GGA’s 11 Most Anticipated Fantasy Books of 2024

Alex Faccibene

Updated on:

The covers of three fantasy books coming out in 2024: The Familiar, The Book of Love, and River Mumma.

Can you believe it’s already 2024? That means many things to many people, but most important to me are the books coming out in the new year. There are certainly a lot of them, but today, I’m focusing on the upcoming fantasy books of 2024. Read on to glimpse the incredible new stories coming our way.

January

The Parliament by Aimee Pokwatka – January 16

When 10s of thousands of owls descend on Madigan Purdy’s hometown library, she’s stuck inside with a group of students she didn’t even want to teach. To keep the kids safe and distracted, Mad reads them her favorite childhood book, The Silent Queen. But as food and water run out, those trapped inside must find a way to escape before the birds tear them apart.

Tordotcom describes The Parliament as ”The Birds meets The Princess Bride.” Honestly, I’m not sure I can think of a wilder combination. Aimee Pokwatka’s combination of fantasy and horror makes for a truly unique read.

RELATED: GGA’s 12 Most Anticipated Science Fiction Books of 2024

Faebound by Saara El-Arifi – January 23

When a fatal mistake gets them exiled from Elven lands, Yerevan, a warrior, and her sister Lettle, a diviner, end up lost in the wilderness. There, they stumble on the mythical fae court. Faced with the seductive allure of the fae, the sisters must navigate a perilous path between their elven homeland and a captivating new realm that hasn’t been seen for a millennium.

Faebound is the first in a brand new trilogy from the author of The Ending Fire Trilogy, Saara El-Arifi. This new fantasy book is full of adventure, romance and epic magic.

The City of Stardust by Georgia Summers – January 30

The cover of The City of Stardust has a gold key against a blue door surrounded by leaves

Violet Everly, the last in a cursed lineage, faces the daunting task of breaking the family curse that has taken generations. With a decade to find her vanished mother, Marianne, or succumb to the curse, Violet navigates a magical underworld of power-hungry scholars, capricious gods and vengeful monsters. Alongside the enigmatic Aleksander, she races against time, uncovering the secrets of a city of stardust to unravel the mystery and free her family from centuries of torment.

RELATED: Book Review: Most Ardently: A Pride & Prejudice Remix

If you loved The Ten Thousand Doors of January or anything by Erin Morgenstern, The City of Stardust is perfect for you. Georgia Summers’ debut is precisely the right kind of fantasy book I’ve been looking for.

February

The Book of Love by Kelly Link – February 13

Nearly a year after the authorities declared them dead, Laura, Daniel and Mo reappear in their high school classroom. There, they find their music teacher, who offers them a chance to reclaim their lives through a series of magical tasks. They must, however, keep their resurrection — and where they’ve been — a secret. As they navigate their strange new lives, supernatural figures appear, bringing danger and chaos to their small town. The teens must unravel the mystery of their deaths to avert the looming disaster threatening their community.

While Kelly Link is a prolific short story writer, The Book of Love is her first novel. With blurbs from Holly Black and Leigh Bardugo, I’m sure this will be a weird and wild ride.

RELATED: Celebrate J.R.R. Tolkien Day With These 5 Underrated Classics

The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden – February 13

In January 1918, wounded and grieving field nurse Laura Iven returns to Belgium to uncover the truth about her brother Freddie’s death in combat. Rumors of haunted trenches and a mysterious hotelier whose wine brings oblivion lead her on a quest for answers. Did Freddie escape the battlefield only to fall victim to something else? Meanwhile, in November 1917, Freddie awakens with a wounded German soldier. The two form a hesitant, unlikely alliance to save their lives. As they navigate the horrors of war and encounter a man with a mysterious power, both siblings must confront their deepest traumas and decide whether their war-torn world is worth saving at all.

This historical fantasy from Katherine Arden puts a speculative twist on World War I. The Warm Hands of Ghosts is a haunting novel of war, trauma and love.

The Briar Book of the Dead by A.G. Slatter – February 13

The cover of The Briar Book of the Dead has a red border with bones and skulls. There are gold accents on the edges.

In the remote mountain pass of Silverton, witches known as the Briars safeguard the threshold between the civilized world and the Darklands. While most would burn witches, those in Silverton are protected from persecution due to their crucial role in keeping citizens safe from the vampires. As ancient mysteries resurface and new forces emerge, Anni Briar, the first non-witch born into the family in three centuries, becomes a pivotal figure in the battle to come.

