December marks the end of a great year forfantasybooks, so it’s fitting thatsome of 2024’s most exciting new releases hit shelves during its final month. 2024 kicked off with highly anticipated sequels likeHouse of Flame and ShadowandThe Atlas Complex,and things only got better from there. The year welcomed many compelling additions to the genre, including a newhistorical fantasy book by Leigh Bardugo, afantasy novella from Veronica Roth, and the long-awaitedfinale to Tomi Adeyemi’sLegacy of Orïshaseries.
That’s just scratching the surface of what 2024 had in store for fantasy readers, andDecember is closing the year on a high note. Perhapsthe biggest fantasy release of 2024, Brandon Sanderson’sWind and Truth, will finally hit shelves, rounding out the first half ofThe Stormlight Archive.The much-anticipated follow-up to Xiran Jay Zhao’s 2021 hit,Iron Widow, also debuts this month. And while December is quieter than the rest of 2024 when it comes to new releases, there are a handful of other great fantasy books to keep an eye out for this month.
10Blacklight Born By Alexander Darwin
Release Date: July 04, 2025
December 3 welcomes a number of exciting fantasy books, starting withBlacklight Bornby Alexander Darwin. Darwin’sThe Combat Codesseries was initially self-published, but it’s being re-released after Orbit Books' acquisition. Thebooks perfectly blend sci-fi and fantasy, and the new versions of them include even more content for fans of Darwin’s work to enjoy.Blacklight Bornmarks the conclusion to the series, so its December release is particularly exciting for those keeping up with this story.
2023
Blacklight Born
2024
And the stakes are high heading intoBlacklight Born, which will determine the outcome of The Grievar War and decide the fates of everyone involved. The finale promises to deliver on the action and answer the series' biggest questions. It’s also likely to pack an emotional punch, especially for those who have grown attached to the characters.
9The Last One By Rachel Howzell Hall
Fourth Wingpublisher Red Tower Books has a new fantasy romance book hitting shelves in December, andThe Last Onepromises to be another gripping addition to 2024. Rachel Howzell Hall’s latest follows Kai, who finds herself waking up in a chaotic and dangerous kingdom full of threats. She has no recollection of how she got there, but she enlists the help of a skilled blacksmith to find answers — and a way out of her current predicament.
The central romance promises the right combination of lighthearted bickering and tense longing, and the fantasy elements sound just as promising.
Hailed by earlyGoodreadsreviewers as “unique” and “refreshing,“The Last Onecould become one of the most memorable romantasy releases of 2024. The central romance promises the right combination of lighthearted bickering and tense longing, and the fantasy elements sound just as promising. The answers Kai seeks are also likely to make this a twisty read, perfect for anyone looking for a fast-paced adventure to dive into this December.
8Rebel Blade By Davinia Evans
Davinia Evans’Burnished Cityseries comes to a close this month, withRebel Bladerounding out the story on December 3.Rebel Bladepicks up on the heels of Siyon Velo returning magic to the Mundane, showing the aftermath of this decision. Unfortunately, the fallout of it puts the city of Bezim in danger — and Evans' heroes are tasked with saving it.Rebel Bladepromises to give a proper send-off to Siyon, Annahid, and Zagiri, all while bringing the grander-scale conflicts of thisunderrated fantasy book seriesto a close.
2022
Rebel Blade
Evans' entireBurnished Cityseries is a fun and engaging time, andRebel Bladeis poised to end it on a high note. The finale’s earlyGoodreadsreviews and 4.07 rating indicate that it sticks the landing, meaning readers shouldn’t wait to pick it up. Even if they haven’t started Evans' story yet, December’s the perfect time to dive in.
7The Peculiar Garden Of Harriet Hunt By Chelsea Iversen
Chelsea Iversen’sThe Peculiar Garden of Harriet Huntdelivers a lighter helping of fantasy than most of the books on this list, but it’s well worth keeping an eye out for this December. Set in Victorian London,The Peculiar Garden of Harriet Huntfollows a woman who uses magical plants to her advantage. Harriet spends most of her days in her decaying estate — with a particular focus on her garden — and she doesn’t mind being alone. However, Harriet’s peace is shattered when she marries a man whose intentions are more sinister than he lets on.
10 Creative Fantasy Books That Defied All The Tropes
Like every genre, there are plenty of tropes that accompany fantasy stories. However, these novels purposefully subvert audience expectations.
Fortunately, Harriet’s garden is the key to protecting herself from the men around her and reclaiming her independence. A feminist fantasy story that sounds akin to Emilia Hart’sWeywardor H.G. Parry’sThe Magician’s Daughter,The Peculiar Garden of Harriet Huntis poised to deliver a delightfully entertaining read. With December welcoming the cold weather, it also sounds like a great way to immerse oneself in the blossoming plant life of spring.
6Wind And Truth By Brandon Sanderson
Release Date: June 14, 2025
Fans ofBrandon Sanderson’s booksare eagerly awaiting the next addition toThe Stormlight Archiveseries, which hits shelves on December 5. The much-anticipated conclusion to the first half of the story,Wind and Truthpromises a conclusion worthy of the sprawling epic Sanderson has created. It’s also likely to set upfuture Cosmere books, so those keeping up with Sanderson’s fictional universe won’t want to miss out on this December 2024 release.
