The Best Science Fiction & Fantasy Books of 2026

Enemies, lovers, traitors and spies: this year’s crop of science fiction and fantasy books sent readers to new realms, galaxies and more. From the new Dungeon Crawler Carl installment to the exhilarating Ninth House finale, from the highly anticipated Baldur’s Gate novel and the latest ACOTAR story, here are the best science fiction and fantasy books readers couldn’t stop raving about this year.

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Return to Rebecca Yarros’ enchanting world in the new Empyrean story. The collection features thirteen stories starring the beloved Fourth Wing characters and their iconic dragons.

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Sarah J. Maas invites you back to the irresistible world of 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.

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Rachel Gillig delivers the haunting follow-up to The Knight and the Moth. 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?

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Discover a world of powerful monsters and cunning hunters in the highly anticipated follow-up to Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry.

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Raeve and Kaan return in the highly anticipated follow-up to the #1 internationally bestselling phenomenon, When The Moon Hatched. Expect more danger, magic, romance and dragons in this sparkling fantasy sequel.

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The author of Assistant to the Villain, Apprentice to Villain, and Accomplice to the Villain returns with another deliciously chaotic adventure. If Evie can't save the kingdom's magic, she might just become its greatest threat.

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The Ninth House trilogy comes to an epic conclusion in Dead Beat. Alex Stern made it to hell and back. But she left the door open behind her. Hell is unleashed upon Lethe House in this whirlwind installment from Leigh Bardugo.

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The eighth book in the Dungeon Crawler Carl series delivers even more action. In the wake of the Faction Wars, Carl and Princess Donut face a new threat that could jeopardize everything. The stakes are high, the drama is explosive and the future is uncertain in this whirlwind adventure.

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The final reckoning is near, and the gods are watching. Fates will be decided, secrets revealed. Prepare for the ultimate battle, the deepest romance and the highest stakes yet.

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Fates and waves collide in this high-stakes pirate survival love story. Cat Rose must do everything it takes to save her empire from ruin, but saving the life of the man she loves might be even more urgent now.

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The final book in the Kindred’s Curse saga raises the stakes as one woman must risk everything to save all mortal kind. With the future uncertain, an unlikely alliance is born.

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Her kiss is her greatest weapon, until she meets the man who can withstand her power. In this enemies-to-lovers dark romantasy, desire may be more dangerous than her curse.

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Set sail on a high-seas fantasy in Sarah Beth Durst’s magical new installment in her Spellshop series. After a rescue mission, Marin enlists her friend Dax to pose as her boyfriend in this cozy romance.

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Caught between her home and her heart, Wren Darlington must choose her loyalties wisely. With secrets aplenty, hidden agendas everywhere and love on the line, Dani Francis delivers another addictive, fast-paced read.

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In a war-ravaged kingdom, a knight is destined to destroy the demons and restore peace, but when Aurelie forms a forbidden bond with one, everything changes. High-stakes intrigue and enemies-to-lovers tension collide in this sweeping tale of good versus evil.

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A twisted competition is about to begin. Astarion Ancunín faces his fate in this Baldur’s Gate 3 prequel novel by T. Kingfisher. Astarion is a dark fantasy adventure following the fan-favorite charlatan who forms an unlikely alliance with a handsome paladin.

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A monstrous plague, seductive magic and the fate of the world at stake. Inspired by a medieval legend, this first book in Raven Kennedy’s new fae-and-bane romance delivers danger, banter and plenty of spice.

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Raeve and Kaan will return in the highly anticipated follow-up to the #1 internationally bestselling phenomenon, When The Moon Hatched. Prepare for more danger, magic, romance and dragons in this sparkling fantasy sequel.

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Born enslaved, Sunny is an unlikely anti-hero whose superpowers come with a fatal flaw. But that won’t stop him in a terrifying magical world where survival and monsters go hand in hand.

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The stakes are high, the swoons are steamy in this sequel to the beloved The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy. This time, the lines between Osric and Aurienne continue to blur as the balance between love and hate rages on.

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This fast-paced cyberpunk thriller from the author of The Will of the Many takes place in a world where murder is legal and the ultra-wealthy live forever.

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Who’s hunting who in the latest duology by Jasmine Mas? Dark magic, enemies-to-lovers tension and plenty of intrigue await. Zora is a powerful knight mage. Aleksander is a ruthless emperor. What could go wrong?

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V.E. Schwab’s Villains series comes to a stunning conclusion in Victorious. Years of betrayal and deceit have led to one final showdown with a rival that the ExtraOrdinaries never expected.

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Agnes has devoted her life to finding forever homes for stray cats, but to save her shelter from dark magic, she’ll have to team up with a cunning magician.

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Prepare to be swept away into the lush Gothic world of Ava Reid's first book in The House of Teeth Duology. Magic, love and revenge await. If you dare to enter.

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Can love rewrite destiny? The thrilling conclusion to the Hurricane Wars trilogy follows Alaric and Talasyn as they endure one more battle, with their fate hanging in the balance.

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

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Monsters of the night and enemies-to-lovers tension fuel Danielle L. Jensen’s high-stakes survival adventure fantasy where hope is as dangerous as the darkness.

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Two lovers-turned-enemies are forced to work together for a deadly mission to find a powerful relic. This epic romantasy is devastating and addictive.

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Every 50 years, the gates between realms open, and a deadly quest begins. Alex Aster returns with her debut adult romantasy featuring bold magic, daring beasts and a mysterious king with alluring secrets.

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This epic, slow-burn romantasy follows a heroine forged in steel and rage. Reya’s secret must be kept at all costs, but what if revealing it could save a life? As she grows closer to Caelan, so does an attraction she can’t ignore in this irresistible tale.

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Known for his sweeping epic fantasy, the author of The Shadow of the Gods returns with a new tale in which the future of the Clans hangs in the balance, and only one girl’s powers can save them, even while she sleeps.

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The hit LitRPG phenomenon is now available in a gorgeous hardcover edition. Rich characters and exceptional worldbuilding offer humor and adventure with a side of monster fighting.

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Professional trickster Kinch sets out to decipher a sentient book filled with dark magic, but one wrong move could unleash unimaginable horrors upon the world in this exhilarating fantasy tale.

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The author of Winter’s Orbit unveils a thrilling sapphic romantasy adventure. Call Me Traitor follows an unlikely pair as they embark on a dangerous rescue mission to save their empire and everyone they love.