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

The Storm Crow – Kalyn Josephson

Kalyn Josephson’s The Storm Crow is another young adult debut that’s gotten plenty of hype leading up to its release, and it’s easy to understand why. Meshing the usual fantasy elements with the fairly unique concept of magical, elemental crows, The Storm Crow offers readers a fantastical story they haven’t heard before.

The story is set in the tropical kingdom of Rhodaire, where elemental crows are a typical aspect of everyday life. That changes, though, when the Illucian empire invades Rhodaire, destroying everything in its wake. Princess Anthia is left to cope with the aftermath of that horrible night, during which her mother was one of many casualties.

But while Princess Anthia succumbs to her depression, her sister Caliza attempts to keep the kingdom together by taking their mother’s place. Somewhere in Caliza’s political maneuvering, she agrees to a marriage alliance involving Anthia and the prince of Illucia. The prospect of marrying her enemy jolts Thia into action, however, and she and her sister begin scheming a way to bring back the Storm Crows — and win back all that was taken from them.

The Storm Crow hits shelves on July 9, and it’s the perfect read for anyone looking for a fantasy tale that deals with deeper topics, like politics and grief. It’s also got two powerful female leads at the helm, and the potential to become a satisfying revenge narrative. That’s a combination that’s truly difficult to pass up.