Highly Anticipated Fantasy Reads Of 2021

Highly Anticipated Fantasy Reads of 2021.jpg

fan·ta·sy

It’s 2021 and I’m so excited for the new year! I’m feeling refreshed and motivated and ready to get things done. Especially with all the reading and new books I’ve got lined up! In 2020, I found myself continuously reaching for alllll the fantasy books, please. No matter what other genres I may enjoy, I enjoy them even more so when they overlap with fantasy.

For me, fantasy simply means a story set in a made-up world that’s full of magic, mythical beings, and supernatural experiences typically with heroes and heroines and sidekicks alike who are fraught with trials and tribulations as they adventure through a fictional enchanting tale. There’s usually a bad guy and someone you’re rooting for. Sometimes there’s a love interest. Sometimes it’s dark. Sometimes it’s whimsical. Other times, it’s fully otherworldly or even off-world. Fantasy in literature is anything that is not reminiscent of the real world as we humans know it (which inherently screams ME ME ME all day long). I love it!

Fantasy Books 2021.GIF

Sometimes we need fantasy to survive the reality

The Oxford Dictionary defines “fantasy” as “the activity of imagining things, especially things that are impossible or improbable”. Vocabulary.com says “fantasy” is “dreams, imagination, and make-believe”. Synonyms include reverie, mirage, and daydream. Even the Urban Dictionary describes it as “a strong addiction usually with something that is not real and probably will never be.” HA. I like that one! That definitely resonates with my fantasy reading, loving soul!

In the book world, when you see this tag or category associated with a book title, it typically means you can expect an entire epic world including beings, creatures, and a magic system that are make-believe and not real and never will be. Whomp, whomp! But that’s why we LOVE these stories. Think of the movies in The Lord of the Rings trilogy or the TV Show Game of Thrones (both based on epic fantasy book series mind you!).

Epic fantasy is by far my favorite kind of story and I’m so excited about all the new books coming out in 2021! If you’re wondering what fantasy books to read next and this year in 2021, look no further! In honor of the new year, I’ve compiled…

40+ highly anticipated fantasy books of 2021, Stand-alone and all the sequels included!

These are some of the most anticipated fantasy books of 2021 and I’m ecstatic for all of them to release! Okay, ready? Let’s do this.

Fantasy Books 2021.GIF

40+ Highly Anticipated Fantasy Books Of 2021

Okay! So, I’m covering 40 fantasy book releases that will hit in 2021. This list includes epic fantasy, retellings, sequels, debut novels, and so much more! Some are part of a fantasy book series and others are fantasy books without sequels. And most are fantasy books with adventure and romance!

I’ve also denoted the release date, a little more about the type of fantasy (or subgenre) it is, and whether the book is part of a series, AND if it’s Young Adult vs. Adult or New Adult. There are also links included for Goodreads and for where you can buy or preorder them! Alrighty, I think that should cover it! So, let’s dive in. Here are 40 of the most anticipated fantasy books of 2021!


Blog Contents

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Here’s To A New Year

More Bookish Posts

January

January 5th, 2021

  • Lore by Alexandra Bracken | YOUNG ADULT, MYTHOLOGICAL, RETELLING

January 7th, 2021

January 12th, 2021

January 19, 2021

  • Hall of Smoke by H.M. Long | ADULT / NEW ADULT, MYTHOLOGICAL, EPIC FANTASY

January 26th, 2021

  • A Vow So Bold and Deadly** by Brigid Kemmerer | YOUNG ADULT, FAIRY TALE RETELLING, ROMANCE

  • Unchosen by Katharyn Blair | YOUNG ADULT, POST APOCALYPTIC FANTASY, SCI-FI HORROR

*Book 2 in the Sands of Arawiya Series | **Book 3 in the Cursebreakers Series | ***Book 1 in The Frozen Crown Series

 
 

NOTE: not all titles are available for pre-order yet!

