Fantasy readers have been spoiled in 2025. Whether you love sprawling epic worlds, dark fantasy, gothic storytelling, dragons, political intrigue, or unforgettable characters, this year delivered some incredible books that deserve a place on your bookshelf.
Every year there are dozens of fantasy releases that generate buzz, but only a handful truly stand out. These are the books that dominate conversations, inspire fan theories, and remind us why we fell in love with fantasy in the first place.
What I love most about fantasy is its ability to transport us somewhere completely different while still exploring very human emotions. The best fantasy novels give us magic, monsters, and impossible worlds, but they also tell stories about hope, sacrifice, love, ambition, and survival.
If you’re wondering where to start with the year’s biggest releases, these are the five fantasy books from 2025 that I believe every fantasy fan should read.
5 Best Fantasy Books of 2025
- The Devils by Joe Abercrombie
- Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab
- The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson
- Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros
- The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig
1. The Devils by Joe Abercrombie
Joe Abercrombie has built a reputation as one of the best writers in modern fantasy, and The Devils proves once again why he remains at the top of the genre. Critics praised the novel for its dark humor, memorable characters, and sharp commentary on power and faith.
The story follows a group of dangerous outcasts tasked with escorting a princess through a brutal and unforgiving world. If that sounds straightforward, trust me, it isn’t. Abercrombie rarely takes the expected path.
What makes this book such a standout is the cast. Nobody writes morally gray characters quite like Abercrombie. His heroes are flawed, his villains are often understandable, and everyone exists somewhere in between. The result is a story where readers constantly question who they should be rooting for.
The dialogue is as witty as ever, and the pacing rarely slows down. Every chapter feels purposeful, pushing the narrative forward while deepening the relationships between the characters.
If you’re a fan of grimdark fantasy or simply enjoy fantasy that isn’t afraid to get messy and complicated, The Devils should be at the top of your reading list.
2. Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab
V.E. Schwab has become one of fantasy’s most reliable storytellers, and Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil is one of her most ambitious works to date. The dark fantasy novel follows the interconnected stories of three vampires across different eras and locations.
Schwab has always excelled at atmosphere, and this novel may be her most atmospheric book yet. Every page feels drenched in gothic beauty, mystery, and danger.
What impressed me most is how effectively she balances multiple timelines and perspectives. The novel explores immortality, loneliness, identity, and desire through characters who have centuries of history weighing on them.
While many vampire stories focus heavily on romance, Schwab is more interested in examining what eternal life does to a person. The result is a haunting and emotionally resonant fantasy novel that lingers long after the final page.
Readers who enjoyed The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue or A Darker Shade of Magic will find plenty to love here.
This is the kind of book that reminds us why dark fantasy continues to thrive.
3. The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson
One of the biggest surprises of the year has been The Raven Scholar. Critics have called it one of the most addictive fantasy debuts of 2025, combining political intrigue, mystery, and epic fantasy into one unforgettable package.
The novel centers on Neema Kraa, a scholar who becomes entangled in a deadly struggle for power while also finding herself at the center of a murder investigation.
What makes this book special is how confidently Hodgson builds her world. The political systems, religions, traditions, and rival factions all feel fully realized. This isn’t a world that exists solely for the plot, it feels like a living place with a history stretching far beyond the pages.
Neema is also one of the most compelling protagonists I’ve encountered this year. She’s intelligent, stubborn, socially awkward, and often difficult to like, which makes her feel incredibly real.
The mystery elements add another layer of tension that keeps readers turning pages. Every revelation raises new questions, and the twists genuinely caught me off guard.
Fantasy readers are always searching for the next great epic fantasy series. Based on this first installment, The Raven Scholar could very well become exactly that.
4. Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros
Love it or hate it, there’s no denying that Onyx Storm has been one of the biggest publishing events of 2025. The third installment in Rebecca Yarros’s wildly successful Empyrean series became a major bestseller and continued the story that began with Fourth Wing.
By this point, most fantasy readers already know what they’re getting from the series: dragons, romance, action, political intrigue, and plenty of emotional devastation.
What impressed me about Onyx Storm is how much larger the world feels compared to earlier books. The stakes continue to grow, and Yarros expands both the mythology and political landscape in meaningful ways.
The dragon-rider concept remains one of the most entertaining elements in modern fantasy, and the action scenes are among the strongest you’ll find in the genre.
While some readers may classify the series as romantasy, I think that undersells what Yarros has accomplished. The books blend romance and fantasy effectively while maintaining a compelling overarching story.
If you’ve already read Fourth Wing and Iron Flame, this is an essential read. If you haven’t started the series yet, now is a great time to see what all the hype is about.
5. The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig
Rachel Gillig continues to establish herself as one of the most exciting voices in fantasy with The Knight and the Moth, a gothic fantasy that feels both familiar and refreshingly original.
The novel follows Six, a diviner who possesses the ability to foresee the future through dreams and sacred rituals. When events begin to unfold that challenge everything she believes, she is forced into a dangerous journey filled with secrets and revelations.
Gillig excels at creating atmosphere. The setting feels dark, mysterious, and immersive from the very first chapter.
What I appreciated most is the balance between character development and world building. Some fantasy novels become so focused on explaining their magic systems that the characters get lost. That isn’t the case here.
The emotional core of the story remains strong throughout, and the gothic influences give the book a unique flavor that helps it stand apart from many of its contemporaries.
Fans of gothic fantasy, romantic fantasy, and beautifully written prose should absolutely add this one to their TBR.
Why 2025 Has Been Such a Great Year for Fantasy
One thing that stands out when looking at the best fantasy books of 2025 is the incredible variety within the genre.
Fantasy is no longer dominated by a single style of storytelling. Readers can choose from epic fantasy, dark fantasy, romantasy, gothic fantasy, historical fantasy, and countless hybrids that blur genre boundaries.
Books like The Devils deliver gritty adventure and dark humor. Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil offers haunting gothic fantasy. The Raven Scholar blends mystery with political intrigue. Onyx Storm continues the dragon-rider phenomenon that has captivated millions of readers. The Knight and the Moth showcases the growing popularity of gothic fantasy.
That diversity is one of the genre’s greatest strengths.
There truly has never been a better time to be a fantasy reader.
Final Thoughts
Choosing only five fantasy books from 2025 wasn’t easy. There have been plenty of excellent releases this year, but these are the novels that stood out the most for me.
Each offers something different, but all five capture what makes fantasy such a powerful genre: unforgettable worlds, compelling characters, and stories that stay with us long after we’ve turned the final page.
Whether you’re a longtime fantasy reader or someone looking to explore the genre for the first time, these books deserve a spot on your reading list. They represent some of the very best fantasy has to offer in 2025. Until next time, happy reading!
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