June 2024 is an exciting month for fantasy and sci-fi books, with a range of new releases hitting shelves over the next four weeks. In general, 2024 has been an impressive year for fantasy storytelling. Well-known authors like Sarah J. Maas and Leigh Bardugo published new books earlier this year, and big names like Brandon Sanderson and John Gwynne are set to release sequels later on. June has its own mix of familiar authors and newcomers, and it’s bringing readers a range of narratives to dive into.

From long-awaited sequels to standalone stories, there are new fantasy and sci-fi books for every reader’s preference. Rebecca Roanhorse and Tomi Adeyemi are closing out their best-selling series in June, while debut authors like Genoveva Dimova and Amber Chen are starting new stories. It’s a great time to be a fan of SFF novels, and June’s new release lineup is proving as much.

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Mirrored Heavens By Rebecca Roanhorse

Release Date: June 4, 2024

June 2024 kicks off with the release of Mirrored Heavens, the conclusion to Rebecca Roanhorse’s Between Earth and Sky trilogy. This much-anticipated finale will reveal the fates of characters like Serapio, Xiala, and Naranpa, and it promises to raise the stakes significantly for each of them. Now crowned the Carrion King and ruler of Tova, Serapio must grapple with many enemies hoping to end his reign. There’s also the matter of a prophecy predicting his downfall. Meanwhile, Xiala is tasked with saving her people despite obstacles, and Naranpa is seeing horrors in her dreams — including one that threatens all of Tova.

Black Sun and Fevered Star set the stage for an epic conclusion, and there’s little doubt Roanhorse’s latest will be one of the most-discussed fantasy books of June. Its 4.40 average Goodreads score suggests that the author sticks the landing in this third and final installment. Doing so could cement the legacy of the Between Earth and Sky trilogy, which is already one of the strongest SFF series to hit shelves in recent years.

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Service Model By Adrian Tchaikovsky

Release Date: June 4, 2024

Adrian Tchaikovsky is well-known among sci-fi readers, with the author’s Children of Time series receiving plenty of acclaim. Tchaikovsky returns in June with a novel dubbed Service Model, which takes a satirical approach to a common sci-fi and dystopian concept. The novel is pitched as a humorous story despite its serious premise. In an age where humanity is dwindling — and increasingly relying on AI — Service Model sees a domesticated robot deciding to murder its owner. From there, this robot runs away and discovers an outside world where the roles of humans and robots are rapidly changing.

With discussions about AI increasing in recent years, Tchaikovsky’s novel comes at a fitting time. Its themes and discussions will no doubt feel relevant to readers, and many Goodreads reviewers promise both comedy and philosophy in this June 2024 release. It sounds perfect for longtime fans of Tchaikovsky’s previous work, but its standalone status also makes it a great entry point for new readers.

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Tidal Creatures By Seanan McGuire

Release Date: June 4, 2024

The third book in Seanan McGuire’s Alchemical Journeys series comes out in June, and Tidal Creatures promises to build a solid story on the foundation of Middlegame and Seasonal Fears. Set in the same world as those books, Tidal Creatures tells the tale of moon gods who have taken on human forms — and who are now being murdered. The novel sees other divinities attempting to solve these murders, blending the urban fantasy genre with a mystery concept. Tidal Creatures features themes similar to those of Middlegame and Seasonal Fears, but it stands out in its execution.

Considering how well-loved McGuire’s former books in the Alchemical Journeys series are — and the popularity of the author’s Wayward Children series — Tidal Creatures is bound to get buzz this June. The book’s 4.22 average Goodreads rating suggests it’s deserved. This is a release that fantasy lovers won’t want to miss out on.

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The Stardust Grail By Yume Kitasei

Release Date: June 11, 2024

Yume Kitasei is known for her 2023 novel, The Deep Sky, and the author is coming out with another exciting sci-fi book this June: The Stardust Grail. Described as an “anti-colonial space heist​​​​​​​,” The Stardust Grail sees former thief Maya Hoshimoto returning to her profession after years in hiding. Maya’s new job tasks her with finding an object that can prevent an alien species from going extinct — though it’s not an item that’s been seen in recent years. Maya embarks on this mission with a team of characters at her back, other hunters on her trail, and ominous visions complicating her journey.

The Stardust Grail sounds like the perfect read for fans of heist stories and intense sci-fi missions. Its premise is gripping, and its 4.38 average Goodreads rating suggests it’s delivering on its promise to take readers on a thrill ride. There are numerous sci-fi books debuting in June, but The Stardust Grail has one of the most intriguing premises. It’s one to watch out for, even with all the other great releases headed readers’ way.

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Moonbound By Robin Sloan

Release Date: June 11, 2024

Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore author Robin Sloan has a sci-fi novel hitting shelves in June, and Moonbound promises to tell an ambitious and expansive story. Described as a blend of sci-fi, fantasy, and literary fiction, Moonbound is set 13,000 years in the future. It follows a boy named Ariel and his AI companion, the latter of whom holds the records of human history and serves as the book’s narrator. With this AI in tow, Ariel sets out on a journey to save the world — though from what isn’t entirely clear.

Moonbound‘s synopsis promises to focus on themes of storytelling, making it an ideal choice for readers who love books about books. It also seems poised to raise questions about history, particularly regarding who writes and records it. Ariel’s adventure sounds like another unique sci-fi book coming out in 2024, and if it’s anything like Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore in terms of quality, it’ll be well worth checking out.