February

February 9, 2021

February 15, 2021

  • Music of the Night by Angela J. Ford | ADULT, STEAMY ROMANCE, RETELLING INSPIRED BY PHANTOM OF THE OPERA + BEAUTY & THE BEAST

February 16, 2021

TBD

  • Witherward*** by Hannah Mathewson | YOUNG ADULT, PARANORMAL (SHAPESHIFTERS), FANTASY WORLD SET IN LONDON

*Book 1 in the Deathless Series | **Book 4 in A Court of Thorns and Roses Series | ***Book 1 in the Witherward Series

 
 

NOTE: not all titles are available for pre-order yet!

March

March 2, 2021

  • Red Tigress* by Amélie Wen Zhao | YOUNG ADULT, URBAN RETELLING, ROMANCE

March 3, 2021

  • The HOOK** by Jenny Hickman | YOUNG ADULT, PETER PAN RETELLING, ROMANCE

March 4, 2021

March 9, 2021

  • Sing Me Forgotten by Jessica S. Olson | YOUNG ADULT, HIGH FANTASY, ROMANCE + RETELLING

March 16, 2021

  • Namesake**** by Adrienne Young | YOUNG ADULT, SCI-FI ROMANCE FANTASY, PIRATES

March 23, 2021

March 30, 2021

  • Rule of Wolves***** by Leigh Bardugo | YOUNG ADULT, HIGH FANTASY, ADVENTURE

*Book 2 in Blood Heir Trilogy | **Book 2 in The PAN Trilogy | ***Book 1 in A Trial of Sorcerers Series | ****Book 2 in the Fable Series | *****Book 2 in the King of Scars Duology

 
 

NOTE: not all titles are available for pre-order yet!

April

April 6, 2021

April 20, 2021

*Book 3 in the Something Dark and Holy Series | **Book 3 in the Blood and Ash Series

 
 

NOTE: not all titles are available for pre-order yet!

May

May 4, 2021

may 11, 2021

  • Son of the Storm**** by Suyi Davies Okungbowa | ADULT, WEST AFRICAN CULTURE, EPIC SCI-FI FANTASY

may 13, 2021

  • Blackheart Knights by Laure Eve | ADULT, LGBTQIA+, ARTHURIAN MYTHOLOGY, URBAN + SCI-FI FANTASY

May 25, 2021

*Book 1 in the Realm Breaker Series | **Book 2 in the Night Spinner Series | ***Book 3 in the Hades & Persephone Series | ****Book 1 in The Nameless Republic Series

 
 

NOTE: not all titles are available for pre-order yet!

June

June 1, 2021

June 8, 2021

  • Fire With Fire by Destiny Soria | YOUNG ADULT, URBAN FANTASY, DRAGON TROPE, LGBTQIA+

June 15, 2021

  • Blood Like Magic** by Liselle Sambury | YOUNG ADULT, PARANORMAL (WITCHES), URBAN FANTASY

  • Sisters of the Snake by Sasha & Sarena Nanua | YOUNG ADULT, FAIRY TALE RETELLING, CULTURE: ASIAN

*Book 2 in the A Song of Wraiths and Ruin Series | **Book 1 in the Blood Like Magic Series | ***Book 1 in the Ria & Rani Series

 
 

NOTE: not all titles are available for pre-order yet!

July

July 13, 2021

  • Wings of Shadow* by Nicki Pau Preto | YOUNG ADULT, EPIC FANTASY ADVENTURE, ROMANCE

july 14, 2021

  • The CROC** by Jenny Hickman | YOUNG ADULT, PETER PAN RETELLING, ROMANCE

July 20, 2021

  • These Hollow Vows by Lexi Ryan | YOUNG ADULT, PARANORMAL (FAE), HIGH FANTASY ROMANCE

  • Red Wolf by Rachel Vincent | YOUNG ADULT, FAIRY TALE RETELLING, GRITTY FANTASY

*Book 3 in the Crown of Feathers Series | **Book 3 in The PAN Trilogy

 
 

NOTE: not all titles are available for pre-order yet!

