I hope you like fantasy, because that’s the overwhelming majority of what you’re getting this summer in the realm of young adult speculative fiction. A few horror and science fiction/dystopian novels have squeezed through, but otherwise this is a season of magic, gods, and other paranormal beasties. Here are some of the YA speculative books coming out in May and June that have peaked my interest.
Thrills & Chills
We Don’t Swim Here by Vincent Tirado—Sourcebooks Fire; May 30, 2023
Bronwyn dreams of becoming an Olympic swimmer, but when her father relocates her and her mother back to his hometown, she’s confused by everyone’s fear of water. The town pool is locked up and no one ever goes to the lake. The locals abide by strange rituals, and the more Bronwyn investigates the more people start dying. The ghost haunting the town wants revenge, and she’ll do anything to get it. Her cousin Anais only wants to keep her safe, but her secrets push Bronwyn further into the ghost’s clutches.
You’re Not Supposed to Die Tonight by Kalynn Bayron—Bloomsbury YA; June 20, 2023
Charity gets her dream job as a “final girl” at Camp Mirror Lake, a horror-themed camp deep in the woods of upstate New York where the cult classic Curse of Camp Mirror Lake was based. Things are going great until the last weekend of the season when one by one Charity’s coworkers start going missing. What’s supposed to be harmless fun turns deadly.
Love Is in the Air
I’m Not Supposed to Be in the Dark by Riss M. Neilson—Henry Holt & Company; May 9, 2023
Haunted by spirits, Aria drinks a special tea to numb her connection. Strange things start happening in town, and they all might be connected to the ghost now possessing Derek, her ex best friend and new secret crush. To free Derek, she has to help the ghost recover something lost, which means connecting once again to the spirits around her.
Saint Juniper’s Folly by Alex Crespo—Peachtree Teen; June 6, 2023
Billed as a queer haunted house story crossed with paranormal romance, this story features three teens in a small Vermont town. Foster child Jaime returns to the town of Saint Juniper after eight years being away, and promptly gets himself trapped in the creepy Blackwood Estate. He’s found first by Theo, a local high school senior who hates his hometown and desperately wants to leave. Theo pulls in Taylor, a grieving girl who can’t seem to get a handle on her magic, to help with the Jaime rescue. But the house is not going to let any of them go so easily.
Secret of the Moon Conch by David Bowles, Guadalupe García McCall—Bloomsbury YA; June 6, 2023
In 1521, Aztec warrior Calitzo has watched Spanish conquistadors destroy his home and everyone he loves. In 2019, Sitlali has dealt with dying or disappearing family and encroaching gang violence. Calitzo tosses a magical moon conch into the ocean and centuries later Sitlali picks it up as she makes the journey to cross the border into the United States. The conch connects the two teens, and even though they’re separated by time and space, they begin to fall in love.
Heaven and Hell
Always Isn’t Forever by J. C. Cervantes—Razorbill; June 6, 2023
Hart and Ruby are supposed to be soulmates, but when Hart dies saving a child from drowning they almost lose the chance to be together. An angel steps in and sends Hart’s soul into the body of another boy, Jameson. Unable to reveal the truth to anyone, Hart tries to find ways to convince Ruby of who he really is. But the longer he stays in Jameson’s body, the harder it is to remember who he used to be.
A Crooked Mark by Linda Kao—Razorbill; June 20, 2023
The Second Sweep is a secret organization who travels the country hunting and killing anyone bearing the mark of the devil. Matthew and his father have been doing this work a long time, but when Matthew meets Rae, everything changes. Rae survived a terrible car accident, and Matthew thinks it’s because Lucifer put her back on earth to do his wicked bidding. But the more time he spends with her, the harder it becomes to reconcile what he was taught with what he sees with his own two eyes.
Sibling Rivalry
The Shadow Sister by Lily Meade—Sourcebooks Fire; June 27, 2023
Sisters Casey and Sutton could not be more different. Their relationship is tense to say the least, so when Sutton disappears Casey decides she can’t tell anyone about how they fought right before. Sutton eventually returns, but there’s something off about her. Instead of pushing Casey away, she’s always around. And she can’t remember anything about where she was or her life before disappearing. What is really wrong with Sutton, and what does it have to do with all those other missing girls from town?
Creepy Castles
Court of the Undying Seasons by A. M. Strickland—Feiwel & Friends; May 16, 2023
Nineteen-year-old Fin heads off to Castle Courtsheart in place of the village girl she loves. There she’ll either become a powerful vampire or a pitiable human thrall…or die trying. Fin isn’t exactly happy about her options, given that her mother was taken by vampires years before. And when dead bodies start popping up, keeping her body and soul intact will become a hell of a lot harder.
The Alchemy of Moonlight by David Ferraro—Page Street Kids; May 30, 2023
The last thing Marquis Emile St. Aubert wants to do as a gay teen is marry some woman his controlling aunt has picked out just to secure his inheritance. Emile escapes and hides as a servant for Count Montoni, where he draws the attention (and attraction) of Henri, the count’s intense nephew. He also can’t stop thinking about the local doctor, Bram. After Emile’s identity is revealed, they’re all sent to Udolpho Castle. If they’re not careful, they might never leave alive. Inspired by Ann Radcliffe’s The Mysteries of Udolpho.
