{Story Diary} Venom & Vow by Anna-Marie McLemore, Elliott McLemore | YA Romantasy Filled with Royal Intrigue, Magic and Radical Hope

Venom & Vow is a young adult queer fantasy novel by Anna-Marie McLemore and Elliott McLemore that blends romantic fantasy, royal intrigue, political stakes, magic, and identity exploration. Venom & Vow tells the story of two souls caught between duty and desire, survival and truth. What I loved about this novel is that it is not just a fantasy of crowns and conspiracies, it's a tender, aching journey through expression, love and the magic of claiming oneself fully as they are.

For book lovers of queer joy, romantasy, soft rebellion and slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance wrapped in velvet and thorns.

Venom & Vow by Anna-Marie McLemore, Elliott McLemore

Young Adult Fantasy, Romance, LGBTQ+

January 28, 2025 from Square Fish

Two enemy kingdoms are forced to work together to break a curse in this lush YA fantasy, featuring a transgender prince and a bigender dama/assassin in the lead roles.

Keep your enemy closer.

Cade McKenna is a transgender prince who’s doubling for his brother.

Valencia Palafox is a young dama attending the future queen of Eliana.

Gael Palma is the infamous boy assassin Cade has vowed to protect.

Patrick McKenna is the reluctant heir to a kingdom, and the prince Gael has vowed to destroy.

Cade doesn’t know that Gael and Valencia are the same person. Valencia doesn’t know that every time she thinks she’s fighting Patrick, she’s fighting Cade. And when Cade and Valencia blame each other for a devastating enchantment that takes both their families, neither of them realizes that they have far more dangerous enemies.

Cowritten by married writing team Anna-Marie and Elliott McLemore, Venom & Vow is a lush and powerful YA novel about owning your power and becoming who you really are - no matter the cost.

The Kingdoms

The two protagonists are part of two royal families from two enemy kingdoms.

Eliana v. Adare

These two kingdoms have historical animosity toward one another and are in active warfare, but both kingdoms have become affected by the same curse that requires them to put aside their differences to work together to defeat the curse.

Eliana kingdom

Magical creatures, including Quetzals, materialize from tapestries to guard and protect the people of the kingdom. Protagonist, Valencia, works as a dama for the Elianan princess, proving her allegiance to the Eliana kingdom. She operates under a secret identity as Gael, the infamous bigender assassin. Eliana kingdom may be inspired Latine culture, with Latine cultural elements and Spanish layered throughout the kingdom.

Adare kingdom

The other protagonist, Cade, is a transgender reluctant prince/son of the Adare queen, who goes under disguise as his brother in battle to protect him. Adare is guarded by sea monsters. The Adare kingdom may be inspired by Celtic culture.

Reasons to Read Venom & Vow

♡ Authentic and nuanced portrayals of intersectional representation (disabled, bigender, transgender and Latine-coded) that the authors handled with grace and honesty

♡ The character development feels genuine and builds as readers are taken through their journeys

♡ There's a powerful personal growth arc that explores empowerment, identity and self-acceptance

♡ Complex morality is explored throughout the story as the morally gray protagonists may have readers ask ethical questions about their decisions

♡ The cultural representations of the two kingdoms

♡ I'm a fan of some of the tropes in this book: enemies-to-lovers slow-burn romance and court intrigue for example, so readers who are fans of those very same tropes will also enjoy this novel!

Themes / Tropes

☾ Enemy royal families forced to work together to break a curse

☾ Enemies-to-lovers

☾ Found family

☾ Slow-burn romance

☾ Court intrigue

☾ A curse

☾ Morally gray characters

☾ Royal decoy

☾ Hidden identity

☾ Arranged marriage/betrothed

☾ Soft rebellion

Representation

☀ Trans bigender + nonbinary disabled MCs

☀ Queer Latine bigender + Trans co-authors

☀ Latine-coded characters/cultures

☀ Celtic-coded culture

☀ Chronic pain

Content Warnings

➤ Dysphoria

➤ Violence

➤ Battle

➤ Emotional abuse

➤ Transphobia/misgendering

➤ Mentions of death/loss

Favorite Quotes

[Image by me, made on canva]

"To live as yourself in a world that would rather you didn't - that's not cowardice. That's courage."

