Summer is now in full swing, and that means it's a good time to restock your TBR so that you're well-equipped for vacations, reading at the park, or even just an escape after a chaotic past few months. As we do every month at Winter Is Coming, we've rounded up a bunch of the most notable releases in the science fiction and fantasy genres to make sure you know what's coming out.
From urban fantasy to military sci-fi, cozy stories, romantic sagas and epic trilogy enders, there's a lot of great reading material to choose from in July. So pull up your Goodreads or Storygraph, and let's find you your next favorite book.
STORYTELLER: A TANITH LEE TRIBUTE ANTHOLOGY edited by Julie C. Day with Carina Bissett and Craig Laurance Gidney — July 1
Tanith Lee was one of the most influential speculative fiction authors of the 1970s and '80s, and remained a prolific force in the genre up until her death in 2015. Lee published over 90 novels and 300 short stories, including notable works of dark fantasy like The Tales of the Flat Earth and The Secret Books of Paradys. Her overall impact on the genre can't be understated.
This month, a special anthology honoring Lee is being released with an amazing line-up of contributing authors, including Martha Wells, KT Wagner, Nisi Shawl, and 13 other talented creators, all writing original stories inspired by their love of Lee's work. If you're a fan of Tanith Lee, this is a collection you will want to check out.
Sixteen new stories from some of today’s most renowned authors.
All inspired by the master storyteller Tanith Lee.
Drowning cities and unicorns. Burning deserts and forgotten gods. Golems, elf warriors, and inner-Earthers. Alien lifeforms and museum workers. Ancient plagues and the future of humanity. The familiar and the fantastical. Each story in this anthology is both unique and compelling: from fairy-tale retellings to romance-tinged high fantasy, from nihilistic horror to gripping science fiction. Immersive, wide-ranging, and sublime, Storyteller features worlds and characters that are sure to travel with you long after the last page has been read.
Mike Allen, C.S.E. Cooney, Maya Deane, Andy Duncan, RocÃo Rincón Fernández , Theodora Goss, CL Hellisen, Getty Hesse, Alaya Dawn Johnson, Starlene Justice, Amelia Mangan, Michael Yuya Montroy, Marisca Pichette, Nisi Shawl, KT Wagner, Martha Wells.
Foreword by John Kaiine. Afterword by Ann VanderMeer.
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | Goodreads
HUMAN RITES by Juno Dawson (The HMRC Trilogy #3) — July 1
Human Rites is the third and final book of Her Majesty's Royal Coven, a trilogy of witchy novels by Juno Dawson. Five witches under the thrall of Lucifer must find a way to claw back the power of their coven, even as the demon king tempts one of their number with a dangerous magic that could have unforeseen consequences.
Niamh, Ciara, Leonie, Elle and Theo. Five very different witches with one thing in common: they were unwittingly chosen by the dangerously charming Lucifer, the demon king of desire, to fulfil a dark prophecy: Satanis will rise and the daughters of Gaia will fall.
The coven is reunited—but broken. Niamh is back from the dead…but she hasn’t come back alone. Elle mourns a son she never had. Ciara languishes in a prison for witches, and Leonie reels from a very unexpected surprise.
Meanwhile, Lucifer offers fledgling witch Theo a deal: if she helps him, her coven—her family—will be spared. But the magic he asks for will take her out of London—out of time, entirely.
The final confrontation between good and evil in the spectacular conclusion to the saga of Her Majesty’s Royal Coven.
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | Goodreads
INFINITE ARCHIVE by Mur Lafferty — July 1
Infinite Archive is the latest novel from Mur Lafferty, and the third entry in her Midsolar Murders sci-fi mystery series. These books have a great sense of humor and charm. They follow the amateur sleuth Mallory Viridian as she gets to the bottom of various conspiracies. In this latest book, Mallory finally gets a chance to take it easy...except the "physical embodiment of the Internet is on its way, and it's bringing murder with it." What could go wrong?
Mallory Viridian has had a quiet few months. Even with the increased influx of humans visiting Station Eternity, she hasn’t seen so much as a bar brawl. Used to people dying left and right around her, the lack of murders to solve has left her unexpectedly . . . bored.
But humanity's favorite way to waste time is on its way to her sector of the galaxy. A giant, one-of-a-kind data ship called Metisis bringing the entire Internet from Earth—as well as a mystery fan convention. On top of that, Mallory's literary agent is aboard, and he tells Mallory that she's the keynote speaker.
