Anticipated January 2026 Releases

January is almost upon us--which is a little scary, I won't lie!--but the best part of that is all of the incredible books coming out! 2026 is looking to be a great year for books if January is any indicator and I'm so excited for so many of these.  I am woefully behind on posts for December (and at this point, I'm just calling it my holiday blogging break, haha), but I had to make sure to get this post up so you can all check out January's books. I'm especially excited for To Ride a Rising Storm because it's a sequel I've been waiting for for years and I'm so excited to continue the story. Be sure to let me know which books you're most excited, and happy reading!

A Beast Slinks Towards Beijing by Alice Evelyn Yang || January 27th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

A Spell for Drowning by Rebecca Ferrier || January 27th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

To Ride a Rising Storm by Moniquill Blackgoose || January 27th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org 

Hemlock by Melissa Faliveno || January 20th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Pedro the Vast by Simon Lopez Trujillo || January 13th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Detour by Jeff Rake, Rob Hart || January 13th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

The Poet Empress by Shen Tao || January 20th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Through Gates of Garnet and Gold by Seanan McGuire || January 6th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

The City of Others by Jared Poon || January 13th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

The Bookbinder's Secret by A.D. Bell || January 13th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Vigil by George Saunders || January 27th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Escape! by Stephen Fishbach || January 27th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Humboldt Cut by Allison Mick || January 27th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

On Sundays She Picked Flowers by Yah Yah Scholfield || January 27th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Crucible by John Sayles || January 20th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Kokun: Girl from the West by Nahoko Uehashi || January 20th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

The School of Night by Karl Ove Knausgaard || January 13th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Polar War by Kenneth R. Rosen || January 6th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

This House Will Feed by Maria Tureaud || January 27th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Nine Goblins by T. Kingfisher || January 20th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

This is Where the Serpent Lives by Daniyal Mueenuddin || January 13th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Dragon Cursed by Elise Kova || January 6th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Call Me Ishmaelle by Xialou Guo || January 6th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

The Last of Earth by Deepa Anappara || January 13th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Neptune's Fortune by Julian Sancton || January 27th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

The Great Shadow by Susan Wise Bauer || January 27th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Crux by Gabriel Tallent || January 20th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

The Sea Child by Linda Wilgus || January 20th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

A Great Act of Love by Heather Rose || January 27th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

The Storm by Rachel Hawkins || January 6th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

A Box Full of Darkness by Simone St. James || January 20th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Women of a Promiscuous Nature by Donna Everheart || January 27th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

George Falls Through Time by Ryan Collett || January 20th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Just Watch Me by Lior Torenberg || January 20th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

The Elsewhere Express by Samantha Sotto Yambao || January 20th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Lost Lambs by Madeline Cash || January 13th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

How to Lose a Goblin in Ten Days by Jessie Sylva || January 20th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

When the Museum is Closed by Emi Yagi || January 27th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

One Aladdin Two Lamps by Jeanette Winterson || January 20th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

What are your anticipated January releases?

Can't-Wait Wednesday: Detour by Jeff Rake & Rob Hart, This is Where the Serpent Lives by Daniyal Mueenuddin, & Dragon Cursed by Elise Kova

        

 Can't-Wait is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights exciting upcoming releases that we can't wait to be released!

Detour by Jeff Rake & Rob Hart

Publication: January 13th, 2026
Random House Worlds
Hardcover. 320 pages.
Pre-order: Bookshop.org | Amazon

From Goodreads:
"A space shuttle flight crew discovers that the Earth they’ve returned to is not the home they left behind in the first book of this emotional, mind-bending thriller series from the creator of the hit Netflix show Manifest and the bestselling author of The Warehouse.

“If The Martian and The Twilight Zone had a baby, it would be Detour—a thriller that messes with your head as you scramble to piece together what’s really going on.”—Steve Netter, Best Thriller Books

Ryan Crane wasn’t looking for trouble—just a cup of coffee. But when this cop spots a gunman emerging from an unmarked van, he leaps into action and unknowingly saves John Ward, a billionaire with presidential aspirations, from an assassination attempt.

As thanks for Ryan’s quick thinking, Ward offers him the chance of a lifetime: to join a group of lucky civilians chosen to accompany three veteran astronauts on the first manned mission to Saturn’s moon Titan.

A devoted family man, Ryan is reluctant to leave on this two-year expedition, yet with the encouragement of his loving wife—and an exorbitant paycheck guaranteeing lifetime care for their disabled son—he crews up and ventures into a new frontier.

But as the ship is circling Titan, it is rocked by an unexplained series of explosions. The crew works together to get back on course, and they return to Earth as heroes.

When the fanfare dies down, Ryan and his fellow astronauts notice that things are different. Some changes are good, such as lavish upgrades to their homes, but others are more disconcerting. Before the group can connect, mysterious figures start tailing them, and their communications are scrambled.

