BOOKS | Most Anticipated New Books of 2026

I had such a wonderful reading year last year, and I am so excited to see what 2026 will bring! These are the books I'm most eagerly awaiting the releases of this year.

1. Otherworld by L.L. Starling

Expected publication 1st November 2026

The Chronicles of Between #2 

With more leather pants references, chaos, and drunk unicorn action than its predecessor, OTHERWORLD is a rollicking fairy tale ride!

- Goodreads.

Between was so funny, clever and creative, I reread it towards the end of last year and had the most enjoyable time, so I am so excited to read more of this world, find out what happens next and just to get to read more of L.L. Starling's wonderful writing style. 

Between review 

2. The Antiquarian's Object of Desire by India Holton

Expected publication 21st April 2026

Love's Academic #3 

Magical-antique experts Amelia Tarrant and Caleb Sterling have been best friends forever, although lately each has begun secretly wishing for more than friendship. But when rumors about their relationship spread, they're forced to fake being enemies to protect their reputations and keep their jobs.
The resulting arguments spark havoc across Oxford University, and when they cause an explosion while fighting over a magical antique, it’s the final straw for their exasperated faculty head. He dispatches them to a job in Cumbria where even they can’t get into trouble... 
Which proves just how wrong one man can be. In a stormbound old manor house, Amelia and Caleb face magical mayhem and rampaging ghosts that make the previous havoc look mild in comparison. Most troublesome of all, though, is the secret of how they feel about each other. When it comes to tackling deadly antiques, hiding the truth in their hearts could destroy them for real. 

- Goodreads.

The first two books in this series were so fantastic, I just adore the humour and how witty the writing is, and how sweet and thoughtful the romances are, I just know this is going to be such a lovely reading experience! 

The Ornitholigist's Field Guide to Love review 

The Geographer's Map to Romance review 

3. Agnes Aubert's Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett

Expected publication 7th February 2026

Agnes Aubert is very fond of making lists. These lists kept her afloat when she lost her husband two years ago. And now, as the founder of a cat rescue charity, her meticulous organization skills feel like the only thing standing between her beloved cats - His Majesty, Banshee and sweet elderly Thoreau, to name a few - and utter disaster.
But when Agnes is forced to move the charity, she soon discovers that her new shop is being used as a front; right under her feet is the lair of the decidedly disorganised - not to mention self-absorbed and infuriatingly handsome - Havelock Renard.
Havelock is everything Agnes doesn't want in her life: chaos, mischief, and a little too much adventure. But as she gets to know him, she discovers he's more than the dark magician of legend, and that she may be ready for a little intrigue, perhaps even romance. After all, second chances aren't just for rescue cats...

- Goodreads.

I really, really loved the Emily Wilde series by this author, so I'm intrigued to see what a new story will be like from her and it sounds like it has a wonderfully cosy premise, which I always have a good time with.

Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries review 

4. The Orb of Cairado by Katherine Addison 

Expected publication 9th April 2026

The Chronicles of Osreth #1.1 

Five years ago, Ulcetha was studying at the University of Cairado, working his way toward becoming a scholar first-class in the Department of History. Then a prize artifact disappeared and Ulcetha, deftly framed, was kicked out. Now he works for a crooked importer, using his knowledge of elven history to write provenances for the fake artifacts Salathgarad sells.

When the airship Wisdom of Choharo explodes, killing the emperor and three of his four sons, it takes with it Ulcetha's best friend, Mara Lilana. But Mara leaves behind a puzzle - the one thing Ulcetha can't resist. And the puzzle leads Ulcetha back to the Department of History... and maybe the chance to clear his name. 

- Goodreads.

The Goblin Emperor is one of my favourite books of all time, and I loved rereading it for the 6th time last year, so of course I'm excited to read anything else set in this world, and I think the summary for this story sounds fascinating!

The Goblin Emperor review 

5. Enchanting the Fae Queen by Stephanie Burgis

Expected publication 27th January 2026

Queens of Villainy #2 

Queen Lorelei is a notorious fae seductress, with a trail of broken hearts in her wake. But behind her glamorous lifestyle and sparkling mask lurks a dangerously intelligent woman who’d do anything to keep her people safe - even kidnap the enemy empire’s most famous hero.
The virtuous high general Gerard de Moireul represents all that is moral and true. He has to, after his parents were executed for treason. The last thing he needs is the Queen of Balravia, who showers glitter and rainbow-colored sparkles everywhere she goes without the slightest regard for good taste, decorum, or royal dignity.
They’re opposites in every way, but when they’re swept up together in a grand - and deadly - fae tournament, they discover all of each other’s most hidden truths - and how perfectly they might be suited for each other after all.

- Goodreads.

The first book in this series was so much fun and just such a great fantasy romance, I'm curious to see what this next story will be like and to learn more about the characters we got a peak of in the first book.

