There are a lot of new books coming out every week. With New Release Radar, I’ll help you narrow down the week’s new book releases into the titles you should get excited about. I have seven books to share this week, including an exciting horror anthology and a retelling of a classic fantasy favorite. Read on.
Smothermoss by Alisa Alering
In 1980s Appalachia, Sheila juggles relentless bullying, caring for her great-aunt and home and household chores while her mother works at a state asylum. Her biggest concern is her peculiar sister, Angie, who is obsessed with nuclear war and mysterious tarot-like cards. When two female hikers are murdered on the Appalachian Trail, Sheila and Angie are drawn into the hunt for the killer. As violence threatens their community, the ancient mountain they live on may be their only hope for salvation.
Smothermoss is a haunting tale of sisters set in rural Pennsylvania and full of Gothic sensibilities. Part murder mystery, part literary fiction, Alisa Alering’s debut is the right level of unsettling.
RELATED: New Release Radar: New Books Coming Out on July 9
The White Guy Dies First, Edited by Terry J. Benton-Walker
This collection of horror stories features killer clowns, a deadly hedge maze and bored rich kids. Readers will encounter friendly cannibals, unstoppable slashers and the undead. The White Guy Dies First showcases stories from 13 authors of color, including Chloe Gong, H.E. Edgmon, Tiffany D. Jackson and more, with Terry J. Benton-Walker editing the collection. Full of ancient terrors and modern villains, each tale promises a twist: this time, the white guy dies first.
The Bright Sword by Lev Grossman
Collum, a gifted young knight, arrives at Camelot to find the king dead and the legendary Round Table in disarray. Joined by a group of unlikely knights and Nimue, Merlin’s former apprentice, Collum sets out to rebuild Camelot amidst the chaos left by Arthur’s death. With Britain torn by warlords, fairies, and old gods led by Morgan le Fay, Collum and his companions must reclaim Excalibur, uncover the truth behind Arthur’s fall, and restore balance to their fractured world.
Lev Grossman’s last novel was the conclusion to the bestselling Magicians trilogy, but now he’s taking on the myths and legends surrounding King Arthur. The Bright Sword is a thoroughly modern version that deeply grapples with the implications of the old stories.
RELATED: Ranking the Musical Episodes of The Magicians
I Was a Teenage Slasher by Stephen Graham Jones
In 1989, Lamesa, Texas, a small town driven by oil and cotton, everyone knows each other’s business. 17-year-old Tolly Driver is a good kid with more potential than ambition. But he’s about to take on a curse that will see him killing for revenge.
I Was a Teenage Slasher is a classic slasher story with a twist, told from the perspective of a killer writing his own biography. Stephen Graham Jones’ new book release is both self-aware and gory, a great read for his existing fans and newcomers alike.
The West Passage by Jared Pechaček
When the Guardian of the West Passage died, the women of Grey Tower fed her to the crows and resumed their chores, leaving the passage unguarded. Now, summer snow blankets Grey, rats flee from beneath the earth, crops fail, and hunger looms. The Beast is stirring beneath the poisoned soil. The young Mother of Grey House and the unnamed apprentice of the deceased Guardian set out on separate journeys to fix the seasons and warn Black Tower, crossing paths with schoolteachers, beekeepers, miracles, monsters, and towering Ladies along the way, as the fate of the world hangs in the balance.
The West Passage is an ambitious new work of medieval fantasy, unlike anything I’ve read before. Jared Pechaček trusts readers on this intriguingly weird journey full of incredible illustrations and strange inhabitants.
RELATED: Book Review: The Gilded Crown
The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer
Childhood friends Jeremy Cox and Rafe Howell disappeared and reappeared in a West Virginia forest as children. Only Jeremy, now a famed missing persons investigator, knows the fantastical truth. They spent months in a magical realm of beauty and danger. When vet tech Emilie Wendell seeks his help finding her missing sister, Jeremy knows she’s in that realm, but Rafe has no memory of their time there – only scars. As they return to the enchanted world, Jeremy and Rafe must confront their traumatic past to rescue Emilie’s sister and reclaim what they lost.
Inspired by The Chronicles of Narnia, The Lost Story is full of magic, romance, friendship and self-exploration. Meg Shaffer’s new book release is one fans of fairytales and wonder won’t want to miss.
The Spice Gate by Prashanth Srivatsa
Amir, a subjugated Spice Carrier marked for a life of servitude, dreams of escaping his fate and saving his similarly marked brother from their oppressive masters. As he plans his escape, Amir is drawn into a conspiracy that threatens the delicate balance of the eight kingdoms. Forced to navigate a complex web of gods, assassins, and political intrigue, Amir’s quest for freedom turns into a grand adventure that could reshape the world—or see it destroyed.
RELATED: Syfy Cancels Reginald the Vampire After 2 Seasons
Anyone who loved S.A. Chakraborty’s Daevabad Trilogy or Andrea Stewart’s The Drowning Empire will enjoy The Spice Gate. Prashanth Srivatsa’s debut novel has a unique setting and fascinating lore, not to mention a great cover.
You can check out these new book releases at Bookshop.org or your local bookstore. What July 16 new release are you most excited to read? Let us know below, and tune in next week to grow your TBR.
- THE HUNGER GAMES: SUNRISE ON THE REAPING Has Its Wiress and Beetee - May 14, 2025
- New Release Radar: New Books Coming Out on May 13 - May 13, 2025
- Book Review: THE INCANDESCENT - May 12, 2025
I Was a Teenage Slasher sounds like the perfect Summerween read.