January 2026 New Book Releases: Fantasy Edition

January 2026 New Releases

new releases in fantasy, romantasy, and paranormal romance

Fantasy New Releases in January 2026

This month’s lineup blends epic fantasy, young adult fantasy, cozy fantasy, paranormal romance, and romantasy books that I'm personally very excited for! If you’re searching for new fantasy books to read, these titles show a lot of promise for becoming your next favorite read.

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Release dates may have changed from the time of posting.

The Swan's Daughter by Roshani Chokshi

January 6

young adult - romantasy - standalone

Cursed prince • Deadly marriage curse • Magical marriage competition • Truth-teller heroine • Forced alliance • Court politics • Hidden identity •Fairytale vibes

Graceless Heart by Isabel Ibañez

January 13

adult - historical - romantasy - standalone

15th century Renaissance • Sculptor heroine • Enemies to lovers • Deadly competition • Forced proximity • Court intrigue • Magic as a dangerous gift

King of Ravens by Clare Sager

January 27

adult - romantasy - book 1 of a series

Fae king • Underworld romance • Forced marriage bargain • Deadly labyrinth trial • Beauty-and-the-Beast–adjacent • Enemies to lovers • Dark court politics • Morally gray love interest

Rings of Fate by Melissa De La Cruz

January 6

adult - romantasy - book 1 of a series

Grumpy prince x sarcastic barmaid • Fake engagement • Forced proximity • Road-trip quest • Magical curse to break • Reluctant allies to lovers

Perfect for readers who love the wit of The Princess Bride and fantasy quests.

We Who have No Gods by Liza Anderson

January 27

adult - romantasy - dark academia - book 1 of a series

Secret society of witches • Non-magical heroine in a magical world • Hidden family secrets • Dangerous magical academy • Enemies to reluctant allies • Gothic castle setting • Mentor–antagonist tension

To Ride a Rising Storm by Moniquill Blackgoose

January 27

young adult - fantasy - queer - book 2 of a series

Dragon rider • Coming of age • Magic school / academy setting • Colonial resistance arc • Human–dragon bond • Indigenous heroine

A Vow in Vengeance by Jaclyn Rodriguez

January 13

adult - romantasy - dark academia - book 1 of a series

Enemies to lovers • Fake fated mates • Forced proximity • Tarot-based magic system • Cutthroat magical college • Ruthless prince mentor • Rare forbidden magic

Silver & Blood by Jessie Mahalik

January 27

adult - romantasy - dark academia - book 1 of a series

Beauty-and-the-Beast vibes • Forced proximity • Magical castle setting • Grumpy x sunshine • Monster hunting

Perfect for readers of Jennifer L. Armentrout, Callie Hart, and Holly Black.

A War of Wyverns by S.F. Williamson

January 6

young adult - romantasy - dark academia - book 2 of a series

London, 1923 • Dark academia • Codebreaker heroine • Enemies to lovers • Dragon linguistics • Secret magic • Class divide conflict • Civil war catalyst heroine

A Wild Radiance by Maria Ingrande Mora

January 20

young adult - romantasy - queer platonic - polyamory - steampunk

Magical industrial revolution • Anti-heroine arc • Class disparity conflict • electricity-like magic

Perfect for fans of Arcane, Wicked, and Iron Widow.

The Poet Empress by Shen Tao

January 20

adult - epic fantasy

Inspired by Chinese history • Forbidden magic • Women forbidden to read • Palace intrigue • Morally gray prince • Forced proximity • Survivor heroine • Political rebellion • Civil war backdrop • Magic through poetry • Desperate bargain

A Realm Undone by J.L. Lienhardt

January 20

adult - epic fantasy

Women-led epic fantasy • Banished heroine returns home • Heroine is a mother • Second-chance romance • Magical veil between kingdoms • Immortal monsters invading

Perfect for fans of The City of Brass and The Sword of Kaigen.

