Anticipated Monthly Releases: June 2025

   

June arrives tomorrow, and with it comes a whole new selection of new releases, and it is looking like a great lineup. I've been fortunately enough to already read a few and I've got some ARCs I'm trying to work through, and it's been very promising! I am probably most excited for A Far Better Thing because I love H.G. Parry and School of Shards because I had no idea they were finally translating this final book in the trilogy, so I can't wait to get to that. 

What June releases are you most looking forward? Let me know below, and be sure to let me know if I missed any of your most anticipated releases on this list as well.
Happy reading!

A Far Better Thing by H.G. Parry || June 17th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

School of Shards by Marina and Sergey Dyachenko || June 17th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Six Wild Crowns by Holly Race || June 10th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

The Palace of Illusions by Rowenna Miller || June 10th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

The Last Vigilant by Mark A. Latham || June 24th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

A Treachery of Swans by A.B. Poranek || June 24th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Best of All Worlds by Kenneth Oppel || June 3rd -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Shroud by Adrian Tchaikovsky || June 3rd -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Heart of the Wyrdwood by RJ Barker || June 24th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Flashlight by Susan Choi || June 3rd -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Kuleana: A Story of Family, Land, and Legacy in Old Hawai'i by Sara Kehaulani Goo || June 10th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Cloud Warriors: Deadly Storms, Climate Chaos--and the Pioneers Creating a Revolution in Weather Forecasting by Thomas E. Weber || June 3rd -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

The Mercy Makers by Tessa Gratton || June 17th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Engines of War by R.S. Ford || June 17th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

The Listeners by Maggie Stiefvater || June 3rd -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

A Forgery of Fate by Elizabeth Lim || June 3rd -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

The Two Lies of Faven Sythe by Megan E. O'Keefe || June 3rd -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

This Princess Kills Monsters: The Misadventures of a Fairy-Tale Stepsister by Ry Herman || June 17th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

A Magic Deep and Drowning by  Hester Fox || June 24th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by Victoria E. Schwab || June 10th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Fox by Joyce Carol Oates || June 17th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

The Witch Roads by Kate Elliot || June 10th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Days of Light by Megan Hunter || June 10th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

What are your anticipated June releases?

Can't-Wait Wednesday: Daughter of the Merciful Deep by Leslye Penelope, The Glassmaker by Tracy Chevalier, & Bear by Julia Phillips

       

 Can't-Wait is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights exciting upcoming releases that we can't wait to be released! This meme is based off of Jill @ Breaking the Spine's Waiting on Wednesday meme.

Daughter of the Merciful Deep by Leslye Penelope
Publication: June 4th, 2024
Redhook
Paperback. 384 pages.
Pre-order: Amazon | Bookshop.org

From Goodreads:
"'Our home began, as all things do, with a wish.'

Jane Edwards hasn’t spoken since she was eleven years old, when armed riders expelled her family from their hometown along with every other Black resident. Now, twelve years later, she’s found a haven in the all-Black town of Awenasa. But the construction of a dam promises to wash her home under the waters of the new lake.

Jane will do anything to save the community that sheltered her. So, when a man with uncanny abilities arrives in town asking strange questions, she wonders if he's might be the key. But as the stranger hints at gods and ancestral magic, Jane is captivated by a bigger mystery. She knows this man. Only the last time she saw him, he was dead. His body laid to rest in a rushing river.

Who is the stranger and what is he really doing in Awenasa? To find those answers, Jane will journey into a sunken world, a land of capricious gods and unsung myths, of salvation and dreams made real. But the flood waters are rising. To gain the miracle she desires, Jane will have to find her voice again and finally face the trauma of the past."

This sounds like such an interesting premise, and I had fun with Leslye Penelope's previous release, The Monsters We Defy, so I'm looking forward to reading something else from her. 

The Glassmaker by Tracy Chevalier
Publication: June 18th, 2024
Viking
Hardcover. 416 pages.
Pre-order: Amazon | Bookshop.org

From Goodreads:
"It is 1486 and Venice is a wealthy, opulent center for trade. Orsola Rosso is the eldest daughter in a family of glassblowers in Murano, the island revered for the craft. As a woman, she is not meant to work with glass—but she has the hands for it, the heart, and a vision. When her father dies, she teaches herself to make beads in secret, and her work supports the Rosso family fortunes.

