Fantasy Books to Read This Summer

Welcome, Fantasy Nerds! We all love a good summer read by the pool, but let’s be honest, huge fantasy series don’t exactly scream “beach read”. So what’s a Fantasy Nerd to do? Well, we have some fantasy book suggestions for you that fit the summer vibes!

My Lady Jane 

– The Humorous Read with a Touch of Romance

Since My Lady Jane is ultimately an alternate history, it doesn’t need to go heavy on the world-building, making it a lighter read than your typical fantasy. However, there are definitely magical elements to the story, as it features a race of people known as Ethians who can transform into animals. Not to mention, the book is a humorous take on the Tudor Age and will have you laughing often. There is also a romance subplot throughout the story, which is a popular choice for beach reads. 

The Tainted Cup 

-The Perfect Summer Mystery

Nothing says “summer read” like a suspenseful mystery, and this one will keep you guessing. However, this mystery is set in a fantastical world fraught with political machinations and “altered” humans with special abilities. What made us choose this as our go-to summer mystery is the setting. It takes place during the “wet season”, which, if you have experienced the summer rains in the south, will instantly give you summer vibes. Not to mention that Leviathans are a constant threat as they crawl out from the depths of the ocean and attempt to breach the walls of the empire.

Fourth Wing

-The Steamy Summer Read

Normally, we wouldn’t recommend massive fantasy volumes for a summer read, but somehow this book doesn’t read like a dense high-fantasy. The series is action-packed, fast-paced, and the characters are constantly in danger. And personally, we think fire-breathing dragons are just what everyone needs during a hot summer day. Mainly, what makes this fit as a typical beach read is the steamy romance element. If you don’t mind adult scenes and are looking for a hot and trending summer read, then this series is a great fit.

A Magical Girl Retires

– The Magical Short Summer Read

Diving straight into the world of Magical Girls, this is a fun and short read for the summer. Full of beautiful manhwa style art, nostalgic Sailor Moon vibes, with a touch of real-world and mental health struggles, this book feels like home. It’s fast-paced and exciting; I read it in just a couple of hours! This makes it the perfect poolside read if you want to finish a book in one relaxing session.

The Poison Eaters

– The Easy-to-Pause Summer Read

Since there are many activities to do in the summer, a book with easy stopping points is ideal. This collection of short stories by Holly Black is just the one! With twelve short stories, you can still immerse yourself in fantasy worlds, but put the book down to fly down a water slide! If you like the realm of Fae and the intersection of the fantastical with the everyday, grab this book for the summer.

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Did any books on our list pique your interest? What will you be reading this summer? Let us know in the comments below!

Thank you so much for reading!
–Clever&WTF