Separated and suspicious, the crew must uncover the truth and decide how far they’re willing to go to return to their normal lives. Just when their space adventure seemingly ends, it shockingly begins."

I'm always up for a good space-related sci-fi thriller, and I've enjoyed some of Rob Hart's work in the past so I'm looking forward to checking this one out. 

This Is Where the Serpent Lives by Daniyal Mueenuddin
Publication: January 13th, 2026
Knopf
Hardcover. 368 pages.
Pre-order: Bookshop.org | Amazon

From Goodreads:
"A stunning new work from universally acclaimed Daniyal Mueenuddin, whose debut short story collection won the Story Prize and was a finalist for the Los Angeles Book Prize, the National Book Award, and the Pulitzer Prize.

NAMED A MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK OF 2026: Town & Country, Bustle, AARP, Kirkus

Moving from Pakistan’s dazzling chaotic cities to its lawless feudal countryside, This Is Where the Serpent Lives powerfully evokes contemporary feudal Pakistan, following the destinies of a dozen unforgettable characters whose lives are linked through violence and tragedy, triumph, and love. Orphaned as a little boy and fending for himself in the city streets, Yazid rises to a place of responsibility and respect in the Lahore household of Colonel Atar, a powerful industrialist and politician, only to find that position threatened by conflicting loyalties and misplaced trust. Born on Colonel Atar’s country estate to a poor gardener, Saqib is entrusted with the management of a pioneering business, but he overreaches and finds himself an outlaw, confronting the violence of the corrupt Punjab Police. The colonel’s son competes with his cherished brother for the love of a woman and discovers that her choice colors his life with unexpected darkness as well as light.

In matters of power and money and the heart, Mueenuddin’s characters struggle to choose between paths that are moral and just and more worldly choices that allow them to survive in the systems of caste, capital, and social power that so tightly grip their culture. Intimate and epic, elegiac and profoundly moving, This Is Where the Serpent Lives is a tour de force destined to become a classic of contemporary literature."

I really like the premise for this one and am eager to read Mueenuddin's portrait of Pakistan through a variety of settings. 

Dragon Cursed by Elise Kova
Publication: January 6th, 2026
Entagled: Mayhem Books
Hardcover. 448 pages.
Pre-order: Bookshop.org | Amazon

From Goodreads:
"The moment you see a dragon is usually your last…

Since the dragons emerged–along with the scourge that ravaged our lands and people–there’s only one human city that remains standing: Vingard.

But the hellfire from above is nothing compared to he threat from within. For there is no worse fate than being dragon cursed. Slowly and excruciatingly, you’ll be transformed into a mindless beast who destroys everything–and everyone–you love.

Any of us could be tainted. Any of us could be lying. Any of us could be caught and killed by the authorities.

And I’m terrified that I might be next. There’s only one other person who might suspect my secret. He’s like my shadow, following me wherever I go. Part protector, part tormentor, fully annoying. Sometimes I think I am just one of the million unfathomable secrets he keeps hidden.

Because Lucan definitely knows something.

And if I’m dragon cursed, death might be the only mercy I get."

I'll be reading this one for review soon and I'm so intrigued--I don't think I've read anything with a curse quite like this one, so I'm curious to find out how Kova tackles this concept!

Can't-Wait Wednesday: A Spell for Drowning by Rebecca Ferrier & Escape! by Stephen Fishbach

       

 Can't-Wait is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights exciting upcoming releases that we can't wait to be released!

A Spell for Drowning by Rebecca Ferrier

Publication: January 27th, 2026
Alcove Press
Paperback. 304 pages.
Pre-order: Bookshop.org | Amazon

From Goodreads:
"This stunning historical fantasy debut is steeped in the salt and superstition of the Cornish coast, full of forgotten sirens, mischievous sea gods, and the lore from days long since passed. Perfect for readers of Circe and The Bear and the Nightingale.

The people of Portscatho are bound to traditions and to the sea, living side by side with the spirits, gods, and monsters that inhabit the rollicking waters. When Kensa and her half-sister come across a dying sea beast on the Cornish shore, Kensa is quick to claim credit for the discovery, and in doing so steals the glory and her sister’s position as apprentice to the local wise woman. It seems an appropriate station for Kensa, who has always existed out of step with the others in the village.

Yet to be a wise woman is to be alone—unmarried, childless, relied upon and lusted after yet never truly wanted. Kensa’s only real company is her mentor, the wise woman Isolde.

But Isolde won’t live forever, and when she falls ill, Kensa will do anything to save her and retain her newfound elevation within the community. Even if that means having to seek help from the Bucka, a terrifying and unfathomable sea god who guards the tides around Portscatho. In doing so, she’ll risk her life, her family, and everything she’s sworn to protect.

