Each year brings with it a brand new crop of books, and, if you’re anything like me, you love to find new things to read. But where do you start? Perhaps you’re looking for a grand escape from reality or something to read while you’re waiting for the bus. Maybe you just finished the hottest new fantasy drama and now you want to read something with the same exciting vein. Maybe you’re looking for specific representation or you want to further diversify your bookshelf. Maybe you’re just bored and want to be entertained while staying safe at home. Whatever you’re searching for, look no further. I’m excited to recommend your next possible fantasy read.

Fantasy is a genre that has continuously evolved and branched out, especially in the past few years. With so many dynamic stories and new authors, the fantasy genre can offer any reader something exciting, from high fantasy with magic and mystery to magical realism, urban fantasy, and even classic fairy tales and fables. The concept of fantasy is constantly shifting, and there are so many new titles to read and look forward to. Reading fantasy is a way to escape, imagine oneself on an epic quest or in a strange new world, and experience mystery, romance, and magic like never before.

Amazon and Goodreads are good starting points when looking for the newest and most-liked bestsellers. Amazon provides lists of the newest, most wished for, and most popular titles currently on the market; Goodreads does much of the same by providing user-curated lists of the most anticipated titles based on recent trends. Here are a few of my favorite titles (and some that I’m looking forward to reading):

• The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab Addie LaRue was cursed back in the eighteenth century to live forever but be forgotten by everyone she meets, and now she lives a life of anonymity and adventure. Nearly three hundred years after her initial bargain to live an immortal, invisible life, Addie meets a young man in a bookstore who remembers her name.
• The Witch’s Heart by Genevieve Gornichec A reimagining of Norse mythology in which Angrboda, a witch banished by Odin for refusing to provide him with knowledge of the future, falls in love with the trickster god Loki. She bears three children, each with a secret destiny, and must decide how far she is willing to go to protect her family from the futures she has seen for them.
• The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner The lives of an eighteenth-century apothecary and a modern-day aspiring historian collide when the latter, Caroline Parcewell, finds herself at the heart of the unsolved apothecary murders that haunted London two hundred years ago.
• The Blacktongue Thief by Christopher Buehlman Kinch Na Shannack, a thief who is running from a debt, finds his fate suddenly entangled with that of Galva, a knight he attempts to rob out of desperation. “Common enemies and uncommon dangers force thief and knight on an epic journey where goblins hunger for human flesh, krakens hunt in dark waters, and honor is a luxury few can afford.”

Do you want to support small presses and fantasy publishers? These independent houses are doing it right:

• Quirk Books A small press headquartered in Philadelphia, “Quirk publishes just twenty-five strikingly unconventional books per year, and every title is a labor of love born out of our passions and obsessions. Always looking to set the next trend, Quirk delivers books and stories that are bold, unprecedented, beautifully designed, and affordable.” They are best known for their science fiction, fantasy, YA, and humor books.
• Tachyon Publications “Founded in 1995, Tachyon Publications LLC is a publisher of smart science fiction, fantasy, and horror, as well as mysteries, memoirs, young adult, and literary fiction. We champion the creative storytelling of authors who inspire us through intelligent prose and imaginative worlds. Our titles are consistently unique, thought-provoking, and entertaining.”
• Future House Publishing An imprint of Familius, “Future House publishes adult science fiction and fantasy, as well as middle-grade adventure books that embrace community, liberty, and family.”

And, of course, don’t forget about us! Make sure to keep up with Ooligan’s newest releases through our website and social media.