Every product on this page was carefully chosen. I may earn a commission if you make a purchase through a link. See my full disclosure.
Nothing is more exciting about a new year than all the new soon-to-be-released books. If you are a fan of the fantasy genre, you are in luck because this curated list features the best and most highly-anticipated fantasy books of 2023.
Read on to discover the most highly-awaited fantasy books of 2023.
Also, if your book addiction is making quite a dent in your wallet, you should consider getting a Kindle Unlimited Membership Plan. It’ll save you money in the long run and support your reading addiction. It’s a win-win.
January Fantasy Books 2023
The Stolen Heir by Holly Black
Release Date: January 3rd
Return to the fantastical world of Elfhame in The Stolen Heir, the first book of a new, captivating duology filled with magic, mystery, and intrigue.
Nearly a decade has passed since the Battle of the Serpent, and Suren, child queen of the Court of Teeth, is no closer to reclaiming the throne her mother sits upon nor ending the reign of terror she exerts with her monstrous creations after fleeing to the human world.
When her path crosses with Prince Oak, heir to Elfhame and her former betrothed, she is wary of his intentions, but with few friends and even fewer allies, he may be her only hope of reclaiming her rightful place as the Queen of the Court of Teeth.
But first, she must help him on a mission that will take her to the heart of Elfhame and force her to confront everything she left behind.
Song of Silver, Flame Like Night by Amélie Wen Zhao
Release Date: January 3rd
In this tale of colonialism and the enduring power of love, Amélie Wen Zhao weaves a lush fantasy world rich with folklore, Chinese mythology, complex characters, and lyrical prose.
Once upon a time, Lan went by a different name. Now, she goes by the name the Elantian colonizers gave her when they overpowered her city, murdered her mother, and banned her people’s magic.
When the practitioner of magic Zen stumbles across Lan and discovers a mark on her arm, he recognizes it for what it is: a sign of her immense power and the key to ending the Elantian regime.
Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo
Release Date: January 10th
In the highly-awaited sequel to Leigh Bardugo’s bestselling novel Ninth House, Galaxy “Alex” Stern and Dawes must do the impossible: Break a soul out of purgatory and uncover Lethe’s deeply buried secrets, all while staying alive.
Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett
Release Date: January 10th
In Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries, Heather Fawcett weaves an enchanting fantasy world rich with vivid world-building, complex characters, and deadly magic.
Cambridge professor Emily Wilde has always been fascinated by the Fair Folk, pushing her to put together the first-ever encyclopedia of faerie lore.
When her work takes her to the tiny village of Hrafnsvik, she has no plans of making friends with the townsfolk, especially not with her insufferable academic and mysterious rival, Wendall Bambleby, who seems to stunt her and her research at every turn.
Magic Tides by Ilona Andrews
Release Date: January 17th
Kate Daniels, Curran, and their son, Conlan, return in the highly-anticipated novella Magic Tides. Despite Kate’s plans to keep a low profile, those quickly go out the window when Kate undertakes a mission to rescue a kidnapped youth. To say things are about to become complicated would be an understatement.
Mysteries of Thorn Manor by Margaret Rogerson
Release Date: January 17th
In this striking sequel to the bestselling novel Sorcery of Thorns, Elisabeth Scrivener, Nathaniel Thorn, and their demon partner Silas return to uncover what is keeping them trapped within Thorn Manor.
Spice Road by Maiya Ibrahim
Release Date: January 24th
In Spice Road, Maiya Ibrahim weaves an utterly mesmerizing tale set in an Arabian-inspired land immersed with hidden spice magic that could prove deadly if in the wrong hands. When sixteen-year-old Imani’s brother brings disgrace to their family name after stealing the highly coveted spice, Imani must find her brother and save her people before it is too late.
Chain of Thorns by Cassandra Clare
Release Date: January 31st
James and Cordelia return in the highly-awaited finale to the Last Hours series from bestselling New York Times author Cassandra Clare.
Cordelia Carstairs is spiraling. Following the death of her father, the loss of the parabatai bond that she will now never have with her best friend Lucie, and the ruination of her marriage with James Herondale, Cordelia is at her wit’s end. To make matters worse, she is no longer a Shadowhunter after binding herself to the ancient demon Lilith.
