Well, it’s that time of the year again where I look at what’s been announced for 2026 and clap my hands in glee. I spend wayyy too much money on books (no such thing, I know, but I have to keep up pretenses that I’m fiscally responsible while in a book store) but when you stop reading, in my opinion, you stop living.

Or was it when you stop learning you stop living? I forget.

Anyway, in no particular order, here are the books that are coming out in 2026 that I am super stoked about.

1. Twelve Months by Jim Butcher (January release) — Yeah, I’m a huge Dresden Files fan, and I’ve been waiting awhile for this one to drop. It’s been a few years since the last two came out in rapid succession, so I’ve been filling my time waiting by reading some quality urban fantasy by people I know. But yeah, I’ve had this one on preorder the moment it was announced back in the summer. Expect me to have this one read the same day I get it.
   
2. To Tread Obsidian Shores by me(!) and Melissa Olthoff (January release) — My own book is here, of course! This is book 1 in a trilogy Melissa and I call “The Bronze Legion.” The trilogy is under contract and we’re already underway with Book 2 (and, to be absolutely honest, we’ve already started Book 3 as well because we’re weird that way). This is a military science fiction novel that we’re immensely proud of, and first readers seem to love it so far.
   
3. Magic and Bullets by Larry Correia (May release) — I absolutely loved Academy of Outcasts (Larry let me read it before it came out because he’s super awesome) and was stoked when I heard that he was already writing the sequel. While I’m a huge fan of his “MHI” series (obviously), I feel Larry truly flexes his writing muscles when he dives deeper into fantasy over urban fantasy. Really, really looking forward to seeing his this one goes. Speaking of fantasy…
   
4. Untitled Griffin Corps 2 by Melissa Olthoff (July release) — Rise from Ruin was one of the best fantasy books I’d read in a long time. I didn’t work for an entire day back when I got to read it first for Baen (Yes, I got yelled at. Yes, it was worth it). It had elements of Pern with Valdemar thrown in because why not? While I do know the name of the title of Book 2, she’s doing a cover and title reveal and I am not one to spoil the surprise. Needless to say, I’m looking forward to seeing what ridiculousness Felix and Harper get up to in this second book.
   
5. Operation Bounce House by Matt Dinniman (February release) — I enjoyed the “Dungeon Crawler Carl” series, and this seems to be more in that vein. I have it preordered but other than that, I’m going in blind. I think it’s better this way. But speaking of…
   
6. A Parade of Horribles by Matt Dinniman (May/June release) — Book 8 in the DCC series. That’s… that’s pretty much all he needed to say. What started as a “sure, I’ll give it a try… not reading anything else at the moment” quickly turned into a “oh damn it, Matt, write faster please?” Reading about Carl, Princess Donut, and Mongo on the 10th Level of the dungeon is going to be a hoot. Plus, the tone in the books has become a little more serious in the last two books, which I approve of. The stakes are higher, and Carl is well aware that they are trying to break them. I heartily approve of the shifting tone.
   
7. One-Fifth Dragon by Shami Stovall (August release) — I loved Stovall’s Time-Marked Warlock (I actually gave it a cover blurb I loved it so much), so when I heard she was publishing a book with us, you could say I was a little excited. Plus, she got one amazing cover from Todd Lockwood. I don’t know much about this book quite yet but I know Shami’s writing fairly well and have enjoyed just about everything she’s written.
   

Those are a few of the books I’m looking forward to in 2026. I might make a second list in March or April next year just so I can update with anything I missed from the Fall 2026 season.

Any on this list you’re looking forward to?