It's almost a relief when a killer decides to strike at the convention. When Mallory finds her agent dead, she knows she has to work fast to find the murderer. With a strange new alien with unknown motives, a ship with impossible abilities, a lonely living, comprehensive Internet, and a deadly crime to solve, Mallory has her work cut out for her . . . .
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | Goodreads
THE SECRET MARKET OF THE DEAD by Giovanni De Feo — July 8
The Secret Market of the Dead is an Italian-inspired gothic historical fantasy from Giovanni De Feo, which follows a young girl named Oriana who has to draw power from the mysterious realm of the Night in order to claim her place as the heir to her father's forge, competing against her twin brother in a number of trials to determine the succession. The Night realm holds secrets, a market where the power to change destiny can be bought, and strange beasts and beings. The vibes are strong with this one.
Just beyond the waking edges of Lucerìa, an 18th-century town in the kingdom of Naples, lies the Night: an enigmatic fiefdom governed by seven immortals and fueled by Moira, the power to reshape one’s destiny.
On this porous border separating Day from Night, Oriana spends her time fantasizing about becoming a smith in her father’s forge and eavesdropping on whispered tales of beasts and men who roam the nocturnal realm. But in the Night, these stories come alive, as Oriana saw for herself after she inadvertently trespassed into the Secret Market of the Dead, where vendors hawk Moira to those desperate enough to accept its immeasurably steep price.
Years later, when her father chooses her twin brother to succeed him, Oriana challenges her sibling to a series of trials to determine the forge’s true heir. But as the twins’ fierce competition escalates, with the town and her own family set firmly against her, Oriana realizes that to break free from the stifling confines of Day, she must once again embrace the Night—and, as always, everything comes with a cost.
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | Goodreads
PEARL CITY by Julie Vee and Ken Bebelle (The Phoenix Hoard #3) — July 15
This month marks the epic conclusion of The Phoenix Hoard, the urban fantasy trilogy by Julia Vee and Ken Bebelle that began with Ebony Gate. What started as a female John Wick story with dragons set in San Francisco's Chinatown has become a clash for the fate of the world, as an ancient power has descended on the city and pushed the Clans into a violent war. Emiko must contend with Clan strife and the General, a deadly adversary who wants to claim that ultimate power for himself. Emiko is a seasoned warrior who has proven herself many times over, but since this is the last book in the series, all bets are off for this final showdown.
Blade.
Butcher.
Thief.
Worldbreaker.
Emiko Soong has been called many things. But Worldbreaker is the worst.
She unmasked the General and returned to San Francisco where her power is greatest. But the city, once her sanctuary from Jiaren intrigues, turns into her living nightmare. Clan wars erupt and Emiko’s life becomes a treacherous quicksand of friend and foe. Unsure of who to trust, Emiko finds herself more alone than ever.
When an ancient power rips through the Realm to land in her city, the General will stop at nothing to take it for his own. Emiko must face her past, present, and future, as she races to stop the General.
Is Emiko’s fate written to be the destroyer of worlds, or can she chart a new course to save her family?
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | Goodreads
THREE SHATTERED SOULS by Mai Corland (The Broken Blades #3) — July 15
In case you need more East Asian-inspired fantasy badassery, Three Shattered Souls also drops this month. This is the final installment in Mai Corland's Broken Blades trilogy. This series began with a group of the most dangerous liars and assassins in the four realms gathering to go on a daring mission to assassinate a god king. It was meant to be a suicide mission...but they made it through, and things have only grown more complicated since. Now they have to face down armies and worse, to end things once and for all.
Some betrayals cut deeper than blades.
The Blades were never supposed to survive this long. But after the battle in Quu Harbor, escaping is no longer enough. The most dangerous liars in the four realms have one last mission—return to Yusan and finish what they started.
But now a usurper sits on the serpent throne. And he may be more dangerous than the god-king.
With three relics of the Dragon Lord in their possession, the Blades will face the might of the four realms. Enemies will become allies. Allies will become traitors. And the ones they love most? They’ll be the ones to break them.
Grief will carve the Blades into something ruthless and unrecognizable. But only by losing everything can they win this game of kings and crowns.
