The North Carolina Speculative Fiction Foundation (NCSFF) has announced the winner for the 2026 Manly Wade Wellman Award. The award recognizes “outstanding achievement in science fiction and fantasy novels written by North Carolina authors.”

Winners for the 2026 Imadjinn Awards have been announced. Winners were selected by jury and announced at the Imaginarium Convention, held July 17-19, 2026 at the Holiday Inn Louisville East in Louisville KY.

Best Science Fiction Novel

• WINNER: Dead to Rights: A Car Warriors Autoduel Novel, Jay Barnson (Three Ravens)

• Frozen Echoes, Ed Downes (Undertaker)
• Bifrost Down, Jon R. Osborne (Seventh Seal)

Best Fantasy Novel

• WINNER: Rise From Ruin, Melissa Olthoff (Baen)

• The Blacksmith’s Boy, Bruce Buchanan (Wild Ink)
• The Healer’s Heir, Katie Fitzgerald (self-published)
• A Count of Courage, Nancy Moser (Mustard Seed)

Best Horror Novel

• WINNER: Darkness Calls, Joe Chianakas (Rogue River)

• Southern Cross, Vaughn A. Jackson (Falstaff)
• The Great Dick: And the Dysfunctional Demon, Barry Maher (Crystal Lake)
• The Exorcist’s House: Resurrection, Nick Roberts (Crystal Lake)

Best Urban Fantasy Novel

• WINNER: The Unlife of Lisa Cooper: Vengeance, J.M. Celi (Rockamooka)

• A Conundrum of Wizards, K.R. Brady (Woods)
• Reaper, John G. Hartness (Falstaff)
• House of Owls, Jon R. Osborne (New Mythology)

Best Paranormal Romance

• WINNER: Dancing with a Demon, L.R. Braden (Magical Realms)

• S’more Love, K. Rose (self-published)
• Resurrection, Karen White

Best Romance Novel

• WINNER: No Apologies, Andrea Jenelle (Willow Creek Publishing)

• The Scald Crow, Karen White (Baisong)

Best Young Adult Novel

• WINNER: The Unraveling of Emlyn DuLaine, Lindsay A. Franklin (Enclave Escape)

• Paramour, Robin Alvarez (Tides Collide)
• Missing Mom, Lynn Slaughter (Fire & Ice Young Adult)
• Awakening: Winberie Journals Book One, Lynn Tincher (Hydra)

Best Middle Grade Book

• WINNER: Not Lucille, Mike Steele (Creative James Media)

• Dreams of Gold and Fire, Fred Phillips (Raconteur)
• Scareville: Food to Die For, John Ward (Crystal Lake)

Best Cross Genre Novel

• WINNER: The Eagle Flies at Night, Lance Loot (self-published)

• Clutching Cthulhu’s Pearls, Marilyn Barr (self-published)

Best Anthology

• WINNER: What Swallows the Light, Theresa Derwin, Charlene du Toit, Victoria Kiska & Paula Limbaugh, eds. (Crystal Lake)

• Dancing With Destruction, Jason Cordova, ed. (Baen)
• It Came From the Trailer Park: Double Wide Volume 1, Jesse James Fain & William Joseph Roberts, eds. (Three Ravens)

Best Short Story Collection

• WINNER: Midnight Vintage, Sean Eads & Joshua Viola (Crystal Lake)

• The Wind’s Four Quarters, Alma Alexander (Book View Cafe)
• Six O’Clock House & Other Strange Tales, Rebecca Cuthbert (Watertower Hill)

Best Short Story

• WINNER: “Through the Holler, Into the Dark”, Emma E. Murray (The Drowning Machine and Other Obsessions)

• “The Leper’s Garden”, Jeff Clulow (The Leper’s Garden: And Other Contagions)
• “This Broken World”, Mia Dalia (Choices: An Anthology of Reproductive Horror)

Best Audiobook Narration

• WINNER: Harvest of Evil: The John Fisher Chronicles, Book 1, William H. Lehman, narrated by Perry Wince (Three Ravens)

• Ghostship Derelict, J.R. Handley, narrated by Brian Fairbank (Three Ravens)
• Shadow Card Guardian, Kacey Ezell, narrated by Anna Delphine (Sevillalost)

Best Thriller Novel

• WINNER: The First Wives, S.E. Reed (Storm)

• Cash Target, Edale Lane (self-published)
• Collateral Damage, Mick Williams (Valiant)

Best Western Novel

• WINNER: Legends of the West, Micheal Black (Circulation & Trade Division)

• Blood Lake, C.M. Saunders (Undertaker)

Best Poetry Collection

• WINNER: The Eight, Rita Spalding (Hydra)

• The Book of Hours, Darius Jones (self-published)

Best Magazine/Periodical

• WINNER: Kentucky Monthly, Stephen M. Vest (self-published)

• parABnormal Magazine, H. David Blalock, ed.

Imadjinn prizes were also awarded for categories including Historical Fiction, Thriller, Children’s Book, Graphic Novel/Comic Book, and others. For more information, including a complete list of winners, see the Imaginarium website.

Visit our bookshop.org page to purchase this week’s new books and support your local bookstore. And us!

Aragon, Jesse: The Demon Star (The Broken Binding 978-0756420536, $29.00, 448pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 07/28/2026)

Science fantasy novel. Ysira Natkis escaped death and brought back something that could change the fate of her civilization, and now she must battle aliens, cultists, and gods to prevent the apocalypse. A first novel.

Blackwell, Juliet: The Séance Garden (Penguin Random House/Berkley 978-0593638262, $18.99, 400pp, formats: paperback, ebook, audiobook, 07/28/2026)

Ghost mystery novel. Professor Harper Grae is a non-believer in the supernatural, but that’s put to the test when a mysterious murder happens at the “haunted” mansion of the Perles family.

Chan, Eliza: Harbour of Hungry Ghosts (Orbit US 978-0316589710, $19.99, 400pp, formats: paperback, ebook, audiobook, 07/28/2026)

Fantasy novel inspired by Asian lore. When Kiamling’s grandmother is taken by a strange monster during the Hungry Ghosts festival, she must find out what happened and lead a search to save her grandmother. Simultaneous with the Orbit UK edition.

Davidson, Cesi: Laterals (Aqueduct Press 978-1619762923, $12.00, N/App, formats: paperback, ebook, 08/01/2026)

Collection of short plays. Part of the Conversation Pieces series.

Durst, Sarah Beth: Sea of Charms (Tor/Bramble 978-1250400673, $29.99, 384pp, formats: hardcover, paperback, ebook, audiobook, 07/28/2026)

Cozy fantasy romance novel. Marin sails from island to island working as a supply runner. When she visits the capital during a revolution she makes a deal with her friend Dax, but starts to discover her underlying feelings towards him.

