As the weather heats up, there’s no better time to escape to cooler, more pleasant realms in the pages of a book. Or more terrifying realms, if it’s horror that you seek—or alien worlds, if “escape” is the most important part of all that. Read on for io9’s monthly list of new sci-fi, fantasy, and horror books coming your way in June.
June 1-2
Grief Eater by Emma Osborne
“A transgressive, gory examination of queer identity and found family, Grief Eater sinks its teeth into trauma and what it means to be devoured by grief.” (June 1)
The Dawn Throne by Tara Sim
“This thrilling installment of the Dark Gods finds each of the heirs desperately attempting to pick up the shattered pieces of their lives. But gods don’t stay defeated for long, and soon an old enemy threatens the very existence of their realm.” (June 2)
Defrosted by Cristina LePort
“Two centuries into the future, cryogenically preserved scientist Dr. Peter Royce and his wife, Monica, awaken to a dystopian world where human worth is dictated by productivity and freedom is a distant memory. A devastating biological entity, known as mitocancer, looms as a global threat, and Peter must uncover the truth of his past to save humanity’s future.” (June 2)
The Heart of the Nhaga by Lee Young-do, translated by Anton Hur
“The master of Korean fantasy—often cited as the J.R.R. Tolkien of South Korea—Lee Young-do has created a tale of castles built on the backs of flying mantas, giant birdmen, heartless immortals, and a quest that will change the very nature of the world and its gods, available for the first time in English.” (June 2)
Hopeless Necromantic by Shiloh Briar
A newly recruited soldier named Halspira “must play escort to Sikras—a frustratingly handsome necromancer with the power to raise the dead—as he attempts a mission that he’s failed twice before: stopping an undead army at the edges of the kingdom. No one thinks he will succeed […] But the more time the two spend together, the more they find they can imagine a brighter future.” (June 2)
Hunger and Thirst by Claire Fuller
“Part gothic horror, part coming-of-age, and with a contemporary twist on the haunted-house story, Hunger and Thirst is a chilling tale of loneliness, of the dangerous line between wanting and needing, and of how far a person will go to truly belong.” (June 2)
The Jellyfish Problem by Tessa Yang
“A marine biologist makes the discovery of a lifetime when called to rescue the inhabitants of a small Maine island being menaced by a giant, glowing jellyfish.” (June 2)
Kissed by the Gods by Caty Rogan
“Leina must decide how much she’s willing to sacrifice to protect the family she has found […] and the one she left behind. Because while her divine gift could save the kingdom, it could also shatter its very foundation.” (June 2)
Man of My Dreams by Olivia Worley
“A romance author is shocked when one of her characters-in-progress seemingly comes to life… but is he too good to be true?” (June 2)
Mr. Yay by Emily Jane
“Witty, heartfelt, deeply weird, and utterly original, Mr. Yay explores how we grapple with inexplicable sudden shifts in the world around us and how to live when the past is different than what you remember.” (June 2)
Muñeca by Cynthia Gómez
“A vivid, surreal Gothic about a queer, Latine, working-class witch who sets out to rescue a bespelled heiress and loses control of her powers and her heart in the process.” (June 2)
Nobody’s Quest by Alyssa Day
“A high-stakes romantasy filled with slow-burn romance, found family, and a heroine who never expected to be anyone’s first choice.” (June 2)
Phoning Faust by Sophie Mutiara Nova
“Queer mixed Indonesian college student Dian Faust attempts to call the suicide hotline only to dial the wrong number, her finger slipping and typing in six three times (the mark of the Devil) … In this loose retelling of Goethe’s Faust, will Dian save her soul before time runs out—or will she fall prey to the renowned storytelling deception of the infamous Mephistopheles?” (June 2)
Samantha Spük: Paranormal Wedding Planner by Aleese Lin
“Samantha ‘Sabby’ Spük has spent her life trying to escape her family’s legacy of supernatural chaos … But then she gets the call: Grandma Rose is gone, and Sabby has been named executor of her (ahem, magically binding) will. Now Sabby is stuck in her dreaded hometown of Salem, Massachusetts, taking on odd jobs until she can sell the family home.” (June 2)
Shadows of Sparta by C.R. Jane
“Even as her heart is pulled in two directions, Helena fights to save Sparta in the face of a tyrannical king in this romantasy retelling of Helen of Troy.” (June 2)
