15 Biggest Fantasy Books Coming Out In February 2025

With the recent release of Onyx Storm, 2025 is already off to a great start for fantasy readers — 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 to Faebound and Heartless Hunter are 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.

15

The Beasts We Bury By D.L. Taylor

Release Date: February 4, 2025

The Beasts We Bury cover with the title in gold, a sword, and light purple flowers against a black background

D.L. Taylor’s debut novel hits shelves in February 2025, and The Beasts We Bury combines 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 Bury is 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 Bury is poised to be one of the most fun fantasy books arriving this February. It’s a promising debut.

14

The Bones Beneath My Skin By T.J. Klune

Release Date: February 4, 2025

The Bones Beneath My Skin cover featuring a hill with trees, an orange sky, a shooting star, and black title text

T.J. Klune’s Somewhere Beyond the Sea was one of the best fantasy books of 2024, and the author is bringing readers another story to dig into in February 2025. The Bones Beneath My Skin defies 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.

Piranesi, Discworld, & House of Leaves covers

Related

10 Creative Fantasy Books That Defied All The Tropes

Like every genre, there are plenty of tropes that accompany fantasy stories. However, these novels purposefully subvert audience expectations.

Posts

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’s Cerulean Chronicles. Its impressive early reviews and 4.26 Goodreads score make The Bones Beneath My Skin sound even more compelling, and if readers still aren’t sold, it has also been likened to Stranger Things.

13

Grave Empire By Richard Swan

Release Date: February 4, 2025

Grave Empire cover featuring the title text in black against a white shield with peple waving flags behind it

Richard Swan brought his Empire of the Wolf trilogy to a close in 2024, and the author is kicking off a new series in the same universe with Grave Empire in February 2025. The first installment of The Grave Silence, Grave Empire is set about 200 years after The 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 Empire promises to deliver on everything that makes Swan’s prior novels great: political intrigue, a brutal and detailed fantasy world, and plenty of action.

Grave Empire promises 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 to blend horror and fantasy in a satisfying way, and if that isn’t enough incentive to pick it up, its whopping 4.37 Goodreads rating makes a case for doing so.

12

Black Woods, Blue Sky By Eowyn Ivey & Ruth Hulbert (Illustrator)

Release Date: February 4, 2025

Black Woods Blue Sky cover featuring a blue background, black trees, and a blonde girl

Eowyn Ivey wowed readers with The Snow Child back in 2011, but Black Woods Blue Sky might be the author’s best book yet — at least if its early 4.33 Goodreads rating 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.

The Fifth Season, The Priory of the Orange Tree, and Lapvona book covers

Related

10 Recent Fantasy Books That Will Be Classics Someday

While there are plenty of classic fantasy novels that are perfect to revisit today, many modern additions are on track to join the fantasy canon.

Posts

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.

11

This Ends In Embers By Kamilah Cole

Release Date: February 4, 2025

This Ends In Embers featuring the side profile of a girl and a white dragon breathing fire

This Ends in Embers, the second book in Kamilah Cole’s Divine Traitors series, is coming out in February, and it promises a satisfying follow-up to So 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.

Books In The Divine Traitors Series In Order

Release Year

So Let Them Burn

2024

This Ends in Embers

2025

And with This Ends in Embers concluding Divine Traitors’ story — and boasting a 4.18 Goodreads rating 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.

10

Emily Wilde’s Compendium Of Lost Tales By Heather Fawcett

Release Date: February 11, 2025

Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales cover featuring a blue background, the title text in light purple, a cat, and a snail

One of the most-anticipated fantasy releases of February 2025 is Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales, the third book in Heather Fawcett’s Emily Wilde series. Those looking for cozy fantasy books to pick up this 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 Tales will see its heroine putting together her “most dangerous academic project,” becoming the queen of Faerie in order to study it.

The Books In The Emily Wilde Series In Order

Release Year

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries

2023

Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands

2024

Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales

2025

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.