Eames, Andrea: A Tangled Magic (Kensington/Erewhon 978-1645661894, $28.00, 464pp, formats: hardcover, paperback, ebook, audiobook, 07/28/2026)

Dark fantasy novel. Netta has lived in a tower her entire life, with only her hair that moves on its own, and a telepathic raven to accompany her. When her mother vanishes, she goes on a quest to save her.

Hannan, Sophia: We Were Never Here (Simon & Schuster 978-1665958332, $19.99, 352pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 07/28/2026)

Young-adult horror novel. When Georgia’s girlfriend mysteriously dies visiting a haunted house, her life falls apart. Months later, she’s forced to return to her old life as a thief, but when she tries to steal a painting, something horrifying happens A first novel.

Henning, Sarah: Such a Witch (Little, Brown 978-0316584371, $19.99, 400pp, formats: hardcover, paperback, ebook, audiobook, 07/28/2026)

Young-adult magic school rom-com. Embry Woodcross, a witch and senior at Raven’s Head School for the Magically Gifted, takes a new student, Oakley Riddle, under her wing, but after a murder, she becomes the main suspect.

James, Calvin: Affairs of State (Titan Books UK ‎ 978-1835416211, $19.99, 496pp, formats: paperback, ebook, 07/28/2026)

SF novel. Levar Boylan, a junior supply officer, finds himself as a diplomat discussing peace treaties with the empire, all because his ex is the reigning demon emperor. After they reconnect, they discover the spark is still there. A first novel.

Johnson, Lora Beth: Hell to Pay (Penguin Random House/Putnam 978-0593856529, $20.99, 368pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 07/28/2026)

Young-adult fantasy novel. After the death of her brother, and disappearance of her parents, Elle feels lost, until one day, she’s offered a job to steal a soul from the afterlife, a task that’s much easier said than done.

Lim, Elizabeth: Fishbone Cinderella (Penguin Random House/Del Rey 979-8217092987, $30.00, 448pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 07/28/2026)

Fantasy novel inspired by Chinese folklore and Western fairy tales. A book that explores the family dynamics of mothers and daughters across decades and cultures.

Omar, Sara: The Harpy Knight (Titan Books UK 978-1835412848, $18.99, 432pp, formats: paperback, ebook, audiobook, 07/28/2026)

Fantasy novel second in the Chaos Constellation trilogy. After conquering the kingdom of Dumakra, Bataar Rhah focuses attention on Aglea in the north, a land of monster infested marshes, and pagan berserkers.

René, Leslie: Maggie and Arthur’s Magic Moment (Ace 978-0593956182, $20.00, 432pp, formats: paperback, ebook, audiobook, 07/28/2026)

Fantasy romance novel. Maggie Linden, an Incantations Translation professor, becomes forced to share her basement office with Arthur Taliesin, an alchemist with an insufferable attitude, but she starts to realize he’s putting on an act. A first novel.

Roux, Madeleine: Star Wars: Legacy (Penguin Random House/Random House Worlds 978-0593982662, $30.00, 416pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 07/28/2026)

Star Wars tie-in novel set between episodes VIII and IX. Leia Organa does everything she can to train Rey, but her knowledge of the force is extremely limited, so they choose to journey to an old Jedi temple on Tython together. Simultaneous with the Penguin Random House UK edition.

Sierra, Caleb: The Wetworks Miracle (Stelliform Press 978-1738316571, $15.00, 108pp, formats: paperback, ebook, 07/30/2026)

Dark fantasy novella. After the ecological collapse of society, humans fled their world to a place called the Wetworks, and the only plant there is something called the “Root.” People call it a miracle despite how it alters their bodies. A first novel.

Spires, D.A. Xiaolin: Ellipses (AudioText/Infinivox N/A, $16.00, 100pp, formats: paperback, ebook, 08/01/2026)

SF novella. Koharu is looking for a landing spot on exoplanet Kepler-62f, when she comes in contact with seemingly friendly aliens. She does everything she can to communicate with them, while at the same time trying to contact her boyfriend.

Thorne, Scarlett J.: Lord of the Heights (Arc Manor/Caezik SF & Fantasy 978-1647102074, $19.99, 316pp, formats: paperback, ebook, audiobook, 07/28/2026)

Fantasy romance novel. Dark gothic romantasy reimagining of Wuthering Heights. James Lockwood moves to Yorkshire for peace, but his car gets destroyed, and the road vanishes, so his only option is to go to Wuthering Heights.

West, Jacqueline: Black Point (Simon & Schuster/Atheneum 978-1665981859, $19.99, 304pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 07/28/2026)

Young-adult dark fantasy novel set in a small town steeped in Norse traditions. When the supposedly haunted Black Point Hotel is bought by outsiders, the town is taken aback.

Zanetti, Rebecca: One Shattered Crown (Kensington 978-1035417964, $32.00, 380pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 07/28/2026)

Erotic fantasy romance novel, the third in the Grimm Bargains series. Justice Beathach and Ella Rendale have a long lasting feud, but when Justice is forced to protect her from people who want her dead, he becomes obsessed.

While you are here, please take a moment to support Locus with a one-time or recurring donation. We rely on reader donations to keep the magazine and site going, and would like to keep the site paywall free, but WE NEED YOUR FINANCIAL SUPPORT to continue quality coverage of the science fiction and fantasy field.

’Pemi Aguda, One Leg on Earth (Norton 5/26) Dark fantasy novel set in Lagos, a place of opportunity, but urban develop­ment has a price. Yosoye, 23 and eager to start her new job at an architectural firm in the shiny city, starts to notice things aren’t quite right. She gets pregnant and real­izes many pregnant women are drowning themselves, walking into water or throwing themselves off bridges. “One Leg on Earth lives up to its title. It is a bridge between the untameable present and an unknowable future.” [Niall Harrison]

Ilona Andrews, This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me (Tor 3/26) Fantasy novel, the first book in the Maggie the Undying series, about a woman who finds herself in a city she recognizes from the unfinished dark epic fantasy series she’s obsessed with; she figures out that she can get killed (in some horrible ways) but always comes back, and can’t resist trying to change things, with some unexpected results.

Caroline Bicks, Monsters in the Archives: My Year of Fear with Stephen King (Hogarth US 4/26) Bicks used her unprecedented access to King’s pri­vate archives and interviews with the man himself to explore what makes his writing work so well. Focusing on early drafts and handwritten revisions of five early books (The Shining, Carrie, Pet Sematary, ’Salem’s Lot, and Night Shift), Bicks’s book was described, by King himself, as “the best book about my process that I have ever read.”

