The Most Interesting Looking New Books of February 2026

Hey everyone and Happy February! Another month, another bunch of new books that are coming out! Yep, it’s time for The Most Intriguing New Books of February 2026.

Here’s the sitch if you’re unfamiliar: this is a monthly post about new releases. Specifically, it’s about new releases that I find interesting, which means they’re most likely all going to be fantasy or science fiction, since those are my favorite genres. There’s occasionally an outlier, though.

These are just books that look interesting to me, by the way. There’s no guarantee which ones I’ll read, or if I’ll even read half of them. We’ll see. Anyway, let’s get going! This month, six books have caught my eye!

RELEASING: February 3rd

This magical new YA romantasy from the New York Times bestselling author of To Kill a Shadow will steal your heart. Set in Andalay, a world where the ruling Fates bestow gifts among the favored, a thief must join forces with the palace darling after he unwittingly steals a necklace with the power to change everything.

When Damien, a cold and hardened thief, is hired to steal a gift from the powerful Fates meant for Andalay’s sweetheart, Wren Hayes, he finds himself entangled in a web of secrets.

The gift? A locket containing his own phototroph.

Once the locket is opened, hidden truths unravel, ones that shed light on the ruthless ways of the upper-class society. Yearning for the three Fates and the magical gifts they bestow, the lords of Andalay will go to any length to keep their power—including murder.

Brought together by destiny, and fighting a temptation that neither understand, Wren and Damien navigate a seedy world where the truth can destroy not only their lives, but the city itself.

RELEASING: February 3rd

A desperate girl at a cutthroat magical academy faces a choice between life and death: become an assassin for the enchanted elite or watch her decaying body draw its last breath. For fans of Leigh Bardugo, Brandon Sanderson, Lev Grossman, and R.F. Kuang.

Anabelle Gage is trapped in a male body, and it’s rotting from the inside out. In Caimor, where the magical elite buy and swap designer bodies like clothes, Ana can’t afford to escape her tattered form. When she fails the entrance exam to the prestigious Paragon Academy, her last hope of earning a new body implodes. As the clock ticks down to her last breath, she’s forced to use her illusion magic to steal a healthy chassis – before her own kills her.

But Ana is caught by none other than the headmaster of Paragon Academy, who poses a brutal ultimatum: face execution for her crime or become a mercenary at his command. Revolt brews in Caimor’s smog-choked underworld, and the wealthy and powerful will stop at nothing to take down the rebels and the infamous dark witch at their helm, the Black Wraith.

With no choice but to accept, Ana will steal, fight, and kill her way to salvation. But her survival depends on a dangerous band of renegades: an impulsive assassin, a brooding bombmaker, and an alluring exile who might just spell her ruin. As Ana is drawn into a tangled web of secrets, the line between villain and hero shatters – and Ana must decide which side is worth dying for.

RELEASING: February 10th

An ordinary man discovers a hidden world of wondrous supernatural creatures—and an unexpected home—in this enchanting contemporary fantasy debut.

Cryptonaturalist: one who studies cryptids; an expert in or student of supernatural history.

After a series of inexplicable encounters upends his life, Green finds himself alone and terrified in the Appalachian mountains, full of questions about the transformation he’s undergoing and the impossible creatures he’s starting to see.

When he meets a hermit named Valentina, he realizes that something more than chance has brought him to her door. For she has devoted centuries to researching the hidden world of cryptids that Green is only now beginning to perceive.

As Green begins his studies beneath her watchful eye, he comes face to face with time-stopping giant moths, cyclops squirrels, and doorways to elsewhere. Along the way come clues about his own nature and the powerful beings who led him here – and, most wondrous of all, a sense of fulfillment like nothing he’s felt before.

But Green’s new happiness promises to be short-lived, because alongside these marvels lurks a deadly threat to this place he’s already come to love.

Featuring incredible creatures and an unforgettable cast of characters, Strange Animals is a charming, addictive fantasy about the magic all around us.

RELEASING: February 17th

From Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling author Heather Fawcett comes a healing and heart-warming fantasy with magic shops, rescue cats and a second chance at love.

All strays are welcome here.

Agnes Aubert is very fond of making lists. These lists kept her afloat when she lost her husband two years ago. And now, as the founder of a cat rescue charity, her meticulous organization skills feel like the only thing standing between her beloved cats – His Majesty, Banshee and sweet elderly Thoreau, to name a few – and utter disaster.

