The Most Anticipated Fantasy & YA Books of 2026

The wait is over: Sarah J. Maas returns to the irresistible world of A Court of Thorns and Roses for the highly anticipated sixth book in the iconic series that took the world by storm. Return to Prythian for another dazzling adventure.

Years after the events of Shatter Me, Tahereh Mafi returns to her dystopian world with another action-packed tale. New characters, high-stakes tension and complicated alliances — enemies might even become lovers in this gripping continuation of the series.

In this deadly spin on a classic tale, the March sisters investigate Beth’s death and begin to turn on each other in this fresh rendition of Little Women.

After reading The Knight and the Moth, there’s no turning back. Enter the secrets of the kingdom in the next chapter of Rachel Gillig’s haunting romantasy. Visions, prophecies, slow-burn love — and peril at every turn. Faith and fate collide as Sybil’s determination rises. Can she conquer the enemy once and for all without losing herself entirely?

In a world where bodies are bought, used, and then discarded, Ana is trapped in a decaying form and must make an impossible choice to save herself and stop dark forces from taking over her kingdom.

This ambitious twist on the Beast of Gevaudan weaves history with chilling mythology for a dark and haunting love story.

Calisa escapes to rural Vermont to help her stubborn Aunt Zee fix up her bed-and-breakfast, but she soon learns that there are magical secrets hidden inside the house just waiting to be uncovered in this charming YA fantasy.

With lush world-building and fairytale influences, this tale of power and survival blossoms into a gorgeous love story between a prince and an unlikely maiden.

There is a true danger aboard the Celestial, a magical cruise ship with a secretive past, and concierge Roe is determined to uncover the truth before it consumes her and the rest on board in this imaginative fantasy.

The Scorpion and the Night Bossom was just the beginning. Àn’ying’s handsome rival is now her enemy and she must join forces with a mysterious boy in order to protect her people and save her kingdom.

On an escape room-themed reality show, a real murder takes center stage as a group of teenage contestants fights for survival while piecing together a puzzling mystery.

Prepare to be thrust into the lush, Gothic world where a new demon prince awaits, ready to steal your heart in this standalone fantasy romance from Kerri Maniscalco.

If the world were ending, where would you go? Husbands Don and Rodney embark on one last road trip across the country before a black hole consumes everything in this unique story about humanity at the end of life.

Brandon Sanderson delivers a new standalone story in the mystical Cosmere universe. Expanding on the novella Sixth of the Dusk, this tale weaves legends, lore and political intrigue to tell a story of hope and resistance through the eyes of two unlikely allies.

As the war against magic rages on, a young sculptress is tasked with a dangerous mission in this slow-burning historical romance.

This spellbinding story follows two women who journey into the depths of a nearby lake and discover a surreal world unlike anything they’ve ever encountered before.

A ragtag crew of goblins must make it home before being ambushed by the creatures of the forest in this hilarious standalone story from T. Kingfisher.

JR Ward, whose name has long been synonymous with paranormal romance through her Black Dagger Brotherhood saga, raises the stakes with her romantasy debut. This series is just beginning, but you’ll be hooked from page one.

Continuing the story that began in Lost Souls Meet Under a Full Moon, Mizuki Tsujimura pens a dazzling story about life, death and the fleeting moments that stick with us.

This collection of works from Amal El-Mohtar features his award-winning folktales that invite readers into fantastic new worlds through letters, diary entries and lyrical prose.

This dark and twisty enemies-to-lovers story follows a princess and a god bound by fate and sacrifice in a crumbling kingdom.