RELATED: GGA’s 10 Most Anticipated Debut Books of 2024

I don’t know much about The Briar Book of the Dead beyond the official description. However, I love a story about witches and powerful women, so I have high hopes for A.G. Slatter’s new novel.

River Mumma by Zalika Reid-Benta – February 20

Alicia, struggling with post-grad uncertainties and living with her mom, has no idea why the Jamaican water deity River Mumma would assign her a quest. She has 24 hours to search the city for River Mumma’s missing comb. As Alicia teams up with her coworkers Heaven and Mars, they encounter malevolent spirits called duppies and a mystical collection linking them together. Racing against the clock, Alicia’s quest forces her to confront her past and unravel the river’s mysteries.

River Mumma is a fast-paced new fantasy book set in Toronto that draws on Jamaican mythology. Zalika Reid-Benta’s upcoming fantasy is a solid debut.

RELATED: Check Out 6 Great Novels About Unconventional Haunted Houses

March

Parasol Against the Axe by Helen Oyeyemi – March 5

When Hero Tojosoa reluctantly attends a bachelorette weekend in Prague, she has no idea the city is capable of playing tricks. A book Hero brought with her reveals ever-changing stories of fictional Praguers. Meanwhile, uninvited guests appear around the city, adding their own opinions and even treachery. As tensions arise between Hero and her friends, the conflicting accounts of their history intensify, creating a web of intrigue and mystery they may not escape from.

Helen Oyeyemi’s newest novel is an absurdist, stream-of-consciousness tale all from the perspective of Prague itself. Parasol Against the Axe isn’t a straightforward read, but it asks big questions about the lines between fact and interpretation.

April

The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo – April 9

In Madrid’s new capital, Luzia Cotado, a servant with a talent for magic, must use her abilities to further her mistress’ social standing. When Luzia’s miracles gain attention, she attracts the notice of Antonio Pérez, a disgraced secretary eager to regain favor with Spain’s king. As Luzia navigates a realm of seers, alchemists, and dangerous secrets, she faces the ever-present threat of the Inquisition. To survive, she must ally with Guillén Santangel, an embittered immortal familiar with secrets that could prove deadly for both of them.

RELATED: GGA’s 8 Best Science Fiction and Fantasy Novels of 2023

Leigh Bardugo’s new standalone novel is a historical fantasy inspired by her own family. The Familiar is my most anticipated fantasy book of the year by far, and April can’t come soon enough.

The Dead Cat Tail Assassins by P. Djèlí Clark – April 23

The cover of The Dead Cat Tail Assassins has a black woman with long braids and a gold cat-like half mask. She's holding two ornate, bloody knives.

In the ancient city of Tal Abisi, Eveen the Eviscerator, a skilled and discreet assassin, operates by three unbreakable vows. One: the contract must be just. Two: she can only kill the contracted. Three: Once a job is accepted, it must be carried out. But when faced with a mission during the Festival of the Clockwork King, Eveen confronts a past she’s not supposed to remember and a vow that refuses to be forgotten. Her newest mission will test every ounce of her professionalism and commitment to her deadly trade.

The Dead Cat Tail Assassins follows an undead killer pulled into a past that shouldn’t exist. Like so much of P. Djèlí Clark’s work, this one is atmospheric, exciting and unlike anything else.

RELATED: Best of 2023: GGA’s Favorite Things

July

The Gilded Crown by Marianne Gordon – July 2

Hellevir can raise the dead. Her power comes at a cost, however, extracted by the shrouded figure who rules the afterlife. When assassins kill Princess Sullivain, the sole heir to the throne, her grandmother summons Hellevir to bring her back to life and prevent a civil war. But with danger at every turn, Hellevir must remain by her side. Bound to the unpredictable princess, Hellevir finds herself falling in love while trading pieces of herself to keep Sullivain alive. As the threat of war looms and Hellevir sacrifices more, the inevitability of Death’s toll becomes a rapidly approaching reality.

The release date for The Gilded Crown was pushed back a few times, but hopefully, this time sticks. I’m excited for this dark Gothic fairytale to finally come out. Fans of The Weaver and the Witch Queen will love Marianne Gordon’s debut, a queer political fantasy with death-magic and powerful women.

These magical stories are just a few of the many, many fantasy books coming out in 2024. Which are you most excited to read? Let us know below, and keep an eye out for more upcoming book lists.

https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/top-10-films-2023/

Alex Faccibene

Leave a Comment