Sublimation by Isabel J. Kim
“Doppelgängers, corporate intrigue, heartbreak, betrayal, and the harsh permanence of the border: Sublimation is a thrilling and provocative debut for fans of Severance that asks what you’d sacrifice for a different life.” (June 2)
The Typing Lady: And Other Fictions by Ruth Ozeki
“A spellbinding story collection from Booker Prize finalist Ruth Ozeki about the lives we almost lived, the people we can’t quite forget, and the stories that shape us long after the last page is turned.” (June 2)
The Unicorn Hunters by Katherine Arden
“In a desperate gamble to save her throne, a young monarch conceals a secret marriage in the shadows of an enchanted forest—and unknowingly alters the fate of her world.” (June 2)
Valet by J.P. Lacrampe
“A helper robot and his 35-year-old ward embark on a madcap adventure to save the fate of the family company in this whimsically speculative ode to Wodehouse’s Jeeves and Wooster.” (June 2)
June 6-9
Ring Shout on Saturn by Sheree Renée Thomas
“Pulsing with Hoodoo, music, and myth, this collection resonates with the profound rhythms of existence, proving that true freedom knows no bounds—not even the cold void of space.” (June 6)
A Dance With the Fae Prince by Elise Kova
“Fall in love with the Fae Prince in this captivating installment of the Married to Magic fantasy romance novels—swoonworthy, escapist standalone reads that combine wondrous fantasy worlds with slow-burn romance.” (June 9)
Endless Blue Beneath by Shannon English
“In this hauntingly romantic, queer fantasy, a young mermaid is forced to choose between her old life above the waves and her new life below them.” (June 9)
Fleet of Ghosts by Taylor Anderson
“An expeditionary force will discover unfamiliar lands, fight deadly foes, and reveal secrets as they explore the mysterious new earth they now call home in this gripping alternate history adventure set in the world of the Destroyermen series.” (June 9)
Fresh Start by Johnny Worthen
“A ship, a gun, and a nice teal robe to find one killer on a planet of criminals: will Qays Mendoza get the answers he is looking for?” (June 9)
Headlights by CJ Leede
An FBI agent who’s just about to retire gets pulled back in when a gruesome case emerges from the past and threatens his future. Described as being “perfect for fans of The Shining and Longlegs.” (June 9)
Her Sharp Embrace by Kate Koenig
“The first in a sweeping queer fantasy duology set in a shimmering, New Orleans-inspired world.” (June 9)
Inkpot Gods by Seanan McGuire
“Can the gods of today defeat the evils of their maker, or will the legacy of the most powerful alchemist the world has ever known prove to be their undoing?” (June 9)
It Came From Neverland by Cynthia Pelayo
“Peter Pan meets Stephen King’s It in this twisted horror retelling of a classic childhood fairy tale set during WWI.” (June 9)
Light Wielder by Rachel Schneider
“War rages, loyalties are tested, and love is more perilous than ever in this thrilling and eagerly awaited sequel to the breakout hit Metal Slinger.” (June 9)
Obstetrix by Naomi Kritzer
“Doctor Liz has just been acquitted for performing the last abortion in North Dakota when she’s kidnapped by a fundamentalist cult. Guarded, isolated, without access to the outside world, Liz nevertheless is treated with respect as the only doctor on the compound […] She must escape and bring help to the girls trapped at the compound, if it’s the last thing she does.” (June 9)
Our Sister’s Keeper by Jasmine Holmes
“A gripping blend of historical fiction and Southern gothic psychological horror, Our Sister’s Keeper is a fierce exploration of Black sisterhood, rage, and resistance.” (June 9)
The Reimagining of Thornwood House by Jaleigh Johnson
“A witch and her young ward discover a magical, walking house and learn the true meaning of home in this cozy, enchanting novel.” (June 9)
The Silent Paths of Night by David R. Slayton
The sequel to Dark Moon, Shallow Sea sees Raef, a priest of the moon goddess, and Seth, a knight of the sun god, working to save the world from a demon determined to cause enough chaos to end the world. (June 9)
The Sourdough Compendium: Dark and Dangerous Fairy Tales by A.G. Slatter
“Stories from the world of All the Murmuring Bones and The Briar Book of the Dead, this is a compendium of fantastic tales from the dark gothic heart of the Sourdough universe. Witches, assassins, and pirates are brought to life in immersive, sinister, and magical prose.” (June 9)
