Judging books by their covers, 24

Just want to share some books whose covers I love! Once every 4 weeks, I'll post 4 books and super short synopses of books whose covers catch my eye.

1. Reliquary by Hannah Whitten (Run For It, 2026): A young woman is lured to her late fiancé's remote island estate—only to uncover eerie family secrets, a haunting past, and a monstrous hunger stirring beneath the sea in this deliciously atmospheric horror debut.
2. Dreamland: A Novel by Olivie Blake (Tor Books, 2026): A tantalizing story of power, seduction, and the omens you’ll ignore when everything you’ve dreamed of feels just within reach.
3. The Birthing Tree: A Novel by Amanda Peters (Catapult, 2026): An unforgettable novel about a woman who must confront her family's buried truths and memories of passionate young love when her grandmother's death leaves her as the only guide to her community's future.
4. Taipei Story: A Novel by R. F. Kuang (William Morrow, 2026): This novel asks: What if the diaspora fantasy of homecoming never comes true? What if learning a language can’t bring you any closer to the people you’re trying to reach? What if you search for your family’s history, but your family doesn’t want to share? What if you wait too long to ask the right questions? As the main character Lily struggles for answers, her summer becomes a poignant search for understanding—of herself, her family, and the meaning of home.