2026’s Anticipated Releases for January, February, & March
Welcome to a new year, fellow readers! We have quite the lineup of books releasing this quarter, and I cannot wait to get my hands and eyes on some of these. Also, I know this is just a small portion of books releasing this quarter )there are so many I haven’t heard about yet!), but this post should probably go up before the quarter ends. 😂
With so much releasing, I definitely had to do some categorizing! In this post, we have fantasy (lots), humor/mystery, romantasy, superhero, and science fiction. There’s also a range of age groups: adult, young adult, and middle grade.
Click on the book’s cover or title to purchase!
**Please note that some books may contain explicit content. Read at your own discretion.
For the Fantasy Fans:
Yellowstone Calling (Earthcore Planetwide | Book 1)
Stampede!
A wildlife crisis in Yellowstone National Park leads the West Yellowstone town council to desperate measures: calling in the Earthcore team, under the suspicion that the mass animal migration has a geothermal cause.
Anira, Tiger and friends find themselves stumped at first, and it turns out most of the locals are sceptical of their supernatural gifts—even when presented with evidence.
Can the strange magic from New Zealand help get to the core of a very different land—and even help Yellowstone’s very own cryptids to find their way home?
📜 Contemporary Fantasy released December 27, 2025
Eidolon's Light (The Shadow's Creed Saga | Book 4)
The past is a wound. And now it's bleeding into the present.
A cataclysm sweeps across the land of Kiriku, ripping chasms into the earth and tearing villages asunder. From the depths of these wounds, a wave of yurei—vengeful spirits of the dead—emerge. Yet this plague of spirits is only a prelude to a greater horror. A presence long-buried is poised to break free.
As a vital alliance threatens to shatter and the land dies, the Phantoms are plunged into a desperate struggle. Kilo, driven by a deeper truth, turns his attention to the void, certain the past is the key to save the future. Meanwhile, Asdar and the rest of the Shadows struggle to hold the line against the yurei and the Silver Foxes as the world crumbles around them.
In the fourth installment of The Shadow's Creed Saga, the deepest mysteries of the void are finally revealed. As the truth comes to light, the line between ally and enemy blurs. To save their world, the Shadows must make a final, impossible sacrifice—one that will decide the fate of the very people they are trying to protect.
📜 Japanese-inspired Epic Fantasy released January 1, 2026
Origins Anthology (Shades of Black)
Everything has a beginning.
Before the heroes and horrors of In Darkness Cast and Afterlight, before the wars that sundered Heaven and Hell, there were moments—small and vast—that set the darkness in motion. Shades of Black: Origins gathers those moments into one legendary volume, revealing the birth of monsters, saints, and the damned alike.
In Son of Anak, a titan’s son rises from the burning Hellscape to master his rage and survive betrayal on his path to becoming the Slaughterlord.
In Ashes, treasure hunters seeking fortune in the Onyx Desert awaken a power older than worlds, one that will not let them leave alive.
In The Raising of Ermog Grei, a weary doctor confronts a necromancer’s plague and must embrace forbidden power to save the living and the dead.
In Desolate, a hunted mother becomes a warrior-nun to protect her child, caught between holiness and her own damnation.
In Blood of Anak, Ursus—now crowned Slaughterlord—faces legions, demons, and the storm of blood within that threatens to consume his throne.
In Einherjar, the Wolves of the North march into Ravenholme to slay a demon lord and uncover the monstrous truth buried in their brotherhood.
And in the haunting Ember Knight, Gideon’s endless death on the eve of Natalis becomes a lesson in sacrifice, and in how even in darkness, a star may be born.
From the desolate wastes of the Hellscape to the frozen ruins of the North, these are the beginnings—the choices, curses, and crucibles—that forged the world of Shades of Black.
📜 Fantasy anthology released January 1, 2026
Of Dawn and Embers (The Fireborn Epic | Book 3)
He rides a dawnling, a steed of light and glory, destined to restore.
Jakim Ha’Nor will save his people, or so says the prophecy that upended his life and drove his brothers to betray him. Now, he has returned as the dawnrider to fulfill his purpose and reconcile with his brothers—only to find himself embroiled in a war.
Captured in the fallout of a deadly attack, Rafi grapples with the ghosts of the past. His brother is alive but no longer himself, and Rafi will stop at nothing to save him. Farther up the coast, Ceridwen strives to reignite the embers of the rebellion to burn the empire down. When Rafi is sentenced to execution before the imperial court, Ceridwen must rally every spear and steed she can for a blistering strike at the heart of the capital.
But the empire’s schemes are already in motion, and Jakim’s two missions collide when an unexpected encounter with one of his brothers reveals the true threat behind the imperial thirst for ancient secrets. Hidden forces intend to unleash a cataclysmic power, spurring Ceridwen, Rafi, and Jakim to challenge the full, crushing might of the empire for the fate of the world.
