Most Anticipated SFF Book Releases: August 2020

Summer is drawing to a close, which means that the ominous stack of fall releases is almost upon us.  But we still have one month of some amazing books before we bid adieu to the summer months.  Below are the ones I’m really looking forward to – what’s on your list?

If any of these books strike your fancy, the covers link to Goodreads!

 

HARROW THE NINTH by Tamsyn Muir
Release Date: August 4th, 2020
Here we are, book two of the series that promises “lesbian necromancers in space.”  GIDEON THE NINTH was weird and uneven, and I admit I’m not at all sure what to expect from this sequel.  That being said, when GIDEON finally hit it’s stride, it was engrossing and utterly gothic, and I hope to find more of the same in the sequel.

VICIOUS SPIRITS by Kat Cho
Release Date: August 18th, 2020
Last year’s WICKED FOX was an unexpected delight, a slice-of-life Korean-inspired fantasy.  I appreciated the route it took of being a family drama that also happened to feature supernatural characters.  Miyoung, you see, is a Gumiho, a creature that looks human but survives by feeding off of the life force of men.  Last book she crossed paths with (and eventually fell in love with) Jihoon, but the fallout from that relationship was heart-breaking.  With Miyoung still sick from events in book one, she’ll have to turn to a less than trust-worthy ally if she’s going to find a solution.

 

THE NEMESIS by S.J. Kincaid
Release Date: August 25th, 2020
The last book in the criminally underrated THE DIABOLIC trilogy comes out at last!  A rare YA sci-fi series, the last two books have followed a genetically engineered bodyguard navigating ruthless imperial politics.  Book two in the series, THE EMPRESS, took some WILD turns, so I won’t get into what happened, but suffice to say that I am ready to see how this series comes to a close.

THE MEMORY OF SOULS by Jenn Lyons
Release Date: August 25th, 2020
The A CHORUS OF DRAGONS series continues with book three!  Last book saw the very welcome addition of Janel as a main character POV, and I’m hoping she isn’t left by the wayside in this next installment.  I fully expect to be utterly confused by lineages and souls, yet somehow utterly engrossed.  This series holds a strange fascination with me, even as I struggle to remember who the hell is related to who. What’s it about?  The end of the world, prophecies, demons, soul magic, dragons…something something something.  Look, I know it’s a terrible pitch, but I DEVOURED book two so…give it a try?