26 YA Sci-Fi Fantasy Books That Are Hitting Shelves This Summer

    Leap out of this world and into the pages of a new one this summer!

    Rachel Strolle
    by Rachel Strolle

    BuzzFeed Contributor

    1. Rising Like a Storm by Tanaz Bhathena

    Farrar, Straus and Giroux, Nettie Photography

    Release date: June 22

    In case you haven't read book one, Hunted by the Sky: Gul lives in the kingdom of Ambar, where girls with birthmarks like the one she has — a star on her arm — have been disappearing for years. When a group of rebel women take her in and train her to be a warrior, Gul wants nothing more than revenge on those who killed her parents because of her mark. Cavas will do anything to save his terminally ill father, even signing over his life to the king's army. But when he meets a mysterious girl in the capital's bazaar, he finds himself drawn towards her mission of vengeance.

    What it's about: King Lohar may be out of the picture, but Gul and Cavas still face danger from the throne. With an usurper queen in power, and Cavas and Gul's roles in the king's death not entirely unnoticed, a slipup leads to Cavas's capture. Now it's up to Gul to train an army of warriors...alone. With stellar characters, epic battles, and exploration of power, this spectacular duology comes to a roaring end.

    Get it from Bookshop, Target, or from your local indie at Indiebound here.

    2. Witchshadow by Susan Dennard

    Tor Teen, Via susandennard.com

    Release date: June 22

    In case you haven't yet read book one Truthwitch: The story takes place on a continent where many people are born with a "witchery." Safi, a truthwitch with the rare ability to tell truth from lie, must flee to keep from being killed or captured for her power. Along the journey, other characters take the lead, including her threadwitch best friend Iseult, a windwitch prince, and a bloodwitch mercenary monk.

    What it's about: The fourth entry of this magnificently magical series is Iseult's book, following her as she flees Cartorra after a very brief reunion with her heartsister Safi. As Iseult flees Cartorra with her plans to save Safi, Aeduan, the Bloodwitch, and Vivia, the currently crownless queen of Nubrevna also find themselves on adventures.

    Get it from Bookshop or from your local indie at Indiebound here.

    3. My Contrary Mary by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows

    HarperTeen, Via ladyjanies.blogspot.com

    Release date: June 22

    What it's about: Mary is the queen of Scotland, betrothed to Francis, the crown prince of France. But this version of history exists in the world of My Lady Jane, where shapeshifters called Eðians live (one of whom is Mary herself). But when Francis's father dies suspiciously, court takes a dangerous turn that both Mary and Francis, along with Ari, the daughter of noted seer Nostradamus, will be forced to navigate. ⠀

    Get it from Bookshop, Target, or from your local indie at Indiebound here.

    4. This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron

    Bloomsbury YA, Via kalynnbayron.com

    Release date: June 29

    What it's about: Briseis can grow plants from seeds to blooms with a single touch, but she doesn't quite know how to control her gift. When her aunt dies and leaves her a dilapidated, rural New York estate, it comes with specific instructions, an apothecary, and a garden filled with some of the world's deadliest botanicals. And as strangers begin to arrive, asking for elixirs and such, Bri discovers that not only does she have a talent for making them, but there is also more to her inheritance than she ever could have imagined. Not only is this one of the best books of the year, but you'll be anxiously awaiting book two from the second you finish this one.

    Get it from Bookshop or from your local indie at Indiebound here.

    5. The Chariot at Dusk by Swati Teerdhala

    Katherine Tegen Books, Via swatiteerdhala.com

    Release date: June 29

    In case you haven't yet read book one, The Tiger at Midnight: Esha is the Viper, a highly skilled assassin for the rebel group, tasked with taking down General Hotha. Kunal is Hotha's nephew, a soldier since childhood, tasked with upholding the power of the King. When their paths cross, both believe they're the one calling the shots, even as their feelings toward each other shift.

    What it's about: Post-Kunal's betrayal, Esha is pretending to be Princess Reha while sending soldiers to collect Reha and Kunal. But Kunal and Reha are being tracked in the remote mountains by the Yavar, who are searching for legendary artifacts that will let them release destructive magic back into the lands.

    Get it from Bookshop, Target, or from your local indie at Indiebound here.

    6. Gearbreakers by Zoe Hana Mikuta

    Feiwel Friends, Via zoehanamikuta.com

    Release date: June 29

    What it's about: Are you ready for a spectacular sapphic sci-fi? Eris Shindanai is a Gearbreaker, a rebel who specializes in taking down Windups (giant mechanized weapons used in Godolia's tyrannical rule) from the inside. Finding herself in a Godolia prison after a mission gone wrong, Eris meets a mortal enemy — a cybernetically enhanced Windup pilot named Sona. But as the pair get to know each other, Eris learns that Sona is attempting to destroy Godolia from within.