--Anna-Marie McLemore, Elliott McLemore, Venom & Vow

"I would wear your name like armor. I would speak it like a vow."

--Anna-Marie McLemore, Elliott McLemore, Venom & Vow

About Anna-Marie McLemore and Elliott McLemore

Anna-Marie McLemore (they/them) is the author of William C. Morris Debut Award Finalist The Weight of Feathers; Wild Beauty; Blanca & Roja, one of Time Magazine’s 100 Best Fantasy Novels of All Time; Indie Next List title Dark and Deepest Red; Lakelore, an NECBA Windows & Mirrors title; Venom & Vow, co-authored with Elliott McLemore; Flawless Girls; and National Book Award longlist selections When the Moon Was Ours, which was also a Stonewall Honor Book; The Mirror Season; and Self-Made Boys: A Great Gatsby Remix. Their latest release is their adult debut, The Influencers, and their next young adult novel is We Could Be Anyone, forthcoming in spring 2026.

Website | Twitter | Facebook

Elliott McLemore is a nonbinary trans guy who comes from mountains and loves trees. As a child, he romped in dresses, fought with plastic swords, and dreamed up his first stories. Between then and now, he has focused on academic and professional writing, research, and advocacy, including work toward adding nonbinary gender markers to California identity documents. Venom & Vow is his debut novel.

 

Purchase Venom & Vow

(Disclaimer: I earn a small commission from purchases made through my Bookshop.org affiliate link [above] at no additional cost to customers. Thank you for supporting local bookshops!)

Venom & Vow Discussions

🌱 How do Cade and Valencia's journeys of "owning your power and becoming who you really are" differ, and what obstacles does each face?

🌱 How does the intersectional representation (transgender, bigender, disabled, Latine-coded) contribute to the richness of their worlds?

🌱 What does the story suggest about finding community and belonging when you don't fit traditional expectations?

{Story Diary} Coffeeshop in an Alternate Universe by C.B. Lee | A Cozy Sapphic YA Romantasy

Coffeeshop in an Alternate Universe by C. B. Lee just dropped on July 1st and it is a total gem for fans of cozy magical realism, sapphic romance, and multiverse shenanigans. There's a coffee shop that exists across parallel worlds, a meet-cute powered by magic and caffeine, and a romance between a science-minded girl and a magical guardian. 

With tiny dragons, enchanted lattes, and themes of found family and geek culture, this book hits that sweet spot between heartwarming and otherworldly—perfect if you love your fantasy soft, nerdy, and full of feels.

🌱 Featured in my Summer Reading Syllabus list on Bookshop.org (Disclaimer: I earn a small commission from purchases through my Bookshop affiiliate link at no additional cost to customers)

Coffeeshop in an Alternate Universe by C.B. Lee

Young Adult Magical Realism, Fantasy, Romance

July 1, 2025 from Feiwel & Friends

A geeky overachiever determined to save the world through science and a troublemaking chosen one lashing out against her destiny meet and fall in love in a magical coffeeshop as their two very different universes begin to collide in Coffeeshop in an Alternate Universe, C.B. Lee’s fun, sapphic, cozy fantasy YA romance.

When Brenda’s internet goes out right before an important scholarship deadline, she stumbles right into Kat’s family’s coffeeshop. Brenda is swept away by cool, confident Kat, who actually cares about Brenda’s 19-step plan to save the world through science. Meanwhile, Kat can’t stop thinking about Brenda, who is smart, passionate, and doesn’t seem to care that Kat is the prophesized Chosen One.

