Who could’ve predicted that August would simultaneously arrive too soon and too late this year? If you’re also a bit shaken by this fact, fear not because new releases are here to save the day (month)! As we move towards fall, the volume of books is steadily increasing and many of my most anticipated releases are coming out during this time. This month’s list has a good mix of sci-fi and fantasy with a few adult titles in there as well. Without further ado, let me introduce all the exciting SFF releases of August 2020!
SFF of August 4th, 2020
Seven Devils by Laura Lam & Elizabeth May
✨Genre: Science fiction
✨Series: 1st book in a duology
✨Why I’m excited for it: Space operas are fun by themselves but adding the world ‘feminist’ in there makes it all the more exciting. It sounds like your typical ‘overthrow the evil lord and save the galaxy’ kind of plot, which I see more in YA, but I’m interested to see how it’s written for an adult audience. I’m also curious about this being co-written and how that’s going to play out because I’ve heard good things about both authors.
✨Community review: Judith @ Chain Interaction (4 stars)
✨Links: Goodreads | Author’s Website | Book Depository
The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson
✨Genre: Science fiction
✨Series: None
✨Why I’m excited for it: Parallel universes and the paradoxes they present is one of my favourite topics in physics and this tackles exactly that. The cast is also very diverse, which as you may know, is enough for me to add any book on my TBR. I think there’s a mystery and suspense element to it too and I’ve heard only rave reviews about it!
✨Community review: Charlotte @ Moonraker (5 stars)
✨Links: Goodreads | Publisher’s Website | Book Depository
Lobizona by Romina Garber
✨Genre: Fantasy
✨Series: 1st book in a duology
✨Why I’m excited for it: This is definitely very high up on my TBR because I’ve heard amazing things from my trusted blogging friends. If you’ve seen the hardcover and especially the design beneath the dust jacket, I’m sure you’d love to get a copy for yourself. I don’t generally reach for urban fantasy and the fact that I’m looking forward to it so much should tell you everything you need to know.
✨Community review: Cande @ Latinx Magic (5 stars)
✨Links: Goodreads | Author’s Website | Book Depository
The Dark Tide by Alicia Jasinska
✨Genre: Fantasy
✨Series: 1st book in a duology
✨Why I’m excited for it: A lot of books promise a dark fairytale but I think this one is really going to deliver on that premise. Island cities are one of my favourite settings in a fantasy and this has that as well. It also features an F/F romance and I’m hoping it’ll pack all the intense yearning that is usually expected when one of them is about to die.
✨Community review: Cielo @ Bellerose Reads (4 stars)
✨Links: Goodreads | Publisher’s Website | Book Depository
Court of Lions by Somaiya Daud
✨Genre: Science fiction
✨Series: 2nd book in a duology
✨Why I’m excited for it: I read and loved Mirage when it came out in 2018 and I only have Fadwa @ Word Wonders’ gushing to thank for it. I’ve been selected for a blog tour of the concluding novel and I cannot wait to sweep me away. It has a wonderful blend of sci-fi and fantasy with beautiful world-building, which is my catnip!
✨Community review: Review @ Novels and Nebulas (4 stars)
✨Links: Goodreads | Publisher’s Website | Book Depository
SFF of August 11th, 2020
Star Daughter by Shveta Thakrar
✨Genre: Fantasy
✨Series: None
✨Why I’m excited for it: The words ‘desi fantasy’ are like music to my ears and this book seems to pack it in spades. I have read one of Shveta’s short stories before, in A Thousand Beginnings and Endings, which I enjoyed a lot, so I’m really looking forward to her debut novel. I’ve heard it has Hindu mythology, food descriptions that will make you swoon and an adorable sapphic side relationship.
✨Community review: Sara @ Words with Wings (5 stars)
✨Links: Goodreads | Author’s Website | Book Depository
SFF of August 18th, 2020
Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko
✨Genre: Fantasy
✨Series: 1st book in a duology
✨Why I’m excited for it: The UK cover for this book is off-the-charts beautiful with a clever optical illusion hidden in there. I was lucky enough to receive an ARC for this book and I’m currently reading it, so let me tell you in advance that this book better be on your pre-order list! It is an African-inspired fantasy about a headstrong young girl raised in secret to kill the emperor’s son and much more that YA fantasy lovers will surely enjoy.
✨Community review: Sahi @ My World of Books (5 stars)
✨Links: Goodreads | Author’s Website | Book Depository
Vicious Spirits by Kat Cho
✨Genre: Fantasy
✨Series: 2nd book in a duology
✨Why I’m excited for it: Gumiho, the first book, has been pretty polarising but people who have the same tastes as me have loved it. I meant to read it last year but the sequel/companion is already upon us now and I’ve run out of excuses. This is a Korean mythology-inspired urban fantasy series with a forbidden romance aspect.
✨Community review: Sara @ Lyrical Reads (4 stars)
✨Links: Goodreads | Publisher’s Website | Book Depository
The Faithless Hawk by Margaret Owen
✨Genre: Fantasy
✨Series: 2nd book in a duology
✨Why I’m excited for it: I’ll be honest with you – the only reason I’ve even heard of this book is because of Kal @ Reader Voracious. The Merciful Crow was one of her favourite books and her enthusiasm about the series is infectious. This series has a very interesting society based on types of birds and this unique aspect has me intrigued.