Albertine Clarke, The Body Builders (Bloomsbury USA 3/26) An aspiring writer decides she and a man she con­nects with share one mind in two bodies; then she finds herself in an otherworldly artificial environment, where her every wish is made real. “The largest part of my enjoyment of The Body Builders came from the simple pleasure of encountering the first outing of a fresh and skillful voice, one that has an understanding of SF as both tool and project, and as a route to estrang­ing the society we have allowed to happen around us.” [Niall Harrison]

Bar Fridman-Tell, Honeysuckle (Blooms­bury USA 3/26) Dark fantasy novel based on the Welsh myth of Blodeuwedd. Human boy Royr is lonely, so his big sister makes him a playmate, Daye, out of twigs and flowers. Unfortunately, she has to be rewoven every season or she’ll fall apart; Rory starts to research ways to keep her blooming, but as he gets older his feelings change. A first novel.

Sarah Gailey, Make Me Better (Tor 5/26) Horror novel full of psychological dread, with something of a folk-horror feel. Celia goes to the Salt Festival on a mysterious island surrounded by an impossible reef, where the secluded community promises healing and transformation. “Make Me Better is unsettling, mysterious, with all the bad parts of cults, and creepy in a ‘let’s get outta here and get away from these weirdos and all those bloody shoes’ sort of way.” [Gabino Iglesias]

Fonda Lee, The Last Contract of Isako (Orbit US 5/26) From the author of Jade City, an SF novel about a legendary swordswoman on the merciless planet Aquilo as she takes a final mission in­volving her last (and worst) apprentice. It blends the discipline of martial arts with the sweeping scale of a corporate space opera.

Hache Pueyo, Cabaret in Flames (Tordotcom) Dark fantasy novella set amidst Brazil’s political chaos. Ariadne, despite having lost her limbs to guls – vampire-like beings who eat meat – still as­sists guls at a clinic, and then gets help from a gul investigating how her mentor died. It was translated, expanded, and revised by the author from a 2020 story published in Brazilian Portuguese in Mafagafo magazine. “It’s a complex, layered portrayal worthy of a much longer work.” [Ian Mond]

Ali Smith, Glyph (Hamish Hamilton UK 1/26; Pantheon 5/26) Fantasy novel, a com­panion to Gliff, about unreliable memory and the stories we tell. Sisters Petra and Patch, now grown and estranged, reunite after Patch finds a phantom horse destroy­ing her bedroom. “Glyph doesn’t contain an ugly sentence or a boring page – and has a reassuringly crisp moral urgency.” [Niall Harrison]

Martha Wells, Platform Decay (Tor 5/26) Short SF novel (around 54,000 words) and the eighth book in the Murderbot Diaries series. Everyone’s favorite SecUnit Murderbot volunteers to run a rescue mission, despite it involving strangers, even human children, and possibly…eye contact. Balancing high-stakes adventure with snarky inner monologues.

#noinsta

Dark Carnival, the second oldest science fiction bookstore in the US, will be celebrating its 50th anniversary on Saturday, August 1, 2026 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at its longtime location on Claremont Avenue in Berkeley, CA.

The sprawling establishment, which specializes in science fiction, fantasy, horror, and mystery books—as well as comics through its next-door sister store, Escapist Comics—first opened its doors in 1976, resiliently weathering challenges including the 1989 San Francisco earthquake, COVID-19 lockdowns, and numerous periods of economic “malaise and recession” over the decades.

Dark Carnival’s events and book signings have previously attracted esteemed authors such as Ray Bradbury, Anne Rice, Douglas Adams, and Clive Barker, and the store continues to benefit from the support of a devoted community of patrons, fans, and local writers including Michael Chabon, Charlie Jane Anders, and Maggie Tokuda-Hall.

Owner Jack Rems, who has sat behind the desk at Dark Carnival “since dinosaurs and old Cadillacs roamed the earth,” prides himself on the store’s discerningly curated “recommended reads” shelf and expanded online booklists: “I like to feel I’m leading readers to something better than they would end up with if I wasn’t here to offer them guidance,” he said.

For more information on Dark Carnival and its upcoming anniversary celebration, visit its website.

Looking to refresh your TBR pile? July 21st brings a fresh batch of incredible new releases across Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Horror, and YA—featuring the most talked-about books landing on shelves this week.

Whether your taste leans toward mind-bending speculative worlds, dark magical realms, heart-pounding scares, or unputdownable YA adventures, this week’s lineup has something for every reader.

We’ve rounded up the standout titles you won’t want to miss so you can jump straight to your next great read. Hit subscribe to keep up with the best weekly book recs, and thanks for stopping by! We’ll see you next week with even more amazing titles!

Westercon 80, to be held in 2028 by the Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society (LASFS) in conjunction with Loscon 54, will officially be the final Westercon after voters at its 2026 business meeting ratified a motion to repeal its bylaws. Following Loscon 54/Westercon 80, the convention “will be deemed to have ‘returned its charter’ to the owner of the Westercon service mark, LASFS,” which will determine its future going forward.

Westercon’s press release cited a lack of bids to host the convention and the proliferation of localized conventions across western North America that “filled the same role that Westercon once held” as reasons behind its discontinuement. Active since 1948, Westercon will pay homage to its history with its final two events, a planned “retirement tour” spanning from the Bay Area to its birthplace in Los Angeles.

The penultimate Westercon (79) will be held jointly with BayCon 2027 at the Santa Clara Marriott in Santa Clara, California, July 2-5, 2027. For more information, visit Westercon’s website.

Following a “careful review,” Apex Magazine has removed the story “Vigil of the Tenth Air” from Apex #153 amid skepticism around the author’s potential use of AI tools for its writing.

Though ultimately not selected for publication, a shortlisted story for Apex imprint Violet Lichen’s upcoming ECO25: the Year’s Best Speculative Ecofiction was also struck from website listings after it came to light that other work associated with the author’s pen name was “recently removed from several other short fiction publications under suspicion of AI usage.”

In response, Apex Book Company, Apex Magazine, and Violet Lichen announced plans to reevaluate their submission guidelines, including “refining the language” of its AI clause and “expanding” the team’s internal review processes to more ably respond to concerns around LLM usage. The editorial team clarified that they do not intend to use AI screening applications or request early drafting papers for evidence “in the event a piece is suspected of AI use after publication,” and will converse directly with the author(s) involved “to discuss the story in further detail” and come to an appropriate resolution.

Apex‘s initial press release, posted by managing editor Darian Bianco, reaffirmed:

The Apex team is resolved to apply the lessons learned both from our experience, and from the invaluable reports and statements compiled by fellow indie publishers, to fortify our submission process against AI-assisted work, and to continue uplifting strange, surreal, beautiful speculative fiction written with passion and care by humans, for humans.

This comes after the recent news covered by Locus concerning speculation that some of the regional winners of the Commonwealth Prize may have at least partially used AI to generate their work—the Commonwealth Foundation has since announced that they are “satisfied that AI was not used to write the winning stories” after an investigation—and Hachette’s March decision to pull horror novel Shy Girl by Mia Ballard from shelves after information alleging its contents were AI generated was shared with the company by the New York Times.