The only problem? Kat and Brenda are from different universes. Like need-to-find-a-portal-to-go-on-a-second-date different universes.

As their universes collide and things spiral out of control, can a girl who is determined to save the world find love with a girl determined to outrun her destiny?

Setting

Los Angeles, CA (USA)

[Photo credit: Unsplash]

Reasons to Read Coffeeshop in an Alternate Universe

♡ Multiverse meets magical realism, exploring parallel realities

♡ Science vs. magic (it's giving Marvel's Ironheart)

♡ Features rich and whimsical worldbuilding 🌏

♡ It evokes cozy coffee shop AU vibes ☕

♡ The family dynamic is a nuanced portrayal of immigrant parents' expectations

♡ Authentic Chinese-Vietnamese cultural representation

♡ Soft slow-burn sapphic romance bridged by mutual nerdiness feels like a warm cup of tea

♡ Queer joy without the trauma 🏳️‍🌈

Themes/Tropes

☾ Meet-cute

☾ Magic meets science

☾ Grumpy x sunshine

☾ Multiverse/parallel universe

☾ Hidden magic

☾ Geek culture

☾ Found family

☾ Slow-burn romance

☾ Subverted "Chosen One"

Representation

☀ Queer Chinese-Vietnamese American MC

☀ Sapphic MCs

☀ Queer characters

☀ Neurodivergent-coded character

☀ #OwnVoices author

Comparable Titles

   

  

About C.B. Lee

C.B. Lee is an author of young adult and middle grade fiction including the NYT Bestseller Minecraft: The Shipwreck. Their works also include the Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selected A Clash of Steel: A Treasure Island Remix, the Lambda Literary Award nominated Sidekick Squad series, Ben 10 graphic novels, Out Now: Queer We Go Again, and From A Certain Point Of View: The Empire Strikes Back. Lee’s work has been featured in NPR, Teen Vogue, Wired Magazine, Hypable, Tor’s Best of Fantasy and Sci Fi and the American Library Association’s Rainbow List.

CB is represented by Thao Le of the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency who can be reached at thao@dijkstraagency.com.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Tumblr | Facebook | Goodreads

Purchase Coffeeshop in an Alternate Universe

(Disclaimer: I earn a small commission from purchases made through my Bookshop.org affiliate link [above] at no additional cost to customers. Thank you for supporting local bookshops!)

Coffeeshop in an Alternate Universe Discussions

🌱 How does the idea of parallel worlds reflect the choices Brenda and Kat must make about who they want to be?

🌱 How does the book explore academic pressure, overachievement and mental health through a cultural lens?

🌱 What does the book say about creating your own family (i.e. found family) when your biological one doesn't fully understand you?

🌱 Queerness is normalized in this story - why is it important to center queer joy, rather than trauma, in speculative fiction?

Summer Reading Syllabus

 

Happy summer solstice! ☀️

It's officially summer, and as the days last longer and the sun casts a beautiful golden glow, there's no better time to dive into a new book—and this summer's lineup of new releases offers something for every kind of reader of all ages.

Whether you're craving a heart-pounding thriller for the beach, a cute romance to savor on vacation, or a thought-provoking literary novel to enjoy under a shady tree at a picnic, this summer's book releases cover all the genres you just might love. Summer 2025 is coming in hot with highly anticipated titles from bestselling authors and fresh voices, from contemporary fiction and historical dramas to mystery, fantasy, and feel-good reads. 

Consider this your ultimate summer reading guide—packed with captivating stories, unforgettable characters, and page-turners that will keep you reading long after the sun sets.

🌱 Find the full list on my Bookshop.org storefront. I update the list as I find new summer book releases. (Disclaimer: I earn a small commission from purchases through Bookshop.org affiliate link at no additional cost to customers. Thanks for supporting me and local bookstores!)