Wooing the Witch Queen review 

6. Sea of Charms by Sarah Beth Durst

Expected publication 28th July 2026

Spellshop #3 

Marin is a supply runner with her own boat that she sails from island to island, delivering whatever anyone will pay her to deliver: letters, flour, even the occasional enchanted lemur. It’s a lonely life, but it’s hers, and she wouldn’t trade the freedom of the sea for anything. Her only companion is a sea serpent, Perri, whom she saved from a fisherfolk’s net.
One day, she sails to Alyssium and discovers the city is on fire. There’s been a revolution, and the empire has fallen. Marin, with Perri, begins transporting refugees, finding them new homes where they can start over. One such refugee is Dax, a composer who refuses to leave behind his instruments, no matter how much she tries to emphasize the gravity of the situation. Intrigued by his stubbornness, his passion for stories, and his charming smile, Marin discovers perhaps she isn’t saving him - maybe it’s the other way around. 

- Goodreads. 

 I loved the first two books in this world, reading them really was like getting a lovely warm hug, so I'm looking forward to finding another comfort read in this next book!

The Spellshop review

The Enchanted Greenhouse review 

7. Daggerbound by T. Kingfisher

Expected publication 25th August 2026

Swordheart #2 

Four hundred years ago, three warriors were trapped inside enchanted swords, cursed to be immortal servants of whoever wielded the blade. One of them is the Dervish, a restless, fiery soul who hates his captivity and hates his wielders even more, but has never found a way to escape the sword’s magic.
Then one day, a disillusioned scholar named Learned Edmund is tasked with delivering the sword to a distant city, and, in the greatest of peril, draws the blade. The Dervish finds himself bound to a sweet, brilliant, and above all kind young man. And while he may be able to protect Edmund from bandits, cultists, dragons, and strange inhuman diplomats, he may find it much harder to protect his own heart. 

- Goodreads.

I truly fell in love with T. Kingfisher this past year, and I'm so excited to read more. Swordheart was so delightful with its humour and also full of depth and feeling, which I think T. Kingfisher always balances well, and I can't wait to see what's next for this world.

Paladin's Grace review 

8. Lore Olmpus: Volume Ten by Rachel Smythe

Expected publication 2nd June 2026

Lore Olympus #10 

After years of yearning, the big day has finally arrived: Hades and Persephone are getting married! It’s the ceremony of the century, and practically all the gods are invited to celebrate the happy couple. The wedding, full of love and joy, provides a much-needed respite for the pantheon... but the newlyweds have no time for a honeymoon.
The king and queen of the Underworld begin unprecedented dives into the dream world to find the god that Kronos took hostage - and, hopefully, to get answers on defeating the furious titan once and for all. During their explorations, they begin to suspect that Persephone’s powers over spring may have been altered. Their theory is proven correct with deadly consequences: When Persephone returns to the Mortal Realm, she ushers in not the regular change of seasons, but a never-ending winter.
And while the gods worry about the total annihilation of the Mortal Realm, Apollo uses the chaos as cover for an attempt to kill Zeus. He claims his dying father’s throne and decrees that the only way to save the Mortal Realm is if Persephone - and her power - belong to him. The others reject his outrageous demand, proposing instead that whoever can fix the failing seasons will be named interim ruler of Olympus. Hope now rests with the struggling goddess to find a way to stop the treacherous Apollo and save humankind - or else be separated from Hades forever. 

- Goodreads.

Lore Olympus has been so enjoyable and fun to read so far, I know this next volume will be just as wonderful, with such a great art style and thrilling storyline.

9. The Eye of Leviathan by M.A. Carrick

Expected publication 14th July 2026 

The Sea Beyond #1 

In an alternate Spanish Golden Age, where the map becomes the territory and mapmakers are the architects of reality, the Council of the Sea Beyond has risen to unrivaled power, exploiting the world’s most precious resources for their own gain.⁣
Determined to discover how cosmographers pin down the islands of the Otherworld, Estevan seeks power with the Council of the Sea Beyond - but he risks the exposure of his own secrets, too. For he is a changeling, a faerie masquerading as a mortal. And for a faerie to enter the mortal world like that, a child must go the other way... ⁣
The Hungry Girl, the nameless human daughter whose place he took, has grown up opposite her “brother.” Lost among the fae and desperate to find some purpose for her pitiful existence, she leaps at the chance to help a group of Spanish explorers in the Sea Beyond... only to be horrified at the atrocities they commit.⁣
Soon the unlikely siblings will need to overcome their rivalry - because only together can they bring down Spain’s worlds-spanning empire and save the homes they have come to love.⁣ 

- Goodreads.

Last year I read the whole Rook & Rose trilogy in less than two weeks and was absolutely blown away. I'm already looking forward to rereading it at some point and immersing myself in such a fantastic story again, so of course I'm also excited to see what else this author duo has created.

A Mask of Mirrors review 

10. A Remedy for Fate by M.A. Kuzniar

Expected publication 12th March 2026

Prague, 1769. In the Magic Quarter of the jewel-box city of Prague, Thea runs Stiltskin's Apothecary. There, she brews potions to chase away nightmares and soothe heartache - and strikes bargains to change her customers' fates. The only fate she cannot change? Her own.
Seven years ago, Thea bargained away her heart and her memories to the apothecary's owner, the cold, yet enigmatic Jasper, for reasons she cannot remember, and a reward she cannot recall.
Then one day a stranger arrives with an unusual request. One that will upturn Thea's entire existence - and offer her a precious chance to recover her heart... 

- Goodreads.

Midnight in Everwood was such an enchanting story that I've loved rereading during Winter, and I'm looking forward to reading a new romance from this author. It sounds like the world and story could be very compelling!