Beautifully written, expertly crafted, and full of engaging and compelling Cornish mythology, A Spell for Drowning tackles the expectations and limitations put on women by society, what it means to be feared and needed at the same time, and how the desire for acceptance can either save or destroy us."

I was definitely initially drawn to this because of it's cover (I mean, isn't it gorgeous!?), but the premise also sounds great, so I'm eager to dive in (no pun intended). 

Escape! by Stephen Fishbach
Publication: January 27th, 2026
Dutton
Hardcover. 448 pages.
Pre-order: Bookshop.org | Amazon

From Goodreads:
"A propulsive debut novel following a has-been reality TV star and a disgraced producer who get one last shot at redemption on a show set on a remote island, only to discover that the plot twists are beyond what they ever imagined.

Everyone gets the story arc they deserve.

Kent Duvall, a faded reality show winner, just wants another chance at glory—to find his way out of his depressing life and back to his highlight reel. When a scandal is captured on camera at a charity event, he gets his shot, on a new jungle survival show with seven other contestants. Each of them has been cast as a type—Ruddy the bully, Miriam the nerd, Ashley the love interest—but everyone is more than they appear.

The contestants’ goals seem simple—survive the wild, build a raft, win treasure. But Beck Bermann, a reality producer who suffered her own public shaming, sees them as characters in her redemption arc.

As the schemes and strategies spiral out, breakout camps sabotage each other and rival producers struggle to control the storyline. Soon the question becomes less about who will win than who will make it out in one piece."

As a longtime Survivor fan, of course I have to read this book by Stephen Fishbach! Fortunately, it sounds like it'll be a really intriguing read and I'm excited to check it out. 

Review: Midnight Somewhere by Johnny Compton

 

Midnight Somewhere by Johnny Compton

Blackstone Publishing
Publication Date: December 9th, 2025
Hardcover. 310 pages.

About Midnight Somewhere:

"From Bram Stoker Award-nominated author Johnny Compton, Midnight Somewhere is a frightening collection of thought-provoking stories perfect for fans of Stephen King's Night Shift, Tananarive Due's The Wishing Pool, and the work of Junji Ito.

A man gets into a car that can take him anywhere he can imagine--including the past, into the worst mistake of his life, a memory he does not want to relive, cannot escape, and is even more afraid to alter ...

A seemingly harmless, forgettable film about "alien hand syndrome" inspires a wave of self-harm among viewers--and even stranger things among those who become obsessed with it ...

A woman tries to bring her dead lover to life through a macabre ritual that requires attacking his corpse. Is it because she longs to be with him again ... or because the two of them have unfinished business?

The assorted characters in this thrilling collection encounter horrors that range from mysterious to murderous, discovering that darkness can find anyone, anywhere, at any hour of the day. After all, it's always Midnight Somewhere ..."

I very much enjoyed Johnny Compton's unique haunted house story The Spite House, which I read a couple years back, and I'd been meaning to check out more of his work, so I was excited to see this new collection of stories to check out and even more grateful to receive an ARC to do so. 

Midnight Somewhere is an intense and eerie collection of stories that has a fantastic mix of slower, emotionally charged tales of dread and horror and faster-paced tales to deliver your horror. Johnny Compton includes a very wide range of horror in this stories, and while some dive right into straight fear, others take some time to explore deeper themes and ideas that are sure to sit with you after you finish them.

The atmosphere of this entire collection was probably my favorite aspect of this collection, along with unpredictability of them—and these two things worked really well together. I truly never knew exactly what to expect from one story to the next, and that unpredictability really added to the overall tension and creepiness of this collection. Although the stories themselves were often quite different, there was something about the eerie atmosphere of each one that allowed them all to maintain a sense of unease that had hooked.

Additionally, I liked how Compton’s writing was incredible approachable no matter what tone or style was being used in a story. Compton has a very consistent voice that runs through these stories and ties everything together, no matter what theme or idea is being explored.

Some of the stories that stuck out most for me were (though there were many that I enjoyed in addition to these):

- "The Genie and the Inquisitor": This was a thought-provoking tale that played with idea of genies and their wishes in a haunting way that I really enjoyed.
- "No Hungry Generations": I loved this simple, captivating bit of holiday horror that made me wish for some more Thanksgiving-themed horror stories.
- "The Death Grip Challenge": This was a great exploration of social media trends and how they often get taken to new lives of their own--in some very extreme ways.
- "The Merge Monster Incident": This one really just stuck out for its sheer creativity and I loved not knowing where this story was going.
- "Monster Bites": More of a short and sweet one, but one that felt so creepy and tense from the get-go and didn't let up. sticks out for its sheer creativity, and I appreciated not knowing where this story was going.

