Hey bookworm friends! It’s almost 2026 and if you are planning your reading for next year, keep reading. Here are the books coming out in January that I’ve got my eye on. Get ready to add a bunch to your TBR because the selection in January is real tasty! Since I mostly read Fantasy, my list mainly falls within various fantastical sub-genres (there’s a bit of historical fiction and mystery mixed in there). It’s organized by publishing date and I’ll only include sequels if it’s from a series I’m actively reading from. Otherwise it’s just standalones or start of series. These lists can get quite long so I won’t share the entire synopsis, but rather a short descriptive sentence to pique your interest 😉. Here are 20 Upcoming January 2026 Releases.
Book Titles lead to TheStoryGraph links.
Upcoming January 2026 Releases
Tea & Alchemy by
Sharon Lynn Fisher
⟡ Pub Date: Jan 1, 2026
⟡ Genre: Historical Fantasy / Romance
⟡ Publisher: 47North
A tea leaf reader in nineteenth-century England falls in love with a reclusive alchemist who’s suspected of murder.
Through Gates of Garnet and Gold by Seanan McGuire
⟡ Pub Date: Jan 6, 2026
⟡ Genre: Fantasy / Sequel
⟡ Publisher: Tordotcom
Book 11 in The Wayward Children Series. Trouble is brewing in the Halls of the Dead and Nancy returns to ask for help.
Dragon Cursed by Elise Kova
⟡ Pub Date: Jan 6, 2026
⟡ Genre: YA Romantasy
⟡ Publisher: Mayhem Books
There is no worse fate than being dragon cursed. Anyone can be tainted and slowly transform into a mindless beast hellbent on destruction.
The Swan’s Daughter by Roshani Chokshi
⟡ Pub Date: Jan 6, 2026
⟡ Genre: YA Romantasy
⟡ Publisher: Wednesday Books
A doomed prince teams up with a swan who sings a truth-telling song to survive a tournament of murderous brides.
The Murder at World’s End by Ross Montgomery
⟡ Pub Date: Jan 6, 2026
⟡ Genre: Mystery
⟡ Publisher: William Morrow
An under-butler and a foul-mouthed octogenarian hunt a killer in a manor sealed against the end of the world.
Graceless Heart by Isabel Ibañez
⟡ Pub Date: Jan 13, 2026
⟡ Genre: Historical Fantasy / Romance
⟡ Publisher: Saturday Books
In Renaissance Italy, a sculptress enters a competition hosted by a secretive, immortal family who offer an invaluable boon to the victor.
Love Me To Death: Volume One by
Toonimated
⟡ Pub Date: Jan 13, 2026
⟡ Genre: YA Romantasy / Graphic Novel
⟡ Publisher: Little, Brown Ink
A love triangle between a necromancer, a resurrected bride, and her very-much-alive groom. Webtoon in print.
Red and the Wolves by Cherry Zhong
⟡ Pub Date: Jan 13, 2026
⟡ Genre: YA Fantasy / Graphic Novel
⟡ Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing
A sapphic retelling of Little Red Riding Hood set in an apocalyptic fairy tale world.
The Bookbinder’s Secret by A. D. Bell
⟡ Pub Date: Jan 13, 2026
⟡ Genre: Historical Fiction / Mystery
⟡ Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
A young bookbinder finds a secret message hidden inside a burned book and sets out to discover the truth.
Blessed Is The Rot by Sheri Singerling
⟡ Pub Date: Jan 13, 2026
⟡ Genre: Dark Sci Fantasy / Horror
⟡ Publisher: Hypin Publishing (Indie)
Surveyor, Sophie, and disgraced bell-ringer, Fenrir, commit an unforgivable sin by descending into ancient ruins festering with distortions and their horrifying victims.
The Book of Blood and Roses by Annie Summerlee
⟡ Pub Date: Jan 13, 2026
⟡ Genre: Romantasy / Paranormal
⟡ Publisher: Del Rey
A vampire hunter goes undercover at a mysterious university and falls in love with her roommate, an alluring vampire.
Godstorm by Solitaire Townsend
⟡ Pub Date: Jan 15, 2026
⟡ Genre: Fantasy / Alternate History
⟡ Publisher: Bedford Square Publishers (Indie)
In a petrol-fuelled Roman Empire which never fell, Arrow, a gladiatrix turned governess must rescue the child she has loved as her own, a girl who could tear down the world.