    Get it from Bookshop or from your local indie at Indiebound here.

    7. Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim

    Knopf, Via elizabethlim.com

    Release date: July 6

    What it's about: After Shiori, the only princess of Kiata, loses control of her forbidden magic on the morning of the betrothal ceremony she never wanted, her stepmother Raikama banishes her — turning her brothers into cranes and making it so that every word that escapes Shiori's lips will cost a brother his life. On her journey to find her brothers, voiceless and alone, she realizes that she has to place her trust in the boy she fought so hard not to marry. Lim's newest series starter is a stunning fairytale adventure.

    Get it from Bookshop, Target, or from your local indie at Indiebound here.

    8. What We Devour by Linsey Miller

    Sourcebooks Fire, Via goodreads.com

    Release date: July 6

    What it's about: Lorena spends her days as an undertaker in her small town, hiding the power of the banished gods, the Noble and the Vile, inside of her. But when a bloodthirsty crown prince comes to arrest her best friend Julian's father, she offers him a deal. Julian's father gets a fair trial, and the crown receives her service. And as the Door that holds back the Vile is weakening, the prince needs all the help he can get.

    Get it from Bookshop, Target, or from your local indie at Indiebound here.

    9. All These Warriors by Amy Tintera

    HMH Books for Young Readers, David Heisler (photographer)

    Release date: July 13

    In case you haven't read book one All These Monsters: Clara is desperate to fight back against her abusive father, but also against the monsters (called scrabs) that are currently ravaging the earth. So when she gets the chance to join a crew that fight the scrabs, she takes it. And while scrabs are violent and unpredictable, there might be bigger evils in her world.

    What it's about: In the final volume of this action-packed duology, Clara and Team Seven end up in the center of a global conspiracy. After the discovery that the scrabs have been trained and weaponized by MDG (a private security firm hired by the government), Clara and the rest of the team set off with the intent of exposing the truth.

    Get it from Bookshop or from your local indie at Indiebound here.

    10. The Taking of Jake Livingston by Ryan Douglass

    Putnam, Via goodreads.com

    Release date: July 13

    What it's about: It's hard enough fitting in at St. Clair Prep, where he is one of the only Black kids, but Jake Livingston also see the dead. Though most are harmless, stuck in a loop where they relive their death over and over again, every rule about ghosts is thrown out when Sawyer — who shot and killed 16 kids at a local high school last year before taking his own life — arrives. As Sawyer begins to haunt Jake, high school turns into a survival game, as bodies begin turning up in his neighborhood. This debut is exceptional, and will stick with you for a long time.

    Get it from Bookshop, Target, or from your local indie at Indiebound here.

    11. The Lady or the Lion by Aamna Qureshi

    CamCat Books, Via goodreads.com

    Release date: July 20

    What it's about: When the Badshah of Marghazar is blamed for a deadly assault on a summit of neighboring leaders, he opens the gates to foreigners for the first time in centuries. Durkhanai, the crown princess and granddaughter of the Badshah, is allying herself with Ambassador Asfandyar Afridi, despite the fact that he has admitted he is a spy. But Durkhani is determined to expose those responsible for the attack, especially as a mysterious illness begins to spread through the village.

    Get it from Bookshop or from your local indie at Indiebound here.

    12. The Wild Ones by Nafiza Azad

    Margaret K. McElderry Books, Jas Deol

    Release date: August 3

    What it's about: When Paheli escapes the man her mother sold her to in exchange for a favor, she comes across a boy with stars in his eyes. Before he disappears, he tosses her a box of stars that grants her access to the Between, a place of pure magic. Along her journey, she collects girls who have been hurt, abandoned, and betrayed, and they travel the world to save others. But it turns out the boy who gave Paheli the stars is in danger; and if he's not safe, neither are they. Azad's writing is gorgeous, and this cast of characters is remarkably easy to fall in love with.

    Get it from Bookshop, Target, or from your local indie at Indiebound here.

    13. The Great Destroyers by Caroline Tung Richmond

    Scholastic Press, Via carolinetrichmond.com

    Release date: August 3

    What it's about: In Jo's world, the Cold War rages. Wars are won with giant mechanical soldiers, and international rivalries play out at the Pax Games — an Olympian competition of mecha soldiers that the USSR has won every time since the beginning. Jo knows a ton about mechas, as she was raised in her father's repair shop, and gets the chance to compete for the US at the very last minute. But when competitors start dying in the arena, it's clear that this is no ordinary Pax Games.

    Get it from Bookshop, Target, or from your local indie at Indiebound here.

