We’re a week into July (not that you’d know it by the weather), and so I’ve put together a list of enthralling new releases coming this month. After all, who doesn’t enjoy spending a lazy summer day reading a good book? Without further ado, here are some of the best books coming out in July that you should definitely add to your TBR.
Fantasy
Le Fay by Sophie Keetch
The sequel to my favourite book of 2023, Le Fay is the second instalment in Keetch’s enthralling retelling of the tale of Morgan Le Fay, Merlin’s nemesis, as she begins to realise the power she wields and takes destiny into her own hands.
The Black Bird Oracle by Deborah Harkness
The long awaited fifth novel in Deborah Harkness’ world of vampires, witches, and demons promises to thrill as Diana turns to a magical great-aunt she never knew existed in a bid to finally confront her family’s dark past, and her own growing desire for power.
The Bright Sword: A Novel of King Arthur by Lev Grossman
From the best-selling author of The Magicians series, comes a fantastical Arthurian myth retelling, following a group of oddballs very different to traditional characters we know and love, and their fight to reclaim Excalibur and fix a world that has been left in ruins by the death of its King.
Fiction
Babylonia by Constanza Casati
From the brilliantly talented author of Clytemnestra, comes another masterpiece in mythological retellings, this time focusing on the ancient Assyrian queen Semiramis and her rise to power.
Rosarita by Anita Desai
From the celebrated author of Clear Light of Day, this sublime novella follows a young Indian woman in Mexico on a journey of discovery about her mother, exploring memory, grief, and the dark tug of familial and national violence.
Teddy by Emily Dunlay
An exhilarating, escapist debut novel set in the glamorous city of Rome in the 1960s, Teddy follows the eponymous ingénue’s descent into the underbelly of the city to retrieve incriminating photographs that could destroy her reputation.
History
Night of Power by Robert Fisk
From the late foreign correspondent Robert Fisk, comes his final opus, a passionate and authoritative critique of Western interference in the Middle East, and exposes the inescapable consequences of colonial oppression and violence.
Paris ’44: The Shame and the Glory by Patrick Bishop
From the Sunday Times-bestselling author, comes a heart-stopping countdown narrative recreating the liberation of Paris, told through the eyes of everyone from an androgynous Hungarian sculptor to Ernest Hemingway.
All His Spies by Stephen Alford
With detailed and meticulous research, Alford presents a highly engrossing and compelling biography of Robert Cecil, Tudor and Stuart statesman and spymaster, and how he foiled numerous attempts on the lives of the English monarchs he served.
The Umbrella Murder by Ulrik Skotte
One of the Cold War’s most infamous and unsolved murders is examined by Ulrik Skotte in this enthralling slice of real-life espionage, investigating the death of an exiled Bulgarian dissident in 1978 on a bridge in London.
Crime & Thrillers
The Cracked Mirror by Chris Brookmyre
In this standalone crime caper, a hardboiled LA detective is thrown together with a sweet old lady sleuth reminiscent of Miss Marple or Jessica Fletcher, and sent on a rollercoaster of a journey that promises to thrill and entertain.
The Exile by Patrick Worrall
The prequel to Patrick Worrall’s acclaimed novel The Partisan follows ruthless resistance fighter Greta from the beginning of her journey into danger and political intrigue as she searches for a exiled, missing girl in the ruins of postwar Europe.
Comment below which book you’re looking forward to reading this month, and if you’ll be adding any of these to your summer reading list!
The Ink Thief 