Stars weep and ash falls as the tides of battle propel the Fireborn queen, the Sea-Demon prince, and the Dawnrider priest toward a meteoric clash in this thunderous series finale.
📜 Young Adult Epic Fantasy released January 13, 2026 from Enclave Publishing
Unified (The Legacy Chapters | Book 4)
Princess Haden has fled the kingdom of Tenton and she doesn’t plan on returning. After procuring evidence against the Queen of Tenton, Haden escaped her caged life in Maldove Palace and snuck into the one place where her mother could never find her—Kadesh, the twenty-year enemy of Tenton.
But as the princess smuggles herself into enemy territory, she is soon forced into a competition to win the hand of the crown prince of Kadesh. The only problem is, no one has seen or heard from the prince in years.
However, when the competition commences, lethal accidents occur around every corner and the lives of the young women desiring to win the prince’s heart are snuffed out. With secrets hidden within Kadesh’s walls and Haden’s own secrets she wishes to bury, the princess of Tenton must decide if the risks she’s taking will save her life or end it.
📜 Young Adult Fantasy released January 13, 2026 from Quill & Flame Publishing
Tips, Tricks, & the Art of Swordplay (The Misadventures of a Chosen One's Best Friend | Book 2)
A festival of knights. A trial of courage. A villainous champion.
News of the Chosen One’s appointing has reached the other kingdoms, and a group of emissaries has arrived at Ariemday’s gates to offer an invitation of goodwill—one that Julian’s grandfather turned away many years ago.
With a pledge to partake in a competition of knightly skills, Julian must now train to wield his legendary sword and the mantle of being Agrabindum’s heir. Toby has learn to clean the prince's armor, take care of the horses, and whatever else is required of a squire.
The two friends must pass the trials of knighthood before the Chosen One can enter the competition. But there are unknown dangers lurking in the forests of Yurgyil and it’s only a matter of time before Barbadian returns.
📜 Middle Grade Epic Fantasy Adventure releasing January 24, 2026
Thread Bare (Children of Prophecy | Book 1)
“The sun will be turned into darkness. And the moon into blood…”
In the future the world has fallen. Prophets, Judges, and Healers have become separate houses in preparation for when the blood moon rises and the third and final war will begin.
Vitania, a young prophet, has started her training to join Crusaders who fight the Bane, shadowy creatures working for Fallen overlords who constantly hunt humans, the only problem is she has no gift, and to make matters worse, the other houses call her “Vita the Unseen”.
When Vita makes a fatal mistake to fight before she’s ready, she’s pulled into the rising tide of war. Will she gain her prophetic sight in time to help humanity survive?
📜 Christian Fiction Fantasy releasing January 30, 2026
The Restitching of Camille DuLaine (The Rivenlea Sphere | Book 2)
A splintered world, a heart gone cold. Hope reborn in threads of gold.
After accidentally bridging the storyworlds together, Emlyn DuLaine faces an impossible task: sever the connections without destroying the stories themselves. If she fails, the characters will be trapped in twisted versions of their tales, forced to relive their worst moments forever.
But undoing the bridges is only the beginning. To truly fix what’s unraveling, Emlyn must uncover the secret flaw buried deep in Rivenlea's foundation, something that's been wrong since the very start.
And the danger has never been closer to home. The clock is ticking for the injured wyvern who needs Rivenlite air to survive and the story boy Emlyn swore she’d never fall for. Emlyn and her team must rescue Frank and Laramie from chaotic, shifting story spheres before they’re gone for good.
But Frank and Laramie aren’t the only ones lost to the spheres. Camille DuLaine is a prisoner, held as bait by someone who knows exactly how to lure her sister in. After seven years of sleep, Camille wakes to find herself trapped in a storybook and sure of only one thing: Emlyn must stay far, far away.
Racing to solve one mind-bending puzzle after the next, Emlyn uncovers a plan seventeen years in the making. She stands at the center of a fractured universe—and she might be too late to save it.
📜 Young Adult Fantasy releasing February 10, 2026 from Enclave Publishing
The Chosen Few (The King and Prophet Chronicles | Book 2)
Two souls bonded. Two kingdoms in danger. One choice.
With Beckah at his side, Prince Seth Hal-Titus is making progress in reclaiming his stolen kingdom of North Arden for the first time in over a decade. However, just when he embraces his role as Hand of Adonai and his growing strength, a surprise announcement from the Council of Elders threatens to disrupt all that Seth has gained, including his relationship with Beckah. Every choice Seth now makes will determine his happiness and the future of his kingdom.
