Get a free short story!

Sign up for the newsletter & receive a free short story: Veils. 

Ari and her dragon Oizealth are in the final round of a deadly competion: Veils. Only two more men are in the way of what she truly wants: a life together with the one she loves.

But does Ari have what it takes to win?

    18 Fantasy & Sci-Fi Book Releases July 2021

    This post may contain affiliate links for products and services I recommend. If you make a purchase through these links, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission. Read the full disclosure here.

    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)

    18 best fantasy and scifi book releases 2021
    Save this post for later!

    What I Read: Book Releases July 2021

    The Empire's Ruin (Ashes of the Unhewn Throne #1) by Brian Staveley

    best fantasy books 2021 the empires ruin book cover

    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

    best scifi book releases july 2021 the sightless city

    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

    ya fantasy book releases july 2021 song of the forever rains

    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

    fantasy and sci-fi book releases july 2021 lost on a page

    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

    the queen will betray you book cover sci fi fantasy books new releases 2021

    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

    cold hearted villains best fantasy book releases july 2021

    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.

    Never miss another new release

    Subscribe and get printable lists with the best new book releases in your inbox each month.

      No spam. Unsubscribe at any time.

      It Ends in Fire by Andrew Shvarts

      it ends in fire fantasy book releases july 2021

      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

      sidewinders by robert vs redick book cover two figures and spiral shape with bowl-shaped top

      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

      best fantasy book releases july 2021 six crimson cranes

      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

      best scifi book releases july 2021 capsule

      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

      best scifi fantasy book releases july 2021 psalm for the wild built

      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

      breeder scifi book releases july 2021

      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?

      Never miss another new release

      Subscribe and get printable lists with the best new book releases in your inbox each month.

        No spam. Unsubscribe at any time.

        Midnight, Water City (Water City #1) by Chris McKinney

        midnight water city scifi new releases july 2021

        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

        best fantasy book releases july 2021 the shadow

        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

        sci fi fantasy books new releases 2021 these hollow vows

        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

        best scifi book releases july 2021 you and me at the end of the world

        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

        best fantasy new releases july 2021 book of accidents

        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

        she who became the sun best fantasy book releases july 2021

        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!

        If you liked this, you might also like...

        Get a free short story!

        Sign up for the newsletter & receive a free short story: Veils. 

        Ari and her dragon Oizealth are in the final round of a deadly competion: Veils. Only two more men are in the way of what she truly wants: a life together with the one she loves.

        But does Ari have what it takes to win?

          Leave a Comment

          Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

          Hi There!

          I’m Iris Marsh, a passionate reader and writer. On here, you can find book reviews, book lists, and more bookish stuff. You can also find more information on the books I’ve written. If you want to know more about me, just click here.

          Stay In Touch!

          Get Short Story!

            What's New On The Blog

            Hi! I’m Iris Marsh, your bookish friend. Please join me in conversations about books: one of my most favorite things in the world. Read more about me here.
            Search

            © Iris Marsh by Iris – Content & Creatie

            KVK: 80650422

            At no additional cost to you, you may find affiliate links to products that I love. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.