July 2026 Reading Wrap-Up: 7 Fantasy and Romantasy Books I Read

July marked a major shift in my 2026 reading plans. Instead of following the monthly TBR I created at the beginning of the year, I decided to join Demi Winters’ Summer Reading Challenge, which calls for reading eight books over eight weeks during July and August.

That meant setting aside some of my originally planned titles and letting the challenge guide my summer reading instead. Honestly, after becoming completely obsessed with Demi Winters’ Ashen Series earlier this year, I did not need much convincing.

I finished seven fantasy and romantasy books in July:

• The Night Prince
• Our Vicious Oaths
• Tortured Souls
• We Who Will Die
• The Ever King
• The Ever Queen
• The Mist Thief

These books brought my 2026 total to 40 books, which means I officially reached the upper end of my original goal to read 30 to 40 books this year, and I did it by the end of July.

My July 2026 Reading Stats

Books read in July: 7
Books read so far in 2026: 40
Original 2026 reading goal: 30 to 40 books
Summer challenge: 8 books in 8 weeks
Main July reading mood: dangerous kingdoms, dark romance, ruthless bargains, and series binges

After reading 33 books during the first half of the year, July’s seven books brought me to 40. I have now reached my full original goal with five months still remaining.

At this point, anything I read during the rest of 2026 is officially part of my stretch goal.

Why I Changed My Planned July TBR

When I created my original 2026 reading plan, I assigned specific books to each month. That structure helped me get back into a consistent reading habit, but I never wanted the plan to become so rigid that it stopped me from participating in something fun.

When Demi Winters announced her Summer Reading Challenge, I decided to temporarily divert from my planned list and join in.

The challenge includes eight books over eight weeks in July and August, so some of the titles in my original monthly plan had to move. I am treating that as part of the reading experience rather than falling behind. A TBR should help me choose what to read, not make me feel guilty for changing my mind.

I also discovered an issue with my original plan involving the Courts of Aetheria series. I had listed two later books from the series on my template without realizing I had not yet read the first book. Rather than jump into the series out of order, I decided to pause those titles until I could begin properly.

That is exactly why monthly reading plans need flexibility.

The Seven Books I Read in July 2026

1. The Night Prince by Lauren Palphreyman

I began July with The Night Prince, continuing the world I entered through The Wolf King in June.

Reading the two books across consecutive months helped the story feel like one continuous summer reading experience. I always enjoy returning to a fantasy world while the previous installment is still fresh in my mind, especially when I am already invested in the characters and relationships.

It also gave July a strong opening filled with the darker, more intense fantasy-romance atmosphere I had been gravitating toward throughout the year.

Consider this series if you enjoy:

• Fantasy romance
• Dangerous royal characters
• Continuing stories
• Dark, atmospheric worlds
• High emotional tension
• Books that encourage immediate sequel reading

2. Our Vicious Oaths by N.E. Davenport

Next, I read Our Vicious Oaths by N.E. Davenport.

The title alone fits the overall personality of my July reading: ruthless choices, complicated loyalties, power struggles, and promises that probably come with consequences.

This book added another dramatic fantasy world to a month already filled with dangerous rulers and emotionally intense relationships. July clearly was not interested in calm, low-stakes reading.

Add this book to your TBR if you enjoy:

• Dark fantasy
• Dangerous bargains
• High-stakes relationships
• Political conflict
• Dramatic romantic tension
• Fantasy stories with sharp edges

3. Tortured Souls by Melissa K. Roehrich

Tortured Souls brought another dark and emotionally intense story into my July reading stack.

This was also the book that made me realize I needed to reconsider the order of the Courts of Aetheria series on my original reading plan. I had included later books from the series on my yearly template, but I had not started with the first installment.

Rather than continue out of sequence, I decided to step back and make sure I read the series properly. This may push some planned books into a later month, but I would rather experience the world and character arcs in the intended order.

This may appeal to readers who enjoy:

• Dark romantasy
• Interconnected fantasy series
• Emotionally intense characters
• Dangerous relationships
• Complex magical worlds
• Series that should be read in order

4. We Who Will Die by Stacia Stark

I also read We Who Will Die by Stacia Stark.