Stripped of her power and attached to a demon, Cordelia flees to Paris with Matthew Fairchild, but when news reaches the pair of the danger their friends face, Cordelia finds herself returning to the place she was trying to escape: London.
February Fantasy Books 2023
The Bite by Z.W. Taylor
Release Date: February 7th
On the run from her abusive ex, Charlotte flees to Alaska, where she unwittingly finds herself the victim of a wolf attack – an attack that will forever change her life.
The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi
Release Date: February 14th
In The Last Tale of the Flower Bride, Roshani Chokshi weaves a mesmerizing fairy tale immersed with enchanting magic, deadly secrets, and a hidden past rooted in intrigue and tragedy, perfect for fans of Mexican Gothic and The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue.
When the mysterious and beautiful scholar Indigo Maxwell-Casteñada married, she made her bridegroom promise to never look into her past. However, the past never truly stays buried, and when a family tragedy brings them to Indigo’s childhood home, her bridegroom finds himself unable to keep his promise.
Nightbirds by Kate J. Armstrong
Release Date: February 28th
In the striking new fantasy world of the Nightbirds, Kate L. Armstrong brings us a rich and imaginative world centered around the Nightbirds, a secret group of four women blessed with magical powers. Targeted by the church and coveted by those who wish to possess them, these four women must navigate treacherous waters to survive.
The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi by S.A. Chakraborty
Release Date: February 28th
Bestselling author of The City of Brass series S.A. Chakraborty returns with The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi, a dazzling new fantasy world lush with magic, mayhem, and legendary adventures.
Amina al-Sirafi is more than ready to settle down after surviving the treacherous waters of the Indian Ocean and making a name for herself as one of the most notorious pirates. However, those plans fizzle out when she finds herself recruited by a former comrade to retrieve her kidnapped daughter for an ungodly sum of money.
Let’s just say the sea is not through with Amina al-Sirafi.
A Day of Fallen Night by Samantha Shannon
Release Date: February 28th
In the stunning prequel to the bestselling novel The Priory of the Orange Tree, Samantha Shannon returns to her lush world of Priory of the Orange Tree, following the lives of four women and exploring the events that would shape their world for years to come.
March Fantasy Books 2023
Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati
Release Date: March 2nd
In Clytemnestra, Costanza Casati sweeps us into an imaginative mythological tale of one of the ancient world’s greatest villains, perfect for fans of Madeline Miller’s bestselling novel Circe.
A Game of Malice and Greed by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti
Release Date: March 3rd
Bestselling authors of the Zodiac Academy, Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti, bring us A Game of Malice and Greed, a new dark fairytale retelling that sweeps its readers into a land of immortals, thieves, royals, and forbidden love.
The Foxglove King by Hannah F. Whitten
Release Date: March 7th
In The Foxglove King, Hannah F. Whitten sweeps us into a striking fantasy world overflowing with politics, deadly magic, and forbidden romance,
At thirteen, Lore escaped a cult in the catacombs, and for the next decade, she lived by one rule: Remain hidden and keep her death magic under wraps. However, that falls apart when Lore’s magic is exposed, forcing her out of hiding. Now swept into the Sainted King’s dazzling court, Lore must navigate the treacherous halls of the royals.
A House With Good Bones by T. Kingfisher
Release Date: March 28th
In this new eerie fantasy, bestselling author T. Kingfisher brings us a chilling Southern Gothic immersed with suspense, spine-tingling mysteries, and horror.
When Sam Montgomery returns home, she finds that the familiar home of her childhood is no longer. Gone is the warm charm of her childhood home and in its place is a chillingly sterile atmosphere that begs the question, what happened? Where is her nostalgic childhood home, and why does her mother jump at random creaks and noises?
April Fantasy Books 2023
Silver in the Bone by Alexandra Bracken
Release Date: April 4th
As a Hollower, Tamsin Lark is a mortal without magic. When her foster father disappears without a trace, Tamsin must step up and keep herself and her brother Cabell alive.
Nearly a decade passes before she hears of her foster father’s whereabouts. When she learns that he is in possession of a coveted Arthurian relic, she sets out to track him down and reluctantly teams up with her rival Emrys.
Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross
Release Date: April 4th
In Divine Rivals, Rebecca Ross weaves an enchanting fantasy world immersed in magic, romance, and intrigue.
At eighteen, Iris Winnow is doing everything she can to keep her family together. But with her mother’s addiction and her brother missing on the front lines, she knows that the only way to make things manageable is to snatch the columnist promotion at the Oath Gazette.
To stave her worries, she pens letters to her brother and places them beneath her wardrobe door, where they vanish. What Iris does not realize is that they find their way into the hands of her rival at the paper, the cold and calculating Roman Kitt. When Roman writes back, Iris unknowingly forges a connection with her archrival.
Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh
Release Date: April 11th
In her highly-anticipated debut novel Some Desperate Glory, Emily Tesh crafts an imaginative space opera overflowing with adventure and imagination.
Kyr has a vendetta – one against those who murdered the planet Earth. From the moment she could walk, Kyr has worked to make a name for herself in the Gaea Station. Now, she is one of the best warriors of her generation. However, when her brother’s life is put on the line, and her life becomes dedicated to bearing young, she knows she must step up and take her fate into her hands.
Bewitched by Laura Thalassa
Release Date: April 18th
At twenty, Selene Bowers is more than ready to jumpstart her life, starting with getting accepted into Henbane Coven, an academy for young witches. However, Selene must first connect with her powers to be considered by Henbane.
Determined to do just that, Selene hops on a flight to South America and unintentionally comes into her magic when a wicked force attempts to crash the plane. But in waking her powers, there was a cost: memory loss. And to make matters worse, she unwittingly uncovers an ancient evil while traversing the jungle – one that believes her to be his scheming long-dead wife.
To say Selene’s life is about to become a lot more complicated would be an understatement.
In the Lives of Puppets by T.J. Klune
Release Date: April 25th
From the bestselling author of The House in the Cerulean Sea and Under the Whispering Door comes In the Lives of Puppets, a lush and imaginative fantasy world inspired by Wall-E and Carlo Collodi’s The Adventures of Pinocchio.
Hidden within the sweeping, wide-ranging trees is a lovely home occupied by three robots and a human. When android Giovanni Lawson unwittingly alerts robots from his former life to their location, he finds himself a reluctant hostage. To save Gio, Victor Lawson and the rest of his found family must go on a deadly mission across dangerous lands.
May Fantasy Books 2023
The Sun and The Star by Rick Riordan and Mark Oshiro
Release Date: May 2nd
In The Sun and The Star, demigods Nico di Angelo and Will Solace must do the impossible and face the nightmares of Tartarus to rescue their friend. Rick Riordan and Mark Oshiro’s highly-anticipated fantasy novel is perfect for fans of Percy Jackson.
Witch King by Martha Wells
Release Date: May 30th
Kai is not having a good day. Following his murder, his consciousness was trapped and left dormant for years before he was awakened by a lesser mage attempting to harness his powers. To say he is having a bad day would probably be an understatement.
Cherish by Tracy Wolff
Release Date: May 30th
In the sixth installment to Tracy Wolff’s bestselling series, the crew of the Crave series returns, so buckle in and get ready for a wild ride.
June Fantasy Books 2023
Lore Olympus: Volume Four by Rachel Smythe
Release Date: June 6th
In the fourth installment of Rachel Smythe’s beloved fantasy graphic novel series, Persephone and Hades return in all their dazzling glory.
Threads That Bind by Kika Hatzopoulou
Release Date: June 13th
In the universe of Threads That Bind, Kika Hatzopoulou crafts a beautifully imaginative world where the children of gods inherit their powers.
The descendants of the Fates are always born in threes, and the Ora sisters are no exception. Io is the youngest and uses her abilities as a private investigator for the city of Atlante.
When a grizzly string of murders begins haunting the city’s streets, Io takes on the case and makes a startling discovery – that the murderer is cutting their life-threads.
To track the killer, she must team up with Edei Rhuna, the right hand of the Mob Queen and the boy she shares a rare fate-thread with that marks them as soulmates.