Steelbound by W.A. Simpson
“In this powerful combination of dark romance and epic fantasy, an exiled princess and a chronomancer must unite, finally saving the Riven Isles.” (June 9)
This Immortal Heart by Jennifer Saint
“The epic, captivating tale of Aphrodite, the goddess of love, who must reconcile her mind and heart when she is drawn against all odds to Ares, the god of war.” (June 9)
A Trade of Blood by Robert Jackson Bennett
“Detective Ana Dolabra must prove a condemned man’s innocence and confront a terrifying magical technology in this fantasy-mystery.” (June 9)
The Traveler by Joseph Eckert
“The story of a reluctant time traveler and his extraordinary son and the bond between them that even millennia cannot break. An adventure full of heartbreak, hope, and futures beyond imagination.” (June 9)
Twenty Something Else by Stephanie Mack
“On the eve of her 40th birthday, a woman wakes up from a pickleball accident with the unexpected chance to relive her twenties in this sparkling novel.” (June 9)
The Unmagical Life of Briar Jones by Lex Croucher
“An extraordinary dark academia fantasy about dangerous privilege, corrupted power, and two former best friends caught on opposite sides of the secrets rotting at the heart of Britain’s most prestigious boarding school.” (June 9)
The Way It Haunted Him by Laura R. Samotin
“A terrifying and powerful dark academia novel about Jewish folklore, grief, and other things locked in the archives.” (June 9)
We Hexed the Moon by Mollyhall Seeley
“Bunny meets The Craft in this speculative debut about four best friends who perform a ritual on the moon in a last-ditch attempt to hold onto one another but are forced to reckon with the consequences.” (June 9)
White Lights by Lauren Kate
“When mysterious Rafe de la Cruz rolls into Desdemona’s life to recruit her to the elite film school Acheron, Dez has no reason to trust him—and no other option […] Soon, she’s dropped into Acheron’s cutthroat world of seductive intrigue, power on an otherworldly scale, and deadly competition.” (June 9)
June 16
Dhampira by Amy Pennza
“A long-lost noble of the ruthless vampire court discovers she might not need to choose between her two suitors in this blood-pounding new romantasy.” (June 16)
The Disco at the End of the World by Nathan Tavares
“This exhilarating and riotously entertaining science fiction romance blends queer counterculture, joy as resistance, and banging disco hits.” (June 16)
Exodus: The Helium Sea by Peter F. Hamilton
The epic conclusion of the Archimedes Engine duology is set in the universe of Exodus, a new sci-fi action-adventure RPG coming soon from Archetype Entertainment. (June 16)
Kill All Wizards by Jedediah Berry
“The barbarian traveled far to consult the wizards of the empire. Instead of lending their aid, they ensorcelled him, exploited his strength, and stole his sword … Now the barbarian plans to kill every wizard who wronged him, even if that means blending in with their vile society: dressing in finery, taking tea in exclusive clubs, and reserving the best box at the theater.” (June 16)
The Lychford Collection 2 by Paul Cornell
“Collected together for the first time: the second half of the delightful Witches of Lychford cozy fantasy series. A trio of witches (local priest, local crank, local magic shop owner) works to save the sleepy hamlet of Lychford—and by extension, the world!―from supernatural forces bent on its destruction.” (June 16)
Murder at the Spirit Lounge by Jess Kidd
“Beloved former nun Nora Breen returns, this time to track down a ghostly killer before it’s too late.” (June 16)
Queenswood by Kathleen Schwab
“A lush, lyrical historical fantasy debut that transports readers to 12th-century Ireland.” (June 16)
The Shape of Monsters by Tessa Gratton
“A talented heretic and the emperor she both loathes and loves will learn what monsters are really made of in the second installment of the Moon Heresies trilogy.” (June 16)
The Shrouded Queen by Ashley Tropea
“In the first book in this romantasy duology inspired by ancient Egyptian mythology, a slave and a princess switch places during an enemy attack, igniting parallel journeys of love and survival.” (June 16)
Six Savage Thrones by Holly Race
“A breathtaking epic of dragons, courtly intrigue, sapphic yearning, and six queens who will defy their destiny. Six Savage Thrones continues the Queens of Elben trilogy.” (June 16)
The Songs of the Dead by Brandon Sanderson and Peter Orullian