    14. The Sisters of Reckoning by Charlotte Nicole Davis

    Tor Teen, Via charlottenicoledavis.com

    Release date: August 10

    In case you haven't yet read book one The Good Luck Girls: Aster, Violet, Tansy, Mallow, and Clementine are five girls in the country of Arketta, sold to a "welcome house" as children and branded with cursed markings. The girls have to escape when Clementine accidentally murders a man, and as they run, they're pursued by Arketta's most powerful forces, both human and inhuman.

    What it's about: Aster has remained in Arketta, helping more girls escape, while the others have new lives across the border in Ferron. When a new welcome house opens, Aster is filled with an ambitious plan to free all dustbloods, who live as prisoners to Arketta's landmasters and debt slavery. Clementine and the others return to become part of a group of fearless fighters seeking power and freedom for Arketta's dustbloods. If you're a found family lover and haven't gotten your hands on this series yet, now is the perfect time.

    Get it from Bookshop, Target, or from your local indie at Indiebound here.

    15. The Devil Makes Three by Tori Bovalino

    Page Street Kids, Matt Moss

    Release date: August 10

    What it's about: Tess's summer seems to be less like the alone time she was hoping for and is instead being filled with a summer job at her boarding school library and dealing with the intolerable patrons — especially Eliot. Eliot is constantly requesting forbidden grimoires, and one day a bargain leads to the discovery of an ancient book, and the accidental release of a book-bound demon. To stay free, the demon needs Tess — and manipulates ink and plagues Tess's dreams to do so.

    Get it from Bookshop or from your local indie at Indiebound here.

    16. Redemptor by Jordan Ifueko

    Amulet Books, TeniKomo Photography

    Release date: August 17

    In case you haven't yet read book one Raybearer: Tarisai was raised in isolation by The Lady, a mysterious and often absent mother. The Lady sends Tarisai to the capital of Aritsar to compete for the chance to be chosen as one of the Crown Prince's Council of 11. Those chosen for the Council are joined through the Ray, a bond deeper than blood and something Tarisai craves. But she's been compelled to obey The Lady's wish that she kill the Crown Prince once she gains his trust.

    What it's about: Months into her reign as empress, Tarisai must anoint a council of her own before descending into the Underworld — a sacrifice she is determined to survive. While fielding assassination attempts and a handsome new stranger, child spirits are demanding she pay for the empire's past sins. Raybearer is one of the most exceptional YA fantasies of all time, and this sequel is bound to be magnificent.

    Get it from Bookshop, Target, or from your local indie at Indiebound here.

    17. The Endless Skies by Shannon Price

    Tor Teen, Via spricewrites.com

    Release date: August 17

    What it's about: Rowan is about to become a Leonodai Warrior, an elite magical fighter that protects Heliana, a floating city, from the world of humans. Following the onset of a deadly disease that strikes the city's children, Rowan finds herself left behind, as two of her closest friends are sent on a dangerous mission. But soon Rowan learns of a secret that could jeopardize not only that mission, but the fate of the entire city. This action-packed standalone is sure to delight fans of Sky in the Deep and Wonder Woman.

    Get it from Bookshop, Target, or from your local indie at Indiebound here.

    18. Cazadora by Romina Garber

    Wednesday Books, Drew Bordeaux

    Release date: August 17

    In case you haven't yet read book one Lobizona: Manuela, or Manu, is on the run from her father's Argentine crime family, and she's living as an undocumented immigrant in a small apartment in Miami, Florida. After her mother is arrested by ICE, Manu follows the only clue she has about her past, a mysterious "Z" emblem that leads her to a world connected to her late father's criminal past and filled with Argentine folklore.

    What it's about: Manu and her friends have crossed into Kerana, a cursed realm in Argentina, chasing down leads about a mythical resistance manada called the Coven that may or may not exist. Not only that, but they also have to avoid all the traps that are set up by the Cazadores to try to capture Manu. When the Coven answers their call, Manu has to discover if she's the right one to lead them, and if she's willing to trust them.

    Get it from Bookshop or from your local indie at Indiebound here.

    19. Vampires, Hearts, and Other Dead Things by Margie Fuston

    Via margiefuston.com, Simon & Schuster

    Release date: August 24

    What it's about: Since the first vampire revealed his existence on live TV, Victoria and her dad have shared a love of the undead, even when the vampires were driven back into hiding. After her dad is diagnosed with terminal cancer, Victoria is determined to find a vampire so that she can become one and save her dad. With the help of her estranged best friend Henry, she heads to New Orleans, where she meets Nicholas. Before he can potentially give her what she desires, she'll need to prove she loves life enough to live forever, even if the challenges feel like a betrayal while her father is dying. If you love when a book reaches out from the pages and grabs your heart tightly, you need to pick this one up.

