Month in Review: July 2026

We're (somehow) already almost a week into August, but I still need to take a second to take a look at July. It was a weird month in the sense that I can't immediately place what happened in July (it was a long month, but where did it go??), but I also had some pretty great times. Life is definitely still throwing a lot of ups and downs at me and it's a struggle at times, but we're hanging in there! Was July weird for anyone else? I hope you all are having a really lovely summer so far!

In personal news, not a lot to report! Work's been really busy despite summer being the slower season (or so I've been told, haha), but I'm getting used to things and I think figuring out a decent routine these days. I'm still doing aerial regularly, and I also added in a few dance classes during the week at a local studio, and--as someone who has zero dance background--it is the most humbling thing I've done, haha--and also a lot of fun! I really love a challenge (and it's definitely a challenge), but I'm having a great time and hoping it can transfer over to aerial as well. 

In reading news, it was overall a pretty good month! I read a lot of really great books this month and I finally feel like I'm getting back into a bit of a groove with readings, so (fingers crossed) hopefully it continues in August. I had a blast reading Islington's upcoming sci-fi debut, Scion, and I was also really pleasantly surprised by Jen Julian's The Winter Folk. The book I least enjoyed was probably Orbital, and I feel like it's just because it didn't click with me for some reason, which was a bit of a bummer because I love the concept (and the cover!). I'm also finally almost finished up with a hefty tome I've been working my way through, The Cure for Living, so I'm hoping to finally have that review up in August, as well! I have so many great books lined up for August, though, so things are feeling good. 

How was your July and what books have you been reading? Any reading-related goals?  Let me know how your month was below and what you've been reading!

   

# books read: 12

A Plagued Sea by Kim Bo-Young

Source: NetGalley | Format: eARC
Thoughts: This was a super thought-provoking and weird little read that wasn't quite what I expected! I still generally enjoyed this one, though--I also still really love this cover!

Scion by James Islington

Source: Publisher | Format: Physical ARC
Thoughts: I had such a fun time with this! I'm very used to Islington's huge epic fantasy stories, so a shorter sci-fi thriller felt very different, and I found it be a huge page-turner. 

The Winter Folk by Jen Julian

Source: Publisher | Format: Physical ARC
Thoughts: I really loved this delightfully weird and horror-ish tale! I'm definitely going to try to prioritize getting around to Jen Julian's previous release that I've been meaning to read now!

The Lord of the Wood by E.M. Anderson

Source: NetGalley | Format: eARC
Thoughts: This was described as "cozy horror," and I'd probably agree that that's pretty much what it felt like! Definitely a worthwhile read if that's your vibe.

The Witch Below the Dreaming Wood by H.G. Parry

Source: Publisher | Format: eARC
Thoughts: I always enjoy Parry's reads, and this one was no change to that. This is also probably the first Arthurian-themed story that I actually enjoyed and followed along with, so that's also a win!

The Inevitable Ruin (Dungeon Crawler Carl #7) by Matt Dinniman

Source: Owned | Format: Audiobook
Thoughts: I finally got around to getting through this one and while I'm still enjoying the Dungeon Crawler Carl books, I definitely have found the last couple books to be a bit lackluster compared to the earlier ones. 

Fables, Vol. 1: Legends in Exile by Bill Willingham

Source: Library | Format: Paperback
Thoughts: I read the first volume of Fables years and years ago, but I remembered none of it so I decided to revisit it and give it a re-read in the hopes of finally continuing on with the series!

Orbital by Samantha Harvey

Source: Library | Format: Audiobook
Thoughts: This one had a really great premise, but unfortunately missed the mark a bit for me and I couldn't really get into many of these stories. 

Captives and Companions: History of Slavery and the Slave Trade in the Islamic World by Justin Marozzi

Source: Library | Format: Ebook
Thoughts: This was really fascinating--definitely a lot of information to take in, but extremely informative. 

The Girl from the Other Side: Siuil A Run, Vol. 4 by Nagabe

Source: Library | Format: Ebook
Thoughts: My hold finally came in at the library so I'm continuing the series! It's still grabbing me enough that I want to keep reading, but it's definitely a very slow one. I adore the illustrations, though!

The Bone Snatcher by Charlotte Salter

Source: Owned | Format: Hardcover
Thoughts: This was SO wonderfully creepy and weird. This is one of those middle grade books that makes me feel like it might terrify some young readers, but unlock a whole new world for others. Really fun read, and I'd recommend it!

Trash!: A Garbageman's Story by Simon Pare-Poupart

Source: Library | Format: Audiobook
Thoughts: This was an entirely random read that I grabbed because it showed up as a recommendation on Libby! I often end up listening to very random audiobooks because if I finish one without something immediately planned to read after, I tend to just pick the first thing I see that seems interesting on Libby, which has mixed results. Fortunately, this one was really interesting and has given me a new appreciation for garbagemen!

