I recently shared a list of my top 10 upcoming YA releases that I’m looking forward at the start of 2021.
But with so many exciting fantasy novels coming out in the first few months of the year, I wanted to create a separate post for the fantasy releases I’m looking forward to the most at the start of 2021.
READ MORE: Upcoming YA Releases at the Start of 2021

A Vow so Bold and Deadly by Brigid Kemmerer
Release date: January 26th 2021
“Face your fears, fight the battle.
Emberfall is crumbling fast, torn between those who believe Rhen is the rightful prince and those who are eager to begin a new era under Grey, the true heir. Grey has agreed to wait two months before attacking Emberfall, and in that time, Rhen has turned away from everyoneβeven Harper, as she desperately tries to help him find a path to peace.“
“Face your fears, fight the battle.
Emberfall is crumbling fast, torn between those who believe Rhen is the rightful prince and those who are eager to begin a new era under Grey, the true heir. Grey has agreed to wait two months before attacking Emberfall, and in that time, Rhen has turned away from everyoneβeven Harper, as she desperately tries to help him find a path to peace.
Fight the battle, save the kingdom.
Meanwhile, Lia Mara struggles to rule Syhl Shallow with a gentler hand than her mother. But after enjoying decades of peace once magic was driven out of their lands, some of her subjects are angry Lia Mara has an enchanted prince and magical scraver by her side. As Grey’s deadline draws nearer, Lia Mara questions if she can be the queen her country needs.
As two kingdoms come closer to conflict, loyalties are tested, love is threatened, and an old enemy resurfaces who could destroy them all, in this stunning conclusion to bestselling author Brigid Kemmererβs Cursebreaker series.“
** I enjoyed the first 2 books in this series so much, so this is one of my most anticipated books of the month! The different perspective in the 2nd book threw me a little, but I’m really looking forward to all the characters coming back together in this finale.
Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads

Lost in the Never Woods by Aiden Thomas
Release date: March 23rd 2021
“When children go missing, people want answers. When children go missing in the small coastal town of Astoria, people look to Wendy for answers.“
Show More“When children go missing, people want answers. When children go missing in the small coastal town of Astoria, people look to Wendy for answers.
It’s been five years since Wendy and her two brothers went missing in the woods, but when the townβs children start to disappear, the questions surrounding her brothersβ mysterious circumstances are brought back into light. Attempting to flee her past, Wendy almost runs over an unconscious boy lying in the middle of the road, and gets pulled into the mystery haunting the town.
Peter, a boy she thought lived only in her stories, claims that if they don’t do something, the missing children will meet the same fate as her brothers. In order to find them and rescue the missing kids, Wendy must confront what’s waiting for her in the woods.“
** This book looks amazing! Cemetery Boys is high up on my tbr and I’ve heard only good things about it, so I can’t wait to pick up Lost in the Never Woods as well.
Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads

Blessed Monsters by Emily A. Duncan
Release date: April 6th 2021
“The startling conclusion to the instantΒ New York TimesΒ bestselling Something Dark and Holy trilogy
The girl, the monster, the prince, the queen.“
“The startling conclusion to the instantΒ New York TimesΒ bestselling Something Dark and Holy trilogy
The girl, the monster, the prince, the queen.
They broke the world.
And some things can never be undone.
In Emily A. DuncanβsΒ Blessed Monsters, they must unite once more to fight the dark chaos they’ve unleashedβbut is it already too late?“
Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads

Wings of Ebony by J Elle
Release date: January 26th 2021
“In this riveting, keenly emotional debut fantasy, a Black teen from Houston has her world upended when she learns about her godly ancestry–and with evil sinking its claws into humans and gods alike, she’ll have to unearth the magic of her true identity to save both her worlds.“
Show More“In this riveting, keenly emotional debut fantasy, a Black teen from Houston has her world upended when she learns about her godly ancestry–and with evil sinking its claws into humans and gods alike, she’ll have to unearth the magic of her true identity to save both her worlds.
Perfect for fans of Angie Thomas, Tomi Adeyemi, and The Hunger Games.
βMake a way out of no wayβ is just the way of life for Rue. But when her mother is shot dead on her doorstep, life for her and her younger sister changes forever. Rue’s taken from her neighborhood by the father she never knew, forced to leave her little sister behind, and whisked away to Ghizonβa hidden island of magic wielders.
Rue is the only half-god, half-human there, where leaders protect their magical powers at all costs and thrive on human suffering. Miserable and desperate to see her sister on the anniversary of their motherβs death, Rue breaks Ghizonβs sacred Do Not Leave Law and returns to Houston, only to discover that Black kids are being forced into crime and violence. And her sister, Tasha, is in danger of falling sway to the very forces that claimed their motherβs life.
Worse still, evidence mounts that the evil plaguing East Row is the same one that lurks in Ghizonβan evil that will stop at nothing until it has stolen everything from her and everyone she loves. Rue must embrace her true identity and wield the full magnitude of her ancestorsβ power to save her neighborhood before the gods burn it to the ground.“
Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads

Chain of Iron by Cassandra Clare
Release date: March 2nd 2021
“The Shadowhunters must catch a killer in Edwardian London in this dangerous and romantic sequel to the #1Β New York TimesΒ bestselling novel Chain of Gold, from New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Cassandra Clare. Chain of Iron is a Shadowhunters novel.“
Show More“The Shadowhunters must catch a killer in Edwardian London in this dangerous and romantic sequel to the #1Β New York TimesΒ bestselling novel Chain of Gold, from New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Cassandra Clare. Chain of Iron is a Shadowhunters novel.
Cordelia Carstairs seems to have everything she ever wanted. Sheβs engaged to marry James Herondale, the boy she has loved since childhood. She has a new life in London with her best friend Lucie Herondale and Jamesβs charming companions, the Merry Thieves. She is about to be reunited with her beloved father. And she bears the sword Cortana, a legendary heroβs blade.
But the truth is far grimmer. James and Cordeliaβs marriage is a lie, arranged to save Cordeliaβs reputation. James is in love with the mysterious Grace Blackthorn whose brother, Jesse, died years ago in a terrible accident. Cortana burns Cordeliaβs hand when she touches it, while her father has grown bitter and angry. And a serial murderer is targeting the Shadowhunters of London, killing under cover of darkness, then vanishing without a trace.
Together with the Merry Thieves, Cordelia, James, and Lucie must follow the trail of the knife-wielding killer through the cityβs most dangerous streets. All the while, each is keeping a shocking secret: Lucie, that she plans to raise Jesse from the dead; Cordelia, that she has sworn a dangerous oath of loyalty to a mysterious power; and James, that he is being drawn further each night into the dark web of his grandfather, the arch-demon Belial. And that he himself may be the killer they seek.“
** How could I not be excited for a new Cassie Clare book?! I loved Chain of Gold (and pretty much everyone I talked to about it felt the same), and it left off on such a cliff-hanger. Also, how gorgeous is this cover? Even more beautiful than the first book.
Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads

All the Tides of Fate by Adalyn Grace
Release date: February 2nd 2021
“Through blood and sacrifice, Amora Montara has conquered a rebellion and taken her rightful place as queen of Visidia. Now, with the islands in turmoil and the people questioning her authority, Amora cannot allow anyone to see her weaknesses.“
Show More“Through blood and sacrifice, Amora Montara has conquered a rebellion and taken her rightful place as queen of Visidia. Now, with the islands in turmoil and the people questioning her authority, Amora cannot allow anyone to see her weaknesses.
No one can know about the curse in her bloodline. No one can know that sheβs lost her magic. No one can know the truth about the boy who holds the missing half of her soul.
To save herself and Visidia, Amora embarks on a desperate quest for a mythical artifact that could fix everythingβbut it comes at a terrible cost. As she tries to balance her loyalty to her people, her crew, and the desires of her heart, Amora will soon discover that the power to rule might destroy her.“
Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads

Bone Crier’s Dawn by Kathryn Purdie
Release date: March 31st 2021
“Love is a matter of life and death.
Bone Criers have been ferrying the dead into the afterlife for centuries, a dangerous duty only possible with the powers they gain from sacrificing their amourΓ©s the men destined to love them and die.“
“Love is a matter of life and death.
Bone Criers have been ferrying the dead into the afterlife for centuries, a dangerous duty only possible with the powers they gain from sacrificing their amourΓ©s the men destined to love them and die. But Bone Criers Ailesse and Sabineβalong with Ailesseβs love, Bastienβare working to chart their own course and rewrite the rules of the afterlife. If they donβt break the soul between Ailesse and her amourΓ©, she could dieβjust as Bastienβs father did.
Sabine struggles to maintain her authority as matrone of her familleβthe role always destined for her sisterβeven as she fights to control the violent jackal power within her.
Bastien is faced with a new dilemma as the spirits of the Underworld threaten the souls of his friendsβand his father.
Ailesse attempts to resist her motherβs siren song as sheβs drawn into her own version of the Underworld. How will she save her friends once sheβs cut off from their world?
This pulse-pounding follow-up to Bone Crierβs Moon is a story of love, sisterhood, and determination as three friends find the courage and power to shatter the boundary between the living and the dead.“
** I received Bone Crier’s Moon pretty soon after its release last year, and thought the premise sounded amazing (enemies to lovers is my favourite trope). But the execution of it didn’t live up to my expectations; I felt the romance played out too quickly and kept switching around and I would have liked a little more character development.
But I loved the concept and I still feel there’s a lot more story to be told, so I definitely will be picking this one up.
Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads

