More Anticipated Releases for 2023 | Pt. 2 (Jul-Dec)

Hey hi hello friends, and welcome back to my blog!

Now that we are approaching the second half of the year, it's time for part 2 of my 2023 Most Anticipated Releases. If you never saw part 1, you can read it here and see all the books that I was waiting to be published in the first half of 2023. 

Surprisingly I've actually read nearly every book on that list, only one or two have eluded me so far. Normally I am super far behind when it comes to new releases, so this is a huge win for me. A round of applause, please!

Of course this means that I've been neglecting my other TBR books on my shelves, but that's a problem for another day. 

For the months of July through December, there are 11 books that I'm dying to get my hands on. Okay technically there are 12, but to be perfectly honest I don't know if the 5th volume of Heartstopper will end up being published this year or early 2024, so I'm not officially included on this year. 

Alright, without any further ado, here are my most anticipated releases for the latter half of 2023.

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Standalones/First Novels in Series

Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Releases July 18

"From the New York Times bestselling author of The Daughter of Doctor Moreau and Mexican Gothic comes a fabulous meld of Mexican horror movies and Nazi occultism: a dark thriller about the curse that haunts a legendary lost film--and awakens one woman's hidden powers."

I've only read one novel by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (Mexican Gothic) but I really enjoyed it, so I'm hoping that I'll enjoy this one, too! I think her horror is super unique and it explores a different culture than my own, so that's always a plus in my book.

The Pomegranate Gate by Ariel Kaplan
Releases July 20

"Ariel Kaplan’s The Pomegranate Gate is the lyrical first installment of the Mirror Realm Cycle, a vibrant and heartfelt Inquisition-era Jewish epic fantasy in the vein of Naomi Novik, Katherine Arden, and Tasha Suri."

This will be an interesting novel, I think. I haven't read many books dealing with Jewish folklore and legend, so I'm very interested to learn new things. I haven't ever heard of this author (is this her debut?) but I've enjoyed lots of books by Naomi Novik and Katherine Arden, which this book and author are compared to, so I'm cautiously optimistic!

The Weaver and the Witch Queen by Genevieve Gornichec
Releases July 25

"The lives of two women—one desperate only to save her missing sister, the other a witch destined to become queen of Norway—intertwine in this spellbinding, powerful novel of Viking Age history and myth from the acclaimed author of The Witch’s Heart."

Okay, this one is a major anticipated release for me. I already talked about it in my Mid-Year Book Freak Out Tag, but I absolutely love that Genevieve Gornichec focuses on Norwegian myth and folklore. Reading books about my own culture and heritage is always a fun time for me, and you can bet that I'll be buying this on release day. 

Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher
Releases August 15

"From USA Today bestselling author T. Kingfisher, Thornhedge is the tale of a kind-hearted, toad-shaped heroine, a gentle knight, and a mission gone completely sideways."

I feel like T. Kingfisher has really blown up these past few years on BookTube, but also the book world in general. So far I've read three novels by them (Nettle & Bone, What Moves the Dead, and A House With Good Bones) and I've enjoyed every one of them. I'm thinking this will be most like Nettle & Bone, as in less horror and more whimsy, but I'm not complaining. 

The Chalice of the Gods by Rick Riordan
Releases September 26

"The original heroes from The Lightning Thief are reunited for their biggest challenge yet: getting Percy to college when the gods are standing in his way."

Alright, we all know this is a huge release for me, do I really have to say it again? Of course I will be buying this the day it comes out, and most likely reading it then, too. I've been in the Percy Jackson fandom for over a decade at this point so I'm always happy for new installments. I don't know if this will be a standalone or if it's the beginning of a new series (if that's the case I'm assuming it will be a trilogy, since the synopsis says Percy needs to complete three quests to meet his goal) but I'm here for it either way.

The Fragile Threads of Power by V.E. Schwab
Releases September 26

"From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, and set in the world of A Darker Shade of Magic, V. E. Schwab opens a new door into perilous adventure and tangled schemes with The Fragile Threads of Power."

