Every year, I try to choose my favorite book releases, and it’s almost always impossible. For now, I’ve narrowed things down to what I think are the best fantasy books of 2024. Read on to discover some of my favorite books of the year.
February
The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo, February 11
When a young woman is found dead, frozen in the snow, Detective Bao sets out to investigate what happened. Amidst the rumor of fox spirits, a nearby family faces the specter of a deadly curse as their grandson nears his 24th birthday. When a mysterious woman arrives to become their servant, the family’s luck changes. But is she just a simple girl with a good heart or another fox spirit out for revenge?
The Fox Wife turns folk tales into reality. Bestselling author Yangsze Choo’s third novel is a perfect winter read full of mysterious deaths and quests for revenge.
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The Butcher of the Forest by Premee Mohamed, February 27
At the edge of a Tyrant-ruled land lies the Elmever, a forest of deadly traps from which no one returns. Veris Thorn, however, is the only person to rescue a child from its depths. When the Tyrant’s children vanish into the forest, Veris is forced back in to rescue them. With only a day to navigate riddles and monsters before being trapped forever, Veris must risk everything to survive the forest — and the wrath of the Tyrant.
The Butcher of the Forest is a fantastical race against time. Part dark fairytale, part cosmic horror, Premee Mohamed’s novella is a perfect addition to the best fantasy books of 2024.
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.
The Familiar is another fantastic work from superstar author Leigh Bardugo. The basic premise is similar to her previous work. A seemingly unimportant woman is lifted from poverty by a powerful man and must learn to navigate a dangerous new society. However, everything else is beautifully different. Unlike the Grishaverse or Ninth House books, this story is deeply personal alongside the magical elements. If you appreciate rich historical fantasy with gorgeous descriptions and powerful displays of magic, this is the book for you.
RELATED: Book Review: The Familiar
Someone You Can Build A Nest In by John Wiswell, April 15
When human monster hunters disturb her hibernation, Shesheshen, an amorphous shapeshifter, flees her home — right off a cliff. Luckily, she’s rescued by Homily, a kind-hearted human who mistakes her for one of her own. Although she initially planned to use Homily as a host for her eggs, Shesheshen falls deeply in love and struggles to keep her monstrous identity hidden. When Homily reveals she’s hunting the shapeshifter who cursed her family, Shesheshen must unravel the truth behind the accusation while protecting them both from a deadly hunt and navigating a relationship far more complicated than she’d ever imagined.
Shesheshen’s journey is one of trust, vulnerability and understanding. It’s a coming-of-age story presented in a completely unexpected way. Someone You Can Build a Nest In is an inventive, gross and truly funny work of fantasy that’s surprisingly touching. John Wiswell’s debut quickly joined my ranks of the best fantasy books of 2024.
July
A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher, July 15
Cordelia’s mother is a sorcerer and a strange one at that. Their house has no doors, Cordelia must remain silent and still for days on end, and she can’t have friends beyond her mother’s horse, Falada. After a suspicious death in their small town, they flee to a remote manor where her mother plans to marry the Squire. Noticing Cordelia’s fear and unusual behavior, Hester realizes she must confront the witch to save her brother and rescue Cordelia from her mother’s control.
The second of T. Kingfisher’s two 2024 releases is a dark retelling of the Grimm Brothers’ Goose Girl. Full of secrets, murder and forbidden magic, A Sorceress Comes to Call combines the paranormal with the fantastical into a quick read full of twists and turns.
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August
Long Live Evil by Sarah Rees Brennan, August 27
After a magical bargain transports her into her favorite fantasy series, Rae finds herself as the villainess in a kingdom on the brink of war. Quickly embracing her role, she unites the story’s villains to change their fate. As conflicts intensify, however, Rae must navigate her new life in a world where surviving until the end is far from guaranteed.
With blurbs from Holly Black and Leigh Bardugo, you know that Long Live Evil will be a blast before you even open the cover. Sarah Rees Brennan’s adult fantasy debut is perfect for anyone who loves rooting for the villain.