But when Agnes is forced to move the charity, she soon discovers that her new shop is being used as a front; right under her feet is the lair of the decidedly disorganised – not to mention self-absorbed and infuriatingly handsome – Havelock Renard.

Havelock is everything Agnes doesn’t want in her life: chaos, mischief, and a little too much adventure. But as she gets to know him, she discovers he’s more than the dark magician of legend, and that she may be ready for a little intrigue, perhaps even romance. After all, second chances aren’t just for rescue cats…

RELEASING: February 17th

Welcome to Harker Academy for Deviant Defense. Keep your daggers sharp, and your wits even sharper.

Viv Abbot is an average twenty-one-year-old girl. She lives in an expensive city where the rent is too high, works long hours at a thankless job, and is dating a guy she doesn’t even like in the hopes of winning her prickly mother’s approval.

She just also happens to be a demon hunter.

Ever since her father’s murder, she’s been forced to hunt deviants alone, meaning everyone, including her family, sees her as an outsider… Until the day she crosses paths with a dangerously alluring demon, Reid Graveheart. The reformed deviant tells her of a school for people just like her: Harker Academy for Deviant Defense. If she enrolls, she’ll learn to hone her craft, work with other hunters, and never be alone again.

But Viv has a deadly secret. One that not even her new friends at Harker can know about. Not when the school might hold the answers to untangling the mystery surrounding Viv’s father’s death. When strange occurrences begin to plague the students, Viv will have to figure out who she can trust, and fast. All while trying to ace her classes, not fall for a demon, and make it through her first year at Harker in one piece. How hard could that be?

RELEASING: February 24th

From the author of The Last Dragon of the East comes a sweeping fantasy adventure with a dash of romance between a nine-tailed fox and the demon-hunter who captures her, banished to the underworld together and forced to form a reluctant alliance in order to escape the circles of Hell.

Yue may be the last of her kind. At night, she stalks the streets of the capital city of Longhao, luring in unsuspecting victims with the mask of a beautiful woman, then consuming them in her true form of the nine-tailed fox.

When she is captured by a powerful demon hunter named Sonam and banished to Hell, she manages one final act of revenge: dragging him – and two of his subordinates – down with her.

Now trapped in an abyss with unimaginable terrors, they’ll need each other’s help to navigate Hell and bypass the gods who preside over each circle, each of whom presents the group with a unique and deadly challenge. Forced to depend on one another as they claw their way out of the underworld, both demon and demon hunter discover that there might be more to the other than meets the eye.

So yeah, these are all of the books releasing in February 2026 that I’m at least a little interested in. What books are coming out soon that you’re looking forward to? Do we share some of the same ones?

As always, thank you all so much for reading, and I hope you have a great day/night!

See ya ~Mar

Can’t-Wait Wednesday: Queen of Faces

Hey everyone, and Happy Wednesday! It’s time to participate in one of my favorite Wednesday posts!

Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Tressa @ Wishful Endings (and was previously hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine where it was known as Waiting on Wednesday) to spotlight and discuss the books we’re excited about that we have yet to read. They’re usually books that have not yet been released.

This week’s book is:

Queen of Faces by Petra Lord! 🎭🗡️

Can’t-Wait Wednesday this week was so difficult! I was so torn between this and Stolen Midnights by Katherine Quinn. Honorable mention to that one, especially since I personally haven’t seen as much buzz for it. Ugh. This is what I get for deciding to skip this post last week, I guess. Stolen Midnights also looks amazing, and will definitely be on my list of interesting new books of February 2026, though.

Queen of Faces by Petra Lord

SERIES: Queen of Faces #1

LENGTH: 432 pages

GENRES: Fantasy, LGBT+, Fiction

PUBLISHER: Henry Holt Books for Young Readers

RELEASE DATE: 3 February 2026

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

A desperate girl at a cutthroat magical academy faces a choice between life and death: become an assassin for the enchanted elite or watch her decaying body draw its last breath. For fans of Leigh Bardugo, Brandon Sanderson, Lev Grossman, and R.F. Kuang.

Anabelle Gage is trapped in a male body, and it’s rotting from the inside out. In Caimor, where the magical elite buy and swap designer bodies like clothes, Ana can’t afford to escape her tattered form. When she fails the entrance exam to the prestigious Paragon Academy, her last hope of earning a new body implodes. As the clock ticks down to her last breath, she’s forced to use her illusion magic to steal a healthy chassis – before her own kills her.

