Highly Anticipated Fantasy Reads Of 2021
fan·ta·sy
It’s 2021 and I’m so excited for the new year! I’m feeling refreshed and motivated and ready to get things done. Especially with all the reading and new books I’ve got lined up! In 2020, I found myself continuously reaching for alllll the fantasy books, please. No matter what other genres I may enjoy, I enjoy them even more so when they overlap with fantasy.
For me, fantasy simply means a story set in a made-up world that’s full of magic, mythical beings, and supernatural experiences typically with heroes and heroines and sidekicks alike who are fraught with trials and tribulations as they adventure through a fictional enchanting tale. There’s usually a bad guy and someone you’re rooting for. Sometimes there’s a love interest. Sometimes it’s dark. Sometimes it’s whimsical. Other times, it’s fully otherworldly or even off-world. Fantasy in literature is anything that is not reminiscent of the real world as we humans know it (which inherently screams ME ME ME all day long). I love it!
Sometimes we need fantasy to survive the reality
The Oxford Dictionary defines “fantasy” as “the activity of imagining things, especially things that are impossible or improbable”. Vocabulary.com says “fantasy” is “dreams, imagination, and make-believe”. Synonyms include reverie, mirage, and daydream. Even the Urban Dictionary describes it as “a strong addiction usually with something that is not real and probably will never be.” HA. I like that one! That definitely resonates with my fantasy reading, loving soul!
In the book world, when you see this tag or category associated with a book title, it typically means you can expect an entire epic world including beings, creatures, and a magic system that are make-believe and not real and never will be. Whomp, whomp! But that’s why we LOVE these stories. Think of the movies in The Lord of the Rings trilogy or the TV Show Game of Thrones (both based on epic fantasy book series mind you!).
Epic fantasy is by far my favorite kind of story and I’m so excited about all the new books coming out in 2021! If you’re wondering what fantasy books to read next and this year in 2021, look no further! In honor of the new year, I’ve compiled…
40+ highly anticipated fantasy books of 2021, Stand-alone and all the sequels included!
These are some of the most anticipated fantasy books of 2021 and I’m ecstatic for all of them to release! Okay, ready? Let’s do this.
40+ Highly Anticipated Fantasy Books Of 2021
Okay! So, I’m covering 40 fantasy book releases that will hit in 2021. This list includes epic fantasy, retellings, sequels, debut novels, and so much more! Some are part of a fantasy book series and others are fantasy books without sequels. And most are fantasy books with adventure and romance!
I’ve also denoted the release date, a little more about the type of fantasy (or subgenre) it is, and whether the book is part of a series, AND if it’s Young Adult vs. Adult or New Adult. There are also links included for Goodreads and for where you can buy or preorder them! Alrighty, I think that should cover it! So, let’s dive in. Here are 40 of the most anticipated fantasy books of 2021!
Blog Contents
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Here’s To A New Year
More Bookish Posts
January
January 5th, 2021
Lore by Alexandra Bracken | YOUNG ADULT, MYTHOLOGICAL, RETELLING
January 7th, 2021
Blood Metal Bone by Lindsay Cummings | YOUNG ADULT, SCI-FI
January 12th, 2021
Into The Heartless Woods by Joanna Ruth Meyer | YOUNG ADULT, PARANORMAL, RETELLING
The Frozen Crown*** by Greta Kelly | ADULT / NEW ADULT, SCI-FI, EPIC FANTASY
January 19, 2021
Hall of Smoke by H.M. Long | ADULT / NEW ADULT, MYTHOLOGICAL, EPIC FANTASY
We Free The Stars* by Hafsah Faizal | YOUNG ADULT, HIGH FANTASY, ROMANCE
January 26th, 2021
A Vow So Bold and Deadly** by Brigid Kemmerer | YOUNG ADULT, FAIRY TALE RETELLING, ROMANCE
Unchosen by Katharyn Blair | YOUNG ADULT, POST APOCALYPTIC FANTASY, SCI-FI HORROR
*Book 2 in the Sands of Arawiya Series | **Book 3 in the Cursebreakers Series | ***Book 1 in The Frozen Crown Series
NOTE: not all titles are available for pre-order yet!
February
February 9, 2021
The Gilded Ones* by Namina Forna | YOUNG ADULT, SCI-FI, HIGH FANTASY
The Witch’s Heart by Genevieve Gornichec | ADULT, PARANORMAL + MYTHOLOGICAL, RETELLING
February 15, 2021
Music of the Night by Angela J. Ford | ADULT, STEAMY ROMANCE, RETELLING INSPIRED BY PHANTOM OF THE OPERA + BEAUTY & THE BEAST
February 16, 2021
A Court of Silver Flames** by Sarah J Mass | NEW ADULT, PARANORMAL (FAE), HIGH FANTASY ROMANCE
We Are The Fire by Sam Taylor | YOUNG ADULT, HIGH FANTASY, CRUEL EMPIRE TROPE
TBD
Witherward*** by Hannah Mathewson | YOUNG ADULT, PARANORMAL (SHAPESHIFTERS), FANTASY WORLD SET IN LONDON
*Book 1 in the Deathless Series | **Book 4 in A Court of Thorns and Roses Series | ***Book 1 in the Witherward Series
NOTE: not all titles are available for pre-order yet!
