Books I'm Looking Forward To In 2026
Oct. 1st, 2025 10:40 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rainwatersparkIt's that time of the year again!!
The books I'm interested in next year are a mix of fantasy, sci-fi, mystery/thriller, and horror/gothic. Fantasy might be slightly more represented than the genres than the others, but it's a more even mix than I'm used to. Also, this list is definitely looking on the lean side compared to previous years. Considering 2025 has been a lean reading year for me, I'm afraid this is looking like a downward reading trend for me? :(
1. The Poet Empress by Shen Tao: January 20, 2026
(Adult, fantasy)
2. The Fourth Princess by Janie Chang: February 10, 2026
(Adult, gothic) Love the idea of a gothic novel set in China.
3. The Only One Who Knows by Lisa Matlin: March 3, 2025
(Adult, mystery) I had mixed feelings about the author's debut, but I'm willing to give another book by her a try.
4. Everyone In This Bank Is A Thief by Benjamin Stevenson: March 17, 2026
(Adult, mystery) Another Ernest Cunningham mystery!!
5. The Book of Fallen Leaves by AS Tamaki: March 17, 2026
(Adult, fantasy)
6. Blindside by Michael Mammay: March 24, 2026
(Adult, sci-fi) Another Carl Butler novel!!
7. The Ending Writes Itself by Evelyn Clarke: April 7, 2026
(Adult, thriller) I don't care about the drama regarding the author's identity, but I'm hoping for some good commentary on writing/the publishing industry here.
8. The Killing Spell by Shay Kauwe: April 14, 2026
(Adult, fantasy)
9. Deathly Fates by Tesia Tsai: April 14, 2026
(YA, fantasy)
10. Japanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker: April 21, 2026
(Adult, horror) KLB has become one of my favorite authors, and this sounds so intriguing.
11. Honor and Heresy by Max Francis: April 21, 2026
(Adult, fantasy) Don't know much about this except that it's a gay romantasy set in a haunted library...?
12. Platform Decay by Martha Wells: May 5, 2026
(Adult, sci-fi) New Murderbot!!
13. The Library After Dark by Ande Pliego: May 5, 2026
(Adult, thriller) I loved the author's debut so I'm excited for her next thriller!
14. The Girl With a Thousand Faces by Sunyi Dean: May 5, 2026
(Adult, fantasy) I did not read The Book Eaters but this sounds really good!
15. The Last Contract of Isako by Fonda Lee: May 5, 2026
(Adult, sci-fi) I didn't love Jade City, but I'm interested enough to give this a shot.
16. She Waits Where Shadows Gather by Michelle Tang: May 5, 2026
(Adult, horror)
17. The Bone Door by Frances White: May 12, 2026
(Adult, fantasy) I enjoyed Voyage of the Damned so I'm curious about this author's next novel.
18. Mortedant’s Peril by RJ Barker: May 19, 2026
(Adult, fantasy, mystery) You'll always get me with a fantasy murder mystery.
19. The Heirs by Faridah Abike-Iyimide: June 2, 2026
(YA, thriller)
20. The Secret World of Briar Rose by Cindy Pham: June 2, 2026
(Adult, fantasy) After watching Cindy's video about this, I'm very intrigued.
21. The Demon Star by Jesse Aragon: July 28, 2026
(Adult, sci-fi) This sounds so good??
22. Harbour of Hungry Ghosts by Eliza Chan: July 28, 2026
(Adult, fantasy) Fathomfolk was a disappointment for me, but this sounds really good so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
23. A Trade of Blood by Robert Jackson Bennett: August 11, 2026
(Adult, fantasy, mystery) The next Ana and Din mystery!!
24. Bound by Fury by Noelle Monet: August 18, 2026
(YA, fantasy)
25. Mothsblood by Lynn D. Jung: October 13, 2026
(Adult, fantasy)
26. An Auction of Souls by Amber Chen: October 20, 2026
(YA, fantasy) I had mixed feelings about the author's debut duology, but I'll try another Chinese fantasy from her.
27. The Last Star in the Void by Melissa Caruso: November 10, 2026
(Adult, fantasy)
28. Paper Dolls by Andrea Stewart: Autumn 2026
(Adult, thriller) I enjoyed The Bone Shard Daughter and I'm interested to see what a thriller from this author looks like.