How to Lose A Goblin in Ten Days by Jessie Sylva
⟡ Pub Date: Jan 20, 2026
⟡ Genre: Cozy Fantasy / Romance
⟡ Publisher: Orbit
Halfling x goblin romance. Expect magical forests, interfering wizards, lots of home cooking, and maybe even a kiss at the Harvest dance…
Rules of the Heart by Janice Hadlow
⟡ Pub Date: Jan 20, 2026
⟡ Genre: Historical Fiction / Romance
⟡ Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Lady Henrietta is no stranger to the affections of a younger man. But when she meets Lord Granville, she falls uncontrollably under his spell…directly into scandal and ruin.
The Poet Empress by Shen Tao
⟡ Pub Date: Jan 20, 2026
⟡ Genre: Fantasy
⟡ Publisher: Bramble
In the waning years of the Azalea Dynasty, the emperor is dying, the land consumed by famine, and poetry magic lost to all except the powerful.
Silver & Blood by Jessie Mihalik
⟡ Pub Date: Jan 27, 2026
⟡ Genre: Romantasy
⟡ Publisher: Avon
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 and powerful man who saves her.
The Demon of Beausoleil by Mariana Costa
⟡ Pub Date: Jan 27, 2026
⟡ Genre: Fantasy/ Romance / Horror Graphic Novel
⟡ Publisher: Oni Press (Indie)
A half-demon socialite-turned-exorcist and his disgruntled bodyguard have no trouble facing down the hordes of darkness—but facing their feelings for each other? Well now, that’s a whole different story . . .
Sister Svangerd and the Not Quite Dead by K. J. Parker
⟡ Pub Date: Jan 27, 2026
⟡ Genre: Fantasy
⟡ Publisher: Orbit
Not even the Church of the Invincible Sun is invincible – and somebody has to do its dirty work. Enter Sister Svangerd and her accompanying priest. Their mission: to make a meddlesome princess disappear (permanently).
The Eyes, the Fire & the Avalanche Kingdom by Dave Eggers
⟡ Pub Date: Jan 27, 2026
⟡ Genre: MG Fiction / Xenofiction / Sequel
⟡ Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Follow-up to the The Eyes & The Impossible where half-dog, half-coyote, all hero Johannes ventures into the wild, where new friends and new adventure await.
Brigid by Kim Curran
⟡ Pub Date: Jan 29, 2026
⟡ Genre: Historical Fantasy / Mythology
⟡ Publisher: Penguin Michael Joseph
Daughter to a slave mother and a chieftain father, Brigid is caught between two worlds. When her father barters her to a brutal husband, her desperate prayers are heard by an ancient goddess, who sets her on a new path.
Let’s chat in the comments!
Are you looking forward to any of these? Or, did I miss any that you would add to the list?
Great list! I’m also really looking forward to Through Gates of Garnet and Gold, but most of these others are new to me. I’ll have to check out The Bookbinder’s Secret in particular!
Thanks so much, Nicole! 😄Yes, I’m behind on my Through Gates of Garnet and Gold ARC but I am excited for it! And The Bookbinder’s Secret sounds so mysterious! Glad these were new to you 🙂
What a wonderfull list!! There were so many I didn’t have on my radar and now I do, thanks!
That’s pretty much the best compliment I could hope for so thank you 😀 I aim to help others with these types of lists so I’m super glad 🥰!
This is an amazing list!! *_* I have the ARC copy for a couple of them, How to Lose A Goblin in Ten Days and Sister Svangerd and I am really excited about both! I can’t wait to start them!
But I have other books that you mentioned on my radar, like Tea & Alchemy and The Demon of Beausoleil, while it is the first time I heard about Love Me to Death but it sounds super intriguing!!!
Thanks so much Susy 💕😃! Ohh that’s awesome, I have the ARC for How To Lose A Goblin also! I haven’t read anything by K J Parker yet I dont think except a short story I enjoyed so I’m very curious about his works! Have you read anything by him? I hope you love both of your ARCs.
The Demon of Beausoleil sounds so good and I have an ARC for that too, I’m happy to hear you’re interested in the graphic novels in my list too 😛 !