    Get it from Bookshop, Target, or from your local indie at Indiebound here.

    20. Bad Witch Burning by Jessica Lewis

    Delacorte, Via goodreads.com

    Release date: August 24

    What it's about: Katrell is paid by clients to talk to their deceased loved ones, even if they don't pay her enough. So when a ghost warns her to stop the summonings, she's willing to call the bluff. And when a summoning accidentally raises someone from the dead, she realizes that it's a much more lucrative business idea. But dark forces are closing in, because magic doesn't come for free.

    Get it from Bookshop or from your local indie at Indiebound here.

    21. The Witch Haven by Sasha Peyton Smith

    Simon & Schuster Books for Young, MARINA WILLIAMS PHOTOGRAPHY

    Release date: August 31

    What it's about: In 1911 New York City, a man has been found dead at the feet of seamstress Frances Hallowell, her scissors in his neck, and she can't explain how they got there. Sweeping in to her rescue are two nurses who whisk her off to Haxahaven Sanitarium, which is a front for a school for witches. While at school, she finds herself drawn to a boy named Finn who appears in her dreams, and claims he can teach her more about magic than the school. Magic that could help her discover what happened months prior when her brother mysteriously died.

    Get it from Bookshop, Target, or from your local indie at Indiebound here.

    22. Forestborn by Elayne Audrey Becker

    Tor Teen, Judy Laing

    Release date: August 31

    What it's about: When Finley, Rora's best friend and a young prince, catches the magical illness that has been erupting across the kingdom, his only hope is stardust. But stardust is rare and can only be found deep in the wilderness — a wilderness where Rora grew up, and where all those born are born magical. Rora, alongside her brother and the obstinate, older prince who decides to come with, must survive sentient forests and unknown creatures among a magical wood.

    Get it from Bookshop or from your local indie at Indiebound here.

    23. The City Beautiful by Aden Polydoros

    Inkyard Press, Via adenpolydoros.com

    Release date: September 7

    What it's about: Alter Rosen lives in 1893 Chicago, dreaming of the day he'll be able to bring his mother and sisters from Romania to America, a dream that starts to slip away after the murder of his best friend, Yakov. Alter is now posessed by Yakov's dybbuk, with only days before the dybbuk takes over his body completely, and he's thrown into the arms of a dangerous boy from his past who will help him track down the killer.

    Get it from Bookshop, Target, or from your local indie at Indiebound here.

    24. The Bones of Ruin by Sarah Raughley

    Simon Pulse, Via sarahraughley.com

    Release date: September 7

    What it's about: Iris is an African tightrope walker in Victorian England, and she has a secret: She cannot die. When she gets drawn into the circle of Adam Temple, and with him the mysterious order of the Enlightenment Committee, it seems like he could have the answers to who she really is. But the Committee claims that the world is ending, and that they are responsible for deciding who lives. To choose a leader, they are holding the Tournament of Freaks, and Adam wants Iris to be his champion. Raughley is an absolute champion of inventive SFF, and this book is sure to be a masterpiece.

    Get it from Bookshop, Target, or from your local indie at Indiebound here.

    25. A Dark and Starless Forest by Sarah Hollowell

    HMH Books for Young Readers, Via sarahhollowell.com

    Release date: September 14

    What it's about: In this stunning and atmospheric debut fantasy, Derry and her eight siblings are separated from the rest of the world, isolated in a house by the lake near a menacing forest, as the world is not safe for those with magic. Until the night her eldest sister disappears. Jane and Derry swore to each other that they’d never go into the forest, not after their last trip ended in blood, but Derry is sure she saw Jane walk into the trees. When another sibling goes missing and Frank’s true colors start to show, feeling safe is no longer an option. Derry will risk anything to protect the family she has left. Even if that means returning to the forest that has started calling to Derry in her missing siblings’ voices.

    Get it from Bookshop, Target, or from your local indie at Indiebound here.

    26. The Lost Girls by Sonia Hartl

    Page Street, Via soniahartl.com

    Release date: September 14

    What it's about: The stakes are high in this fangtastic, John Tucker Must Die–esque, contemporary vampire story. Holly Liddell was promised eternal love by Elton Irving, all the way back in 1987. But 34 years later, Holly is still a 16-year-old (albeit a vampiric, single one). But things change when she meets Rose and Ida, both also turned into vampires by Elton and then cast away in 1954 and 1921 respectively. And they plan to kill Elton and want Holly's help. Though initially reluctant, when she meets and begins to fall for a girl named Parker, who Elton has his sights set on, she begins to reconsider.

    Get it from Bookshop or from your local indie at Indiebound here.