2025 looks like an exciting year forfantasyreaders, asmany enticing new books are joining the genre over the next 12 months. On the heels of2024’s impressive fantasy releases, it’s a pleasant surprise that the category is continuing its upward trajectory. While more books are likely to be announced as the year continues, there are already a lot of stories to look forward to in 2025.
Several great fantasy series are continuing or ending this year, and their newest installments are among the genre’s most-anticipated new releases.Onyx Stormis one book readers are waiting for with bated breath, but the next book in Tracy Deonn’sLegendborn Cycleand the follow-up to Robert Jackson Bennett’sThe Tainted Cupare also high priorities for fantasy lovers. There are some exciting standalones hitting shelves as well, offering variety for those compiling their to-be-read piles for 2025.
20Immortal By Sue Lynn Tan
Release Date: Jun 09, 2025
Daughter of the Moon Goddessauthor Sue Lynn Tan is publishingImmortalin January 2025, and her new standalone romantasy book seems destined to succeed.Immortalwill task its heroine, Liyen, with striking an alliance in the Immortal Realm in the hopes of saving the people of her kingdom, Tianxia. The God of War promises to complicate the mortal queen’s goal, especially as their feelings for each other become increasingly complicated. Promising a tense enemies-to-lovers romance and plenty of political intrigue,Immortalsounds like a great way to kick off the year.
19Adrift In Currents Clean And Clear By Seanan McGuire
Seanan McGuire’sWayward Childrenseries continues in 2025, withAdrift in Currents Clean and Clearcoming out on January 7. The 10th installment in the series will follow Nadya, a character introduced inBeneath the Sugar Sky.Readers will follow Nadya as her frustration with her adoptive family leads her through a doorway to Belyrreka, where she becomes a Drowned Girl. Nadya’s journey is one that readers are looking forward to, and its focus on finding and protecting one’s place and people promises another emotional addition to McGuire’s series.
18Breath Of The Dragon By Shannon Lee & Fonda Lee
Jade Cityauthor Fonda Lee is teaming up with Shannon Lee to bring readersBreath of the Dragonin January 2025. A young adult fantasy book drawing inspiration from Bruce Lee,Breath of the Dragonwill kick off theBreathmarkedduology. The book sees 16-year-old Jun defying his father’s wishes and joining the Guardian’s Tournament, a competition that determines who will protect the magical Scroll of Earth. What starts as a high-stakes mission to help his family soon places Jun at the center of something much bigger, promising to take him (and readers) on an action-packed and gripping ride.
17Four Ruined Realms By Mai Corland
The follow-up to 2024’sFive Broken Blades,Four Ruined Realmswill bring readers back to Mai Corland’s fantasy worldon the heels of book one’s jaw-dropping cliffhanger. The sequel will task the five blades with their real mission: to steal a ring from the God King Joon’s sister. However, the group finds it difficult to trust one another afterFive Broken Blades,and it sounds like they’ll consider betraying the king as well.Four Ruined Realmspromises another heist-like adventure full of deception, capturing everything that made book one a success and rendering it a must-read.
16Lightfall By Ed Crocker
Release Date: August 15, 2025
Ed Crocker’s debut novel,Lightfall, promises an epic adventure blending supernatural creatures, like vampires and werewolves, with class conversations and political intrigue. The first book inThe Everlands Trilogy,Lightfallfollows a vampire maid named Sam, who uses a murder investigation as a means to climb the social hierarchy of her city. This gets her involved with a sorcerer and a werewolf assassin, among other eccentric beings. It also reveals a deeper plot among the ruling class of vampires. With a premise like this,Lightfallsounds like a rollicking good time that combines so many great elements of the genre.
15Water Moon By Samantha Sotto Yambao
One of the more unique fantasy books hitting shelves in 2025,Samantha Sotto Yambao’sWater Moonpromises to be a charming and thoughtful addition to the genre. The novel centers on a pawnshop in Tokyo that masquerades as a ramen restaurant, only visible to those with deep regrets. They’re able to pawn their worst decisions off there, but things are thrown into chaos when one of its acquisitions disappears alongside its former owner. This sends Hana, the current owner, on a quest to track down both. This bonkers story has a lot of potential to be both fun and poignant.
14Onyx Storm By Rebecca Yarros
Release Date: June 22, 2025
ThenextFourth Wingsequel,Onyx Stormis easily one of the most-anticipated fantasy releases of 2025. On the heels ofIron Flame’s twist ending, readers are eager to learn what becomes of Violet Sorrengail and Xaden Riorson.Onyx Storm’s blurb promises to ramp up the conflict between Navarre and the venin, so much so that Basgiath’s dragonriders no longer have time for school. With the nextEmpyrean Seriesbook teasing more action and betrayal,Onyx Stormseems likely to break readers' hearts when it debuts on January 21 — and leave them desperate for the next installment.
13Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales
Release Date: June 02, 2025
Heather Fawcett’sEmily Wildeseries continues in 2025, withEmily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Talesslated for a February 11 release. The third book vows to take Emily, Wendell, and those following them on their most daunting journey yet. In this installment, Emily continues her studies by claiming the throne of Faerie alongside Wendell. As the two adjust to their roles, they find themselves dealing with a curse, courtesy of Wendell’s stepmother. While the latestEmily Wildebook will undoubtedly be cozy and charming like the last two, its heightened stakes offer a compelling new reason to pick it up.
12Oathbound By Tracy Deonn
Release Date: August 15, 2025
Tracy Deonn’sLegendborn Cycleis continuing in 2025, andOathboundcould be one of the biggest and best new releases of the year. This sequel picks up with Bree disconnected from the Legendborn Order and forced to cooperate with the Shadow King instead. The stakes are higher than ever asOathboundopens, and that’s before dead Merlins start cropping up. After everything set up inLegendbornandBloodmarked,Oathboundpromises an epic and satisfying addition to Bree’s story. It sounds like it could get dark, but that’s just more incentive to dive in.
11The Ragpicker King By Cassandra Clare
Cassandra Clare’sSword Catchermarked a strong jump into the adult fantasy category, and the book’s sequel is coming out in March 2025.The Ragpicker Kingpromises to present Lin and Kel with even more difficult obstacles and choices than its predecessor. Kel’s duty to protect Prince Conor is challenged as he investigates a massacre, while Lin must grapple with the consequences of claiming she’s the Goddess Reborn. Both characters can’t afford to fail, raising the personal stakes for Clare’s beloved heroes while turning up the larger tensions in what promises to be a satisfying degree.
