Must-Have Monday is a feature highlighting which of the coming week’s new releases I’m excited for. It is not meant to be a comprehensive list of all books being published that week; only those I’m interested in out of those I’m aware of! The focus is diverse SFF, but other stuff sneaks in occasionally too.
SIXTEEN books this week – far more than I was expecting for the first week of December!
(Books are listed in order of pub date, then Adult SFF, Adult Other, YA SFF, YA Other, MG SFF.)
Genres: Adult, Horror
Published on: 1st December 2025
Goodreads
In an isolated desert town, a young woman seeking a fresh start is confronted by ancient gods, malevolent supernatural forces, and eccentric neighbours. A witty horror-tinged fantasy, perfect for fans of Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Chuck Tingle, and Rachel Harrison.
When Selena travels to the remote desert town of Quartz Creek in search of her estranged Aunt Amelia, she is desperate and short of options. Fleeing an unhappy marriage, she has exactly twenty-seven dollars to her name, and her only friend in the world is her dog, Copper.
On arrival, Selena learns Amelia is dead. But the inhabitants of Quartz Creek are only too happy to have a new resident. Out of money and ideas, Selena sees no harm staying in her aunt's lovely house for a few weeks, tending to her garden and enjoying the strange, desolate beauty of the desert. The people are odd, but friendly, and eager to help Selena settle into her new home.
But Quartz Creek's inhabitants share their town with others, old gods and spirits whose claim to the land long predates their human neighbours. Selena finds herself pursued by disturbing apparitions, visitations that come in the night and seem to want something from her.
Aunt Amelia owed a debt. Now her god has come to collect.
New T Kingfisher! I’ve never managed to read one of her horrors before, but I’m loving the sound of this one (it reminds me of some of the stories in her short story collection Jackalope Wives)!
You can read the first chapter here!
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Portal Fantasy
Published on: 1st December 2025
Goodreads
The veil between the worlds is growing thin.
At midwinter, as the old year dies and before the new year dawns, Nolas-Kuomon, Lord Death’s lady, may open that veil for anyone who asks to step from one world to the other. After all the dire peril of the past summer, no one could be surprised if Danyel or his daughter Jenna preferred to return to their own world.
Taranah Berangilan-sa, the king’s aunt, would strongly prefer that both Danyel and his daughter remain in Talasayan. Indeed, everyone sensible will surely set that prayer before God as midwinter approaches. Taranah has more reason than most to hold that hope, but nor does she wish to persuade Danyel to a choice he may regret.
As the long nights stretch out, everyone must face the decisions and risks midwinter brings …
EEE, NEW RACHEL NEUMEIER! And a new instalment in the Death’s Lady series, at that! I’ve been dying to know what these characters would do at Midwinter…!
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Queer Protagonists
Representation: BIPOC and QBIPOC MCs
Published on: 2nd December 2025
Goodreads
From genre luminaries, esteemed organizers, and exciting new voices in fiction, an anthology of stories, essays, and interviews that offer transformative visions of the future, fantastical alternate worlds, and inspiration for the social justice movements of tomorrow.
In this collection, editors Karen Lord, Annalee Newitz, and Malka Older champion realistic, progressive social change using the speculative stories of writers across the world. Exploring topics ranging from disability justice and environmental activism to community care and collective worldbuilding, these imaginative pieces from writers such as NK Jemisin, Charlie Jane Anders, Alejandro Heredia, Sam J. Miller, Nisi Shawl, and Sabrina Vourvoulias center solidarity, empathy, hope, joy, and creativity.
Each story is grounded within a broader sociopolitical framework using essays and interviews from movement leaders, including adrienne maree brown and Walidah Imarisha, charting the future history of protest, revolutions, and resistance with the same zeal for accuracy that speculative writers normally bring to science and technology. Using the vehicle of ambitious storytelling, We Will Rise Again offers effective tools for organizing, an unflinching interrogation of the status quo, and a blueprint for prefiguring a different world.
This is an incredibly ambitious project, and I’m slowly reading my way through a review copy. I’m loving the combination of stories and essays side-by-side!
Genres: Adult, Sci Fi
Published on: 2nd December 2025
Goodreads
A clarion call for visions of vibrant, hopeful climate futures, bringing together global voices to share stories of resilient communities based in real science.
When we think of climate, the stories we tell about the future are often megastorms, crop failures, and heat waves loom over us, sending a signal that the problem is so vast, so complex, that it’s out of our control. That narrative is compelling for some, but leaves others feeling hopeless, helpless, and disillusioned. Even the most ardent champions of decarbonization sometimes focus more on sounding the alarm than on mapping out what success might look like. Without positive climate futures, visions of climate adaptation and resilience that we can work toward, it’s much harder to motivate broad-based efforts for change in the present.
