Hey bookworm friends! For my first Wyrd & Wonder post this May, I want to keep my eyes on the horizon, where various anticipated releases might eventually appear! So get your spyglass ready and let’s chat about some exciting fantasy releases (of various formats) to watch out for. Well, at least most of them are fantasy; there might be a few sneaky sci-fi ones in there 🤭. Whether they are books, TV, or video games, I hope you find something to like!
Link-ups
Thanks to the Wyrd & Wonder Hosts:
Imyril from There Is Always Room for One More
Lisa from Dear Geek Place
Jorie from Jorie Loves a Story
Ariana from The Book Nook
Annemieke from A Dance with Books
Exciting Fantasy Releases On The Horizon
📖Books📖
I had already made a post of spring releases on my radar, but it didn’t include any May releases. So to make up for that oversight, I’ll only share books with May pub dates here. 😊
The Counsel of Crows – Karl Buechner, Jeremy Mueller, Keith Ward
Pub Date: May 20, 2025; Th3rd World Studios
First in a new children’s series, The Unraveling. Anthropomorphic animals on a journey to save their realm.
The Village Beyond the Mist – Sachiko Kashiwaba with illustrations by Miho Satake
Pub Date: May 27, 2025; Yonder
English translation of the inspiration for the Miyazaki movie ‘Spirited Away’.
The Emilie Adventures – Martha Wells
Pub Date: May 13, 2025 (Out Now!); Tordotcom
Two YA Steampunk novels republished together into one volume.
Costumes for Time Travelers – A. R. Capetta
Pub Date: May 27, 2025; Candlewick Press
Queer Sci-Fi Fantasy Romance, Time travelers protect a clothing shop in a pocket dimension from being erased.
🎞️TV Shows🎞️
The Librarians: The Next Chapter
The Next Chapter is a spinoff and an addition to the universe of the The Librarian movies starring Noah Wyle & The Librarians TV show (2014) which share continuity. Since that TV show is one of my all-time favourites, I have been waiting for this for so long! It releases on May 25th (US) and I can’t wait! 🖤
Murderbot
This is one of the sneaky aforementioned sci-fi releases. I read up to book 4 but then lost interest when I got to the full-length novel. I am really hoping that I’ll be able to connect more with the story in TV show format🤞🏼. Release Date: May 16th (US).
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
For some reason, I read the 3rd book of R. R. Martin’s Dunk & Egg series but the graphic novel edition. Needless to say, I was super confused but also very intrigued. Even though that was years ago, I’m interested in reading those novellas from the start! And now that A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms TV show is coming out, I’ve definitely got my eye on it! According to a Forbes article, the release date has been pushed back to Winter of 2026.
Anime
Both the Leviathan book series (Scott Westerfeld) & the manga Witch Hat Atelier (Kamome Shirahama) have anime adaptations set to come out in 2025 with no specified release dates. They are both series I’ve already talked about a lot on the blog but I couldn’t make a post about anticipated releases without mentioning them! I don’t tend to watch a lot of anime and yet these are two of my most highly anticipated TV shows of the year. Below I’ll share their trailers again in case you’ve missed them.
Leviathan
Witch Hat Atelier
Continue Watching: Wednesday
Wednesday, Season 2, need I say more? No. But I’m gonna because season 1 was perfect! Yes that is a lot of pressure but I hope it maintains the high quality. The trailer is already giving me the shivers in the best way 🥰! Episodes will release in two batches: the first being in on August 6th and the second on September 3rd, 2025.
🎮Video Games🎮
Tiny Bookshop – Developed by neoludic games
Release Date: 2025, not specified yet. Demo available on Steam.
“Leave everything behind and open a tiny bookshop by the sea in this cozy narrative management game. Stock your tiny bookshop with different books and items, set up shop in scenic locations, and run your cozy second-hand bookshop while getting to know the locals.”