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | Goodreads
THE NIGHTSHADE GOD by Hannah Whitten (The Nightshade Crown #3) — July 15
Another fantasy series reaching its climax this month is The Nightshade Crown, the dark romantic fantasy series from For the Wolf author Hannah Whitten. Beginning with The Foxglove King, the series followed a woman named Lore who could control death magic, and was swept into a storm of political intrigue to figure out what was killing off entire villages in the country of Dellaire. That mystery drew Lore deeper than she could have ever imagined; now, she's exiled as corrupted gods have taken over the minds of Dellaire's ruler and all those she thought she could trust.
Lore has failed. She couldn’t save King Bastian from the rotten god speaking voices in his mind. She couldn’t save her allies from being scattered across the continent—their own lesser gods whispering to them in their dreams. She couldn’t save her beautiful, corrupt city from the dark power beneath the catacombs. And she couldn’t save herself.
Banished to the Burnt Isles, Lore must use every skill she earned on the streets of Dellaire to survive the prison colony and figure out a way to defeat the power that’s captured everything and everyone she holds dear. When a surprise ally joins her on the Burnt Isles she realizes the way forward may lie on the island itself. Somehow, her friends must help her collect the far-scattered pieces of the broken Fount—the source of all the god’s powers—and bring them back together on the Burnt Isles, returning all magic to its source and destroying, once and for all, the gods corrupting the land.
But as Lore gets closer to her goal, her magic grows stronger… and to a woman who’s always had to fight for survival, that kind of power may be hard to give up.
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | Goodreads
THE MEMORY OF THE OGISI by Moses Ose Utomi (The Forever Desert #3) — July 15
July truly is a month for capping off series: yet another that will see its final installment hit shelves is The Forever Desert, an African-inspired fantasy from Moses Ose Utomi. These novellas are set in The City of a Thousand Stories, a place of beauty and prosperity on the edge of the Forever Desert which has long forgotten its origins. Each book in this series features new characters. They're set throughout the history of the city at crucial moments in its story.
The Memory of the Ogisi follows a historian named Ethike, who is determined to uncover the hidden past of the City. His quest will lead him deep into the desert in search of a lost tomb. What he finds there could answer his questions, but it may spell the end of the City as well.
Even deserts have a beginning. Even gardens have an end. Even water has a story.
The City of a Thousand Stories stands resolute on the edge of the Forever Desert. It is a lush metropolis, where water flows into every mouth that thirsts and knowledge sprouts in every mind that craves it. Yet despite their prosperity, no one can remember how the city began. It is a dire state of affairs: a people who do not learn their past cannot chart their future.
Ethike is an Ogisi, one of the City's many historians, who has devoted his life to studying a little-known figure named Osi. He believes Osi to be the key to the city's origins, but his years of research have only raised more questions about Osi’s identity. Until, one day, he believes he has found the answer.
Spurred by his love for his city and his family, Ethike ventures into the Forever Desert in search of the Lost Tomb of Osi. If he can find it, he will finally be able to prove his worth to the City’s Elders and cement Osi’s role in history. But history is a story told by the powerful. What Ethike uncovers beneath the sand is a power far beyond anything he could have expected...and it wants vengeance.
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | Goodreads
GHOST CELL by Zac Topping (Ander Rade #2) — July 15
Ghost Cell is the second Ander Rade novel from Zac Topping, a military sci-fi thriller that sees a super soldier on the run from the forces that want him dead. This is one of those rare instances where the elevator pitch stopped me dead in my tracks, so I'm going to let it speak for itself: "Blade Runner meets John Wick in this sci-fi action adventure following a super-soldier whose very existence has been outlawed by the same society that created him."
Ander Rade is doing his best to stay under the radar after the mess in Atlanta when he’s contacted by the Special Activities division for the Genetic Compliance Department.
The mission: infiltrate a secret organization of rogue mods known as the Ghost Cell in order to find out what they’re doing and who they are doing it for. The catch: Rade’s old team leader, Sevrina Fox, is a member. But Rade’s been searching for her since his liberation from the fight pits, and he refuses to betray her now. So in exchange for his cooperation, the GCD agrees to extend their promise of an official pardon for his rogue status to her as well.
As if gaining acceptance into the Ghost Cell isn’t challenging enough, Rade is forced to walk a tightrope between avoiding suspicion and minimizing collateral damage from the organization’s violent and unsanctioned operations. But as his investigation gains steam, he soon realizes that the Ghost Cell’s true ambitions are far more dangerous than anyone thinks, and that the time to act is running out.