June 1

Death Row by Freida McFadden

Talia Kemper sits on death row, convicted of murdering her husband—a crime she insists she didn’t commit. With execution looming and her appeals exhausted, everything changes when she sees a man in the prison visiting area who looks exactly like her supposedly dead husband. As doubts surface and the clock ticks down, Talia must find a way to prove the impossible: that she may have been telling the truth all along. Death Row is a gripping short story about deception, justice, and how far someone will go to be believed.

I know every Freida McFadden fan have been waiting forever for this one! It's not one to be missed this summer.

June 3

   

Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Set in the 1980s during the height of NASA’s Space Shuttle program, Atmosphere follows Joan Goodwin, a quiet physics professor who joins a trailblazing group of scientists and astronauts training for spaceflight. As she builds deep connections with her team and experiences unexpected love, Joan is forced to confront the vastness of both outer space and her inner world. When a mission in 1984 takes a sudden turn, everything Joan knows is put to the test. The novel blends historical detail, emotional depth, and the thrill of exploration in classic Taylor Jenkins Reid style.

Raise your hand if you've also been impatiently waiting for anything from Taylor Jenkins Reid! Safe to say the praises for this one are proving that Reid has done it again with her latest summer hit.

Heir of Storms by Lauryn Hamilton Murray

Born a Rain Singer into a powerful fire-wielding dynasty, seventeen-year-old Blaze caused a deadly storm at birth—and has lived in exile ever since. When she and her twin brother Flint are unexpectedly invited to compete in the Choosing Rite—a fierce competition determining the empire’s next ruler—Blaze is thrust into the spotlight at the Golden Palace. Amidst courtly intrigue and two compelling suitors—the charismatic Crown Prince and a mysterious newcomer—Blaze must learn to control her elemental powers, embrace her true self, and fight for the throne. This lush YA romantasy blends dangerous magic, rivalries, epic trials, and a sizzling love triangle in a story about claiming power and shaping your own destiny.

I'll Pretend You're Mine by Tashie Bhuiyan

Eighteen-year-old singer-songwriter Summer Ali, tired of her stage persona and creative block, agrees to a PR stunt: "dating" ex–child actor and tabloid heartthrob Jules Moradi. As they spend time together, What starts out as a calculated move slowly turns into something real. Summer begins to see beyond Jules’s public image, and the lines between pretend and authentic blur—forcing her to confront her true identity, her dreams…and whether love is worth turning reality sideways.

I'm a sucker for Tashie's YA romances so far, so of course I'm so excited to dive into this one this summer!

13 Days of Summer by Stephanie Kate Strohm

Three best friends—Carson, Noemi, and Eleanor—embark on a cross‑country road trip the summer after high school graduation to see Taylor Swift on her Eras Tour. Along the way, they pick up a charming hitchhiker who sparks a love‑at‑first‑sight connection with Carson. As romance blossoms, tensions within the friendship begin to surface. This lighthearted YA novel explores the strong bonds of friendship, the thrill of first love, and the bittersweet transition of growing up—all set against a summer soundtrack that evokes freedom and nostalgia.

   

Park Avenue by Renee Ahdieh

Jia Song, a driven young lawyer at a prestigious New York firm, is tasked with managing a complex case involving a powerful Korean beauty empire. As she digs deeper into the family’s tangled secrets, Jia must navigate high-stakes business drama, cultural expectations, and personal ambition. Over the course of thirty intense days, she confronts challenges that test her values, loyalty, and what it truly means to succeed—both professionally and personally.

Lady's Knight by Amie Kaufman

An undeniably fierce, unforgettably funny, unapologetically queer feminist romp through the England of medieval legend. Bestselling and acclaimed authors Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner bring readers along on an epic quest for valor, freedom, and, above all, love. A Knight’s Tale meets the Lady Jane series, with a dash of The Great!

Celestial Banquet by Roselle Lim

Lim’s adult debut transports readers into a vividly imagined banquet where Chinese-American culture, family ties, and culinary magic intertwine. With richly drawn characters and a blend of realism and wonder, it explores how food can heal wounds and reveal the deep significance of tradition in our lives.

