Rick Rawes

If I’m going to keep banging on about reviews (and I will – because they do matter), then I figured I should probably practice what I preach.

I track everything I read over on Goodreads – as both an author and someone who reads far too much – and these are the books that really stuck with me in the first half of 2026. Not necessarily new releases, just the ones I discovered (or revisited) this year and haven’t been able to shake.

If you fancy it, feel free to follow along over there. All opinions are very much my own, and I’ll keep sharing them until someone tells me otherwise.

Fair warning: I’ve tried to keep spoilers light, but no promises.

5-Star Reads!

Dark Matter – Blake Crouch

This was my first Blake Crouch novel (I somehow missed the Wayward Pines era entirely), and it turned out to be a bit of a rollercoaster.

Early on, I’ll admit I found myself slightly frustrated with the main character. It felt like what was happening was fairly obvious, and his denial bordered on irritating. But as the story unfolds, it ramps up quickly—and before long, I was completely pulled into the world(s) he’d created.

By the end, it had climbed into five-star territory. If you enjoy mind-bending sci-fi that makes you question everything, this one’s absolutely worth your time.

The Invisible Hotel – Yeji Y. Ham

This one came to me through a horror subscription box – not something I would’ve picked up myself. But I’m very glad I did.

Set in South Korea, it’s not an easy book to pin down. In fact, I’m not entirely sure I fully understood it – even by the end – but that feels like part of the point its trying to make.

What it offers instead is atmosphere: creeping dread, lyrical prose, and imagery that lingers just below conscious understanding. It’s not horror in the traditional sense, but more of an that unsettles rather than explains.

Best approached with as little prior knowledge as possible. Let it wash over you and see what you take from it.

To Sleep in a Sea of Stars – Christopher Paolini

This one caught my eye in a bookshop for two reasons: the cover, and the sheer size of it. A proper brick of a sci-fi novel – which is, admittedly, always going to win me over.

This was my first time reading Paolini, and I was genuinely impressed. At its core, it’s a space opera – but one grounded just enough in plausible science to make it feel tangible. Familiar concepts like faster-than-light travel, artificial consciousness, and alien life are handled in ways that feel fresh.

Crucially, the story stays anchored to Kira, a xenobiologist at its centre, which gives the vastness of the universe a human perspective. You’re discovering everything alongside her, which makes the scale feel immersive rather than overwhelming.

It’s a hefty read – but a rewarding one.

Hekate: The Witch – Nikita Gill

I’ve always had a soft spot for Greek mythology – gods, monsters, the lot – so this was always likely to appeal. What I wasn’t expecting was how it would be told.

This isn’t a traditional novel. It’s an entire story written in verse, unfolding through a sequence of poems. It took me a few pages to adjust, but once it clicked, it completely drew me in.

Gill’s writing is lyrical, evocative, and often stunning. Familiar myths are retold in ways that feel fresh and deeply personal. It’s a book that feels less like reading and more like being immersed in something slightly magical.

There’s a sequel (Styx) on the way, and I’m already looking forward to it.

The Dark Tower (Series) – Stephen King

This probably deserves a post of its own – and will likely get one – but it has to be mentioned here.

I’ve been slowly working through a chronological read (and re-read) of Stephen King’s work over the past few years, and this year I finally finished the Dark Tower series.

The early books build steadily – The Gunslinger, The Drawing of the Three, and The Waste Lands – with the latter being, in my opinion, one of King’s best. The middle instalments dip slightly for me, perhaps a bit weighed down by their own scope, but the final entries bring everything together in a way that genuinely lands.

And yes – I teared up. Not even at the ending itself (which I know divides opinion), but a little before. If you know, you know.

If you haven’t read this series yet, I’d strongly recommend it. There are other worlds than these, after all.

Honourable Mentions

If I gave every book the same level of attention as the ones above, I’d never get anything else done – but there are a few that came very close.

• A Blackened Heart, A Blackened Soul – John Ward
  A bleak and effective horror novel. The pacing dips slightly in the middle for my tastes, but it’s still well worth picking up.
  
• Books of Blood (Volumes 1–3) – Clive Barker
  A classic short story collection from a master of horror. As with most anthologies, there are highs and a few misses, but the best stories here are genuinely unforgettable.
  
• Red Rising – Pierce Brown
  Brutal in places, but occasionally leans into familiar YA tropes. It didn’t quite reach its full potential for me, but it’s still an engaging read – and I’ve heard the series only improves from here, so I’ll be continuing with Golden Son.

Final Thoughts

That’s everything for now.

A huge thank you to all the authors mentioned here – and to everyone else whose books have helped me escape into other worlds this year. The act of creation is a gift, and I’m grateful for every story.

If you’ve read any of these – or think there’s something I should absolutely add to my list – come find me over on Goodreads or social media and let me know. I’m always looking for the next obsession.

’Til the end,
Rick Rawes
Leeds, West Yorkshire
25th June 2026