With powerful forces out to stop him, Rade must decide if there are limits to his loyalty to Sevrina, and whether that line has already been crossed, and above all, how far he’s willing to go for a pardon he’s not likely to live long enough to see.
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | Goodreads
THE JASAD CROWN by Sara Hashem (The Scorched Throne #2) — July 15
Back to fantasy! The Jasad Crown is the sequel to Sara Hashem's novel The Jasad Heir, and wraps up this Egyptian-inspired fantasy duology. Sylvia is a queen in hiding whose magic could bring back the fallen Jasad kingdom. She spent the first book evading discovery, even as she began to develop feelings for a man who should have been her greatest enemy. But now at last, she's done running and ready to reclaim her power.
Held deep in a mountain refuge, Sylvia has been captured by the Urabi, who believe the Jasad Heir can return their homeland to its former power. But after years of denying her legacy and a forbidden alliance with Jasad’s greatest enemy, Sylvia must win the Urabi’s trust while struggling to hide the dangerous side effects her magic is having on her mind.
In a rival kingdom, Arin must maneuver carefully between his father's desire to put down the brewing rebellion and the sacred edicts Arin is sworn to uphold. He is determined to find Sylvia before it's too late, but Arin's search unravels secrets that threaten the very core of his beliefs about his family and the destruction of Jasad.
War is inevitable, but Sylvia cannot abandon her people again. The Urabi plan to raise the Jasadi fortress, and it will either kill Sylvia or destroy the humanity she's fought so hard to protect. For the first time in her life Sylvia doesn’t just want to survive. She wants to win.
The fugitive queen is ready to reign.
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | Goodreads
A WITCH'S GUIDE TO MAGICAL INNKEEPING by Sangu Mandanna — July 15
If you're looking for something of a slightly more cozy variety to kick off the summer, A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna may be the ticket. This book is about a witch who's lost most of her powers and turns instead to helping run an enchanted inn in Lancashire, Britain. Throw in a bit of romance with an aloof but handsome magical historian, a talking fox, and plenty of other magical hijinks, and it's a recipe for a relaxing read.
Mandanna has another book in this vein as well, The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, so if you enjoy this one there's more to tide you over.
Sera Swan used to be one of the most powerful witches in Britain. Then she resurrected her great-aunt Jasmine from the (very recently) dead, lost most of her magic, befriended a semi-villainous talking fox, and was exiled from her Guild. Now she (slightly reluctantly and just a bit grumpily) helps Jasmine run an enchanted inn in Lancashire, where she deals with her quirky guests' shenanigans, tries to keep said talking fox in check, and longs for the future that seems lost to her. But then she finds out about an old spell that could hold the key to restoring her power…
Enter Luke Larsen, handsome and icy magical historian, who arrives on a dark winter evening and just might know how to unlock the spell’s secrets. Luke has absolutely no interest in getting involved in the madcap goings-on of the inn and is definitely not about to let a certain bewitching innkeeper past his walls, so no one is more surprised than he is when he agrees to help Sera with her spell. Worse, he might actually bethawing.
Running an inn, reclaiming lost magic, and staying one step ahead of the watchful Guild is a lot for anyone, but Sera Swan is about to discover that she doesn’t have to do it alone...and that the weird, wonderful family she’s made might be the best magic of all.
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | Goodreads
VOLATILE MEMORY by Seth Haddon (The Volatile Memory Duology #1) — July 22
Volatile Memory is a sapphic sci-fi action adventure novella by Seth Haddon which has drawn comparisons to the viral bestseller This Is How You Lose the Time War. It follows a scavenger named Wylla who uncovers a consciousness trapped inside an AI mask, who becomes a partner to her in a way she could never have expected. This novella sounds like a fascinating, mind-bending read to scratch that sci-fi itch.
With nothing but a limping ship and an outdated mask to her name, Wylla needs a big pay day. When the alert goes out that a lucrative piece of tech lies hidden on a nearby planet, she calls on all the swiftness of her prey-animal instincts to beat other hunters to it.
What you found wasn’t your ticket out—it was my corpse wearing an AI mask. When you touched the mask, you heard my voice. A consciousness spinning through metal and circuits, a bodiless mind, spun to life in the HAWK’s temporary storage. I crystallized and realized: I was alive.
Masks aren't supposed to retain memory, much less identity, but the woman inside the MARK I HAWK is real, and she sees Wylla in a way no one ever has. Sees her, and doesn’t find her wanting or unwhole.
