10 Must-Read New Sci-Fi and Fantasy Books for June 2025

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The heat has officially arrived here in Kentucky, and with it comes one of my favorite seasonal rituals: the Summer Reading Stack. You know the one. The books you optimistically pile up beside your hammock, or your travel bag, or your nightstand, knowing full well you won’t read them all, but determined to try anyway.

As I prepare to disappear into as many pages as possible between projects and planning, I’ve rounded up some of the June 2025 SFF releases that have piqued my curiosity, stirred my genre-loving soul, and whispered, “read me next.” This month’s picks include vampire spaceships, cursed couriers, underwater palaces, swan-based political coups, and so much more.

So pour yourself a tall glass of iced tea (or Romulan ale — I won’t judge), and dive into this list of stellar speculative fiction releases.


10 Fantastical New SFF Books for June 2025

Black Salt Queen by Samantha Bansil

Out June 3 (Bindery Books)

A dying queen. An heir who can’t get it together. A rival powerful enough to tear down everything. This high-stakes island fantasy features matriarchal legacy, political power grabs, and complicated magic. It’s giving Game of Thrones meets The Green Bone Saga — and I am here for it.

Sale
Black Salt Queen (Letters from Maynara, 1)
  • Bansil, Samantha (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 416 Pages – 06/03/2025 (Publication Date) – Bindery Books (Publisher)

Of Monsters and Mainframes by Barbara Truelove

Out June 3 (Bindery Books)

If you told me this book was Dracula meets Battlestar Galactica, I’d throw my credits at the nearest data terminal. Set on the spaceship Demeter (a clever nod to Stoker), this queer horror story features space vampires, interstellar travel, and a haunted AI that might need to become Blade.

Of Monsters and Mainframes
  • Amazon Kindle Edition
  • Truelove, Barbara (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 407 Pages – 06/03/2025 (Publication Date) – Bindery Books (Publisher)

The Witch Roads by Kate Elliott

Out June 10 (Tor Books)

When the royal road trip from hell goes sideways (thanks, arrogant prince), it’s up to Elen the courier to get everyone out of a haunted town alive. This one promises political intrigue, ancient magic, and the kind of “why am I always the responsible one?” energy I feel deep in my soul.

The Witch Roads
  • Amazon Kindle Edition
  • Elliott, Kate (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 439 Pages – 06/10/2025 (Publication Date) – Tor Books (Publisher)

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V. E. Schwab

Out June 10 (Tor Books)

Three women. Three timelines. Vampires. Schwab’s gothic sensibilities are on full display in this “toxic lesbian vampire” novel (her words, not mine), and I’m already bracing for heartbreak, blood, and beautifully written trauma.

Sale
Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil
  • Hardcover Book
  • Schwab, V. E. (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 544 Pages – 06/10/2025 (Publication Date) – Tor Books (Publisher)

The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery by Clarence A. Haynes

Out June 17 (Legacy Lit)

A glamorous NYC publicist finds herself haunted — literally and figuratively — after a museum tragedy. Throw in a psychic caught in a ghostly love triangle and some deeply buried secrets, and this one sounds like The Sixth Sense meets Scandal with a Bronx twist.

The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery: A Novel
  • Hardcover Book
  • Haynes, Clarence A. (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 240 Pages – 06/17/2025 (Publication Date) – Legacy Lit (Publisher)

Seventhblade by Tonia Laird

Out June 17 (ECW Press)

An Indigenous warrior mother seeking vengeance in a colonized city? Yes, please. Add in morally gray alliances, godlike powers, and a blood debt that could ignite a revolution, and you’ve got a fantasy epic I’m bumping to the top of the list.

Seventhblade
  • Laird, Tonia (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 376 Pages – 06/17/2025 (Publication Date) – ECW Press (Publisher)

New SFF for Young Readers (and the Young at Heart)

A Forgery of Fate by Elizabeth Lim

Out June 3 (Knopf Books)

Beauty and the Beast but make it a con artist with prophetic painting powers? Lim continues to blend folklore and feminism with flair. Truyan agrees to marry the Dragon King to save her family, but we all know that kind of bargain never goes according to plan…

Sale
A Forgery of Fate
  • Hardcover Book
  • Lim, Elizabeth (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 480 Pages – 06/03/2025 (Publication Date) – Knopf Books for Young Readers (Publisher)

Among Ghosts by Rachel Hartman

Out June 24 (Random House)

A medieval town where freedom is earned by surviving a year and a day — until a ghost, a dragon, and a murder shake the walls. Hartman’s return promises haunting imagery and a layered coming-of-age story, perfect for fans of Seraphina and The Graveyard Book.

