If you’re looking for some new books to get you through the dog days of summer, io9’s got you covered with 80 to choose from: sci-fi epics, fantasy sagas, short-story collections, myths, legends, monsters, and so much more.
August 5
Accomplice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
The Assistant to the Villain rom-com fantasy series continues following the misadventures of Evie, an office worker who falls for her boss despite his status as “the kingdom’s most terrifying villain.” (August 5)
Automatic Noodle by Annalee Newitz
The latest from the award-winning author and co-founder of io9 is “a cozy near-future novella about a crew of leftover robots opening their very own noodle shop.” (August 5)
The Deathless One by Emma Hamm
“A princess murdered at the altar makes a deal with the god of death for vengeance and to save her people in this first in a unique romantasy trilogy.” (August 5)
Departure 37 by Scott Carson
This Cold War thriller begins as pilots refuse to take off after receiving calls from their mothers warning them not to fly. That would be weird enough, but the moms don’t remember calling their children… and some of the pilots received calls from mothers who are no longer alive. (August 5)
Dot Slash Magic by Liz Shipton
A coder turned college student discovers she has powers that she can channel using AI—but soon realizes it’s also summoning terrifying creatures beyond her magical control. (August 5)
The Fallen & the Kiss of Dusk by Carissa Broadbent
The Crowns of Nyaxia series continues: “When a goddess offers them a final path to redemption—and back to each other—Asar and Mische embark on an extraordinary mission. Together, they must seize the power of the god of death so Asar may do the impossible: ascend to true divinity.” (August 5)
House of the Beast by Michelle Wong
“This dark fantasy debut from The Legend of Korra graphic novel illustrator Michelle Wong [is] about a young woman who strikes a deal with a mysterious and alluring god to seek revenge on her aristocratic family—featuring illustrations throughout by the author.” (August 5)
Mad Sisters of Esi by Tashan Mehta
“In this stunning meta fantasy about the power of stories, belief, and sisterhood, Myung and her sister Laleh are the sole inhabitants of the whale of babel—until Myung flees, beginning an adventure that will spin her through dreams, memories, and myths.” (August 5)
The Magician of Tiger Castle by Louis Sachar
“The beloved author of Holes presents his first adult novel, a modern fantasy classic of forbidden love, a crumbling kingdom, and the unexpected magic all around us.” (August 5)
Mindscape by Andrea Hairston
“A science fiction tale of global warfare and the people who profit from it, Mindscape was Hairston’s extraordinary debut novel, nominated for the Philip K. Dick Award and short-listed for the Otherwise Award.” This is an updated version of a previously published work. (August 5)
Tantrum by Rachel Eve Moulton
A horror novel about “an exhausted mother thinks her newborn might be a monster. She’s right.” (August 5)
Teo’s Durumi by Elaine U. Cho
“The dazzling and cinematic sequel to space opera Ocean’s Godori takes Ocean and her crew deep into the cloisters of the Moon and the conflicts of the heart.” (August 5)
This Is My Body by Lindsay King-Miller
“A gripping, emotional, and darkly funny queer horror novel about family trauma and possession.” (August 5)
We Live Here Now by C.D. Rose
“DeLillo meets Kafka in a wickedly smart novel that explores the boundaries between art and life, vision and reality, beauty and commerce.” (August 5)
Zomromcom by Olivia Dade
“Teaming up with your neighbor during a zombie outbreak is a no-brainer, but if it turns out he’s a vampire… the stakes couldn’t be higher in this infectious new paranormal romance.” (August 5)
August 12
Alchemy and a Cup of Tea by Rebecca Thorne
The Tomes & Tea series concludes: “Reyna and Kianthe have no trouble commanding the Realm, running a bookshop, or rescuing baby dragons… but can they save their town from the swarming influx of…tourists?!?” (August 12)
Artificial Wisdom by Thomas R. Weaver
“In a climate-ravaged landscape where AI and humans vie for political power, a journalist must unravel a murderous plot that will either upend the world or save it.” (August 12)
Better Dreams, Fallen Seeds and Other Handfuls of Hope by Ken Scholes
This eclectic short story collection spans the author’s career going back to 2000, with tales of unemployed clowns, android capers, and starship captains turned reality TV stars. (August 12)
The Bone Raiders by Jackson Ford
A new epic fantasy series begins and introduces “a wild band known as the Bone Raiders” who “harness the power of gigantic, fire-breathing lizards to defend their homeland.” (August 12)
The Darkest Deep by Chris Butera
“A scavenger trapped in a defunct undersea train tunnel struggles to escape as his air supply―and his sanity―dwindles in this debut psychological thriller.” (August 12)
The El by Theodore C. Van Alst Jr.