We Free the Stars by Hafsah Faizal
Release date: January 19th 2021
“The battle on Sharr is over. The dark forest has fallen. Altair may be captive, but Zafira, Nasir, and Kifah are bound for Sultanβs Keep, determined to finish the plan he set in motion: restoring the hearts of the Sisters of Old to the minarets of each caliphate, and finally returning magic to all of Arawiya. But they are low on resources and allies alike, and the kingdom teems with fear of the Lion of the Nightβs return.“
Show More“The battle on Sharr is over. The dark forest has fallen. Altair may be captive, but Zafira, Nasir, and Kifah are bound for Sultanβs Keep, determined to finish the plan he set in motion: restoring the hearts of the Sisters of Old to the minarets of each caliphate, and finally returning magic to all of Arawiya. But they are low on resources and allies alike, and the kingdom teems with fear of the Lion of the Nightβs return.
As the zumra plots to overthrow the kingdomβs darkest threat, Nasir fights to command the magic in his blood. He must learn to hone his power into a weapon, to wield not only against the Lion but against his father, trapped under the Lionβs control. Zafira battles a very different darkness festering in her through her bond with the Jawaratβa darkness that hums with voices, pushing her to the brink of her sanity and to the edge of a chaos she dare not unleash. In spite of the darkness enclosing ever faster, Nasir and Zafira find themselves falling into a love they canβt stand to loseβ¦but time is running out to achieve their ends, and if order is to be restored, drastic sacrifices will have to be made.
Lush and striking, hopeful and devastating,Β We Free the StarsΒ is the masterful conclusion to the Sands of Arawiya duology byΒ New York Timesβbestselling author Hafsah Faizal.”
Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads

Into the Heartless Wood by Joanna Ruth Meyer
Release date: January 12th 2021
“The forest is a dangerous place, where siren song lures men and women to their deaths. For centuries, a witch has harvested souls to feed the heartless tree, using its power to grow her domain.“
Show More“The forest is a dangerous place, where siren song lures men and women to their deaths. For centuries, a witch has harvested souls to feed the heartless tree, using its power to grow her domain.
When Owen Merrick is lured into the witchβs wood, one of her tree-siren daughters, Seren, saves his life instead of ending it. Every night, he climbs over the garden wall to see her, and every night her longing to become human deepens. But a shift in the stars foretells a dangerous curse, and Serenβs quest to become human will lead them into an ancient war raging between the witch and the king who is trying to stop her.
Epic, heartbreaking, and darkly atmospheric, Into theΒ Heartless WoodΒ is the story of impossible love between a monstrous tree siren and a boy who lives at the edge of her wood.“

Sweet & Bitter Magic by Adrienne Tooley
Release date: March 9th 2021
“In this charming debut fantasy perfect for fans ofΒ Sorcery of ThornsΒ andΒ Girls of Paper and Fire, a witch cursed to never love meets a girl hiding her own dangerous magic, and the two strike a dangerous bargain to save their queendom.“
Show More“In this charming debut fantasy perfect for fans ofΒ Sorcery of ThornsΒ andΒ Girls of Paper and Fire, a witch cursed to never love meets a girl hiding her own dangerous magic, and the two strike a dangerous bargain to save their queendom.
Tamsin is the most powerful witch of her generation. But after committing the worst magical sin, sheβs exiled by the ruling Coven and cursed with the inability to love. The only way she can get those feelings backβeven for just a little whileβis to steal love from others.
Wren is a sourceβa rare kind of person who is made of magic, despite being unable to use it herself. Sources are required to train with the Coven as soon as they discover their abilities, but Wrenβthe only caretaker to her ailing fatherβhas spent her life hiding her secret.
When a magical plague ravages the queendom, Wrenβs father falls victim. To save him, Wren proposes a bargain: if Tamsin will help her catch the dark witch responsible for creating the plague, then Wren will give Tamsin her love for her father.
Of course, love bargains are a tricky thing, and these two have a long, perilous journey ahead of themβthat is, if they don’t kill each other first..”
Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads

Are you looking forward to these new releases? Will you be picking up any from the list?I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below or you connect with me on any of my social medias @wanderingthroughlit.
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