12 must-read new YA books to cool off with this July

The Princess Will Save You by Sarah Henning

Fantasy readers who enjoy royalty and quests will want to keep Sarah Henning’s latest release on their radar. The Princess Will Save You has all the elements of your typical fantasy story, but it takes the damsel-in-distress trope and spins it, presenting a novel that’s both comfortable and unique. (Also, we can always use more feminist fantasy tales.)

The novel opens with the death of Princess Amarande’s father, which leaves her with two options moving forward: She can marry one of the leaders of her neighboring nations, or she can forfeit her crown (and maybe her life along with it).

As though that’s not enough to contend with, Amarande’s lover, who happens to be a stable boy, is taken hostage in order to ensure her compliance. Thankfully, she’s not giving up her love or her kingdom without a fight — and fighting is an area where she’s pretty well trained.

The Princess Will Save You is a fun fantasy story that readers can fly through on a hot summer day, and if it’s anything like Henning’s previous works, it’ll only leave you wanting more. Henning’s latest arrives in print, ebook, and audiobook format on July 7.