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Science Fiction for July 2025

by Henry L Lazarus

There’s a lot of light reading in Fantasy and Science Fiction in July.
Melissa Olthoff has a wonderful tale of two countries at war. Volunteers, male and female, who can bond to  dragons and griffins  are desperately needed.  Harper Tavros joined to bond to a dragon so she can serve in the rescue corps.  After a prank replacement of eggs she ends up bonded to a griffin, Felix. She has to Rise from Ruin (paper from Baen) and join the Griffin corps, catching up on training and somehow survive an enemy attack on the academy, and traitors in the fort she is assigned after training. The only magic in this fantasy is the bonding but the tale is kept solidly on the ground. Lots of fun and I look forward to future adventures.

Jennifer K. Lambert sets her fantasy romance in a world where sorcerers are bound by student debt for most of their careers. Oneira, who has power over dreams, found a way to pay off her debt, and retired in a tower. One day, after being bored, she slips through the dream space to the home of the powerful Stearanos, and borrows a book about gardening. He had been forced into sleep when she was there, but quickly realized his home invasion. Unfortunately the kingdom she had protected when she was working is vulnerable, and the Kingdom He works for wants to invade. That brings them together, but it was Never the Roses (hard from Bramble) that drew them. This is a classic romance that may have a sequel. It was absorbing. 

Marc Alan Edelheit starts a fun space opera about Captain Jaxon Steele who’s stealth battleship,Ranger,  is sent on a routine diplomatic mission delivering an envoy to one of the protectorate star systems that the Union had taken in the last war. Suddenly, with the envoy on the planet, the ship is under attack. All Union vessels in the system are being attacked because the protectorate is declaring independence. The Ranger’s crew are Forged in Battle (ebook from Second Sky) as they have to not only survive, but also discover if the old enemy has hid an armada to oppose the Union from retaking the system. Very exciting. 

People are Powerless (hard from Caezik SF & Fantasy) in socialist dictatorships. Harry Turtledove sets his tale in a Southern California under Soviet control.Charlie Simpkins runs a small grocery store and one day doesn’t put up a propaganda poster. That starts a downward spiral for him until he gets help from a rising politician. This is a must give-away for anyone who is for Communism in any form. While depressing, it is impossible to put down. 

Tales of Satan's Diary(ebook) are almost a genre of themselves dating back centuries. In Nicholas Ponticello’s irreverent version, Lucifer is currently working as a Barista in a college town. He was created immortal by a grieving god who hides up in the Garden of Eden. In this version humanity left the Garden long before Adam and Eve and Eve is seduced not by an apple but by a play by Euripides.  The tale takes off in the seventh century when Lucifer falls for a pretty girl and runs afoul of her Father. There’s plenty of room for sequels. I enjoyed it. 

Before Queen Victoria’s reign, a mine is found in England that releases magic. The magic bonds to some people who gain a single magical power. Jessica Scarlett’s Town of Shadows(hard from Oliver Heber Books) tells of a dark time for these magicians because using their talents will end with execution. Eighteen-year-old Dorothy St. James works with her father on magical experiments. One day the infamous Rook kidnaps him, forcing her out of hiding. Most of the Rook’s victims have been discovered insane. Ashley Gardner, an illusionist, knows who the Rook’s opponent is, the Samaritan. There’s more coming in this fun tale. 
Zac Topping continues his tale of super-soldier Ander Rade. This time he is asked to infiltrate a group of super-soldiers working for a billionaire. Unfortunately Ghost Cell(hard from TOR) is headed by his old leader and love Sevrina Fox, and most of the group are completely amoral. Just as much action as the first thriller. This is shaping up to be an addicting series.
Z. W. Taylor continues her tale of Charlotte who survived being bitten by a rogue werewolf and has turned. Now she falls in love with Ethan,  second in The Pack (paper from W by Wattpad Books) that had barely survived a rogue attack years before. Unfortunately illegal blood jewels are showing up, and they are being used to hide rogues. With a witch’s help they come to understand the plot against the wolves, but not before a major wolf council is attacked. I like this series. 

Ben Aaronovitch’s tenth magical police procedural sends Detective Sergeant Peter Grant, his river-goddess wife Beverly, Their two-year old twin daughters, His jazz playing father who has a gig, the wizard Nightingale,  Abigail, Nightingale’s latest apprentice, and several taking foxes to the land of Stone and Sky(hard from DAW). It started with a report of a sheep-killing Panther near Aberdeen, Scotland. Then there’s a dead man with gills, and a missing Geologist from an oil platform. Great addition to a fun series.
Julia Vee and  Ken Bebelle continue their exciting tale of Emiko Soong, Sentinel of the magical side of San Francisco. The dragon clans, human escapees from the world of Dragons who brought magic with them, are fighting again. Unfortunately one of them finds the gate to the Dragon universe and somehow opens it, sending a Dragon to our Earth. Emico has somehow to connect with her Pearl City (hard from Tor) and find allies to fight a deadly foe, while somehow protecting civilians caught in the literal fire. As usual, very exciting. 

Marcus Fell has a new adventure for conmen Phantom and Bishop set in a world where magic provides 20th century conveniences plus. Suspended agent Detective Madison Veyne wants their help in securing a book of favors (promises in blood). The CEO of a pharmacy company has raised the cost of her mother’s medicine out of reach, and his name is in the book. Phantom's Favor (ebook from Sterling & Stone) of course involves a complicated sting involving magical disguises and a clever mcguffin that the owner of the book desires. Lots of fun. 

Hannah Whitten concludes her shaggy god tale about a world in which humans found a way to become gods. Bereft of their bodies, they are manifesting in people like Lore, sometimes taking over the body completely. The only way to stop Apollius,The Nightshade God (hard from Orbit)   from restoring the gods is to recover the three missing pieces of the Fount that had given humans godlike powers. It doesn’t help that  Lore is in prison. Very nice and great ending to a fun series. 

Very few people are born Meta-human. They are faster, stronger, and heal faster than humans, don’t age  and have a single powerful talent. They were the ancient Greek Gods and in today’s world work with criminals. There are several groups, some working with law enforcement. Sienna Nealon’s mother kept her locked in their house, and sometimes to control her, she was the The Girl in the Box (ebook from Ostiagard Press). I bought the first 10  and 11-17 as combined volumes, and luckily it was a complete tale. A Meta named Sovereign, who has multiple talents, has decided to wipe out most of the Meta’s (three thousand at the start) and Sienna is in the middle of the fight to stop him. This series is impossible to put down.Each set has a solid ending so far. 

Hank Davis and   David Afsharirad have edited a collection of classic tales about how All Roads Lead to Rome (trade from Baen). Baen has reprinted Simon R. Green’s fun second Hyde tale, Hyde & Seek in paper. 

There are more reviews at http://www.henrylazarus.com/sf.htm

Henry Lazarus is a retired Dentist and the author of A Cycle of Gods and Unnaturally Female.