Noidanlanka by J. S. Meresmaa (Myllylahti), is the winner of the 2026 Tähtifantasia Award, presented by the Helsinki Science Fiction Society for the best Finnish fantasy book published in the previous year. Other nominees were:

Visit our bookshop.org page to purchase this week’s new books and support your local bookstore. And us!

Anderson, Kevin J. & Longueira, Allyson: Into the Deep, Dark Woods (WordFire Press 978-1680578638, $29.99, 356pp, formats: hardcover, paperback, ebook, 07/21/2026)

Original anthology of 28 all-new poems and stories of spooky wilderness in mix of SF, fantasy, and horror worlds. Authors include Sherilynn Kenyon, Charles De Lint, Jonathan Maberry, and Sebastien de Castell.

August, Riley: A Planet Called Happy (Penguin Random House UK/Del Rey UK 978-1529934908, £18.99, 352pp, formats: hardcover, paperback, ebook, 07/23/2026)

SF novel. Ellis goes to Planet Happy, a paradise that promises Happiness X — the trademarked secret to happiness — but his trip is interrupted by activists.

Datlow, Ellen: Lovecraft’s Brood (Tachyon Publications 978-1616964627, $18.95, 320pp, formats: paperback, ebook, 07/21/2026)

Anthology of 19 cosmic horror stories. Authors include Caitlín R. Kiernan, T. Kingfisher, Steve Rasmic Tem, and Paul Tremblay.

Ellis, Sami: Funerals Are for the Living (Abrams/Amulet 978-1419784736, $19.99, 320pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 07/21/2026)

Young-adult horror novel. When her sister dies, Junie is forced to inter her in Williamsville — named after a slavemaster who practiced dark magic — and gets entangled with a racist cult.

Golden, Christopher: Carry Me to My Grave (St. Martin’s 978-1250404527, $29.00, 336pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 07/21/2026)

Horror novel. Malcolm promises his dying mother, a rumored witch, to return her body to Maine; on the train there, evil forces erupt to keep him from fulfilling his oath. Simultaneous with the Titan UK edition.

Grove, S.E.: Armor for Liars (Simon & Schuster 978-1665983709, $21.99, 432pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 07/21/2026)

Young-adult fantasy novel. In a world where male enchanters claim dead female souls as servants, Clementine disguises as a boy and colludes with the vengeful spirit Sam.

Haddon, Seth: Null Entity (Tordotcom 978-1250365217, $24.99, 192pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 07/21/2026)

SF adventure novella, second in the Volatile Memory duology. Wylla, her identity now erased from the Corporate Federation, joins the eco-resistance of the Edenic Order with her digital lover and and collaborator Sable.

Howe, Jenny L.: How (Not) to Renovate a Haunted House (Penguin Random House/Delacorte 978-0593809129, $12.99, 384pp, formats: paperback, ebook, audiobook, 07/21/2026)

YA supernatural romance novel. Amity, trying to help her mom restore a delapidated haunted house, strikes a deal with handsome ghost-hunter and construction expert Theo.

Julian, Jen: The Winter Folk (Orbit US/Run For It 978-0316580496, $19.99, 384pp, formats: paperback, ebook, audiobook, 07/21/2026)

Gothic horror novel. Every year, the mythical Winter Folk gather at a secret lodge in the Appalachians; former housekeeper Moth, expelled for decades, tries to find her way back to Mr. Oslin, the house’s master. A first novel.

Kim, Suji & namu: Under the Oak Tree, 3 (Penguin Random House/Inklore 978-0593871256, $32.00, 528pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 06/23/2026)

Fantasy romance novel, third part in the titular work. Worried for her war-bound husband Sir Riftan, Lady Maximilian escapes the monastery where she’s sheltered and crosses a country filled with monsters. Originally published as a webnovel by RidiBooks, 2017.

Kova, Elise: Prince of Swords (Penguin Random House/Del Rey 978-0593726372, $32.99, 560pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 07/21/2026)

Fantasy romance novel, second in the Arcana Academy series. Hiding her secret identity within the Arcana Academy, Clara grows closer to prince Kaelis and is drawn to the mysterious order of Worldkeepers. Simultaneous with the Hodderscape UK edition.

Laine, Jillian: Henry Tudor Must Die (Penguin Random House/Berkley 979-8217189717, $30.00, 368pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 07/21/2026)

Fantasy novel. On the eve of her execution, sorceress Anne Boleyn is offered a deal by Henry VIII’s first wife, who’s part of a secret feminist society known as the Hellebore Sisterhood. Simultaneous with the Michael Joseph UK edition.

Murray, Lauryn Hamilton: Tides of Fortune (Macmillan/Roaring Brook 978-1250348173, $20.99, 480pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 07/21/2026)

Young-adult fantasy romance novel, second in the Storm Weaver series. Before Blaze can be crowned Queen of the Aquatori, she must ally herself with Fox to find the Eye of the Soul. First US edition (Penguin UK 6/26).

Parry, H.G.: The Witch Below the Dreaming Wood (Orbit US/Redhook 978-0316588249, $19.99, 448pp, formats: paperback, ebook, 07/21/2026)

Historical fantasy novel. In 1941, people worldwide begin having connected dreams of King Arthur, while Elaine, a librarian sent to catalogue a collection in Wales, finds herself dreaming of the Lady of the Lake. Simultaneous with the Orbit UK edition. Simultaneous with the Orbit UK edition.

Senf, Lora: Unnamed Bones (Hachette/Union Square & Co. 978-1454965053, $19.99, 288pp, formats: hardcover, paperback, ebook, 07/21/2026)

Young-adult horror novel. Cursed teen Harrow — who locks her personified emotions inside her mind — ventures with friends to a remote island only to be stranded there with an ominous presence.

Specht, Mary Helen: Mudlark (Penguin Random House/Ballantine 979-8217092499, $20.00, 400pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 07/21/2026)

Post-apocalyptic SF novel. Jenny, a rocker whose band and marriage are crumbling, tries to find her missing daughter Neko; years later, Neko scavenges for resources in flooded Manhattan and finds Jenny’s lost solo album.

While you are here, please take a moment to support Locus with a one-time or recurring donation. We rely on reader donations to keep the magazine and site going, and would like to keep the site paywall free, but WE NEED YOUR FINANCIAL SUPPORT to continue quality coverage of the science fiction and fantasy field.

The Faith of Beasts, the second book in James S.A. Corey’s The Captive’s War series, took first place with a respectable lead over our second-place finisher, Christopher Buehlman’s medieval horror adventure Between Two Fires. Our runner-up was The Red Winter by Cameron Sullivan (Tor), a fantasy centered on the hunt for the Beast of Gévaudan. There were 54 nominated titles, down from 55 last month.

Echoing last month’s voting, Andy Weir’s Project Hail Mary held onto the top spot on our trade paperback list, followed by Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman. There were no new runners-up. Sixty-three titles were nominated, up from last month’s 55.

