The summer is there! Although, as I’m writing this post, it’s raining pretty hard. So no real summer vibes there.
Still, summer is the perfect time to get some more reading in while on holiday, relaxing on the beach, or simply in your garden or home.
Check out the different titles with genres in the overview, and click on the titles you’re interested in to jump to that book for more information.
The books I’ve read this month are The Sightless City (Adult Steampunk Sci-Fi) and The Empire’s Ruin (Adult Epic Fantasy)
Sci-Fi YA
- You and Me at the End of the World by Brianna Bourne: YA Dystopian Sci-Fi Romance
- Capsule by Mel Torrefranca: YA Sci-Fi Thriller
- Breeder by Honni van Rijswijk YA Dystopian Sci-Fi
Sci-Fi Adult
- The Sightless City by Noah Lemelson: Adult Steampunk Sci-Fi
- A Psalm for the Wild-Built (Monk & Robot #1) by Becky Chambers: Adult Dystopian Sci-Fi, LGBTQ
- The Shadow by James Patterson & Brian Sitts: Adult Superhero Sci-Fi/Fantasy
- Lost on a Page by David E. Sharp: Adult Comedic Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Mystery
- Midnight, Water City (Water City #1) by Chris McKinney: Adult Sci-Fi Noir
Fantasy YA
- The Queen Will Betray You (Kingdoms of Sand and Sky #2) by Sarah Henning: YA Epic Fantasy Romance
- These Hollow Vows by Lexi Ryan: YA Fantasy Romance, Fairies
- Cold Hearted (Villains #8) by Serena Valentino: YA Fairy Tale Retellings
- It Ends in Fire by Andrew Shvarts: YA Paranormal Fantasy
- Six Crimson Cranes (Six Crimson Cranes #1) by Elizabeth Lim: YA Fantasy Romance Retelling, Mythology
Fantasy Adult
- The Empire’s Ruin (Ashes of the Unhewn Throne #1) by Brian Staveley: Adult Epic Fantasy
- Song of the Forever Rains (Mousai #1) by E.J. Mellow: Adult Dark High Fantasy Romance
- The Book of Accidents by Chuck Wendig: Adult Dark Thriller Fantasy (Horror)
- She Who Became the Sun (The Radiant Emperor #1) by Shelley Parker-Chan: Adult Historical Fantasy, LGBTQ
- Sidewinders (The Fire Sacraments #2) by Robert V.S. Redick: Adult Epic Fantasy
What I Read: Book Releases July 2021
The Empire's Ruin (Ashes of the Unhewn Throne #1) by Brian Staveley
Genre: Adult Epic Fantasy
Pubdate: 6th of July
Publisher: Tor Books
I’m still reading the book (I know, I’m terribly behind on my reading). In my defense, the books for this month are both quite big—Empire’s Ruin counts over 700 pages.
The advantages used by the Annurian Empire for millennia have fallen to ruin. The Empire is disintegrating. The ranks of the Kettral have been decimated from within, and the kenta gates, which grant instantaneous travel across the lands, can no longer be used. One of the surviving Kettral needs to voyage beyond the known world through a land that warps and poisons all living things to find the nesting grounds of the giant war haws: it’s the only way to save the empire. And a monk turned con-artist may hold the secret to the kenta gates. Time is running out. Because, next to it all, an Ancient God-like race has begun to stir.
Even though I’m not that far yet, so far I’m really loving it. Trouble starts right in the first chapter, where the Kettral try to rescue their captured friends and a huge fight breaks out. The world building is also very commendable so far. Plenty of interesting detail, but it’s generally shown rather than just info dumping everything on the reader. I love the idea of giant birds being used for fighting.
The Sightless City by Noah Lemelson
Genre: Adult Steampunk Sci-Fi
Pudate: 20th of July
Publisher: Tiny Fox Press
A very imaginative story with lots of detail and a very intriguing story. I very much enjoyed The Sightless City.
The story takes place in Huile, a city that runs on eather-oil, a highly coveted substance. Here Marcel Talwar lives, a war hero turned private investigator. After receiving some strange engeneering diagrams, he is set on a trail to uncover some of the deepest secrets of the city. But what he finds might bring him in more danger than he realizes.
