As 2026 draws near, I’ve started looking into the books coming out next year that I would love to read. In this post, I’m sharing a few books releasing in 2026 that I’m planning to read. The list is ordered by release date, not by my level of excitement. I’ll include the expected month of release, but please keep in mind that all dates are still weeks or months away, so minor changes are to be expected.

Let’s get to it!

January

The Elsewhere Express by Samantha Sotto Yambao
The author received a lot of love for her 2025 release, Water Moon. I wasn’t terribly interested in that one, as the premise didn’t really speak to me, but The Elsewhere Express sounds genuinely intriguing. It’s described as a cozy fantasy set on the fictional Elsewhere Express, and even the details included in the synopsis have already sparked my curiosity. It seems there will be great worldbuilding and beautiful descriptions, so I am looking forward to checking this one out.

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March

The Somewhat Wicked Witch of Brigandale by C. M. Waggoner
The synopsis describes this as a cozy fantasy in which “a somewhat wicked witch,” Gretsella, must stop her son from ascending the throne and I am fully on board with that premise. I am a bit concerned about how the author will balance the cozy elements with the hinted-at political plot, but I’m happy to give it a try and find out.

Wolf Worm by T. Kingfisher
This book drops us into T. Kingfisher’s version of North Carolina in 1899 and follows Sonia Wilson, a scientific illustrator. Sonia is down on her luck when she receives an offer to illustrate a vast insect collection for the reclusive Dr. Halder and, of course, nothing is quite as it seems. This promises to be a classic Kingfisher story. I’ll admit I might have been more excited about this a year ago, as I’ve felt somewhat lukewarm about her most recent works, but the synopsis alone has me hopeful.

This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews
This book is marketed as a portal fantasy, which, honestly, is enough to get my interest piqued. It feels like it’s been ages since we got one of those. In this book, we follow Maggie, who wakes up inside the world of an unfinished book series she knows well. She can’t be killed, but everyone else can. Instead of trying to return home, she sets out to save the characters and the world itself. This sounds right up my alley, and since it’s the first installment in a new series, I’m hopeful it will be a strong start.

Last Contract of Isako by Fonda Lee
Described as a standalone space opera with samurais, this already sounds like a compelling release.  I’m aware this leans more toward science fiction than fantasy but the two often sit side by side on our shelves anyway. We follow Isako, a legendary swordswoman, as she takes on her final contract. The story promises to “change humanity’s existence in the stars forever,” which is a bold claim for a standalone, but I’m intrigued enough to come along for the ride.

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June

The Unicorn Hunters by Katherine Arden
Historical fiction mixed with fantasy? Sign me up. If you add powerful real-life female figures reimagined for the story, I’m already sold. This book follows Anne of Brittany as she fights to keep her duchy independent from France, by hunting unicorns. I’m very excited to see how this story unfolds.

Six Savage Thrones by Holly Race
This sequel to Six Wild Crowns continues a fantasy series inspired by the six wives of Henry VIII. The first book focused on Queen Boleyn and Queen Seymour, inspired by Anne Boleyn and Jane Seymour. This installment appears to shift the focus toward Queen Howard and Queen Cleves. I can’t say much more without spoilers, but I loved the first book and am very much looking forward to this one.

A Trade of Blood by Robert Jackson Bennett
This is the third book in The Shadow of the Leviathan series by Robert Jackson Bennett. I absolutely loved A Drop of Corruption, the second installment, and I can’t wait to read this one. We’ll once again follow Ana and Din as they investigate a murder, but this time with the added pressure of preventing a war between two of the Empire’s most powerful families. This might be my most anticipated release of the year.

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July

Sea of Charms by Sarah Beth Durst
Sea of Charms is the third book in Sarah Beth Durst’s cozy fantasy series Spellshop. This time, we’ll follow Marin, a supply runner we met in a previous installment. I loved The Spellshop but barely made it through The Enchanted Greenhouse, so I honestly don’t know what to expect here. I’m fully prepared to either DNF this one or discover a new favourite, and that in itself carries some excitement for me. I’ll be happy to pick this one up while (hopefully) vacationing and not worrying about it too much.

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Bonus: A new series by Naomi Novik?

Some time ago, it was announced that Naomi Novik is working on a new series. There’s no confirmed release date yet, reportedly because she wants to finish the entire series before publication. I think that’s a fantastic approach, and I’m happy to wait as long as it takes. The original publication date was set for September 2026, but that may change. I’m including it here because I know I’ll be picking it up the moment it’s released.

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These are some of the fantasy book releases I’m most interested in keeping an eye on in 2026. While release dates may shift and expectations can always change, this list reflects the upcoming fantasy books that have caught my attention so far. If you’re also looking ahead to new fantasy releases in 2026, I hope this gives you a few titles to watch. 