Wormwood Abbey by Christina Baehr

Source: Library | Format: Audiobook
Thoughts: This was another random Libby read! It was cute and I can see a lot of readers enjoying it, but it didn't really grab me that much or stand out and I won't be continuing the series, probably. 

To-Be-Finished:

None! (that I can recall...)

 

Prince of Swords (Arcana Academy #2) by Elise Kova

The Winter Folk by Jen Julian

The Witch Below the Dreaming Wood by H.G. Parry

The Lord of the Wood by E.M. Anderson

The Infinite State by Richard Swan

 Posts:

Month in Review: June 2026

Anticipated August 2026 Releases

Blog Memes:

Can't-Wait Wednesday:

7/1: Mulai by Munir Hachemi, Reliquary by Hannah Whitten, & Etna by Paul Yoon
7/8: The Dungeon Book by Gareth Hanrahan, The Salt King by Natasha Pulley, & Portrait of a Witch Undone by K.S. Shay
7/15: Bury Your Dead by Ana Paula Maia & Kitten by Stacey Yu

7/22: A Trade of Blood by Robert Jackson Bennett, Daggerbound by T. Kingfisher, and Freight by Ryan Lowell
7/29: A Plagued Sea by Kim Bo-young, The Calamities by Chuck Wendig, & Hiroshima, 8:15: The Lost Memoir by Kiyoshi Tanimoto

Review: The Sea Hides Its Dead by Megan Bontrager

The Sea Hide Its Dead by Megan Bontrager
Run For It

Publication Date: July 14th, 2026
Paperback. 368 pages.

About The Sea Hides Its Dead:

"The Descent meets The Ritual in a cult aquatic horror about a group of academics trapped in a sea cave who must reckon with eldritch horrors as they are forced to atone for their greatest sins.

ATONE OR DIE.

Grad student Caro has no idea what she wants to do with her life, but when an opportunity arises to act as a research assistant on an anthropological expedition for her professor and lover, Edward Beck, she doesn't hesitate.

Beck assembles a team of academics and professionals to study the ancient sea-based Cult of the Leviathan, and the expedition descends into the sea caves where the cult are said to have dwelt.

But when the cave entrance collapses, trapping them inside, the expedition will find they are not alone in the darkness. Surrounded by strange artefacts and scattered bones, an ancient trial has been set in motion. One by one, the members of the expedition will be tested and forced to atone for their greatest sin. . . or die."

I'm personally a huge fan of the type of horror that features the horror of the ocean, ancient or eldritch things, and throw in a bit of cave-related horror--all of that is absolutely my jam. Books like The Luminous Dead are some of my favorite horrors, so this really seemed like a perfect fit for me. 

I was immediately sold on this concept of a mysterious sea cave/rock formation thing that rises up out of the ocean one with without precedent and that no one can really explain or understand, but it's very clearly something. This story starts off strong: lots of mystery, a tense backdrop, some drama amongst the characters, and a cast of unique characters that all have a variety of hang-ups that they bring with them. Some of these components felt a bit familiar and this is definitely a general setup I've seen done before, but it's one that can work really well so I was very much on board for whatever was to come.

To this book's credit, it really starts off pretty quickly and doesn't take too long to get into things, which I think is a perk because this type of story is one that could easily have a slower start. But this quick jump into action, especially once our characters reach the cave, means that the entire dynamic of the story changed pretty quickly.

Caro, our protagonist, is an intelligent person who is grateful to have this opportunity to explore this new mystery, but she's still doing it stuck under the thumb of Beck, the married professor whom she's also having an affair with. I never found myself particularly invested in Caro herself, but I did appreciate how much depth her character was given and how much it all played into the events of the book, even though it did at times feel--once again--a bit familiar. I really appreciated that she was presented as a very flawed person who makes mistakes and is very aware of her mistakes, but still struggles to overcome them. That felt very real, very human, and very relatable.

I struggled a bit with the rest of the characters involved and didn't find myself caring for them that much. None of them ever really stood out and I often had difficulties remembering who was who, and although there are a handful of characters who we get to know a bit more because of things I can't say because of spoilers, I feel like the emotional threads or interest never went deep enough for me to care enough.. The only character I really wish we had gotten to know more was Mallory, as I found her the most intriguing of all the additional characters and thought she could've added even more to the story than she already did. I would actually have loved to read some of this story from her perspective.