Sylvaine, a ferral living in Icaria, has the live-long dream of becoming an engineer. The only problem: ferral’s don’t have the ‘knack’—the ability to use aether to manipulate metal. Fortunately, an opportunity arrises, and she’s given a drug that can help her free her gifts. It’s all she needs to make her dreams come true. But at what cost?
It’s truly a unique story with great characterization and a thorough “magic” system. All the pieces of the story fit together, and although nothing that happens is overly surprising, it’s still a thrill to read.
I loved how Lemelson handeld Marcel’s PTSD—it’s clearly there, but it doesn’t make him stronger or weaker. It’s just part of who he is. Sylvaine’s insecurities and how she was treated by others was also heartbreaking and what makes you root for her. All she truly wants is to be accepted and proof herself to be as good as others.
The magic in the story is a compelling blend between science and the mystical. In addition, the economic and political situation of the town speaks very true of any society in any time in any place. Huile was only saved in the war because of the aether-oil in the ground—just like today countries want to control places that are rich in oil. It’s all about power.
If you love great characters, a compelling world with intricate details along with a good crime story with a great deal of danger: I’d highly recommend The Sightless City.
Fantasy & Sci-Fi Book Releases July 2021
Song of the Forever Rains (Mousai #1) by E.J. Mellow
Genre: Adult Dark High Fantasy Romance
Pubdate: 1st of July
Publisher: Montlake
In the Thief Kingdom, the mysterious Thief King reigns with the help of the Mousai, a trio of revered and feared sorceresses. Larkyra Bassette is the youngest of the Mousai, but her voice has the power to slay monsters when she sings. She’s put on her first solo mission when the Duke of Lachlan is found siphoning a poisenous drug from the Kingdom and using it to abuse his tenants. Posing as his potential bride, Larkyra soon finds things getting more complicated as she feels drawn to Lord Darius Mekenna, Lachlan’s heir.
Lost on a Page by David E. Sharp
Genre: Adult Comedic Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Mystery
Pubdate: 1st of July
Publisher: Black Rose Writing
Joe Slade is a cynic detective, who only beliefs in great plot twists. And he’s about to discover the biggest twist of all: Joe Slade is not real. He’s a character in a series of mystery novel. The discovery that all his pain was in the name of book sales makes him vow revenge on his author. So, he sets off for the World Where the Books Are Written. It takes him through many treacherous genres, such as High Fantasy, Bodice-Ripping Romance, Intergalactic Sci-Fi, and many more.
The Queen Will Betray You (Kingdoms of Sand and Sky #2) by Sarah Henning
Genre: YA Fantasy
Pubdate: 6th of July
Publisher: Tor Teen
Love the Princess Bride? This is the sequel to a YA fantasy homage to that very film.
Princess Amarande and Luca, the stableboy, need to part if they want to stay together forever. Amarande needs to reclaim her kingdom and Luca needs to raise a rebellion and find his destiny. All the players in the game of thrones are against them for control over the continent of the Sand and Sky. There are betrayals, enemies hidden in the shadows, and of course, a lot of unfavorable odds. Their only hope? True love.
Cold Hearted (Villains #8) by Serena Valentino
Genre: YA Fairy Tale Retellings
Pubdate: 6th of July
Publisher: Disney Press
Everyone knows the tale of the beautiful young girl who loses her mother, the father who tries to bring a mother’s love back into his daugther’s life, and the selfish, cruel woman who insinuates herself into that family. A woman so cold hearted that she makes the girl a servant in her own home after the husband dies.
But who is that evil stepmother? How did she become that way? Before the fateful ball, the glass slipper, and the prince, there was another story—the story of Lady Tremaine.
It Ends in Fire by Andrew Shvarts
Genre: YA Paranormal Fantasy, LGBTQ
Pubdate: 6th of July
Publisher: Little Brown/Patterson
Alka is deep undercover at the most prestigious school of magic in the Republic: Blackwater Academy. Her objective: win the Great Game and Burn Wizard society to the ground to avenge her parents’ death. To survive the blood-splattered duels Alka needs to lie, cheat, kill, and use every trick in her spy’s toolkit. This also means making friends to help her with her rebellion. But even as she comes closer to victory, things become more dangerous as suspicious professors and murderous rivals seek the traitor in their midst. Can Alka destroy the twisted game without becoming a part of it?