A Forgery of Fate by Elizabeth Lim

Thrust into a web of obligation and magic, Tru Saigas uses her artistry—and risky talent for forging prophetic art—to protect her family after her father's disappearance. An arranged marriage to Elang, a half-dragon prince, takes her to the underwater realm of A’landi, where court intrigue and curses threaten both their worlds. Together, they confront hidden truths of lineage, loyalty, and power.

   

Battle of the Bookstores by Ali Brady

Rivalry and romance spark when two bookstore managers who are opposites in every way find themselves competing for the same promotion. Despite managing bookstores on the same Boston street, Josie Klein and Ryan Lawson have never interacted much—Josie’s store focuses on serious literature, and Ryan’s sells romance only. But when the new owner of both stores decides to combine them, the two are thrust into direct competition. Only one manager will be left standing, decided by who turns the most profit over the summer.

Worth Fighting For by Jesse Q. Sutano

Mulan’s ready to get down to business. But when it comes to love, she hasn’t got a clue. As the right hand of her father’s private equity company, Fa Mulan knows what it takes to succeed as a woman in a man’s world: work twice as hard, be twice as smart, and burp twice as loud as any of the other finance bros she works with. So when her father unexpectedly falls ill in the middle of a critical acquisition, she is determined to see it through. There’s just one hitch: the family company in question is known for its ultra masculine whiskey brand, and the brood of old-fashioned aunts, uncles, and cousins who run it—lead by the dedicated but overworked Shang—will only trust Mulan’s father, Fa Zhou, with the future of their business.

A sort of reimagining of Mulan written by author Jesse Q. Sutano? Sign me up!

The God and Gwisin by Sophie Kim

On a ghostly cruise down the river of the dead, Seokga—a trickster god in therapy—reunites with Yoo Kisa, who might be his reincarnated love partner. But Kisa has no memory, and when the heavenly emperor is murdered aboard ship, the pair must unravel the mystery before the voyage ends—discovering newfound feelings and uncovering forces that tie their fates to the living and dead realms.

A First Time For Everything by K. L. Walther

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Summer of Broken Rules comes a fun new coming-of-age romance full of dating disasters, powerful firsts, and the importance of family. Madeline has always been extremely close to her family, so she is shocked when her older brother gets engaged without including them (or even giving them a heads up!). Mads has never been the biggest fan of his fiancée, Katie, so in order to remain one happy family, she is determined to bond with Katie before the big day, which includes reluctantly agreeing to be a bridesmaid.

June 10

   

Emiko by Chieri Uegaki

Emiko Kimori is a self-professed “matchmaking genius” in her small British Columbia coastal town. Between crafting brunch recipes, helping her aunt find love, excelling in school, and volunteering, she's always busy—and steering clear of her own future plans. But when a new girl arrives, Emiko seizes the opportunity to guide her into the social scene, even as her childhood friend Kenzo wishes she’d focus less on others’ romances. Everything changes when Emiko falls for someone unexpected: she's caught up in her own web of matchmaking. Now she must figure out what it truly means to be in love, balancing friendship, family, and the bold leap into her own heart.

A Most Perilous World by Kristina R. Gaddy

Set in the turbulent years leading up to and during the American Civil War, A Most Perilous World follows the lives of four teenage children of renowned abolitionists—including Frederick Douglass’s son—who step out from the shadows of their parents to shape the anti-slavery movement in their own ways. Two Black and two white adolescents, united by a fierce dedication to freedom, confront discrimination, personal expectations, and the weight of legacy. Drawing on rich historical detail and primary documents, this narrative nonfiction paints a vivid, coming‑of‑age portrait of how a young generation carried the torch of resistance—and discovered their own voices amid national upheaval.

