With therecent release ofOnyx Storm, 2025 is already off to a great start forfantasyreaders — and February continues to deliver exciting new books within the genre. The winter is an ideal time to escape into fiction, and fantasy narratives offer lengthy and immersive opportunities to do so.2025 is a promising year for new fantasy books, and several of the most-anticipated ones are hitting shelves this month.
Readers will recognize many of the authors publishing new stories in February, from Richard Swan to Samantha Shannon. As is often the case for the fantasy genre, many of the new releases continue or even conclude ongoing series. The sequels toFaeboundandHeartless Hunterare among the month’s biggest books, but there are also some great standalones headed our way as well. February’s fantasy lineup includes everything from dark, horror-leaning adventures to heists and fairy tale reimaginings. It’s a great month to explore the genre.
15The Beasts We Bury By D.L. Taylor
Release Date: August 23, 2025
D.L. Taylor’s debut novel hits shelves in February 2025, andThe Beasts We Burycombines all our favorite fantasy elements into a single narrative. The young adult romantasy book follows Mancella Cliff, the heir to the throne who possesses a unique but gruesome ability. Mancella is capable of summoning animals, but she has to kill them first — and her father is all too happy to facilitate that, as long as it helps him maintain his rule.
With heist elements, an unlikely central romance, and heavy political intrigue,The Beasts We Buryis poised to be one of the most fun fantasy books arriving this February.
The king isn’t benefiting his people, though, and the book’s other lead is hired to conduct a heist and steal from the palace. Silver is an impressive thief, but he has to get close to Mancella to pull this particular job off. And with heist elements, an unlikely central romance, and heavy political intrigue,The Beasts We Buryis poised to be one of the most fun fantasy books arriving this February. It’s a promising debut.
14The Bones Beneath My Skin By T.J. Klune
T.J. Klune’sSomewhere Beyond the Seawas one of thebest fantasy books of 2024, and the author is bringing readers another story to dig into in February 2025.The Bones Beneath My Skindefies genres, boasting elements of the fantasy, sci-fi, thriller, and even romance categories. It tells the story of a 10-year-old girl with an astonishing power that puts her at risk from those seeking to control it.
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Her father and a man named Nate attempt to prevent that from happening, resulting in what sounds like a heartfelt story on par with Klune’sCerulean Chronicles.Its impressive early reviews and 4.26 Goodreads score makeThe Bones Beneath My Skinsound even more compelling, and if readers still aren’t sold,it has also been likened toStranger Things.
13Grave Empire By Richard Swan
Richard Swan brought hisEmpire of the Wolftrilogy to a close in 2024, andthe author is kicking off a new series in the same universe withGrave Empirein February 2025. The first installment ofThe Grave Silence, Grave Empireis set about 200 years afterThe Trials of Empire.The “end of days” is being foretold by two heretic monks, despite the Empire experiencing an industrial boom. The arrival of a plague and ongoing conflicts support their prediction though, leading ambassador Renata Rainer to look to those who practice outlawed sorcery for help.
Grave Empirepromises to deliver on everything that makes Swan’s prior novels great: political intrigue, a brutal and detailed fantasy world, and plenty of action.
Grave Empirepromises to deliver on everything that makes Swan’s prior novels great: political intrigue, a brutal and detailed fantasy world, and plenty of action. It’s also poised toblend horror and fantasyin a satisfying way, and if that isn’t enough incentive to pick it up, its whopping 4.37Goodreadsrating makes a case for doing so.
12Black Woods, Blue Sky By Eowyn Ivey & Ruth Hulbert (Illustrator)
Eowyn Ivey wowed readers withThe Snow Childback in 2011, butBlack Woods Blue Skymight be the author’s best book yet — at least if its early 4.33Goodreadsrating is anything to go by.Ivey’s new novel is certainly getting a lot of attention ahead of its February 2025 debut, and it promises a “dark fairy tale” with love at its core theme. The book follows Birdie as she falls for a man named Arthur, then moves into a remote cabin in the Alaskan wilderness alongside him and her daughter.
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However, Arthur turns out to be more than she bargained for, and Birdie will be forced to contend with the dangers of her newfound relationship.Black Woods Blue Sky’s synopsis doesn’t give away much more than that, but Ivey’s latest sounds like it strikes the right balance between being whimsical and being eerie. It’s a 2025 fantasy release to look out for, especially given who’s behind it.
11This Ends In Embers By Kamilah Cole
This Ends in Embers,the second book in Kamilah Cole’sDivine Traitorsseries, is coming out in February, andit promises a satisfying follow-up toSo Let Them Burn. The Jamaican-inspired fantasy series continues as Faron Vincent is forced to work with her enemy, effectively making her a traitor to her people — and her sister. Elara wants to save Faron, but she also needs to consider the needs of her country now that she’s the new Empyrean. Needless to say, the stakes are higher than ever for the two sisters.