Through short speculative fiction, essays, and visual art, Climate Imagination seeks to inspire a wave of narratives about what positive climate futures might look like for communities around the world. This book features perspectives from writers, artists, researchers, and advocates based in a diverse range of places, each with their own unique opportunities and challenges for climate from China to Wales, Germany to Nigeria, Sri Lanka to Mexico, Malaysia, India, Brazil, the United States, and more.
Visions of what good science could do in the future? YES PLEASE! I’m exhausted by all the sci fi dystopias…
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, High Fantasy, Queer Protagonists
Representation: Queer MCs
Published on: 2nd December 2025
Goodreads
The beginning of an epic fantasy series about sapphic pirates, a memory-stealing tyrant, and secrets hidden on the sea.
During the revolution, Commander Gavon slew the tyrannical god of memory and claimed his power. He then built the fair and democratic Golden Republic. But the Republic has terrible flaws, and anyone who fights for change might wake up one day with all memory of their identity stolen from them. Such a thing happened to pirate captain Cevette Zarcanzi. She plans to sail throughout the Seaward Isles, stealing memories trapped in physical form from the Republic’s secret archives, and burning them in hopes she might one day set her lost past free.
Evazina Gavon, the commander’s foster daughter, is an embodied fragment of the shattered soul of the goddess of death. Women like her, known as echoes, are feared and hated in the Golden Republic, and Commander Gavon has only kept her safe because the sacrifice of echoes is what fuels his memory magic. When she joins Cevette’s crew, Eva believes returning the memories to the citizens of the Golden Republic will lead them to speak out and peacefully remove her father from power. But, as Eva and Cevette sail to strange and remote islands, as their feelings for each other deepen, they discover that, to live freely, they must turn their ship around and fight.
This sounds AMAZING and I’m so excited to check it out!
Genres: Adult, Queer Protagonists, Science Fantasy
Representation: Sapphic MC
Published on: 2nd December 2025
Goodreads
Saira’s time travel checklist is Supplies? Check. Scientific tools? Check. A desperate need to save her family from the apocalypse? Check to the power of infinity.
Unfortunately, no checklist would have prepared her for landing in a matriarchal society of shapeshifters. Sure, there are samples to collect and data to process — but a girl’s gotta live a little, too. And if she falls in love with a shifter or two?
Well, it’s all in the name of science.
Through the Folded Stars is Book 1 in The Singularity Series, offering the adventure of Doctor Who, the writing style of Ali Hazelwood, and the culture clash of Outlander.
Dr Who vibes, you say? Hmm…
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, High Fantasy
Representation: Middle Eastern-inspired setting and cast
Published on: 2nd December 2025
Goodreads
For fans of The Poppy War, She Who Became the Sun and The Will of the Many, a breathtaking fantasy novel about the daughter of an overthrown emperor from an exciting new voice
Khamilla Zahr-zad’s life has been built on a foundation of violence and vengeance. Every home she’s known has been destroyed by war. As the daughter of an emperor’s clan, she spent her childhood training to maintain his throne. But when her clansmen are assassinated by another rival empire, plans change. With her heavenly magic of nur, Khamilla is a weapon even enemies would wield—especially those in the magical, scholarly city of Za’skar. Hiding her identity, Khamilla joins the enemy’s army school full of jinn, magic and martial arts, risking it all to topple her adversaries, avenge her clan and reclaim their throne.
To survive, she studies under cutthroat mystic monks and battles in a series of contests to outmaneuver her fellow soldiers. She must win at all costs, even if it means embracing the darkness lurking inside her. But the more she excels, the more she is faced with history that contradicts her father’s teachings. With a war brewing among the kingdoms and a new twisted magic overtaking the land, Khamilla is torn between two impossible choices: vengeance or salvation.
I didn’t have the best time with Poppy War, but I’m willing to try again! This one is apparently inspired by Middle Eastern cultures and mythologies, but there’s an enormous amount that’s original to this fantasy world, too!
You can read an excerpt here!
Genres: Adult, Fantasy
Representation: Black MC
Published on: 2nd December 2025
Goodreads
One final adventure for Ropa Moyo – orphan, mischief-maker and failed magician. Secrets of the First School is the mystery-filled finale to T. L. Huchu’s enchanting Edinburgh Nights series.
‘I’ve had my arse kicked more times than I can count’
Ropa Moyo is dead, banished to the Other Place by the reanimated spirit of Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville of Scotland. Turns out being on the losing side sucks worse than being skint.
