12 Thrilling New Sci-Fi and Fantasy Books of July 2026
⚓ Books 📅 2026-07-07 👤 surdeus 👁️ 1Okay, readers, let’s make this brief so we can get you back to reading ASAP. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to enjoy this list of exciting new science fiction and fantasy novels out in July 2026. Whether you like magic, mayhem, aliens, monsters, romance, or all of the above, there’s something here for everyone!
There’s teenage ghost hunters trying to correct a robbery gone wrong; a researcher staying at a cozy magical inn to learn about a dangerous mountain; a young brother who must venture into the land of Fae to retrieve his baby sister; a magical bookshop where people can go back in time through the books on the shelves; a found family fantasy about a three-headed dragon and a human at an academy; the possible return of King Arthur (or maybe certain doom); a young woman with magical hair on the run from her kingdom’s enemies; and much more.
The Best New Science Fiction and Fantasy Books Out in July 2026
The Inn at the Foot of Mount Vengeance by Chiara Bullen (Del Rey, July 7)Fans of cozy fantasy will find much to love about this debut. It’s about Ainsworth, an ambitious researcher who travels to, well, the inn at the foot of Mount Vengeance. He’s there to interview intrepid explorers before they tackle the mountain, said to be full of adventure and danger. But he discovers that for some reason, no one at the inn has ever actually attempted the climb, and Ainsworth is determined to figure out why. |
Habits of the Sea by Shea Ernshaw (Atria Books, July 7)As a young girl, Ellie Mills encountered a floating island in the ocean that magically disappeared the next day, leaving her to question whether she imagined the whole thing. But twenty years later, the island reappears, and Ellie discovers its only inhabitant hasn’t aged since their last encounter. Is what Ellie sees really happening, and what does it mean? (Sing it with me now: Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?) |
The Memory Bookshop by Song Yu-jeong, translated by Shanna Tan (William Morrow Paperbacks, July 7)Magical establishments have been a hot subject in novels for a few years now, but nothing is better than a magical bookshop, amirite? In this Korean bestseller, the Memory Bookshop appears to those who need it most, its shelves filled with books of their own memories. Patrons can go back three chapters in their life to correct past mistakes…but they must give up time in their future as payment. |
Dominion by Jean Kwok (G.P. Putnam’s Sons, July 14)Literary sensation Jean Kwok is kicking off her first trilogy with this Chinese-inspired romantasy! Ribbon dancer Rubi Morningtail is an Azure refugee in the Dominion of the Silver Tyger with no memories and a magical talent she must keep hidden. But when she wounds a battle tyger, she is forced into the Bonding, a trial between tygers and riders, led by the fearsome mage Blake Axefire. |
Not with a Bang by Temi Oh (S&S/Saga Press, July 14)This is a first-contact family drama about the Minton family, who are having several crises. The dad has become a doomsday prepper; one daughter, Briar, is obsessed with a UFO cult and her missing classmate; and the other daughter, Chantale, is having terrible nightmares. And this is all before the aliens show up on Chantale’s wedding day and cause chaos and destruction! |
The Dragon Has Some Complaints by John Wiswell (DAW, July 14)In this new paranormal fantasy from the author of Someone You Can Build a Nest In, a three-headed dragon named Garrodigh with three very different personalities must figure out a way to get them to peacefully coexist in order to survive. That means playing tame at a dragon academy, where his efforts to hide turn into family and happiness with student rider Rania. |
The Witch Below the Dreaming Wood by H. G. Parry (Redhook, July 21)In this fantastical alternative history novel set during WWII, people start dreaming about King Arthur all over the world. As word of these dreams spread, people begin to believe it’s a sign that the king is going to return and save them. Except for Elaine Ambrose, a librarian in North Wales. She dreams of the Lady of the Lake and worries her dreams signal doom, not rescue. |
Harbour of Hungry Ghosts by Eliza Chan (Orbit, July 28)Kiamling is the eldest daughter of the Au family, and as such, the responsibility of dealing with monsters in Hong Kong falls on her shoulders. So when her grandmother is kidnapped by a beast during the festival of Hungry Ghosts, Kiamling must put her training to work and find out what is behind the kidnapping and how to get her back. |
A Tangled Magic by Andrea Eames (Erewhon Books, July 28)In this exciting fantasy about magical hair, Netta has spent her whole life locked away in the Tower while her mother works on the ultimate spellbook. Netta’s only companions in the Tower are a telepathic Raven and her Hair, who keep her company as she embroiders. But when her Tower is attacked, her mother and her work vanish, and Netta must navigate an unfamiliar world (almost) alone as enemies search for the one with the magical Hair. |
The Best New Children’s and YA Science Fiction and Fantasy Books Out in July 2026
The Chime Seekers by Ross Montgomery (Candlewick, July 7)Adding its name to the list of fun changeling adventures is this story of siblings and fairies. When Yanni’s baby sister is taken by an evil fairy, he has to venture into the tricky world of Fae to retrieve her. Helping Yanni navigate this dangerous world is his cousin, Amy, and the changeling who took his sister’s place. |
Airrelle of the Maroon Witches by Sumayyah Beck (Holiday House, July 14)Missen Dessalin is a hidden magical place where witches really exist. Twelve-year-old Airrelle Bookman is about to face her trials to become a witch like her family and her best friend. But then threats to Missen Dessalin arise from the outside world, and Airrelle will have to rely on a non-magic outsider to figure out how to solve their troubles and gain her witchy status. |
We Were Never Here by Sophia Hannan (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, July 28)And last, but not least, this haunted YA fantasy! Summer doesn’t turn out so well for four popular teen ghost hunters (and secret art thieves) when they take on a new location. One of them ends up dead, and Georgia is worried she may be responsible, even though she can’t remember what happened. Now the man who hired her to steal a painting—and helped them stay out of jail—demands they go back and finish the job. But something followed them home that first night, and it’s determined to keep them out this time, no matter what. |
Bonus New Science Fiction and Fantasy Books Out in July 2026
Because I can’t just stop at 12 books: in July, be sure to also watch for The Farewitch of Foxe Holler by Ellen Pauley Goff, The Moonsingers by Robyn J Pritzker, Misery’s Wife by Joan Tierney, He Who Fights With Monsters, Book 1: Outworlder by Travis Deverell, and All We Have Is Time by Amy Tordoff.
There are also a bunch of excellent sci-fi and fantasy titles out in paperback this month, including Tall Is Her Body by Robert de la Chevotiere, Untethered Sky by Fonda Lee, The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches: Deluxe Edition by Sangu Mandanna, You Weren’t Meant to Be Human by Andrew Joseph White, and Graciela in the Abyss by Meg Medina, Anna Balbusso, Elena Balbusso.
Don’t forget the sequels! Amazing continuations of great stories are hitting the shelves, like Us Deadly Few (Us Dark Few) by Alexis Patton, Null Entity (The Volatile Memory Duology) by Seth Haddon, and Royalslinger (The Slinger Series) by Graci Kim.
If you want to learn about more sci-fi and fantasy books, check out Quiet Fantasy Books for Children, 8 of the Best New Cozy Fantasy Romance Books, and My 5 Most Anticipated Fantasy Books of the Summer. Also, be sure to sign up for our SFF newsletter, Swords and Spaceships!
Finally, you can also find a full list of new releases in the magical New Release Index, carefully curated by your favorite Book Riot editors, organized by genre and release date.
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