ARC provided by the publisher—Orbit Books—in exchange for an honest review.
Cover art designed by Tommy Pocket
The Last Contract of Isako by Fonda Lee
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Series: Standalone
Genre: Science Fiction, Space Opera, Cyberpunk
Pages: 514 pages (ARC Edition)
Published: 5th May 2026 by Orbit Books
The year is off to an explosive start. The Last Contract of Isako is the best science fiction standalone novel I’ve ever read. …
Cover art designed by Micaela Alcaino
Half a King by Joe Abercrombie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Series: The Shattered Sea (Book #1 of 3)
Genre: Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Post-Apocalypse
Pages: 416 pages (Paperback Edition)
Word Count: 81,000 words
Published: 3rd July 2014 by Del Rey and Harper Voyager
I shouldn’t have worried. Half a King is a fine example of Young Adult epic fantasy done right.
“… Never worry about what has been done. Only about what will be.”
Cover art illustrated by Gary Ruddell
Endymion by Dan Simmons
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Series: Hyperion Cantons (Book #3 of 4)
Genre: Science Fiction, Space Opera
Pages: 578 pages (Kindle Edition)
Word Count: 198,000 Words
Published: 1st January 1996 by Spectra
I am conflicted. There were some great moments and incredible world-building in Endymion, but this penultimate installment of the Hyperion Cantos is not up to the high standards of the first two Hyperion books.
“The shortest route to courage is absolute ignorance.”
ARC provided by the publisher—Harper Voyager—in exchange for an honest review.
Cover art illustrated by Patrick Arrasmith
Katabasis by R.F. Kuang
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Series: Standalone
Genre: Fantasy, Dark Academia
Pages: 540 pages (Hardcover Edition)
Word Count: 160,000 Words
Published: 26th August 2025 by Harper Voyager
At this point, it is safe to say Katabasis by R.F. Kuang has an assured path to take the bestseller spot in many outlets around the world. That being said, can this relatively bizarre novel win the reader’s heart?
“How wonderful, truly, to have a friend whose silence you adored.”
ARC provided by the publisher—Saga Press—in exchange for an honest review.
All That We See or Seem by Ken Liu
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Series: Julia Z (Book #1 or 3)
Genre: Science Fiction, Thriller
Pages: 416 pages (Kindle Edition)
Published: 14th October 2025 by Saga Press (US) & 9th October 2025 Head of Zeus (UK)
All That We See or Seem is the newest near-future sci-fi thriller from Ken Liu, one of my favorite authors of all time. Did it manage to live up to the quality of his previous works?
“Freedom, belonging, telling a story about yourself that you love. Dreaming together. Meaning in all that we see or seem.”
Cover art by Jaime Jones
System Collapse by Martha Wells
My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Series: The Murderbot Diaries (Book #7)
Genre: Science Fiction
Pages: 256 pages (Kindle Edition)
Word count: 63,000 words
Published: 14th November 2023 by Tordotcom
System Collapse is undeniably action-packed, and it certainly dives deep into the psyche of Murderbot. But it did not progress the plotline of the series as much as I hoped.
“So the next time I get optimistic about something, I want one of you to punch me in the face.”
Cover art by Jaime Jones
Fugitive Telemetry by Martha Wells
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
Series: The Murderbot Diaries (Book #6)
Genre: Science Fiction
Pages: 176 pages (Kindle Edition)
Word count: 39,000 words
Published: 27th April 2021 by Tordotcom
This is quite likely an unpopular opinion, but I found Fugitive Telemetry to be a big step-down after Network Effect
“It had been such a stupid question, I had forgotten not to have an expression.”
ARC provided by the publisher—Saga Press—in exchange for an honest review.
Cover art by Jaime Jones
The Strength of the Few by James Islington
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Series: Hierarchy (Book #2)
Genre: Fantasy, High Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Science Fantasy
Pages: 736 pages (Hardcover edition)
Word Count: 240,000 words
Published: 11th Novermber 2025 by Saga Press
We’re not at the end of 2025 yet, but I believe The Strength of the Few by James Islington has secured the best fantasy book of the year award. This is the finest sequel I’ve read since Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson and The Wall of Storms by Ken Liu.
“The power to protect is the highest responsibility.”
Cover art by Jaime Jones
Network Effect by Martha Wells
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Series: The Murderbot Diaries (Book #5)
Genre: Science Fiction
Pages: 346 pages (Kindle Edition)
Word count: 112,000 words
Published: 5th May 2020 by Tordotcom
I can say with ease that Network Effect, the fifth title and the first full-length novel in the series, is the best book in The Murderbot Diaries so far.
“Oh shit, my media!…No, wait, I had access to some of it.”
Review copy provided by the publisher—Orbit—in exchange for an honest review.
Cover art by Magali Villeneuve
The Radiant King by David Dalglish
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Series: The Astral Kingdoms (Book #1 of 3)
Genre: Fantasy, Epic Fantasy
Pages: 514 pages (PaperbackEdition)
Word count: 174,000 words
Published: 4th March 2025 by Orbit Books
The Radiant King by David Dalglish is a Berserk inspired epic fantasy book that will become one of Dalglish’s most underrated titles.