Happy Tuesday!
Release weeks are looking pretty steady this month. There aren’t any huge blockbuster weeks. Holiday romances haven’t started showing up yet on our TBR piles, but I know they’ll creep up on us.
What new releases are you excited for this week?
A Tale of Mirth and Magic
Author: Kristen Vale
Released: August 5, 2025 by Forever
Genre: Fantasy/Fairy Tale Romance, Romance, Science Fiction/FantasyA maker of magical jewelry finds her life turned upside down when she ends up on the run with a half-giant in this spicy and cozy fantasy romance—perfect for fans of Legends & Lattes and The Spellshop.
Elikki may not have a family, but she has her fierce independence, boundless charm, and enough talent as a jewelry artisan to make a living on the road. Unfortunately for some, she also can’t yet manage to control her chaotic magic. . . and her temper. Sweet, soft Barra lives a quiet life with his mas and three sisters, managing the books for his family’s business. All he wants is to blend in and not make waves—a bit tricky, as a nearly eight-foot-tall purple half-giant.When Elikki lands in hot water after dealing with a particularly rude customer, Barra finds himself helping her flee the constables. With a bounty on her back—and a severe crush forming on his end—they decide to travel together to the next town. So begins a journey filled with cozy inns, delicious meals, heaps of excellent sex, and a sprinkling of danger. As their adventures bring them closer together and the threat of capture rises they find themselves changing in surprising ways. He’s given up on finding love. She’s always refused to try. But traveling together, they may discover unexpected, powerful romance and stronger self-identities—if the bounty hunters don’t get them first.
Amanda: This cover is so cute, and I’m lured by both the road trip and “jewelry artisan” elements.
Elyse: Cozy fantasy is my jam right now. Also this cover is amazing.
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Author: Annalee Newtiz
Released: August 5, 2025 by Tor.com
Genre: Novella, Science Fiction/FantasyA cozy near-future novella about a crew of leftover robots opening their very own noodle shop, from acclaimed sci-fi author Annalee Newitz.
You don’t have to eat food to know the way to a city’s heart is through its stomach. So when a group of deactivated robots come back online in an abandoned ghost kitchen, they decide to make their own way doing what they know: making food—the tastiest hand-pulled noodles around—for the humans of San Francisco, who are recovering from a devastating war.
But when their robot-run business starts causing a stir, a targeted wave of one-star reviews threatens to boil over into a crisis. To keep their doors open, they’ll have to call on their customers, their community, and each other—and find a way to survive and thrive in a world that wasn’t built for them.
Amanda: Noodle-bots!
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Author: Ally Carter
Released: August 5, 2025 by Avon
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Mystery/Thriller, Romance
Series: The Blonde Identity #2Ten years ago, they joined the CIA.
Six years ago, he left the game.
Five years ago, they fell in love.
One year ago, she ran out into the cold with absolutely no intention of ever coming back.
And two minutes ago, they woke up, bloody and bruised and handcuffed together in the dark.
They don’t know where they are. They don’t know how they got there. And they have absolutely no idea who is after them or what this nameless, faceless villain wants.
The only thing that’s clear is that, after ten years of covers and chemistry, secrets and lies, these two rival spies have been sucked into their greatest mission yet, and now they’re going to have to team up to stay alive. (If they don’t kill each other first.)
Book two in the Blonde Identity series.
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Author: Emma Hamm
Released: August 5, 2025 by Gallery Books
Genre: Fantasy/Fairy Tale Romance, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
Series: The Gravesinger #1A princess murdered at the altar makes a deal with the god of death for vengeance and to save her people in this first in a unique romantasy trilogy from USA TODAY bestselling author Emma Hamm.
Jessamine was raised to be a leader for her people, but when the land is overrun by an incurable plague, she must enter a political marriage to save them all. A union that should have brought hope only brings death as her new husband murders her at the wedding altar and seizes the throne.
But her death is just the beginning. Her spirit is met by the Deathless One, a god of death yearning to return to the mortal plane, and he needs her help. The two of them make a deal—her life and the return of her kingdom in exchange for his resurrection. But the Deathless One is a known trickster, and a deal with him is one made in blood.
Jessamine knows the Deathless One is a dangerous ally, but the longer they work together, the more she wants him and the less she can stay away. As their connection deepens, soon she wonders if she even wants this contract to end. Perhaps the more appealing throne is the one by his side, but she’d have to turn her back on her people to get it.
Amanda: A deal with death is my catnip.
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Author: Michelle Wong
Released: August 5, 2025 by Harper Voyager
Genre: Fantasy/Fairy Tale Romance, Gothic, Romance, Science Fiction/FantasyStep into the House of the Beast in this dark fantasy debut from The Legend of Korra graphic novel illustrator Michelle Wong, about a young woman who strikes a deal with a mysterious and alluring god to seek revenge on her aristocratic family—featuring illustrations throughout by the author.