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The Stars Too Fondly By Emily Hamilton

Release Date: June 11, 2024

Emily Hamilton’s debut novel, The Stars Too Fondly, is bringing readers a sapphic sci-fi story just in time for Pride Month. The Stars Too Fondly follows Cleo and her group of 20-something friends as they investigate the disappearance of the Providence crew 20 years ago — then inadvertently steal a spaceship. While the group is looking for signs of what happened to the crew, the ship’s engine starts by itself and begins moving them further and further into space.

While Cleo is excited about this adventure at first, it winds up bringing some harsh truths to light. It also sees Cleo forming an unexpected bond with the ship’s hologram of its missing captain, Billie. The Stars Too Fondly sounds like a fun sci-fi story with an interesting mystery and compelling romance at its core. Hamilton’s debut is already getting positive reviews, with the book holding an impressive 4.06 average Goodreads rating ahead of its release. It could mark the beginning of a bright career for the author.

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Rakesfall By Vajra Chandrasekera

Release Date: June 18, 2024

Vajra Chandrasekera’s new book, Rakesfall, is also one to be on the lookout for in June 2024. From the author of The Saint of Bright Doors, Rakesfall tells the story of a relationship that transcends time. It focuses on the bond between Annelid and Leveret, whose souls are irreversibly linked together after an act of violence. The narrative follows their souls through multiple lifetimes, all of which are marked by political turmoil and oppression. Despite this, these characters remain connected to one another.

Rakesfall‘s synopsis promises a unique narrative that isn’t afraid to explore the darker parts of life and love. The sheer scope of its storytelling makes it a sci-fi release to pick up, as multiple tales seem to unfold from the reincarnated perspectives of Annelid and Leveret. If the novel itself is as fascinating as its premise, Rakesfall is sure to go down as one of the most original and ambitious books to come out in 2024.

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Of Jade And Dragons By Amber Chen

Release Date: June 18, 2024

Amber Chen’s debut novel, Of Jade and Dragons, arrives this June — and it serves as the beginning of the author’s Fall of the Dragon series. Of Jade and Dragons opens with the unexpected murder of 18-year-old Aihui Ying’s father, who instilled his daughter with his passion for engineering. Determined to find out who killed her father (and why), Ying sets out for the Engineers Guild disguised as her brother. Navigating the all-male guild is challenging on its own, but solving the mystery of her father’s assassination is even more difficult — especially with the assassin still searching for her father’s journal.

Of Jade and Dragons sounds like a great blend of fantasy and mystery, and readers can expect the stakes of Ying’s story to increase when its sequel arrives. Chen is setting up a world full of political intrigue, with Of Jade and Dragons’ narrative building on themes and tropes that have made other fantasy stories successful. The novel will no doubt appeal to fans of vengeance narratives, as well as readers who enjoy a bit of mystery in their fantasy stories.

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Children Of Anguish And Anarchy By Tomi Adeyemi

Release Date: June 25, 2024

Tomi Adeyemi’s Legacy of Orisha series comes to an end in June, with Children of Anguish and Anarchy concluding the story that started in Children of Blood and Bone. Children of Anguish and Anarchy will pick up where Children of Virtue and Vegeance left off: with Zélie imprisoned on a ship after a failed attempt to defeat the monarchy. The finale will see Zélie grappling with these circumstances, and it will also give the maji one last opportunity to overcome their oppressors. The stakes are higher than ever heading into Adeyemi’s 2024 novel, setting the stage for an epic and emotional ending.

It’s been five years since Children of Virtue and Vengeance hit shelves, so fans of Adeyemi’s fantasy series are no doubt eager to return to this world. It’s high time they found out what happens to Zélie after the events of the second book, and there are many questions to answer in Children of Anguish and Anarchy. Fortunately, the wait for the final Legacy of Orisha book is almost over. There’s no question that this will be a much-discussed release this June.

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Foul Days By Genoveva Dimova

Release Date: June 25, 2024

Genoveva Dimova’s debut fantasy novel, Foul Days, will kick off her Witches Compendium of Monsters series in June. Foul Days is inspired by Slavic folklore, and the novel is pitched for fans of The Witcher and author Naomi Novik (via Goodreads). If those comparisons don’t sell readers on this new release, the synopsis likely will. Foul Days follows a witch named Kosara with a history of hunting monsters. When Kosara’s ex, famously known as the Tsar of Monsters begins hunting her, she’s forced to flee to Belograd. Monsters can’t go there, but Kosara also loses her magic beyond the Wall.

To get her magic back, Kosara joins forces with a detective — but she quickly realizes that all roads lead back to the Tsar of Monsters. He has her magic and finds a way to breach the Wall, forcing Kosara to eventually face him. Kosara’s story sounds gripping and tense, and her no-win situation is poised to pull readers into her story. Foul Days already has an impressive 4.54 average Goodreads rating, so it’s safe to say Dimova’s debut has potential. Its sequel, Monstrous Nights, is also set to hit shelves later this year.

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The Daughter’s War By Christopher Buehlman

Release Date: June 25, 2024

Christopher Buehlman kicked off his epic Blacktongue series in 2021 with The Blacktongue Thief. Now the author is returning readers to this world with The Daughter’s War, a prequel story set years prior to the events of The Blacktongue Thief. The Daughter’s War takes place when goblins are wreaking havoc on Buehlman’s fantasy world, and it sees the daughters fighting back after most of the men have perished. The novel follows a woman named Galva as she joins a new faction of the army dubbed the Raven Knights.

The Daughter’s War chronicles the experience of the Raven Knights as they march off to war and face a smart and intimidating enemy. Buehlman’s latest promises to be every bit as action-packed and emotional as his 2021 release. Anyone who enjoyed The Blacktongue Thief should keep an eye out for this fantasy book this June. Its 4.61 average Goodreads rating even places it above Buehlman’s other novel in terms of reviews.