Among Ghosts
  • Amazon Kindle Edition
  • Hartman, Rachel (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 399 Pages – 06/24/2025 (Publication Date) – Random House Books for Young Readers (Publisher)

Embrace the Serpent by Sunya Mara

Out June 24 (HarperCollins)

A jeweler’s apprentice finds herself in the Serpent King’s castle. To survive, she marries him — but finds herself drawn to someone else entirely. Intrigue, jewels, forbidden romance… this one’s for readers who like their fantasy a little dark and a lot twisty.

Embrace the Serpent
  • Hardcover Book
  • Mara, Sunya (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 352 Pages – 06/24/2025 (Publication Date) – HarperCollins (Publisher)

A Treachery of Swans by A. B. Poranek

Out June 24 (Margaret K. McElderry Books)

Inspired by Swan Lake, this sapphic fantasy delivers palace politics, magical transformations, and a mission to restore a kingdom’s lost magic. When the king dies and blame falls on the wrong person, Odile must team up with the very person she betrayed to find the truth.

A Treachery of Swans
  • Amazon Kindle Edition
  • Poranek, A. B. (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 368 Pages – 06/24/2025 (Publication Date) – Margaret K. McElderry Books (Publisher)

Bonus Picks (Because I Can’t Help Myself)

New
On Alien Skies (The Icarus Code: A Sci-Fi Thriller Book 4)
  • Amazon Kindle Edition
  • Walker, Rysa (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 02/09/2026 (Publication Date) – Starry Night Books (Publisher)
New
Manifold Destiny: Hard Science Fiction (Metamorphosis Book 3)
  • Amazon Kindle Edition
  • Walton, C. R. (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 11/01/2025 (Publication Date)
New
Starblood (Book #8): A Sci Fi Progression Adventure Series
  • Amazon Kindle Edition
  • Prokofiev, Roman (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 10/07/2025 (Publication Date) – Magic Dome Books (Publisher)
New
Legacy – Shadows of War: Book Three of the Legacy Sci-Fi Adventure Series
  • Amazon Kindle Edition
  • Elliott, Bradley (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 433 Pages – 06/24/2025 (Publication Date) – Bolger Books (Publisher)
New
Killjoy: An MM Enemies to Lovers Sci-Fi Romance (Starhawk Book 2)
  • Amazon Kindle Edition
  • Lothy, Adrienne (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 446 Pages – 06/24/2025 (Publication Date) – Read the Stars Publishing (Publisher)
New
Kinetic Action (Alien Ship for Sale, Books 5-7): First Command Scifi Box Set (Realms)
  • Amazon Kindle Edition
  • Rozak, Miles (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 1014 Pages – 06/17/2025 (Publication Date) – Megaulcite Press (Publisher)
New
Heretic’s Path: A Science Fiction Adventure (Shadow Host Book 3)
  • Amazon Kindle Edition
  • Gorman, K. (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 06/17/2025 (Publication Date) – Aethon Books (Publisher)
New
Crazy Misadventures In Liquid Cool: Sci Fi / Cyberpunk Detective Novella Collection (Liquid Cool: Cases and Crazy Misadventures Book 1)
  • Amazon Kindle Edition
  • Dragon, Austin (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 257 Pages – 06/03/2025 (Publication Date) – Well-Tailored Books (Publisher)
New
Entanglement Book I: Strange Attraction: An LGBTQ+ Science Fantasy Serial
  • Amazon Kindle Edition
  • Gillespie, M. A. (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 113 Pages – 06/02/2025 (Publication Date)
New
Nostalgika: A Dark Science Fiction and Psychological Horror Novel (Science Fiction Anthologies Book 8)
  • Amazon Kindle Edition
  • Dunkler, A. R. (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 06/01/2025 (Publication Date)

That’s all for now, fellow explorers of the weird and wonderful. If you pick up any of these, let me know — I’m always up for a good bookish conversation, especially if it involves morally ambiguous magic or sentient spaceships.

Until next time: read deeply, imagine wildly, and remember… the TBR pile is infinite, but your joy is the compass.



