2025 has been a great year for fantasy books, and it’s only halfway through. Lovers of the genre have had exciting new releases to look forward to since Onyx Storm hit shelves in January, and there are plenty more coming during the latter half of the year. Even with romantasy dominating the market as of late, there are still many new high and urban fantasy narratives to enjoy.

And some of 2025’s biggest hits are from well-loved authors, like Joe Abercrombie and V.E. Schwab. Others continue gripping series, like The Legendborn Cycle and Five Broken Blades trilogy. The best additions to the genre from the first half of the year are can’t-miss releases.

10

The Devils

By Joe Abercrombie

Joe Abercrombie is a must-read fantasy author, and his 2025 novel takes readers outside his First Law universe for the first time in a while. The Devils takes place in an alternate version of medieval Europe, following a band of outcasts as they escort a lost princess — one who has spent most of her life as a street thief — to her home and throne.

The Devils has all the hallmarks of Abercrombie’s best books: complicated but lovable characters, witty prose, and dark humor that will keep readers laughing aloud. Its commentary on faith and power is all too relevant, with The Devils refusing to hold anything back.

The Devils is an all-around fun time, in addition to being a well-crafted story.

The Devils is an all-around fun time, in addition to being a well-crafted story. It’s easily a top 2025 fantasy book, just as its 4.30 average Goodreads rating suggests. It’s especially compelling for readers who appreciate a darker narrative. It seems it will be getting a follow-up, too, giving Abercrombie fans even more to look forward to after this year.

9

The Raven Scholar

By Antonia Hodgson

The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson is another standout fantasy release of 2025, and the book is getting high praise from readers (just look at its impressive 4.49 Goodreads rating). The Raven Scholar takes a familiar narrative — a tournament held to see who will replace an empire’s ruler — and puts a fresh and gripping spin on it.

One of the competitors in The Raven Scholar perishes early on, prompting High Scholar Neema Kraa to launch an investigation. Unfortunately for her, this also means getting wrapped up in the competition itself. The stakes are high throughout The Raven Scholar, and the politics and twists are certain to appeal to high fantasy lovers everywhere.

In addition to the incredible intrigue present throughout Hodgson’s narrative, there’s also plenty of action, great world-building, and exceptional character work. There’s a reason this novel is being touted as a standout of 2025. With any luck, it’s setting the stage for the rest of Hodgson’s Eternal Path Trilogy to be just as good.

8

Bury Our Bones In The Midnight Soil

By V.E. Schwab

V.E. Schwab has yet to pen a bad book, so it’s no surprise that the author’s 2025 release lands among the best fantasy stories of the year so far. However, Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil is arguably Schwab’s greatest novel to date. (My sincerest apologies to both Vicious and The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue.)

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil lives up to its catchy marketing — but it’s also so much more than that.

Frequently pitched as “toxic lesbian vampires,” Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil lives up to its catchy marketing — but it’s also so much more than that. A dark and atmospheric tale spanning hundreds of years, Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil is a stunning exploration of feminine rage.

Schwab’s novel capitalizes on the strengths of her previous hits; the author excels at exploring morally complicated characters and existential topics like immortality. It also brings something new to the vampire category while giving readers a story that will hook them from start to finish. It’s worthy of its above-average Goodreads score and spot on any 2025 fantasy round-up.

7

Oathbound

By Tracy Deonn

The third book in Tracy Deonn’s Legendborn Cycle hit shelves in 2025, and Oathbound is every bit as impressive as its predecessors. Indeed, its average Goodreads rating is basically tied with the first two books, confirming that Deonn is keeping the momentum going as she unravels Bree’s story.

Legendborn is one of the best young adult fantasy novels to debut in recent years, delivering a fresh and compelling take on Arthurian legend — along with great characters, an immersive backdrop, and gripping romance. Oathbound takes Bree’s narrative to darker places than Legendborn and Bloodmarked, which isn’t surprising given book 2’s ending.

As always, Deonn does a masterful job tackling difficult topics, all while balancing an engaging fantasy plot and incredible character dynamics. Once again, Oathbound will leave readers eager for more of the story. Deonn is on a roll with this series, and Oathbound sets the stage for yet another great installment in the future.

6

A Drop Of Corruption

By Robert Jackson Bennett

The Tainted Cup was one of the best fantasy books of 2024, and Robert Jackson Bennett looks poised to land among 2025’s top picks with its follow-up, A Drop of Corruption. Like the first book in the author’s Shadow of the Leviathan series, A Drop of Corruption expertly blends fantasy with the mystery genre, delivering something truly special.

In fact, A Drop of Corruption may even surpass The Tainted Cup in its storytelling; its 4.52 Goodreads score certainly suggests as much. The central mystery is once again difficult to solve, even for experienced thriller readers. And the dynamic between Ana and Din continues to be charming as ever, adding a bit of fun to an otherwise dark story.

