Wondering what fantasy titles your TBR stack is begging for this season? Don’t worry, I’ve got your Fable and Goodreads lists covered.
May teased what was to come, and Silver Elite by Dani Francis was the perfect prelude. This enemies-to-lovers dystopian delivers high-stakes tension in a world where supernatural powers are a death sentence. Think Divergent meets The Hunger Games. I’m still reeling from the ending, hoping it’s just the beginning.
Next is When the Moon Hatched by Sarah A. Parker. With dragons, goddesses, and a snarky heroine who refuses to be controlled, it’s a feast of worldbuilding and wit. Game of Thrones fans, take note.
For Viking lovers, A Curse Carved in Bone by Danielle L. Jensen, prequel to A Fate Inked in Blood, is a fiery tale of magic, betrayal, and courage. Fans of the Vikings (2013) series will spot echoes of Freydis and Bjorn in Freya and her brooding counterpart.
Also on my list is Mariana Zapata’s The Things We Water, a slow-burn romance praised for its eloquence and emotional depth. It was my intro to her writing, and I can confidently say she’s crowned queen of the genre for a reason.
To close the month: The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig. Gothic vibes, a prophecy-gifted heroine, missing Diviners, and a devilish knight? Say no more.
Looking ahead, The Wings That Bind, the third instalment in the Bloodwing Academy series, was originally set for release on 14 June 2025. But on 20 May 2025, everything changed. MIRA Books, an imprint of HarperCollins and HTP Books, has acquired the rights to Briar Boleyn’s beloved series. The third book will now be released in March 2026, with the earlier instalments reissued in new covers later this year. For impatient readers, it’s a test of willpower but also a reason to celebrate Boleyn’s leap into the HTP family.
Still, don’t worry! Summer reading isn’t cancelled. Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry will be published on 3 July 2025 and is already being called a must-read for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Rebecca Yarros. Expect epic stakes, fiery tension, and a new obsession waiting to take flight.
So grab your tea, clear your weekend, and let’s read our way into summer.
Oh — and if Bloomsbury’s cryptic ACOTAR anniversary posts were just teases, we are still watching. Fingers crossed for an exciting end to May, hopefully one we have been dreaming of for a while.
Words by Johanna Düring
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