Armed with military-grade tech and a lifetime of staying one step ahead of the hunters, Wylla and HAWK set off to get answers from the man who discarded HAWK once before: her ex-husband.
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | Goodreads
CASTHEN GAIN by Essa Hansen (A novella of The Graven) — July 28
Next up is one of my most anticipated books of this month: Casthen Gain, a brand new novella from Essa Hansen set in the world of The Graven. The Graven was a fantastic space opera series, so any opportunity to return to this multiverse is extremely welcome.
This book is a little different from the main trilogy, however. It's about a wayward culinarian who dreams of cooking strange and delicious dishes using ingredients from across the multiverse. When he's captured by the nefarious Casthen organization and forced into a deadly competition with 14 other prisoners, he'll finally have the chance to make that dream a reality — if he survives. In this multiverse, there are small bubble universes, each with their own sets of physics and biology. Who knows what dangers or unique culinary marvels await?
Fifteen prisoners. One prize. Only one survivor allowed.
Sentace Ketch, a skilled culinarian, makes a wrong turn in life and finds himself dropped on the strangest and most dangerous planet in the multiverse. He’s here alongside murderers, exiles, and adrenaline-seekers to participate in a battle royale race, forced to hunt for an eons-buried mystery or die trying. The prize? Being allowed to live…and join the cruel organization that put them all here, which might just mean the creative freedom Sentace has craved all his life.
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | Goodreads
THE LIGHTHOUSE AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD by J.R. Dawson — July 29
The Lighthouse at the Edge of the World by J.R. Dawson is a contemporary queer fantasy novel that's being sold as "perfect for fans of Hadestown and Under the Whispering Door." It's set outside of Chicago where a lighthouse guides the souls of the dead to their eternal rest. Nera is the daughter of the ferryman there, who has long observed him at his duty. But when the lighthouse malfunctions and a living person arrives at the waystation, it will change Nera's existence forever.
At the edge of Chicago, nestled on the shores of Lake Michigan, there is a waystation for the dead. Every night, the newly-departed travel through the city to the Station, guided by its lighthouse. There, they reckon with their lives, before stepping aboard a boat to go beyond.
Nera has spent decades watching her father—the ferryman of the dead—sail across the lake, each night just like the last.
But tonight, something is wrong.
The Station's lighthouse has started to flicker out. The terrifying, ghostly Haunts have multiplied in the city. And now a person—a living person—has found her way onto the boat.
Her name is Charlie. She followed a song. And she is searching for someone she lost.
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | Goodreads
THE MEMORY HUNTERS by Mia Tsai (The Consecrated #1) — July 29
Our final book of July is The Memory Hunters by Mia Tsai, the first novel of The Consecrated. This is a fantasy adventure novel with elements reminiscent of Inception and Indiana Jones, which follows a "headstrong academic and her equally stubborn bodyguard as they unearth an ancient secret that rocks the foundations of their society...and challenges their unspoken love for one another."
It's a sapphic, dark academia-adjacent book where the academic dives ever deeper into blood memories that unravel a far-reaching conspiracy that changed the course of history. Mind-bending is a descriptor I usually use for sci-fi more than fantasy, but from the description of this book it sounds warranted here.
Kiana Strade can dive deeper into blood memories than anyone alive. But instead of devoting her talents to the temple she’s meant to lead, Key wants to do research for the Museum of Human Memory. . . and to avoid the public eye.
Valerian IV's twin swords protect Key from murderous rivals and her own enthusiasm alike. Vale cares about Key as a friend—and maybe more—but most of all, she needs to keep her job so she can support her parents and siblings in the storm-torn south.
But when Key collects a memory that diverges from official history, only Vale sees the fallout. Key’s mentor suspiciously dismisses the finding; her powerful mother demands she stop research altogether. And Key, unusually affected by the memory, begins to lose moments, then minutes, then days.
As Vale becomes increasingly entangled in Key’s obsessive drive for answers, the women uncover a shattering discovery—and a devastating betrayal. Key and Vale can remain complicit, or they can jeopardize everything for the truth.
Either way, Key is becoming consumed by the past in more ways than one, and time is running out.
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | Goodreads
And thus concludes our monthly round-up of new fantasy and sci-fi book releases. What are you adding to your TBR?
More on Books:
To stay up to date on everything fantasy, science fiction, and WiC, follow our all-encompassing Facebook page and Twitter account, sign up for our exclusive newsletter and check out our YouTube channel.