But Ana is caught by none other than the headmaster of Paragon Academy, who poses a brutal ultimatum: face execution for her crime or become a mercenary at his command. Revolt brews in Caimor’s smog-choked underworld, and the wealthy and powerful will stop at nothing to take down the rebels and the infamous dark witch at their helm, the Black Wraith.

With no choice but to accept, Ana will steal, fight, and kill her way to salvation. But her survival depends on a dangerous band of renegades: an impulsive assassin, a brooding bombmaker, and an alluring exile who might just spell her ruin. As Ana is drawn into a tangled web of secrets, the line between villain and hero shatters – and Ana must decide which side is worth dying for.

Are you looking forward to Queen of Faces? What other books are coming out in the next few weeks that you’re looking forward to?

As always, thank you all so much for reading and have a fantastic day/night!

See ya ~Mar

The Ashfire King by Chelsea Abdullah | Book Review

Every story is a memory. A tale that happened neither here nor there, but in another time and place. Our job as story-tellers is to describe that reality as we understand it. It is the listener who must determine what is and is not.

The Ashfire King by Chelsea Abdullah

SERIES: The Sandsea Trilogy #2

LENGTH: 529 pages

GENRES: Fantasy, Fiction

PUBLISHER: Orbit

RELEASE DATE: 15 April 2025

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

A thief and a prince trapped in the crumbling, magical realm of the jinn must figure out how to save one world in order to return to their own in The Ashfire King, the second book in this epic series of myth and magic, perfect for fans of The City of Brass and The Bone Shard Daughter.

Neither here nor there, but long ago… After fleeing a patricidal prince, legendary merchant Loulie al-Nazari and banished prince Mazen bin Malik find themselves in the realm of jinn. But instead of sanctuary, they find a world on the cusp of collapse.

The jinn cities, long sheltered beneath the Sandsea by the magic of its kings, are sinking. And amid the turmoil, political alliances are forming, and rebellion in the jinn’s capital city is on the rise. When Loulie saves the life of a dissenter – one of her bodyguard’s old comrades – she puts herself in the center of a centuries-old war.

Trapped in a world that isn’t her own and wielding magic that belongs to a fallen king, Loulie must decide: Will she carry on someone else’s legacy or carve out her own?

My Review

There is no such thing as a single truth. There are just the stories we tell others, and the ones we tell ourselves.

It’s been quite some time since the first book in the Sandsea Trilogy. This is true for me as well even though I read and reviewed The Stardust Thief about a year after it came out, I’m also reading and reviewing its sequel nine months after it first released. So it’s been almost as long for me as it had been for everyone else last April.

I don’t know why it took me so long to read The Ashfire King. I got the book the day it came out and I was so excited about it (it was one of – if not my most – anticipated new book of last year), but then I just… didn’t read it. Part of it is because I was currently in the middle of another series and I wanted to wait to read anything else, I think. I’m disappointed it took me this long to read it, though.

Anyway, to the review!

General Thoughts

“So long as I breathe, I will not falter. To live is to persevere. For the world, and in spite of it.”

I did enjoy this book a lot, though not as much as its predecessor – that one I loved. I think it might be because it was a little slower, plus I didn’t vibe nearly as strongly with it as I did the first book. Oh well, I still liked it, though.

When we left our characters at the end of The Stardust Thief, the party was split. Qadir was captured by Omar, Loulie and Mazen were hurtling down into the jinn realm with the ifrit Rijah, and Aisha was fleeing into the desert.

And The Ashfire King pretty much continues from where the first one left off. It should be noted that the book starts off with one of the trilogy’s ‘story sections’ and this one kind of gave a little summary of what happened in the first book, which was very nice after the gap. It was integrated well into the story itself, as well, since there was a new character introduced that needed to be caught up on the events of book one. Not to mention it was in-character, what with Mazen being a storyteller and all.

The Characters and Story

She gasped at the sight of the compass in his hands.

Her compass.

Loulie stifled a cry as she grabbed it from him. The moment she felt its magic humming beneath her fingers, she grinned. Even had she wanted to, she could not have smothered that smile.”You went back for the compass?”

“You came back for me. It was the least I could do.”

