Entertainment
10 Fantasy Books You Must Read in 2026
We love any opportunity to temporarily leave our reality and escape to places beyond our own. It’s why we adore fantasy stories. Many of our favorite tales started on the page before finding a home on the screen. And some new books are so good, we know that day is inevitably arriving. To celebrate the year in fantasy across all media, we have picked 10 titles that you must read this year. Why? A plethora of reasons!
The titles on this list reflect new books that have made waves in the literary world and books that have been adapted into films and series. The new titles are a range of brilliant tales from extraordinary storytellers that deserve to be on your reading list. The novels range from epic classics by Homer to modern classics by Alice Hoffman, all of whom have found their works coming to a screen near you. Reading them will not only prepare you for the adaptation, but it’ll also give you a different perspective when you watch.
1
‘Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter’ by Heather Fawcett
Some people believe that low-stakes, cozy stories aren’t worthy of praise. If that’s the case, you certainly have yet to read Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett. In this 2026 book set in 1920s Montreal, Agnes Aubert, an organized, type-A cat-rescue manager, uses her daily lists to cope with grief after losing her husband. She is forced to move her shelter into an affordable building, only to discover her landlord, Havelock Renard — a disorganized, charmingly grumpy, notorious former Dark Lord — is running an illicit magic shop in his basement lair. As enemies from Havelock’s shadowy past resurface, putting both the magical artifacts and the rescue cats in grave danger, Agnes must team up with him to save her cats from looming threats. And yes, the potential of romance looms along the way. Fawcett’s story has everything and more, giving you a delightful reading experience.
Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter is a truly charming book. Fawcett succeeds through her blend of a heartwarming cat rescue, witty banter, and a delightful grumpy-meets-sunshine romance between an unlikely duo. Fawcett crafts a whimsical atmosphere where her characters roam freely. The early 20th-century Montreal setting is filled with potential for magic, artifacts, and more. If you’re a cat person, you’ll adore the fun feline scene-stealers, including His Majesty and Banshee. Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter marries lighthearted magical shenanigans with a comforting, emotional center about healing and second chances. You can’t help but imagine how this cozy story could one day translate to a live-action adaptation.
2
‘Death of the Author’ by Nnedi Okorafor
Striking a balance of fantasy and science fiction comes Nnedi Okorafor’s award-winning book, Death of the Author. The book tells the story of Zelu, a disabled Nigerian-American writer in Chicago who gets fired from her teaching job and writes a breakout sci-fi novel called Rusted Robots about a post-human future that becomes a massive blockbuster and movie. Zelu struggles to maintain ownership of her identity and work as a fickle public, media outlets, and an intense fandom consume her life. Meanwhile, she accepts an experimental exoskeleton from an MIT scientist that lets her walk, sparking debate and friction with her judgmental family and disability activists. The metafictional story explores the chaotic nature of sudden fame, disability, family expectations, and how an artist’s identity intertwines with their creation.
Okorafor’s latest is another example of an Africanfuturist masterpiece. It cleverly blends messy human drama with a fantastical post-apocalyptic sci-fi story about robots. Death of the Author serves as a book-within-a-book. It is interspersed with chapters that tell the story of Rusted Robots, tracking machine factions — Humes and NoBodies — and the last human, Ngozi, whose fate eventually mirrors the real-life struggles of Zelu. Okorafor’s twists and turns brilliantly blur the line between reality and fiction. This year, the book was awarded the Locus Award and the NAACP Image Award. Now, she awaits the results of the highly anticipated Hugo Award. If that’s not a good reason to read it this year, I don’t know what is!
3
‘Sunrise on the Reaping’ by Suzanne Collins
One of the most highly anticipated films of the year is The Hunger Games prequel Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins. Concluding the massive media franchise, the adaptation lifts Collins’ gripping dystopian thriller, set about 24 years before the events of the first novel. The story centers on the 50th annual Hunger Games, the Second Quarter Quell, following a 16-year-old Haymitch Abernathy from District 12 as he is forced into the brutal arena where double the usual number of tributes compete. The novel depicts how a totalitarian government uses the media, narrative control, and public spectacle to manipulate society while providing a raw look at how political systems exploit and destroy the lives of the young and powerless.