Winter Burrow – Developed by Pine Creek Games
Release Date: 2025, not specified yet. Demo available on Steam.
“Winter Burrow is a cozy woodland survival game about a mouse returning home to restore their childhood burrow. Explore, gather resources, craft, knit warm sweaters, bake pies and meet the locals.”
Dragon Song Tavern: Cozy & Adventurous – Developed by
Etherous Games Limited
Release Date: May 29, 2025 Early Access.
“A cozy, adventurous sim game! Build your tavern on a private island; host diverse guests. Gather local/exotic ingredients to craft dishes. Chat with companions, pet creatures, and enjoy laid-back moments.”
Moonlight Peaks – Developed by Little Chicken
Release Date: 2026, not specified yet. Demo available on Steam.
“Live the vampire life in the magical town of Moonlight Peaks! Master the art of potions and spells, manage your supernatural farm, and leave your mark on the magical town. Make friends with the local werewolves, witches, and mermaids, and find your eternal love in the supernatural dating scene.”
I did my best to list the expected pub dates but you never know, dates can change. If you’re interested in any of these releases please make sure you keep an eye on the latest updates yourself.
Let’s chat in the comments!
Are any of these exciting fantasy releases on your list too ? Or, what’s an adaptation you’re looking forward to?
I’m so excited for Wednesday Season 2! I need to do a rewatch of season 1 before it drops😁
Yess me too, so excited! I wouldn’t mind a re-watch too, actually that’s a good idea.
I’m not sure how I feel about a Librarians reboot. They don’t often do reboots well. And actors try to emulate the previous person in the role and it comes across very fake. Maybe I’ll wait for you to tell me if it was done well before I try it 😆
I can totally understand your wariness. Based on the trailer, the characters at least look like they have different personalities so if they start to emulate someone else they’re doing something wrong! I will definitely watch it and I shall report back then! Seriously hoping not to be disappointed but I have faith it’ll be great 🖤
The Counsel Of Crows sounds like a cute concept and something about the premise of the last book you’ve mentioned makes me feel like it could be a good fit for fans of Legends & Lattes (which I still need to read 🙈). I’m pretty sure the Martha Wells one is on my TBR somewhere (unowned I mean) and I’ve heard of Spirited Away but never seen it. I’m terrible at getting to animated films. Although I did recently rewatch 101 Dalmatians and enjoyed it so much that I want to start giving the format more time.
I hadn’t heard of The Librarians but given your expectations I really hope it’s a hit 🤞I want to try and check out the Murderbot books before the show arrives so I really need to get on that 🙈
Omg how did I not know there was another series linked to GOT coming out 😍 I hope you love both those animals adaptations whenever they come out, especially given how much you enjoyed the books linked to them.
Omg series two of Wednesday looks incredible 😍 I think I’ll have to rewatch season one ready for it (which is hardly a trial as like you said its fantastic). I don’t think they could have found a more fitting lead for the show.
Ooh a time management game set within a book store? How cute 😍 actually they all sound like cosy fantasy games and I’m particularly intrigued by the last one. Vampires, potions and a supernatural farm? How could I resist.
I’m not too sure of what fantasy adaptations are coming up on the whole 🤔 but I did hear that Rivers Of London had one so I’m hoping to check out the first book at some point this year.
Wonderful list 🥰
*anime adaptations 🙈 definitely autospells fault as it just tried changing it to animals again 😂
haha well in its defense I’m sure you write animals more often than anime 😛 but autocorrect really needs to get a life.
The Counsel of Crows does sound adorable to me too and I see what you mean about the Costumes for Time Travelers, it looks like it might be cozy. Ahaha so many of Martha Well’s series are on my tbr! & ohhh Spirited Away is so good, I highly recommend it, and oh I haven’t rewatched 101 Dalmatians since I was a kid so I’m happy to hear it’s still good lol!! 🙂
Thank you, I seriously hope the new Librarians show is a hit too but I’m so worried lol. The Murderbot show is out now, at least it started the other day as I know a lot of my friends were celebrating release day. But also there’s still no rush just get to it if you can/when you can 🤷🏼♀️.