On our media and gaming-related list, three books made our list. Two tied for first place, Dragonlance Legends by Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman and Magic: The Gathering: Strixhaven: Omens of Chaos by Seanan McGuire. Dan Abnett’s Warhammer 40,000: Eisenhorn: The Omnibus came in third. There were no new runners-up. We had 16 titles nominated, down from 22 last month.

Compiled with data from: Bakka-Phoenix (Canada), Book Moon (MA), Borderlands (CA), McNally Robinson (two in Canada), Mysterious Galaxy (CA), Toadstool (two in NH), White Dwarf (Canada).

Data period: April 2026

The post Locus Bestsellers, June 2026 appeared first on Locus.

Author Dafydd ab Hugh, 65, died in June 2026.

Ab Hugh was born David M. Friedman on October 22, 1960 in Los Angeles CA. He began writing SF/F as early as 1987 with Heroing: or, How He Wound Down the World, first of two books in the fantasy series Jiana. He wrote Arthuriana books Arthur War Lord (1994) and Far Beyond the Wave (1994), as well as several tie-in novels for Star Trek and Doom. His short fiction, including Hugo and Nebula Award-nominated novelette “The Coon Rolled Down and Ruptured His Larinks, a Squeezed Novel by Mr. Skunk” (1990), was published in Asimov’s, New Destinies, Free Space (1997), and more.

For more, see his entry in the Encyclopedia of Science Fiction.

The post Dafydd ab Hugh (1960-2026) appeared first on Locus.

Ready to update your reading list? A brand-new wave of incredible books has officially arrived, and we’re highlighting the most anticipated new releases in Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Horror, and YA hitting shelves the week of July 14th, 2026. Whether you’re searching for mind-bending futures, dark magic, spine-tingling terror, or captivating young adult stories, this week’s lineup is packed with must-reads.

We’ve curated the ultimate shortlist of standout arrivals to help you easily spot your next obsession. Don’t forget to subscribe for your weekly dose of fresh speculative fiction recommendations, and thanks for hanging out with us—we’ll catch you next time with another stack of great books to explore!

The post New Book Releases Video: July 14, 2026 appeared first on Locus.

Author R.S. Belcher, 59, died July 11, 2026.

Rod Belcher was born May 2, 1967 in Roanoke VA. He graduated Virginia Commonwealth University, worked on a Masters degree in forensic science at The George Washington University, and worked as a newspaper and magazine editor, a reporter, and a freelance writer. After story “Orphans” appeared in a Star Trek tie-in anthology in 2006, he continued publishing in 2013 with “Hollow Moments” and The Six-Gun Tarot, first in the Golgotha series, which continued with The Shotgun Arcana (2014), The Queen of Swords (2017), and The Ghost Dance Judgment (2020). He also wrote the Nightwise Universe, including Nightwise (2015), The Night Dahlia (2018), Locus Award nominee for Horror The Brotherhood of the Wheel (2016), and King of the Road (2018). In 2019, he published another tie-in novel, Men in Black International (2019). Standalone novel The Queen’s Road was published in 2020. He published about a dozen short fiction works in the 2010s and ‘20s in anthologies such as Galactic Stew (2020) and Skull X Bones (2025) and in magazines such as Amazing Stories.

The post R.S. Belcher (1967-2026) appeared first on Locus.

Check out the campaign at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2040521099/locus-anthology-2025

The post Locus Best Science Fiction & Fantasy of the Year: Volume 1 Is Funding Now! appeared first on Locus.

Author and editor Mark J. McGarry, 68, died in May 2026 in Paris, France.

McGarry was born February 6, 1958 in Albany NY. He wrote Sun Dogs (1981) and Blank Slate (1984) as well as several genre works of short fiction published in magazines including Asimov’s, Analog, Stellar, Amazing Stories, and F&SF, including Nebula Award nominee “The Mercy Gate” (1998). He was the original editor of SF magazine Empire and a past editor of the SFWA Forum and Bulletin.

The post Mark J. McGarry (1958-2026) appeared first on Locus.

The prize formerly known as the International Booker Prize has announced a partnership with Bukhman Philanthropies, which “has made a generous commitment to fund the next 10 years of the International Booker Prize.” The funding will double the prize awarded to the winning title from £50,000 to £100,000, split between the author and translator.

The Buhkman International Booker Prize “celebrates the best works of long-form fiction or collections of short stories translated into English and published in the UK and/or Ireland.” This year’s judges are Katie Kitamura (chair), Patrick McGuinness, Caleb Azumah Nelson, Olga Ravn, and Tessa Thompson. Submissions are open until September 24, 2026.

The shortlist will be announced on April 15, 2027. The winner will be announced the following month. Shortlisted titles receive £5,000, or £2,500 each for author and translator.

For more information, including submission guidelines for the prize, see the Booker Prize website.

The post Buhkman International Booker Prize Judges Announced appeared first on Locus.

ELEANNA CASTROIANNI is now represented by Arley Sorg of kt literary.

ERIN LATIMER, CORAL ALE­JANDRA MOORE, and J.C. SNOW are now represented by JABberwocky Literary Agency.

ROBERT J. SAWYER will be writer-in-residence at Calgary’s Alexandria Writers’ Centre So­ciety from September 1 to No­vember 30.

“Whatever Kills the Pain” by C.W. BLACKWELL won Best Long Story, “Blind Pig” by MI­CHAEL BRACKEN won Best Short Story, and “The Temporary Murder of Thomas Monroe” by TIA TASHIRO won Best Novelette in the 2026 Derringer Awards.

Trail of Shadows by MIKE AL­LEN won the Webster Award at RavenCon 2026, held April 24-26.

ADA PALMER’s And Loki in His Prison and And Odin on His Tree, in “a Norse duology,” went to Mal Frazier and Pat­rick Nielsen Hayden at Tor via Cameron McClure of Donald Maass Literary Agency. Jennifer Gunnels will edit. UK rights sold to Nicolas Cheetham at Head of Zeus via Harry Illingworth of DHH Literary on behalf of Cam­eron McClure.

JON COURTENAY GRIM­WOOD sold Thrones and Pow­ers and an untitled historical fantasy novel to Simon Taylor at Transworld in a pre-empt via John Jarrold of John Jarrold Liter­ary Agency.

JON GRACEY’s Midnight in Ravenswood, OLIVER K. LANGMEAD’s Beneath the Martyr’s Eye, and RILEY SIL­VERMAN’s Because the Night, in the world of social deduction game Blood on the Clocktower, sold to Lee Harris at Tor. Carl Engle-Laird will edit.

STEPHEN ARYAN sold Silver Tongued Devils and another title to Marcus Gipps at The Broken Binding Press via Juliet Mush­ens of Mushens Entertainment (world English).