July Fantasy Books 2023
Yumi and the Nightmare Painter by Brandon Sanderson
Release Date: July 11th
In Secret Project #3, Brandon Sanderson returns to the world of the Cosmere, a universe that was given life in his bestselling series The Stormlight Archive.
A Soul of Ash and Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Release Date: July 18th
In A Soul of Ash and Blood, Jennifer L. Armentrout returns to the first novel of her bestselling Blood and Ash series. And this time, Hawke is telling the story.
Light Bringer by Pierce Brown
Release Date: July 25th
In the sequel to Dark Age, Pierce Brown returns to his complex fantasy world and the legend that is the Reaper.
If you have yet to read the Red Rising series, I recommend starting with Red Rising, the first book in this epic fantasy saga.
House of Roots and Ruin by Erin A. Craig
Release Date: July 25th
In House of Roots and Ruin, the sequel to the Gothic fantasy House of Salt and Sorrows, Erin A. Craig returns to her lush and imaginative world and tells the tale of Verity Thaumas, the sister who never left the Salann shores.
At seventeen, Verity is more than ready to escape the confines of her family’s estate, Highmoor, so when she gets word from her sister of a potential job painting the Duchess of Bloem’s son Alexander, she seizes the opportunity.
Everything about Bloem seems perfect at first, but as the mornings turn into nights, Verity learns something much more sinister is at play behind its deceiving facade.
Immortal Longings by Chloe Gong
Release Date: July 25th
In the kingdom of Talin, thousands gather to watch a deadly competition that ends with death, more likely than not. For those confident in their body hopping skills, the games are a time to show off their abilities and win a fortune. However, it is not easy, nor is it without a little bit of murder.
Since the massacre of her family five years prior, Princess Calla Tuoleimi has remained in hiding, something that she plans to change if it means getting the opportunity to kill her uncle, even if she has to join the games to do it.
September Fantasy Books 2023
A Queen of Thieves & Chaos by K.A. Tucker
Release Date: September 5th
In A Queen of Thieves and Chaos, the third installment to K.A. Tucker’s Fate and Flame saga, Romeria and Zander return in the epic conclusion.
Fall of Ruin and Wrath by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Release Date: September 12th
In the aftermath of the gods’ arrival, only nine cities survived their wrath. Now ruled by guardians – royalty who feed on mortal pleasure – those cities have become reluctant safe havens for anyone looking to avoid the treacherous wastelands swarming with grotesque nightmares and deadly threats.
Born with the power of intuition, Calista lives a relatively comfortable life as the courtesan to the Baron of Archwood. But when intuition tells her to save a traveling prince in danger, she finds herself in a unique position – one where she must play the temporary companion to a prince – that could spell Calista’s ultimate downfall if she ignores intuition.
A Curse for True Love by Stephanie Garber
Release Date: September 12th
In A Curse for True Love, the epic conclusion to the bestselling Once Upon A Broken Heart trilogy, two villains will do whatever it takes to win the heart of Evangeline.
Play of Shadows by Sebastian de Castell
Release Date: September 14th
Damelas Chademantaigne has no desire to participate in a judicial duel with the deadliest duellist in the city. Desperate to evade the Vixen, Damelas tricks his way into the company of actors, a move that proves effective until he unwittingly reveals a dangerous truth during a performance, one that could put his life in great danger.
October Fantasy Books 2023
Sword Catcher by Cassandra Clare
Release Date: October 10th
In the highly-awaited romantic fantasy from New York Times bestselling author of the Mortal Instruments series, an assassination attempt draws Kel, an orphan turned body-double for the royal heir, and Lin Caster, an Ashkar with magical abilities, into an elaborate scheme of deadly stakes, dangerous magic, and forbidden love.
December Fantasy Books 2023
Gold by Raven Kennedy
Release Date: December 7th
In Gold, the highly-awaited fifth and final installment of the Plated Prisoner series, Raven Kennedy returns to the darkly sensual and fantastical world of danger, magic, and intrigue.
A Fire in the Flesh by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Release Date: December 12th
Sera and Nyktos return in the highly-awaited installment to the Flesh and Fire series from Jennifer L. Armentrout, the New York Times bestselling author of the Blood and Ash series and the Origin trilogy.