Anthologies
Transmogrify!: 14 Fantastical Tales of Trans Magic edited by g. haron davis—Harperteen; May 16, 2023
Fourteen fantasy stories by and about trans and other people on the gender expansive spectrum. The characters herein encounter magic as a way of discovering their true selves or resisting oppression. Authors include: AR Capetta, Cory McCarthy, g. haron davis, Mason Deaver, Jonathan Lenore Kastin, Emery Lee, Saundra Mitchell, Cam Montgomery, Ash Nouveau, Sonora Reyes, Renee Reynolds, Dove Salvatierra, Ayida Shonibar, Francesca Tacchi, Nik Traxler.
Magic Has No Borders edited by Samira Ahmed, Sona Charaipotra—Harperteen; May 23, 2023
A collection of 14 stories inspired by South Asian folklore. Crossing genres, settings, cultures, and histories, all connected with the thread of magic. Authors include: Sona Charaipotra, Samira Ahmed, Sabaa Tahir, Sayantani DasGupta, Tanaz Bhathena, Sangu Mandanna, Olivia Chadha, Nafiza Azad, Tracey Baptiste, Naz Kutub, Nikita Gill, Swati Teerdhala, Shreya Ila Anasuya, Tahir Abrar, Preeti Chhibber
The Grimoire of Grave Fates created by Margaret Owen, Hanna Alkaf—Delacorte Press; June 6, 2023
This collection of 18 stories sounds a lot like a magic school crossed with murder mystery dinner theater. Septimius Dropwort, the widely disliked and supremely unpleasant professor of magical history at the Galileo Academy for the Extraordinary, is killed. The students must figure out whodunit, even though most of them are secretly relieved the vilest man at the school is finally gone. Authors include: Cam Montgomery, Darcie Little Badger, Hafsah Faizal, Jessica Lewis, Julian Winters, Karuna Riazi, Kat Cho, Kayla Whaley, Kwame Mbalia, L. L. McKinney, Marieke Nijkamp, Mason Deaver, Natasha Díaz, Preeti Chhibber, Randy Ribay, Tehlor Kay Mejia, Victoria Lee, and Yamile Saied Méndez.
Gods & Monsters
Lion’s Legacy by L. C. Rosen (Tennessee Russo #1)—Union Square & Co.; May 2, 2023
Tennessee has been on the outs with his famous archaeologist father after learning he was selling the artifacts he “discovered” on his digs. When his father offers a chance at reconciliation, Tennessee doesn’t have much holding him back at home. They set off after a set of magical rings worn by members of a gay army battalion in Ancient Greece. With puzzles to solve and mysteries to untangle, Tennessee is about to have the adventure of a lifetime.
The Library of Broken Worlds by Alaya Dawn Johnson—Scholastic Press; June 6, 2023
The cover copy makes this sound fully fantasy, but it’s really a genre-bender, with AI and all kinds of technology. Freida has spent her whole life in the Library tunnels. Both humans and AI gods are interested in her, but her focus is solely on the Library. When war threatens to break out, Freida must kill an AI war god before he kills her.
Sing Me to Sleep by Gabi Burton (Sing Me to Sleep #1)—Bloomsbury YA; June 27, 2023
Saoirse isn’t supposed to exist. She’s a siren, and sirens supposedly went extinct long ago. Her very existence is outlawed, and if anyone finds out her secret, she’ll be executed. At first she uses her power to kill the enemies of her mysterious boss, but after her sister is threatened she takes a job as a bodyguard to the fae prince of Keirdre. As much as she wants to dislike him, his charm wins her over.
It’s the End of the World As We Know It
If Tomorrow Doesn’t Come by Jen St Jude—Bloomsbury YA; May 9, 2023
Nineteen-year-old Avery has a plan to end her life…a plan ruined when it’s revealed that the world is going to end in nine days when a giant asteroid smacks into the earth. She’s been harboring secret feelings for her bestie, Cass, but isn’t sure how to move forward when she feels so stuck all the time. With the end of everything rapidly approaching, Avery makes a choice that will change her future.
Court Intrigue
Venom & Vow by Anna-Marie McLemore, Elliott McLemore—Feiwel & Friends; May 16, 2023
This twisty YA fantasy features a lot of blurring of gender lines, as you’d expect from Anna-Marie McLemore. The kingdoms of Eliana and Adare are on the brink of war. Trans prince Cade doubles as his brother Patrick, who doesn’t want to be a monarch. Cade clashes with a bigender teen who is sometimes Gael the boy assassin and sometimes Valencia the lady-in-waiting to the queen. Politics brings them all together, and just as easily might tear them apart.
Of Light and Shadow by Tanaz Bhathena—Farrar, Straus and Giroux BYR; May 23, 2023
After Roshan’s surrogate father is murdered, she becomes the queen of the kingdom of Jwala’s most feared bandits. Partyboy Prince Navin gets himself kidnapped by the Shadow Clan after a night spent rabble rousing. His plan to manipulate Roshan into befriending then freeing him works a little too well as they both start falling for each other. As their romance blooms, so too does the realization that corruption runs deep in Jwala. Inspired by 17th century India.
And Break the Pretty Kings by Lena Jeong (Sacred Bone #1)—Harperteen; June 20, 2023
To become queen of Seolla—and protect her nation from a war that could destroy everything—Mirae must pass the Trial of the Gods. Something goes horribly wrong and her brother Minho is captured. Mirae and her motley crew of family and associates set off to rescue Minho, and along the way discover dark secrets about their family. Inspired by Korean history and mythology.
Alex Brown is a Hugo-nominated and Ignyte award-winning critic who writes about speculative fiction, librarianship, and Black history. Find them on twitter (@QueenOfRats), instagram (@bookjockeyalex), and their blog (bookjockeyalex.com).
