Most Anticipated Science Fiction & Fantasy Books of Summer 2022

At the dawn of their adolescence, on the eve of the summer solstice, four young girls—Helena, Leonie, Niamh, and Elle—took the oath to join Her Majesty’s Royal Coven, established by Queen Elizabeth I as a covert government department. Now, decades later, Helena is the only one of her friend group still enmeshed in the stale bureaucracy of HMRC. But when a young warlock of extraordinary capabilities is captured by the authorities, he seems to threaten the very existence of HMRC. With conflicting beliefs over the best course of action, the four friends must decide where their loyalties lie: with preserving tradition, or doing what is right.

Rachel Morgan, witch-born demon, has one unspoken rule: take chances, but pay for them yourself. With it, she has turned enemies into allies, found her place with her demon kin, and stepped up as the subrosa of Cincinnati—responsible for keeping the paranormal community at peace and in line. But nothing is ever simple, and Rachel must keep her friends close—and her enemies closer—in the next Hollows novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Kim Harrison.

Everyone knows the legend. Of Arthur, destined to be a king. Of the beautiful Guinevere, who will betray him with his most loyal knight, Lancelot. Of the bitter sorceress, Morgana, who will turn against them all. But Elaine alone carries the burden of knowing what is to come—for Elaine of Shalott is cursed to see the future. The Lady of Shalott reclaims her story in this bold feminist reimagining of the Arthurian myth from the New York Times bestselling author of Ash Princess.

Baron Valdemar and his people have found a temporary haven, but it cannot hold all of them, or for long. Those who are willing to make a further trek into the West will follow him into a wilderness depopulated by war and scarred by the terrible magics of a thousand years ago and the Mage Wars. But the wilderness is not as “empty” as it seems. There are potential friends and rapacious foes…and someone is watching them. The long-awaited founding of Valdemar comes to life in this second book in the new series from beloved fantasist, Mercedes Lackey.

The New York Times bestselling world of Osten Ard returns in the third Last King of Osten Ard novel. As threats to the kingdom loom, forces both good and evil will need to force their way into the forbidden, ogre-guarded valley of the Narrowdark, where a secret waits that might bring Simon’s people and their Sithi allies salvation—or doom.

When the first book in the Team Psi series ended, a woman called the “Ennoia” had almost killed the prisoner Alpha, inciting a battle that had been brewing for thousands of years. Can Team Psi trust this woman, or does she have a more sinister reason for infiltrating the team? They better figure it out quickly because Alpha is back and she’s out for blood.

Shattered by mage wars, the Broken Lands will test the bonds of family and friendship, strength and sanity. To save their people, the Heirs of Marsan have no choice but to enter, trusting their lives and the lives of everyone they Protect, to someone who shouldn’t exist, who can’t be controlled, and who will challenge everything they believe about themselves.

As an isolated witch, Mika Moon knows how to hide her magic, keep her head down, and stay away from other witches so their powers don’t mingle and draw attention. But when an unexpected message arrives, begging her to travel to the remote and mysterious Nowhere House to teach three young witches how to control their magic, it breaks all the rules, but Mika goes anyway. As Mika begins to find her place at Nowhere House, the thought of belonging somewhere begins to feel like a real possibility. But magic isn’t the only danger in the world, and when a threat comes knocking, Mika will need to decide whether to risk everything to protect a found family she didn’t know she was looking for…

In the first book of a visionary fantasy trilogy with its roots in the mythology of Africa and Arabia that “sings of rebellion, love, and the courage it takes to stand up to tyranny” (Samantha Shannon, author of The Priory of the Orange Tree), three women band together against a cruel empire that divides people by blood.

A rollicking feminist tale set in 1950s America where thousands of women have spontaneously transformed into dragons, exploding notions of a woman’s place in the world and expanding minds about accepting others for who they really are.