Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish, and is now hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. It’s all about books, lists and sharing the love we have of both with our bookish friends. This week, we’re looking ahead to the books we’re excited for in the second half of the year.

I say this every time, I know: I’m terrible at keeping track of what books are just around the corner and so grateful for my bookish friends who routinely report on it to fill my life with anticipation and joy. So this list is by no means complete – it’s just what I know about. Which means this week is going to be AMAZING for bringing me exciting news and DEVASTATING for my TBR.

Let’s start with a few books that are just around the corner…

JULY

The House of Sundering Flames – Aliette de Bodard

The final novel of the Dominion of the Fallen (NOOOOO) is nearly here. The destruction of House Harrier rips apart the fragile peace between the Houses of Paris, setting off a magical arms race as the Fallen scramble to defend themselves from their unknown enemy. Honestly, I’m here to see how married life is treating Asmodeus as much as to follow the plot…

Gods of Jade and Shadow – Silvia Moreno-Garcia

I think Silvia Moreno-Garcia is criminally overlooked: she writes fascinating stand-alone fantasies with magnetic characters and deep roots. This year, she’s giving us Mexico City in the Jazz Age, and a heroine who accidentally frees the God of Death – only to find herself enlisted in his schemes.

Shadow of the Short Days – Alexander Dan Vilhjálmsson

This urban fantasy debut had me at industrialised Icelandic folklore. Sadly, I failed to get a copy at a Gollancz event earlier this year as I wasn’t willing to confront the blogger who ignored the request to only take one or two books, piled up at least a dozen in her arms, and then took this off a display stand in front of me. Some people, eh. Still, this book very nearly made me challenge her. But the Gollancz team are lovely, so I now have an eARC!

This is How You Lose the Time War – Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone

When two authors I very much admire collaborate on a time travel romance about warring spies who leave notes for one another across the time streams, you know I can’t resist. I suspect this will destroy me in the best possible way (and I can’t wait to find out – I have just received a review copy and oh hell yes I shall be reading it very soon).

The Survival of Molly Southbourne – Tade Thompson

Molly Southbourne stole my heart during The Subjective Chaos Kind of Awards last year and has stored it carefully and bloodlessly ever since. I am beyond excited to hear we will find out what happens next. This unusual psychological fantasy / body horror novella may not be for the squeamish, but is sure to be thought provoking in its consideration of self and survival.

Looking a bit further ahead, there’s lots of juicy titles on their way.

AUGUST

The Dragon Republic – R F Kuang

Invaders were stopped. Traitors were uncovered. Souls were scorched. The Poppy War may be over, but Rin’s work is not yet done. I am beyond excited to see where Rebecca Kuang takes her searing fantasy next, and full of trepidation. The Poppy War was devastating – and I’m pretty sure Phoenix and the Warlord will push Rin even farther in the sequel.

Turning Darkness into Light – Marie Brennan

Isabella Camherst’s adventures may be over, respectability and academic glory finally achieved, but the world keeps turning and there are new intellectual and cultural challenges to face. This summer, we get to meet her granddaughter Audrey, a gifted linguist who will find herself at the heart of a world-shaking conspiracy… MOAR DRAGONS? WHO KNOWS? BUT I AM ALL CAPS FLAILING FOR MOAR ADVENTURES IN THE WORLD OF LADY TRENT!

Autumn

Gideon the Ninth – Tamsyn Muir

I’ve heard so much positive word of mouth about Gideon the Ninth that it is rapidly becoming the Event Book of the September release schedule, but if you needed to hear more than ‘galactic fantasy of lesbian necromancers and sword-swinging cavaliers’ you are a more restrained person than I. Bring it.

Ormeshadow – Priya Sharma

At the other end of the spectrum, Ormeshadow is a novella of fantastical history and family secrets. The Belmans have farmed Ormeshadow for generations, its fields supposedly lying over a sleeping dragon burdened with dark dreams. Gideon (not the Ninth) is brought home from Bath to confront his family’s past. Inspired by Thomas Hardy – I’m so curious to read this.

The Starless Sea – Erin Morgenstern

Look, that author is a perfect pitch all by herself, but I will never be able to go past references to sunless or starless seas. And Erin Morgenstern’s new mirror world has pirates and libraries too. Count me in. I promise not to whinge about the romance. This sounds like a brilliant book to read at the end of a long year.

What are you looking forward to later this year?