Haha I don’t think they are marketing it super hard since I only just recently heard about it too! Thank you, that is so sweet of you 🥰.
Right? that Wednesday S2 got me to excited!hah yeah great idea, a rewatch is certainly in order! Agreed, Jenna Ortega is SO GOOD!!
The book store game sounds incredibly adorable!!and well I tend to add mostly games that look cozy to my wishlist hahah 🤣 Hard to resist as you say!
Oh Interesting, I haven’t read the Rivers of London either! I hope you love it if you check it out 🙂 Thanks, friend 🥰
I’m glad you agree 🥰 I actually didn’t realise she had more than two to start with 🙈 I’m not surprised to hear you say that as I feel like everybody loves that one. Yeah bits of it were darker than I’d expected but given the premise I’m not surprised. Plus I feel like that’s a Disney thing in general 😂
Aww what’s worried you about it? And yes I saw on Instagram, although it’s on Apple I think and I don’t have that anyway. So I’m kind of hoping that it’ll be picked up/sold on to something I have by the time I’ve read the books 🤞
I’m not sure if I saw it was cancelled actually 🤔 I’ll have to check. It’s odd though given the popularity of the others set in the world.
It looks incredible 😍😍 I truly cannot wait now!! And yes she’s fantastic. Did you see the Beetlejuice sequel with her in?
I had kind of noticed that 😂 if I ever need help finding cosy games I know who to turn to.
Thank you 🥰 I definitely hope to given the adaptation coming up. I’ll let you know how I find it.
The Librarians is SUCH an amazing show, and I’m intrigued – but also a little nervous – about the new spinoff. I also did not know it was happening until reading this, so !!!!!!
And the Knight of the Seven Kingdoms! This was actually the first GRRM book I read, so this should be good fun. Hopefully, haha
Omg so many things happening! Costumes for Time Travelers looks amazing and I’m going to check it out before adding it to my endless TBR 🤭 I’m also super excited about Murderbot! I don’t watch a lot of adaptations (mostly cos I haven’t read the books yet) but I’m caught up on the series and I love the trailer for it already! 😍 Also had no idea that Witch Hat was getting an adaptation so that’s very exciting too. So much good stuff coming our way and I hope you enjoy it all!
Murderbot! Murderbot! Murderbot! (I loved all the books, and can’t wait to watch the show. Probably not until later this weekend even though today (!!!) is the release date, but I’m super excited and hopeful.)
Also Tiny Bookshop looks like a super cozy game! I’m looking forward to its full release. I may or may not try the demo, but I definitely want the full game.
Ahah I love your excitement and I really hope you love it as much as you want to! I’m hopeful too!
Yes I can’t wait for the full release of Tiny Bookshop, I don’t think I have patience for the demo to be honest because I would get frustrated when it ends prematurely lol so I think I’ll just be patient in a different way 😅. I’m glad it appeals to you too although I am not surprised 😜.
I’m really looking forward to the Murderbot series and Witch Hat Atelier! I’m also interested in Leviathan – I loved the books, but I’m not quite sold on the anime format for it in particular.
Awesome, I hope you enjoy those adaptations too! 🙂 Oh, interesting, what’s not selling you on the anime format for Leviathan, if I may ask?
I’m still not sure if I’ll watch the Murderbot show as I don’t trust them to do it justice, but please let me know what you think! 🥰 I’m very excited for Witch Hat Atelier (I should also pick up the Manga again) and the second season of Wednesday!
That’s fair, I guess we shall have to see, when I get around to watching it I’ll have to let you know then! 🙂 Yesss I highly recommend the witch hat manga and I can’t wait for the anime too! 🙂 I hope you enjoy Wednesday season 2 when it comes out too 🥰!
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