fan of Joe Abercrombie and his extended First Law series, including the books in the Age of Madness trilogy (A Little Hatred, The Trouble With Peace and The Wisdom of Crowds). However, I have consistently failed to read the loosely connected Great Leveller trilogy that sits between the original First Law trilogy and the later Age of Madness trilogy. Made up of three standalone books, Best Served Cold, The Heroes and Red Country, this trilogy is apparently some of Abercrombie’s best writing and I’ve always kicked myself for not reading it sooner.

Forsaken trilogy by R. J. Barker

One of the series I haven’t quite started but need to get into is the Forsaken series by R. J. Barker. Barker is a very talented author who has been writing some amazing and varied series over the last few years, including his Wounded Kingdom (Age of Assassins, Blood of Assassins and King of Assassins) and Tide Child trilogies (The Bone Ships, Call of the Bone Ships and The Bone Ship’s Wake). I’m also currently nearing the end of his latest novel, Mortedant’s Peril, which is so damn good and is really convincing me to read more of Barker’s work. As such, I feel that I need to mention the Forsaken books here, which is a series that I completely failed to read, despite having every intention to check out. Filled with heroes, gods, failed prophecies and continuous winter, all three Forsaken books sounded incredible, but I never had the time to read them. This is something I need to fix, and this entire trilogy is very high of my must-read list, especially as everything Barker writes is so damn addictive and complex.

Sigma Force by James Rollins

Years ago, I had the pleasure of reading some of the earlier books in James Rollins’ Sigma Force series. A fun thriller series that followed a secretive special forces team as they investigate several unusual events around the world; the Sigma Force books are a major action series with some very crazy cases. I have long meant to get back into the Sigma Force books, and I really want to start from the beginning and follow it through to some of it’s outrageous sounding latest entries. I have a feeling that I will have an exceptional time starting this series again, and I’m curious to see just how weird things get in the Sigma Force books.

The Buccaneers trilogy by R. A. Salvatore

I’m currently behind on a couple of series and trilogies released by legendary fantasy author R. A. Salvatore, but the one I most want to check out is The Buccaneers. A compelling series set in Salvatore’s Corona universe, The Buccaneers trilogy serves as a both a continuation of some storylines started in the classic Demon War Saga, as well as the more recent The Coven trilogy (Child of a Mad God, Reckoning of Fallen Gods and Song of the Risen God). I’m very curious to check out this more nautical themed fantasy series, and it will be interest to see how Salvatore’s awesome overarching narratives continue. A fantastic series that serves as an excellent final entry for this list.

Well, that’s the end of this latest list. As you can see, there are some amazing series out there that I need to get back into. I’m pretty happy with how this list came together, and hopefully I will be able to find the time to go back and read this series soon. Let me know what series and authors you need to catch up on in the comments below.

Quick Review – Warhammer: The Horus Heresy: Eidolon: The Auric Hammer by Marc Collins

On January 9, 2025 By The Unseen LibraryIn Audiobook, Extended Universe, Quick Review, Science Fiction, Tie-in Novel, WarhammerLeave a comment

Publisher: Black Library (Audiobook – 22 October 2024)

Series: Warhammer: The Horus Heresy

Length: 6 hours and 26 minutes

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Amazon

2024 was a great year for Warhammer fiction, especially as the Black Library released a ton of awesome books across the various sub-series and franchises, including The Horus Heresy series, which serves as a major prequel to the Warhammer 40,000 books I usually look at. One of the last releases of the year was The Horus Heresy character novel, Eidolon: The Auric Hammer. Written by Marc Collins, who previously impressed me with his Warhammer Crime novel, Grim Repast, Eidolon: The Auric Hammer was a fast-paced and compelling read that dove into the twisted mind of an ambitious traitor as he travels to the final battle of the great war.

Plot Synopsis:

A Horus Heresy Novel

Lord Commander Primus Eidolon has claimed many titles along the annals of his infamy. He is the Exemplar and the Risen, the Soul-Severed, and the Auric Hammer. Now, fallen far from his primarch’s grace, he carves a path to Terra, where the culmination of Horus’ grand heresy awaits.

READ IT BECAUSE

Eidolon has been a key figure of the Emperor’s Children Legion from the beginning. Now, on the eve of the Siege of Terra, he’s fallen far from grace and is facing a long overdue reckoning for his many misdeeds during the Horus Heresy. Can he come to terms with his tainted legacy?

THE STORY

Coaxed and goaded by the wiles of the warp – and an entity whose whispered truths stretch even his credulity – Eidolon finds himself stranded around the world of Tatricala, where the ghosts of his past haunt every fated step. Now he must choose which life he wants to lead… and how much of his soul he is willing to sacrifice for it.

If Eidolon cannot banish his daemons, then they will surely take him for their own.