Skipping like a stone through the centuries, in a Venice where time moves as slowly as molten glass, we follow Orsola and her family as they live through creative triumph and heartbreaking loss, from a plague devastating Venice to Continental soldiers stripping its palazzos bare, from the domination of Murano and its maestros to the transformation of the city of trade into a city of tourists. In every era, the Rosso women ensure that their work, and their bonds, endure.

Chevalier is a master of her own craft, and The Glassmaker is as inventive as it is spellbinding: a mesmerizing portrait of a woman, a family, and a city that are as everlasting as their glass."

I read Tracy Chevalier's The Girl With a Pearl Earring years and years ago and really enjoyed it, so I'm pretty thrilled to see this new historical fiction work from her. 

Bear by Julia Phillips
Publication: June 25th, 2024
Hogarth
Hardcover. 416 pages.
Pre-order: Amazon | Bookshop.org

From Goodreads:
"They were sisters and they would last past the end of time.

Sam and her sister, Elena, dream of another life. On the island off the coast of Washington where they were born and raised, they and their mother struggle to survive. Sam works long days on the ferry that delivers wealthy mainlanders to their vacation homes while Elena bartends at the local golf club, but even together they can’t earn enough to get by, stirring their frustration about the limits that shape their existence.

Then one night on the boat, Sam spots a bear swimming the dark waters of the channel. Where is it going? What does it want? When the bear turns up by their home, Sam, terrified, is more convinced than ever that it’s time to leave the island. But Elena responds differently to the massive beast. Enchanted by its presence, she throws into doubt the plan to escape and puts their long-held dream in danger.

A story about the bonds of sisterhood and the mysteries of the animals that live among us — and within us — Bear is a propulsive, mythical, rich novel from one of the most acclaimed young writers in America."

I'm always drawn to books like these that leave me feeling a bit uncertain about what to expect, but I have really high hopes for this one and can't wait to check it out.

Can't-Wait Wednesday: Daughter of Calamity by Rosalie M. Lin, Tiananmen Square by Lai Wen, & The Fire Within Them by Matthew Ward

       

 Can't-Wait is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights exciting upcoming releases that we can't wait to be released! This meme is based off of Jill @ Breaking the Spine's Waiting on Wednesday meme.

Daughter of Calamity by Rosalie M. Lin
Publication: June 18th, 2024
St. Martin's Press
Hardcover. 352 pages.
Pre-order: Amazon | Bookshop.org

From Goodreads:
"Jingwen spends her nights as a showgirl at the Paramount, one of the most lavish clubs in Shanghai, competing ruthlessly to charm wealthy patrons. To cap off her shifts, she runs money for her grandmother, the exclusive surgeon to the most powerful gang in the city. A position her grandmother is pressuring her to inherit…

When a series of cabaret dancers are targeted―the attacker stealing their faces―Jingwen fears she could be next. And as the faces of the dancers start appearing on wealthy foreign socialites, she realizes Shanghai's glittering mirage of carefree luxury comes at a terrible price.

Fighting not just for her own safety but that of the other dancers―women who have simultaneously been her bitterest rivals and only friends―Jingwen has no choice but to delve into the city's underworld. In this treacherous realm of tangled alliances and ancient grudges, silver-armed gangsters haunt every alley, foreign playboys broker deals in exclusive back rooms, and the power of gods is wielded and traded like yuan. Jingwen will have to become something far stranger and more dangerous than her grandmother ever imagined if she hopes to survive the forces waiting to sell Shanghai's bones."

I've just finished an ARC of this and it's not quite what I expected, but still a really interesting premise! I'm excited for it to be released. 

Tiananmen Square by Lai Wen
Publication: June 4th, 2024
Spiegel & Grau
Paperback. 528 pages.
Pre-order: Amazon | Bookshop.org

From Goodreads:
"As a child in Beijing in the 1970s, Lai lives with her family in a lively, working-class neighborhood near the heart of the city. Thoughtful yet unassuming, she spends her days with her friends beyond the attention of her Her father is a reclusive figure who lingers in the background, while her mother, an aging beauty and fervent patriot, is quick-tempered and preoccupied with neighborhood gossip. Only Lai's grandmother, a formidable and colorful maverick, seems to really see Lai and believe that she can blossom beyond their circumstances.

But Lai is quickly awakened to the harsh realities of the Chinese state. A childish prank results in a terrifying altercation with police that haunts her for years; she also learns that her father, like many others, was broken during the Cultural Revolution. As she enters adolescence, Lai meets a mysterious and wise bookseller who introduces her to great works-Hemingway, Camus, and Orwell, among others-that open her heart to the emotional power of literature and her mind to thrillingly different perspectives. Along the way, she experiences the ebbs and flows of friendship, the agony of grief, and the first steps and missteps in love.