✨Community review: Breanna @ Paws and Paperbacks (5 stars)
✨Links: Goodreads | Publisher’s Website | Book Depository
SFF of August 25th, 2020
Where Dreams Descend by Janella Angeles
✨Genre: Fantasy
✨Series: 1st book in a duology
✨Why I’m excited for it: I know nothing about The Phantom of the Opera or Moulin Rouge but the aesthetic of this book is irresistible. It also gives off The Night Circus vibes but has a more diverse cast, which I’m all for. It promises gorgeous atmospheric writing, dark intrigue and stunning magic, so definitely put this on your radar if you haven’t yet!
✨Community review: Rain @ Book Dragonism (5 stars)
✨Links: Goodreads | Author’s Website | Book Depository
Further Reading
✨Cait @ Paper Fury – 2020 New YA Releases because You Need More Books!! [Ft. August – November Books]
✨Tor.com – New Young Adult SFF for August & September 2020
✨The Nerd Daily – Summer 2020’s Most Anticipated SFF Books
Which book from this list of August 2020 SFF releases do you have your heart set on? Have I missed out on your most anticipated release? Are you taking part in ARC August? Let me know in the comments section down below. Hope you are having a magical week, readers from Earth!
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Oh my GOD what a terrific array of books this month. I wildly love the UK cover of the Ifueko book, and if I love it once I read it, I’m absolutely going to procure the UK copy. Holy shit that’s gorgeous. Of the rest of these, I think I’m most excited for Lobizona — I had heard nothing about it until like a week ago and now suddenly it’s everywhere!
Thanks, Jenny! 💖 It’s so nice to see someone excited for the same books. I’m sure you’ll love Raybearer, it’s definitely an amazing book! I’m also very excited for Lobizona – I think you’ll enjoy the hardcover of that as well once you see it. ♥️
So many of these books have such beautiful covers. I have Where Dreams Descend on my TBR but I’m going to have to add some of these other ones to it.
I’m so glad you found some books to add to your TBR from this list! 💖 We’re blessed with some amazing covers these days and even though I try not to impulse-buy I’m sure some of these would’ve ended up on my shelves purely because of the cover if it wasn’t for the pandemic situation. 🙈
Yeah I feel all these artists are really outdoing themselves. I just look at the cover and am like ohh I need this. I definitely have been limiting my spending on books. I am trying to focus more on books I own but it’s tough.
Thank you so much for featuring my review! 💕 I absolutely LOVE how this post is formatted! And I’ve found some new books to add to my TBR!
Thank you so much, Breanna! 💖 It was a lovely review. 😊 Yay, I’m so happy to hear that although your TBR probably isn’t thanking you haha. 😅
PARALLEL UNIVERSES. did someone say parallel universes??? that stuff is my jam and i am 100% adding the space between worlds to my TBR. ive heard so much about lobizona and a court of lions and star daughter. very excited to read such diverse fantasies <3 a lot of these books seem sooo good and i can’t wait to read them. which of these books are your favorite (if you’ve read them all)? if you haven’t read them all, which one are you the most excited for?
Haha I haven’t read them all, it’s just a round-up of titles I’m excited for, which I post each month. 😊 I think it would have to be Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko for me – I’m currently reading an ARC and absolutely loving it! 😍
so many gorgeous books releasing this month!!! thank you so much for this list and for including my review for WHERE DREAMS DESCEND. im excited to see more people read it when it releases 😍
I really don’t know how I’m going to keep up seeing as my backlist TBR is already so high but I’m very excited to see so many beautiful diverse books! ♥️ I loved your review, Rain, I just had to include it here so everyone could read it and get hyped. 💖
Great list, I’m very excited for The Dark Tide!
Thank you so much! 😊 I hope you enjoy it! 💖
This is such an amazing list! Of the books you mentioned, I’ve read Lobizona (which is so, so good!), Star Daughter (Indian-inspired fantasy, could we ask for anything more? 🥺), and I’m currently reading Raybearer — it’s SO? GOOD? I have an arc for Where Dreams Descend and I really need to get on to reading it!
I’m so glad to hear that you love Mirage, because it’s a series that I’ve been on the fence to start! And I’ve heard lots of different things about Wicked Fox, but I think it’s also a series that I’d give a try, especially with the sequel coming out!
I love this post ~ I’ve found lots that I’m adding to my TBR because of it! And thank you for featuring my review! ❤🥺
(Also! I just realized a couple days ago that I wasn’t following you already ~ I could sworn I was, but I’m just a mess. I’ve fixed it now!!! <3)
Raybearer is amazing! Ah, you’ve been blessed with all the amazing ARCs of August. I hope you enjoy them all! 💖
I’m sure you’ll love Mirage – it has a sprawling world-building and excellent characters, so I’d highly recommend it. 😍 Ooh, if you’re up for it, whenever you get a copy, we can try to buddy read Wicked Fox and see how we feel? Although not in August though, we can figure out over DMs maybe.
Yay, I’m so happy to hear that! 😍 Also, your review is amazing – how could I not?
(Ah, that’s okay! I also fixed it just now. 🙈)
Oh, I’d love that!! If it’s okay with you, could we BR in October? Or would that be too late/early? 🙈
October sounds perfect, actually! I might try to get my ARCs and everything done in August-September timeframe so I can be free to read backlist titles. 😅