CAITLIN ROZAKIS sold Dreadful sequel Half-Baked to George Sandison at Titan Books via Sarah Fisk of The Tobias Liter­ary Agency.

CASEY SCIESZKA sold Fu­ture You, “about a young woman working at a Catskills hotel who finds herself trapped in a four-month ‘time scramble,’” to Sarah Stein at Harper via Ali Lake of O’Connor Literary Agency.

TRAVIS J.I. CORCORAN’s Red State Earth, a prequel to Red State Mars, and another book went to Tony Daniel at Ark Press.

DUSTIN PLANTHOLT sold Homebound Apocalypse and two more books to Rhett Bruno at Aethon & Vault. Damian Was­sel will edit.

KELLEY ARMSTRONG’s Im­mortal Lies, in which a young woman teams up with a vampire hunter to save a college from a coven of vampires, and another book went to Elizabeth Agy­emang at 47North via Lucienne Diver of The Knight Agency.

ZACK PETROC and JUSTIN SLOAN’s “litRPG fantasy” Castle Crawl and another title sold to Elizabeth Agyemang at 47North via Connor Smith of Hesperides Literary.

JC ROSS sold an untitled “litRPG fantasy” and another book to Gwyn Jordan at Rogue­heart Press. Chelsea Karol will edit.

GENEVA LEE sold Harbinger and four more books to Liz Pel­letier at Red Tower for seven figures via Louise Fury of The Fury Agency. UK rights sold to Rebecca Hilsdon at Michael Joseph.

JULIE HALL sold “Bridgerton-inspired historical romantasy” The Secrets of Everlight and another title to Elizabeth Vinson at Ace via Flavia Viotti of Book­case Literary Agency.

JULIETTE CROSS’s “goth­ic standalone paranormal ro­mances” The Ayre Witch, Of Frost and Fyre, and Vanity and Vampires went to Erika Tsang at Bramble for seven figures via Rachel Brooks of BookEnds.

JESSICA CAGE’s I Inherited a Gargoyle, “following a reluctant succubus,” and two more books sold to Jason Pinter at Simon Maverick via Patrice Caldwell of The Caldwell Agency.

SCARLETT ASH’s The De­mon’s Kiss went to Amy Baxter at Avon UK via Haley Warrington of Booker Albert Agency.

KATE RHODES and JEN­NIFER XU, writing as KAIJU, sold Novae, with a romance between a necromancer and an astronomer, and two more titles to Rebecca Taylor at Inklore at auction via Ammi-Joan Paquette of Aevitas Creative Management. Sara Miller will edit.

COLETTE RHODES sold Harpy at High Tide, first in the Monsters at Sea series, and two more books to Elizabeth May at Kensington via Jill Marr of Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency.

ASH LUKENS’s “polyamorous romantic fantasy” Signed in Shadows went to Katie McGuire at Alcove Press via Lauren Bieker of FinePrint Literary Manage­ment and Mara Hollander of Azantian Literary Agency.

KIERSTEN WHITE’s Drown: A Love Story, “in which a woman possessed since childhood uses her bond with the unknowable entity inside her to undo other dormant possessions, until the attacks begin zeroing in on her home,” sold to Tricia Narwani at Del Rey via Michelle Wolfson of Wolfson Literary Agency.

RONALD MALFI’s Revenant, “in which a detective investigat­ing the disappearance of a local child is forced to confront the impossible return of his younger brother,” went to Ed Schlesinger at Gallery via Cameron Mc­Clure of Donald Maass Literary Agency.

CHRIS PANATIER sold Kill Me With Fire, in which a curse transforms two women into “fe­ral witches,” to Alan Lastufka at Shortwave via Sara Megibow of Megibow Literary Agency.

BEAR LEE sold “cosmic giallo novel” Morphia Slow to David-Jack Fletcher at Slashic Horror Press.

CHLOE SPENCER’s Make a House a Home, following a Midwestern tradwife, went to David-Jack Fletcher at Slashic Horror Press.

MARIAH STILLBROOK sold Betsy, “about a possessed man­nequin wreaking havoc on a group of teens in the ‘90s,” to David-Jack Fletcher at Slashic Horror Press.

ANTOINETTE VAN SLUYT­MAN’s Red Rhen, a “matriar­chal cosmic-fantasy,” went to dave ring at Neon Hemlock via Julie Crisp of Julie Crisp Literary Agency.

SAMANTHA COHOE’s adult debut The Devoured, in which twins are haunted by their 20-years-prior kidnapping, went to Elana Gibson at Crooked Lane via Sarah Phair of Sanford J. Greenburger Associates.

STEPHANIE FELDMAN sold “feminist folk horror” In Summer She Turns Cruel to Christine Neulieb at Lanternfish Press via Stacia Decker of Dunow, Carlson & Lerner.

KATE WESTON’s Death Looks Good on You, “pitched as body horror meets the beauty industry,” went to Aleena Hasan at Daphne Press via Chloe Sea­ger of Madeleine Milburn Literary Agency.

AMY GIACALONE’s “modern-day ghost story” This May Come Back to Haunt Me sold to Megan Stielstra at TriQuarterly Books.

GABRIELLA GYLLENHOFF sold My Demon Exchange Stu­dent to Ashlyn Inman at Keylight.

SHAMEEZ PATEL sold Fang-Girling and another book to Ashley Imane Fields at Forever via Cathie Hedrick-Armstrong of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.

EILIS O’NEAL’s “sci-fi dysto­pian duology” Redemption Ark and Renegade Stars, set on a reality TV show in outer space, went to Mary Kate Castellani at Bloomsbury Children’s at auction via Christabel McKinley of David Higham Associates. Meghan Maria McCullough will edit. UK rights went to Simon & Schuster UK at auction.

LIZ EDELBROCK sold Spec­tacle of Ruin, about a gods-cursed teen, to Wendy Loggia at Delacorte via Michelle Wolfson of Wolfson Literary Agency.

ELLE TESCH’s “YA adventure fantasy” The Gods We Buried went to Lydia Gregovic at Dela­corte via Pete Knapp & Stuti Telidevara of Park, Fine & Brower Literary Management.

MARC J GREGSON’s Bright Sky, first in the Below the Black fantasy trilogy, and two more titles sold to Jonah Heller at Peachtree Teen via Heather Cashman of Storm Literary Agency.

LAURA E. WEYMOUTH sold Willow Crowned, “in which an exiled king and a rebel serving girl clash on a remote island stronghold,” to Bess Braswell & Hana Tzou at Feiwel & Friends via Laura Crockett of TriadaUS Literary Agency.

JORDAN RIVET sold post-apocalyptic romance KA­THARSIS to Sara Goodman at Wednesday Books via Lanie Davis & Daisy Garrison of Alloy Entertainment on behalf of Jim McCarthy of Dystel, Goderich & Bourret.