Midnight in Everwood review 

Hopefully I will get to all of these books this year, and you'll see reviews for them all! I hope everyone has a fantastic reading year and finds some excellent new favourite books.  

BOOKS | Most Anticipated New Books of 2025

 There are quite a few books I am excited to read that are releasing this year, here are the ten that I am most looking forward to!

1. Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales by Heather Fawcett

Expected publication 11th February 2025

Emily Wilde #3

Emily Wilde has spent her life studying faeries. A renowned dryadologist, she has documented hundreds of species of Folk in her Encyclopaedia of Faeries. Now she is about to embark on her most dangerous academic project studying the inner workings of a faerie realm - as its queen.
Along with her former academic rival - now fiancé - the dashing and mercurial Wendell Bambleby, Emily is immediately thrust into the deadly intrigues of Faerie as the two of them seize the throne of Wendell's long-lost kingdom, which Emily finds a beautiful nightmare, filled with scholarly treasures.
Emily has been obsessed with faerie stories her entire life, but at first she feels as ill-suited to Faerie as she did to the mortal world - how could an unassuming scholar like herself pass for a queen? Yet there is little time to settle in - Wendell's murderous stepmother has placed a deadly curse upon the land before vanishing without a trace. It will take all of Wendell's magic - and Emily's knowledge of stories - to unravel the mystery before they lose everything they hold dear.

- Goodreads.

I absolutely adored the first two books in this series, so I am excited to see what happens next for Emily and Wendell!

2. The Geographer's Map to Romance by India Holton

Expected publication 8th April 2025

Love's Academic #2

Professor Elodie Tarrant is an expert in magic disasters. Nothing fazes her - except her own personal disaster, that is: Professor Gabriel Tarrant, the grumpy, unfriendly man she married for convenience a year ago, whom she secretly loves.
Gabriel is also an expert in magic disasters. And nothing fazes him either - except the walking, talking tornado that is his wife. They've been estranged since shortly after their wedding day, but that hasn't stopped him from stoically pining for her.
When magic erupts in a small Welsh village, threatening catastrophe for the rest of England, Elodie and Gabriel are accidentally both assigned to the case. With the fate of the country in their hands, they must come together as a team in the face of perilous conditions like explosions, domesticated goats, and only one bed. But this is easier said than done. After all, there's no navigational guide for the geography of the heart. 

- Goodreads.

The first book in this series was so much fun, I can't wait to read more of the world and be introduced to this new couple!

3. The Enchanted Greenhouse by Sarah Beth Durst

Expected publication 15th July 2025

Terlu Perna broke the law because she was lonely. She cast a spell and created a magically sentient spider plant. As punishment, she was turned into a wooden statue and tucked away into an alcove in the North Reading Room of the Great Library of Alyssium.

This should have been the end of her story... Yet one day, Terlu wakes in the cold of winter on a nearly-deserted island full of hundreds of magical greenhouses. She’s starving and freezing, and the only other human on the island is a grumpy gardener. To her surprise, he offers Terlu a place to sleep, clean clothes, and freshly baked honey cakes - at least until she’s ready to sail home.

But Terlu can’t return home and doesn’t want to - the greenhouses are a dream come true, each more wondrous than the next. When she learns that the magic that sustains them is failing - causing the death of everything within them - Terlu knows she must help. Even if that means breaking the law again.

This time, though, she isn’t alone. Assisted by the gardener and a sentient rose, Terlu must unravel the secrets of a long-dead sorcerer if she wants to save the island - and have a fresh chance at happiness and love.

- Goodreads.

This is set in the same world as The Spellshop which I really loved last year and thought was so adorable, and I'm curious to see what happens with the main character of this story and to see more of the world!

4. A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna

Expected publication 15th July 2025

Sera Swan used to be one of the most powerful witches in Britain. Then she resurrected her great-aunt Jasmine from the (very recently) dead, lost most of her magic, befriended a semi-villainous talking fox, and was exiled from her Guild. Now she (slightly reluctantly and just a bit grumpily) helps her aunt run an enchanted inn in Lancashire, where she deals with her quirky guests' shenanigans, tries to keep said talking fox in check, and longs for the future that seems lost to her. But then she finds out about an old spell that could hold the key to restoring her power...
Enter Luke Larsen, handsome and icy magical historian, who arrives on a dark winter evening and might just know how to unlock the spell’s secrets. Luke has absolutely no interest in getting involved in the madcap goings-on of the inn and is definitely not about to let a certain bewitching innkeeper past his walls, so no one is more surprised than he is when he agrees to help Sera with her spell. Worse, he might actually be thawing.
Running an inn, reclaiming lost magic, and staying one step ahead of the watchful Guild is a lot for anyone, but Sera Swan is about to discover that she doesn’t have to do it alone... and that the weird, wonderful family she’s made might be the best magic of all.

- Goodreads.

 This was actually on last year's list of anticipated books but it got pushed back to this year, so I've been looking forward to this one for a while! The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches was a wonderful book from this author so I'll be happy to read to another cosy romance from her.