Speaking of the main characters, they each continue to have their own little arcs here. Loulie is desperate and determined to get back to the surface and find Qadir, and she’ll do whatever it takes. Mazen is struggling with Omar murdering their father the sultan, his uncertainty of Hakim’s whereabouts, and his fear of returning home. Aisha has sworn revenge on Omar for lying and betraying her, whilst she deals with sharing a body with the Resurrectionist after their bargain in the first novel. And Qadir and what happened to him is unknown, though it is strongly implied he’s been captured by Omar. And everyone’s character development was extremely compelling here – I ultimately really enjoyed where they all ended up at the end of the book.

The plot was pretty slow, as I mentioned earlier. There were a lot of big moments throughout, but the book didn’t really ‘pick up’ so to say until almost two thirds of the way through. I’m not sure if this is a case of middle book syndrome, or if this book is just kind of slower just because it is, but I don’t recall the first book being as much of a slow-burn. I remember being pretty invested in that one for almost the whole time. Don’t get me wrong, the plot here was interesting and I enjoyed all the character moments. But parts of it did feel slow.

The Romance and Writing

Remembering the last time they had flown-the last time he had convinced Loulie to fly – he smiled and said, “Are you scared, Loulie?”

She cast a sharp look back at him. Just as they had been then, her eyes were filled with defiance. She gave him the same answer.

“Never.”

The climax was great though, and I generally liked the ending (except for the cliffhanger – ugh). The romance and relationship development is also a very slow-burn, but that was fine as it works for this story and makes sense with the characters. (I will confess to being unsure of its existence occasionally, however, with how slow it is, lol.)

The novel’s writing is also just as strong as its predecessor. I again also really enjoyed the way the little story sections were written and stylized. It’s probably one of my favorite things about this series.

Final Thoughts

His dedication flummoxed her. But then she realized she felt the same way. She did not know when it was she had come to rely on Mazen bin Malik, but at some point, the thought of losing him had become unbearable.But he was safe. They were safe.

But he was safe. They were safe.

For a moment, Loulie let herself believe it. She leaned her cheek into Mazen’s chest and thought, I refuse to lose anyone again.

Somehow, she would make certain of it.

The Ashfire King is a pretty good sequel to The Stardust Thief, and it clearly sets up the third book in the trilogy well. I definitely recommend it to fans of the first book – I think they’ll probably enjoy it. I also think it’s a good read anytime of the year, though you should definitely only read it if you’ve read the book one.

As always, thank you to everyone so much for reading, and I hope you have an awesome day/night!

See ya ~Mar

MY LINKS:

Goodreads

Instagram

Can’t-Wait Wednesday: The Elsewhere Express

Happy Wednesday everyone! Two weeks in a row!

This week’s book is:

The Elsewhere Express by Samantha Sotto Yambao! 🚂✨

The Elsewhere Express by Samantha Sotto Yambao

LENGTH: 368 pages

GENRES: Fantasy, Romance, Fiction

PUBLISHER: Del Rey

RELEASE DATE: 20 January 2026

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

When you lose your way in life, the Elsewhere Express just might find you. Step aboard the train that can take you to your life’s purpose, in this cozy and inspiring fantasy from the author of Water Moon.

You can’t buy a ticket for the Elsewhere Express. Appearing only to those whose lives are adrift, it’s a magical train carrying very rare and special cargo: a sense of purpose, peace, and belonging.

Raya is one of those lost souls. She had dreamed of being a songwriter, but when her brother died, she gave up on her dream and started living his instead.

One day on the subway, as her thoughts wander, she’s swept off to the Elsewhere Express. There she meets Q, a charming, handsome artist who, like her, has lost his place in the world.

Together they find a train full of wonders, from a boarding car that’s also a meadow to a dining car where passengers can picnic on lily pads to a bar where jellyfish and whales swim through pink clouds.

But they also discover that the train harbors secrets – and danger: A mysterious stranger has stowed away and brought with him a dark, malignant magic that threatens to destroy the train.

But in investigating the stowaway’s identity, Raya also finds herself drawing closer to the ultimate question: What is her life’s true purpose – and might Q be connected to it?

Are you looking forward to The Elsewhere Express? What other books are coming out in the next few weeks that you’re looking forward to?

As always, thank you all so much for reading and have a fantastic day/night!

See ya ~Mar

Top Ten Tuesday: Most Anticipated Books Releasing in the First Half of 2026

It’s almost no longer Tuesday, but I was determined to do this this week. (I have to get better about my time management in regards to blog posts.) Anyway, it’s time for Top Ten Tuesday.