Born out of wedlock and shunned by society, Alma learned to make her peace with solitude, so long as she had her mother by her side. When her mother becomes gravely ill, Alma discovers a clue about her estranged father and writes a message begging for help. Little does she know that she is a bastard of House Avera, one of the four noble families that serve the gods and are imbued with their powers—and her father is a vessel of the Dread Beast, the most frightening god of all, a harbinger of death.
In a desperate exchange for her mother’s medicine, Alma agrees to sacrifice her left arm to the Beast in a ceremony that will bind her forever to the House and its deity. Regardless, her mother soon passes, leaving Alma trapped inside the Avera’s grand estate, despised by her relatives and nothing but a pawn in her father’s schemes.
Now vengeance is the only thing that keeps Alma going. That, and the strange connection she has with her god—a monster who is constantly by her side, an eldritch being taking the form of a beautiful prince with starlit hair that only she can see. He tells Alma that she has been chosen to bring change upon their world, and with his help, Alma plots a perilous journey to destroy the House that stole everything from her.
A gripping fantasy novel marked by divine rituals, intense combat, and twisted romance, House of the Beast is a tale of revenge, resilience, and the power of love to see us through the darkness.
Amanda: I just found this book when browsing new releases, but anything that is described as both a horror and a romance automatically makes me perk up.
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Author: Olivia Dade
Released: August 5, 2025 by Berkley
Genre: Paranormal, Romance
Series: Supernatural Engtanglements #1Teaming up with your neighbor during a zombie outbreak is a no-brainer, but if it turns out he’s a vampire . . . the stakes couldn’t be higher, in this infectious new paranormal romance from the USA Today bestselling author of Spoiler Alert.
When Edie Brandstrup attempts to save her sweet, seemingly harmless human neighbor from the first major zombie breach in two decades, she’s stunned to be saved by him—and his ridiculously large sword—instead. As it turns out, he’s actually a super-old, super-surly vampire. But for all her neighbor’s newly revealed cynicism and lethality, Gaston “Max” Boucher (yes, Gaston) is unexpectedly protective. He wants her to stay in his safety bunker until the breach is resolved. Edie can’t risk more innocent people getting killed, though—and Max won’t let her save them alone.
As they unravel a sinister conspiracy to set zombies loose on the world (again), the duo meet a host of lovable allies and discover they’re not the only ones willing to fight for the future of humanity. Despite the awful timing, Edie finds herself falling for the vampire who’s helping her save the world . . . but all their dangerous plans could end their future before it even begins. As she and Max battle side by side, Edie must decide whether having a love worth living for also means having a love you’d die for—and, in a world that grows deadlier by the minute, whether that’s a risk she’s willing to take.
I know this is on so many readers’ radar!
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I just finished 3 Olivia Dade this weekend so I know which one of these I’m flagging. The noodle robots looks appealing too.
And I’m laughing now because Automatic Noodle opened an Amazon link to automatic noodle making attachments for a stand mixer 😀
All on my TBR!
Very excited for “ZomRomCom”! I really enjoy Olivia Dade’s books. “Automatic Noodle” by Annalee Newitz also looks intriguing. Looking forward to a couple series entries: “Accomplice to the Villain,” which wraps up Hannah Nicole Maehrer’s Assistant to the Villain romantic fantasy series. “For Duck’s Sake” is the latest in Donna Andrews’ Meg Langslow cozy mystery series.
Accomplice to the Villain comes out today, 8/05! Already pre-ordered the audiobook! Can’t wait to start it tonight!
I loooooooved ZomRomCom!
I now have holds on The Deathless One and ZomRomCom, thank you.
A Tale of Mirth and Magic doesn’t really sound like my thing but that cover is too good, I am trying it for that alone.
The ZomRomCom cover, otoh, makes me twitchy. Why are their grips so choked up on the handles of their weapons? That’s definitely not how you hold a cleaver.
I personally hated Zomromcom >.<, but I think I'm the minority and hoping it lands better for everyone excited about this release.
Fans of Anne Cleeland might be interested to know that she released a book in July ~ The Penitent. It’s mafia themed and is not an Acton/Doyle mystery.
I’m excited about a book out today with Sherlock Holmes and Irene Adler as roommates at Oxford (she is in disguise as Isaac), and they need to solve murders — A BEAUTIFUL AND TERRIBLE MURDER by Claire Andrews. Also looking forward to reading the Ally Carter book!
Donna Andrews has a new book in her Meg Langslow series out this week, For Duck’s Sake. I’m halfway through now, and it’s a delight. You know when you feel yourself relaxing into a book, and you know everything in it is going to be ok?
@JenC, oooh, A BEAUTIFUL AND TERRIBLE MURDER sounds intriguing! Adding it to my library list.