5. The Tomb of Dragons by Katherine Addison

Expected publication 11th March 2025 

The Chronicles of Osreth #4, The Cemeteries of Amalo #3

Thara Celehar has lost his ability to speak with the dead. When that title of Witness for the Dead is gone, what defines him?
While his title may be gone, his duties are not. Celehar contends with a municipal cemetery with fifty years of secrets, the damage of a revethavar he’s terrified to remember, and a group of miners who are more than willing to trade Celehar’s life for a chance at what they feel they’re owed.
Celehar does not have to face these impossible tasks alone. Joining him are his mentee Velhiro Tomasaran, still finding her footing with the investigative nature of their job; Iäna Pel-Thenhior, his beloved opera director friend and avid supporter; and the valiant guard captain Hanu Olgarezh.
Amidst the backdrop of a murder and a brewing political uprising, Celehar must seek justice for those who cannot find it themselves under a tense political system. The repercussions of his quest are never as simple they seem, and Celehar’s own life and happiness hang in the balance.

- Goodreads.

I've really enjoyed every book in this series so far so I'm sure this will be another great one, although I do miss Maia from The Goblin Emperor and hope we get to return to his story at some point, getting to know Celehar more in these books has been really interesting and I'm excited to see how his journey continues.

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

Expected publication 10 June 2025

Santo Domingo de la Calzada, 1532.
London, 1837.
Boston, 2019.
Three young women, their bodies planted in the same soil, their stories tangling like roots.
One grows high, and one grows deep, and one grows wild.
And all of them grow teeth.

- Goodreads.

I always enjoy V.E. Schwab's books and this one definitely has an intriguing concept so I'll be curious to see what it's like!

7. Among the Burning Flowers by Samantha Shannon

Expected publication 16th September 2025

Roots of Chaos #0.5 

It has been centuries since the Draconic Army took wing, almost extinguishing humankind.
Marosa Vetalda is a prisoner in her own home, controlled by her cold father, King Sigoso. Over the mountains, her betrothed, Aubrecht Lievelyn, rules Mentendon in all but name. Together, they intend to usher in a better world.
A better world seems impossibly distant to Estina Melaugo, who hunts the Draconic beasts that have slept across the world for centuries.
And now the great wyrm Fýredel is stirring, and Yscalin will be the first to fall...

- Goodreads.

I was really impressed with The Priory of the Orange Tree when I read it, it had such detailed world building and a brilliant plot, so I was excited to find out that after A Day of Fallen Night we have another prequel to learn more about the world!

8. The Dark Mirror by Samantha Shannon

Expected publication 25 February 2025

The Bone Season #5

Paige Mahoney is outside the Republic of Scion for the first time in more than a decade - but she has no idea how she got to the free world. Half a year has been wiped from her memory.
As she makes her way back to the revolution, her journey takes her to Venice, where she learns a dangerous secret - one that could change the face of the war between humans and immortals. Before she can return to London, she must help the Domino Programme unravel the sinister Operation Ventriloquist.
And it soon becomes clear that the one person who could recover her memories - Arcturus Mesarthim - might also hold the key to saving Italy.

- Goodreads.

Each book in this series so far has been pretty thrilling and I have so many questions about what's going to happen in this next book, so we'll see what answers we get in this book and what new questions it creates!

9. Lore Olympus: Volume 8 by Rachel Smythe

Expected publication 6th May 2025

Lore Olympus #8

Revelations rock Olympus as Persephone’s trial ends, threatening to throw the gods into a new war.
Though Persephone and Hades become closer than ever after she opens up to him about all she has endured, their peace is shattered when another truth is revealed: Apollo is Zeus’s son. The announcement shocks the pantheon, and the king of the gods realizes that the would-be usurper wants Persephone’s power to take the throne.
Zeus banishes Persephone to the Mortal Realm and, out of fear, cuts it off entirely from the rest of the gods. This decree succeeds in undercutting Apollo’s plan, but also inadvertently begins a decade-long divine cold war when Hades strikes back by shuttering the Underworld. With the gods scattered and weakened, Kronos uses the ensuing bedlam to finally escape his imprisonment and begin staging his own coup.
Persephone has only one choice when she discovers all the realms on the verge of collapse: Descend into the Underworld to try to defeat the power-hungry Titan, claim her rightful place as queen, and reunite with her one true love.

- Goodreads.

Each volume of this comic has been so much fun to read, I'm excited to get this next one and see more of the beautiful art and find out what happens next for Hades and Persephone!

10. The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig

Expected publication 10th May 2025

The Stonewater Kingdom #1

Sybil Delling has spent nine years dreaming of having no dreams at all. Like the other foundling girls who traded a decade of service for a home in the great cathedral, Sybil is a Diviner. In her dreams she receives visions from six unearthly figures known as Omens. From them, she can predict terrible things before they occur, and lords and common folk alike travel across the kingdom of Traum's windswept moors to learn their futures by her dreams.
Just as she and her sister Diviners near the end of their service, a mysterious knight arrives at the cathedral. Rude, heretical, and devilishly handsome, the knight Rodrick has no respect for Sybil's visions. But when Sybil's fellow Diviners begin to vanish one by one, she has no choice but to seek his help in finding them. For the world outside the cathedral's cloister is wrought with peril. Only the gods have the answers she is seeking, and as much as she'd rather avoid Rodrick's dark eyes and sharp tongue, only a heretic can defeat a god.