Eidolon: The Auric Hammer was an excellent addition to the canon, and one that will really appeal to those readers who dove into the extended Horus Heresy series. Like many of the Horus Heresy character books, The Auric Hammer focuses on one of the interesting supporting characters in the larger franchise and provides a compelling story around them, while also diving into their past. In this case, Marc Collins tells a quick and entertaining story around Eidolon, one of the commanders of the now fallen Emperor’s Children legion, who has given in to the hedonism and worship of Slaanesh, the Chaos God of pleasure and obsession.

Collins does a great job effectively introducing the character of Eidolon and thrusting readers into his personal madness. I must admit that I haven’t read any of the other Horus Heresy novels before, so I wasn’t especially familiar with the character of Eidolon, which did slightly reduce my appreciation for this book. However, readers with even moderate knowledge of Warhammer 40,000 lore and the Horus Heresy can easily follow along with Collin’s quick story without too much difficulty. Collins breaks this into a couple of fun parts, with a fight against daemons on the protagonist’s ship leading to an impromptu invasion of an isolated planet alongside “allies”. However, nothing goes to plan as Eidolon and his comrades find themselves best by the dark plots of a daemonic entity who desires to destroy him.

This last third of the book is probably the best, as Collins envisions a series of daemonic encounters that play in the ravaged psyches of the various Emperor’s Children characters. While I had a hard time connecting to some of the supporting cast members (Collins might have been better off with a more tightly focused narrative), it was interesting to see their various struggles, especially as it effectively showed how far their legion had fallen. Eidolon’s personal inner struggle was the strongest part of the book, especially as Collins dove into his many issues, including his ambition, resentments and the anger he has with the various father figures in his life. The protagonist comes out of this book stronger, and I particularly loved the reveal about who was behind everything at the end of the novel. The confrontation that Eidolon had with this figure was extremely entertaining, and you come away appreciating just how suicidally stubborn Eidolon can be.

As is my habit with most Warhammer fiction, I chose to check out The Auric Hammer on audiobook, mainly because it was voiced by one of my favourite audiobook narrators, Toby Longworth. A very effective narrator, Longworth perfectly captures the various elaborately dark characters featured with The Auric Hammer, and I love how he brings readers into the outrageous and grim Warhammer universe. Longworth’s already impressive voice is enhanced in various sequences by cool sound effects that help to showcase the various daemonic creatures that the protagonist encounters. These effects and Longworth’s fantastic voicework really make you appreciate the eldritch power and inherent evilness the various figures they represented, and I felt it did wonders on bringing me further into the narrative. Combine that with the excellent way in which Longworth captures the intense dark emotions of Eidolon, including his frustration and disgust at his Primarch’s actions and abandonment of him, and this proves to be an outstanding and addictive audiobook. Featuring a relatively short runtime of just under six and a half hours, The Auric Hammer is an easy audiobook to get through quickly, and I had a lot of fun knocking it off in a couple of enjoyable sessions.

Overall, Eidolon: The Auric Hammer was an awesome and exciting Warhammer audiobook from Marc Collins that is worth checking out. Cleverly focusing on an intriguing figure in the canon while also expanding on the massive Horus Heresy series, The Auric Hammer really grabbed my attention, and I had a great time getting through it. An excellent Warhammer book to check out, especially if you have been enjoying the other Horus Heresy books.

Amazon

WWW Wednesday – 1 January 2025

On January 2, 2025 By The Unseen LibraryIn WWW WednesdayLeave a comment

WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme 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 Last Hour Between Worlds by Melissa Caruso (Trade Paperback)

I have made a fair bit of progress on the new Melissa Caruso novel, The Last Hour Between Worlds, this week. An amazing fantasy thriller, The Last Hour Between Worlds follows an investigator who finds themself trapped in a deadly party with murder, monsters and a time loop. I am about halfway through The Last Hour Between Worlds at the moment, and I love its awesome concept and fun story. I look forward to seeing how the entire book comes together, and this is proving to be an outstanding read.

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

I was the mood for something particularly awesome to start 2025 with so I decided to listen to the classic Warhammer 40,000 audiobook Titanicus. Set in author Dan Abnett’s iconic Sabbat Worlds Crusade overarching series (which also features the Gaunt’s Ghosts books and Double Eagle), Titanicus explores a war in the Warhammer 40,000 universe fought primarily with giant Titan war machines. I have made a fair bit of progress on Titanicus already and it is proving to be a very epic and impactful read that covers the destructive machine war at multiple intriguing levels. An overall exceptional book to start the year with.

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What did you recently finish reading?

Warhammer: The Horus Heresy: Eidolon: The Auric Hammer by Marc Collins (Audiobook)

I managed to quickly power through the short Warhammer audiobook, Eidolon: The Auric Hammer by Marc Collins this week. Part of The Horus Heresy series, Eidolon: The Auric Hammer was an entertaining read focused on an intriguing and deranged traitor Space Marine. A fun listen with an awesome story behind it.

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What do you think you’ll read next?

Gunnawah by Ronni Salt

I am still planning to dive into the thrilling 2025 Australian debut novel, Gunnawah, next. An intriguing crime fiction read, Gunnawah sounds very cool and I hope to read it 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.