This Chicago-set tale inspired by The Warriors follows an Indigenous teen who relies on the guiding spirit of the Coyote to help him pass through rival gang territory with his friends. (August 12)
Escaping Denver by Teague Bohlen
“Desperate for tangible evidence of a shadow government, monstrous creatures, and a laboratory complex built deep beneath the Denver International Airport, Jessica wrangles a gaggle of like-minded armchair adventurers to break into the facility, seeking not only validation but vindication too.” Inspired by the podcast of the same name. (August 5)
An Evil Premise by T. Marie Vandelly
“A mind-bending, thrilling metanovel about possession, insanity, and the lengths a writer will go to find inspiration.” (August 12)
The Feeding by Anthony Ryan
In a post-apocalyptic world where pockets of survivors live in fortified cities to avoid the deadly “feeders,” a young woman becomes determined to join the “Crossers,” the heroes who travel through the wastelands to gather supplies needed to survive. (August 12)
Forged for Prophecy by Andrew Knighton
The Forged for Destiny series continues as Raul realizes his heroic path is not what he believed it would be—and the followers in his rebellion are starting to catch on, too. Can an ancient dagger help him set the prophecy back on course? (August 12)
A Game in Yellow by Hailey Piper
When a kinky couple turns to the mythical cursed play The King in Yellow to spice up their relationship, reality starts to fracture into something horrific. (August 12)
House of Monstrous Women by Daphne Fama
“A young woman is drawn into a dangerous game after being invited to the mazelike home of her childhood friend, a rumored witch, in this gothic horror set in 1986 Philippines.” (August 12)
The Hungry Gods by Adrian Tchaikovsky
“A fallen god and an orphaned survivor set out for revenge in a dark apocalyptic thriller.” (August 12)
The Incredible Kindness of Paper by Evelyn Skye
“A pair of long-lost childhood friends find themselves magically linked through origami flowers as adults.” (August 12)
Lord of Ruin by K.M. Enright
“The unmissable sequel to Mistress of Lies, a dark fantasy romance with sizzling spice, vampiric blood magic, and cutthroat politics.” (August 12)
Lucky Day by Chuck Tingle
Four years after millions of people died in seemingly random, near-simultaneous accidents, a former statistics and probability professor joins the investigation into a casino that’s so improbably lucky it might have had some cosmic influence on the mass disaster. (August 12)
The Midnight Shift by Cheon Seon-Ran, translated by Gene Png
“A bestseller in Korea, a biting, fast-paced vampire murder mystery exploring queer love and the consequences of loneliness.” (August 12)
Ninshubar by Emily H. Wilson
“The conclusion to the enthralling and lyrical fantasy Sumerians trilogy, retelling The Epic of Gilgamesh.” (August 12)
The Society of Unknowable Objects by Gareth Brown
“A fantastical, stand-alone novel in which a trio of seemingly everyday people are members of a secret society tasked with finding and protecting hidden magical objects—ordinary items with extraordinary properties.” (August 12)
These Memories Do Not Belong to Us by Yuming Ma
In the far future, strangers can share memories—as well as market and corrupt them for their own purposes. After his mother dies, a man sorts through her “Mindbank” and becomes determined to disseminate the locked-away truths she kept hidden there. (August 12)
13 Months Haunted by Jimmy Juliano
A library clerk and a technophobe teenager form an unlikely connection—but the clerk soon has reason to believe the witchy rumors about the girl’s family may be all too true. (August 12)
Warrior Princess Assassin by Brigid Kemmerer
“A steamy adult fantasy debut about three characters torn between chasing, betraying, and craving each other: a princess caught between duty and desire, the fearsome warrior king she’s promised to, and the assassin tasked with hunting them down.” (August 12)
What Hunger by Catherine Dang
After a family tragedy, the teenage daughter of Vietnamese immigrants realizes she has a strange power that awakens with an insatiable craving for raw meat. (August 12)
When Mothers Dream by Brenda Cooper
“The collection mixes new and previously published speculative work. The bouquet of science fiction, fantasy, and poetry is tied together with a thread of hope and a colored with a touch of anger. It includes the voices of whales. It is a book for our times.” (August 12)
August 19
Before Superman: Superheroes of the Radium Age edited by Joshua Glenn
“Superhumans—humans who have evolved into creatures stronger, smarter, and more gifted than we have any reason to be—first showed up in science-fictional narratives during the genre’s emergent Radium Age.” This collection features stories and excerpts originally published between 1902 and 1928. (August 19)
Celtic Mythology: The Gods, Goddesses, and Heroes Handbook by Sorcha and Aron Hegarty
