This is going to be a BIG year in science fiction and fantasy. From Pierce Brown’s final book in the Red Rising series, Red God—a 1,000-page doorst0p of a finale— to Leigh Bardugo’s untitled third book in the Alex Stern series as well as V.E. Schwab’s third book in the Villains series, a new Matt Haig and a new Emily St. John Mandel on its way, there is a lot to be grateful for in 2026.

In the first half of the year, we are celebrating some exciting new voices, She Reads favorites and continuations of beloved, long-lasting series. Let’s talk about the most anticipated science fiction and fantasy for the first half of 2026.

The Swan’s Daughter by Roshani Chokshi (1/6)

New York Times bestseller Roshani Chokshi is back with another fantasy-filled fairytale. Arris is condemned to meet the same deadly fate as his predecessors, murder at the hands of his bride to claim his throne. Demelza has been forced into hiding because of her truth-telling swan song. The two strike a deal, Demelza will tell the prince which of his prospects is murderous if he protects her. Both will stand side by side as they pursue a life worth living.

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The Elsewhere Express by Samantha Sotto Yambao (1/20)

A train appears to those who adrift, taking lost souls to find their purpose. Raya is one of those lost souls after the death of her brother and the dimming of her dream to be a songwriter. On the train, she meets fellow traveler, Q, and they bask in the unusual and fantastical cars aboard the train. But the train has its mysteries and dangers and both must find their way back to a life of meaning.

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Twelve Months by Jim Butcher (1/20)

In the 18th book of the #1 New York Times bestselling series, Dresden Files, following a battle that saved Chicago, Harry must cope with the loss he suffered. Facing kidnapping ghouls, his brother’s impending death and an allyship between Fae and vampires, he has more on his plate than ever.

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Carnival Fantástico by Angela Montoya (2/3)

Desperate to escape her past, Esmeralda has joined a magical traveling circus as the show’s resident fortune teller. She hopes it will gain her freedom from the clutches of her former employer—the King’s commander of the army. Ignacio has fled the army in pursuit of the truth about his father, but didn’t expect to run into the love of his life spinning face tales of the future.

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To Cage a Wild Bird by Brooke Fast (3/3)

For fans of The Hunger Games comes a new story of death, love and risking everything for family. Any crime committed in Dividium will earn you a one-way ticket to Endlock, a prison where the elite hunt prisoners for sport. Raven is a skilled bounty hunter, but when her brother is sentenced to Endlock, she’ll get herself arrested to protect him. She expected danger and even death, but what she didn’t expect was to be drawn to a prison guard whose motives she can’t quite figure out.

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Hell’s Heart by Alexis Hall (3/10)

Described as a “sapphic Moby Dick in space” is there really anymore description required? From bestselling author Alexis Hall comes a science fiction debut. With Earth dead, humans are faced to live in biomes on other planets fueled by spinal fluid of monstrous, psychic creatures. In this, the main character is mostly hoping to get paid—and perhaps laid—on a deadly hunt.

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Seasons of Glass & Iron by Amal El-Mohtar (3/24)

From the beloved co-author of This Is How You Lose the Time War comes a collection of stories from Amal El-Mohtar. Told through letters, diary entires and the spellbinding prose we’ve come to expect, this is a beautiful book from an adored author.

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Love Is an Algorithm by Laura Brooke Robson (3/31)

In a not-so-distant future, not only will the Pattern dating app connect you to someone, but the AI bot will help inform you of every step to take and every red flag to watch for. Eve is an artist, determined to follow her gut and make her own choices. Danny is the app developer, hoping technology can do some problem solving for him—and his dating life. As the two find themselves in a relationship, it’s a true test of whether technology can solve life’s problems or whether everything is just a calculation of our own making.

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The Photonic Effect by Mike Chen (4/21)

When a starboard crew returns home to find their once peacefully aligned coalition of planets in the throes of a civil war, everyone must pick a side. Despite having survived years of terror and danger, Captain Demora Kim’s crew may be facing their toughest battle yet—one that could cost the whole galaxy.

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We Burned So Bright by TJ Klune (4/28)

From the #1 New York Times bestseller of The House in the Cerulean Sea comes a standalone sci-fi novel about facing the end of the world. When husbands Don and Rodney are faced with the pending apocalypse as a black hole approaches Earth, they reflect on their 40 years together while heading off on a final road trip. On their journey they encounter those celebrating and those terrified of the end.

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Platform Decay by Martha Wells (5/5)

In 2025, Murderbot hit Apple TV+, bringing this New York Times bestselling series to the streaming service. Now, The Murderbot Diaries is on book eight and Murderbot is faced with yet another difficult task, interacting with humans it doesn’t know. Children at that.

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Broken Dove by Dani Francis (5/12)

This past year, Silver Elite brought with it some mystery and BookTok mayhem as the dystopian romance appeared to be everywhere at once. Even more mysterious was the unknown author who many suspected was a pen name. In 2026, we’ll get book two in the series where Wren has found safety behind allied lines, but even within the walls, secrets abound. As she doubts whether or not she can trust Cross, Gray—a hotshot fighter pilot and her closest friend from Silver Elite—makes her feel more understood than she thought possible.

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