Now, the Cult of Dundas intends to ascend to godhood, spreading their corrupting reach from Edinburgh to all of Scotland’s schools of magic. Ropa must find some way to escape the Other Place, save her sister and gather allies across the country before Edinburgh falls.
A royal plot, a family secret and a stolen body. As Scotland descends into petty in-fighting, Ropa’s only hope lies in her grandmother’s final the first school of magic.
An ancient power is returning . . . and is hungry for revenge.
It’s the finale of the Edinburgh Nights series! Possibly this was out in the UK a while ago, I’m not sure, but this’ll be the US release! I’M SO ANXIOUS!
Genres: Adult, Queer Protagonists, Sci Fi
Representation: Assorted queer MCs
Published on: 2nd December 2025
Goodreads
Bethany Jacobs returns with the thrilling conclusion to The Kindom Trilogy that began with the Philip K. Dick Award–winning These Burning Stars, the debut epic space opera trilogy about revenge, power, and the price of legacy.
Violence has erupted across the Treble. The colony that Jun Ironway and Masar Hawks have fought to protect is now woefully compromised, and its people, unwilling to submit to tyranny once more, face a brutal fight for their lives and freedom.
In the midst of upheaval and rebellion, new enemies arise at every corner, including a familiar player who won't let power slip through his fingers again. Not when he has every Kindom Hand under his heel. And whether he will be as bloody-minded as his predecessors remains to be seen.
As the quiet ones launch their attack and all hope seems lost, Cleric Chono looks to unlikely allies to fight a final battle for peace. But one crucial question remains: where is Six?
Another big finale – I know a lot of people are waiting to see how this trilogy wraps up!
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Queer Protagonists
Representation: Queer MC
Published on: 2nd December 2025
Goodreads
Failing fashion designer and reluctant vampire Dariel Hale is about to restart his life for the fifth time when he receives a mysterious email offering him a job he can’t refuse. Rebirth can wait.
Dariel is invited to a secluded manor house by the seemingly charming and eccentric Godwin Peters to offer his services for a month, but it doesn’t take long for Dariel to realise something is not quite right…
When an unexpected stranger comes knocking, Dariel begins to worry he’s made a huge mistake, but as the evening progresses, and secrets start to unfold, it turns into a night he would have never expected.
A night he will never forget.
You had my attention the moment you said ‘fashion-designer vampire’. That is EXACTLY the kind of juxtaposition that I love to see!
Genres: Adult, Fantasy
Published on: 2nd December 2025
Goodreads
From the authors of the Time Shards series, The Fall is an epic fantasy of an empire on the edge.
Swords, Wands, Cups, and Coins. Emperor and Empress, High Priestess and Hierophant. Light and Dark. Life and Death. The evocative symbolism and arcana bound up within the cards of the tarot have fascinated seekers for centuries. Now The Fall imagines the reality that inspired the mystical—the real fantasy world of which all our rich tarot imagery is but a shadow.
The magnificent empire of Tarou is a panoply of dreams and wonder, the envy of the world. Its ships rule the seas and air, its magics and science bring forth new learning, and its tutelary gods smile upon all the many peoples and cultures of its shining lands. But even now, at the peak of its glory, the highest religious leaders of Tarou secretly dream of even greater power—enough to wrest the empire from its rightful rulers.
Alia is a warrior without equal, but even a captain as great as she must bow to the demands of duty. With her arranged marriage only weeks away, she, her betrothed, and their escort undertake the journey to the empire’s capital—but unexpected hazards lie in wait.
Magpie is a petty thief and con artist, hoping to score big during the Imperial Festival—though his timing could not be worse.
However, none of them are prepared when a forbidden magical experiment goes wrong, unleashing an apocalypse that engulfs the city. Before their paths converge, they all must face a cataclysm unlike any the world has ever seen …
Tarot-themed fantasy is so hit and miss – but the hits are MAGNIFICENT (see, KD Edwards’ Tarot Sequence!) so I’m very willing to give this a try!
You can read an excerpt here (where it says Free Preview beneath the book cover)!
Genres: Adult, Fantasy
Published on: 2nd December 2025
Goodreads
Songs of Ash and Dawn is the first book in an all-new epic fantasy saga, where dark magic, ancient gods, and mythic creatures collide.
Some truths change everything. Some destroy it.
After her grandmother's sudden death, Aidan Klein inherits a powerful magical artifact-one she barely understands, let alone knows how to control. All she wants is time to grieve. But witches are vanishing, and something ancient is hunting in the dark.
Cora Scholtz believes she knows who she is. But when secrets about her true heritage begin to surface, the life she's built starts to unravel. Someone has been pulling the strings all along-and she's about to break free.