August

August 3, 2021

  • Bonded Fate* by Beck Michaels | YOUNG ADULT, EPIC FANTASY ADVENTURE, ROMANCE

  • Gods & Monsters** by Shelby Mahurin | YOUNG ADULT, PARANORMAL (WITCHES), ROMANCE

August 17, 2021

  • Cazadora*** by Romina Garber & Romina Russell | YOUNG ADULT, PARANORMAL (WITCHES + SHAPESHIFTERS), SCI-FI FANTASY

*Book 2 in the Guardians of the Maiden Series | **Book 3 in the Serpent & Dove Series | ***Book 2 in the Wolves of No World Series

 
 

NOTE: not all titles are available for pre-order yet!

September

September 1, 2021

September 7, 2021

September 14, 2021

September 21, 2021

September 28, 2021

TBD

*Book 3.2 in the ACOTAR Series | **Book 1 in the Empire of the Vampire Series | ***Book 2 in the Hades Saga

 
 

NOTE: not all titles are available for pre-order yet!

October

October 26, 2021

*Book 2 in the Kingdom of the Wicked Series | **Book 1 in the KBB Series

November

November 2, 2021

  • Crescent City #2 by Sarah J Maas | NEW ADULT, URBAN FANTASY, ANGEL + DEMON TROPE (Leaving this here for now, but I believe Sarah recently confirmed that it was getting pushed to 2022)

November 3, 2021

November 9, 2021

  • Aurora’s End by Amie Kaufman + Jay Kristoff | YOUNG ADULT, SPACE OPERA + SCI-FI FANTASY

November 16, 2021

  • Our Violent Ends** by Chloe Gong | YOUNG ADULT, ROMANCE RETELLING, HISTORICAL FANTASY

*Book 2 in the Married To Magic Series | **Book 2 in the These Violent Delights Series | ***Book 3 in The Aurora Cycle

December

December 7, 2021

  • The Righteous* by Renée Ahdieh | YOUNG ADULT, URBAN FANTASY, PARANORMAL (VAMPIRES)

Here’s To A New Year…

So what do you think of this list?! What have I missed or what are you personally looking forward to? I’m so excited to dive into allllllllll of these reads at some point. Maybe not all this year, but some time along the way. And check back! I’m going to be updating this list throughout the year as cover reveals happen and new books are released and become available for purchase!

I hope you found this blog helpful in growing your neverending TBR list!! If you’re looking for book recs, see below!

40 Fantasy Books To Read In 2021_Pinterest Graphics.png
 
 
 

*Disclaimer – Hey friend. I wanted you to know that this post may contain affiliate links. This means I may earn a commission should you chose to sign up for a program or make a purchase using my link. I don't want you to worry because I only recommend tools and products that I personally use and love and I always have my readers' best interest at heart. Thanks for hangin' with me!

 
 

Hey y'all, I'm Leah!

Cozy connoisseur and bountiful book buyer. I have a minor obsession with getting lost in the pages of a good book, guzzling coffee, and thriving at home. Yoga pants, wine, and essential oils are also my jam. I'm truly just a homebody at heart with a knack for content creation, flatlays & cozy shots. This is my creative space.

Welcome!

‘gram with me

got goodreads?

2021 Reading Challenge

2021 Reading Challenge
Leah (LeahsLittlePleasures) has read 2 books toward her goal of 80 books.
hide
Books, Reading ListsLeah @ Leah's Little PleasuresWhat Books To Read, What Books Should I Read, What Fantasy Books To Read, What Fantasy Books Should I Read, fantasy books to read, most anticipated fantasy books 2021, most anticipated books of 2021, best fantasy books 2021, new fantasy books 2021, fantasy book releases 2021, epic fantasy books, epic fantasy books 2021Comment