I’m linking up with Top Ten Tuesday, which was created by The Broke and the Bookish and is now hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl. Check out upcoming Top Ten themes on Jana’s blog!
The second half of the year (any year!) is usually the best time to find exciting new releases, and 2025 is no different. Of course, I could not narrow my list to only ten books, so here are twenty! These are mostly favorite authors that I’ve read in the past, although two are debut or new-to-me authors. Books are in order of release date and linked to Goodreads:
The Enchanted Greenhouse by Sarah Beth Durst. July 15th. “New York Times bestselling author Sarah Beth Durst invites you to her new standalone novel nestled on a far-away island brimming with singing flowers, honey cakes, and honeyed love. The hardcover edition features beautiful sprayed edges.”
The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. July 15th. “Three women in three different eras encounter danger and witchcraft in this eerie multigenerational horror saga from the New York Times bestselling author of Mexican Gothic.”
Angel Down by Daniel Kraus. July 29th. “The critically acclaimed author of the “crazily enjoyable” (The New York Times) Whalefall returns with an immersive, cinematic novel about five World War I soldiers who stumble upon a fallen angel that could hold the key to ending the war.”
The Dead Husband Cookbook by Danielle Valentine. August 5th. “A deliciously rich thriller, perfect for readers of Bella Mackie’s How To Kill Your Family and Alexia Casale’s The Best Way to Bury Your Husband.”
The Bone Raiders (The Rakada #1) by Jackson Ford. August 12th. “The start of a no‑holds‑barred, action‑packed fantasy series from the always irreverent Jackson Ford where a group of charmingly-named Bone Raiders harness the power of gigantic, fire-breathing lizards to defend their homeland from an invading enemy. ”
Dot Slash Magic by Liz Shipton. August 19th. “A new, spicy urban fantasy from TikTokker Liz Shipton, perfect for fans of I am Number Four and Zodiac Academy.”
Hemlock & Silver by T. Kingfisher. August 19th. “From New York Times bestselling and Hugo Award-winning author T. Kingfisher comes Hemlock & Silver, a dark reimagining of “Snow White” steeped in poison, intrigue, and treason of the most magical kind.”
The Entanglement of Rival Wizards (Magic and Romance #1) by Sara Raasch. September 2nd. “Ali Hazelwood meets Dungeons & Dragons in this enemies-to-lovers fantasy academia romcom where rival grad student wizards are forced to work together without killing―or falling for―each other.”
Play Nice by Rachel Harrison. September 9th. “A woman must confront the demons of her past when she attempts to fix up her childhood home in this devilishly clever take on the haunted house novel from the USA Today bestselling author.”
Spread Me by Sarah Gailey. September 23rd. “Spread Me is a darkly seductive tale of survival from Sarah Gailey, after a routine probe at a research station turns deadly when the team discovers a strange specimen in search of a warm place to stay.”
The Autumn Springs Retirement Home Massacre by Philip Fracassi. September 30th. “Brimming with dark humor, violence, and mystery, The Autumn Springs Retirement Home Massacre is a blood-soaked slasher sure to keep readers cringing, laughing, and guessing until the very last page.”
Saltcrop by Yume Kitasei. September 25th. “From the acclaimed author of The Stardust Grail comes the epic tale of two sisters who sail across oceans to find their missing third sister―and Earth’s environmental salvation.”
Tea & Alchemy by Sharon Lynn Fisher. October 7th. “A tea leaf reader in nineteenth-century England falls in love—and in danger—with a reclusive alchemist in an enthralling historical fantasy by the author of Salt & Broom and Grimm Curiosities.”
How To Fake a Haunting by Christa Carmen. October 7th. “A desperate woman’s plot to frighten her husband out of her life takes a nightmarish turn in a chilling novel of modern horror by a Bram Stoker Award–winning author.”
Crafting For Sinners by Jenny Kiefer. October 7th. “A queer woman must fight her way out of a big-box craft store run by a diabolical religious cult in this gripping survival horror novel by Jenny Kiefer, author of This Wretched Valley.”
The Blackfire Blade (The Last Legacy #2) by James Logan. October 23rd. “Winter has come early to Korslakov, City of Spires, and Lukan Gardova has arrived with it. Most visitors to this famous city of artifice seek technological marvels, or alchemical ingenuity. Lukan only desires the unknown legacy his father has left for him, in the vaults of the Blackfire Bank.”
The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow. October 28th. “From the New York Times bestselling author of Starling House, Alix E. Harrow, comes a moving and genre-defying adventure through time – as a reluctant lady knight and a not-so-heroic-historian will fight through time and space to rewrite their tragic fates . . . and finally reveal the truths hidden beneath the greatest legend ever told.”
The Place Where They Buried Your Heart by Christina Henry. November 4th. “A woman must confront the evil that has been terrorizing her street since she was a child in this gripping haunted house novel, perfect for fans of The Last House on Needless Street and Tell Me I’m Worthless.”
Snake-Eater by T. Kingfisher. November 11th. “In an isolated desert town, a young woman seeking a fresh start is confronted by ancient gods, malevolent supernatural forces, and eccentric neighbours. A witty horror-tinged fantasy, perfect for fans of Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Chuck Tingle, and Rachel Harrison.”
Outlaw Planet by M.R. Carey. November 18th. “From one of genre fiction’s most original and revolutionary voices comes a space opera adventure like no other. Sometimes the fate of entire worlds can be decided by a woman with nothing to lose, and the smartest gun in the multiverse in her hand . . .”
All these look so pretty together. I love looking at upcoming releases for the second half of the year – reading in autumn/winter is always my favourite for some reason 😀
A few of these are on my TBR, especially the new ones from Alix E. Harrow, Christa Carmen and Sharon Lynn Fisher.