9

The Forest King’s Daughter By Elly Blake

Release Date: February 11, 2025

The Forest King's Daughter cover featuring a woman in a red dress surrounded by red vines and leaves

Pitched for fans of Sarah J. Maas’ fantasy books, The Forest King’s Daughter will bring readers a fairy tale-esque enemies-to-lovers story with 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.

Book covers of Deathless by Catherynne M. Valente, Furyborn by Claire Legrand (Empirium #1), & The Bone Shard War by Andrea Stewart (The Drowning Empire #3) against a blue background with purple sparkles.

Related

10 Great Fantasy Books To Read If You Want More Plot Than Spice

Many excellent fantasy books have a good mix of plot and spice. Some fantasy books focus more on the plot with a sprinkle of spice.

Posts

2

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 sets The Forest King up to be one of 2025’s most compelling additions to the romantasy genre.

8

The Crimson Road by A.G. Slatter

Release Date: February 11, 2025

The Crimson Road cover featuring a blue background, white title text, and black lanterns

A.G. Slatter is known for writing gothic fantasy, and the author’s February 2025 release is set in the Sourdough Universe, the same universe as All The Murmuring Bones, The Path of Thorns, and The Briar Book of the Dead. Needless to say, those familiar with Slatter’s previous work will want to keep The Crimson Road on their radars this month. The Crimson Road follows 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 Road sounds 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 Road sounds 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 the Sourdough Universe in 2025.

7

Rebel Witch By Kristen Ciccarelli

Release Date: February 18, 2025

Rebel Witch by Kristen Ciccarelli book cover

There are a number of exciting romantasy sequels hitting shelves in 2025, and Kristen Ciccarelli’s Rebel Witch is among the most highly anticipated. That’s no surprise, as Heartless Hunter was easily one of the best romantasy books of 2024. And with its impressive 4.46 Goodreads rating, Rebel Witch looks poised to surpass its predecessor and deliver a solid conclusion to Ciccarelli’s Crimson Moth duology. Rebel Witch opens with Rune on the run and Gideon committed to killing every witch, including Rune.

Books In The Crimson Moth Series In Order

Release Year

Heartless Hunter

2024

Rebel Witch

2025

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 Witch will leave its leads with devastating choices, so readers are certain to devour this sequel just as quickly as the first book.

6

Cursebound By Saara El-Arifi

Release Date: February 18, 2025

Cursebound by Saara El-Arifi book cover

The follow-up to Saara El-Arifi’s Faebound comes out this February, and Cursebound promises 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.

Books In The Faebound Series In Order

Release Year

Faebound

2024

Cursebound

2025

The stakes are higher than ever in this middle book in El-Arifi’s Faebound trilogy, and Cursebound looks 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.

5

A Dragon Of Black Glass By James Rollins

Release Date: February 18, 2025

A Dragon of Black Glass cover featuring a person standing on a cliff

James Rollins’ Moonfall series continues with A Dragon of Black Glass in February, which will see Nyx and her friends embarking on a mission to find a weapon that could help them against moonfall. Their journey to the desert will present them with enemies and new threats from beneath the land. However, Nyx is equally concerned about the trustworthiness of herself and her allies, setting up a sequel that will keep readers on their toes.

Books In The Moonfall Series In Order

Release Year

The Starless Crown

2022

The Cradle of Ice

2023

A Dragon of Black Glass

2025

While Nyx contends with the growing effects of her bridle-song, Prince Kanthe accepts that he must make terrible choices for the fate of his world. And with a greater threat to that world awakening, Rollins’ newest addition to the Moonfall series promises to be even darker and more gripping than before. A Dragon of Black Glass boasts the highest average Goodreads rating of the series so far, with its positive early reviews suggesting this series is getting better and better.