March
March 2, 2021
Red Tigress* by Amélie Wen Zhao | YOUNG ADULT, URBAN RETELLING, ROMANCE
March 3, 2021
The HOOK** by Jenny Hickman | YOUNG ADULT, PETER PAN RETELLING, ROMANCE
March 4, 2021
A Trial of Sorcerers*** by Elise Kova | YOUNG ADULT, EPIC FANTASY, ROMANCE
March 9, 2021
Sing Me Forgotten by Jessica S. Olson | YOUNG ADULT, HIGH FANTASY, ROMANCE + RETELLING
March 16, 2021
Namesake**** by Adrienne Young | YOUNG ADULT, SCI-FI ROMANCE FANTASY, PIRATES
March 23, 2021
Lost In The Neverwoods by Aiden Thomas | YOUNG ADULT, FAIRY TALE RETELLING, LGBTQIA+
March 30, 2021
Rule of Wolves***** by Leigh Bardugo | YOUNG ADULT, HIGH FANTASY, ADVENTURE
*Book 2 in Blood Heir Trilogy | **Book 2 in The PAN Trilogy | ***Book 1 in A Trial of Sorcerers Series | ****Book 2 in the Fable Series | *****Book 2 in the King of Scars Duology
NOTE: not all titles are available for pre-order yet!
April
April 6, 2021
House of Hollows by Krystal Sutherland | YOUNG ADULT, PARANORMAL, HORROR
April 20, 2021
The Crown of Gilded Bones** by Jennifer L. Armentrout | NEW ADULT, PARANORMAL (VAMPIRES + WEREWOLVES), FANTASY ROMANCE
*Book 3 in the Something Dark and Holy Series | **Book 3 in the Blood and Ash Series
NOTE: not all titles are available for pre-order yet!
May
May 4, 2021
Realm Breaker* by Victoria Aveyard | YOUNG ADULT, HIGH FANTASY, PIRATE ADVENTURE
Sky Breaker** by Addie Thorley | YOUNG ADULT, FANTASY, RETELLING
Blade of Secrets by Tricia Levenseller | YOUNG ADULT, PARANORMAL, MENTAL HEALTH
The Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynne | ADULT, DRAGONS + MYTHOLOGY, DARK FANTASY
may 11, 2021
Son of the Storm**** by Suyi Davies Okungbowa | ADULT, WEST AFRICAN CULTURE, EPIC SCI-FI FANTASY
may 13, 2021
Blackheart Knights by Laure Eve | ADULT, LGBTQIA+, ARTHURIAN MYTHOLOGY, URBAN + SCI-FI FANTASY
May 25, 2021
A Touch of Malice*** by Scarlett St. Clair | NEW ADULT, GREEK MYTHOLOGY, FANTASY ROMANCE
A Fate of Wrath & Flame by K.A. Tucker | FANTASY ROMANCE
*Book 1 in the Realm Breaker Series | **Book 2 in the Night Spinner Series | ***Book 3 in the Hades & Persephone Series | ****Book 1 in The Nameless Republic Series
NOTE: not all titles are available for pre-order yet!
June
June 1, 2021
A Psalm of Storms and Silence* by Roseanne A. Brown | YOUNG ADULT, ROMANCE, MYTHIC FANTASY
June 8, 2021
Fire With Fire by Destiny Soria | YOUNG ADULT, URBAN FANTASY, DRAGON TROPE, LGBTQIA+
June 15, 2021
Blood Like Magic** by Liselle Sambury | YOUNG ADULT, PARANORMAL (WITCHES), URBAN FANTASY
Sisters of the Snake by Sasha & Sarena Nanua | YOUNG ADULT, FAIRY TALE RETELLING, CULTURE: ASIAN
*Book 2 in the A Song of Wraiths and Ruin Series | **Book 1 in the Blood Like Magic Series | ***Book 1 in the Ria & Rani Series
NOTE: not all titles are available for pre-order yet!
