2025 has been a great year forfantasybooks, with many heavily anticipated releases finally hitting shelves — fromJoe Abercrombie’sThe DevilstoV.E. Schwab’sBury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil. Some of thebest fantasy books of 2025are already out, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t more titles to look forward to during the back-half of the year.
In fact, several well-known fantasy authors are releasing new stories over the next few months, which will keep the category’s upward trajectory going into 2026. There are a number of sequels and spinoffs to beloved titles heading our way this fall. There are also a handful of exciting standalones, from established debut authors alike.
12Katabasis By R.F. Kuang
Release Date: August 12, 2025
A new R.F. Kuang book is always cause for celebration, andKatabasis' incredible premiseonly places it higher on our most-anticipated releases still coming out in 2025. Slated for August 26,Katabasiswill follow two academic rivals on a descent into Hell, where they’ll try to locate and save their professor.
That concept is enough to sell us on the novel, but the hype surroundingKatabasisis only growing ahead of its release. Perhaps that’s no surprise;The Poppy Wartrilogy andBabelare a testament to what Kuang is capable of. However,Katabasisboasts many promising earlyGoodreadsreviews, making it a can’t-miss fantasy book. We’ll be seated for it this August.
11Wild Reverence By Rebecca Ross
Release Date: July 03, 2025
BookTok darlingDivine Rivalsis getting a spinoff in September, and it’s easily one of the most exciting fantasy books debuting this fall. Unlike its predecessor,Wild Reverenceis an adult fantasy novel, which will serve as a standalone prequelto Ross' YA duology. It promises to expand the world in exciting ways, particularly when it comes toDivine Rivals’gods.
Wild Reverencewill unravel the story of Matilda, a young goddess living in a ruthless world, and Vincent, a boy who connects with her in a dream. Their bond soon transcends the realm of dreams, but this complicates both of their circumstances. Another narrative full of brutal deities and forbidden romance, Ross' latest is sure to be another hit. Its early 4.60Goodreadsrating is promising.
10The Maiden And Her Monster By Maddie Martinez
Release Date: July 03, 2025
The Maiden and Her Monsteris Maddie Martinez’s debut, and the fantasy book is one of the genre’s most intriguing additions coming later this year. A sapphic fairy tale steeped in Jewish folklore,The Maiden and Her Monsteris being pitched for fans of authors like Naomi Novik and Ava Reid — and if you’re a fantasy lover, you know that’s high praise.
The Maiden and Her Monsterfollows Malka, whose mother is blamed for the murder of a clergy girl in their village. Knowing there are whispers of a monster in the woods, Malka strikes a deal to locate it and save her mother’s life. However, she gets more than she bargained for when she finds the monster. This atmospheric fantasy sounds mysterious and gripping, making it a must-read.
9Among The Burning Flowers By Samantha Shannon
Release Date: July 03, 2025
Samantha Shannon’sRoots of Chaosbooks are some of the best fantasy releases of recent years, andAmong the Burning Flowersjoins the series in September. Hitting shelves on September 16, this prequel takes place betweenA Day of Fallen NightandPriory of the Orange Tree,taking readers towards the events of the latter.
Set centuries after the Draconic Army nearly wiped out humanity,Among the Burning Flowersfollows Marosa Vetalda, who is imprisoned by her own father; Aubrecht Lievelyn, who “rules Mentendon in all but name;” and Estina Melaugo, a hunter of Draconic beasts. Shannon’s latest sounds complex in terms of world-building, characters, and politics, making it an exciting addition to 2025’s fantasy lineup.
8A Steeping Of Blood By Hafsah Faizal
Release Date: August 15, 2025
A Tempest of Teakicked off Hafsah Faizal’sBlood and Teaseries in 2024, and the sequel is headed our way on September 23.A Steeping of Bloodwill conclude the duology, opening with the city of White Roaring recovering from the events of the prior installment. Arthie Casimir should be doing the same, but there’s no time to grapple with the past.