4

Upon A Starlit Tide By Kell Woods

Release Date: February 18, 2025

Upon a Starlight Tide cover featuring a brunette mermaid holding a golden blade and the title text in white

Readers looking for a historical fantasy book to read in February should look no further than Upon a Starlit Tide by Kell Woods. Upon a Starlit Tide weaves elements of Cinderella and The Little Mermaid into its narrative, which is set in Saint-Malo in 1758. The novel follows Lucinde Leon, who values sailing over the marriage prospects her sisters are so eager to pursue. She spends her happiest days sailing with her best friend, Samuel, but after saving the son of an influential shipowner, she realizes there’s pleasure in another sort of existence, too.

This charming narrative is ideal to snuggle up with in February, even if it leaves readers longing for the sea.

Luce’s dreams and relationships suggest Upon a Starlit Tide will have a deeply satisfying emotional core, but the book’s synopsis also teases conflicts with the fae, magic, and even a sea-maid. There’s a lot to be excited about when it comes to Woods’ 2025 release, and early Goodreads reviews suggest it lives up to expectations. This charming narrative is ideal to snuggle up with in February, even if it leaves readers longing for the sea.

3

The Dark Mirror By Samantha Shannon

Release Date: February 25, 2025

The Dark Mirror By Samantha Shannon (The Bone Season Book 5)

The fifth book in Samantha Shannon’s The Bone Season is out in February, and The Dark Mirror promises to transport readers back to this world in spectacular fashion. The book picks up with Paige Mahoney in the free world, but she has no recollection of how she got there after spending 10 years in the Republic of Scion. As she attempts to return to the revolution, she uncovers secrets and potential alliances that could alter — and potentially end — the war.

Books In The Bone Season Series In Order

Release Year

The Bone Season

2013

The Mime Order

2015

The Song Rising

2017

The Mask Falling

2021

The Dark Mirror

2025

The Bone Season books always take readers on an engaging ride, and The Dark Mirror‘s shockingly high 4.71 Goodreads rating suggests it will continue this trend. It has been four years since the last Bone Season book hit shelves, but fortunately, it seems like The Dark Mirror will be well worth the wait.

2

Swordheart By T. Kingfisher

Release Date: February 25, 2025

Swordheart Cover with the title text in white, a sword behind it, and leaves and flowers surrounding it

After releasing great horror and fantasy books in 2024, T. Kingfisher continues to dominate bookshelves — and Swordheart promises to be a can’t-miss February release. Set in The World of the White Rat universe, Swordheart is being republished by Orbit. And if its stunning new cover design isn’t enough to sell new readers, its charming premise will surely do the trick.

Book covers of A Game Of Thrones by George R.R. Martin, The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin, and The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang against a green textured background.

Related

10 Fantasy Books That Were Great Right From The Opening Scene

There are fantasy books that require some time before they become good, but here are 10 fantasy books that were great from their opening scene.

Posts

3

Swordheart follows Halla, who finds herself facing off with bitter relatives after inheriting her uncle’s estate. She’s locked away during the conflict, but she inadvertently unleashes a warrior from within a sword she unsheathes. The two become fast friends and partners, but they’re soon forced to contend with the true nature of the weapon itself. Swordheart‘s intriguing plot and lovable characters make it an ideal read to dive into upon its February 2025 release.

1

The Otherwhere Post By Emily J. Taylor

Release Date: February 25, 2025

The Otherwhere Post cover featuring the title text in silver and gold with a dark blue background and white vines

Emily J. Taylor, the author of Hotel Magnifique, is back with another quirky fantasy story in February: The Otherwhere Post. Blending fantastical elements with a mystery narrative, The Otherwhere Post follows Maeve Abenthy, a girl whose entire life is upended when her father is accused of a terrible crime. When she receives a letter that he was innocent seven years later, Maeve joins the Otherwhere Post — where letters are magically enchanted and delivered — to uncover the truth.

Naturally, this puts her in great danger, especially as the people around her realize her true motives. The Otherwhere Post sounds like a suspenseful and whimsical fantasy novel that’s well worth checking out, even with so many other great releases within February’s lineup. Hopefully, it lives up to its intriguing premise.

Leave a Comment