FORMAT/INFO: The Summer War will be published on September 16th, 2025 by Del Rey. It is available in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook formats.

OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: Celia didn't mean to curse her brother. Unfortunately, her magic awoke the day she discovered he was leaving her behind, causing grief-filled words to doom him to a life without love. As the years go by, Celia searches for a way to undo the curse. But in a land caught in an unending cycle of war, can love ever find a way?

The Summer War is a pleasant fairy tale about the power stories have to change the real world narrative. Although Celia may be the first sorceress in generations, undoubtedly the more important characters in this world are the traveling minstrels known as song-spinners. Time and time again, we see them wield stories to share information and to shape public opinion. They have the power to spread truths and propaganda in equal measure, and only a fool overlooks their importance.

I also loved the portrayal of the Summer Lands, inhabited by the fae-like summerlings. Within the borders of the Summerlands, stories have a near-magical power, with the expectation that lives and conflicts will unfold according to familiar patterns and beats of archetypal narratives. Once again, power comes from knowing how to move with and within those stories, and how to use them to achieve your own aim.

But while The Summer War is charming and I certainly enjoyed it, I wouldn't say it is overly memorable. It's a definite recommend for someone looking for a short read with fairytale-like qualities. You can easily read it within a day and have a charming time. But I don't know that it or its characters will stick with me past the length of a summer.