Most Anticipated Releases for 2025’s Third Quarter
We’re into the third quarter of the year already (when did that happen?), so it’s time for anther roundup of new books! All of these books release in the next three months, and there is honestly something here for every reader. I have more genres represented than usual, which I love to see. Honestly, many of these are finding their way onto my TBR—they sound amazing!
For the Fantasy Fans:
The Veracin Blade (Arcane Hunters | Book 1)
My truth-knife is missing. I’m being hunted by a vicious pair of firebirds.
Oh yes, and my phoenix magic is getting weaker by the day, and I still don’t know why, except that it has something to do with my last death at the hands of those aforementioned firebirds, the Symanski Cousins.
Now I have to lay low and find the Veracin Blade as soon as possible. But dangerous hunters from the Arcane Market are also stalking the blade—baited by the Symanski Cousins, who apparently think I need another torture session. In turn, I have a Jinn who can’t control her magic and her alchemist otter-shifter brother. Then there’s Rafe, an ice dragon who recently became my mate. If only our marriage wasn’t against ancient magical treaties.
My list of allies is small. The Symanskis are out for blood.
If we can’t restore my magic and find the Veracin Blade, I’m headed for a fate worse than death.
📜 Urban Fantasy released July 1, 2025
Learn more here.
Tidal (An Elemental Series | Book 4)
A world-wide pandemic. A doomed prophecy. One girl to save them all.
Thrown together to save a fractured world, three people fight to achieve their destinies. Elementals continue to battle on the borders. Extremists still hunt the Chosen Child. One girl must hide who she is until it’s time to show the world her power.
Vela: I never saw myself as a leader of anything and now I’m the Chosen One. The one person Elementals rely on to repair what they’ve broken.
Linc: I want one thing. To marry my Intended. Vela has a big job, but mine is bigger. To protect my soulmate. And I’ll do anything to do it.
Rayne: I regret nearly killing Vela’s Intended. Especially since, as punishment, Vela took my powers. I’ll follow Vela to the end of the world to get my elements back. I just never expected to find my soulmate in the process.
📜 Young Adult Christian Fantasy released July 7, 2025
Learn more & purchase here.
Soulflame (The Dragon Singer Chronicles | Book 3)
The brighter the light, the harder darkness will fight.
Upon her victory against the wayfarer clans, Dragon Singer Alísa begins spreading her message of peace to the warring clans of the west. Confident in her calling and allies, her goal of ending the human-dragon war has never felt more achievable.
But nearby darkness rises. The an’reik—mortals imbued with the power of the dark Nameless Ones—have a mission of their own. With tangled webs of lies, they gather their own armies of dragons and slayers determined to oppose her light.
When an ally betrays her and tragedy strikes, Alísa must face her hardest battle yet—one that will determine not only the fate of the country, but also that of her own soul.
📜 Young Adult Fantasy (with Dragons!) released July 11, 2025 on Michelle’s website.
Wide release October 14, 2025. Pre-order here.
Book 3 in the Dragon Singer Chronicles.
Dragon Courage Series - Book 1: Dragon's Future
Trapped in a boring life, Carryl longs for something different. With the death of a dragon rider, she realizes her dream of becoming a rider herself. But first she must save the despondent dragon’s life.
Ruskya has settled into his new role as a dragon rider. A sinister rider has attacked the colony. The fate of all that Ruskya holds dear lies in his hands.
Ruskya and Carryl step into leadership roles to defend the colony and their village. Now they battle dragons and their own insecurities. They’ll need the courage of a dragon to defeat their enemies or die trying.
📜 Coming of Age Fantasy Dragon Series launching on Kickstarter July 15, 2025
Click here for more info and to be notified upon launch!
The Poet's Eye (The Eyes of Mandoral | Book 1)
Galen was unhappy in his overcrowded farmhouse even before learning his uncles murdered his father for the spoils of a robbery. Now the only way to keep his family from killing each other—again—is to steal the magical amulet they’re fighting over.