AMANDA DEWITT and MA­RIA INGRANDE MORA sold “ac­ademic rivals-to-queerplatonic-besties fantasy-comedy” Royal Person Fiction to Ashley Hearn at Peachtree Teen via Cate Hart of Harvey Klinger for DeWitt, and Erica Bauman of Aevitas Creative Management for Mora.

CATHERINE CHENG’s de­but, literary horror Whitefish, “about a Michelin-starred chef who spirals into madness as he becomes increasingly entangled with a wealthy family – and the merman whose flesh he’s serv­ing them,” sold to Kate Lucas and Sophie Garcia-Cubas As­semat at Flatiron Books for six figures at auction via Maddy Belton of Madeleine Milburn Literary Agency. UK rights went to Delayna Spencer at Hodder & Stoughton at auction.

ASH HUANG sold debut speculative novel The Secret Lives of Immortals, about a love story between “a poet from the Imperial Chinese palace and the Roman gladiator who tricks her into eternal life,” and another title to Angelica Chong at Redhook and Jenni Hill at Orbit UK in a pre-empt via Hana El Niwairi of CookeMcDermid.

JESSICA PLUMMER’s debut Magestruck, “a queer fantasy rom-com,” and another book went to Leyla Erkan at Harlequin via Eric Smith of Neighborhood Literary. The Conman’s Guide to Dragon Slaying, pitched as “an adult How to Train Your Dragon meets Heated Rivalry,” sold to John Morgan at Grand Central at auction via Smith.

LIVVY JANE BAKER’s debut, “sapphic enemies-to-lovers cozy fantasy” Advanced Alchemy, sold to Elana Gibson at Alcove Press via Fabienne Schwizer of Ki Agency.

Filmmaker and screenwriter LINDSEY ANDERSON BEER’s debut novel Hollow, “a feminist retelling of ‘The Legend of Sleepy Hollow’,” sold to Tara Singh Carl­son at Putnam in a pre-empt via Alyssa Reuben of WME. Beer will adapt and direct a film version through the Honey Trap produc­ing label with producers Sydney Sweeney and Margot Robbie’s LuckyChap.

MADELINE HAZE CURTIS sold debut A Light Mistaken for the Sun, pitched as a sapphic Interview with the Vampire, to Brittany Adames at Simon & Schuster at auction via Sasha Landauer of Writers House.

KATY LAIRD sold debut, horror Occult Entertainment, pitched as Squid Game meets Backrooms, and another title to Troix Jackson at Nightfire in a pre-empt via Kiana Nguyen of Donald Maass Literary Agency.

RORY FORREST sold “humor­ous sci-fi” Dave, the Space Pet to Summer Stewart at Unso­licited Press, by Stacey Kondla while at The Rights Factory (world English).

LILIA VARGAS COSTELLO sold debut Borderline, “for fans of Stranger Things and Rules for Vanishing,” to Ardyce Alspach at Union Square Kids via Stephen Barbara & Sidney Boker of Ink­well Management.

CYNTHIA PELAYO sold Eve­rina, a novella reworking of Frankenstein “inspired by Mary Shelley’s experience as a griev­ing mother,” to Mika Kasuga at Union Square & Co via Lane Heymont of The Tobias Literary Agency.

EMAN ABDELHADI and M.E. O’BRIEN will edit anthology When We Win: Dispatches from Revolutionary Futures for Dao Tran at Haymarket.

BEATKA LAKE sold “sapphic western horror novella” Beneath the Veins to Mika Kasuga at Union Square & Co via Paul Lucas of Regal Hoffmann & As­sociates.

AMALIA STONE sold 6 Steps to Survival, a “sapphic, dual timeline space opera novella,” to Veronica Holmes at Scylla.

M.H. FOSTER resold The Demon Overlord’s Retirement Plan, first in a previously self-published fantasy series, Love, Politics, and Other Acts of War, and Band of Others to Morgan Spehar at Grand Central via Seth Fishman of The Gernert Company (NA).

KATE ASHER resold Crown of Olympus, Blood of Olympus, Blade of Olympus, and another book to Christine Ebbs at Penguin Australia via Saffron Dodd of ASH Literary.

ERICK THIEMKE, writing as ALWAYSROLLSAONE, sold three books in the series A Soldier’s Life to Rhett Bruno at Aethon & Vault. Damian Wassel will edit.

CAILIN DUFFY has joined Orbit as assistant editor and NI­COLE PUAPATTANAKAJORN has joined as administrative assistant.

EDEN RAILSBACK has joined Tor Publishing Group as an associate editor. She was previously at HarperCollins.

SARAH BLUMENSTOCK has been promoted to executive edi­tor at Berkley.

Uncanny Magazine Manag­ing Editor MONTE LIN will also become nonfiction editor starting with Uncanny Magazine Issue 72.

At Harper Collins, MAY CHEN and TESSA WOODWARD have been promoted to VP, pub­lishers of Avon Group, which includes the imprints Harper Voyager, Avon, and Avon A. MORGAN PAGER has joined as senior director, marketing for Avon. RICH THOMAS has been promoted to SVP, group publisher and HEIDI RICHTER to VP, marketing and publicity at Harper Children’s.

REBECCA YARROS sold film rights to The Things We Leave Unfinished to Lionsgate. Yarros, Arash Amel of Amel Company, and Carly Kleinbart Elter and Alex Young of Hidden Pictures are executive produc­ers. Todd Lieberman will also produce, Thea Sharrock will direct, and Amel will adapt the script.

Film rights to SARAH BLUE’s The Marriage Hex and The Fang Arrangement went to Molly Cusick at ReelShort.

The post People & Publishing Roundup, July 2026 appeared first on Locus.

Visit our bookshop.org page to purchase this week’s new books and support your local bookstore. And us!

Bontrager, Megan: The Sea Hides Its Dead (Orbit US/Run For It 978-0316588010, $19.99, 368pp, formats: paperback, ebook, audiobook, 07/14/2026)

Horror novel. Grad student Caro joins a sea-cave expedition to find the ancient Cult of the Leviathan, only for the entrance to collapse and trap them inside the site. Simultaneous with the Orbit UK/Run For It UK edition.

Carrick, M.A.: The Eye of Leviathan (Orbit US 978-0316584845, $19.99, 512pp, formats: paperback, ebook, audiobook, 07/14/2026)

Fantasy novel, first in The Sea Beyond series. In an alternate Spanish Golden Age, a human in the otherworldly Sea Beyond and a fae disguised as a human must take down the empire. Simultaneous with the Orbit UK edition.

Goodman, A.B.: House of Atreus: Agamemnon Falling (Planetary Books 979-8183814347, $19.99, 162pp, formats: hardcover, paperback, ebook, audiobook, 07/01/2026)

SF novel, second in the House of Atreus series. As Agamemnon returns home after war, Trojan prophetess Cassandra tells him that the “goddess” he sacrificed his daughter to was actually an ancient machine.