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly post currently hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. It celebrates lovely lists, wonderful books and the bookish community. This week’s topic is Most Anticipated Books Releasing in the First Half of 2026.

There’s quite a few new releases coming up that I’ve got my eye on, but I’ve decided to pick two books from each month of the in the first half of 2026 to make it even. Anyway, let’s get into it!

Strange Animals by Jarod K. Anderson – Releasing February 10th

Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawsett – Releasing February 17th

Green & Deadly Things by Jenn Lyons – Releasing March 3rd

Brighter Than Nine (Darker By Four #2) by June CL Tan – Releasing March 10th

The Subtle Art of Folding Space by John Chu – Releasing April 7th

Deathly Fates by Tesia Tsai – Releasing April 14th

Platform Decay (Murderbot Diaries #8) by Martha Wells – Releasing May 5th

The Rainshadow Orphans by Naomi Ishiguro – Releasing May 26th

Nemesis Mine by Amy Archer – Releasing June 9th

Letters from the Last Apothecary by Bita Behzadi – Releasing June 9th

What books are you most excited about that are coming out the first half of 2026? Do we share any of the same ones?

As always, thanks so much for reading, and I hope that you have an amazing day/night!

See ya ~Mar

Weekly Wrap-Up: 1/5 – 1/11

Annnd another week has passed already. Wow. I’m slightly later than I usually try to be, but I’m not too late with this.

The blog activity was very strong last week. I can’t remember the last time I did six posts in a week (technically seven actually, if you count last week’s Weekly Wrap-Up). Six. And here I was last week saying that I might be slowing down here. What a way to immediately contradict myself. (I might still drop off, though. This was an unusually strong start to the new year.)

Anyway, without further ado, let’s get on with the Weekly Wrap-Up!

Tuesday 1/6: The Most Interesting Looking New Books of January 2026

Last Tuesday, I posted a list of the books that I’m looking forward to this month. Or, at least the ones that I think look the most interesting. It was the The Most Interesting Looking New Books of January 2026. As always, it’s basically only fantasy and science fiction, as those are the two genres I primarily read. This time there were five books on my list.

The Most Interesting Looking New Books of January 2026

Wednesday 1/7: The Cat Who Saved Books Review / Can’t-Wait Wednesday

On Wednesday, I finally got around to posting my review for the last book I read in 2025. It was The Cat Who Saved Books by Sosuke Natsukawa. I generally liked it and it wasn’t what I expected it to be. I gave it ★★★★☆.

The Cat Who Saved Books Review

I also participated in another Can’t-Wait Wednesday for the first time in a few weeks. Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme currently hosted by Tressa @ Wishful Endings. It focuses on books you’re looking forward to reading, usually new releases.

Can’t-Wait Wednesday: Love Me to Death (Volume #1)

Saturday 1/10: December Reading 2025

Last Saturday, I posted my Monthly Reading Wrap-Up for December 2025. Compared to the last couple of months, it was posted at a reasonable time of the month this time around. For those who don’t know, monthly wrap-ups are when I go over the books I read over the past month, as well as my stats over on The StoryGraph

Monthly Wrap-Up: December Reading 2025

Sunday 1/11: Yearly Reading 2025 / All the Books I Read in 2025

On Sunday, I posted my Yearly Reading Wrap-Up for 2025. (At least the first part.) It was basically a list of my statistics and analytics from The StoryGraph from this past year. There was just as much of it as last year, so I had to split it into two posts again.

Another Year of Books: Reading 2025

I also managed to post the second part of my Yearly Reading Wrap-Up for 2025. The part of the post mostly focused on all the books I read last year, in 2025.

All the Books I Read Last Year: Reading 2025

The Books I Read Last Week

Wrapping It All Up

So yeah, there was a lot of blog activity from me last week. I probably won’t keep up that pace, as the reason all of those posts happened like that was because I wanted to get the rest of my end of the last year/beginning of the next year posts out. Hopefully I’ll still be able to put out a decent amount of posts this week, though.

I’m about to start reading The Ashfire King by Chelsea Abdullah. I’m right months late, but I’m finally gonna read it, and I’m pretty excited about it. It was one of my most anticipated new books from last year, after all.