“Discover the gods, goddesses, heroes, and monsters from Celtic mythology with this beautiful book that captures the ancient stories and tales that captivated the Celts.” (August 19)
Classical Mythology of the Constellations: Timeless Tales of the Starry Night Sky by Annette Giesecke
“A retelling of the classic myths and timeless tales that underlie the 88 named constellations in the night sky—from Andromeda to Orion to Ursa Major.” (August 19)
The Cruel Dawn by Rachel Howzell Hall
“The explosive second book in the Vallendor series―a sweeping romantasy where gods bleed, realms fall, and one woman stands between salvation and ruin.” (August 19)
The Damned King by Justin L. Anderson
The Eidyn Saga continues: “The eternal light keeping demons at bay has been extinguished, and Eidyn’s last bastion is under brutal siege … With death threatening from every shadow and truth itself at stake, Eidyn’s defenders must put aside their grudges and come together. But is it possible to save everyone when some prefer the lie?” (August 19)
The Dragon Wakes With Thunder by K.X. Song
“A young woman who wields the unimaginable power of a dragon spirit must decide where her loyalties lie—and where her heart belongs—in this enthralling fantasy that reimagines the legend of Mulan.” (August 19)
The End of the World as We Know It: New Tales of Stephen King’s The Stand edited by Christopher Golden and Brian Keene
Stephen King himself wrote the introduction for this massive short-story collection expanding the world of The Stand, with contributions from Wayne Brady and Maurice Broaddus, Poppy Z. Brite, V. Castro, S. A. Cosby, Tananarive Due and Steven Barnes, Alma Katsu, Joe R. Lansdale, Tim Lebbon, Josh Malerman, Alex Segura, Paul Tremblay, and many more. August 19)
Eternity’s Blade by William Collis
“An action-packed fantasy debut chronicling an assassin’s rise to power in a world of immortals.” (August 19)
Fairydale by Veronica Lancet
“Gothic historical and paranormal romance meet in this viral sensation about an orphaned English teacher’s journey to a mysterious coastal town to claim her inheritance where she encounters a forbidden love, supernatural intrigue, and ancient evil as she is torn between two enigmatic men—one alive, one from the past—now with a never-before-seen epilogue.” (August 19)
Hemlock & Silver by T. Kingfisher
“A dark reimagining of Snow White steeped in poison, intrigue, and treason of the most magical kind.” (August 19)
The Last Soul Among Wolves by Melissa Caruso
The Echo Archives series continues with this “whip-smart adventure fantasy featuring cursed relics, sapphic romance, and a magical murder mystery.” (August 19)
The Late-Night Witches by Auralee Wallace
“An enchantingly warm and funny novel about family, love lost and found, discovering who you are, and how difficult it is to slay a vampire.” (August 19)
Lessons in Magic and Disaster by Charlie Jane Anders
The latest from the other award-winning author and co-founder of io9 follows a young witch who “teaches her mother how to do magic—with very unexpected results—in this relatable, resonant novel about family, identity, and the power of love.” (August 19)
Lords of Creation by S.M. Stirling
“In this series conclusion, the richly imagined worlds of a habitable Venus and Mars, each with their own unique civilizations and ecosystems, come alive again. Stirling, known for his meticulous world-building and deep character development, is set to intertwine the fates of characters from both planets, exploring the culmination of their struggles and triumphs.” (August 19)
Moon Songs: The Selected Stories of Carol Emshwiller by Carol Emshwiller
“The first one-volume selection from Emshwiller’s entire career, with stories from 1958 to 2012,” celebrates the winner of the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement, two Nebula Awards, a Philip K. Dick Award, and a Pushcart Prize. (August 19)
A Mother’s Guide to the Apocalypse by Hollie Overton
“A post-apocalyptic mystery exploring the unshakeable bond between mothers and daughters and the sacrifices we make for the people we love.” (August 19)
The Once and Future Me by Melissa Pace
“Dark Matter meets Girl, Interrupted in this gripping psychological thriller about a young woman teetering on the edge of reality.” (August 19)
The Possession of Alba Díaz by Isabel Cañas
“When a demonic presence awakens deep in a Mexican silver mine, the young woman it seizes must turn to the one man she shouldn’t trust.” (August 19)
The Unseen by Ania Ahlborn
“Isla Hansen, a mother reeling from a devastating loss, is beside herself when a mysteriously orphaned child appears on the outskirts of the Hansens’ secluded property … But as the child settles in, Isla’s husband, Luke, and their five children notice peculiarities that hint at something far beyond the ordinary—anomalies that challenge the very fabric of reality itself.” (August 19)
Voidwalker by S.A. MacLean
“Fi ferries contraband between worlds, stockpiling funds and stolen magic to keep her village self-sufficient … When Fi gets planted with a stash of smuggled energy, a long-lost flame recruits her for a reckless heist that escalates into a terrorist bombing—and a coup against the reigning immortals, with Fi’s home caught in the crossfire.” (August 19)
