Holiday Reads: What Fantastic Books to Dive Into in Summer 2025?

It’s that time again – the decision paralysis of choosing which books to take from the ever-growing pile on my to-read list.

Sure, if you’re keeping up with the times and don’t lug physical books around, but have them all neatly loaded in your e-reader, this problem is solved. However, if you’re an old-school soul like me and a book is an artifact you passionately hold in your hands, flip through, admire the illustrations, and even take a sniff of, then you have to decide which ones to pack in your suitcase or luggage for your summer adventure.

Do you feel the same? You keep reading, but the pile never seems to shrink (and how could it, when you successfully add to it during every random, unplanned trip past a bookstore or an innocent moment of scrolling through an e-shop like imago)? The tough life of a bookworm, right? Luckily, summer is the perfect time to whittle down that unread stack.

If you’re one of those rare readers who manages to clear books at the same pace you add them to your library, I tip my hat to you—maybe I’ll reach that level one day. Regardless of what kind of reader you are, or if you’re just looking for inspiration, you’re in the right place. Let’s take a look at what you should pack for your vacation this year as a true nerd.

Endless Beach Chilling with Malazan

If you’re in the mood to dive into the deep, dark depths of a story that hooks you and won’t let go, and by some miracle you’ve missed Malazan so far, now is your unique chance to jump into this epic series. The publisher Planeta 9 is currently working on a beautiful new edition. The third volume is out now – Memories of Ice by Steven Erikson.

We find ourselves on the continent of Genabakis, facing the new Pannion Domin empire, which consumes everyone who refuses to worship their prophet. Warlord Dujek Onearm is trying to gain allies, and other threats are on the horizon… The Crippled God is said to be plotting his revenge. So, if you’re planning to lounge on the beach with a book from morning till night, grab the first three volumes and you’re set for an intense literary experience.

Summer Sci-Fi Ride with Legie

Maybe you’re in the mood for a more relaxed book (one that isn’t a thousand pages long and doesn’t weigh a kilo) and want more of a sci-fi ride. In that case, the Czech series Legie is the right choice.

The planned final twelfth book is set to release at the end of September, so why not start reading now so you can catch up by then? Authors Kristýna Sněgoňová and František Kotleta have mixed a great cocktail of dark space opera, spiced with plenty of action and fun, and it’s highly addictive (I know people who finished all 11 books in a month, so it’s perfect for a vacation).

The premise is optimistic—humanity is conquered by aliens who turn them into slaves—but they have to be useful if they want to justify their right to live. But hope always dies last, right? And when the planet can’t be saved, you can always at least take revenge on those aliens… And who knows, maybe even something more.

Witcher Refresher – Preparing for The Crossroads of Ravens

And since we have a new book from the world of Geralt of Rivia coming this autumn, why not have a little Witcher refresher over the summer?

Let’s be honest—there are books you love to return to as a reader, and I’m the same. Last year, after many years, I gave The Lord of the Rings another go, and I’m still toying with the idea of re-reading Harry Potter, but right now, I’m much more tempted to return to the pages of the Witcher saga.

Plus, the first short story collections might be just the thing for a more active vacation where you won’t have as much time to read. Reading a delicious short story here and there about the adventures of the white-haired Witcher Geralt, who makes a living hunting monsters and whose fate is significantly shaped by the Law of Surprise or the sorceress Yennefer—what more could you ask for?

Feel-Good Fantasy for Total Relaxation

If you really just want to switch off on vacation and dive into a purely feel-good book, I recommend Legends & Lattes. It’s the story of Viv, a retired orc who decides to hang up her mercenary sword. She moves to a small town to start a new life in peace and open the first coffee shop. That’s what it’s about—Viv finds new friends and new problems, and this time, she can’t solve them just with a sword. The second volume, Bookshops & Bonedust, is also out, which we’ve already reviewed on our blog. It’s an equally pleasant vacation read—only here we meet Viv as a young warrior, injured during her first mercenary job, and thanks to that, she discovers a wonderful hobby to pass the time during recovery: reading.

I’d put my last tip into the same cosy fantasy category—The Bookshop and the Barbarian (Krámek s kouzly)—I got this book for Christmas and it warmed my soul just like the stories of Viv the orc (I guess as a bookworm, lover of sweets, and occasional jam maker, I’m the target audience). I think it’s the perfect vacation read—the main character, Kiela, is a librarian who flees the capital before a revolution and returns to her home island.

The magical atmosphere of the island, its inhabitants, and the sea create a rich backdrop for the introverted librarian who wants to build a new life there with her friend—an intelligent plant named Kaz, with whom she saved a pile of books from a burning library. With the help of these magical (though forbidden) books, she decides her new livelihood will be making jam, which actually turns out to be a pretty good business plan. Unfortunately, even here, certain hitches appear to spoil the idyll, and Kiela must defend her sanctuary on the island…

Of course, too many books are published for us to cover everything you need to read, so I’m contributing at least a few modest tips. And what will you be reading on vacation?

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author Jana Mrkvicová