Sidewinders (The Fire Sacraments #2) by Robert V.S. Redick
Genre: Adult Epic Fantasy
Pubdate: 6th of July
Publisher: Talos
Kandri and Mektu Hinjuman flee an army of fanatics across a vast and magical desert: the Ravenous Lands. But after killing the favorite son of Her Radiance the Prophet, fleeing through the sprawling, lethat desert is their only hope. But even some of their fellow travelers worship the Prophet in secret, making even their own caravan unsafe. Other than survival, Kandri is also carrying an encoded cure for the World Plague with him, a disease that has raged for centuries. Unfortunately, certain criminals have learned just how lucrative a plague can be. Kandri does know he needs to get to Kasralys, the only place the cure can be deciphered, but can he and Mektu survive the desert and the death-priests who are hunting them?
Six Crimson Cranes (Six Crimson Cranes #1) by Elizabeth Lim
Genre: YA Fantasy Romance Retellings, Mythology
Pubdate: 6th of July
Publisher: Knopf
Shiori, the only princess of Kiata, has forbidden magic running through her veins. Unfortunately, she loses control on the morning of her betrothal ceremony. While it does forestall the wedding she never wanted anyway, it also catches the attention of her stepmother, Raikama. She uses dark magic to banish Shiori and turn her brothers into cranes. If Shiori tells anyone, one of her brothers will die. And so, alone, Shiori searches for her brothers and uncovers a conspiracy to overtake the throne. Only Shiori can make it right, but to do that she must embrace the magic she’s been taught all her life to conceal.
Capsule by Mel Torrefranca
Genre: YA Sci-Fi Thriller
Pubdate: 10th of July
Publisher: Lost Island Press
Both Peter Moon and Kat Pike, two students from Brookwood High School, go missing on the same night. Peter is a guy who bashes students from Brookwood on his blog, while Kat is adored by her peers and is desperate to boost her adrenaline. After three days, there are still no leads. Sixteen-year-old Jackie Mendoza is indifferent to these disappearances and remains immersed in her virtual world of video games and online friends.
A Psalm for the Wild-Built (Monk & Robot #1) by Becky Chambers
Genre: Adult Dystopian Sci-Fi, LGBTQ
Pubdate: 13th of July
Publisher: Tor.com
It’s been centuries since the robots gained self-awareness, laid down their tools, and wandered into the wilderness, never to be seen again. Centuries since they faded into myth and urban legend. Then one day, a tea monk is surprised with the arrival of a robot, there to honor the old promise of checking in. It cannot go back until it knows the answer to the question: “what do people need?” And that answer depends on who you ask, and how you ask it.
Breeder by Honni van Rijswijk
Genre: YA Dystopian Sci-Fi
Pubdate: 13th of July
Publisher: Blackstone Publishing
Will Meadows, a fifteen-year-old Westie, lives and works in Zone F, the outermost ring of the Corporation. A person’s value all comes down to productivity: the right actions win units, the wrong ones lose them. If one gets into debt, the only place to go is the Rator. However, things are worse if you’re a breeder: they’re born into debt and can only accrue units through reproduction. When Will needs access to an illegal medical drug, he goes to the Gray Zone, where things are a little less regulated. Before he knows it, Will has an illicit job and money, access to Crystal, and gains a real friend called Alex—a Breeder in disguise. Alex is part of the Response, an uprising to overthrow the Corporation. They become caught up in their new friendship, but nothing seems to go as planned, uncovering Will’s greatest fear. Will his true identity be revealed?