I have read a couple of books by KJ Parker (plus one or two he has written with his real name, Tom Holt). I enjoyed them, even if from time to time I had the impression he was trying a tad too hard. But his ideas are always over the top and so original! *_*
Let’s hope we will enjoy all our ARCs! 🙂
Oh wait, I had no idea KJ Parker wasn’t his real name 😂 That’s good to know, since I have a few books by him I want to read! Ahah I guess I’ll have to see if I agree with that assessment, lol. I like that his ideas seem unique! Yes, here’s to us enjoying our ARCs and I hope you’re having a good January! 😀
How to Lose a Goblin and Silver & Blood are both on my January reading pile as well. January definitely has a lot of new books to choose from!
Oh very nice! I hope you love both of them and yes there really are lots of great options and there are plenty that I saw that I didn’t even add to my list or we’d be here all day 😅!
I’m excited for Graceless Heart and Tea and Alchemy looks good too.
Graceless Heart sounds amazing I’m excited too and I agree, Tea & Alchemy definitely has me curious. Thanks for stopping by my blog :)!
This is such a helpful list. I feel like I really have no idea what is coming out in 2026 except for horror books. Obviously intrigued by Blessed Is the Rot. Going on my TBR immediately.
I’m so glad to hear you found it useful! 😄 I decided to make these lists more this year to try to stay more of top of what’s coming out in genres I like hehe. Omg right? Blessed Is the Rot sounds like such a unique and cool indie horror, I’m also interested! Plus what a cover ❤️🔥
Murder at World’s End is calling out to me. Definitely want to give that a go!
Yes, the premise for that one sounds really fun to me too, I hope you enjoy it if you give it a chance 🙂 !
Great list, there are so many exciting books coming out in January 😍😍 I believe The Poet Empress is going to be in my book box this month and I’m majorly excited for it. Two of the others are also within my most anticipated books of the year. Love Me To Death & Red & The Wolves sound interesting and I’ll have to check them out if I ever get around to trying graphic novels 🙈 I have Tea & Alchemy waiting on my Kindle 😅 and I cant get over how stunning the cover for Graceless Heart is 😍😍 the Goblin one sounds fun and I’m very intrigued by Murder At Worlds End, although it came out a couple of months back for me. The one I truly cant believe i somehow missed though is Godstorm. With god in the title how did that slip me by? I love the sound of the central character too.
Happy 2025. I hope you enjoy whichever of these you get to read.
Thanks so much, Charlotte! Ohh cool, which book box are you subbed to? I hope you love The Poet Empress!
Oh nice, I’m glad Tea & Alchemy also sounds good to you :)!Yeah Graceless Heart is easily one of the most gorgeous I’ve seen so far this year! Yeah see, my anticipated releases is weird because I think mostly it’s US dates but sometimes there might be UK stuff mixed in there I’m not sure, haha. I should specify tbh but that’s what listing the publisher is for 😛
Godstorm seems to be from a not so big publisher and I haven’t seen many people mention it tbf.
Thank you! Happy 2026 to you too! 😉
Illumicrate. I decided to try it out last year when I wanted an extra special edition of The Raven Scholar for my shelves. Thank you, its been getting good reviews (so I’ve heard, I haven’t read any yet as I want to go into it knowing as little as possible) so I’m really hoping it’ll be a hit for me.
If I get around to making a yearly favourites list based on covers I’d be highly surprised if that didn’t make the top five. And I figured you’d be using the dates that apply to you anyway. Ah hopefully we’ll still get that one over here then. We don’t always when thats the case.
Thank you <3
Ah okay I see, I bought a book from Illumicrate once :)I hope you’ve been enjoying the subscription itself! And given how much you loved that book, that makes sense! Yeah I also tend to prefer going into books knowing as little as possible when I’m super excited for them! Fingers crossed! 🙂
Yeah I’m sure it’ll make many fav covers lists at the end of the year lol. 🙂
True. Sometimes we don’t get a UK book and you don’t get a US book, it’s a bit of a bummer.
Yes I think i remember you mentioning it. Although i cant remember which it was now 🙈 yes thanks, its lovely getting something different for a change. And I like that you can skip months as not every book will appeal to every reader. A few items have left me unimpressed but I’ve had some wonderful ones too. Including a book vase 😍😍 its definitely nice to go into some knowing less rather than more.
Im sure it will.
Yeah its a pain. I just try to remember that we’re luckier than some countries where they have to wait for a lot of books.
I’m very intrigued by Godstorm. Adding it to my TBR!
Yes, me too! Sounds so interesting. I’m glad it caught your attention too 😀
Omg there are so many good books coming out this month!!
There really are, I’m so excited!!! 😀
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