The Eclectic Educator is a free resource for everyone passionate about education and creativity. If you enjoy the content and want to support the newsletter, consider becoming a paid subscriber. Your support helps keep the insights and inspiration coming!

Most Anticipated Fantasy Book Releases of 2025

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2025 promises a wealth of fantastic reads for fantasy enthusiasts, with a mix of new series, standalones, and eagerly awaited sequels. Here’s a list of the most anticipated releases, arranged chronologically, with detailed descriptions to help you plan your reading year.

SaleBestseller No. 1
Where the Forest Meets the Stars
  • Vanderah, Glendy (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 332 Pages – 03/01/2019 (Publication Date) – Lake Union Publishing (Publisher)
SaleBestseller No. 2
The Night Circus: A Novel
  • Trade paperback
  • Morgenstern, Erin (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 516 Pages – 07/03/2012 (Publication Date) – Anchor Books (Publisher)
SaleBestseller No. 3
A Court of Thorns and Roses (A Court of Thorns and Roses, 1)
  • Maas, Sarah J. (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 448 Pages – 06/02/2020 (Publication Date) – Bloomsbury Publishing (Publisher)
SaleBestseller No. 4
The Shadow and Bone Trilogy Boxed Set: Shadow and Bone, Siege and Storm, Ruin and Rising
  • Siege and Storm
  • Ruin and Rising
  • This product will be an excellent pick for you
  • Bardugo, Leigh (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
SaleBestseller No. 5
Song of Achilles, The
  • Miller, Madeline (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 416 Pages – 08/28/2012 (Publication Date) – Ecco (Publisher)

Immortal by Sue Lynn Tan

Release Date: January 7, 2025

Sue Lynn Tan, author of Daughter of the Moon Goddess, brings Immortal, a standalone romantasy about Liyen, a mortal queen striving to save her kingdom, Tianxia. Her journey takes her into the Immortal Realm, where she must ally with the God of War. This enemies-to-lovers story is packed with tension, political intrigue, and lush world-building.

Immortal: A Breathtaking, Romantic, Epic Fantasy of Forbidden Love and Dangerous Alliances in a Celestial Realm—From the Author of Daughter of the Moon Goddess
  • Amazon Kindle Edition
  • Tan, Sue Lynn (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 01/07/2025 (Publication Date) – Harper Voyager (Publisher)

Adrift in Currents Clean and Clear by Seanan McGuire

Release Date: January 7, 2025

The Wayward Children series continues with its tenth installment, focusing on Nadya, a character introduced in Beneath the Sugar Sky. Nadya discovers a doorway to Belyrreka, where she transforms into the Drowned Girl. Her journey explores themes of belonging and the search for one’s people in McGuire’s signature poignant style.

Sale
Adrift in Currents Clean and Clear (Wayward Children, 10)
  • Hardcover Book
  • McGuire, Seanan (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 160 Pages – 01/07/2025 (Publication Date) – Tordotcom (Publisher)

Breath of the Dragon by Shannon Lee & Fonda Lee

Release Date: January 7, 2025

Breath of the Dragon, the first book in the Breathmarked Duology, introduces 16-year-old Jun, who defies his father to enter the Guardian’s Tournament. Inspired by Bruce Lee’s legacy, this action-packed tale combines martial arts, magical scrolls, and high-stakes competition.

Sale
Breath of the Dragon: Breathmarked (Breathmarked, 1)
  • Hardcover Book
  • Lee, Shannon (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 352 Pages – 01/07/2025 (Publication Date) – Wednesday Books (Publisher)

Four Ruined Realms by Mai Corland

Release Date: January 7, 2025

The sequel to Five Broken Blades, Four Ruined Realms delves deeper into a world of betrayal and high-stakes heists. The blades must steal a ring from the God King Joon’s sister, but fractured trust among the group threatens their mission. This gripping follow-up is sure to thrill fans of the series.

Sale
Four Ruined Realms (Deluxe Limited Edition) (The Broken Blades, 2)
  • Hardcover Book
  • Corland, Mai (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 432 Pages – 01/07/2025 (Publication Date) – Entangled: Red Tower Books (Publisher)

Lightfall by Ed Crocker

Release Date: January 14, 2025

Ed Crocker’s debut novel, Lightfall, is the first book in The Everlands Trilogy. Blending supernatural creatures with political intrigue, the story follows Sam, a vampire maid navigating a murder investigation. Her journey uncovers the secrets of the ruling elite, delivering an inventive and gripping tale.