Feel free to share which upcoming books you’re most curious about – I’m always interested to see what others are anticipating.

A lot of us will be setting goals for 2026, and for many of us, “read more” will be on that list. That was the goal I set for myself at the start of 2025. Now, I am by no means someone who reads 100 books a year, but I managed to read 24 books during 2025, which is a huge improvement over the 7 books I read the year before. And while that does not make me an expert, I thought I’d share a thing or two I learned during the previous year, just in case these tips might help you too.

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Read the books you like

This is advice I heard from a colleague, and she was so right. I know this seems like such an obvious thing, but I see so many of us get stuck trying to read the books we should be reading – whatever that means to each of us individually – that we don’t leave ourselves the option to just go for what excites us.

Whether those are non-fiction books, new releases from the year, or a genre you used to like but are now falling out of love with, we set expectations for ourselves that can easily make reading slumps last longer and make the path out of them more difficult. Take a moment to assess what has stopped working. Are you trying to read books that you somehow feel expected to read? If so, it might be a great time to start asking yourself what you’d like more. It might take a few tries, but it will be worth it in the end.

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Have you tried audiobooks?

Audiobooks have become very popular for a reason. You might not have the time to sit down and read every day, but you might have a commute to work, a lunch or dinner to prepare, chores to do, or other cleaning tasks. Why not try an audiobook?

You won’t miss out on the “real” reading experience, whatever that means, and there are so many amazing narrators out there. I particularly enjoyed Andrew Fallaize’s work on The Shadow of the Leviathan series by Robert Jackson Bennett, and I’ve heard that The River Has Roots has amazing narration. If you haven’t yet, give audiobooks a try.

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Have you tried reading on your phone?

Nowadays, a lot of libraries offer apps with ebooks, so you can check books out in digital format. There are also various apps that allow you to read ebooks you buy from retailers. It might feel like you need a Kindle, Kobo, or similar device, and while they do make it easier to access books, you don’t have to start there. You don’t have to end up there either, but that is a different subject.

If an e-reader isn’t within your budget right now, there is nothing wrong with starting by reading on your phone. It might even help you stop doomscrolling, which was one of the best benefits for me.

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Remove distractions

If you are not reading on an electronic device, remove it every time you want to read. At the very least, put it just out of reach so that once you are comfortable with your book, you’ll be discouraged from picking it up.

I can’t tell you how many times I settled in with a book, opened my phone just to check one thing, and ended up wasting my entire reading time on social media. To be clear, there is nothing wrong with connecting with friends, online communities, or relaxing with social media, but there is a fine line between that and doomscrolling. I think you know which one I’m referring to when I say: remove the distraction.

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Read at least one hyped book

Contrary to my advice above, I would encourage you to look at what has a lot of buzz around it and sounds like something you would enjoy, and give it a try. You might be surprised by how much being part of the conversation motivates you to read.

And it doesn’t have to be as difficult as finding a book club that meets at the right time with the right people and the right books. It can be as simple as joining an online community. There are blogs – such as this one! – where people would be happy to engage in book discussions. Additionally, for all its faults, Goodreads remains a good place to chat about books. Instagram and TikTok, while not without their issues, can also be great places to feel the buzz.

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Don’t get too caught up in what others think

So you like romantasy, even though there is more stigma than encouragement around it? Go for it anyway! Honestly, this is advice I need to listen to myself.

For example, Fourth Wing has been on my to-read list ever since it came out. However, I haven’t seen a single favourable review of it from the booktubers I follow, and that has made me hesitate for ages to actually pick it up. It’s a classic example of why sometimes the community works in your favour, and sometimes it doesn’t.

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Accept that all of it is okay

You’ve just read a list of advice where one point encourages you to read hyped books, while another suggests being careful with other people’s opinions. I’ve encouraged you to read more on your phone, and I’ve also encouraged you to remove your phone as a distraction.

The truth is that every piece of advice will work at one time and completely fail you at another. Reading means different things to different people. I read mostly for fun. I’m happy to learn something new, but it’s never my primary motivation. You might read primarily for education.

What works best for me might work horribly for you, and the biggest advice I can give is to accept that all of it is okay. Accept your own reading needs and habits, and let go of comparing yourself to others. It might work wonders for you 🙂

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If you’re setting reading goals for 2026 and wondering how to read more books, I hope these reading tips help you build a habit that actually works for you. Whether you prefer audiobooks, ebooks, or physical books, the best way to read more is to find what fits your lifestyle and interests. If you have any tips for reading more or book recommendations for 2026, feel free to share them in the comments.