A gifted student, Lai wins a scholarship to study at the prestigious Peking University where she soon falls in with a theatrical band of individualists and misfits dedicated to becoming their authentic selves, despite the Communist Party's insistence on conformity-and a new world opens before her. When student resistance hardens under the increasingly restrictive policies of the state, the group gets swept up in the fervor, determined to be heard, joining the masses of demonstrators and dreamers who display remarkable courage and loyalty in the face of danger. As 1989 unfolds, the spirit of change is in the air…

Drawn from her own life, Lai Wen's novel is mesmerizing and haunting-a universal yet intimate story of youth and self-discovery that plays out against the backdrop of a watershed historic event. Tiananmen Square captures the hope and idealism of a new generation and the lasting price they were willing to pay in the name of freedom."

This sounds like some incredible historical fiction and I can't wait to have a chance to check it out. 

The Fire Within Them (The Soulfire Saga #2) by Matthew Ward
Publication: June 11th, 2024
Orbit
Paperback. 592 pages.
Pre-order: Amazon | Bookshop.org

From Goodreads:
"The second book in the action-packed new trilogy from epic fantasy author Matthew Ward, the Soulfire Saga is set in a world ruled by an immortal king, where souls fuel magic and a supernatural mist known as the Veil threatens to engulf the land. Perfect for readers of John Gwynne and Anthony Ryan.

The sprawling Kingdom of Khalad stands alone. Severed from the rest of the world by an ancient, arcane war, its folk toil behind a wall of living mist, beholden to an undead king and his barons.

But hope lies with two Kat, an accomplished thief, and Vallant, a rebel and folk hero. Together they will light a fire that will burn away the corruption and tyranny of King Diar's rule.

But only if they succeed . . ."

I need to catch up on this series because I'm excited to see what's next from Matthew Ward!

Can't-Wait Wednesday: Horror Movie by Paul Tremblay, Dancers of the Dawn by Zulekhá A. Afzal, & Such a Bad Influence by Olivia Muenter

       

 Can't-Wait is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights exciting upcoming releases that we can't wait to be released! This meme is based off of Jill @ Breaking the Spine's Waiting on Wednesday meme.

Horror Movie by Paul Tremblay
Publication: June 11th, 2024
William Morrow
Hardcover. 288 pages.
Pre-order: Amazon | Bookshop.org

From Goodreads:
"In June 1993, a group of young guerilla filmmakers spent four weeks making Horror Movie, a notorious, disturbing, art-house horror flick.

The weird part? Only three of the film’s scenes were ever released to the public, but Horror Movie has nevertheless grown a rabid fanbase. Three decades later, Hollywood is pushing for a big budget reboot.

The man who played “The Thin Kid” is the only surviving cast member. He remembers all too well the secrets buried within the original screenplay, the bizarre events of the filming, and the dangerous crossed lines on set that resulted in tragedy. As memories flood back in, the boundaries between reality and film, past and present start to blur. But he’s going to help remake the film, even if it means navigating a world of cynical producers, egomaniacal directors, and surreal fan conventions — demons of the past be damned.

But at what cost?"

I've enjoyed a number of Paul Tremblay's books and I'm really excited about this premise!

Dancers of the Dawn by Zulekhá A. Afzal
Publication: June 6th, 2024
Rock the Boat
Hardcover. 320 pages.
Pre-order: Amazon | Bookshop.org

From Goodreads:
"An epic story about truth, loyalty and betrayal.

Dancer. Warrior. Executioner.

Deep in the desert, under the blazing sun, an elite troupe of dancers are trained to harness their magic. They are the queen’s most formidable assassins. Aasira has one of the rarest talents – for she is a flame-wielder. Feared by all and envied by some, she uses her power to execute enemies of the crown.

Aasira’s greatest wish is to serve her queen. But on the eve of her graduation, with tensions rising among the dancers and secrets stirring in the shifting sand dunes, she begins to question whether she was truly born to kill. . ."

Isn't this cover gorgeous?  I'm always up to try out a new assassin fantasy!

Such a Bad Influence by Olivia Muenter
Publication: June 4th, 2024
Quirk Books
Hardcover. 336 pages.
Pre-order: Amazon | Bookshop.org

From Goodreads:
"Hazel Davis is drifting: she’s stalled in her career, living in a city she hates, and less successful than her younger sister @evelyn, a lifestyle influencer.

