10 YA books we can’t wait to dive into this July

The Merciful Crow – Margaret Owen

The cover for Margaret Owen’s The Merciful Crow is enough to catch readers’ eyes all on its own, but the novel’s synopsis will likely hook anyone still on the fence about this fantasy debut. The beginning of a new series, The Merciful Crow is a multi-perspective story following characters who most certainly identify as morally grey.

The first of these characters is Fie, who’s been raised to only look after her own people: a caste of Crows that’s mostly comprised of undertakers and mercy killers. When they’re called to collect the body of the royal prince, Fie believes they’ll make quite a bit of money from the job — at least until she discovers Prince Jasimir is still alive.

Jasimir, however, has an offer for her: When he takes the throne, he’ll protect the Crows. In return, Fie only needs to keep him safe him from the corrupt queen long enough to get him on the throne. Meanwhile, Jasimir’s bodyguard, Tavin, is beginning to question his unwavering loyalty to the prince. He’s always put the prince’s needs first, but Tavin’s starting to wonder what it would be like to lead a life of his own volition.

With all the different storylines and politics, Owen’s debut is sure to be a success among young adult fantasy readers. It comes out on July 30, making it a great way to end the reading month with a bang — or to start August on a high note!

What young adult release are you most excited to pick up in July?