Midnight, Water City (Water City #1) by Chris McKinney
Genre: Adult Sci-Fi Noir
Pudate: 13th of July
Publisher: Soho Crime
In the year 2142, Earth is forty years past a near-collision with the asteroid Sessho-seki. Akira Kimura was the scientist responsible for eliminating the threat, and now she feels her safety is under threat. And so, she reaches out to her former head of security, who has since become a police detective. When he arrives at Akira’s home and finds her methodically dismembered, this detective risks everything to delve back into his shared past with Akira to find her killer.
The Shadow by James Patterson & Brian Sitts
Genre: Adult Superhero Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Pubdate: 13th of July
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Lamont Cranston’s identity as the Shadow is known by two people: his greatest love, Margo Lane, and his fiercest enemy, Shiwan Khan. Lamont and Margo get ambushed by Khan and sent into the future. And so, Lamont awakens a century and a half later in a world both unknown and disturbingly familiar. H meets Maddy Gomes, a mysterious teenager who has more than a passing familiarity with the legend of the Shadow. Moreover, Khan’s power continues to be felt over the city and its people. Knowing he’s the only one who stands a chance against Khan, the Shadow needs to prove he’s not just a crime-fighter, but an icon.
These Hollow Vows by Lexi Ryan
Genre: YA Fantasy Romance, Fairies
Pubdate: 20th of July
Publisher: HMH
Brie hates the Fae and has no trouble starving on the street if she can avoid them. But then her sister is sold to the sadistic king of the Unseelie court, so she needs to get her back. Even if it means making a deal with the king himself to steal three magical relics from the Seelie court.
But that’s not so easy: she can only pose as a potential bride for Prince Ronan, and pretend soon becomes reality when she falls for him. Still, she can’t let her heart distract her, so she accepts help from some Unseelie misfits who have their own agenda. And their mysterious leader, Finn, also has his seductive charms. Brie finds herself trapped between two courts, and she must decide where her loyalties—and her heart—lies.
You and Me at the End of the World by Brianna Bourne
Genre: YA Dystopian Sci-Fi Romance
Pubdate: 20th of July
Publisher: Scholastic Press
When Hannah Ashton wakes up, she finds that the entire city around her is empty. Except for one other person: Leo Sterling, the hottest boy ever. However, he’s aslo too charming, too selfish, and too devastating for his own good. Still, they’re stuck with each other, so they explore a world with no parents, no friends, and no school, and they can just be themselves. Together, they search for answers amid the isolation, but while their empty world may appear harmless, it’s not. Nothing is ever quite as it seems, and if they don’t figure out what’s going on, they might just be torn apart forever.
The Book of Accidents by Chuck Wendig
Genre: Adult Dark Thriller Fantasy (Horror)
Pubdate: 20th of July
Publisher: Del Rey Books
Long ago, Nathan lived in a house with his abusive father and never told his family what happened there. Long ago, Maddie made dolls in her bedroom when she saw something she shouldn’t have and is trying to remember that lost trauma by creating haunting sculptures. Long ago, something sinister and hungry walked in the tunnels and mountains and coal mines of their hometown.
Now, Nate and Maddie are married and moving back with their son, Oliver. And everything starts happening again. Only this time, it happens to Oliver. He meets a strange boy who becomes his best friend—a boy with a taste for dark magic.
She Who Became the Sun (The Radiant Emperor #1) by Shelley Parker-Chan
Genre: Adult Historical Fantasy, LGBTQ
Pubdate: 20th of July
Publisher: Tor Books
In 1345, China lies under Mongol rule. When the family’s eighth-born son, Zhu Chongba, is given a fate of greatness, everyone is mystified as to how it will come to pass. However, the fate of nothingness received by the family’s clever and capable second daughter is only as expected. But when a bandit-attack orphans the two children, it’s Zhu Chongba who succumbs to despair and dies. Desperate to escape her fated death, the girl uses her brother’s identity to enter a monastery as a young male novice. There, she learns she is capable of doing whatever it takes to stay hidden from her fate. And when her sanctuary is destroyed for supporting the rebellion against Mongol rule, Zhu takes that chance to claim a new future: her brother’s abandoned greatness.
Those were the Book Releases of July 2021
I hope you found some nice additions to your reading list among these best fantasy & sci-fi book releases of July 2021! Which ones are you most excited about? Let me know in the comments!
