Hey bookworm friends. Happy June! Last month, my anticipated list was a bit smaller than usual but June’s list is going entirely in the opposite direction. In fact, it’s actually the longest one I’ve made yet. It may be a bit unwieldy but I didn’t want to exclude any of the titles, they all sound so good to me! Here are 28 fantastic books to read in June. As always, organized loosely by genre categories and then by publishing date. Several titles actually release today (Happy Pub Day!) and they’ll be marked with 🎉.
Book Titles lead to TheStoryGraph links. Except for when it’s not on SG in which case it goes to bookshop.org.
Fantastic Books to Read in June
Fantasy
The Unicorn Hunters by Katherine Arden
⟡ Pub Date: June 2, 2026 🎉
⟡ Sub-genre: Historical Fantasy
⟡ Publisher: Del Rey
With her country’s future and her own life at stake, an orphaned duchess must journey into a world of myth and there discover a power that may be her salvation—or her demise.
Nobody’s Quest by Alyssa Day
⟡ Pub Date: June 2, 2026 🎉
⟡ Sub-genre: Fantasy Romance
⟡ Publisher: Entangled: Red Tower Books
Soli has spent most of her life being invisible—an indentured servant, a library mold-scrubber, the girl no one sees unless she’s in the way. So, when the king’s guards show up with swords drawn, she assumes it’s a mistake.
It’s not.
The Heart of the Nhaga by Yeong-Do Lee, Anton Hur (Translator)
⟡ Pub Date: June 6, 2026
⟡ Sub-genre: High Fantasy / Classic Korean Fantasy
⟡ Publisher: Harper Voyager
Lee Young-do has created a tale of castles built on the backs of flying mantas, giant birdmen, heartless immortals, and a quest that will change the very nature of the world and its gods.
Endless Blue Beneath by Shannon K. English
⟡ Pub Date: June 9, 2026
⟡ Sub-genre: Fantasy Romance
⟡ Publisher: Orbit
A young mermaid is forced to choose between her old life above the waves and her new life below them.
Kill All Wizards by Jedediah Berry
⟡ Pub Date: June 16, 2026
⟡ Sub-genre: Fantasy/ Comedy of Manners
⟡ Publisher: Tordotcom
We could think of nothing but the barbarian. He had come here, surely, to murder or marry someone, to exact revenge, or to say or do something very scandalous. We could hardly wait to see which it was. We hoped it would be all of them.
Queenswood by Kathleen Schwab
⟡ Pub Date: June 16, 2026
⟡ Sub-genre: Historical Fantasy
⟡ Publisher: Blackstone Publishing, Inc.
In twelfth-century Ireland, girls go missing—fleeing arranged marriages, carried off by outlaws, abducted by faeries. Rhiannon, realizes the marriage market is a game she does not want to win. A convent offers a life of books and learning, although it means turning her back on mortal men for good.
Hunt The Ever Wild by S. E. Kiser
⟡ Pub Date: June 23, 2026
⟡ Sub-genre: Fantasy Romance/ Gothic
⟡ Publisher: Angry Robot
When the king calls a hunt for the Lichtenwald forest’s elusive phoenix, wizard Sy jumps at the chance. The prize is enough to pay off his debt, but he can’t survive the forest alone. Seeking help, he finds Anya, a skilled huntress living on the Lichtenwald’s edge, and lies about splitting the prize.
The Tinder Box by M. R. Carey
⟡ Pub Date: June 23, 2026
⟡ Sub-genre: Historical Fantasy/ Dark Fairytale
⟡ Publisher: Orbit
Wounded in his county’s endless wars, former soldier Mag Tresti finds work in the home of a reclusive widow, Jannae Mirchella. But Jannae is more than she seems. A witch of great skill and might, she hides her powers and her deep-laid plans behind a mask of harmless respectability.
The Knight Watch by Thomas D. Lee
⟡ Pub Date: June 23, 2026
⟡ Sub-genre: Arthurian / Alternate History
⟡ Publisher: Orbit
A thousand years ago, the Knights of the Round Table made an oath to protect the realm forevermore.
It’s safe to say they didn’t think it all the way through.