Unfortunately, it sounds like she’ll need to if there’s any hope of regrouping and actually achieving her goals.A Steeping of Bloodis poised to raise the stakes of Faizal’s story after the first novel’s shocking twists and turns. In fact, the sequel promises to be even better than its predecessor. Needless to say, this is a new release fantasy lovers won’t want to overlook.
7Thief Of Night By Holly Black
Thief of Night,the follow-up to Holly Black’sBook of Night,comes out in September 2025, and it promises to be one of the biggest fantasy sequels of the fall. Following Charlie Hall once again,Thief of Nightpromises to task Black’s heroine with a challenge that could stump her, despite all her skilled conning: stealing back a heart.
The sequel’s synopsis doesn’t offer much else, but it does commit to building on the first installment’s strengths. It sounds likeThief of Nightwill bring more charming characterization, relationship dynamics, and magic to the table. And coming from a beloved fantasy author like Black, it’s one that belongs on every reader’s TBR.
6Alchemy Of Secrets By Stephanie Garber
Release Date: August 04, 2025
Stephanie Garber is known for YA fantasy seriesCaravalandOnce Upon a Broken Heart,and her adult debut is a novel readers will want on their radar this fall. Set to release on October 7,Alchemy of Secretsis being dubbed a “contemporary fantasy.“The book’s premise revolves around a Folklore 517: Local Legends and Urban Myths class held in a movie theater.
That already promises an atmospheric story, but the concept gets better from there. Emboldened by the likelihood that magic is real, Holland St. James locates a being called the Watch Man — and learns she’s going to die the following day if she can’t track down an item dubbed the Alchemical Heart.Alchemy of Secretsvows to take readers on a magical romp through Los Angeles alongside her, making it a 2025 must-read.
5The House Saphir By Marissa Meyer
Release Date: June 02, 2025
Garber isn’t the only well-known YA author returning with a new book in 2025.Marissa Meyer, best known for writingThe Lunar Chronicles, is back withThe House Saphir, a reimagining of the iconic Bluebeard fairy tale.The House Saphirwill follow Mallory Fontaine, whose limited magic enables her to see ghosts — though she cons those frequenting her family business into believing she can do more.
Mallory’s lies come back to bite her when the great-grandson of Count Bastien Saphir — a man notorious for killing three of his wives while still alive — asks her to rid his family’s estate of his ancestor’s ghost. Mallory’s happy to oblige, until she realizes there’s more murder afoot at the House Saphir. Equal parts murder mystery and supernatural fantasy, Meyer’s latest sounds like a standout.
4Empire Of The Dawn By Jay Kristoff
Among the most-anticipated sequels of late 2025 is Jay Kristoff’sEmpire of the Dawn,the finale to the author’sEmpire of the Vampireseries. The gritty vampire story has been one of the best approaches to the supernatural creatures in recent years, and readers are understandably eager to learn how things play out.
Empire of the Dawnwill pick up with things looking bleaker than ever for Gabriel de León, whose only remaining hope is for revenge. Thus, Gabriel sets out to kill the Forever King — but that task soon finds him embroiled in a conflict that could decide the fate of the Empire. The stakes are high heading into the finalEmpire of the Vampirebook, so readers won’t want to wait to pick it up.
3The Strength Of The Few By James Islington
Release Date: July 24, 2025
Perhaps the most exciting fantasy book coming out during the latter half of 2025,The Strength of the Fewby James Islington is set to hit shelves on November 11. The much-anticipated follow-up to 2023’sThe Will of the Many,The Strength of the Fewpromises to ramp up the stakes significantly. After the two-year wait, that’s fine by us.
The Strength of the Fewpicks up with Vis Telimus feeling more alone than ever, with the need to stop the looming Cataclysm weighing heavily on Islington’s lead. The sequel will see him navigating the complicated dynamics established at the end of book one, along with politics and his mission, leading to another complex and intriguing addition to the series.
