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Day 17 of the Wyrd & Wonder prompt challenge is ‘Can’t Wait to Read’ – books on your TBR or up and coming series. Given this, I thought I’d talk about some of the books that are coming out this year between June and December that I cannot wait to get my hands on! There may be some that I’ve mentioned a few times on the blog, but I haven’t included any ARCs I’ve already read, even if their release date is June, and for those you can look back through my reviews! So, here are 21 fantasy books that I am really looking forward to for the rest of 2021:
June
The Coward by Stephen Aryan – 8th June
The first in the new Quest for Heroes series, this will be my first Stephen Aryan book, and I’m very excited! I’ve followed the author for a while on social media, and often watch his YouTube videos in which he interviews other authors and gives writing advice, and his mentions of his own work have got me very intrigued. I’ve preordered this from The Broken Binding Bookshop, and I believe it will be a signed edition, so extra excitement!
The Wood Bee Queen by Edward Cox – 10th June
I’ve mentioned this book on a lot of posts, because I’m super excited about it. It’s also the first of Edward Cox’s books I’ll be reading (though, I highly doubt it will be the last, from what I’ve seen of his others) and it’s actually my next read because I have an eARC of it – I may even start it today, if I have time. There’s a video here of the author reading the first chapter as part of Gollancz Fest @ Home this year, and you can skip to the right time with the minutes in the comments. It’s hooked me already, and I’m sure the review for that will be up in the next week or so.
The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri – 10th June
Once again, I’ve never read any of Tasha Suri’s previous works, but I definitely plan to. I have an eARC of this one as well, and am planning to get to it this month, after I’ve finished The Wood Bee Queen, and I’m really looking forward to it. I’ve seen this grouped together with The Unbroken by C.L. Clark (which I love) and She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan (which is another one on this list) and the three together have been referred to as “the holy sapphic trifecta.” There’s actually a very cool interview with all three authors done by The Fantasy Inn, and I’d definitely recommend reading it if you have read or want to read any of these three.
These Feathered Flames by Alexandra Overy – 10th June
Fun fact, I actually can’t remember how this one made it’s way onto my TBR, so it must have been one I heard recommended on a podcast or saw someone talk about on their blog or twitter, but either way I am here for it! The premise of twin heirs to a kingdom raised to be different things, and thrown into the royal court is very interesting to me. I don’t know anything else about it, or the author, but can’t wait to pick it up!
The Iron Crown by L.L. MacRae – 11th June
This is the first book in a new series by this self-published author, and I discovered it because I follow Lauren on twitter, and we’ve interacted before. One day, I saw something about her new book, and the premise hooked me, so I’ve preordered it and can’t wait to sink into this new world! You can find more info and her other series over on her website.
Seven Deaths of an Empire by G.R. Matthews – 24th June
This one has built a lot of traction, and I feel like there was at least a solid week in which all my fellow fantasy bloggers were only talking about this book, so I obviously had to preorder it over at the Broken Binding Bookshop. It’s been labelled as a grimdark, which at first had be a little hesitant, because I don’t always like my fantasy super dark and grim, but the amount of positive feedback convinced me. The politics sound very cool, and I really hope I enjoy it.
July
Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim – 8th July
This has been on my radar since the start of the year, and I am very excited to read something that uses East Asian folklore, because I love discovering new folklore and seeing new interpretations of it. I’ve also been lucky enough to be approved for an eARC of this, so expect a review closer the the publishing date.
She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan – 22nd July
As I mentioned above, this has been included in the lovely sapphic trifecta, but even before people were talking about it and comparing it to The Unbroken and The Jasmine Throne I had requested a copy on NetGalley, and it’s been sitting in my e-reader waiting for me to get to it. I believe it’s a historical fantasy, which I’ve been reading a little more of this year (and have been writing one somehow??) so I’m super keen to get to it.
August (my birthday month, yay!)
A Curse of Krakens by Kevin Hearne – 4th August
The cover in the picture is the one for the first book in the series, because the third one hasn’t had a cover reveal yet, but that doesn’t mean I’m any less excited. This is the third and final book in the Seven Kennings Trilogy, which includes A Plague of Giants and A Blight of Blackwings. I picked up the first book in the library one day, and even though I initially didn’t check it out, because I wasn’t quite sure what I thought of it, I couldn’t stop thinking of the first few chapters that I’d read, and I’m so glad I checked it out in the end. I might reread the first two books closer to the time of the third one’s publication and review them, because there’s no way I can give a summary in such a short format. But I’d highly recommend it!
