I think we can all agree that one of the best things about a new year means that there's going to be new books coming out. I, for one, always love tracking new releases and seeing which ones are going to excite me the most. Today, I have a list of some of my most anticipated 2025 book releases. There are other releases I'm looking forward to but the ones on this list are ones I'm counting down to. Let's go ahead and dive in!
Up first, we have An Honored Vow by Melissa Blair. This is the fourth and final book in the Halfling Saga, a fantasy series I first started back in 2021 with A Broken Blade. An instant TikTok sensation, I couldn't help but be drawn to it. I read it in one sitting and absolutely loved it. I have yet to read any of the sequels (in part due to my mood reading habits). However, now that the final book is about to be out, I cannot wait to binge read the series and see what my favorite characters are getting up to.
Not long after, Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros will be released (in just a few short weeks!). This is the third book to Fourth Wing, which I'm sure I don't need to spend too much time introducing. I absolutely loved Fourth Wing and I enjoyed Iron Flame. More than anything, I'm intrigued to see what happens after the absolutely insane cliffhanger we got at the end of book two. I don't have much longer to wait and I'm definitely going to enjoy diving back into the world.
Ali Hazelwood, who was one of my most-read authors in 2024, is releasing a new book in February that seems to be made just for me: Deep End. This supposedly follows a diver and a swimmer in a college romance setting. As a retired competitive swimmer and previous lifeguard, this book is right up my alley. I am incredibly excited to see what Ali has in store for us as her books seem to just hit perfectly every single time.
Then we have Scythe and Sparrow by Brynne Weaver, the third book in the Ruinous Love trilogy. I read the first two books, Butcher and Blackbird and Leather and Lark, this year and absolutely loved them. Dark, funny, stabby romances that seem to just hit a spot I didn't know I had. While I doubt anyone can top our main couple in B&B, I'm eager to see what this book entails for a couple characters we've been seeing for ages.
May brings the next book in the House of Devils series by Kayla Edwards: City of Smoke and Brimstone. I absolutely love this series and these characters. We've got big, chunky books with lots of amazing characters and addicting stories. I haven't yet read the third book so I'm holding off on that since we're getting so close to the fourth book releasing. I have a feeling Kayla will, once again, rip my heart out in this one.
One of the top five books I'm looking forward to is definitely Elancer by Jane Washington, the sixth and (supposedly) final book in the Ironside Academy series. Jane has long been a favorite author of mine and this recent series of hers is just absolutely top notch. It's addicting and exciting and I can never turn away. I am both eagerly looking forward to this final book and dreading the goodbye that we'll have at the end.
Up next we have A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna. This is a cozy fantasy coming from the same author as A Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, which I read this past fall and absolutely adored. While it's not set in the same world, it is apparently going to have the same cozy fantasy vibes. I am incredibly excited for this one and I just know that it's going to hit my favorites list just like Secret Society.
Then we have His Juliet by Emilia Rossi, the next in the Empire of Royals series. This is a companion/stand alone in the inter-connected series so it can be read completely on its own. However, having read the first book where we were introduced to the male love interest in this book, I can't express enough how excited I am for this book. Also, the love interests names are Romeo and Juliet which...I'm scared to see how this is going to go but I'm also so ready for it.
Of course I can't have an anticipated releases list without mentioning Katabasis by R.F. Kuang. From the very first moment this book was mentioned I was ready for it. It's a dark academia fantasy about two rival graduate students must travel into hell to save their professor's soul. Say less, just take my money. I am so incredibly ready to have this book in my hands, especially since it's by R.F. Kuang herself.
The next few books don't have set release dates but I'm hoping will release in 2025. The first of these is Entwined by Rebecca Quinn, the third and final book in The Brutes of Bristlebrook series. This is a steamy, post-apocalyptic why-choose series that is absolutely addicting. We should be getting the third book any day now and I'm very much looking forward to when that is. Plus, I'm excited to be able to tick off another completed series from my list.
Then we have the fifth Wilderlore book by Amanda Foody. This is a middle grade series that is like if Pokemon met How to Train Your Dragon. It's such a fun world full of complex characters. This series truly has reinforced in me how talented Amanda Foody is to be able to write across such differing worlds and genres. There's going to be seven books in this series so we're only about halfway through. That excites me greatly, though, as we have so many more fun journeys to go on.
Up next, I'm hoping for the third Mortal Fates book by J. Bree. This is a fantasy series by the same author as The Bonds that Tie and Hannaford Prep, two of my all-time favorites. I loved the first book and enjoyed the sequel. However, there was a lot of drama surrounding the release of book two so I wouldn't be surprised if J. Bree is going to take a step back for a bit to prioritize herself. Whether we get this book in 2025 or later, I am still looking forward to it.
Lastly, we may or may not be getting the next ACOTAR installment from Sarah J. Maas. If we're going to get it in the fall or late-2025, we still won't know for a few more months. I'm hopeful that we'll get it but she has been releasing most books in winter/spring the last few years. Either way, I'm ready for it if it comes out but I'm also not holding my breath.
Thanks for reading!
xoxo
Lauren
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