Like any collection of stories, some stories worked for me more than others, but the variety is always some of the fun for me in not knowing what’s going to hit and what might now. Overall, this is an exceptionally strong collection of stories that is perfect for horror fans who are looking some sharp, unsettling short bites of horror to add to their holiday season.

*I received a copy of Midnight Somewhere courtesy of the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This has no effect on my rating.*

Buy the book: Bookshop.org | Amazon

Can't-Wait Wednesday: To Ride a Rising Storm by Moniquill Blackgoose, Kokun by Nahoko Uehashi, & The School of Night by Karl Ove Knausgård

      

 Can't-Wait is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights exciting upcoming releases that we can't wait to be released!

To Ride a Rising Storm (Nampeshiweisit, #2) by Moniquill Blackgoose

Publication: January 27th, 2026
Del Rey
Paperback. 464 pages.
Pre-order: Bookshop.org | Amazon

From Goodreads:
"A young indigenous woman and her dragon fight for the independence of their homeland in this epic sequel to the bestselling and multi-award-winning To Shape a Dragon’s Breath, “a remarkable novel that is bound to be a staple of fantasy shelves for years to come” (BuzzFeed).

Anequs has not only survived her first year at Kuiper’s Academy but exceeded her professors’ admittedly low expectations—and passed all her courses with honors. Now she and her dragon, Kasaqua, are headed home for the summer, along with Theod, the only other native student at the Academy.

But what should have been a relaxing break takes a darker turn. Thanks to Anequs’s notoriety, there is an Anglish presence on Masquapaug for the first time ever: a presence that Anequs hates. Anequs will always fight for what she believes in, however, and what she believes in is her people’s right to self-govern and live as they have for generations, without the restrictive yoke of Anglish rules and social customs. And fight she will—even if it means lighting a spark that may flare into civil war."

I absolutely adored To Shape a Dragon's Breath when I read it a couple years ago--and I highly recommend it!--and I have been anticipating this sequel for so long. 

Kokun: The Girl from the West by Nahoko Uehashi, trans. Cathy Hirano
Publication: January 13th, 2026
Europe Editions
Paperback. 256 pages.
Pre-order: Bookshop.org | Amazon

From Goodreads:
"'An epic fantasy unlike any other, combining the fantastical environmentalism of works like Miyazaki's film Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, Rachel Carson's lyrical descriptions of nature, and the court intrigue of Game of Thrones.'--Booklist (starred review)

A sweeping ecological fantasy from one of Japan's most beloved storytellers--where two girls must unlock a forgotten power to save their world from collapse.

The vast Umar Empire has flourished for centuries thanks to the miraculous Ohaleh rice, a sacred grain brought by the first Empress Kokun from a distant land. Resistant to all parasites, the rice has sustained peace and prosperity--until now. When a mysterious infestation strikes, famine spreads, and the empire begins to crumble.

Fifteen-year-old Aisha, granddaughter of the deposed king of the West Kantar domain, flees to the imperial capital with her younger brother after a violent coup. There, she meets the reigning Kokun, Olie--an enigmatic girl worshipped for her supposed gift of scent, yet secretly powerless. As Aisha uncovers her own latent ability to perceive the natural world through smell, she and Olie form an unlikely alliance.

Together, they must confront a hidden history, uncover the truth behind the Ohaleh rice, and confront forces that threaten not just the empire's survival, but the very balance of nature.

Kokun: The Girl from the West marks the beginning of an epic tale of rebellion, inheritance, and the fight to reconnect with a world on the brink of collapse."

I just love everything about how this one is described and I'm so eager to check it out! I'm so up for an ecological fantasy from Japan.

The School of Night by Karl Ove Knausgård
Publication: January 13th, 2026
Penguin Press
Hardcover. 512 pages.
Pre-order: Bookshop.org | Amazon

From Goodreads:
"London. 1985. A city rife with possibility and desire. One young man who wants it all.

Kristian Hadeland, young and ambitious, has moved to London to study photography; he knows that he and his art are destined for more. His family never understood him, and his fellow photography students bore him. But when he meets Hans, an eccentric Dutch artist, the future he yearns for becomes possible—as long as he is willing to sacrifice everything and stop at nothing.

Twenty-four years later, Kristian sees his dreams come to fruition when a major retrospective of his work is held in New York City. As his past catches up to him, Kristian’s world begins to crumble. Success comes at a price, but is he prepared to pay it?

In a thrilling twist on Christopher Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus, Karl Ove Knausgaard masterfully spins a cautionary tale about the lengths that we will go to achieve success—and how far we are willing to fall. His most daring and macabre novel yet, The School of Night is an indelible tale about dark temptations and moral depravity, and what we forget when we bargain with the devil."

This sounds incredibly intriguing, and in the hands of Karl Ove Knausgård I think it could be truly captivating and wonderfully written.