After finishing Stacia Stark’s Kingdom of Lies series earlier this year, I was interested in beginning another story from her. One of the unexpected patterns in my 2026 reading has been returning to authors whose books have already worked well for me.

This title added gods, danger, and another intense fantasy setting to my summer stack. It also fit naturally alongside the darker and more dramatic books I was already reading for the challenge.

Read this if you enjoy:

• Fantasy romance
• Gods and mortals
• Dangerous power struggles
• High-stakes conflict
• Dramatic worldbuilding
• Starting a new series from a familiar author

5. The Ever King by L.J. Andrews

Then I entered L.J. Andrews’ Ever Seas series with The Ever King.

This was the beginning of another July series binge. Once again, I proved that I am not especially skilled at casually sampling a fantasy world and moving on. When a series catches my attention and the next book is already available, I tend to continue immediately.

The Ever King introduced a new fantasy world and became the starting point for the final three books of my July reading month.

Consider this book if you enjoy:

• Fantasy romance
• Powerful rulers
• Enemies and dangerous alliances
• Expansive fantasy worlds
• Connected series
• Books that begin an immediate binge

6. The Ever Queen by L.J. Andrews

Naturally, I followed The Ever King with The Ever Queen.

Reading these books back to back allowed me to remain fully immersed in the world rather than stopping between installments. By this point, July had become a month of continuing stories, correcting series orders, and letting one book lead directly to the next.

That flexibility is one of the reasons the Summer Reading Challenge has been so much fun. Instead of forcing myself back to the original calendar, I could follow the books and series that were keeping me interested.

Continue with The Ever Queen if you enjoy:

• Series read in quick succession
• Continuing romantic and political tension
• Dangerous fantasy kingdoms
• Expanding character arcs
• Ongoing conflicts
• Immersive romantasy worlds

7. The Mist Thief by L.J. Andrews

I finished July with The Mist Thief, my third L.J. Andrews book of the month.

This gave the final part of July a very clear identity. After moving between several different dark fantasy worlds, I settled into one connected series and stayed there for three books.

Reading The Ever King, The Ever Queen, and The Mist Thief in the same month also reinforced something I have learned about my reading habits this year: I am happiest when my plan leaves room for spontaneous series binges.

Add this series to your list if you enjoy:

• Interconnected fantasy romances
• Expanding fictional worlds
• Different character stories within one setting
• Dangerous rulers and thieves
• Romantic tension
• Series that reward binge-reading

July’s Reading Theme: Plans Changed, and That Was a Good Thing

July was the clearest example so far of why a reading plan should be treated as a guide rather than a contract.

I changed my planned books to participate in a summer challenge. I realized I needed to correct the order of another series. I continued a book from June, started several new worlds, and ended the month by reading three books from the same connected series.

None of that matched the exact list I created at the beginning of the year, but it still moved me toward my larger goal: reading consistently and enjoying the experience.

My July reading included:

• One continuation from June
• Several new fantasy and romantasy worlds
• A new Stacia Stark series
• Three books from L.J. Andrews’ Ever Seas world
• One important correction to my planned Courts of Aetheria reading order
• The beginning of Demi Winters’ eight-week summer challenge

A successful reading plan should make space for discoveries like these.

My 2026 Reading Challenge Progress

I officially reached the upper end of my original goal to read 30 to 40 books in 2026.

Since I reached 40 books by the end of July, I am setting a new stretch goal for the rest of the year. Based on my current pace, 50 books feels realistic without turning reading into a chore.

Complete July 2026 Reading List

1. The Night Prince by Lauren Palphreyman
2. Our Vicious Oaths by N.E. Davenport
3. Tortured Souls by Melissa K. Roehrich
4. We Who Will Die by Stacia Stark
5. The Ever King by L.J. Andrews
6. The Ever Queen by L.J. Andrews
7. The Mist Thief by L.J. Andrews

Do You Follow Your TBR or Change It as You Go?

Do you stick closely to your planned monthly reading list, or do you let challenges, new releases, and unexpected series obsessions change your schedule?

I am still keeping my original 2026 plan, but July reminded me that following an unexpected reading path can be much more fun than checking every book off in the order I originally selected.