So, 2025, huh? What a year! Despite everything happening, I was lucky enough to have a really good year. I hope most of you have had that chance as well, or that you can at least find enough positives in the past 12 months to go into 2026 with a cautiously optimistic outlook.

Since we are here to talk about books, for me, 2025 was the year when I got back into reading. I read two books per month, on average. For some, this is a very low count, but for me – who did not manage to read even one book per month in the past two years – this was a success and the fulfillment of a goal that I was not certain I’d be able to complete this year.

I focused a lot on new releases this year, mainly because they motivated me to keep going. I can’t say that I think this was a year of hugely successful fantasy books from my perspective, but I also think I managed to read some really good ones. I’ve prepared a list of five favourites and my reasons for why I loved these books more than the rest I read, starting from fifth place and working up to the best.

Let’s get to it!

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5. Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V. E. Schwab

While not one of my favourites of all time, Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil was certainly one of the most memorable reads of this year. I enjoyed it, and the themes and characters stayed with me for quite a while after finishing it. While the Goodreads Choice Awards do have their issues, I was pleasantly surprised to see this book win in the fantasy category. If you have not picked this book up, it is worth it. You can also check out my full review on the blog, just beware of spoilers. 

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4. Six Wild Crowns by Holly Race

This book was a huge surprise for me and a release that did not get much love, but I can love it for all of us. Just kidding, but the book really did strike a great balance between historical inspiration and crafting a new fantasy world. I am excited for the next part, which should come out in 2026.

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3. A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna

Cozy and enjoyable, I found this book better than its much more famous predecessor. It explores the topics of grief, loss, and found family in a way that is heartfelt and wholesome. I can see that the book got a lot of love, but it should have gotten even more.

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2. To Clutch a Razor by Veronica Roth

One of the most surprising finds for me this year has been the Curse Bearer series by Veronica Roth. I loved the first part, and I loved the second part. The worldbuilding is cool, the characters are great, and the story is so short but so packed. It reminded me of just how much I love urban fantasy, and I do not get the impression that we see a lot of it being published these days. This is a major recommendation for everyone, especially if you are short on time, as this and the first installment are both novellas.

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1. A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett

I do not fancy myself special or alone in loving this book. I had my struggles with The Tainted Cup, but A Drop of Corruption totally did it for me. If you can only read one book released in 2025, pick this one up. It features amazing worldbuilding, unique and interesting characters, and a plot that manages to be both complicated and easy to follow in the way the author relays it.

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Those are my top fantasy book picks of 2025. Getting back into reading this year was a personal goal, and these new fantasy releases made the journey especially rewarding. If you’re looking for the best fantasy books of 2025 or searching for your next read, I hope this list gave you a few ideas. 

I’d love to know what your standout reads were this year, whether they’re on this list or not, so feel free to share your recommendations in the comments. 

Here’s to more great stories, cozy reading time, and hopefully an even better reading year ahead!

November is speeding by, and with it, the last wave of this year’s new releases.
I’ve managed to read most of the books I was excited about in 2025, but of course there are always a few titles that slip through the crack or that publish late in the year and instantly jump onto the TBR.

So, before we officially say goodbye to 2025, these are the six books I still hope to read before the end of December. 

To Clutch a Razor by Veronica Roth
This is the one I’m most excited about. I loved When Among Crows, and I’m hoping this novella continues in the same tone and quality. High expectations, and very ready to be swept away again.

The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson
The buzz around this book has been impossible to ignore. At this point, I simply need to know whether it’s as good as everyone says, or if it’s another case of hype doing the heavy lifting.

Katabasis by R.F.Kuang
I haven’t actually read much of R.F. Kuang’s work, and most of what I’ve heard about this one has been mixed. That only makes me more curious, honestly. I’m going in with an open mind.

Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins
It has been years since I’ve felt any desire to return to the world of The Hunger Games, but the sheer amount of conversation around this book is wild. The FOMO would absolutely destroy me if I didn’t at least try reading it. 

The Strength of the Few by James Islington
I recently finished The Will of the Many, and I didn’t love it as much as most people seemed to but curiosity (and the inevitable buzz) means I’ll be picking up the sequel. I want to be part of the conversation this time, if at least to say I still don’t get the hype.

Brigands & Breadknives by Travis Baldree
Legends & Lattes was one of my favourite cozy reads ever, but the prequel Bookshops & Bonedust ended up being a DNF for me. Funny enough, this only makes me more interested in Brigands & Breadknives, so I’m giving this universe another go.

As you can probably tell, part of this list is simply my desire not to be out of the loop by the end of the year but I am genuinely hoping to enjoy all or most of these. If I manage to squeeze in a few more before 2026, even better.