Beckah Conrad fully embraced her role as Arden’s prophetess but not her relationship with Seth. Fearing a marriage would only hinder his reign as king, Beckah walks a fine line between supporting a monarch and being in love with him. But when a pair of prophets arrive, demanding she join them and leave Seth, Beckah must finally decide what kind of prophetess she will be and what it means for her feelings for Seth. Meanwhile, the key to a growing threat in the North is locked in her memory, and she must unravel the mystery before it is too late.
Alliances will be forged. Choices will be made. And the future of North and South Arden will be decided.
📜 Christian Fantasy releasing February 20, 2026.
Frogs at Noontide (Star-Crossed Fairy Tales | Book 3)
An outcast lady. A trapped prince. A slimy scheme to overturn a dynasty.
She’s marked by her past.
Lady Zeraphethina (Zeth, please) has finally escaped imprisonment by a malevolent hag and is ready to marry her prince—only he’s been transformed into a frog. At least, she thinks he's been transformed. Frogs aren’t known for talking, and her relations with the royals at the court are already strained without making outlandish claims. Instead, she turns to her tinkering skills, creating a trinket that might turn him back. Or make things worse.
He must free his people.
As the carefree youngest prince, Milos figured committing to his true love was enough responsibility. But now he finds that not only is he a captive amphibian, but so are many servants from the palace. And some of his fellow prisoners are looking far too comfortable in their frog bodies. Burdened by their plight, he must risk his life to rescue them and discover the culprits behind the slimy affliction.
They fight for their future.
Bound by chains of curse and law, Milos and Zeth must work together to end the enchantment and bring the culprits to justice. Otherwise, Milos and his people will lose themselves and become frogs forever.
📜 Young Adult Fairytale Retelling releasing February 27, 2026
Retelling of The Frog Prince
The Shadow Enemy (The Rift Saga | Book 1)
In a realm of everlasting sunlight, Princess Mika is a warrior born of prophecy—and burdened by it. She hunts two Dark Princes destined to overthrow her kingdom in the tenth generation—her generation. Still grieving her father’s assassination, she vows to protect her disabled brother, the heir to the throne, who withers under the strain of failing magic.
Armed with only a partial prophecy, she embarks on a perilous quest to stop the princes before they drown her world in eternal shadow. When she captures one prince, her thirst for answers unleashes a dangerous grief-driven fury. Before she regains control, the prince’s brother retaliates by abducting her for leverage. Imprisoned in the very land she sought to destroy, an unforeseen magical connection between her and this prince both surprises and unnerves her.
Bound to her enemy by this unexpected tether, Mika must navigate a deadly dance of deception, power, and desire. Is her magic finally awakening—or is it being twisted against her by the very prince she was born to destroy?
To save her brother and her kingdom, Mika must face the one enemy she fears most: herself.
📜 Upper Young Adult/New Adult Fantasy Romance releasing March 10, 2026
The Fires of December: A Cosmere Novel (Hoid's Travails)
In the next Cosmere standalone novel, Hoid has an epic tale to share: In a forgotten land sustained by colorful rivers of demon blood, a young woman named December learns a devastating plague is on its way. But who will believe her? Against impossible odds, she sets sail up the River Violet to warn the king's court, determination―and wisdom beyond her years―burning in her eyes. With a chatty priestess and a fledgling fashion designer at her side, she must navigate incredulous royal officials, twisted court intrigue, and a roguish count who might hold the key to her quest―and her heart.
BackerKit crowdfunding campaign launching March 3, 2026.
*Commercial release will be sometime December 2026.
For the Mystery Fans:
Beatrice Ophelia is Flickering Out (Lake Erie Mysteries | Book 1)
Beatrice Sawyer is flickering out, for what might be the last time.
After being laid off yet again, Beatrice returns with her family to her childhood summer home to unwind. And maybe figure out how to move out of her parents' basement. The town is hosting their inaugural Smallmouth Bass Festival as a last-wick effort to attract tourists, and Beatrice hopes volunteering might shed some light on her future.
At first, things seem to be brightening. Beatrice rediscovers the candle shop her grandmother once owned, and a new dream sparks to life.
Until she stumbles upon her estranged aunt dragging away the marina owner's body.
When her grandfather insists on his daughter's innocence, Beatrice must shelve her newfound dream and team up with her brother and childhood best friend to clear her aunt's name. But as they dig deeper, Beatrice wonders whether their efforts will mend their family ties-or if she'll fail to save her aunt and have to watch her family go up in smoke.
📜 Adult humorous cozy mystery releasing March 17, 2026
For the Romantasy Fans:
A Cursed Slumber (Veil of Moonlight | Book 2)
A bond so perfect even darkness can’t dim their love.
Everything was supposed to change on Rosalyn’s eighteenth birthday. The deal was that once the curse broke, she and Paxton would tell everyone the truth and finally get their happily ever after.
Instead, she fell into an eternal slumber.