Now Britain is embroiled in the Second World War, and the knights are still fighting the enemies of the realm. They’re also fighting each other
Everybody’s Perfect by Jo Walton
⟡ Pub Date: June 30, 2026
⟡ Sub-genre: Historical Fantasy / Science Fantasy
⟡ Publisher: Tor Books
Everybody’s Perfect is an elegant relay race through The Serenissima, a shadow sister to Venice and crossroads of the nine worlds.
Cozy
There are so many fantasy books this month that I decided to separate the cozy fantasies into its own separate category for June.
Assassin In the Alehouse by Z. S. Diamanti
⟡ Pub Date: June 2, 2026 🎉
⟡ Sub-genre: Cozy Fantasy/ Mystery
⟡ Publisher: Golden Griffin Press
With his life as an assassin seemingly over, a local alehouse brewer gives Hazkul Bern a chance at a fresh start in a new life he never wanted.
But when an ominous note is pinned to the bar top, threatening his new friends, the elf assassin wonders if he’ll ever escape his past mistakes.
Field Guide for the Formerly Villainous by Autumn K. England
⟡ Pub Date: June 2, 2026 🎉
⟡ Sub-genre: Cozy Fantasy
⟡ Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
When Oaklin Nettlewood (accidentally) joined an evil cult, they and the rest of their small community were promptly whammied by mind control magic and forced to do unspeakable things.
What happens to all the mind-controlled minions when the evil villain is finally vanquished?
The Reimagining of Thornwood House by Jaleigh Johnson
⟡ Pub Date: June 9, 2026
⟡ Sub-genre: Cozy Fantasy / Witchy
⟡ Publisher: Ace
A witch and her young ward discover a magical, walking house and learn the true meaning of home.
Slime Sweets and Dungeon Treats by Pandora Pierce
⟡ Pub Date: June 16, 2026
⟡ Sub-genre: Cozy Fantasy / LitRPG
⟡ Publisher: Podium Publishing
When Hazel wakes up in a dungeon full of monsters, she’s told to choose a weapon and start fighting. Instead, she picks a grilled cheese, because who needs weapons when you’ve got food?
The system rewards her ridiculous decision with a brand-new class: Culinary Mage.
The Dragon Has Some Complaints by John Wiswell
⟡ Pub Date: June 23, 2026
⟡ Sub-genre: Cozy Fantasy/ Humour
⟡ Publisher: DAW
Garrodigh was once a four-headed dragon, among the most powerful in Kardoša. After an unfortunate incident, he now has three heads, one stump, and a daily whirlwind of internal bickering.
Lucky for him, rider Rania Albright is desperate enough for a dragon of her own that she overlooks his eccentricities.
Science Fiction
Valet by J. P. Lacrampe
⟡ Pub Date: June 2, 2026 🎉
⟡ Sub-genre: Sci-Fi/ Speculative Fiction
⟡ Publisher: S&S/Saga Press
A helper robot and his 35-year-old ward embark on a mad-cap adventure to save the fate of the family company.
The Jellyfish Problem by Tessa Yang
⟡ Pub Date: June 2, 2026 🎉
⟡ Sub-genre: Science Fiction / Magical Realism
⟡ Publisher: Berkley
A marine biologist makes the discovery of a lifetime when called to rescue the inhabitants of a small Maine island being menaced by a giant, glowing jellyfish.
Firesnake by Donna Barba Higuera
⟡ Pub Date: June 2, 2026 🎉
⟡ Sub-genre: MG Sci-Fi / Dystipian – Sequel
⟡ Publisher: Levine Querido
Finale to the Cuentista Trilogy.
Itzel has never known a life on Earth. The granddaughter of the Cuentista, her years have been spent on Sagan. But when a mysterious message arrives from across the cosmos, Itzel realizes that the home they thought destroyed hundreds of years ago has survived.
Heaven’s Graveyard by Grace Curtis
⟡ Pub Date: June 18, 2026
⟡ Sub-genre: Sci-Fi/ Science Fantasy/ Mystery
⟡ Publisher: DAW
It’s been 2,000 years since the events of Idolfire, and we’re in a whole new world: Kite-drawn cargo ships race across thoroughly chartered seas, hauling the latest innovations in convenience and slaughter. It is developed, learned, interconnected, and on the brink of catastrophic war.