- Goodreads.

I haven't read anything by Rachel Gillig yet, but this summary definitely sounds like something I'd enjoy, and I'm curious to see what it will be like!

Those are the ten books I'm anticipating the most that are releasing this year, comment below if you're excited about any of these too, or if you have different books you're looking forward to!

BOOKS | Most Anticipated New Books of 2024

Here are ten of the books I am most anticipating that are releasing this year!

1. The Prisoner's Throne by Holly Black

Expected publication 5th March 2024

Elhame #5,  The Stolen Heir Duology #2

An imprisoned prince. A vengeful queen. And a battle that will determine the future of Elfhame.
Prince Oak is paying for his betrayal. Imprisoned in the icy north and bound to the will of a monstrous new queen, he must rely on charm and calculation to survive. With High King Cardan and High Queen Jude ready to use any means necessary to retrieve their stolen heir, should Oak attempt to regain the trust of the girl he's always loved, or remain loyal to Elfhame and hand over the means to end her reign - even if it means ending Wren, too...
With war looming and treachery lurking in every corner, neither Oak's guile nor his wit will be enough to keep everyone he loves alive. He will have some terrible choices to make.

- Goodreads.

I still need to read The Stolen Heir, but I am hoping to read it soon so that as soon as The Prisoner's Throne comes out I can get straight into it and find out what happens next in this series. I really loved The Folk of the Air trilogy so I have been really looking forward to finding out what happens next with the characters, it certainly seems like Holly Black has lots of dramatic reveals and plots twists in store!

2. A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandana

Expected publication 12th September 2024

Sera Swan was once one of the most powerful witches in Britain. Then she resurrected her great-aunt Jasmine from the (very recently) dead, lost most of her magic, befriended a semi-villainous talking fox, and was exiled from her magical Guild. Now she (slightly reluctantly and a bit grumpily) helps Aunt Jasmine run an inn in Lancashire, where she deals with her quirky guest’s shenanigans, tries to keep the talking fox in check, and longs for the magical future she lost.
When she learns about an old spell book that could hold the secret to restoring her power, she finds herself turning to Luke Larsen, a gorgeous and icy historian who might be the only person who can help her unlock the book’s mysteries. The fact that he also happens to be her one-night stand from years ago is totally irrelevant.
Running an inn, reclaiming lost magic, and trying not to fall in love is a lot for anyone, but Sera is about to discover that she doesn’t have to do it alone... and that the weird, wonderful family she’s made might be the best magic of all.

- Goodreads.

I absolutely adored Sangu Mandana's The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches and this sounds like it will be another wonderful cosy fantasy romance with some charming humour and loveable characters, so I am very excited for this one!

3. A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft

Published 4th Jauary 2024

Niamh Ó Conchobhair has never let herself long for more. The magic in her blood that lets her stitch emotions and memories into fabric is the same magic that will eventually kill her. Determined to spend the little time she has left guaranteeing a better life for her family, Niamh jumps at the chance to design the wardrobe for a royal wedding in the neighboring kingdom of Avaland.
But Avaland is far from the fairytale that she imagined. While young nobles attend candlelit balls and elegant garden parties, unrest brews amid the working class. The groom himself, Kit Carmine, is prickly, abrasive, and begrudgingly being dragged to the altar as a political pawn. But when Niamh and Kit grow closer, an unlikely friendship blossoms into something more - until an anonymous columnist starts buzzing about their chemistry, promising to leave them alone only if Niamh helps to uncover the royal family’s secrets. The rot at the heart of Avaland runs deep, but exposing it could risk a future she never let herself dream of, and a love she never thought possible. 

- Goodreads.

I enjoyed reading both Down Comes the Night and A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft, so I think I should enjoy this next book from her too! This one sounds like it will be another well written romance with some intriguing drama, and I am curious to see how the plot plays out.

4. A Dawn with the Wolf Knight by Elise Kova 

Expected publication 1st August 2024 

Married to Magic #5

To enter the woods as a human is death... But I am no mere human. They call me, "witch."
As one of the last surviving witches, her sole duty was to keep the protective barriers on the forests where the lykin roam - creatures who can shed flesh for fur. But when she has a magical encounter with the rare, primordial spirit of the moon, she’s taken to the magical land of Midscape and claimed by the Wolf King as his bride.
But the king’s blisteringly handsome knight who’s now her sole protector has other ideas...

- Goodreads.

I really liked the first three books in the Married to Magic series, my favourite being the first, A Deal with the Elf King, so I hope I will enjoy this next one, and the fourth one that was released last year that I still need to read, A Duet with the Siren Duke, as much as I did the first one. I think the world of this series is really interesting and I always think the concept of each book is really fun. 

5. The City of Stardust by Georgia Summers 

Expected publication 25th January 2024

Curses are made to be broken.
For centuries, generations of Everlys have seen their brightest and best disappear, taken as punishment for a crime no one remembers, for a purpose no one understands. Their tormentor is a woman named Penelope, who never ages, never grows sick - and never forgives a debt.
Ten years ago, Violet Everly's mother left, determined to break their curse, and never returned. Now Violet must find her mother, or she will be taken in her place.
To do so, she must descend into a seductive magical underworld of power-hungry scholars, fickle gods and monsters bent on revenge. She must also contend with Penelope's quiet assistant, Aleksander, who she knows cannot be trusted - and yet to whom she finds herself undeniably drawn.
Tied to a very literal deadline, Violet will travel the edges of the world to find Marianne and the key to the city of stardust, where the Everly story began...

