Archives de catégorie : Fantasy

THE HEART TRIALS de J. Elle

In a world where love is forbidden, one girl must fight for her heart and freedom through deadly trials in the first book of a new dystopian romantasy duology from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author J. Elle.

THE HEART TRIALS
by J. Elle
Putnam/PRH, September 2026
(via Writers House)

Welcome to The Heart Trials.
The prize is love.
The cost is everything.

In Ethyria the highborn may love; the lowborn may only feel what the Benevolent allows. 

Saltblood lowborn Axira Merreri survives the decaying districts by keeping her heart locked tight, couriering goods by day—and smuggling the ruler’s euphoric Heartfillers to the highborn by night. Until a drop goes wrong and her execution looms. 

When she strikes a dangerous bargain to steal something from the Tournament of Hearts, a ruthless dating competition for highborn citizenship, she enters. Not for love. For freedom. But as the twisted allure of the competition turns deadly, an unexpected connection cracks her defenses, forcing her to confront a truth she fears: In a regime built on engineered happiness, the most dangerous weapon she has is her heart.

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author J. Elle delivers a breathless series opener that is bold, bone-chilling, and wholly original. For fans of the cutthroat competition of The Hunger Games, Love Island, and Powerless, this dystopian romantasy explores what happens when the heart becomes the empire’s sharpest blade.

J. Elle is the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of dark fantasy fiction examining love as a powerful phenomenon—capable of building and destroying worlds.

DEVOUR ME d’Emily Rath

From New York Times bestselling author Emily Rath comes a dark, spicy polyamory paranormal romance series set on a New England island about the entangled fates of a witch, wraith, and mortal . . .

DEVOUR ME
by Emily Rath
Tor Bramble, July 2026
(via JABberwocky)

Dáinn the Devourer has spent the last two hundred years of his undead life reluctantly bonded to a dark witch. When Dáinn is forced by his mistress to devour the soul of a powerful rival witch, Jasper Prescott, he’s interrupted by a human. With one word, this human does what no being has ever done . . . she takes his breath away.

Forced to stop feeding, the soul he was devouring slips back inside the dying witch. Who is this human? And what dark magic must she possess to stop a wraith?

Birdie Rhodes, hapless historian and sometimes shop girl, works for the witch Dáinn was ordered to devour. Now Jasper Prescott is on the hunt too. For answers. As a powerful witch, with a coven at his command, Jasper will stop at nothing to find out what magical mischief is happening on his island.

Dáinn, Jasper, and Birdie become entangled in a magical love affair which could lead to their ruin.

Emily Rath is an internationally bestselling author whose chart-topping, sex-positive, queer-inclusive fantasy and romance novels include the Second Sons Regency romances, the Tuonella Duet fantasy novels, and the why choose tiktok sensation, the Jacksonville Rays Hockey Romances. A former university professor, she holds PhDs in Political Science and Peace Studies. Emily was born in Florida, raised in Kentucky, and now lives with her husband, son, and cat in Jacksonville, Florida.

I’M NOT THE HERO de Tommy Kerper AKA SourpatchHero

In addition to strength, steel, and courage, a hero discovers he’s in need of a friend, in the first installment of a daring and dangerous fantasy adventure. An isekai buddy comedy with endearing characters, found family and LitRPG elements.

I’M NOT THE HERO
by Tommy Kerper AKA SourpatchHero
Podium, December 2023

When it comes to action and adventure, every hero needs a good sidekick. Holmes has Watson, Batman has Robin, and Daniel has . . . Orrin. More like brothers than friends, they always have each other’s backs. And as Daniel is the big, strong, handsome type, Orrin is more than happy to remain in his shadow at school, at parties, pretty much everywhere.

Then things take a turn for the truly weird when a terrible accident catapults the pair into a world totally unlike their own, in which the rules of a role-playing game hold sway. Naturally, Daniel is classified as a “hero,” while Orrin is—also naturally—relegated to the fantasy equivalent of “bleh.” Nothing new there.