Asunder by Kerstin Hall, August 20
Karys Eska, a deathspeaker bound to a powerful eldritch entity, uses her ability to communicate with the dead to investigate mysterious deaths in her troubled city. When a job goes wrong, she binds a dying stranger to her shadow, thrusting them into a dangerous alliance. As they navigate a perilous journey through a fading empire, they’re pursued by arcane horrors and haunted by their pasts. Karys knows her dark debts will soon demand payment.
Asunder is both a fantastic adventure, creepily atmospheric and a gorgeous read. Kerstin Hall’s world-building is unlike anything I’ve read before. Asunder is firmly a fantasy novel, but it’s full of technologically advanced magic. The combination of science with arcane artifacts, cosmic horror and death magic adds up to a deliciously eerie atmosphere. The result is a reading experience that is uniquely dreamlike and nightmarish.
September
Wrath of the Triple Goddess by Rick Riordan, September 24
Percy Jackson, now a high school senior, needs three recommendation letters from the gods for New Rome University. After finally earning the first, Percy gets another task: pet-sitting Hecate’s mastiff, Hecuba, and her polecat, Gale. It seems simple, but when Grover drinks a potion that turns him into a giant rampaging goat, Hecuba and Gale escape. Now, Percy, Annabeth and Grover must track down the runaway pets and fix the damage before Hecate returns — relying on demigod wits, luck and help from friends to set things right.
Rick Riordan is back with another Percy Jackson adventure. Wrath of the Triple Goddess is another hilarious take on the Greek gods and their effects on the real world, combined with the less hilarious anxieties of college admissions.
October
The City in Glass by Nghi Vo, October 1
The demon Vitrine shaped the vibrant city of Azril for generations. She’s left devastated, however, when angels invade and destroy it. Bound by grief and rage, she curses an angel who razed the city, forcing him to haunt the ruins alongside her. Though sworn enemies, their mutual hatred turns into a deep fascination as they unearth Azril’s past and rebuild its future. But as war looms once more, Vitrine and the angel must choose whether to let the city fall again or fight for what they have created together.
At the same time, an epic love story and a historical tome spanning generations, The City in Glass is beautiful, lyrical and captivating. I’ll read anything Nghi Vo has to offer — she never disappoints. Ultimately, this novella is a slow study of grief and love full of gorgeous, lyrical prose, making it a surprising but necessary addition to the best fantasy books of 2024. If you loved This Is How You Lose the Time War or Invisible Cities, check out The City in Glass.
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Metal From Heaven by August Clarke, October 22
In a world transformed by the revolutionary metal ichorite, Yann I. Chauncey controls its production while his workers, suffering from a mysterious condition known as “being lustertouched,” strike for safety. When Chauncey sends armed forces to crush the strike, only young worker Marney Honeycutt survives the massacre, vowing vengeance. A decade later, Marney has become the nation’s most feared highwayman. To fulfill her revenge, she infiltrates high society, posing as an aristocrat to seduce Chauncey’s daughter and get close to her target. But as war brews in the north, new threats arise, complicating Marney’s plans for retribution.
Elements of The Count of Monte Cristo, Gideon the Ninth and The Princess Bride combine wonderfully into August Clarke’s adult debut. Metal from Heaven is a challenging, rich read full of tight action sequences and bitter triumph. Author Amal El-Mohtar described this book as “if Chappell Roan took hammer & tongs to Disco Elysium & then sang the resultant metal of it into an aching sublimation” on Bluesky, and I honestly can’t think of a better review.
Did any of your favorite fantasy books of 2024 make the cut? All of the best books of 2024 are available from your local independent bookstore or Bookshop.org. Let us know below, and keep an eye out for even more of GGA’s favorite things of the year.
- GGA’s 10 Best Science Fiction Books of 2024 - December 12, 2024
- GGA’s 10 Best Fantasy Books of 2024 - December 11, 2024
- Gift Guide: PERCY JACKSON Gifts for Every Demi-God on Your Shopping List - December 11, 2024