The Enchanted Greenhouse and The Bewitching both sound like they should be good too.
Hope you enjoy all these 😀
Thank you! I agree, there’s something about the last part of the year that makes reading so enjoyable:-)
the Bewitching is one I see on many lists this week!
My TTT: https://laurieisreading.com/2025/06/24/top-ten-tuesday-books-i-look-forward-to-releasing-in-the-second-half-of-2025/
I’m not surprised, she’s a very popular author:-) Thanks for visiting!
The Enchanted Greenhouse is also on my list Tammy!
I think we’re going to love it:-)
Crafting for Sinners sounds like it could be hilarious and horrifying There are so many good books on your list!
Thanks! I’m very excited for Crafting For Sinners, plus the title is great:-)
wow, 2 by Kingfisher in 6 months!
I have only one really: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/231633105-les-ombres-du-monde (August 14)
Kingfisher is so prolific!
Oh crap, I forgot to put HEMLOCK & SILVER on my post! I’ll have to go back and add it at some point.
LOL I’ve done that so many times.
Outlaw Planet sounds great.
Thanks for stopping by earlier.
Yes, I can’t wait for it! Thanks for visiting:-)
I’m excited for Hemlock & Silver which has one of the best covers!! 😀
It really does, right?
Awesome list! There are at least 7 here that I’m definitely planning to read, and another couple that are on my “must track down from the library” list too. 🙂 The new M. R. Carey was not on my radar at all, but now I need to know more!
I’m very happy for a new M.R. Carey:-)
Robin is reviewing some of these. I like the sound of Outlaw Planet.
Anne – Books of My Heart
Me too, I hope it’s as good as it sounds.
There are some fantastic looking new-to-me horrors here! Off to start adding to my TBR lol
Thanks Louise!
I’m a wuss so I don’t know if Spread Me is gonna be my thing, but… Sarah Gailey is so good, so I’ll probably give it a shot!
She is good! This one sounds crazy but I’m here for it:-)
I love that you ended up going for more than ten too. It’s just so hard to stick to. That’s less than two books a month!! So many of these sound fantastic. A couple of the horror ones are actually on one of the posts I’ve got coming linked to your event and this list has reminded me that I need to try and prioritise The Silverblood Promise sometime too between the hype and the approaching sequel. I hope you enjoy all of these and that many new favourites are heading your way
Thanks Charlotte! I look forward to your Summer of Horror posts:-)
Thank you I’m sharing the TBR on Tuesday
Thank you for sharing your horror TBR, I love that other bloggers are participating:-)
I love that others are joining in too. It’s always fun seeing what others get around to reading for these kind of events.
Brb, adding a bunch of these horror novel to my TBR. Really intrigued by How to Fake a Haunting and Crafting for Sinners. I hope you enjoy all these!
Thanks Alicia!
A lovely list of books to add to our TBRs, Tammy! Bone Raiders look like a looooot of fun! 😀
Yes! I am so excited for Bone Raiders:-)
Really like that Bone Raiders cover.
Me too! He’s one of my favorite authors:-)
There are maybe only a couple on this list that aren’t already on mine, so of course now I have to go look them up too!
LOL I know, our tastes usually align!
The Enchanted Greenhouse is one I’m really looking forward to, also! And I don’t blame you for not sticking to just 10 books. There are so many interesting new releases; why hold back? 😉 Thanks for stopping by my TTT earlier!
I don’t think I could have narrowed it down to ten, lol.
I have Hemlock & Silver on my TBR – but otherwise I think we have completely different reads:)). I need to make a list of the books I’m anticipating for the second half of the year.
It’s a fun exercise!
So many great sounding books coming out soon!
There are, the second half of the year is always amazing:-)
Looks like you have some fun reading ahead of you. Enjoy!
Happy TTT (on a Wednesday)!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
Thanks Susan!
I love that both The Bewitching and Hemlock & Silver are on both of our lists! Adding a few to my TBR, The Bone Raiders sounds amazing, I am always in love with Yume Kitasei covers and I need to read them all! & Tea & Alchemy’s vibes sound perfect! Oh and Outlaw Planet is also on my tbr!
There are just so many books I want to read, and I love that we have so many in common:-)
Some great looking books here. There are always too many books that interest me and not enough time!
There’s never enough time, sadly. But it’s still fun to think about all the shiny new books:-)
Yeah, I think you pretty much nailed it, I basically want them all.
Lynn 😀
Right?? Give all of them to me too;-)
Aww thank you for including Tea & Alchemy, Tammy! ♥️♥️
My pleasure, Sharon! I always look forward to your books:-)
Several on here that are new to me. I should probably do a post like this myself. I could have it go live while I’m on my cruise, lol. I am going to do the Mid-Year Freak Out Tag as a post too. Some great picks I might have to add to my TBR too! Thanks for sharing!
https://lisalovesliterature.bookblog.io/2025/06/25/l-l-l-little-reviews-77-june-2025/
I need to start working on my Mid Year Freak Out post!
There is no chance I will ever be catching up with new releases and I think the sooner I accept that, the better lol. But I’m still SO excited for so many of these! I’m especially excited for The Blackfire Blade, but honestly I’d add all of these to my TBR.
It’s tough to know you can’t read everything, right? But it’s still fun to look ahead:-)
Snake-Eater yes! That cover though~!
I love the cover!
So many amazing books!! I am really excited about The Enchanted Greenhouse (I can’t wait for it!) and the two Kingfisher books, obviously! But I am also intrigued by the new Fords’ book. I haven’t read anything by him yet, but I have a lot of his books on my TBR
I will probably read the Jackson Ford book early, I literally cannot wait:-)