5 SFF Books Releasing in August, and 5 Upcoming Books to Request on NetGalley

Pack your bags, readers: It’s time for an adventure. Below you’ll find five science fiction and fantasy books hitting shelves in August, followed by five upcoming books available for request on NetGalley. Whether you’re looking for a magic-infused tale or an out-of-this-world journey, there’s a book on this list for you.

Seven Devils by Laura Lam and Elizabeth May

Space opera fans will want this duology starter at the top of their August TBR piles. The Novantea resistance just gained two invaluable members: mechanic and pilot Clo and Eris, the former heir to the Tholosian throne. The two are paired together for an important intel mission, though a grudge Clo holds against Eris ensures their partnership is strained. Once they board an enemy cargo ship, they encounter fugitives who possess information that could change everything for the resistance, if they can act on it before Eris’ replacement, the new heir to the throne, destroys their hope for peace once and for all.

Lobizona by Romina Garber

Sixteen-year-old Manu Azul has spent her life hiding: She’s an undocumented immigrant living in Miami with her mother as they attempt to avoid her father’s Argentinian crime family, but she’s also the first-known female werewolf. When her mother is taken into custody by ICE, Manu is left alone, possessing a single clue to her past. With nowhere else to turn, Manu begins to hunt for more information about her family history and her identity, soon finding herself at a magical school that changes what she thought she knew about herself and the world around her.

Drowned Country by Emily Tesh

Emily Tesh’s Greenhollow duology comes to a close this summer with Drowned Country. This Victorian-inspired fantasy reunites readers with Henry Silver and Tobias Finch. Two years earlier, Tobias left Greenhollow Hall to journey with Henry’s folklorist mother Adela. Now they’re back and they require Henry’s help, asking him to journey to the town of Rothport, where a vampire lurks. New readers can start with Silver in the Wood, while those already familiar with Henry and Tobias should waste no time in starting this novella.

The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson

Multiverse travel is possible in Micaiah Johnson’s sci-fi debut, but it’s not without its challenges. To successfully visit another world, your alternate self can no longer be alive there. Cara is one of the rare few able to travel to a number of worlds, 372 to be exact. She visits other worlds often with the help of her handler, Dell, and gathers information on them for the Eldridge Institute. But when one of her alternate selves dies under mysterious circumstances, Cara starts digging for information and uncovers secrets that could change the world as she knows it.

The Memory of Souls by Jenn Lyons

Jenn Lyons is back next month with the third volume in the A Chorus of Dragons series. Vol Karoth, the king of demons, is imprisoned by wards, but they’re weakening. Kihrin D’Mon is doing everything in his power to keep the wards in place, while his reincarnated brother Relos Var seeks to break them completely. For either to succeed, they need an incredible source of power, only accessible if one of the vané chose to forfeit their immortality. The brothers are in a race against each other to the vané. Fans of the previous two volumes have been eagerly awaiting this installment, which hits shelves at the end of August.

Here are five upcoming science fiction and fantasy books currently available for request on NetGalley!

Crownchasers by Rebecca Coffindaffer

The death of an emperor leads to a competition for the crown in this YA duology opener. Alyssa Farshot is the niece to the emperor and, though she never wanted to rule, believed that she would be named his successor. But he surprises her, and the rest of the galaxy, by instead calling for a crownchase. All of the prime families in the empire must select a champion to hunt for the royal seal, with the winner securing the throne. Alyssa must represent her family, but finds the race is far more deadly than she bargained for.

Night of the Mannequins by Stephen Graham Jones

Stephen Graham Jones’ captivated readers this year with The Only Good Indians, and this fall he’ll be delivering more of his signature horror with this novella. Sawyer Grimes and his friends place a discarded store mannequin in an empty seat at the local theater, thinking they’re acting out a harmless prank. But Sawyer spies the mannequin walking out of the theater, and a few days later one of his friends is dead. Gathering the rest of the group together, Sawyer decides they have to find the mannequin and take it out before anyone else is hurt.

A Wild Winter Swan by Gregory Maguire

Gregory Maguire is known for reimagining classic tales, and his latest novel draws inspiration from Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Wild Swans.” A Wild Winter Swan transports readers to 1960s New York, where Laura is living with her grandparents after the death of her brother. On the roof one night, she meets a swan boy with only one wing. She offers him a place to hide while they work together to build him a second wing so he may fly home. Maguire explores grief and the bonds of family in this enchanting coming-of-age story.

Prime Deceptions by Valerie Valdes

Captain Eva Innocente and the crew of La Sirena Negra return this fall in the second installment of Valerie Valdes’ space opera series Chilling Effect. Eva is contacted by her sister to help hunt for a missing scientist, with the promise of a large reward. The search takes the crew across the universe, all the way to Garilia, a place Eva hoped to never find herself again. When brought face-to-face with old foes and a rebellion, the crew’s strength and bonds will be tested.  New readers will want to start their journey with Chilling Effect, while fans of the first can dive right into this new adventure.

Phoenix Extravagant by Yoon Ha Lee

Six years ago the Empire of Razan conquered Hwaguk, and though nonbinary artist Gyen Jebi is a pacifist, the rest of their family isn’t. Jebi is in desperate need of a job, and registers for a Razanei name in order to apply. When their sister finds out, she cuts off the financial support she’d been providing, leading Jebi to accept a position with the Ministry of Armor. The job requires Jebi to destroy Hwagugin art, turning it into a powder that can be used to animate the government’s automaton soldiers. With each day on the job, Jebi becomes more and more aware of the role they’re playing in destroying their people’s history, and starts to think of ways to fight back.

Kelly Gallucci

Kelly Gallucci is the Executive Editor of We Are Bookish, where she oversees the editorial content, offers book recommendations, and interviews authors and NetGalley members. When she's not working, Kelly can be found color coordinating her bookshelves, eating Chipotle, and watching way too many baking shows.

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