The Raven Heir by Stephanie Burgis – 5th August
I have to admit that I literally just heard about this book today when I requested it on NetGalley, but it immediately piqued my interest. Triplet heirs to the throne, where none of them know which is the eldest, because every ruler since the crown broke has not survived, and their mother is trying to keep them safe. This is a middle grade fantasy, but it sounds pretty intense. I’ve been approved by NetGalley, though, so I have an eARC and I can’t wait to read and review it!
The Hand of the Sun King by J.T. Greathouse – 5th August
I heard about this book during the same Gollancz Fest@Home that I mentioned earlier, and you can hear a short reading by the author here. Shortly after, I spotted it on NetGalley and so that one’s also sitting in my e-reader waiting for me. It sounds very interesting, and I’ve only heard good things so far.
Redemptor by Jordan Ifueko – 17th August
The sequel to Raybearer, which was one of my surprise favourite reads of last year! I went into it not really expecting anything and was hooked by the end of the first page, and swept away from there. If you haven’t read this powerful African-inspired YA, then I urge you to! And you won’t have too long to wait for the next one! The cover I’ve shown above is the American one, as I don’t think the UK one has been announced yet, but I look forward to seeing that, as well as reading it.
A Master of Djinn by P. Djèli Clark – 19th August
Over the last few months I’ve seen a lot of people talking about Clark’s Egyptian-based fantasy novellas, and I became very intrigued. I still haven’t read those, but I plan on getting to them before this novel comes out, as it’s set in the same world with the same characters, as I understand it. There are quite a few reviews out there and reading those has convinced me I need to jump into the world of the Djinn.
September
The Nature of Middle-Earth by J.R.R. Tolkien – 2nd September
I know this is probably just the Tolkien Estate and the publishers trying to make as much money out of Middle Earth as they can, but I’m a sucker for all things Tolkien so I will be buying this, along with the special illustrated edition of The Lord of the Rings coming out around the same time.
Among Thieves by M.J. Kuhn – 9th September
I’ve only known about this for a couple of days, again after requesting and getting it approved on NetGalley, but it’s got a heist, which I love, and it’s published by Gollancz who are one of my favourite imprints, so I trust it’ll be a good read.
A Dark and Starless Forest by Sarah Hollowell – 14th September
This is a dark YA that I was drawn to because of the cover – I’ve started to see a few plus-size girls in YA fiction, but I can’t say I’ve ever seen a fantasy one before. The plot also sounds very intriguing and I can’t wait to get to it.
Traitors of the Black Crown by Cate Pearce – 22nd September
A indie published book with knights, vengeance, queer romance, and great secrets. I actually don’t know too much about this, except that it sounds excellent and all the reviews I’ve seen so far are great. I’ve got this as an eARC on NetGalley and I really look forward to getting into it eventually.
The Last Graduate by Naomi Novik – 28th September
The second book in the Scholomance series. I had mixed feelings about the first book, A Deadly Education, and it really only gripped me towards the second half of the story, to I’m really interested in seeing what happens with the sequel, and if it will improve my opinion of the first. I think I will try and reread the fist book again, though, before reading The Last Graduate. Maybe I went into it expecting something very different due to my love of Spinning Silver and Uprooted, which are very different in topic and style.
The Bone Ship’s Wake by RJ Barker – 30th September
Again, I’ve used the cover of the first book, because we don’t have the actual cover yet, but I cannot express how excited I am about this one!! I absolutely fell in love with the world of the Bone Ships and I’m dying to know how Lucky Meas and Joron are going to get out of all the trouble they’ve found themselves at the end of Call of the Bone Ships. Another one I might reread the first two of before the conclusion is published.
October and November
Little Thieves by Margaret Owen – 5th October
I saw a few people discussing this author over on twitter a while ago, and someone mentioned they were looking forward to this next book by her, and then I spotted it on NetGalley. It’s a YA fantasy and it sounds very intriguing. It’s another one I don’t know too much about but am looking forward to getting into!
The Bone Shard Emperor by Andrea Stewart – 11th November
The cover for the second book of the Drowning Empire series is yet to be revealed, so I’m featuring the first book, which is currently the Wyrd And Wonder read along. If you’ve missed it, you can see my first two posts about that here and here (though beware of spoilers). Rereading this book is making me even more excited for its sequel, and for seeing which questions get answered, and which new mysteries will unfold. I’m also dying to know what the cover will look like!
The Book Nook 
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