20 books you’ll absolutely want to binge at the beach this summer

Smoke in the Sun – Renée Ahdieh

Renée Ahdieh is wrapping up her second duology this summer, with Smoke in the Sun coming out in early June. The sequel to her highly praised Flame in the Mist, the story follows Mariko as she embarks on a quest to retrieve Okami from his captors. But many dangers await her on this journey, most notably the Black Clan.

Eventually, Mariko finds herself immersed in the political scheming of the imperial court. And though she’s trying to discreetly expose the corruption at the core of it all, the very act of doing so could endanger her own life, as well as the lives of those she loves.

Ahdieh’s Eastern inspired settings, which characterize all of her books, are the perfect places to spend a summer vacation. Her rich writing is easy to get lost in, but try to ignore her descriptions of food — at least, if you want to fit into your bathing suit this year.

Smoke in the Sun comes out on June 5. It sounds like it will be an action packed conclusion to Mariko’s narrative. And just look at the gorgeous new cover design. If you’re planning to #bookstagram at the beach, this is the book you want to bring with you.