Grist, Rhiannon: Home Sick (Rebellion/Solaris UK 978-1837867639, $16.99, 288pp, formats: paperback, ebook, audiobook, 07/16/2026)

Horror novel. Tamsin, after a traumatic incident, moves to a cottage with only a thin wall separating her from an unnerving woman.

Hachemi, Munir & Sanches, Julia: The Mulai (Coach House Books 978-1552455197, $18.95, 176pp, formats: paperback, ebook, 07/14/2026)

SF novel. An archaeologist travels to a remote planet to study the Mulai, descendants of a lost space mission with unrecognizable customs who live in domes. Translated from the Spanish by Julia Sanches. Simultaneous with the UK Fitzcarraldo edition.

Hunter, Faith: Unpredictable Magic (Ace 979-8217187621, $20.00, 560pp, formats: paperback, ebook, audiobook, 07/14/2026)

Urban fantasy novel. Siblings (and private investigators) Angelina and Evan Everhart-Trueblood are drawn into a disappearance case that seems to involve Angie’s aunt and vampire ex-husband.

Kwok, Jean: Dominion (Penguin Random House/Putnam 979-8217044368, $32.00, 448pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 07/14/2026)

Romantic fantasy novel, the first in the Silk and Iron trilogy. In a world of four rival factions and tyger-bonded riders, Rubi enters a deadly competition and encounters a frustratingly handsome leader.

Lambert, Jennifer K.: Among the Thorns (Macmillan/Tor Bramble UK 978-1250360373, $32.99, 400pp, formats: hardcover, audiobook, 07/14/2026)

Fantasy romance novel, second in the Never the Roses series. Dream sorceress Rose is acclaimed and sought after by the prince, while isolated dream sorceress Thorn wants everything she has. This author also writes as Jeffe Kennedy; copyrighted by Jennifer M. Kennedy.

Marie, I.V.: Ruinous Ends (Penguin Random House/Delacorte 978-0593898840, $21.99, 480pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 07/14/2026)

Young-adult dark academia fantasy novel, second in the series The Souls of Blackwood Academy series. After the Decennial competition, six former pupils discover new secrets about Blackwood.

Marillier, Juliet: The Amber Owl (Rebellion/Solaris UK 978-1763662513, $29.35, 416pp, formats: paperback, ebook, 07/16/2026)

Fantasy novel in the Heartwood series. Stasya lives by the Heartwood Forest, where she uses her gift with animals, but is relocated to court when she protests soldiers trying to hack through the woods.

Niven, Larry & Barnes, Steven: Ice Vegas (Blackstone Publishing 979-8228329577, $29.99, 272pp, formats: hardcover, paperback, ebook, audiobook, 07/14/2026)

SF thriller novel. Carver, a security operative, and Spider, world’s deadliest assassin, team up to stop saboteurs from damaging BALDR, a nuclear facility that powers half of Europe.

Oh, Temi: Not With a Bang (Simon & Schuster/Saga Press 978-1668203460, $18.99, 352pp, formats: paperback, ebook, audiobook, 07/14/2026)

SF novel. The Minton family, from prepper father Marcus to Briar, drawn into a UFO cult, are confronted with an extinction-level event. Copyrighted by Temitoyen Ochuboju Douglas-Scott. First US edition (Simon & Schuster UK 5/26).

Olsson, Lindsey: To Drown a Witch (Penguin Random House/Putnam 979-8217004799, $20.99, 352pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 07/14/2026)

Young-adult fantasy romance novel, first in a duology. When the deadly entity “the Witch” shows signs of being reborn, thief Nes, who can detect magic, is drawn into the hunt by Toran of the King’s Guard.

Parker, Natalie C.: The Assassin’s Guide to Dating (Candlewick Press 978-1536243291, $12.99, 256pp, formats: paperback, ebook, 07/14/2026)

Young-adult superhero romance, sequel to The Assassin’s Guide to Babysitting. At an academy for those with powers, Lila finds her “bombshell” powers are subject to increasing surveillance, hindering her growing relationship with Tru.

Rivers, Erynne: Wench (HarperCollins UK/Avon UK 978-0008798246, £16.99, 400pp, formats: hardcover, paperback, ebook, audiobook, 07/16/2026)

Fantasy romance novel. Maid Marian, unhappily betrothed to the Sheriff of Nottingham, is kidnapped in the forest by the notorious fae Merry Men and Robin Hood. A first novel.

Rowland, Alexandra: Yield Under Great Persuasion (Macmillan/Tor Bramble UK 978-1035087556, £22.00, 320pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 07/16/2026)

Fantasy romance novel. Tam sets out on a quest to find himself, finally fed up with his lover Lord Lyford, who smashed his prize-fair vegetables when they were children and is favored by the goddess Tam feels betrayed by.

Shunmugam, Megam: The Mortal Trials (Angry Robot UK 978-1836730156, $19.99, 304pp, formats: paperback, ebook, audiobook, 07/14/2026)

Fantasy novel. Mistaken for someone else, Lirah enters a deadly competition and encounters a frustratingly handsome trainer.

Tierney, Joan: Misery’s Wife (Macmillan/Flatiron 978-1250421791, $28.99, 272pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 07/14/2026)

SF novel. In this retelling of a Portuguese folktale, trans woman Elixane receives a message from a toad to rescue her sister, who is married to the King of Misery.

Wellington, David: Erebus-13 (Orbit US 978-0316569361, $19.99, 496pp, formats: paperback, ebook, audiobook, 07/14/2026)

SF novel, third in the Red Space series. Petrova and her crew must unite the solar system’s factions to stop Erebus, a dark entity hurtling towards Earth. Simultaneous with the Orbit UK edition.

Wiswell, John: The Dragon Has Some Complaints (Astra House/DAW 978-0756420499, $29.00, 400pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 07/14/2026)

Fantasy novel. A three-headed (formerly four-headed) dragon with bickering heads tries to sneak into a dragon-riding academy for food, and bonds with rider Rania, who’s desperate for a dragon of her own.

Woodroe, Alex: Brave New Weird: The Best New Weird Horror, Volume Four (Tenebrous Press 978-1959790655, $19.99, 230pp, formats: paperback, ebook, 07/14/2026)

Year’s best anthology of 23 weird stories from 2025, selected as winners of the Brave New Weird Award. Authors include Corrie Haldane, Alistair Rey, Ashley Stokes, and Audrey Zhou. Edited by Woodroe with Matt Blairstone.

While you are here, please take a moment to support Locus with a one-time or recurring donation. We rely on reader donations to keep the magazine and site going, and would like to keep the site paywall free, but WE NEED YOUR FINANCIAL SUPPORT to continue quality coverage of the science fiction and fantasy field.

The post New Book Releases: Jul 14, 2026 appeared first on Locus.