2010
2014
2017
2020
Wind and Truth
Boasting an impressive 4.71 averageGoodreadsrating ahead of its release,Wind and Truthmay cementThe Stormlight Archiveas one of the greatest high fantasy seriesof all time. It’s also likely to be an emotional ride, as readers won’t return to this world for quite some time. Sanderson has a knack for delivering action-packed, powerful endings, and this book seems poised to continue that trend. December 5 will be a big day for fantasy readers, bringing more than a decade’s worth of storytelling together at long last.
5A Monsoon Rising By Thea Guanzon
Release Date: July 20, 2025
Thea Guanzon’sThe Hurricane Warswas a TikTok hit in 2023, and its sequel is making its debut in December 2024. DubbedA Monsoon Rising,the next installment in Guanzon’s romantasy trilogy promises to raise the stakes of this enemies-to-lovers story. Judging by its whopping 4.48Goodreadsrating, it succeeds on that front.A Monsoon Risingwill see Talasyn doing a delicate balancing act, playing the role of Alaric’s empress while also working towards his downfall.
A Monsoon Rising
While Talasyn is focused on upending Alaric’s reign, his sights are on a bigger threat — one that requires both of them to work together to defeat it. Blending political tensions with more Earth-shattering conflicts,A Monsoon Risingpromises to build on everything introduced inThe Hurricane Warsin a satisfying and exciting way. With the stakes steadily rising, it will set the stage for an epic conclusion to Guanzon’s story as well.
4North Is The Night By Emily Rath
Release Date: July 10, 2025
Emily Rath is known for her gripping hockey romance books, but her December 2024 release is quite different from herJacksonville Raysseries.North Is the Nightis the first novel in Rath’sTuonela Duet,a fantasy story steeped in Finnish mythology. Pitched for fans ofNettle & Boneby T. Kingfisher andThe Witch’s Heartby Genevieve Gornichec, Rath’s newest novel promises a dark and lush world to immerse oneself in. Its central narrative also highlights the power of female friendship and resilience in the face of unthinkable change.
10 Great Fantasy Books If You Want More Spice Than Plot
While the world-building and magic systems of fantasy books create exciting worlds, sometimes romance and spice are the best parts of the story.
North Is the Nightfollows Siiri and Aina, two women facing massive amounts of upheaval. Siiri intends to protect Aina from the fallout of all the change, but that promise is tested when a death goddess takes Aina to the underworld of Tuonela. Siiri sets out on a journey to find and save Aina, while Aina must survive her horrible new circumstances until she can find a way home. A novel promising two strong female leads and plenty of thoughtful turns,North Is the Nightis a release that must be on fantasy lovers' radars in December.
3A Cruel Thirst By Angela Montoya
Readers looking to snuggle up with a vampire fantasy book this December should look no further than Angela Montoya’s new release,A Cruel Thirst.Hitting shelves on December 17,A Cruel Thirstblends fantasy and romancein a narrative that pairs two unlikely allies together against the monsters threatening their world. Vampire huntress Carolina and young vampire Lalo will both have to overcome their instinctual dislike of one another to get the job done, and that’s the ideal setup for any great fictional partnership.
10 Books That Perfectly Blend Fantasy & Romance
While the draw of fantasy books is the worldbuilding & magic, the plots within these novels are elevated by great romances & love stories.
AlthoughA Cruel Thirstdoesn’t come out until later in the month, its early 4.37Goodreadsrating bodes well for its success. With a stunning cover, a compelling central romance, and a promising plot, this YA fantasy release is a must-read. And with so few vampire books coming out in December, it’s an obvious way to diversify any TBR.
2Heavenly Tyrant By Xiran Jay Zhao
Release Date: July 04, 2025
Readers have been asking for Xiran Jay Zhao’s follow-up toIron Widowsince its 2021 release, and after an unfortunate delay,Heavenly Tyrantwill finally make its debut this December. The book will pick up on the heels of Zetian seizing power in Huaxia, but her problems aren’t over yet. The sequel will introduce an even greater threat, forcing its heroine to cooperate with her former enemy to save the people she cares about most. With its increased stakes,Heavenly Tyrantpromises to surpassIron Widowand take readers on a thrilling ride.
2021
Heavenly Tyrant
Of course, toppingIron Widowis no easy feat. ButHeavenly Tyrant’s 4.23Goodreadsrating speaks to its high quality, suggesting that the upcoming sequel will be well worth the wait. It’s certainly an exciting way to end 2024 and ring in the new year: with one of the most-anticipated fantasy novels, not just of 2024, but of recent years overall.
1A Sky Of Emerald Stars By A.K. Mulford
A.K. Mulford’sA River of Golden Boneskicked off theGolden Courtseries in 2023, andA Sky of Emerald Starswill continue this romantasy trilogy. Picking up where book one left off,A Sky of Emerald Starscontinues Calla’s story while introducing a new lead named Sadie. Both are forced to grapple with war and political upheaval, promising high stakes and tensions in this follow-up.A Sky of Emerald Starsalso continues to deliver on the themes of self-exploration and self-discovery from the first novel, as well as the gripping romance elements.
A Sky of Emerald Stars
A Sky of Emerald Starsdoesn’t arrive until December 24, but it’s already getting a positive reception onGoodreads.Those who enjoyed the first installment of Mulford’s series won’t want to skip out on thisexciting expansion of the author’s world. And even newcomers should make time to pick up thisfantasyseries, as it excels in terms of romance, representation, and storytelling.