Sunrise on the Reaping wonderfully highlights the early, dangerous sparks of defiance against tyranny in Panem, building Collins’ world even further. It answers long-held fan questions by exploring Haymitch Abernathy’s tragic past while deepening the themes that made the original trilogy so profound. The book holds emotional weight by putting Haymitch through devastating trials, making his later survival and trauma feel earned and deeply tragic. Whether you’re a loyal reader of Collins’ series or not, adding Sunrise on the Reaping to the reading list is perfect before the November 20th cinema debut. It will offer you the chance to spot book-only details as you watch the action unfold. The film, directed by Francis Lawrence, stars Joseph Zada as Haymitch and Mckenna Grace as Maysilee Donner, as well as Jesse Plemons, Elle Fanning, Kieran Culkin, and Ralph Fiennes as younger versions of Plutarch Heavensbee, Effie Trinket, Caesar Flickman, and President Coriolanus Snow, respectively.
4
‘Tales of Dunk and Egg’ by George R.R. Martin
It’s been quite a few years since the end of Game of Thrones, but the series has lived on in our hearts and on screen. For the first time ever, the calendar year of 2026 featured not one but two Game of Thrones spin-offs, and it all kicked off with A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. The hit series is based on George R.R. Martin’s novellas Tales of Dunk and Egg, a collection of novellas set in Westeros about 90 years before A Game of Thrones. It follows Ser Duncan the Tall, known as Dunk, a kind and towering hedge knight, and his young bald squire, Egg, who is secretly Prince Aegon Targaryen in disguise. The stories follow the pair as they travel across the Seven Kingdoms, taking odd jobs, entering local tournaments, and protecting common folk. Compared to the massive political scale of A Song of Ice and Fire, these tales are more personal, focusing on friendship, chivalry, and the daily struggles of ordinary people in Westeros.
The draw into the series is the brilliant bond between a towering, lowborn knight and a royal prince hiding his identity. Their connection drives the story, serving as the beating heart. For those diehard fans of Martin’s flagship series, Tales of Dunk and Egg provides a wealth of Westeros history as told through a different perspective. It’s through these tales that Martin offers a closer look at the Targaryen dynasty during a time of peace before their final decline. Martin has written big and bold characters; here, it’s all about the banter. Dunk and Egg’s constant bickering and mutual respect bring genuine heart and humor to the page. It’s the ultimate buddy story Westeros has ever known. The HBO series is everything you could dream of and more. Peter Claffey and Dexter Sol Ansell do a steadfast job of bringing the iconic characters to life, with the former providing the charm that makes you believe in hope in Westeros. The first season of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms covered The Hedge Knight, so reading ahead lets you explore The Sworn Sword before Season 2 drops.
5
‘The Book of Magic’ by Alice Hoffman
Practical Magic defined the fantasy genre in the ’90s. And now, 28 years later, fans of the Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman film are rejoicing as the sequel is set for this fall. The film is based on Alice Hoffman’s 2021 novel The Book of Magic. The final book in the spellbinding Practical Magic series follows three generations of Owens women as they use their unusual magical gifts to try and finally break a 300-year-old family curse that causes anyone an Owens loves to die. Aunt Jet Owens foresees her own death in seven days, signaling that the family love curse is actively targeting them. When a young man falls into a coma after a confession of love, teenager Kylie Owens takes up the search for a hidden magical grimoire. The Owens family and a long-lost brother travel across Paris, London, and the English countryside, where their ancestor Maria Owens first practiced magic, to seek a way to lift the spell. A wonderful celebration of love between mothers, daughters, sisters, and brothers, The Book of Magic examines how true love requires profound sacrifice and how family history echoes through generations.
