List
Summer Reading Suggestions for Science Fiction and Fantasy Readers
Do you want to escape reality? Try one of these amazing sci-fi and fantasy titles that range from cozy stories to epic quests.
-
Splinter Effect
2025 by Ludington, AndrewGet this itemIn this action-packed, cinematic, debut sci-fi thriller series opener, a time traveling archaeologist named Dr. Robert “Rabbit” Ward maneuvers through the past to recover a long-lost, precious menorah hidden in ancient Rome and hopes to fix his past mistakes. Recommended for readers who love adventure, time travel, and history. Suggested by Rummanah.
-
The River Has Roots
2025 by El-Mohtar, AmalGet this itemNext to Faerieland, two sisters are tasked each day with singing to their lands’ willow trees in order to fuel their magic. One sister is pursued by a relentless, greedy suitor, but her heart has already been won by one of the neighboring fae. A beautiful, lyrical, and spellbinding original fairy tale that celebrates sisterhood, the promises we keep, and the sacrifices we make for love. We loved this novella. Suggested by Aubree and Rummanah.
-
Malinalli
2025 by Chapa, VeronicaGet this itemBlending history and myth, this book reimagines the story of Malinalli, the controversial Nahua interpreter for Spanish conquistador Hernan Coretes, who many people in Mexico believed to be a traitor. The author interrogates and reclaims Malinalli’s story as a quest for justice. Recommended for fans of historical fantasy and magical realism. Suggested by Rummanah.
-
Brighter Than Scale, Swifter Than Flame
by Yang, NeonGet this itemYeva has trained all of her life to be a dragon hunter and has now become a legendary knight. When she is ordered by the emperor to travel to Quanbao, a place known to worship dragons, she is confronted by their girl-king Lady Sookhee and the two strike up an unexpected romance. A fantastic, sapphic romantasy novella full of dragons and yearning. Suggested by Aubree.
-
Harmattan Season
by Onyebuchi, TochiGet this itemNoir meets fantasy in Tochi Onyebuchi’s standalone novel. A chronically unlucky private eye gets roped into a simmering war in French-colonized West Africa after a woman shows up bleeding at his house, mysteriously vanishes, and then reappears floating in the sky, dead. Suggested by Rummanah.
-
Murder by Memory
2025 by Waite, OliviaGet this itemThis fantastic queer, sci-fi cozy mystery series opener is set on a fascinating ship that is on a centuries-long interstellar voyage, where passengers' consciousness can be downloaded into fresh bodies whenever needed. Our ship detective, Dorothy Gentleman, finds herself in a body that is most definitely not her own, and awakes to investigate a murder that is mysteriously connected to the body she is inhabiting. Suggested by Rummanah.
-
The Devils
by Abercrombie, JoeGet this itemJoe Abercrombie’s newest epic fantasy follows Brother Diaz and his band of antiheroes as they navigate a world riddled with plague to complete a bloody mission with a righteous outcome. A dark fantasy with paranormal characters and a medieval setting. Suggested by Aubree.
-
Aunt Tigress
2025 by Qin, Emily Yu-HsuanGet this itemDemons, ghosts, and gods all inhabit this unique new fantasy read. After Tam's aunt is found murdered and skinned, Tam, who is a descendant of ancient tiger spirits, must face threats from her past, as well as her feelings for her mysterious classmate, Janet. A supernatural urban fantasy that includes both Chinese and First Nation mythology as well as queer representation. Suggested by Aubree
-
House of Blight
2025 by Martineau, Maxym M.Get this itemMagic always comes at a price, and for Edira Brillwyn, the cost to heal others is a sliver of her own life. However, when her brother contracts the blight, a terribly destructive illness she is unable to cure, help comes in the form of a powerful ally: Orin Fernglove, a member of the notorious magical Fernglove family. A brand new romantasy for fans of Rachel Gillig and Danielle L. Jensen. Suggested by Aubree.
-
Hammajang Luck
2025 by Yamamoto, MakanaGet this itemAfter eight long years, Edie is finally out of prison on early parole, trying to find a way home from the icy prison planet. Angel, the only person Edie trusted and the one who sold them out, shows up with one more job; one last chance to take down the wealthy transhumanist tech mogul they couldn’t beat eight years ago for a payout Edie can’t turn down. Together, they assemble a team of hackers, hitters, grifters, and thieves–but can Edie trust Angel to have their back? An action-packed sci-fi heist thriller that beautifully weaves Hawaiian culture and language in with a great cast of diverse and inclusive characters. Suggested by Amy G and Rummanah.
-
The Incandescent: A School Story
2025 by Tesh, EmilyGet this item2024 Hugo Award winner Emily Tesh’s newest release is a fascinating, sapphic, dark academia fantasy. It takes place at a school for magicians where the Director of Magic must protect her students from a rising demonic threat. Suggested by Aubree.
-
The Prince Without Sorrow
2025 by Wijesekara, MaithreeGet this itemPrince Ahsoka is the son of a violent, tyrannical emperor who is known for his ruthless treatment of witches, but the prince desires change and, more important, peace. Shakti is a witch sworn to pacifism, but after witnessing the murder of her aunt by the emperor, she becomes bent on revenge and releases a curse, with unforeseen consequences. Book one in a new dark fantasy series filled with political intrigue. Suggested by Aubree.
-
The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association
by Rozakis, CaitlinGet this itemA fantasy that focuses on nonmagical parents of magical children as they navigate the world of elite magic academies, ominous prophecies, and PTA bake sales. A clever, charming new fantasy read. Suggested by Aubree.
-
Dissolution
2025 by Binge, NicholasGet this itemA woman dives into her husband's memories to uncover a decades-old feud threatening reality itself in this thought-provoking and suspenseful sci-fi thriller that invokes the nightmarish atmosphere and paranoia of Philip K. Dick and explores the lines between memory and time. Suggested by Rummanah.