Beck, unfortunately and probably unsurprisingly (especially if you've read the book) was probably my least favorite part of this book. I know he's meant to be annoying, but he felt like such a stereotypical archetype of what he was meant to be that it was almost too annoying. I've read this type of man a million times before: egotistical, arrogant, and condescending to everyone around him. Rather than find him entertaining or as a big obstacle for Caro to contend with, I found it slightly predictable and boring. I am sure that this is my own frustration with this type of character and others won't have these issues, but it did annoy me quite a bit throughout the reading experience.

The horror itself wasn't quite what I expected, but it was very well-written and multi-layered. I liked getting into the background of this sea cave and the lore surrounding it and how it worked, but the horror really leaned into more of a character-driven, psychological horror aspect that wasn't quite as compelling as I'd expected, but still offered a lot of really interesting scenes and food for though. It's the type of horror that really makes the characters--and ourselves--confront the worst parts of themselves, such as their regrets, bad memories, guilt, personal failings, and much more. There's also, of course, plenty external horror that comes in the form of gore and plenty of unsettling imagery that I think was written in a way that felt very visceral and truly horrific, and I applaud the author on creating those elements that really leaned into the horror of it all. However, the emotional and internal horror is really where this book seems to place its emphasis.

I do want to note that I think I quite liked the ending overall, and I think the final direction that Bontrager took the story in worked well with everything that was being done in the story. There are some elements here and there felt a little odd or convenient, but generally I think this was a solid story that told a tale of messiness and horror and wrapped it up pretty nicely--if you can call it that.

With everything I've said, I'm a little mixed on this book overall. I think my expectations didn't quite match up with everything in this book, but it wasn't a bad book by any means. I found that large aspects of it had a lot of promise, such the atmosphere, setting, and general concept, but something about it just didn't quite hit the mark for me. I found the background and mythology interesting, but they never quite grabbed me in the way I would have expected it to, and I almost wonder if it's because it was presented in ways that just never felt entirely cohesive and accessible. I kept waiting for the setting and plot to fully come together and grab me, but it never did. I'm very much inclined to believe this is simple a "me" problem because when I think about this book, every aspect of it sounds like it should be perfect, so perhaps something just didn't quite click with me.

Overall, I can see this working better for other readers, but it's still a really captivating horror with a fantastic premise and setting. If you're a fan of eerie ocean things and ancient cults and character-driven horror and the like, then you will definitely want to pick this one up. 

*I received a copy of The Sea Hides Its Dead courtesy of the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This has no effect on my rating or enjoyment.*

Buy the book: Amazon | Bookshop.org

Anticipated July 2026 Releases

July release are just around the corner, and there are (as ever) a ton of incredible new books about to be released into the wild! I’ve read/am reading a few ARCs and have some reviews lined up and so far it’s looking very promising, so I’m excited to check out everything. As always, I’ve collected a selection of just some of the books coming out next month, so be sure to take a look!

Be sure to let me know which July releases you're most looking forward to (even if it's not listed below) and happy reading, everyone!

The Eye of Leviathan by M.A. Carrick || July 14th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Not With a Bang by Temi Oh || July 14th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

The Winter Folk by Jen Julian || July 21st -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Mudlark by Mary Helen Specht || July 21st -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Harbour of Hungry Ghosts by Eliza Chan || July 28th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Carry Me to My Grave by Christopher Golden || July 21st -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Habits of the Sea by Shea Ernshaw || July 7th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

White Elephant by Jeyamohan, trans. Priyamvada Ramkumar || July 21st -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Band on the Run: Xenophon and the First Great Mercenary Army's Epic Escape from Persia by Robert L. O'Connor || July 28th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

The Lord of the Wood by E.M. Anderson || July 21st -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Prince of Swords (Arcana Academy #2) by Elise Kova || July 21st -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

The Sea Hides Its Dead by Megan Bontrager || July 14th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

The Mortons by Justine Larbalestier & Scott Westerfeld || July 21st -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

We Were Forbidden by Jacqueline Harpman, trans. Ros Schwartz || July 7th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

The Witch Below the Dreaming Wood by H.G. Parry || July 21st -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Country People by Daniel Mason || July 7th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

The Lure of Wolves and Whispers by Amanda Connolly || July 7th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Hinterlands: The New Cold War Brewing at the Peripheries of the West by Hanna Lucinda Smith || July 21st -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

The Dragon Has Some Complains by John Wiswell || July 14th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Erebus-13 by David Wellington || July 14th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Seven by Joann Kavenna || July 14th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

The Savage Landscape: How We Made the Wilderness by Cal Flyn || July 28th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Our Knives Will Save Us: Dispatches from a White Mountain Apache Chef by Nephi Craig || July 14th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Beginning Middle End by Valeria Luiselli || July 28th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

The Inn at the Foot of Mount Vengeance by Chiara Bullen || July 7th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

What are your anticipated July releases?