Another big release for me! I'm currently rereading the Shades of Magic trilogy in order to prepare for this book. I know it's a little early, but I haven't read the series in its entirety since 2018, and I couldn't wait any longer to pick it up. I'm not a fan of these new covers, sadly, but I'll deal with it. Maybe I'll just buy the UK edition of this book since it matches the original covers better. Who know at this point, honestly.

Sequels

House of Roots and Ruin by Erin A. Craig
Releases July 25

"A modern masterpiece, this is a classic Gothic thriller-fantasy from New York Times bestselling author Erin A. Craig, about doomed love, menacing ambition, and the ghosts that haunt us forever."

I wasn't expecting House of Salt and Sorrow to get a sequel, but I'm not mad about it. I'll definitely have to reread the first book before I read this to refresh my memory, but I remember I really enjoyed the spooky, seaside atmosphere and the nods to the classic fairytale "The 12 Dancing Princesses." It'll be super interesting to see how the author has improved in her craft!

He Who Drowned the World by Shelley Parker-Chan
Releases August 22

"The sequel and series conclusion to She Who Became the Sun, the accomplished, poetic debut of war and destiny, sweeping across an epic alternate China."

I'll be perfectly honest, I didn't super love the first book of this duology. I liked the concept and we all know that I like East-Asian inspired stories, but something about the writing I think just didn't quite do it for me. I'll still be reading this sequel, but I think it won't be as big a priority for me as other books on this list. 

House of Odysseus by Claire North
Releases August 24

"House of Odysseus is the follow up to award-winning author Claire North's Ithaca 'a powerful, fresh, and unflinching' reimagining (Jennifer Saint) that breathes life into ancient myth and gives voice to the women who stand defiant in a world ruled by ruthless men."

Like He Who Drowned the World, this isn't a top priority for me. I thought the first book in this duology, Ithaca, was a nice reimagining of the Odyssey from Penelope's point of view, I just think it went a little too big in scope. Considering this story seems to be more honed in, I'm thinking I might like it more, but who knows. I'll just have to read to find out!

Lights by Brenna Thummler
Releases September 6

"Following Brenna Thummler’s bestselling and critically acclaimed graphic novels Sheets and Delicates, Marjorie, Eliza, and Wendell the ghost are back to uncover the secrets of Wendell’s human life in the third and final heartwarming installment of the Sheets trilogy."

After rereading Sheets and reading Delicates for this first time earlier this year, I'm even more excited about the third and final installment of this graphic novel series. I totally headcanon that Eliza is autistic which makes me feel so seen. I'm also interested in the synopsis, that we seem to be focusing on Wendell and his previous life, so I'm definitely looking forward to reading this sweet story!

Mammoths at the Gates by Nghi Vo
Releases September 12

"Hugo Award winner Vo’s lovely standalone fourth Singing Hills Cycle fantasy is the most personal adventure yet for travelling Cleric Chih."

I love the folktale aspect of this novella series. Like I've said many times already, learning about different cultures is a special interest of mine, so any story to do with folklore, myth, or legend is almost automatically added to my TBR. I've read all of the other novellas in this series so of course I'm excited for book four. It'll be interesting to read about where Chih comes from and their past before starting out on their journey.

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Is it just me, or has this year been kind of lacking with the amount of new releases?

Okay, I know it's definitely just me. As I get older and read more I end up honing my taste finer and finer, which in turns makes it harder for me to be super interested in new books. I know what I like and unfortunately that just doesn't seem to be what's being mass published this year. That being said, I'm so excited for all of these books and I can't wait to read them as soon as possible. 

Are you also looking forward to any of these books? Which one is your most anticipated? Are there any other books coming out later this year that you think should be on my list? Let me know in the comments below, or DM me on Instagram (link in sidebar under heading "More Media"). 

Until next time, friends!