- Goodreads.

This sounds like it will be a wonderful magical adventure, with some fascinating characters, that I think I could really enjoy, and since it is a debut I am curious to see what the author's writing style is like.

6. The Darkness within Us by Tricia Levenseller

Expected publication 25th July 2024

The Shadows Between Us #2

Chrysantha Stathos has won.
By hiding her intelligence and ambition behind the mask of a beautiful air-headed girl, she has gathered important secrets, earned her father’s constant care, and become a wealthy duchess - all by age nineteen. Now, she is only one elderly, dying duke away from having all the freedom, money, and safety she’s ever wanted.
Or so she thought.
Turns out her little sister somehow snatched the true victory away from her: Alessandra is wedding the Shadow King, the most powerful man in the world. Meanwhile, after the death of Chrysantha’s no-good, lecherous husband, a man claiming to be the duke’s estranged grandson turns up to inherit everything that should be hers.
Chrysantha is enraged. There is no way that she’s going to let some man take everything from her. Never mind that he’s extremely handsome and secretive and alluring with mysterious power... No, Chrysantha wants Eryx Demos dead, and in the end, a Stathos girl always gets what she wants.

- Goodreads.

When I originally read the first book, The Shadows Between Us, Alessandra's sister did not sound very likeable, so when this book was announced I was not sure how to feel about it and if I would enjoy a book from her perspective, but I enjoyed the first book a lot and I am curious enough to see what happens in this one and if I could like it, and just generally curious to see what Tricia Levenseller had in mind for what happens next in this world and it would be fun to see if any of the characters from the first book are included at all, even if it is just a mention.

7. Tales of the Celestial Kingdom by Sue Lynn Tan

Expected publication 1st February 2024

The Celestial Kingdom #2.5

Return to the Immortal Realm, a world of gods, magic, and legendary creatures - and embark upon new adventures of valor, danger, and love.
Tales from the Celestial Kingdom collects nine spellbinding stories - two previously published, seven original, including the epilogue to the duology - set in the enchanting world of Sue Lynn Tan’s stunning debut. Filled with magic and mythology, friendship and love, these stories intertwine through the past, present, and future of the two novels, told from the perspectives of multiple characters, including Chang’e, Shuxiao, Liwei, and Wenzhi.
With beautiful illustrations from Kelly Chong throughout, these wondrous tales make the perfect complement to Sue Lynn Tan’s breathtaking series.

- Goodreads.

The Celestial Kingdom duology was beautifully written and I really enjoyed the reading experience, so I am excited to read more stories from this world, which I think was wonderfully crafted. The first two books felt like an old myth so I think short stories from this world will be the perfect format for more stories from this series.

8. The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst

Expected publication 11th July 2024

Kiela has always had trouble dealing with people, and as librarian at the Great Library of Alyssium, she hasn’t had to.
She and her assistant, Caz, a sentient spider plant, have spent most of the last eleven years sequestered among the empire’s precious spellbooks, protecting the magic for the city’s elite. But a revolution is brewing and when the library goes up in flames, she and Caz steal whatever books they can and flee to the faraway island where she grew up. She’s hoping to lay low and figure out a way to survive before the revolution comes looking for her. To her dismay, in addition to a nosy - and very handsome - neighbor, she finds the town in disarray.
The empire with its magic spellbooks has slowly been draining power from the island, something that Kiela is indirectly responsible for, and now she’s determined to find a way to make things right. Opening up a spell shop comes with its own risks - the consequence of sharing magic with commoners is death. And as Kiela comes to make a place for herself among the quirky townspeople, she realizes that in order to make a life for herself, she must break down the walls she has kept so high.

- Goodreads.

I read and enjoyed Fire & Heist by Sarah Beth Durst some time ago and ever since then I have been wanting to pick up another book by her, and this new book seems like the perfect opportunity to! As mentioned earlier I really loved The Very Society for Irregular Witches, and this sounds like aother cosy fantasy romance with a similar feeling to that book, so I will be looking forward to giving it a try!

9. Lore Olmpus: Volume 6 by Rachel Smythe

Expected publication 7th May 2024

Lore Olympus #6

Chaos reigns in Olympus as Zeus publicly declares Persephone a traitor and issues a warrant for her arrest. But Hades defies his brother’s decree, sheltering Persephone in the Underworld - and as the pair spend more time together, they are able to speak openly about their pasts. The goddess of spring admits the truth behind the bloody secret that led to Zeus’s ire, and the king of the Underworld shares the trauma he suffered at the hands of his power-hungry father, Kronos.
But as Hades and Persephone’s relationship grows stronger, others begin to fall apart. The bond between Hades and Zeus is stretched to its limit, threatening to fracture the peace between their realms. Persephone and Artemis’s friendship hangs by a thread as the goddess of the hunt slowly uncovers the vile truth about her twin, Apollo. A line is being drawn in the heavens, putting everyone’s loyalties into question as all the gods are forced to choose sides.
And as the cracks in the foundation of the pantheon spread, something darker and more earth-shattering might soon be released...