By the time he realizes it’s a fake, it’s too late.
Meanwhile, a royal assassination forces two nations together after generations of enmity. With his mother now hostage in an icy prison, Prince Kayvin must collect legendary artifacts to save the lives of thousands. The entrapped prince can trust no one but a beautiful dancer and a young man trained to be the perfect luxurious companion—and perhaps not both of them.
Unlikely allies must work together to defeat an inhuman sorceress bent on saving thousands of lives.
Surely you mean “ending thousands of lives?”
I said what I said.
📜 Epic Fantasy releasing July 28, 2025.
Book 1 of The Eyes of Mandoral duology.
The Prince's Song (The Eyes of Mandoral | Book 2)
A murderous coup in a neighboring kingdom has left the land of Sayinia vulnerable to deadly bandit raids and impending invasion. Galen, runaway farm boy, and Lisveth, retired highwaywoman, usually do odd jobs for hire but now find themselves tasked with finding and saving magical artifacts before the invaders steal them.
Kayvin, the Amethyst Prince, must buy his mother’s life with the great amulets lost to humans in Sayinia. Attempts to thieve and negotiate have failed, and so when he sees the opportunity to take a hostage of his own, the temptation proves too great to resist.
The race to reclaim magic tightens in this conclusion to The Eyes of Mandoral!
📜 Epic Fantasy releasing July 28, 2025.
Book 2 in The Eyes of Mandoral duology.
Winter's Chill (The Nordic Wars | Book 2)
Fighter. Emissary. Long-Lost Daughter.
Brighid has one mission as she returns to the north: to warn her people of the oath that binds them. But the mountains are treacherous, and snow comes early, leaving her on death’s doorstep—until she has an unexpected encounter that not only reveals a secret about her past, but also brings new allies into her life.
Meanwhile, the healer Kaeden must come to terms with the awakening of his Eldaran power. With winter approaching and the war on hold, he ventures to the White City to uncover his heritage. As he walks the ancient halls of his people’s birthplace, he discovers not all adversaries are across the battle line. He must navigate political opponents while searching for a way to stop those of his kind who have turned to the darkness.
Yet even the bitterness of winter cannot keep Brighid and Kaeden apart. A connection has been forged between them, and their bond might be the one thing that could save the Nordic people and end the war.
📜 Viking-inspired Fantasy releasing August 5, 2025 from Enclave Publishing.
Book 2 in the Nordic Wars Series.
Inkbound Inheritance (Inheritance Chronicles | Book 1)
Book loving Liam is just trying to survive the high school bullies while not burdening his sick mother with the results of his beatings.
But when her final wish transports him into the fantasy world she created, he's launched on a quest to rescue his cousin and unlock the power his mom left behind.
Aided by quirky companions and endless cups of tea, Liam must challenge menacing wizards, outwit treacherous fairies, and unravel the truth about the extraordinary woman he never fully knew.
A journey through grief, magic, secrets, and double lives, Inkbound Inheritance is a story about finding your place in the world, even when it seems like everything is falling apart.
📜 Young Adult Fantasy releasing September 10, 2025 here
Spellbound: An R.H.S. Anthology
Step into a world where magic is real, fate is fluid, and the impossible becomes inevitable. Spellbound is a dazzling collection of enchanting fantasy tales, each weaving a spell of wonder, mystery, and adventure.
From the sweeping landscapes of epic fantasy to the shadowy alleys of urban enchantment, from whispered romantasy intrigues to the eerie beauty of magical realism, these stories crackle with unbound power and breathtaking imagination. Here, witches and warlocks shape destiny, lost kingdoms rise, and hidden realms wait just beyond the veil of the ordinary.
Whether you crave the thrill of forbidden magic, the twist of fate in a contemporary spell, or the haunting allure of paranormal wonders, this collection will leave you utterly spellbound.
Dare to step through the portal. The magic is waiting.