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This Ends in Embers
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And withThis Ends in EmbersconcludingDivine Traitors’story — and boasting a 4.18Goodreadsrating already — readers should prepare for plenty of emotional moments as the tensions between Iya and San Irie reach a boiling point.Kamilah Cole’s sequel seems destined to break our hearts, but that’s precisely why it’s a must-read February release.
10Emily Wilde’s Compendium Of Lost Tales By Heather Fawcett
Release Date: June 18, 2025
One of the most-anticipated fantasy releases of February 2025 isEmily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales,the third book in Heather Fawcett’sEmily Wildeseries. Those looking forcozy fantasy books to pick upthis winter won’t want to miss out on this sequel, even if its stakes sound a little higher than its predecessors'.Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Taleswill see its heroine putting together her “most dangerous academic project,” becoming the queen of Faerie in order to study it.
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Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales
Emily taking the throne is no easy feat, and it’s made more difficult by Wendell’s step-mother interfering.She places a curse on Faerie that Emily and Wendell will be tasked with undoing, ensuring that their latest adventure is just as gripping as the first two. Fans of Fawcett’s previous installments won’t want to miss out on this one.
9The Forest King’s Daughter By Elly Blake
Pitched for fans ofSarah J. Maas' fantasy books,The Forest King’s Daughterwill bring readers a fairy tale-esque enemies-to-lovers storywith a forest princess and a demon boy at its center. The two innocently befriend one another in the woods, but they inadvertently start a war when the demon boy gifts her a seemingly worthless ring. The story then picks up years later, with both of them fighting on opposite sides of this conflict — and the princess, Cassia, wielding the powerful ring that started it all.
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But when Cassia is taken prisoner by Zeru, the two find themselves on an unexpected adventure that reignites their old friendship — and then turns it into something more romantic. Their feelings are made complicated by the tensions between their kingdoms, and this forbidden element of their relationship setsThe Forest Kingup to be one of2025’s most compelling additions to the romantasy genre.
A.G. Slatter is known for writing gothic fantasy, and the author’s February 2025 release is set in theSourdough Universe,the same universe asAll The Murmuring Bones, The Path of Thorns,andThe Briar Book of the Dead.Needless to say,those familiar with Slatter’s previous work will want to keepThe Crimson Roadon their radarsthis month.The Crimson Roadfollows Violet Zennor, a woman trained to be a killer by her own father. When he dies, she learns why he raised her the way he did: so she could embark on a journey into the Darklands.
The Crimson Roadsounds every bit as dark and compelling as Slatter’s past books, which blend horror and fantasy in impressive ways.
While she initially resists the fate he intended for her, she eventually finds she has no choice but to go through with this dangerous journey.The Crimson Roadsounds every bit as dark and compelling as Slatter’s past books, which blend horror and fantasy in impressive ways. Fans of the author will want to check out this new release, though even newcomers could benefit from diving into theSourdough Universein 2025.
7Rebel Witch By Kristen Ciccarelli
Release Date: July 24, 2025
There are a number of exciting romantasy sequels hitting shelves in 2025, andKristen Ciccarelli’sRebel Witchis among the most highly anticipated. That’s no surprise, asHeartless Hunterwas easily one of thebest romantasy books of 2024. And with its impressive 4.46Goodreadsrating,Rebel Witchlooks poised to surpass its predecessor and deliver a solid conclusion to Ciccarelli’sCrimson Mothduology.Rebel Witchopens with Rune on the run and Gideon committed to killing every witch, including Rune.
Rebel Witch
But when the two are brought together once again, Gideon realizes he doesn’t hate Rune nearly as much as he wants to — which makes the realization that he may need to sacrifice her for the greater good that much harder.Rebel Witchwill leave its leads with devastating choices, so readers are certain to devour this sequel just as quickly as the first book.
6Cursebound By Saara El-Arifi
The follow-up to Saara El-Arifi’sFaeboundcomes out this February, andCurseboundpromises to raise the stakes for Yeeran and Lettle, even though they’re no longer imprisoned among the fae. Yeeran will be torn between two worlds upon her return home, with Salawa waging war against the fae — and thus, the other woman Yeeran has come to love. As Yeeran attempts to soothe the tensions between the elves and the fae, Lettle seeks to sever the curse imprisoning the latter.
Cursebound
The stakes are higher than ever in this middle book in El-Arifi’sFaeboundtrilogy, andCurseboundlooks poised to lay the foundation for an epic conclusion. This is one of several great fantasy sequels readers will want to keep an eye out for this February.