Sale
Lightfall: Book One of The Everlands (The Everlands Trilogy, 1)
  • Hardcover Book
  • Crocker, Ed (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 384 Pages – 01/14/2025 (Publication Date) – St. Martin’s Press (Publisher)

Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao

Release Date: January 14, 2025

In Water Moon, a magical pawnshop in Tokyo masquerades as a ramen restaurant, visible only to those with deep regrets. When an item disappears with its owner, Hana begins a quest to recover them. Samantha Sotto Yambao weaves a poignant and imaginative story full of charm.

Water Moon: A Novel
  • Amazon Kindle Edition
  • Sotto Yambao, Samantha (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 374 Pages – 01/14/2025 (Publication Date) – Del Rey (Publisher)

Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros

Release Date: January 21, 2025

The third book in the Empyrean Series, Onyx Storm, picks up after the shocking events of Iron Flame. With the war against the Venin escalating, Basgiath’s Dragonriders must abandon their education to prepare for battle. Rebecca Yarros raises the stakes in this heart-pounding sequel.

Sale
Onyx Storm (Deluxe Limited Edition) (The Empyrean, 3)
  • Hardcover Book
  • Yarros, Rebecca (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 544 Pages – 01/21/2025 (Publication Date) – Entangled: Red Tower Books (Publisher)

Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales by Heather Fawcett

Release Date: February 11, 2025

Emily Wilde returns in the third installment of her cozy yet adventurous series. In Compendium of Lost Tales, Emily adjusts to life as the Queen of Faerie alongside Wendell while contending with a curse from Wendell’s stepmother. This book is a delightful addition with heightened stakes and Fawcett’s trademark charm.

Sale
Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales
  • Hardcover Book
  • Fawcett, Heather (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 368 Pages – 02/11/2025 (Publication Date) – Del Rey (Publisher)

Oathbound by Tracy Deonn

Release Date: March 4, 2025

The final chapter in Tracy Deonn’s Legendborn Cycle, Oathbound, sees Bree separated from the Legendborn Order and forced to ally with the Shadow King. With dead Merlins appearing and tensions at an all-time high, this conclusion promises an epic finale to a beloved series.

Sale
Oathbound (3) (The Legendborn Cycle)
  • Hardcover Book
  • Deonn, Tracy (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 656 Pages – 03/04/2025 (Publication Date) – Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (Publisher)

The Ragpicker King by Cassandra Clare

Release Date: March 4, 2025

In The Ragpicker King, the sequel to Sword Catcher, Cassandra Clare raises the stakes for Lin and Kel. As Kel investigates a massacre, Lin struggles with the consequences of claiming to be the Goddess Reborn. With political intrigue and personal dilemmas, this sequel is a must-read.

Sale
The Ragpicker King (Chronicles of Castellane)
  • Hardcover Book
  • Clare, Cassandra (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 576 Pages – 03/04/2025 (Publication Date) – Del Rey (Publisher)

Emberclaw by L.R. Lam

Release Date: March 4, 2025

The conclusion to L.R. Lam’s Dragon Scales Duology, Emberclaw, follows Arcady as they face the University of Vatra’s trials of magic and Everen as he grapples with his actions. In this thrilling and emotional finale, the pair must reunite to combat an ancient danger.

Emberclaw (Dragon Scales Book 2)
  • Amazon Kindle Edition
  • Lam, L. R. (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 477 Pages – 03/04/2025 (Publication Date) – DAW (Publisher)

The Tomb of Dragons by Katherine Addison

Release Date: March 11, 2025

The final book in The Cemeteries of Amalo Trilogy, The Tomb of Dragons, explores Thara Celehar’s identity after losing his role as Witness for the Dead. With murder and political turmoil at its core, Katherine Addison promises a compelling and satisfying conclusion.

The Tomb of Dragons: The Chronicles of Osreth: The Cemeteries of Amalo Trilogy, Book 3
  • Amazon Kindle Edition
  • Addison, Katherine (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 345 Pages – 03/11/2025 (Publication Date) – Tor Books (Publisher)

A Drop of Corruption: An Ana and Din Mystery by Robert Jackson Bennett

Release Date: April 1, 2025

In the sequel to The Tainted Cup, Ana and Din investigate the disappearance of a Treasury officer, uncovering a grand conspiracy. With intricate plotting and a mysterious killer, A Drop of Corruption is a thrilling follow-up to Bennett’s 2024 hit.