📜 Fantasy Anthology releasing September 16, 2025 from The Writer’s Sanctuary
A Steeping of Blood (Blood & Tea | Book 2)
Arthie Casimir has had her tea. Now she's out for blood.
White Roaring is sharpening its fangs after the deadly night that left the city in shambles. The press are dead, the public is calling for justice, vampires are in danger, and amid the turmoil, the Ram announces a celebration.
Still reeling from the bloodshed, Arthie Casimir has no time to mourn the death of anyone, let alone her own. She has no time for love, either, even though it had saved her life. As Arthie navigates new emotions and new allies, she must reassemble her scrambled crew and scrape what little they have left to fight one last time―and she will need to face the ghosts of her past to do it.
In Ceylan.
📜 Young Adult Paranormal Fantasy releasing September 25, 2025 from Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
The Last Wayfinder (Hearts of Ezo)
Born into prison, Kira has only known the arctic wasteland where criminals are sent to be forgotten—including her mother. When a brutal Imperial Inspector sentences her family to death, she unleashes a forbidden magic that comes with a devastating cost: her sister is cursed, transformed into a monster.
Desperate for a cure, she strikes a deal with Captain Ren, a notorious monster hunter whose icy exterior matches the unforgiving landscape. He’s everything Kira despises—rigid, lawful, dangerous—and unfortunately, necessary for survival.
As the two forge an uneasy alliance, Kira discovers the chilling truth about her imprisonment and that more is at stake than her sister’s soul. Now, Kira must risk treason and master her ancestors’ wayfinding magic before she loses her sister—and the beautiful world she’s only begun to discover.
📜 Young Adult Asian-inspired Fantasy available via Kickstarter in September 2025
You can also ask Kickstarter to notify you when it goes live!
For the Science Fiction Fans:
Beneath False Stars (Project Integration | Book 1)
What they don’t see will hurt them.
The day to open the centuries-old Dome gates and reintegrate genetically engineered people back into normal society has arrived. There’s one caveat—their powers must remain suppressed.
Amidst this Project Integration Initiative, hacker Ryleigh Stevens has her whole life planned out. The plan? Prevent a second Universal Tech War in two simple steps. First, help Project Integration Phase One succeed—but not for the reason she pretends. Next, infiltrate the rebellion and sabotage Phase Two—the part that would grant people unbridled access to their superhuman abilities.
Too bad the one person who can make her plan reality is her sworn enemy. He’s dangerous. He’s Powered. And he’s the reason her brother is dead. Faced with an impossible choice, Ryleigh must decide how to do what’s right for the good of all humanity, even if it means sacrificing everything she holds dear—again.
📜 Young Adult Science Fiction releasing September 9, 2025 from Enclave Publishing
For the Superhero Fans:
The Supervillain's Bodyguard (Superhero Romance Project | Book 8)
Even a supervillain needs a protector sometimes.
Recently separated from the US Army, Caspian “Cas” Knight is having a hard time readjusting to life in his small hometown. His plans are delayed when he’s called to a high school mentor’s funeral out of state. Bumping into his mentor’s daughter and having immediate sparks wasn’t what he planned for his weekend. Getting in between her and a group of attacking supervillains? Even less so.
Jael Wilder has spent years hiding her unwanted superpowers from forces on both sides of the law. Her powers are dangerous, and a recent surge of them cost her the one person who ever looked out for her. Now pursued by both government agents and criminal interests who want to use her as a weapon, she has one goal: find the scientist whose experiments turned her into a monster and make him feel the pain he caused her.
Thrown together, Jael and Cas take off on a cross country journey, fighting for survival. As they develop a tentative trust, and an even stronger attraction, Cas’s determination to keep her safe solidifies. However, with her uncontrollable powers making every touch potentially deadly, is a life together even possible? Or will their connection bring him only death?
📜 Superhero Romance releasing September 9, 2025. Check it out here.