But in this realm populated with lethal foes both inhuman and inescapable, sticking together matters more than ever, and soon Daniel and Orrin will discover more about themselves—and each other—than either one thought possible. In fact, Orrin just might find the confidence and strength to become something other than your average sidekick . . .

The first volume of the hit LitRPG fantasy series!

SourpatchHero is the author of LitRPG series I’m Not the Hero. When he’s not writing new stories, you’ll find him spending time with his two sons and his wife, reading, or playing video games. He resides in Virginia with his wife and two kids.

A DANGEROUS BARGAIN d’Erin Cotter

A young artist who has bargained away most of his life for divine inspiration pairs up with fellow apprentice Leonardo da Vinci to infiltrate the Medici family and find out the truth about his missing brother in this Renaissance-set young adult mystery perfect for fans of F.T. Lukens.

A DANGEROUS BARGAIN
by Erin Cotter
Simon & Schuster BYR, September 2026
(via KT Literary)

It’s the height of the Italian Renaissance. In the golden city of Florence, art is equal to holiness—and angels walk among us, bestowing their talents…for a price.

Seventeen-year-old artist Virgil is in trouble. To support his family, he’s bargained most of his life away to an angel—only to discover that his missing brother is in danger, and nothing but magic can rescue him. Now, with just a few months left to live, Virgil is desperate enough to try the one thing he swore he would never, ever do—team up with the infuriating, annoyingly talented, and most notorious playboy in all of Florence, the charming Leonardo da Vinci.

As the two journey through Florence’s gilded streets, luxurious cathedrals, and glorious Medici palaces, they unearth dark truths beneath the city’s facade.

Those in power will do anything to keep their deadly secrets safe, but with his feelings for Leonardo giving him new life, Virgil is determined to expose their lies before he runs out of time.

Even if it might cost him his soul.

Erin Cotter writes young adult fiction. Originally from Buffalo, New York, she currently calls Austin home. When not writing, she spends time with her partner and pets, eating tacos, and searching for Golden-cheeked Warblers in the Texas Hill Country.

THIS DREAM WILL DEVOUR US de Emma Clancey

The Inheritance Games meets Caraval in this YA contemporary fantasy debut about a girl thrust into the intoxicating and dangerous world of magical high society.

THIS DREAM WILL DEVOUR US
by Emma Clancey
Amulet Books, April 2026
(via Dystel, Goderich & Bourret)

Sometimes you have to kill a dream to escape a nightmare.

Nora is the opposite of lucky. She’s still wrangling her late father’s debts when a mysterious illness lands her brother in the hospital. But her fortunes take an unexpected turn when she wins the lottery to attend the Lamour family’s exclusive, magical Dream Gala.

If Nora can win over the Lamour heirs, she’ll get a coveted spot on their magical training program—and the money she needs to save her brother.

There’s just one problem: Nora never bought a lottery ticket.

Determined to discover who wants her at the gala—and why—Nora plunges headfirst into magical high society. Caught up in a decadent world of brutal billionaires and cutthroat celebrities, Nora is soon in over her head and entangled in a messy love triangle.

When her search for answers uncovers a sinister conspiracy, will Nora stay silent or risk the wrath of a family powerful enough to get away with murder?

“Debut author Clancey’s unusual, perfectly paced, queer-centered narrative will leave readers struggling to find a good place to put the book down and stop reading…A page-turner that shows what our reality would be if magic were a drug in our capitalist society.” ―Kirkus Reviews

“The high society of morally bankrupt profiteers and social- media driven celebrity make a perfect backdrop to a mystery dripping with bad actors, false leads, and wicked fast pacing. The development and use of levic indicts a healthcare system built on addiction and profit, adding a timely and emotional facet to this cleverly crafted page-turner.” ―The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

Emma Clancey is a fantasy writer and medical student living in Sydney, Australia. In 2024, she was awarded the Ray Koppe/Australian Society of Authors Young Writers Fellowship. When not writing or horrifying her friends with unsolicited medical facts, she’s likely jabbering about her latest reads on Instagram @emma.clancey.