“A London rocker is faced with a life-or-death choice when he realizes that a powerful society of magic wielders are the only ones keeping London safe in this deft contemporary fantasy.” (June 16)
The Story Eaters of Yamm by Kevin Hincker
“An irreverent, suspenseful, profoundly original novel about a group of science fiction writers hired to gameplan an alien invasion, led by Larry Palczewski, a struggling novelist who can’t perceive time.” (June 16)
The Summer Fun Massacre by Craig DiLouie
“Surviving the massacre is just the beginning in this razor-sharp summer-camp slasher with a bloody twist.” (June 16)
Vervain Hollow by Catriona Silvey
A former cult member mourning the group’s lost leader realizes he still has a sinister power over her, even from beyond the grave. (June 16)
Voyagers by Meg Charlton
“When the Signal—a mysterious transmission pulsing from the edge of the solar system—arrives, the world changes overnight. With many believing this could be first contact with extraterrestrial life, humanity holds its breath. But for Alex, a thirtysomething lawyer who’s spent years distancing himself from the unexplainable, the Signal feels deeply personal—the opening of an old wound.” (June 16)
Wildflower by Becky Jenkinson
“A magical florist journeys from the kingdom’s capital to its wild woods to fulfill an unusual request and stumbles upon friendship, conspiracy, and the buds of new love in this debut cozy fantasy.” (June 16)
June 23
Asperfell by Jamie Thomas
“A noblewoman with hidden magic. An exiled prince with dark secrets. Only together can they escape their magical prison and save their realm.” Also releasing today are the other two books in this trilogy: The Forest Kingdom and The Shining City. (June 23)
The Bloodweaver by C.N. Kuster
“In a world where some can manipulate life with a single touch, siblings fight on rival sides, forced to reckon with the choices that led them there.” (June 23)
The Broken Hearts Agency by Clarence A. Haynes
“In a spicy, contemporary fantasy novel, private investigator Linda Villanueva runs a detective agency for troubled souls using her mystical powers—all while wrestling with her own heart.” (June 23)
Foundling Fathers by Meg Elison
“What would a teenage Benjamin Franklin do with an iPhone after he discovers porn? From Philip K. Dick Award-winning author Meg Elison comes this ingenious satire of U.S. history and modern technocracy gone terribly, terribly wrong.” (June 23)
Green City Wars by Adrian Tchaikovsky
“Philip Marlowe meets Redwall in this superior adult noir tale, where all the characters are animals, fighting for survival in the city underneath the humans.” (June 23)
Nemesis Mine by Amy Archer
“A not-so-evil villain strikes a deal with a not-quite-perfect hero to fake a feud, boost their reputations… and try not to fall in love in the process—in this hilarious, tender, sexy, and outrageously fun romp.” (June 23)
The Sixth Nik by Daniel Kraus
“Deep into space, far past the triworld outposts, beyond range of the lethal trollbot internet, soars The Sickness: a ship woven from biomatter and capable of reacting to every need of its human crew. Sisilla, a nine-year-old cultist with a brain enhanced by arcane tech known as ‘niks,’ has boarded to investigate the enigma of Fém—a plague-riddled planet that has abruptly gone rogue.” (June 23)
Slasher Summer by E.L. Chen
“In this campy love letter to the slasher films of the 1980s, seven friends reunite for a weekend of fun—only to be hunted down by a cold-blooded killer. But the real horror is not being able to escape who you were in high school.” (June 23)
Tales of a Monstrous Heart by Jennifer Delaney
This tribute to the Brontë sisters is described as “a delicious gothic fantasy, filled with forbidden romance, magic, and monsters.” (June 23)
Tillinghast by Clare Cavenagh
“Inspired by the real events of the New England vampire panic of the nineteenth century, Tillinghast is a novel to sink your teeth into: at once a gripping, atmospheric horror that turns the classic monster narrative on its head; a literary work of exceptional prose about giving into—or resisting—our impulses; and a remarkably moving father-daughter story that will leave you unexpectedly hopeful.” (June 23)
The Tinder Box by M.R. Carey
“A tale of spellcraft and devilry, of witchcraft and trickery—of the wickedness that resides within a few, the goodness that lies deep within us all, and the choices on which our lives turn.” (June 23)
A Treason of Magic by Melissa Marr
“In a world where magic, desire, and duty collide, it is beauty who is fated to kill the beast in a lush historical fantasy of secrets and star-crossed love.” (June 23)