After I’m done with that, I think I’m probably going to read the first volume of Love Me to Death by Toonimated, and then maybe Water Moon and The Elsewhere Express by Samantha Sotto Yambao. Who really knows, though.

For blog posts, I want to participate in at least one or two of the weekly posts that I usually do, and hopefully post a book review. I’m not sure what else I’ll post if anything.

Outside of the blog, my spouse and I have been trying to be healthier again. I’m not quite sure how it’s going so far, but I hope we can find a rhythm with it. I do know that we haven’t started off the year as strong as we’d wanted to.

Anyway, as always thank you for reading, and I hope you have a wonderful day/night!

See ya ~Mar

Can’t-Wait Wednesday: Love Me to Death (Volume #1)

Happy Wednesday everybody! It’s been a few weeks since I last participated. But January once again has a fair amount of interesting looking new books.

This week’s book is:

Love Me to Death: Volume #1 by Toonimated! 💀🌹

I’ve only just discovered this recently, and have never read the original webcomic. But the premise seems fun and the art looks great!

Love Me to Death: Volume #1 by Toonimated

COMIC: Love Me to Death

LENGTH: 432 pages

GENRES: Fantasy, Romance, Graphic Novel, Fiction

PUBLISHER: Little, Brown Ink

RELEASE DATE: 13 January 2026

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

Whoever said ’til death do us part wasn’t trying hard enough.

Toonimated’s wildly popular Webtoon is now in print for with a never-before-seen short story! For fans of Anatomy: A Love Story and Lore Olympus comes a graphic novel romantasy about the love triangle between a necromancer, a resurrected bride, and her very-much-alive groom.

In the city of San Guadario, necromancy has been banned for one hundred years. Every aspect of life, from buying food to getting married, requires a signature written in one’s own blood. If a necromancer were to sign, their identity would be revealed by the magic that courses through their veins. As a necromancer, Victor and his cute one-eyed cat must live a discreet life, constantly on the run.

Everything changes when the wealthiest patron in San Guadario hires Victor to resurrect his recently deceased, and impossibly beautiful, bride. The catch? Victor must perform an ancient ritual which eternally binds himself to this bride. After he brings her back to life, Victor finds himself magically entangled with the bride and groom and caught in the middle of more romance than he knows what to do with.

Adapted from the wildly popular webtoon series, Love Me to Death is a gorgeously illustrated saga that is bound to stop your heart.

Are you looking forward to Love Me to Death: Volume #1? What other books are coming out in the next few weeks that you’re looking forward to?

As always, thank you all so much for reading and have a fantastic day/night!

See ya ~Mar

The Most Interesting Looking New Books of January 2026

Hey everyone and Happy January! Another month, another bunch of new books that are coming out! It’s also the start of a new year so Happy 2026 as well! Anyway, it’s time for The Most Intriguing New Books of January 2026.

RELEASING: January 6th

Prince Arris knows that marriage means murder. All one needs to rule the Isle of Malys is the heart and hand in marriage of the kingdom’s heir. Historically, this has been construed quite… literally.

Thus, Arris expects that the day after his marriage and murder he will wake up as a sentient tree alongside the rest of his predecessors. His only chance at a long life is finding true and lasting love. When Arris’s parents announce a tournament of brides to compete for his hand and heart, a slew of eligible, lovely and (possibly murderous) bachelorettes make their way to Rathe Castle.

Amidst glittering balls in ozorald caves, strolls through menageries of daydream trees and pearl crocodiles, tea time on glass boats and kisses that leave his head spinning, Arris cannot tell who is here out of love for him… or lust for power.

Until he meets Demelza.

As a veritas swan, Demelza’s song wrings out the truth.

Forced into hiding, Demelza strikes a deal. Arris will provide her with safekeeping in exchange for her truth-telling song to sort through his potential brides.

While Arris is used to dodging death threats and Demelza is accustomed to fighting for her voice to be heard, to survive the tournament of brides requires a different kind of bravery. And perhaps the bravest thing one can do is not merely protect one’s life, but find the courage to chase a life worth living.

RELEASING: January 13th

Whoever said ’til death do us part wasn’t trying hard enough.

Toonimated’s wildy popular Webtoon is now in print for with a never-before-seen short story! For fans of Anatomy: A Love Story and Lore Olympus comes a graphic novel romantasy about the love triangle between a necromancer, a resurrected bride, and her very-much-alive groom.