As monsters emerge from myth into reality, alliances shatter and trust fractures. Aidan and Cora must face dangerous magic, hidden powers, and the weight of destinies they never asked for.
With its blend of dark fantasy, urban fantasy intrigue, and mythology-inspired worldbuilding, Songs of Ash and Dawn launches an unforgettable saga of friendship, betrayal, and survival. Perfect for readers who love strong female leads, supernatural adventure, and found family fantasy.
Gabrielle Wanek is a fantasy writer with a love for sharp-edged stories, complex characters, and mythologies that create new worlds.
I’ve been promised a mix of Korean, Slavic, and Norse mythology, and that’s a combo I’ve not seen before!
You can read the first three chapters here if you sign up for the author’s newsletter!
Genres: Queer Protagonists, Sci Fi, YA
Representation: Sapphic MC, brown sapphic love interest
Published on: 2nd December 2025
Goodreads
Seventeen-year-old noble Will Arrex and her classmate Paige Tarrant were destined to be bitter rivals. Where Will is ice cold and painfully poised—everything an Arrex should be—Tarrant is a firecracker, unafraid to speak her mind.
Every twenty-five years, students aboard the Eden Space Station are chosen by lottery to pilot the Laikas—a fleet of ships sent on exploratory missions, humanity's last hope to find a habitable world. As the only daughter of a powerful politician, Will was not supposed to be one of them.
When Will and Tarrant wind up piloting Laika 15 together, their mutual hatred begins to thaw. But all seems lost when they discover the Eden's darkest secret...Laika 15 was never meant to come home.
Trapped in the vastness of space on an impossible mission, Will and Paige must bridge the lightyears keeping them apart if they want to survive.
I know quite a lot of people who are going to show up for sapphic sci fi rivalry…
You can read an excerpt here (where it says Free Preview beneath the book cover)!
Genres: Adult, Sci Fi
Published on: 3rd December 2025
Goodreads
Transformed by a broad-spread fungal infection that connects humans with nature, one woman feels closer to the world than ever, but further from the people she loves the most…
IT’S RUTHANNA EMRYS, THAT’S LITERALLY ALL I NEED TO KNOW! *POUNCES!*
It’ll be free for everyone to read at reactormag.com on release day!
Genres: Adult, Queer Protagonists, Science Fantasy
Representation: Brown queer MCs
Published on: 4th December 2025
Goodreads
Embark on a riveting odyssey through parallel realms in “Manifestation of Prophecy,” where prophecy, love, and sacrifice intertwine in an otherworldly dance. In the simple yet mystical Midrealm, Maliah, born into the lineage of powerful priests, grapples with the daunting task of fulfilling the “Ascension Four” prophecy. Her only respite lies in dreams where she glimpses the technologically advanced Highrealm through Jarith, an oppressed energy being yearning for freedom.
As the duo’s destinies converge, unlocking the prophecy demands Maliah to confront latent powers, and a heartbreaking sacrifice—her mother’s life. Meanwhile, a perilous turn of events unfolds when a dangerous artifact goes missing, and a relentless priest seeks to thwart the prophecy by any means, even murder. In a race against time, Maliah and Jarith must reconcile their fears and desires, embracing their intertwined destinies to ensure the survival of both realms.
“Manifestation of Prophecy” is a captivating blend of fantasy and science fiction, where the boundaries between dreams and reality blur, and the choices made echo across cosmic dimensions. Join this epic saga of love and cosmic balance—prepare for an ascension like no other. Will they rewrite their fates, or succumb to the inexorable pull
I haven’t been able to learn much about this one, but I’m willing to take a peek at it!
You can read the first chapter here!
Genres: Adult, Horror, Queer Protagonists
Representation: Queer MC
Published on: 6th December 2025
Goodreads
Kestrel awakes in the woods without a real name or his memories. Before him are twelve strangers, an altar on fire, and bones hanging from the trees like wind chimes. He’s to be initiated into their group so they may fulfill their purpose: head to the mountain of the so-called gods, have a feast, and bring about the end of the world. Kestrel is willing to risk it all to escape, but without any memories, he knows he must play along until he finds a way out.
It won’t be easy. Winter is on their heels, hunters are searching for them, and the strange rituals they perform will rip his humanity from his flesh. But Kestrel isn’t alone. One of the strangers claims to be his friend from before, and there are others willing to join his side and leave the wilderness... if the gods let them.
This one didn’t end up working for me, but if you like a slower pace to your horror, it might suit you!
You can read an excerpt here (where it says Free Preview beneath the book cover)!
Will you be reading any of these? Did I miss any releases you think I should know about? Let me know!
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