July
July 13, 2021
Wings of Shadow* by Nicki Pau Preto | YOUNG ADULT, EPIC FANTASY ADVENTURE, ROMANCE
july 14, 2021
The CROC** by Jenny Hickman | YOUNG ADULT, PETER PAN RETELLING, ROMANCE
July 20, 2021
These Hollow Vows by Lexi Ryan | YOUNG ADULT, PARANORMAL (FAE), HIGH FANTASY ROMANCE
Red Wolf by Rachel Vincent | YOUNG ADULT, FAIRY TALE RETELLING, GRITTY FANTASY
*Book 3 in the Crown of Feathers Series | **Book 3 in The PAN Trilogy
NOTE: not all titles are available for pre-order yet!
August
August 3, 2021
Bonded Fate* by Beck Michaels | YOUNG ADULT, EPIC FANTASY ADVENTURE, ROMANCE
Gods & Monsters** by Shelby Mahurin | YOUNG ADULT, PARANORMAL (WITCHES), ROMANCE
August 17, 2021
Cazadora*** by Romina Garber & Romina Russell | YOUNG ADULT, PARANORMAL (WITCHES + SHAPESHIFTERS), SCI-FI FANTASY
*Book 2 in the Guardians of the Maiden Series | **Book 3 in the Serpent & Dove Series | ***Book 2 in the Wolves of No World Series
NOTE: not all titles are available for pre-order yet!
September
September 1, 2021
Untitled Novella* by Sarah J Maas | NEW ADULT, PARANORMAL (FAE), ROMANCE
September 7, 2021
The Last Legacy by Adrienne Young | FANTASY, YOUNG ADULT, PIRATES
September 14, 2021
Empire of the Vampire** by Jay Kristoff | ADULT, PARANORMAL (VAMPIRES), DARK FANTASY
Defy The Night by Brigid Kemmerer | YOUNG ADULT, HIGH FANTASY, ROMANCE
September 21, 2021
Under The Whispering Door by T.J. Klune | ADULT, PARANORMAL (GHOSTS), MM ROMANCE
September 28, 2021
Dark Rise by C.S. Pacat | YOUNG ADULT, HIGH FANTASY, MM ROMANCE
Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber | YOUNG ADULT, FANTASY ROMANCE, MAGIC
TBD
A Game of Retribution*** by Scarlett St. Clair | ADULT, FANTASY ROMANCE, MYTHOLOGY RETELLING
*Book 3.2 in the ACOTAR Series | **Book 1 in the Empire of the Vampire Series | ***Book 2 in the Hades Saga
NOTE: not all titles are available for pre-order yet!
October
October 26, 2021
Kingdom of the Cursed by Kerri Maniscalco | YOUNG ADULT, PARANORMAL (DEMONS + WITCHES), FANTASY ROMANCE
King of Battle and Blood by Scarlett St. Clair | ADULT, FANTASY ROMANCE, PARANORMAL (VAMPIRES)
*Book 2 in the Kingdom of the Wicked Series | **Book 1 in the KBB Series
November
November 2, 2021
Crescent City #2 by Sarah J Maas | NEW ADULT, URBAN FANTASY, ANGEL + DEMON TROPE (Leaving this here for now, but I believe Sarah recently confirmed that it was getting pushed to 2022)
November 3, 2021
A Dance With The Fae Rogue* by Elise Kova | YOUNG ADULT, PARANORMAL (FAE), FANTASY ROMANCE
November 9, 2021
Aurora’s End by Amie Kaufman + Jay Kristoff | YOUNG ADULT, SPACE OPERA + SCI-FI FANTASY
November 16, 2021
Our Violent Ends** by Chloe Gong | YOUNG ADULT, ROMANCE RETELLING, HISTORICAL FANTASY
*Book 2 in the Married To Magic Series | **Book 2 in the These Violent Delights Series | ***Book 3 in The Aurora Cycle
December
December 7, 2021
The Righteous* by Renée Ahdieh | YOUNG ADULT, URBAN FANTASY, PARANORMAL (VAMPIRES)
*Book 3 in The Beautiful Series
Here’s To A New Year…
So what do you think of this list?! What have I missed or what are you personally looking forward to? I’m so excited to dive into allllllllll of these reads at some point. Maybe not all this year, but some time along the way. And check back! I’m going to be updating this list throughout the year as cover reveals happen and new books are released and become available for purchase!
I hope you found this blog helpful in growing your neverending TBR list!! If you’re looking for book recs, see below!
*Disclaimer – Hey friend. I wanted you to know that this post may contain affiliate links. This means I may earn a commission should you chose to sign up for a program or make a purchase using my link. I don't want you to worry because I only recommend tools and products that I personally use and love and I always have my readers' best interest at heart. Thanks for hangin' with me!
Hey y'all, I'm Leah!
Cozy connoisseur and bountiful book buyer. I have a minor obsession with getting lost in the pages of a good book, guzzling coffee, and thriving at home. Yoga pants, wine, and essential oils are also my jam. I'm truly just a homebody at heart with a knack for content creation, flatlays & cozy shots. This is my creative space.