Book 8 of the Superhero Romance Project Series
For the Mystery Fans:
The Curious Case of the Midnight Specter (The Stornshire Sleuth | Book 1)
She can see ghosts, but can she catch a killer?
Stornshire, England - 1890
Leighanna Pauley barely escaped consumption. Now, she's claimed by both Life and Death. Fascinated by justice and why she survived when so many others haven't, she has a new obsession: the murder of a fellow socialite. But the police have no leads.
The investigation emboldens Leighanna to attend the first ball held at the Carmine Estate. When midnight strikes, the unimaginable takes place. Time stops for everyone but Leighanna. Before her stands the ghost of the dead girl, pleading with Leighanna to catch her killer before someone else is murdered.
In a race against time, Leighanna hunts for clues across Stornshire. Will she be able to solve the case before the murderer strikes again, or will she become just another forgotten victim?
📜 Young Adult Murder Mystery releasing September 16, 2025 from Twenty Hills Press
For the LitRPG Fans:
Torwall (Outcast | Book 2)
Survive the realm. Outwit the Gatekeeper. Defy the rules.
Rick Tagler barely escaped Timbervale alive. Now, burdened with grief and haunted by unfinished business, he and his unlikely party—Gail the Fae, Squatch the Bigfoot Outcast, and the formidable Grand Elf—clash over their next steps.
But Torwall offers no time for hesitation. With its Gatekeeper’s power peaking during the deadly Hallowtide Festival, Rick’s survival hinges on mastering his evolving magic. Each level gained is a race against time—and against a rising tide of Infernal treachery.
As the team ventures through the revelry of Hammersby and into the cursed Moors of Torwall, chilling secrets emerge. To defeat the necromantic fiend that rules this realm, Rick must choose: honor Grand Elf’s commands… or forge a perilous path of his own.
One choice will lead them to victory. The other—to ruin.
📜 LitRPG released July 8, 2025
Learn more here
For the Romance Readers:
Love Unmasked
People pleaser Evie Whitmore can’t believe her art and architecture class trip has brought her to Venice—home of gondolas and crumbling palazzos, and the inspiration for both her art and her hidden passion, Elven Realms, a series of novels set in the very city she’s about to explore.
Rumors about an underground Elven Realms fan club swirl, and Evie, wearing a costume and mask, sneaks out at night to find it. There’s no way she can tell anyone what she’s doing—not her friends, and certainly not Gabriel Martinez, the bad boy loner she’s been partnered with on the trip.
But Evie’s not the only one on this clandestine quest. She collides with someone else in disguise—a stranger whose eyes hold secrets. He calls himself Angelo, and he too loves the novels. Venice is a labyrinth, and as they unravel clues together, their connection deepens. Who is Angelo, really? And who does Evie want him to be?
📜 Young Adult Contemporary Romance releasing July 15, 2025 from Underlined
For the Non-Fiction Readers:
On Magic & Miracles: A Theological Guide to Discerning Fictional Magic
From classic fantasy like The Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia to modern stories like Harry Potter, Christians have been debating the issue of fictional magic for decades. Some believers read and write fantasy as an expression of their God-given creativity while others feel this is dangerous and ignorant of the growing threat of the occult. Deuteronomy 18 says spells and other forms of magic are an abomination, but how does that apply to fantasy magic? Is there a difference between the “Deep Magic” of Aslan at the Stone Table and the spells in Harry Potter? Is it possible for fictional magic to lead someone into the occult? Adults and children alike have wrestled with these questions as the fantasy genre exploded into one of the most popular book and film genres on the market.
In this guidebook, Marian A. Jacobs explores the theology of magic, gleaning contextual clues surrounding supernatural events in the Bible. These scriptural principles can assist readers, movie-lovers, gamers, and parents in discerning how fantasy can both edify and honor God.
📜 A Theological Guide releasing July 1, 2025 from B&H Books
So tell me—what are you reading this quarter? Do any of the books featured here catch your eye?