Sale
A Drop of Corruption: An Ana and Din Mystery (Shadow of the Leviathan)
  • Hardcover Book
  • Bennett, Robert Jackson (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 480 Pages – 04/01/2025 (Publication Date) – Del Rey (Publisher)

Fearless by Lauren Roberts

Release Date: April 8, 2025

The Powerless Trilogy concludes with Fearless, as Paedyn, Kai, and Kitt face their ultimate challenges. With conflicts between Elites and Ordinaries reaching a crescendo, this installment promises to be the most devastating and compelling yet.

Sale
Fearless (The Powerless Trilogy)
  • Hardcover Book
  • Roberts, Lauren (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 608 Pages – 04/08/2025 (Publication Date) – Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (Publisher)

The Devils by Joe Abercrombie

Release Date: May 13, 2025

Joe Abercrombie introduces a new series with The Devils, following Brother Diaz as he allies with a team of killers and monsters to combat flesh-eating Elves. Gritty and dark, this novel combines Abercrombie’s trademark style with high-stakes adventure.

Sale
The Devils (Devils, 1)
  • Hardcover Book
  • Abercrombie, Joe (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 560 Pages – 05/13/2025 (Publication Date) – Tor Books (Publisher)

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab

Release Date: June 10, 2025

V.E. Schwab’s Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil connects three women across centuries in a tale of female rage, vampires, and forbidden love. With Schwab’s signature nuanced storytelling, this novel promises to be haunting and thought-provoking.

Sale
Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil
  • Hardcover Book
  • Schwab, V. E. (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 544 Pages – 06/10/2025 (Publication Date) – Tor Books (Publisher)

The Jasad Crown by Sara Hashem

Release Date: July 15, 2025

The conclusion to The Scorched Throne Duology, The Jasad Crown, forces Sylvia to face her destiny. With Arin racing to reach her and her kingdom in peril, this finale delivers a nerve-wracking and emotional conclusion to Sara Hashem’s debut series.

The Jasad Crown (The Scorched Throne)
  • Amazon Kindle Edition
  • Hashem, Sara (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 681 Pages – 07/15/2025 (Publication Date) – Orbit (Publisher)

A Theory of Dreaming by Ava Reid

Release Date: August 5, 2025

In A Theory of Dreaming, Effy and Preston return to face the aftermath of their choices in A Study in Drowning. Their defiance of their university and nation leads to greater conflicts, promising a gripping continuation of Reid’s acclaimed debut.

Sale
A Theory of Dreaming Deluxe Limited Edition: Sequel to A Study in Drowning
  • Hardcover Book
  • Reid, Ava (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 416 Pages – 07/29/2025 (Publication Date) – HarperCollins (Publisher)

Hemlock & Silver by T. Kingfisher

Release Date: August 19, 2025

T. Kingfisher’s Hemlock & Silver reimagines Snow White with a dark twist. Anja, a healer and poison expert, investigates a princess’s mysterious illness, uncovering secrets with the help of a magical mirror and a narcissistic cat. This imaginative tale is quintessential Kingfisher.

Sale
Hemlock & Silver
  • Hardcover Book
  • Kingfisher, T. (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 368 Pages – 08/19/2025 (Publication Date) – Tor Books (Publisher)

Katabasis by R.F. Kuang

Release Date: August 26, 2025

R.F. Kuang’s Katabasis sends two rival magic students to the underworld to rescue their professor, drawing inspiration from Orpheus and Dante. With its mythological underpinnings and intense rivalries, this novel promises to be a standout release in 2025.

Sale
Katabasis (Deluxe Limited Edition): A Novel
  • Hardcover Book
  • Kuang, R. F (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 560 Pages – 08/26/2025 (Publication Date) – Harper Voyager (Publisher)

These 2025 fantasy releases promise a year full of adventure, magic, and unforgettable stories. Which of these books are you most excited to read? Let us know in the comments below!

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The Eclectic Educator is a free resource for everyone passionate about education and creativity. If you enjoy the content and want to support the newsletter, consider becoming a paid subscriber. Your support helps keep the insights and inspiration coming!