Green City Wars by Adrian Tchaikovsky
⟡ Pub Date: June 23, 2026
⟡ Sub-genre: Sci-Fi Mystery / Noir
⟡ Publisher: Tor Books
In the solar cities of the future, the humans relax in the sun and the animals work in the shadows. Genetically engineered Little Helpers, serving humanity—unseen, unheard.
Meet Skotch. Racoon, P.I.—Yours for a few buttons as long as the job isn’t too illegal, whatever that means.
Romance
Hopeless Necromantic by Shiloh Briar
⟡ Pub Date: June 9, 2026
⟡ Sub-genre: Romantasy
⟡ Publisher: Orbit
Four years ago, Sikras ‘Catseye’ Nikabod had it all: a beautiful wife, friends and family, and the endless luxuries that came with being the all-powerful necromancer to the queen.
Now, his brother-in-law is a walking corpse, he’s wanted for tax evasion, his oldest friend, Vessik, has slaughtered thousands of the queen’s people with a skeleton army, and his wife is dead. Sort of
A Prince Among Pirates by Katie Abdou
⟡ Pub Date: June 16, 2026
⟡ Sub-genre: Historical Romance
⟡ Publisher: Atheneum
A charming nobleman accidentally joins a pirate ship and falls for its debonair captain.
Wildflower by Becky Jenkinson
⟡ Pub Date: June 16, 2026
⟡ Sub-genre: Romantasy
⟡ Publisher: Del Rey
Cursed from birth to always tell the truth, magical florist Felicity “Fliss” Farrow chooses her words carefully to avoid trouble. But when she receives an anonymous request for a mysterious flower, her search leads her directly into trouble’s path.
All We Hunger For by Anna Mercier
⟡ Pub Date: June 23, 2026
⟡ Sub-genre: YA Romantasy
⟡ Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
A young woman sneaks her way into a magical baking contest but gets pulled into an elusive aristocrat’s lavish world and his nefarious plan as rebellion brews in their city.
The River She Became by Emily Varga
⟡ Pub Date: June 30, 2026
⟡ Sub-genre: YA Romantasy
⟡ Publisher: First Ink
Yaseema is a brilliant scholar and loyal servant of the Empire — or so they think. By day, she catalogs the fae relics of her conquered kingdom. But by night, she reclaims the artefacts in secret, trying to restore magic to her dying land.
The Feywild Job by C. L. Polk
⟡ Pub Date: June 30, 2026
⟡ Sub-genre: Romantasy
⟡ Publisher: Random House Worlds
Saeldian is perfectly content with their no-strings-attached life as a con artist, pulling off heists and leaving a trail of broken hearts behind them. But when a grift goes horribly wrong, they catch the eye of a mysterious patron with a job offer they can’t refuse.
Mythology
This Immortal Heart by Jennifer Saint
⟡ Pub Date: June 9, 2026
⟡ Sub-genre: Greek Myth Retelling
⟡ Publisher: Ballantine Books
The epic, captivating tale of Aphrodite, the goddess of love, who must reconcile her mind and heart when she is drawn against all odds to Ares, the god of war.
Isis of Egypt: Goddess of Thrones by Malayna Evans
⟡ Pub Date: June 23, 2026
⟡ Sub-genre: Egyptian Myth Retelling
⟡ Publisher: Alcove Press
One determined goddess. Two beloved gods. Three coveted thrones.
Ancient Egypt’s most formidable goddess will stop at nothing to save her true love from the wrath of a vengeful god.
Happy reading!🖤
I did my best to list the expected pub dates but you never know, dates can change. If you’re interested in any of these releases please make sure you keep an eye on the latest updates in your part of the world.
Let’s chat in the comments!
Are you looking forward to any of these? Or, did I miss any that you would add to the list?
Lots of great sounds books are on the way!
Yessss!! 😀 Fresh new books 💕
June really is a crazy month for new releases! And we only have a few books in common so that tells you how many new releases there are. I’m very excited for Hopeless Necromantic and Green City Wars in particular😁
I looked at my list and was astonished at how long it was! Yeah that’s incredible! Yes, I’m very curious about both of those!
I’m planning to read The Unicorn Hunters, and I hope to read the new M. R. Carey as well. So many of these look amazing!
Ah, excellent! I just put a hold of The Unicorn Hunters at my library but the wait will be quite long! I hope you enjoy both of those if you read them! And I loved another book by M. R. Carey last year so now I’m curious by everything he writes!