If A Drop of Corruption is any indication of the Shadow of the Leviathan series’ trajectory, readers have even more great narratives to look forward to in this world. Whatever comes next, book 2 will go down as one of the greatest additions to the genre in 2025.

5

Three Shattered Souls

By Mai Corland

Mai Corland’s Five Broken Blades has gotten two sequels in 2025, but Three Shattered Souls is easily the strongest installment in the series. After getting readers thoroughly attached to her lovable cast of characters, Corland takes them on an emotional ride in the trilogy’s finale. This novel gets darker than its predecessors, but it handles that shift masterfully.

At its core, Three Shattered Souls is a story about grief and sacrifice — and it doesn’t pull its punches when addressing either.

At its core, Three Shattered Souls is a story about grief and sacrifice — and it doesn’t pull its punches when addressing either. There’s also undeniably hope for a better world sprinkled in, with Corland striking an impressive balance. Readers will laugh and cry, and they may feel emotionally wrung out when it’s all over. Of course, that just means the book is doing its job.

And Three Shattered Souls is an especially strong release for those who love found families; the character dynamics are at their best here. It’s really no surprise the book has a 4.32 average Goodreads rating, with praise pouring in just one week after its release. It’s one of the best new fantasy books this year, proving how underrated Corland’s series is.

4

The River Has Roots

By Amal El-Mohtar

Amal El-Mohtar, one of the authors behind This Is How You Lose the Time War, released a fantasy novella that’s gotten quite a bit of attention in 2025 — and rightfully so. A story about sisterhood, The River Has Roots is gorgeously written and has a strong emotional core.

The River Has Roots has a whimsical feel to it, which is only made stronger by its lush prose.

The River Has Roots has a whimsical feel to it, which is only made stronger by its lush prose. But its approach to magic and faeries is also part of its appeal, and it manages to stand out, despite all the other stories about faeries in recent years.

Like This Is How You Lose the Time War, El-Mohtar’s latest also manages to accomplish a lot despite its shorter length. It manages to be memorable and fully immersive, explaining its 4.06 average Goodreads rating. The biggest complaint about this book is that it could be longer.

3

Grave Empire

By Richard Swan

Richard Swan is well-known for his Empire of the Wolf trilogy, but the first book in his new series bodes well for it becoming just as big of a hit. Released in February 2025, Grave Empire kicks off The Great Silence series with a politically charged narrative set in the same world (just 200 years later).

Grave Empire builds on the successes of Swan’s previous books, but it also sets itself apart by tackling new themes and showcasing more advanced technology. It’s impressive how Swan manages to alter the setting while still including details that will appeal to fans of the prior story.

And Grave Empire kicks off this new era with high stakes, along with horror elements that will keep readers on edge throughout the novel. Its 4.11 average Goodreads rating speaks to its quality, with the book setting the stage for even more thrilling sequels.

2

The Dark Mirror

By Samantha Shannon

Samantha Shannon continued The Bone Season series with The Dark Mirror in 2025, and book 5 is the strongest addition yet, cementing its place among the year’s best fantasy releases. The Dark Mirror outpaces all of Shannon’s previous installments in terms of Goodreads rating, with the sequel snagging a whopping 4.57 on the platform.

It probably goes without saying, then, that The Dark Mirror ups the ante on Shannon’s dystopian fantasy series, separating Paige from the Republic of Scion — but also leaving her with no memories and a massive undertaking to contend with. Shannon handles this brilliantly, weaving a narrative full of heart and wit.

The Dark Mirror‘s strengths bode well heading into the remainder of The Bone Season.

The Dark Mirror‘s strengths bode well heading into the remainder of The Bone Season, which is planned as a seven-book series. Shannon also has another new release coming in 2025 — Among the Burning Flowers — which means she could be responsible for two of the year’s best fantasy releases.

1

The Ashfire King

By Chelsea Abdullah

Speaking of ramping up the stakes of a story, Chelsea Abdullah does exactly that in her follow-up to 2022’s The Stardust Thief. Its 2025 sequel, The Ashfire King, cements the series as a must-read for fantasy lovers. The Ashfire King picks right after book 1, taking Mazen and Loulie on yet another engaging adventure.

The world-building and characters in Abdullah’s series continue to shine in this second book, reminding readers why they fell for the first one. The plot and characters develop in interesting and sometimes unexpected directions, and it keeps the momentum going, ensuring readers want to pick up the next book as well.

The Ashfire King boasts an impressive 4.05 Goodreads rating, placing it ahead of The Stardust Thief. It’s no surprise readers are loving this one even more, especially after growing attached to this fantasy world and its characters. Abdullah’s series is shaping up to be a memorable one, and its second installment will go down as one of 2025’s biggest hits.