Words have mystical power in Jay Posey’s space opera EVERY SKY A GRAVE (out now, Harper Voyager). Set in a future where mankind has mastered the Deep Language of the universe, it centres on an adept sent to a world that’s become corrupted. The world economy is in freefall in Marc Elsberg’s near-future thrillerGREED (Black Swan, 23 July). When an economist dies in a car crash before he can present his solution, a witness vows to find out why. Described as “The Handmaid’s Tale meets The Village”, Alexis Henderson’sTHE YEAR OF THE WITCHING (Bantam Press, 23 July) centres on a woman in a puritanical society who finds her dead mother’s diary and starts to question the teachings of the Prophet. Professional wizard Harry Dresden is back inPEACE TALKS (16 July, Orbit), book 16 of Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files series. When the world’s supernatural powers meet for a pow-wow, Harry joins the security team to ensure the talks remain civil. Fat chance. Megan E O’Keefe’s Protectorate Series returns withCHAOS VECTOR (30 July, Orbit). We liked predecessor Velocity Weapon, especially badass protagonist Sanda. In book two she must discover the secret of coordinates hidden in her skull - before someone kills her for it. Finally, Raymond E Feist’s Firemane Saga - centred on the last remaining member of a ruling family with dangerous magical powers - has a booktwo,QUEEN OF STORMS (out now, Harper Voyager). Our reviewer didn’t love book one, skewering its “average prose, outdated plot and poor treatment of female characters”.