- Goodreads.

I always have such a good time reading each volume of Lore Olympus, it always brings me such joy. Hades and Persephone and their slowly developing relationship is of course the highlight, but the other characters are so well done too, the art style is alway lovely to look at, the humour is delightful, and the plot always keeps me turning pages and wanting to find out more, so I am sure I will be picking up the next volume as soon as I have it.

10. Where the Dark Stands Still by A.B. Poranek 

Expected publication 29th February 2024

Raised in a small village near the spirit-wood, Liska Radost knows that Magic is monstrous, and its practitioners, monsters. After Liska unleashes her own powers with devastating consequences, she is caught by the demon warden of the wood - the Leszy - who offers her a bargain: one year of servitude in exchange for a wish.
Whisked away to his crumbling manor, Liska soon discovers the sinister roots of their bargain. And if she wants to survive the year and return home, she must unravel her host’s spool of secrets and face the ghosts of his past.
Those who enter the wood do not always return...

- Goodreads.

This book just sounds like it was made for me. It has been compared to so many of my favourite things, Howl's Moving Castle, Beauty and the Beast, authors like Margaret Rogerson, Brigid Kemmerer and V.E. Schwab, it would just be ridiculous if I did not read this.

So those are ten of the books I am most excited about that are releasing this year! In the comments below, let me know if you are also looking forward to any of these, and if there are any not on this list that you are eagerly anticipating!

BOOKS | Most Anticipated New Books of 2023

 There are a lot of amazing books being released next year, but I have managed to narrow down all the ones I am excited about to a list of ten! So these are the books I am most looking forward to that are being released in 2023. These release dates are from Goodreads and they could change.

1. The Stolen Heir by Holly Black

Expected publication 3rd January 2023

Elfhame #4, The Stolen Heir Duology #1

Eight years have passed since the Battle of the Serpent. But in the icy north, Lady Nore of the Court of Teeth has reclaimed the Ice Needle Citadel. There, she is using an ancient relic to create monsters of stick and snow who will do her bidding and exact her revenge.
Suren, child queen of the Court of Teeth, and the one person with power over her mother, fled to the human world. There, she lives feral in the woods. Lonely, and still haunted by the merciless torments she endured in the Court of Teeth, she bides her time by releasing mortals from foolish bargains. She believes herself forgotten until the storm hag, Bogdana chases her through the night streets. Suren is saved by none other than Prince Oak, heir to Elfhame, to whom she was once promised in marriage and who she has resented for years.
Now seventeen, Oak is charming, beautiful, and manipulative. He’s on a mission that will lead him into the north, and he wants Suren’s help. But if she agrees, it will mean guarding her heart against the boy she once knew and a prince she cannot trust, as well as confronting all the horrors she thought she left behind.

- Goodreads.

I really loved The Folk of the Air series, it's now one of my favourites, so I am very intrigued about this continuation and what the future will hold for the characters!

2. A Day of Fallen Night by Samantha Shannon

Expected publication 28th February 2023

The Roots of Chaos #0

Tunuva Melim is a sister of the Priory. For fifty years, she has trained to slay wyrms – but none have appeared since the Nameless One, and the younger generation is starting to question the Priory's purpose.
To the north, in the Queendom of Inys, Sabran the Ambitious has married the new King of Hróth, narrowly saving both realms from ruin. Their daughter, Glorian, trails in their shadow – exactly where she wants to be.
The dragons of the East have slept for centuries. Dumai has spent her life in a Seiikinese mountain temple, trying to wake the gods from their long slumber. Now someone from her mother's past is coming to upend her fate.
When the Dreadmount erupts, bringing with it an age of terror and violence, these women must find the strength to protect humankind from a devastating threat. 

- Goodreads.

The Priory of the Orange Tree was such an impressive and creative epic fantasy novel, I know this prequel will be just as, if not more, fascinating to dive into.

3. Daughter of Winter and Twilight by Helen Corcoran

Expected publication September 2023

Queen of Coin and Whispers #2

Daughter of Winter and Twilight, sequel to Queen of Coin and Whispers, which picks up fourteen years after the original, with a princess navigating her place in a politically incendiary realm, where the bonds of history and family grow increasingly frayed, especially when old magic returns to the land.

- Goodreads.

I really loved Queen of Coin and Whispers and thought it was such a unique and lovely story, so I was of course very excited when I found out there was going to be a sequel! I'm looking forward to having more details about what will happen in this book and finding out what the cover will look like.

4. Mysteries of Thorn Manner by Margaret Rogerson

Expected publication 17th January 2023

Sorcery of Thorns #1.5 

Elisabeth Scrivener is finally settling into her new life with sorcerer Nathaniel Thorn. Now that their demon companion Silas has returned, so has scrutiny from nosy reporters hungry for gossip about the city's most powerful sorcerer and the librarian who stole his heart. But something strange is afoot at Thorn Manor: the estate's wards, which are meant to keep their home safe, are acting up and forcibly trapping the Manor's occupants inside. Surely it must be a coincidence that this happened just as Nathaniel and Elisabeth started getting closer to one another...
With no access to the outside world, Elisabeth, Nathaniel, and Silas - along with their new maid Mercy - will have to work together to discover the source of the magic behind the malfunctioning wards before they're due to host the city's Midwinter Ball. Not an easy task when the house is filled with unexpected secrets, and all Elisabeth can think about is kissing Nathaniel in peace. But when it becomes clear that the house, influenced by the magic of Nathaniel's ancestors, requires a price for its obedience, Elisabeth and Nathaniel will have to lean on their connection like never before to set things right.