So many books to look forward to! The Reimagining of Thornwood House is lovely (I read an ARC, and reviewed it last week.) I’m looking forward to The Unicorn Hunters, Valet, and Field Guide for the Formerly Villainous, as well as (probably) the new Jo Walton book. But I wasn’t aware of some of the others! I’m intrigued by Queenswood, The Knight Watch, Wildflower, and Hunt the Ever Wild, among others. Thank you for the heads-up!
Oh funny story, It was actually your review of The Reimagining of Thornwood that put me onto that book, I tried to leave a comment on there but either my internet or WP wouldn’t let me! “Nonce Verification failed”, whatever that means! But I last minute added it to my books that sound awesome this month. I’m gonna go back and see if the comments will let me engage with you today!
Happy to be able to share some new to you titles to potentially get excited about! 🥰
Quick Edit: I have now apparently left three comments on there, I don’t know what’s going on my apologies 😅
So many good books for the month of June! I’ve been going through the new releases too to see what excites me, and quite a few on this list is on mine!
Yes, *almost* too many 😜! Oh, awesome that’s cool, lots of crossover :D!!
June is definitely a month filled with a lot of exciting new releases. Im especially excited for The Unicorn Hunters and The Tinder Box. I’m so curious about The Heart of the Nhaga too though as it sounds like it could become the next big epic fantasy title 😍😍
Nobody’s Quest & Hopeless Necromantic seem to be dominating Instagram atm. Its making me pretty curious tbh.
I also really want to learn more about Green City Wars as it sounds like such a unique premise with its animal leads. I was highly tempted to request a copy but decided to borrow it via the library for now as its pretty different to my usual reads.
Also adding Endless Blue Beneath and Queenswood to my TBR.
It really is!! yess, me too! I put The Unicorn Hunters on hold at my library but it’ll be a while before it’s my turn lol. Yes, a classic korean fantasy sounds like it could be so different from what I’ve read and yet I feel like I’d absolutely love it!
Yes, I’ve seen those both a lot online too even though I’ve been less active on there recently. Yeah I like that Hopeless Necromantic was an indie and it got picked up again!
I think borrowing it from the library is such a good idea in case it’s not up your alley. I am not a massive fan of the noir genre but anything with animal leads always has me curious!
Ah awesome, I’m glad to hear that! Queenswood is one I’m super intrigued by because of the setting.
I hopefully have a copy of the Fairyloot edition on the way 🤞 I hope your library queue goes down quickly. Thinking about it I’ll have to see if someone I follow on Instagram has reviewed it yet as they were reading it and I’m curious to hear what they think.
Oh wow did it? I didn’t realise that. There seem to be more indie books getting picked up lately and also older books getting republished too.
Heres hoping we both fall for it then 🤞 it sounds like such a clever premise.
Hopefully it’ll live up to your expectations and make the most of the setting 🥰
These look like some great books! I was aware of several of them already, but Field Guide for the Formerly Villainous is new-to-me and looks amazing.
Yeah they do look awesome 😀 And yes that one sounds like it might be delightful! I hope you enjoy it if you try it out 🙂
So many beautiful covers! I snagged Unicorn Hunters through Aardvark, and am probably adding a few of these to my TBR …
I’m really liking the direction speculative fiction covers have been moving. I like the cartoony look, but publishers are doing more intricate/detailed versions instead of minimalist, and we have thankfully left behind covers with almost nothing on them but the title (Jade City was done dirty)
I really like the more intricate and detailed SFF covers over the more minimalist ones too! The covers for Jade City never appealed to me at all and can see why that sucks for people who love that series 😓.
Oh nice, that’s one I wouldn’t mind having at all I hope you enjoy it and I’m waiting for my library hold of it to come in hehe! I’m glad some of the others look appealing to you too!
So many interesting releases here! I have an ARC for Green City Wars so I really need to get on reading that!
Yes there’s lots to interest me this month! And I hope you enjoy your ARC of Green City Wars! 🙂
A new Grace Curtis book??? Heaven’s Graveyard looks really compelling
I have not read any of her books yet but SO many of them are on my TBR so when I saw this I got excited too lol I hope you love it if you do pick it up and Thanks for stopping by my blog, Cosmic! 🙂