Can’t Wait Wednesday

Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Wishful Endings, to spotlight and discuss the books we’re excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they’re books that have yet to be released. It’s based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. If you’re continuing with WOW, feel free to link those up as well! Find out more here.

This week, I’m waiting for…

THE LAST MANDARIN
by Louise Penny & Mellissa Fung
Release date: May 12, 2026

The Last Mandarin is an electrifying study of absolute power and voracious greed, political terror and personal conviction. But it is also, as to be expected from the minds of Louise Penny, beloved author of the Gamache novels, and Mellissa Fung, an acclaimed international journalist, an intimate examination of choice, of sacrifice, of memory and myths, both cultural and personal. It is the story of a mother and daughter, as well as a compelling international thriller about the precarious balance of power across the world, and within a family. And what happens when both break down.

 

Book Review: Resurrection Bay

First of all, let me just begin by saying this debut novel by Aussie author, Emma Viskic, is outstanding. Truly a remarkable novel on just about every level. It’s not long, at just 280 pages, so I read this in one frantic, page-turning day!

Let’s start with the well crafted, well delineated characters. I love Caleb Zelic who narrates the story. He’s such a great down-to-earth character, feisty and oh so different from the usual MC in that he just happens to be deaf. This makes for a wholly unique POV both in the visuals and descriptions, and more, the dialogue.

Choppy and jarring, we see the world how Caleb hears it. With broken sentences that obviously make for a few comic and laugh out loud moments. And, of course, because of this difference, we feel every ounce of Caleb’s frustration. His determination to not to give in, stubborn to the last. Which inevitably causes clashes with both his work partner, Frankie—who, by the way, is another excellently flawed character—and his ex-wife, Kat. It’s only when we learn why Kat and Caleb spilt that we understand the weight of emotions involved.

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Q&A with Chris Panatier

In between creating some amazing artwork, Chris managed to squeeze some time in to knock out a crowd-pleasing novel, The Phlebotomist (Angry Robot) and still find time for his family, a full-time job, and answer a few questions for me.

To start with, would you like to tell us a little bit about yourself?

Thank you for having me! I live in Dallas, Texas, where all the heat in the world comes from. I spend most of my time being a dad to my six-year-old, and I fill the time gaps writing, drawing album covers, and practicing law.

From artist to storyteller, can you tell us what drew you to writing The Phlebotomist?

I’d been writing novels for several years when I had the idea for The Phlebotomist, though none of them had been published. In fact, I was in the middle of writing a different book when the premise for this one came to me. I was upset about the fast-moving, malignant blend of aristocratic authoritarianism that was spreading through our government and a premise came to mind. I didn’t want to write a straight-up political screed, so I couched it in a dystopian story and tied it to a well-loved trope that I’m not going to disclose because spoilers! Sorry!

Your artwork is stunning, were you not tempted to do the cover for The Phlebotomist?

Thank you! This is an interesting story. One of the first things many of my family and friends said when I told them I had a book coming out was to suggest that I do the cover. If you’ve seen my work, it’s very art nouveau and metal-y, and absolutely NOT the style I wanted for the cover. My only strongly worded desire to Angry Robot was that it be pink and gold. I wanted a book so pink that it burnt people’s eyeballs out. Beyond that, though, I was not tempted to do the cover. Soon, they began sending me their cover mocks. They had taken a medical-illustration style angle, which I had not expected at all, but quickly warmed to. It really was a perfect fit for this story, with its heavy reliance on medical science. Their very patient designer, Glen Wilkins, had mocked up the pink cover with an anatomical heart surrounded by flowers. I loved it, but wanted to tailor the image to my story, and so asked to illustrate it. They agreed and the rest is history! The pinkest book to ever exist!

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Top Ten Tuesday: Book Titles That Describe Me/My Life

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish, which is now being hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl.

The rules are simple:

  • Each Tuesday, Jana assigns a new topic. Create your own list that fits that topic – putting your unique spin on it if you want.
  • Everyone is welcome to join but please link back to That Artsy Reader Girl in your own Top Ten Tuesday post.
  • Add your name to the Linky widget on that day’s post so that everyone can check out other bloggers’ lists.
  • Or if you don’t have a blog, just post your answers as a comment.

This week’s topic is Book Titles That Describe Me/My Life.

  1. A Twist of the Knife by Becky Masterman — Someone who I considered a good friend, even a best friend at one time, took it upon themselves to take a knife, figuratively, and stab me in the back to a couple of others who, at one time, I considered friends. Sad to think that this has probably happen to more than me over the years. I will never understand these people or their motivation.
  2. 2nd Chance by James Patterson — I got a second chance in 2016 when I survived a brain fart. I’ve tried to live each and every day in the moment ever since.
  3. Force of Nature by Jane Harper — as a child, my mother often referred to me as a force of nature, unstoppable. I just kept running till the battery ran out.
  4. The Informationist by Taylor Stevens — yep, this is definitely me, always collection useless and not so useless facts, data, and information about anything that interests me. I’m a knowledge sponge.
  5. Kingdom of the Blind by Louise Penny — I’m sure I speak for many at this moment in time and history when I say I feel like I’m currently living in the Kingdom of the Blind; surrounded by people who refuse to see the truth of what’s going on in the world at large. [see also: All The Devils Are Here by Louise Penny.]
  6. The Lost Man by Jane Harper — I sadly lost contact with someone I considered my soulmate after leaving the military, way back when. He will always be, to me, The Lost Man. I truly wish I knew what happened to him in the intervening years since.
  7. Silent Scream by Angela Marsons — So many times over the years, I have wanted to say something to someone but, at the last minute, had to bite my tongue least I say something out of hand. And, as a consequence, silently screamed to myself in utter frustration because of the situation. I’m sure we’ve all done this at some point in our lives.
  8. The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett — despite everything going on in life, I’ve always felt when I’m out in nature far away from the madding crowd and civilisation, I’ve been able to see the colour of magic in nature in the harmony that surrounds me. You either know what I’m talking about or you don’t.
  9. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll — yes, at times I’ve felt like I fell down the rabbit hole chasing the White Rabbit for answers, and ended up in Wonderland. A confusing place I never felt I fit in.
  10. The Door Into Summer by Robert A. Heinlein — as a kid, I had this notion that a door in a walled garden was the door that always lead into summer. I’m sure it had something to do with where we lived at the time, near a large estate with a walled garden, where we used to sneak into the orchard to steal apples.

And you, what books made it onto your list this week?