The Book of Magic is a wonderfully satisfying piece. Hoffman employs lyrical prose that evokes the spirit of the series. Hoffman’s signature magical realism creates a cozy, bewitching world that pulls readers right into the emotion of the moment. The high-stakes plot digs deep into the roots of the family’s witchcraft and the secrets hidden by older generations. It’s then a story of fate as Hoffman presents the characters with a decision about how far they will go to change their destiny and protect each other. The Book of Magic thoughtfully explores how to face grief and make every day count when time is short. Though this book marks the end of a series, Hoffman’s world extends into Practical Magic 2. In addition to Bullock and Kidman returning, they’ll be joined once again by Dianne Wiest and Stockard Channing, as well as newcomers Joey King as Kylie, Maisie Williams as Antonia, and Lee Pace as Ian Wright. The film is destined to tie together all the shimmering narrative threads from the entire Practical Magic universe.
6
‘The Faraway Tree’ by Enid Blyton
Though it may be meant for a target demographic, there’s no reason not to revisit Enid Blyton’s beloved children’s book The Faraway Tree series as a whimsical companion to the recent film, coming to the United States this August. Comprised of a quartet of books, Blyton tells the story of Joe, Beth, and Frannie, three children who move to the country and discover an enchanted wood containing a giant, magical tree. At the top of the tree are changing magical lands that lead the children and their quirky tree-friends on exciting and dangerous adventures. As a new, different magical land appears at the very top of the tree every week, the children climb up to explore these strange worlds, often having to escape before the cloud moves on and traps them. A series that helped to ignite young imaginations, The Faraway Tree series provides pure joy.
In a highly stressful time in the world, The Faraway Tree offers a low-stakes, enjoyable reading experience. The stories focus on the joy of discovery rather than heavy danger. Blyton offers a wonderful escape into a world only our mind can concoct. She allows you to experience ever-changing magical worlds at the top of the tree, connect with quirky friends like Moonface and Silky, and enjoy a nostalgic, screen-free adventure that complements the major live-action film adaptation. Directed by Ben Gregor from a screenplay written by Simon Farnaby, the 2026 film The Magic Faraway Tree features a star-studded ensemble, including Andrew Garfield, Claire Foy, Nicola Coughlin, Jennifer Saunders, Jessica Gunning, Rebecca Ferguson, Michael Palin, Simon Russell Beale, and Judi Dench.
7
‘The Lord of the Rings’ by J.R.R. Tolkien
One of the most beloved fantasy series of all time is The Lord of the Rings. After Peter Jackson dreamed up the perfect adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s sweeping epic, devoted fans always wished for more. It came in the Prime Video dark fantasy series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. The series chronicles the rise of the Dark Lord Sauron, the creation of the magic rings, and the history of Middle-earth thousands of years before The Hobbit. But where does the series pull from? It is based on the history of Middle-earth, primarily material from the appendices of the novel. So, now’s the best time to go back and fully engulf yourself in the Tolkien classic. While Tolkien’s posthumous book The Silmarillion covers the era in detail, Amazon acquired the rights specifically for The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, including its extensive appendices. As a result, the showrunners use the historical summaries, lore notes, and timelines found in the appendices as the foundation for the series.
The series draws from Tolkien’s exploration of Middle-earth’s Second Age. Because the appendices provide more of an outline than a traditional narrative novel, this read is more of a textual study of the greater myths and lore that serves as a companion to the book you already adore. No matter how deep you go into The Lord of the Rings, the novel is ripe for those with active imaginations. Tolkien forces you to paint the landscapes and creatures in your own mind, creating a deeper personal bond with the story than any film can provide. Though Jackson certainly rivals that sentiment. The Lord of the Rings remains a timeless tale because the themes help us look at our own mundane world with fresh, unclouded eyes. If you’re caught up on The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, then prepare yourself for a time jump, as Season 3 will take viewers into the height of the War of the Elves and Sauron.
8
‘The Odyssey’ by Homer
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, stranded on a mythical isle, or stuck inside a Trojan horse, chances are you have been inundated by the summer blockbuster epic The Odyssey. While Christopher Nolan is a visionary genius, this is one story that didn’t come from his brain. In fact, you likely had to read it at some point in your schooling. Homer’s epic poem depicts Odysseus, king of Ithaca, and his 10-year journey home after the Trojan War. It covers his perils at sea, his son Telemachus’s search for news of him, and his wife Penelope’s struggle against rowdy suitors. Filled with magic and mystery, true grit and determination, it is a journey you must read to believe. Written nearly 2,700 years ago, The Odyssey has served as the basis of many modern stories and archetypes, so it’s important to learn the root of the epic.