Always Be My Bibi by Priyanka Taslim

Bibi Hossain is grounded at home after her first kiss breaks a strict family rule—no dating until her sister is married. But plans derail when her sister announces a lavish wedding in Bangladesh, and Bibi heads to Sylhet, hoping for a change in her father’s stance. Amid the grandeur of a tea estate and cultural clashes, she strikes up a tactical alliance with Sohel—the charmingly infuriating younger brother of her sister’s fiancé—to undermine the engagement. What begins as a scheming friendship soon turns into something more, forcing Bibi to question where her own heart truly belongs amid family expectations and unexpected romance.

Best Summer Ever by Jessica Cunsolo

High‑school senior Jenna is facing change: her best friend is leaving for college, her father is selling the family lakehouse, and her cousin’s relationship status complicates everything. To hold onto summer—and perhaps control—it’s Jenna who organizes one final weeklong reunion with her closest friends. But as secrets spill, loyalties shift, and unexpected romance blooms, she discovers the best-laid plans—like feelings and friendships—are impossible to predict.

  

The Great Mann by Kyra Davis Lurie

Literary historical that reimagines The Great Gatsby in 1945 Los Angeles, centered on the vibrant Black enclave of West Adams Heights—nicknamed “Sugar Hill.” The story follows Charlie Trammell, a young Black WWII veteran who ventures to L.A. and is mesmerized by the opulence of his cousin’s community. He immerses himself in the city's thriving Black culture, from boarding houses to elite social circles, and becomes enthralled with James “Reaper” Mann—a charismatic figure known for hosting dazzling parties attended by stars like Hattie McDaniel and Lena Horne. As Charlie and Reaper forge a complex bond, the neighborhood faces growing tension when white residents sue to enforce racist housing covenants. Told through Charlie’s eyes, the novel explores themes of wealth, identity, love, and social justice in postwar America.

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V. E. Schwab

This genre-bending adult fantasy spans centuries and continents through the lives of three queer women—Maria in 1532 Spain, Charlotte in 1827 London, and Alice in 2019 Boston—who become vampires and whose stories are bound through the same soil. Each era explores hunger, rage, forbidden love, and identity in lush, haunting prose, weaving a timeless meditation on power, vengeance, and self-discovery.

We all agree - we've all been eagerly waiting for this, right!? I'd eat up everything Schwab generously and beautifully writes for us.

June 17

   

A Fiery Spirit by Kate Chenli

After overthrowing a murderer, Mingshin faces her greatest threat yet: a looming magical poison that claimed her brother’s life. With the enigmatic Night Dragon closing in and her fate tied to a powerful Divine Stone, she must decide who to trust—especially Jieh, her childhood friend turned reluctant ally. As darkness gathers, Mingshin races to master her magic and stop the sorcerer before history is rewritten.

The Blood Phoenix by Amber Chen

In this silkpunk sequel set two years after Of Jade and Dragons, Ying returns from the Engineer’s Guild only to be swept back into danger when mysterious pirate attacks threaten her homeland. Joined by High Commander Ye‑yang and her trusted friends, she must outmaneuver political conspiracies and naval threats. Meanwhile, her sister Nian navigates palace intrigue in the capital, testing newfound skills and alliances as both face betrayals that could tear their world apart.

June 24

Embrace the Serpent by Sunya Mara

Eighteen-year-old jeweler’s apprentice Saphira is thrust into unexpected royalty when she’s chosen to marry the Serpent King—a being of dark and dangerous magic. Forced into a marriage of convenience, she’s caught between her cold husband and his charismatic huntsman. To survive life at court, Saphira must harness her own gemstone magic, navigate lethal intrigue, and decide if she’s truly ready to embrace her fate.

July 1

The Nightblood Prince by Molly X. Chang

Fei, prophesied to become a powerful empress, is raised in a palace far from home. When she embarks on a dangerous mission to capture a legendary tiger—and is saved by Yexue, a runaway prince gifted with night magic and vampire armies—she’s torn between prophecy, politics, and her own heart. Love won’t stop a war, but she might have to spark one.

