The Inkborne Society | June Reading Wrap-Up: Ratings & ...

June Reading Wrap-Up: Ratings & Reviews

Some thoughts on the eight books I read this month!

Bindery refers to a studio, workshop or factory where sheets of (usually) paper are fastened together to make books, but also where gold and other decorative elements are added to the exterior of books, where boxes or slipcases for books are made and where the restoration of books is carried out.

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July 2025 Book Releases (+ My Thoughts & Ratings)

Please note, this is not a comprehensive list of every SFF book coming out in July, rather just a compilation of ones that caught my eye! Reviews of ARCs I have already read are included in the post.

Upcoming Releases

A Forbidden Alchemy (Stacey McEwan)
Set in a world in which children are whisked away to the capital city to get tested for magical potential at the age of 12, a fated pair uncover a world-changing secret and are thrust into a violent class war, navigating love, loss, and devastating betrayals.
My Rating & Review: ⭐ 4.25 - Romantasy is a hit or miss for me these days, but I ate this one up!! Overall, I thought A Forbidden Alchemy was a well-paced book with characters that felt alive, an intriguing class war, relationships that were dynamic throughout, and betrayals that kept me on my toes. I know some people hate the love triangle, but the tension in this one was SO good and I think it's definitely worth checking out if you’re a fan of the romantasy genre!

The Nightblood Prince (Molly X. Chang)
Two kingdoms on the brink of battle. One prophesied empress to unite them, who finds herself caught between two princes, and the fact that love alone may not stop the coming war.

Tenderly, I Am Devoured (Lyndall Clipstone)
A gothic romantasy in which a young woman must bind herself to a dangerous chthonic demon with the help of the son of a rival family to save her family's legacy—and herself—from ruin.

Predatory Natures (Amy Goldsmith)
A teen girl's dream job aboard a luxury train derails when she discovers the strange cargo being transported—a mysterious and beautiful greenhouse—but its flowering façade may hide deadly thorns beneath.

Lore of the Tides (Analeigh Sbrana)
The conclusion of The Lore of the Wilds duology, as Lore must navigate threats on the ship and beyond, into the ocean’s magical and mysterious depths, in order to find the sun book herself and help free the humans. All the while, Lore can’t help but feel the intense pull of one Fae male who has been helping her all along. But is she willing to risk her human heart for creatures that have burned her in the past, and jeopardize her people’s future?

The Memory of the Ogisi (Moses Ose Utomi)
The epic conclusion to Moses Ose Utomi's critically acclaimed Forever Desert series, The Memory of the Ogisi shatters every truth, destroys every lie, and is a story of oppression no one shall ever forget.

Fateless (Julie Kagawa)
Deep in the forgotten city of the Deathless Kings, an ancient relic of untold power waits—for one bold enough to steal it. A death-defying adventure ensues as unlikely allies find themselves battling ancient forces within the tombs and facing the unwavering hold of fate.

Climate of Chaos (Cassandra Newbould)
An exhilarating dystopian YA recalling The Last of Us and Divergent—Climate of Chaos is a hard-hitting survival story featuring a disabled protagonist that explores the chilling effects of climate change and medical debt.

Ghost Cell (Zac Topping)
Blade Runner meets John Wick in this sci-fi action adventure following a super-soldier whose very existence has been outlawed by the same society that created him.

Immortal Consequences (I.V. Marie)
Six students at Blackwood Academy, an enigmatic boarding school located at the edge of the afterlife, must compete for the once-in-eternity chance to change their fate—or risk remaining stuck in purgatory forever.

My Thoughts & Rating: ⭐ 3.50 - The premise of this one caught my eye months ago, and I went in with high hopes that this was going to be a new dark academia x fantasy staple. While the worldbuilding and backbone of the story made sense, I struggled with the character development, or lack thereof. I wish the book had taken some moments to breathe and establish the personalities and backstories of each of its characters instead of barrelling through plot points, because the flatness of the characters caused me to lose interest as the story progressed even when there was a lot of action happening. That said, if you’re more of a plot-driven reader, you may still enjoy your time with this one!

The Last Tiger (Julia Riew and Brad Riew)
Inspired by true stories from the authors’ grandparents’ lives during one of the darkest periods in Korean history, The Last Tiger is a debut young adult fantasy novel about the power of love to give voice to a silenced people.

Birth of a Dynasty (Chinaza Bado)
Combining the political intrigue of She Who Became the Sun with the gorgeous world-building of Children of Blood and Bone, Birth of a Dynasty is the start of a thrilling epic fantasy trilogy centered around three families’ fight for power in Ahkebulin, a land where magic is feared, giants are real, and prophecy holds sway.

Soulmatch (Rebecca Danzenbaker)
In a world where past lives determine your future, a sharp-witted girl confronts a major twist of destiny, embroiling her in a high-stakes game of danger, corruption, and heartbreak in this young adult speculative romance perfect for fans of Scythe and Matched.

A Mastery of Monsters (Liselle Sambury)
Ninth House meets Legendborn in this thrilling first book in a dark academia fantasy series about a teen who’s willing to do anything to find her brother—even infiltrate a secret society full of monsters.