In the city of San Guadario, necromancy has been banned for one hundred years. Every aspect of life, from buying food to getting married, requires a signature written in one’s own blood. If a necromancer were to sign, their identity would be revealed by the magic that courses through their veins. As a necromancer, Victor and his cute one-eyed cat must live a discreet life, constantly on the run.

Everything changes when the wealthiest patron in San Guadario hires Victor to resurrect his recently deceased, and impossibly beautiful, bride. The catch? Victor must perform an ancient ritual which eternally binds himself to this bride. After he brings her back to life, Victor finds himself magically entangled with the bride and groom and caught in the middle of more romance than he knows what to do with.

Adapted from the wildly popular webtoon series, Love Me to Death is a gorgeously illustrated saga that is bound to stop your heart.

RELEASING: January 20th

Josephine Haven is about to find out exactly where she fits into the march of Progress. Her outbursts are infamous at the House of Industry, the school for children who can wield radiance, an electricity-like magic. She’s tried to follow the rules, but her fiery nature is at odds with the core tenet of the House: Never form attachments. If she is meant to feel nothing, why are her emotions so volatile?

No one is surprised when, upon graduation, Josephine is banished from the city to a remote Mission. In Frostbrook, she must work under standoffish Julian, the former golden boy of the House of Industry who seems determined to watch her fail. And then there’s Ezra, the flirtatious stranger who’s a little too curious about how the Mission operates.

But there are bigger problems than Julian and Ezra’s secrets. A deadly disease is spreading across the countryside, and in Frostbrook, not everyone is eager to embrace Progress. As Josephine questions the system that raised her—and gives in to desire she’s been taught to suppress—she must decide what she’s willing to sacrifice to expose not just corruption within the House but the devastating truth about the radiance in her core.

RELEASING: January 20th

When you lose your way in life, the Elsewhere Express just might find you. Step aboard the train that can take you to your life’s purpose, in this cozy and inspiring fantasy from the author of Water Moon.

You can’t buy a ticket for the Elsewhere Express. Appearing only to those whose lives are adrift, it’s a magical train carrying very rare and special cargo: a sense of purpose, peace, and belonging.

Raya is one of those lost souls. She had dreamed of being a songwriter, but when her brother died, she gave up on her dream and started living his instead.

One day on the subway, as her thoughts wander, she’s swept off to the Elsewhere Express. There she meets Q, a charming, handsome artist who, like her, has lost his place in the world.

Together they find a train full of wonders, from a boarding car that’s also a meadow to a dining car where passengers can picnic on lily pads to a bar where jellyfish and whales swim through pink clouds.

But they also discover that the train harbors secrets—and danger: A mysterious stranger has stowed away and brought with him a dark, malignant magic that threatens to destroy the train.

But in investigating the stowaway’s identity, Raya also finds herself drawing closer to the ultimate question: What is her life’s true purpose—and might Q be connected to it?

RELEASING: January 27th

On a deadly mission to kill the mythical beast that has been haunting her woods, a desperate mage finds her fate intertwined with the handsome, powerful man who saves her in this dark and sexy romantasy—perfect for readers of Jennifer L. Armentrout, Callie Hart, and Holly Black.

There’s something in the woods…

When a vicious beast begins attacking her fellow villagers, Riela reluctantly agrees to enter the forbidden forest and kill the monster as she’s the only mage available—or so she thought.

Untrained and barely armed, Riela is quickly overwhelmed when one beast turns into two. She fears her death is at hand until the unexpected arrival of a scarred, strikingly handsome man with gleaming moonlit magic changes her fate—and provides a rare opportunity to learn more about her own fickle power.

After being rescued and healed from the beast’s poison, Riela awakens in a magical castle complete with a gorgeous library, a strange wolf, and the surly man who saved her life. She soon learns Garrick is both more powerful and far deadlier than a mere mortal mage—but thanks to a century-long curse, his powers are weakening.

Trapped in his castle and surrounded by the treacherous woods, the spark of attraction between Riela and Garrick slowly ignites into fiery desire. But the more they discover about Riela’s magic, the more suspicious Garrick grows of her identity. As they unravel the secrets and lies connecting Riela’s past to Garrick’s, the tenuous threads of trust between them start to fray.

Because Riela’s life—or her death—might be the key to regaining everything Garrick has lost.

So yeah, these are all of the books releasing in January 2026 that I’m at least a little interested in. What books are coming out soon that you’re looking forward to? Do we share some of the same ones?