July 8

The Gryphon King by Sara Omer

Bataar Rhah, a legendary warlord who slew a fearsome gryphon as a child, sets his sights on conquering the affluent kingdom of Dumakra. Nohra Zultama, a Harpy Knight sworn to avenge her homeland, finds her vengeance complicated by her growing jealousy toward Bataar’s wife, Qaira, and eerie alliances with her sworn enemy. As monstrous threats emerge, old grudges may prove the deadliest.

July 15

Fateless by Julie Kagawa

In a sun-scorched desert world where destiny governs all, 17-year-old Sparrow has long embraced her role as a top thief in the Thieves’ Guild. But when the shadowy group known as the Circle orders her to steal the legendary memory stone—a relic tied to the mythic Deathless Kings—she's thrust into a high-stakes mission. Betrayal shatters Sparrow’s world when someone she trusts turns against her, and her actions release a Deathless King’s soul. Now, alongside Raithe, a dangerous assassin sent to kill her, and joined by allies Halek and Kysa, Sparrow must embark on a perilous journey across the Dust Sea. With undead creatures, ancient magic, and a slow-burning romance to complicate her path, Sparrow struggles not only to survive—but to redefine her fate and possibly save the world from an age-old tyranny.

July 22

The Library at Hellebore by Cassandra Khaw

Alessa Li is forcibly enrolled at the elite Hellebore Technical Institute—a magical academy for some of the deadliest gifted: Anti‑Christs, Ragnaroks, world‑eaters, and apocalypse-makers. Promised redemption and a chance at a "normal" life upon graduation, she soon discovers the truth: on graduation day, the faculty violently turn on their students, feasting on them in a horrifying display of power. Trapped in the school's vast library with a small group of survivors, Alessa must navigate brutal survival dynamics—offering human sacrifices nightly to fend off their murderous teachers. With no escape in sight, only unity and cunning can keep them alive in this darkly twisted take on academic horror.

July 29

       

The Last Tiger by Julia Riew, Brad Riew

In a colonized land where tigers—and freedom—are nearly extinct, servant Lee Seung and noble Choi Eunji join forces to save the last magical tiger. Forced from allies to adversaries, their bond shifts as they clash loyalties and face a charming princeling. A friends-to-enemies-to-lovers fantasy about rebellion, magic, and reclaiming hope.

Bones at the Crossroads by LaDarrion Williams

Seventeen-year-old Malik Baron returns to life at Caiman University, a magical HBCU, where he’s excited for homecoming—until revelations, family secrets, and his mysterious mother upend everything. As he explores his powers and binds with a secret society, Malik must find a way to protect his place in a world that’s just discovering him.

Soulmatch by Rebecca Danzenbaker

In a post-WWIII world, 18-year-olds undergo “kirling”—an exam unveiling past lives to determine status and future. Exceptional chess player Sivon shocks everyone with strange results, drawing scrutiny, threats, and a bodyguard she can't ignore. As murders occur and alliances shift, she must untangle who can be trusted before her future—and her heart—is destroyed.

 

Immortal Consequences by I. V. Marie

At Blackwood Academy—a boarding school in purgatory—six top students compete in the brutal Decennial, where only one emerges alive. Rivalries blur into obsession, ambition clashes with loss, and forbidden romance blooms—all under a chilling dark academia backdrop where even death may not mean escape.

The Memory Hunters by Mia Tsai

In a post-climate-catastrophe world where memories are extracted from blood and preserved in the Museum of Human Memory, Kiana Strade—known as Key—is a gifted "memory diver" who can delve deeper into these blood memories than anyone alive. Instead of leading the temple she's destined for, Key chooses to work as a researcher in the opulent city of Asheburg, seeking to avoid the public eye. Her bodyguard, Valerian IV, wields twin swords with lightning speed, protecting Key from rivals and her own impulsiveness. Valerian cares for Key as a friend—and perhaps more—but is primarily focused on supporting her family in the storm-torn south.