- Goodreads.

Sorcery of Thorns was such a wonderful story with the most loveable characters, it makes me so happy that we are going to see more of those characters in this novella!

5. Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett

Expected publication 10th January 2023

(Emily Wilde #1)

Cambridge professor Emily Wilde is good at many things: She is the foremost expert on the study of faeries. She is a genius scholar and a meticulous researcher who is writing the world's first encyclopaedia of faerie lore. But Emily Wilde is not good at people. She could never make small talk at a party - or even get invited to one. And she prefers the company of her books, her dog, Shadow, and the Fair Folk to other people.
So when she arrives in the hardscrabble village of Hrafnsvik, Emily has no intention of befriending the gruff townsfolk. Nor does she care to spend time with another new arrival: her dashing and insufferably handsome academic rival Wendell Bambleby, who manages to charm the townsfolk, get in the middle of Emily's research, and utterly confound and frustrate her.
But as Emily gets closer and closer to uncovering the secrets of the Hidden Ones - the most elusive of all faeries - lurking in the shadowy forest outside the town, she also finds herself on the trail of another mystery: Who is Wendell Bambleby, and what does he really want? To find the answer, she'll have to unlock the greatest mystery of all - her own heart.

- Goodreads.

 I have never read anything from this author before but this book just sounds so perfect and delightful, I can never resist a good faerie story!

6. Untitled by V.E. Schwab

Expected publication October 2023

Shades of Magic #4, Threads of Power #1

 The start of a brand-new trilogy called the Threads of Power, which will be set in the same world as the Shades of Magic series, featuring new leads, plus the entire cast from Conjuring of Light.

- Goodreads.

There might not be many details about what this new trilogy in the Shades of Magic world will contain, but I loved the first trilogy and thought it was so inventive and clever, so I am definitely excited for more, and I am always happy to read more from V.E. Schwab in general.

7. A Crown of Ivy and Glass by Claire Legrand

Expected publication 9th May 2023

The Middlemist Trilogy #1

Lady Gemma Ashbourne seemingly has it all. She's young, gorgeous, and rich. Her family was Anointed by the gods, blessed with incredible abilities. But underneath her glittering façade, Gemma is deeply sad. Years ago, her sister Mara was taken to the Middlemist to guard against treacherous magic. Her mother abandoned the family. Her father and eldest sister, Farrin - embroiled in a deadly blood feud with the mysterious Bask family - often forget Gemma exists.
Worst of all, Gemma is the only Ashbourne to possess no magic. Instead, her body fights it like poison. Constantly ill, aching with loneliness, Gemma craves love and yearns to belong.
Then she meets the devastatingly handsome Talan d'Astier. His family destroyed themselves, seduced by a demon, and Talan, the only survivor, is determined to redeem their honor. Intrigued and enchanted, Gemma proposes a bargain: She'll help Talan navigate high society if he helps her destroy the Basks. According to popular legend, a demon called The Man With the Three-Eyed Crown is behind the families' blood feud - slay the demon, end the feud.
But attacks on the Middlemist are increasing. The plot against the Basks quickly spirals out of control. And something immense and terrifying is awakening in Gemma, drawing her inexorably toward Talan and an all-consuming passion that could destroy her - or show her the true strength of her power at last. 

- Goodreads.

This is another author I have not read from before but the story sounds so compelling and like it could be really thrilling, so I am intrigued to see what this one will be like!

8. Lore Olympus: Volume Four by Rachel Smythe

Expected publication 6th June 2023

Lore Olympus Volumes #4 

The rumour mill of Olympus is constantly churning, but Persephone and Hades are all anyone can talk about. With the constant gossip creating intense pressure on the pair, they decide to slow down their budding romance and focus on sorting out their own issues first.
But that's easier said than done.

- Goodreads.

I have really adored every volume of Lore Olympus I have read so far, it is such an enjoyable story with such a delightful art style, I am really looking forward to the release of the next volume!

9. A Duet with the Siren Duke by Elise Kova

Expected publication 15th August 2023

Married to Magic #4

In water as cold as death, the duet began. With it, she gained five years of freedom. But, her time is up. And now she will go beneath the waves and into the hands of the enchanting siren who claimed her as his sacrifice.

- Goodreads.

Although I had mixed feelings about the most recent book in this series, overall I think each installment has been an enjoyable romance and I am curious to see what a siren romance in this world will be like!

10. The Bone Season 10th Anniversay Edition by Samantha Shannon

Expected publication Summer 2023

The Bone Season #1, revised

This is not a completely new story, but I am still quite excited about this as Samantha Shannon has revised The Bone Season for this anniversary and I am very curious to see what this updated version will be like, what changes she has made and how the reading experience will be different. I am also excited to see what this anniversary edition will look like and if the cover will be similar or changed!