-
Greenteeth
2025 by O'Neill, MollyGet this itemThis fantasy adventure stars Jenny Greenteeth, a common villain from English folklore, as she saves a life and goes on a quest to save her town from pure evil. Making some unlikely friends along the way, she travels to the fae realm and works to compete quests. This debut novel is unique, surprising, and a fun read. Suggested by Aubree.
-
Esperance
by Oyebanji, AdamGet this itemPolice detective Ethan Krol is tasked to solve an impossible murder—two victims drowned in seawater, found in a Chicago high-rise more than 600 miles from the nearest body of saltwater. More murders follow in Rhode Island and Nigeria. History, science fiction, and mystery collide brilliantly in this suspenseful read. Suggested by Rummanah.
-
Silver Elite
2025 by Francis, DaniGet this itemThis brand-new science fiction romance is set in a dystopian future where having psychic powers is a death sentence. Wren, who is able to hide her powers well, decides to infiltrate the ranks by joining an elite military program where she plans to start its downfall. The only problem: her ruthless, irresistible commanding officer. A steamy, fast-paced debut. Suggested by Aubree.
-
Death of the Author
2025 by Okorafor, NnediGet this itemA disabled Nigerian-American author finds herself facing years of rejection and a failing career and decides to make one last attempt at success in literature. She begins penning a science fiction novel and is surprised to find that her own reality has begun blending with fiction. This book is a brilliant blend of sci-fi and lit fic. Suggested by Aubree and Andrew.
-
When the Moon Hits Your Eye
2025 by Scalzi, JohnGet this itemJohn Scalzi brings his trademark humor to this hopeful and thought-provoking sci-fi romp in which the moon is discovered to be made of cheese. The focus is not on this odd phenomenon but rather on humanity’s reaction to it. How do we cope when something shakes our fundamental understanding of our world? Suggested by Rummanah.
-
The Knight and the Moth
by Gillig, RachelGet this itemFor years, Sybil has lived in a cathedral and trained as a Diviner, a person who receives omens in their dreams. Near the end of her service, a heretical, handsome, and sharp-tongued knight named Roderick arrives at the cathedral with his own ulterior motives, but once Sybil's Diviner sisters begin to go missing, he is the only one who can help her search for them. A new, spellbinding romantasy from the author of One Dark Window. Suggested by Aubree.
-
North Is the Night
2025 by Rath, EmilyGet this itemSet in the Middle Ages in the Finnish wilderness, two friends named Siiri and Aina try to protect each other against what lurks in the darkness as young women around them begin to disappear. While Siiri vows to protect her friend, even she cannot face off with a death goddess, who soon comes calling. A haunting, bleak historical fantasy tale. Suggested by Aubree.
-
Swordheart
2025 by Kingfisher, T.Get this itemAfter accidentally making enemies of her in-laws, Halla becomes desperate. Trapped in her newly inherited estate, she finds and draws a magic sword, which summons an immortal who is sworn to protect the sword’s wielder. A totally unique, funny, low-stakes fantasy romance with wonderful characters. Suggested by Aubree.
-
Water Moon
2025 by Sotto, SamanthaGet this itemA pawn shop hidden in Tokyo trades for their patron’s deepest regrets and sorrows. Hana is the new owner of the pawn shop, and she wakes her first day to find that the shop has been ransacked and a choice has gone missing. A book for fans of Studio Ghibli who enjoy whimsical fantasy worlds. Suggested by Aubree.
-
The Sapling Cage
2024 by Killjoy, MargaretGet this itemThe Sapling Cage feels right at home alongside Tamora Pierce’s Emelan and Ursula K. LeGuin’s Earthsea. When the witches come to take her aspiring-knight friend as a new member of their coven, Lorel, a trans girl, takes her place. With its unique magic system and intriguing sociopolitical worldbuilding, this trilogy is off to an excellent start. Suggested by Amy G.
-
Blood of the Old Kings
2024 by Kim, Sŏng-ilGet this itemThis high fantasy is set in a corrupt world where necromancy reigns and dead sorcerers are taken and drained for their magic. Sorcerer Loran does not wish to have this fate befall her and begins a quest across the world to find the seven-eyed dragon. An epic, immersive fantasy recently translated from Korean. Suggested by Aubree.
-
The Butcher of the Forest
2024 by Mohamed, PremeeGet this item"Leave your two most cinacth men with her family. If she is not back here in a day, kill them first, then destroy the village." The Tyrant has commanded Veris Thorn to rescue his children from Elmever Forest. But Veris knows that Elmever isn’t just the only place in the land where The Tyrant’s power doesn’t reach–it’s a terrifying, eldritch domain whose rules and creatures defy human understanding. A 2025 Hugo, Nebula, and Locus Award nominee by an emerging star of the genre. Suggested by Andrew.
-
The Teller of Small Fortunes
2024 by Leong, JulieGet this itemTao is a fortune teller and immigrant who travels Eshtera in her wagon and tells small fortunes for small prices. On the road, she accidentally becomes tangled in the search for an ex-mercenary's missing daughter. A warm and heartfelt story that is perfect for fans of cozy fantasy. Suggested by Aubree.
-
Blood over Bright Haven
2024 by Wang, M. L.Get this itemSciona Freynan has worked for decades to become her country’s first woman Highmage. When the time to take her official test comes, she feels confident in her chances. However, her years of studying and training could never have prepared her for what comes next. An unforgettable standalone fantasy with a unique magic system and phenomenal characters. Suggested by Aubree.
Bookmatch
Bookmatch allows Skokie Library cardholders to receive a custom list of titles prepared for you by the library's expert staff.
Try Bookmatch