Cold Stars Midnight Glow by y Evie Marceau

January 7

adult - romantasy - dark romance - book 4 of a series

Enemies to lovers • Forced proximity • Bodyguard x bride • Girl sold into marriage • Forbidden attraction • Magical heroine with animal communication • Escaping captivity • Dark fairytale retelling • Inspired by Snow White • Inspired by Lady Godiva

Enchanting the Fae Queen by Stephanie Burgis

January 27

adult - cozy fantasy - romantasy - book 2 of interconnected standalone series

Enemies to lovers • Grumpy x sunshine • Fae queen x human general • Forced alliance • Kidnapping turns to chemistry • Morally gray heroine • Virtuous hero • Fae tournament • Forced proximity

The Elsewhere Express by Samantha Sotto Yambao

January 20

adult - cozy fantasy - magical realism

Found family • Magical train • Whimsical adventure • Grief and healing arc • Two lost souls finding purpose • Soft romance • Portal fantasy • Mysterious stowaway antagonist

Sparking Fire out of Fate by Brigid Kemmerer

January 27

young adult - romantasy - queer - book 3 of a series

Forbidden magic • Secret romance • Found family • Multiple POV fantasy • bisexual representation • Grumpy soft blacksmith • Magic-wielder x ordinary villager • Political rebellion • Small-town fantasy setting

Dragon Cursed by Elise Kova

January 6 [rerelease]

young adult - romantasy

Dragon shifter heroine • magical trials • decaying fantasy world • post-apocolyptic world • enemies to lovers

Psycho Fae by Jasmine Mas

January 13 [rerelease]

adult - dark romantasy - reverse harem / why choose

enemies to lovers • omegaverse • Monster shifters • Bootcamp training • Morally gray heroes • Forced proximity roommates • Strong female warrior

The Wolf and the Crown of Blood by Elizabeth May

January 27

adult - romantasy - book 1 of a series

Enemies to lovers • Forced proximity • Princess heroine • Reincarnated heroine • Dark fairytale retelling • Beauty and the Beast–inspired • Eros and Psyche vibes • Morally gray love interest • God x mortal romance

Jealous Rage by Sav R. Miller

January 6

adult - dark academia romantasy - book 2 of an interconnected standalone series

Dark academia romance • professor x student • one night stand • forbidden • secret relationship • secret societies

The Barista's Guide to Love & Larceny by Caroline Bonin

January 13

young adult - cozy romantasy

College magic setting • First love • Girl with a secret ability • Found family friends • Barista romance • Comfort read energy

Perfect for fans of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before or The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches.

The Wolf and the Crown of Blood by Elizabeth May

January 20

adult - cozy romantasy - queer

Opposites attract • Forced proximity • Grumpy goblin x sunshine halfling • Cottagecore romance Domestic magic • Found community • Enemies-to-lovers (soft version) • comfort read

Perfect for fans of Legends and Lattes and The House in the Cerulean Sea.

The Book of Blood and Roses by Annie Summerlee

January 13

adult - romantasy - queer - dark academia

book 1 of a series

Sapphic romance • Vampire hunter x vampire • Enemies to lovers • Forced proximity roommates • Undercover at a magical university • Accidental familiar bond • Scottish Highlands

The Serpent's Sin by Katherine Ann Kingsley

January 23

adult - dark romantasy - book 2 of a series

Enemies to lovers • Marriage of convenience • Assassin bride • Mafia vampire clan • Revenge mission • Morally gray hero • Forced proximity

The Book of Blood and Roses by Annie Summerlee

January 13

adult - gothic - fantasy

Dark fairytale vibes • Cinderella retelling • Phantom/ghost presence • Singer heroine • Atmospheric winter setting

The Serpent's Sin by Katherine Ann Kingsley

January 23

adult - romantasy - book 1 of a series

Girl disguised as a boy • Military enlistment impersonation • Unique magic system

Perfect for fans of the plot of Quicksilver and the magic system of One Dark Window,