August 5

Mistress of Bones by Maria Z. Medina

In a world where gods once bound the continents with their bones to sustain humanity, Azul del Arroyo, a necromancer, seeks to reclaim her sister's bones from the capital to resurrect her. Opposing her is the Emissary of the Lord Death, determined to prevent her, no matter the cost. Their paths intertwine amidst a backdrop of political intrigue and divine machinations, leading to a high-stakes adventure that challenges their beliefs and desires.

August 26

  

Gabriela and His Grace by Liana de la Rosa

Gabriela Luna Valdés, the youngest and most rebellious daughter of the Luna family, seeks freedom from societal expectations. Her journey takes her aboard a ship bound for Mexico, where she encounters Sebastian Brooks, the Duke of Whitfield. Amidst their shared voyage, a scandalous arrangement ensues, leading to a passionate connection that challenges their plans and perceptions of love.

Katabasis by R.F. Kuang

Alice Law, a dedicated graduate student in the field of Magick, has sacrificed much to work with Professor Jacob Grimes at Cambridge. When Grimes dies in a magical accident, Alice discovers he's in Hell and decides to venture there to save him, accompanied by her rival, Peter Murdoch. Their journey through Hell, guided by ancient tales and their own ambitions, tests their limits and forces them to confront their pasts.

September 2

Sisters In the Wind by Angeline Boulley

Lucy Smith, a resilient Ojibwe teen in the foster care system, reluctantly returns to her Native heritage when a caring caseworker and a fierce advocate reveal secrets about her birth family. As she confronts long-buried dangers and confronts hidden truths, Lucy must decide whether her future lies with the life she's crafted on the run—or within a community she never knew she had.

September 9

  

Blood Moon by Britney S. Lewis

Freshman Mira Owens thought her college life would be normal—until she meets golden-eyed Julian and begins receiving cryptic letters from her mother. As strange animal attacks spike and legends of werewolves and vampires come to life, Mira is pulled into a deadly, supernatural conflict. With a Blood Moon rising, she must embrace her hidden family legacy to survive—and change the course of a magical war.

Hot Wax by M.L. Rio

Set across two turbulent timelines, the novel begins in summer 1989, when 10‑year‑old Suzanne escapes into the electrifying world of her rocker father’s band, Gil & the Kills. As the group claws its way toward fame, internal rivalries erupt into a violent incident that changes everything. Fast‑forward twenty-nine years, and Suzanne is living a suburban, cookie‑cutter life—until her father’s sudden death prompts her to leave it all behind. Embarking on a cross‑country road trip with two free‑spirited strangers and her dad’s cherished car, she chases ghosts of the past, muscle‑memory of youth, and a chance at rediscovering who she truly is. But with her husband Rob in pursuit, what began as a journey to reclaim lost identity turns into a reckoning that could cost more than she ever bargained for.

Paramour by Robin Alvarez

Sadie is an ageless banshee, trained to predict death while keeping her emotions locked away—until Nathan, the hunter's son, arrives and changes everything. As she’s pulled deeper into human connection and remembered grief, Sadie struggles to reconcile her duty with her heart. Their burgeoning romance becomes a battlefield when the centuries-old feud between hunters and banshees ignites, forcing them to choose love or survival.

September 25

Never Ever After by Sue Lynn Tan

Life in the Iron Mountains is harsh and unforgiving. After the death of her beloved uncle, Yining has survived by becoming a skilled thief and an even better liar. When she acquires an enchanted ring that holds the key to a brighter future, it is stolen by her step‑aunt—and Yining must venture into the imperial heart of the kingdom to seize it back.

This sweeping fantasy romance inspired by Cinderella and a Chinese fairy tale is the first in a breathtaking new series by the acclaimed author of Daughter of the Moon Goddess.

There's a lot of different options to choose from all summer long! Which ones are you excited for the most? Or have you read some of these? Let me know in the comments below!