Now, Paxton is on a quest to save the one woman he shouldn’t want. He’ll do whatever it takes to save his beautiful Rose, even if that means facing fire-breathing dragons, cruel warlocks… and her older brother, who happens to be his best friend and alpha.
Anything to free his precious mate from an immortal life of nightmares.
📜 Fantasy Romance (with spice) releasing February 11, 2026
The Fortune of Fractured Fate (Fate of Elodia | Book 2)
Prince Tybalt thought he found his answer and happily ever after with Freya, but thanks to his mother's surprise revelation, everything is up in the air again. He's once again suffering a broken heart, but this time he has the perfect distraction-a plot to take his throne.
When he and his cousin, Klarissa, investigate the suspicious circumstances, they uncover a plot far darker and more dangerous than they originally suspected. With help from Miles, the resident priest, they discover that the best way to unravel the effects of the events at play requires someone who is no longer at the palace, and getting them back may mean directly defying the queen.
Meanwhile, Freya and Bash are working hard to bring down the magic hating cultas draíochta member by member. They quickly discover that the influences of the cult reach further than they previously expected, but destroying the cult means facing their pasts. As they navigate their discoveries, they also must navigate their growing feelings for each other, which presents issues of its own. Every day brings new challenges and risks, and every time they think they have things figured out, a new, darker discovery is made.
Time is running out for everyone, and if a solution can't be put into action by the next Fae moon, everything as they know it will change forever and Elodia will fall to darkness, never to rise again.
📜 New Adult (with spice) Fantasy releasing February 17, 2026
Fangs & Follies (Soulmates | Book 3)
A group project, a challenge, and a longing — maybe even love — that could change everything.
Autumn came to college to change the world. She didn’t expect it to change her. When she’s paired for a group project with a vampire — a being the Elves have long distrusted — Autumn is forced to confront everything she thought she knew. But as she uncovers hidden truths and buried histories, she realizes there may be more than one world that needs saving…including her own.
Emma took up Astronomy out of boredom, but stargazing becomes anything but dull when she’s partnered with an Elf. Beautiful, fierce, and full of quiet fire, the Elf stirs something in Emma she thought she’d buried long ago. Emma's heart, once broken, is not so easily mended. But maybe, just maybe, this girl could be the light she didn’t know she needed.
Together, they must finish their project. But in the process, they may discover something far greater: the courage to trust, to heal, and to reach for a love written in the stars.
📜 Romantasy releasing March 6, 2026
For the Superhero Fans:
Conveniently Married to a Superhero (Superhero Romance Project | Book 9)
When superpowers are involved, a marriage of convenience is anything but.
Losing his beloved wife five years ago shattered Malcom "Mal" Mason's world. Hanging on for the sake of his teen daughter, Madison, he goes through the motions, leading his superhero team and protecting the citizens of Alaska from the occasional supervillain threat. When a rash of supervillain attacks coincides with his late wife's brother suing him for custody, Mal's barely maintained sanity threatens to snap. Could the answer to his problems lie in a marriage of convenience?
On the run from mistakes of her youth, programmer and sometimes "hacktivist," Charlie has finally found a sense of community, living and working in a small but close knit town. Her secret "lie detector" powers can smell a conspiracy a mile away, and she just knows there's something bigger and more nefarious behind the recent villain attacks. Her investigating puts her in the villains' crosshairs and costs her her home. With no where else to go, the local superhero's offer to play house to get his snooty in-laws off his back seems ... tempting. Having a superhero in the next room to protect her from villains and easier access to the case she is determined to crack? Even better.
As Mal and Charlie navigate villain attacks, meddling in-laws, and a rebellious teen in constant hot water, they're surprised at how good a team they make. Could there be something real in their pretending? Or will Charlie's secrets sink any chances of a happy ending?
📜 Superhero Romantic Comedy released January 9, 2026
For the Science Fiction Fans:
Firebreak (Firebird Interlude Trilogy | Book 1)
What would you sacrifice to save your family and your home world?
Lady Firebird Caldwell returns to the world of her birth, Netaia, intending to introduce her young sons to the noble Electors while her husband, Brennen, conducts a military inspection. When mysterious ships in distress suddenly approach the planet, the Electorate sends her to initiate first contact. Forced to work alongside a vengeful childhood enemy, Firebird uses everything within her power—even her passion for music—to negotiate, only to discover their alien technology threatens all the worlds she holds dear.
Facing ruthless betrayal, Firebird undertakes a deadly journey to salvage the mission. Brennen must make daring use of his telepathic powers to save human life in the galactic Whorl, including that of their young sons. But saving the worlds might force Brennen to give the order that would mean Firebird's death. In a galaxy poised on the edge of ruin, survival may demand the ultimate sacrifice—from them both.
📜 Science Fiction/Space Opera releasing March 10, 2026 from Enclave Publishing
Did I miss any books you’re eagerly awaiting in this first part of the year?