The Odyssey combines a thrilling, creature-filled adventure with a deeply moving story about a person trying to get back home. With a plethora of foes, including a one-eyed Cyclops, magical witches, and dangerous sea sirens, you’re left on the edge of your seat with fast pacing, narrow escapes, and high stakes. Odysseus is a relatable hero. He makes mistakes and lets his ego get the better of him, making him feel real and flawed rather than perfect. And yet, his great desire to return to family and safety depicts how people deal with suffering, temptation, and making mistakes. With many easy-to-read adaptations, The Odyssey is quite accessible and perfect to compare and contrast with the Hollywood masterpiece. Reading Homer’s story is a great opportunity to see the changes Nolan implemented to make his piece resonate more with a modern audience.
9
‘The Pendragon Cycle’ by Stephen R. Lawhead
There’s no better time than now to read Stephen Lawhead’s seven-novel series, The Pendragon Cycle. The epic historical fantasy book series retells the Arthurian legend. Through each novel, Lawhead blends myth, history, and Christian themes, following the fall of Rome in Britain, the destruction of Atlantis, and the rise of King Arthur. The series begins with Princess Charis escaping the destruction of Atlantis and her romance with the British bard Taliesin, laying the mythological groundwork. It then centers on Myrddin, better known as Merlin, a prophet and warrior, who navigates a fractured, post-Roman Britain threatened by Saxon invaders. It then shifts to the emergence of Arthur as the high king meant to unite the warring tribes of Britain, his reign, battles, and the spiritual quest to protect the Holy Grail.
The Pendragon Cycle remains a well-regarded historical fantasy series thanks to Lawhead’s seamless ability to blend the gritty historical realism of post-Roman Britain with the myth of Atlantis and a profound Christian worldview. Marrying Atlantis to the Arthurian lore served as the hook that kept readers coming back for each subsequent book. It captures the mud, dirt, and tribal conflicts of Britain after the Roman legions leave, straying from standard medieval tropes to present a raw, ancient world. One bold omission is the traditional dark sexual intrigue and adultery, like Lancelot’s affair, found in other Arthurian tales, in exchange for a powerful backdrop where druidic paganism meets the dawn of Christianity.
10
‘The Kingdom Will Not Kill Me’ by Ilona Andrews
The powerhouse author team known as Ilona Andrews has a new series underway that has officially kicked off with the 2026 novel This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me. The epic fantasy novel follows Maggie, who wakes up naked in a gutter inside Kair Toren, a city from an unfinished dark fantasy book she loves. Armed only with her deep encyclopedic knowledge of the plot, character fates, political structures, and the fact that she cannot be killed, Maggie avoids staying on the sidelines as she tries to save the characters and stop a cataclysmic war just as the timeline begins to move off script. A masterpiece in portal-fantasy storytelling, This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me combines high-stakes political maneuvering, sharp world-building, and a resourceful heroine you can’t help but love.
This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me is a love letter to the fantasy genre. Ilona Andrews writes a batch of compelling characters that are utilized in expert world-building. The story features a mature, intelligent protagonist alongside a thoughtful yet striking male lead with high emotional maturity, and a memorable supporting crew including a former lady’s maid, an assassin, magical creatures, dukes, villains, and dueling princes. For a casual fantasy reader, be warned: there is some dense world-building and information dumps as Maggie processes her environment, but once the action gets moving, it’s balls to the wall. Yes, there is romance, but unlike traditional romantasy, the romance subplot focuses heavily on slow-burn yearning rather than immediate, explicit focus. Maggie has other priorities. Like many of Ilona Andrews’ novels, the potential for adaptation is ripe. Add This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me to the list.
- Release Date
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July 15, 2026
- Runtime
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173 minutes
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