Evie came of age on the family YouTube channel after a viral video when she was five. Ten years older and spotlight-averse, Hazel managed to dodge the family business—so although she can barely afford her apartment, at least she made her own way. Evie is eighteen now, with a multimillion-dollar career, but Hazel is still protective of her little sister and skeptical of the way everyone seems to want a piece of her: Evie’s followers, her YouTuber boyfriend and influencer frenemies, and their opportunistic mother. So when Evie disappears one day during an unsettling live stream that cuts out midsentence, Hazel is horrified to have her worst instincts proven right.

As theories about Evie’s disappearance tear through the internet, inspiring hashtags, Reddit threads, and podcast episodes, Hazel throws herself into the darkest parts of her sister’s world to untangle the truth. After all, Hazel knows Evie better than anyone else . . . doesn’t she?"

Something about this one really intrigues and makes me curious to find out how it's executed.

Can't-Wait Wednesday: Service Model by Adrian Tchaikovsky, The Cautious Traveller's Guide to the Wastelands by Sarah Brooks, & The Last Song of Penelope by Claire North

      

 Can't-Wait is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights exciting upcoming releases that we can't wait to be released! This meme is based off of Jill @ Breaking the Spine's Waiting on Wednesday meme.

Service Model by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Publication: June 4th, 2024
Tordotcom
Hardcover. 384 pages.
Pre-order: Amazon | Bookshop.org

From Goodreads:
"A humorous tale of robotic murder from the Hugo-nominated author of Elder Race and Children of Time

To fix the world they first must break it further.

Humanity is a dying breed, utterly reliant on artificial labor and service. When a domesticated robot gets a nasty little idea downloaded into their core programming, they murder their owner. The robot then discovers they can also do something else they never did before: run away. After fleeing the household, they enter a wider world they never knew existed, where the age-old hierarchy of humans at the top is disintegrating, and a robot ecosystem devoted to human wellbeing is finding a new purpose."

I just finished an ARC of this and thought it was really fun and clever.  Tchaikovsky really is a master at crafting sci-fi tales and I'm excited for this one's release.

The Cautious Traveller's Guide to the Wastelands by Sarah Brooks
Publication: June 18th, 2024
Flatiron Books
Hardcover. 336 pages.
Pre-order: Amazon | Bookshop.org

From Goodreads:
"It is said there is a price that every passenger must pay. A price beyond the cost of a ticket.

It is the end of the 19th Century and the world is awash with marvels. But there is nothing so marvellous as the Wastelands: a terrain of terrible miracles that lies between Beijing and Moscow.

Nothing touches this abandoned wilderness except the Great Trans-Siberian Express: an impenetrable train built to carry cargo across continents, but which now transports anyone who dares to cross the shadowy Wastelands.

On to the platform steps a curious cast of characters: a grieving woman with a borrowed name, a famous child born on the train and a disgraced naturalist, all heading for the Great Exhibition in Moscow.

But the old rules are changing, and there are whispers that the train isn't safe. As secrets and stories begin to unravel the passengers and crew must survive their journey through the Wastelands together, even as something uncontrollable seems to be breaking in . . ."

I am in love with everything about the sound of this book! I have an ARC that I can't wait to dive into soon.

The Last Song of Penelope (The Songs of Penelope #3) by Claire North
Publication: June 4th, 2024
Orbit
Hardcover. 400 pages.
Pre-order: Amazon | Bookshop.org

From Goodreads:
"Many years ago, Odysseus sailed to war and never returned. For twenty years his wife Penelope and the women of Ithaca have guarded the isle against suitors and rival kings. But peace cannot be kept forever, and the balance of power is about to break . . .

A beggar has arrived at the Palace. Salt-crusted and ocean-battered, he is scorned by the suitors - but Penelope recognises in him something her husband, Odysseus, returned at last. Yet this Odysseus is no hero. By returning to the island in disguise, he is not merely plotting his revenge against the suitors - vengeance that will spark a civil war - but he's testing the loyalty of his queen. Has she been faithful to him all these years? And how much blood is Odysseus willing to shed to be sure?

The song of Penelope is ending, and the song of Odysseus must ring through Ithaca's halls. But first, Penelope must use all her cunning to win a war for the fate of the island and keep her family alive, whatever the cost . . ."

Claire North has such a unique writing style and I'm curious to check out this final installment.