As spring unspools across the landscape—quietly at first, then all at once—there’s something grounding in turning the pages of a book that transports us. The best fantasy doesn’t simply offer escape; it reminds us of the strangeness just beneath the surface of the everyday.
Each of these novels was selected for its atmospheric pull, critical reception, and ability to blur the line between what’s real and what’s merely forgotten. A handful are newly released; others arrive soon. All of them promise something extraordinary.
Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales
Heather Fawcett
The third entry in Fawcett’s folkloric academic series sees Emily drawn deeper into the strange, forgotten edges of faerie scholarship. Charming, wintry, and quietly tender in its moments of magic.
Goodreads: 4.43 — Amazon UK: 4.4
Onyx Storm
Rebecca Yarros
The war rages on in this follow-up to Iron Flame, as Violet Sorrengail’s loyalties are tested against a backdrop of shifting allegiances and deep-buried truths. High stakes with a literary edge.
Goodreads: 4.57 — Amazon UK: 4.6
The Ragpicker King
Cassandra Clare
A brooding new adult fantasy from Clare that leaves behind angel blades in favour of blood-soaked crowns and shadowy inheritance. Baroque, brutal, and full of bitter magic.
Goodreads: 4.31 — Amazon UK: 4.5
The River Has Roots
Amal El-Mohtar
In a border-village where the lines between England and Faerie blur, two sisters are caught in the wake of a stranger’s arrival. Lyrical, intimate, and brimming with folkloric tension, El-Mohtar’s solo debut is among the season’s most anticipated.
Goodreads: 4.2 — Amazon UK: 4.4
Tea You at the Altar
Rebecca Thorne
A standalone from the author of Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea, this quiet fantasy finds its emotional weight in ritual, relationships, and a teashop that may not belong to this world. Warm and grounded, with soft magic that lingers.
Goodreads: 4.35 — Amazon UK: 4.6
Critical Role: Vox Machina—Stories Untold
Various Authors
An anthology of short stories focused on campaign one NPCs from the popular Critical Role series. Featuring a foreword by Liam O'Brien and contributions from multiple authors, this collection offers deeper insights into the beloved characters of the Vox Machina campaign.
Goodreads: 4.5 — Amazon UK: 5 (9 ratings)
Coming Soon
A Drop of Corruption
Robert Jackson Bennett
When a locked-room murder unfolds in an imperial city already cracking beneath ritual and power, investigator Ana Dolabra begins to suspect the crime may not be human at all. A sequel that more than holds its weight.
Release Date: 1st April 2025 (releases at time of publication)
A Far Better Thing
H.G. Parry
A standalone, portal fantasy where Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell meets A Tale of Two Cities in a heart-rending fantasy of faery revenge set during the French Revolution.
Release date: 17th June 2025
The Devils
Joe Abercrombie
Europe is on the brink—plague, monsters, and war encroach from every direction, while the old gods remain silent. In the depths of the Celestial Palace, a secret chapel gathers its own answer: a congregation of killers, traitors, and heretics bound to a single mission—put a thief on the throne before the apocalypse arrives. When righteousness fails, sometimes only the devils remain.
Release date: 6th May 2025
The Book That Held Her Heart
Mark Lawrence
In this enchanting tale, a reclusive bookbinder discovers a mysterious volume that seems to narrate her own life story. As she delves deeper into its pages, she uncovers secrets that challenge her understanding of reality and fiction. Lawrence masterfully weaves a narrative that explores the power of stories and the thin line between imagination and truth.
Release date: 10th April 2025
The beauty of fantasy is in its range — sometimes sweeping, sometimes quiet, but always grounded in something real. These novels offer more than escape; they offer immersion, depth, and the strange comfort of being somewhere completely else.
If your reading list isn’t full yet, you might also enjoy:
10 Enchanting Romantasy Books to Read This Spring (2025)
Until next time —
The Page Sage
Thumbnail Photo by Johny Goerend on Unsplash
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