The books I'm interested in next year are a mix of fantasy, sci-fi, mystery/thriller, and horror/gothic. Fantasy might be slightly more represented than the genres than the others, but it's a more even mix than I'm used to. Also, this list is definitely looking on the lean side compared to previous years. Considering 2025 has been a lean reading year for me, I'm afraid this is looking like a downward reading trend for me? :(
1. The Poet Empress by Shen Tao: January 20, 2026
(Adult, fantasy)
2. The Fourth Princess by Janie Chang: February 10, 2026
(Adult, gothic) Love the idea of a gothic novel set in China.
3. The Only One Who Knows by Lisa Matlin: March 3, 2025
(Adult, mystery) I had mixed feelings about the author's debut, but I'm willing to give another book by her a try.
4. Everyone In This Bank Is A Thief by Benjamin Stevenson: March 17, 2026
(Adult, mystery) Another Ernest Cunningham mystery!!
5. The Book of Fallen Leaves by AS Tamaki: March 17, 2026
(Adult, fantasy)
6. Blindside by Michael Mammay: March 24, 2026
(Adult, sci-fi) Another Carl Butler novel!!
7. The Ending Writes Itself by Evelyn Clarke: April 7, 2026
(Adult, thriller) I don't care about the drama regarding the author's identity, but I'm hoping for some good commentary on writing/the publishing industry here.
8. The Killing Spell by Shay Kauwe: April 14, 2026
(Adult, fantasy)
9. Deathly Fates by Tesia Tsai: April 14, 2026
(YA, fantasy)
10. Japanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker: April 21, 2026
(Adult, horror) KLB has become one of my favorite authors, and this sounds so intriguing.
11. Honor and Heresy by Max Francis: April 21, 2026
(Adult, fantasy) Don't know much about this except that it's a gay romantasy set in a haunted library...?
12. Platform Decay by Martha Wells: May 5, 2026
(Adult, sci-fi) New Murderbot!!
13. The Library After Dark by Ande Pliego: May 5, 2026
(Adult, thriller) I loved the author's debut so I'm excited for her next thriller!
14. The Girl With a Thousand Faces by Sunyi Dean: May 5, 2026
(Adult, fantasy) I did not read The Book Eaters but this sounds really good!
15. The Last Contract of Isako by Fonda Lee: May 5, 2026
(Adult, sci-fi) I didn't love Jade City, but I'm interested enough to give this a shot.
16. She Waits Where Shadows Gather by Michelle Tang: May 5, 2026
(Adult, horror)
17. The Bone Door by Frances White: May 12, 2026
(Adult, fantasy) I enjoyed Voyage of the Damned so I'm curious about this author's next novel.
18. Mortedant’s Peril by RJ Barker: May 19, 2026
(Adult, fantasy, mystery) You'll always get me with a fantasy murder mystery.
19. The Heirs by Faridah Abike-Iyimide: June 2, 2026
(YA, thriller)
20. The Secret World of Briar Rose by Cindy Pham: June 2, 2026
(Adult, fantasy) After watching Cindy's video about this, I'm very intrigued.
21. The Demon Star by Jesse Aragon: July 28, 2026
(Adult, sci-fi) This sounds so good??
22. Harbour of Hungry Ghosts by Eliza Chan: July 28, 2026
(Adult, fantasy) Fathomfolk was a disappointment for me, but this sounds really good so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
23. A Trade of Blood by Robert Jackson Bennett: August 11, 2026
(Adult, fantasy, mystery) The next Ana and Din mystery!!
24. Bound by Fury by Noelle Monet: August 18, 2026
(YA, fantasy)
25. Mothsblood by Lynn D. Jung: October 13, 2026
(Adult, fantasy)
26. An Auction of Souls by Amber Chen: October 20, 2026
(YA, fantasy) I had mixed feelings about the author's debut duology, but I'll try another Chinese fantasy from her.
27. The Last Star in the Void by Melissa Caruso: November 10, 2026
(Adult, fantasy)
28. Paper Dolls by Andrea Stewart: Autumn 2026
(Adult, thriller) I enjoyed The Bone Shard Daughter and I'm interested to see what a thriller from this author looks like.