June 30
All We Have Left by Emily Paxman
“Thirty years after the end of the world, a young woman enters into a marriage of convenience with a man she hardly knows so she can secure vital medical care for her beloved younger sister.” (June 30)
Bad Things Happen Here by Mark Morris
Twenty years after a group of college students is forced to tangle with a supernatural presence in a dorm room, they reunite—realizing that the horror they once faced is still causing chaos in their present-day lives. (June 30)
Carrion Crow by Heather Parry
“Strange, intense, and darkly beautiful, this haunting gothic novel is a story of mothers and daughters and the dual capacity for both great kindness and unfathomable cruelty.” (June 30)
A City Dreaming by Maurice Broaddus
“The third and final book in a trilogy where the futuristic technology of Black Panther meets the scale of The Expanse and the intricate political maneuverings of Game of Thrones.” (June 30)
Dead but Dreaming of Electric Sheep by Paul Tremblay
“Philip K. Dick meets the Coen Brothers in this genre-bending near-future tech nightmare that is as bitingly funny as it is horrifically believable.” (June 30)
Enter the Nightmare by Jayne Ann Krentz writing as Jayne Castle
“Nightmares become real when a woman trying to rebuild her life enters the Hotel of Dreams in this exhilarating Harmony novel.” (June 30)
Everybody’s Perfect by Jo Walton
“A gentle, shifting, structurally inventive narrative of startling beauty that will make you rethink everything you think you know about fantasy.” (June 30)
The Feywild Job by C.L. Polk
“Sparks fly when bitter exes are forced to team up for an elaborate Feywild heist.” (June 30)
The Ghost City by Ryan Pote
“An ancient secret hidden in a forgotten city holds the key to modern riches in this exhilarating sequel to Blood and Treasure.” (June 30)
Last of the First by L.E. Modesitt Jr.
The Saga of Recluce series continues as “the Mirror Lancer Alyiakal has been ordered to Mirror Lancer Headquarters and promoted to Subcommander, ostensibly to advise the high command on tactics—except Alyiakal’s successful military campaigns have removed most external threats to the Empire of Light.” (June 30)
Moss’d in Space by Rebecca Thorne
The new owner of a seemingly abandoned spaceship prepares for her first voyage, only to realize the moss covering everything is actually “an organic computer with a snarky attitude and serious abandonment issues,” (June 30)
Red X by David Demchuk
“Men are disappearing from Toronto’s gay village … And as the missing grow in number, those left behind begin to realize that whoever or whatever is taking these men has been doing so for longer than is humanly possible.” (June 30)
The River She Became by Emily Varga
“A high-stakes, action-packed romantasy where a relic hunter searches for an ancient fae object to restore the magic to her world but must learn to trust her own powers—and her heart.” (June 30)
Shades of Forever by Chris Kluwe
“In a heretofore calm pocket of a postapocalyptic world, a few survivors find they are not alone as they face a new reality rife with cosmic horrors.” (June 30)
The Siren of Groves Peak by Glenn Rolfe
“Groves Peak, Maine, is home to a dark secret. The successful lobstering community is ready for summer, but a murder at sea changes everything. Only one man knows the truth. As a supernatural fury, homegrown dangers, and buried secrets coalesce into a series of real-life nightmares, friendships are tested, and heroes will fall.” (June 30)
The Sisters and the Sword by Sam Davey
“In the second in the Pendragon Prophecy series, Sam Davey plunges into the heart of the Camelot story and the fraught relationships between grown siblings Morgause, Morgan, and Arthur.” (June 30)
Six of Crows: A Darker Shore: Letters from Ketterdam by Leigh Bardugo
“A new Grishaverse short story: a mystery told through found documents and set after the events of Crooked Kingdom.” (June 30)
These Immortal Truths by Rachelle Raeta
“An enchanting and romantic historical fantasy that explores not only what it means to live forever, but what it means to truly live at all.” (June 30)
The Winged Game by Sophie Kim
“Fantasy meets sports romance in this sizzling slow-burn novel in which the disgraced star of a brutal magical sport must team up with the rival who destroyed her career.” (June 30)
Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
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