As always, thank you all so much for reading, and I hope you have a great day/night!

See ya ~Mar

Can’t-Wait Wednesday: An Arcane Inheritance

Happy Wednesday everybody!

This week’s book is:

An Arcane Inheritance by Kamilah Cole! 🪄📔

An Arcane Inheritance by Kamilah Cole

LENGTH: 416 pages

GENRES: Fantasy, Speculative Fiction, Fiction

PUBLISHER: Poisoned Pen

RELEASE DATE: 30 December 2025

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

A modern-day dark academia fantasy with a twist, perfect for fans of Babel and A Deadly Education.

Warren University has stood amongst the ivy elite for centuries, built on the bones – and forbidden magic – of its most prized BIPOC students… hiding the rot of a secret society that will do anything to keep their own powers burning bright. No matter who they must sacrifice along the way.

Ellory Morgan is determined to prove that she belongs at Warren University, an ivy league school whose history is deeply linked to occult rumors and dark secrets. But as she settles into her Freshman year, something about the ornate buildings and shadowy paths feels strangely…familiar. And, with every passing day, that sense of déjà vu grows increasingly sinister.

Despite all logic, despite all reason, despite all the rules of reality, Ellory knows one thing to be true: she has been here before. And if she can’t convince brooding legacy student Hudson Graves to help her remember a past that seems determined to slip through her fingers as if by some insidious magic… this time, she may lose herself for good.

Are you looking forward to An Arcane Inheritance? What other books are coming out in the next few weeks that you’re looking forward to?

As always, thank you all so much for reading and have a fantastic day/night!

See ya ~Mar

Weekly Wrap-Up: 12/1 – 12/7

Hey there, it’s Monday again. Which means it’s time to wrap up the past week!

Last week was pretty good – I read a book and I did more than two blog posts. So I’m definitely going to count that as a win, especially considering my reading and blogging activity during the last couple of months. Not to mention, I actually got a book review out, too! Yay!

Anyway, without further ado, let’s get on with the Weekly Wrap-Up!

Tuesday 12/2: The Most Interesting Looking New Books of December 2025

Last Tuesday, I posted a list of the books that I’m looking forward to this month. Or, at least the ones that I think look the most interesting. It was the The Most Interesting Looking New Books of December 2025. As always, it’s basically only fantasy and science fiction, as those are the two genres I primarily read. This time there were four books on my list.

The Most Interesting Looking New Books of December 2025

Wednesday 12/3: Can’t-Wait Wednesday

On Wednesday, I participated in another Can’t-Wait Wednesday for the first time in several weeks. Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme currently hosted by Tressa @ Wishful Endings. It focuses on books you’re looking forward to reading, usually new releases.

Can’t-Wait Wednesday: Tailored Realities

Saturday 12/6: A Study in Charlotte Review

This past Saturday, I finally did another book review. It was the first time in a few months. There was a lot of really tough IRL stuff that was going on the last few months, so I’ve been behind on some stuff. But I’m catching up!

Anyway, I reviewed A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro. It’s a YA Sherlock Holmes reimagining set in the modern day. It had some fun references to the original and some pretty good writing, though there was some stuff I didn’t really like about it. I gave it ★★★✯☆.

A Study in Charlotte Review

Books I Read Last Week

Wrapping It All Up

So yeah, that’s what I did last week regarding books and blogging. I’m pretty happy with how it all turned out. Hopefully I can keep it up during the coming week!

I’m honestly not sure what I’m gonna read next. At this point, I’m almost tempted to just cover my eyes and randomly grab one of the new books I got a few weeks ago. I’ll figure it out somehow. For blogging, I’m planning on posting one book review – hopefully even two – this week. I still gotta catch up! I also want to do my November 2025 reading wrap-up, and hopefully another couple of posts.

Last week was also the first snow of the month, and part two of the first snow of the year in my area. The first snow started the week before, technically, but Thanksgiving was also that week, so I mostly focused on that during last week’s wrap-up. It was nice to see some fluffy white snow on the ground, after the roads were cleared.

Now that Thanksgiving week is over, my spouse and I were also starting to try to be healthier. I have a feeling we’re not going to really get into it until after the new year, though. There are just too many holidays this time of year.

Anyway, as always thank you for reading, and I hope you have a wonderful day/night!

See ya ~Mar