Women of the Fairy Tale Resistance: The Forgotten Founding Mothers of the Fairy Tale and the Stories That They Spun by Jane Harrington
“Long before the Brothers Grimm, there was a sisterhood of writers who defied the patriarchy and launched a literary craze with their feminist fairy tales—these are their stories.” (August 19)
Your Favorite Scary Movie by Ashley Cullins
“The ultimate story of the Scream movie franchise, featuring interviews from more than 80 key players and an in-depth exploration of the creation and legacy of the films that revived a dying genre.” (August 19)
August 26
The Art of Legend by Wesley Chu
The War Arts Saga ends: “A humbled prince, a grumpy grandmaster, and a ragtag band of heroes find out what it takes to become truly legendary, in the conclusion to the epic fantasy trilogy.” (August 26)
Artifact by Jeremy Robinson
“In an isolated Alaskan town, the local sheriff uncovers a secret lab where generative AI and bioprinting have unleashed something monstrous.” (August 26)
The Book of Lost Hours by Hayley Gelfuso
“A sweeping, unforgettable novel following two remarkable women moving between postwar and Cold War-era America and the mysterious time space, a library filled with books containing the memories of those who bore witness to history.” (August 26)
Born of an Iron Storm by Anthony Ryan
“Continuing the epic tale begun in A Tide of Black Steel, Born of an Iron Storm is a compelling saga of bloody retribution, deadly intrigue, and desperate courage.” (August 26)
Damned by Genevieve Cogman
“Damned is the final book in the Scarlet Revolution series, a spellbinding adventure of magic, vampires, and mayhem.” (August 26)
The Entanglement of Rival Wizards by Sara Raasch
An “enemies-to-lovers fantasy academia romcom where rival grad student wizards are forced to work together without killing―or falling for―each other.” (August 26)
The Gods Are Bastards by D.D. Webb
“It was a world of sword and sorcery, but that was a thousand years ago. When the gods turn their backs, true adventurers are needed more than ever.” (August 26)
House of Dusk by Deva Fagan
“A romantic epic fantasy featuring a fire-wielding nun grappling with her dark past and a young spy caught between her mission and a growing attraction to an enemy princess.” (August 26)
Katabasis by R.F. Kuang
“Dante’s Inferno meets Susanna Clarke’s Piranesi in this all-new dark academia fantasy, in which two graduate students must put aside their rivalry and journey to Hell to save their professor’s soul—perhaps at the cost of their own.” (August 26)
Lost Souls Meet Under a Full Moon by Mizuki Tsujimura, translated by Yuki Tejima
“A suspenseful magical realism novel about a mysterious teenage ‘Go-Between”’ who arranges meetings between the living and the dead.” (August 26)
Love’s a Witch by Tricia O’Malley
A “cozy romantasy about a witch returning to Scotland to break a family curse—only to clash with one grumpy Scotsman determined to protect his town from her haywire magic.” (August 26)
The Malevolent Eight by Sebastien de Castell
In this sequel to fantasy tale The Malevolent Seven, “the fate of humanity hangs in the balance, and only the most malevolent can hope to save it.” (August 26)
The Martians: The True Story of an Alien Craze That Swept Turn-of-the-Century America by David Baron
“In the early 1900s, many Americans actually believed we had discovered intelligent life on Mars, as best-selling science writer David Baron chronicles in The Martians, his truly bizarre tale of a nation swept up in Mars mania.” (August 26)
Mrs. Christie at the Mystery Guild Library by Amanda Chapman
“Book conservator Tory Van Dyne and a woman claiming to be Agatha Christie on holiday from the Great Beyond join forces to catch a killer in this spirited mystery from Amanda Chapman.” (August 26)
The Sea Witch by Eva Leigh
“Condemned as a witch, sentenced to die, Alys Tanner uses her innate magical power to flee Puritanical New England. Stealing a ship, Alys becomes captain of The Sea Witch, leading its all-female, sorcery-wielding pirate crew. But the colonial British navy is in hot pursuit.” (August 26)
Secret Lives of the Dead by Tim Lebbon
“A dark folk horror tale of a deadly family curse, crime, and murder that is sure to turn your blood cold.” (August 26)
Sub-Majer’s Challenge by L.E. Modesitt, Jr.
The Saga of Recluce series continues as war breaks out just as “Alyiakal, a sub-majer in the Mirror Lancers of Cyador, the Empire of Light, is serving the last year of his tour as commanding officer of a remote border post.” (August 26)
This Vicious Hunger by Francesca May
“A dark, gothic fantasy of intoxication, obsession, and two women’s desperate hunger for knowledge, whatever the cost.” (August 26)
Wings of Steel & Fury by Sarah J. Daley
“The human world is no place for a god, but toiling on Earth may just teach an angel how to fly once again.” (August 26)
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