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.

THIRTEEN books this week!

(Books are listed in order of pub date, then Adult SFF, Adult Other, YA SFF, YA Other, MG SFF.)

Beastly: An Anthology of Shapeshifting Fairy Tales by Jennifer Pullen
Genres: Adult, Fantasy
Published on: 16th February 2026
Goodreads

Everyone is familiar with the tale: a man marries a woman, and she transforms into a crane. Or a seal. Or a bear. Or a woman marries a beast, who transforms into a man; or a man who transforms into a beast. Tales of shapeshifting animal spouses have long been a staple of folklore around the world.

In this collection, fantasy and fairy tale scholar Jennifer Pullen selects fourteen classic tales that explore the boundary between the human and the beastly, showing how their telling and retelling reflects a constant longing for–and terror of–what seems to be “other.”

I’ve always been fascinated by shapeshifting and love seeing it in fairytales, so I’m intrigued by this collection!

Secrets of Dorley Hall (The Sisters of Dorley, 2) by Alyson Greaves
Genres: Adult, Queer Protagonists, Speculative Fiction
Representation: Trans MCs
Published on: 17th February 2026
Goodreads

Stef Riley worked hard to get into the Royal College of Saint Almsworth, so he could find out what happened to the women who live at the mysterious Dorley Hall.

But now he’s on the inside his plan is falling apart. Because what’s saving his life is torture to the men he now lives with, and he can’t just ignore their suffering.

Worse, he’s growing closer to one man in particular, a man who isn’t, if the Sisters have their way, going to be a man for much longer…

A closeted trans girl successfully infiltrated a secret underground forced feminisation programme. Now she has to deal with what comes next.

Book two of The Sisters of Dorley.

The second Dorley Hall book! The first one was such an incredible mind-fuck, strange and brilliant, and I’m very ready to sit down with the sequel!

My review of book one, Welcome to Dorley Hall!

The Obake Code by Makana Yamamoto
Genres: Adult, Queer Protagonists, Sci Fi
Representation: Black queer MC
Published on: 17th February 2026
Goodreads

An all-new, stand-alone sci-fi caper from the author of Hammajang Luck: a bored hacker is forced by vicious gangsters to take down a crooked politician...only to find herself up against a code she might not be able to crack.

After the heist of a lifetime, Malia has it a loft apartment aboard the massive Kepler Station, expensive clothes, and a dev credit in her favorite video game. She’s also bored as hell. Three years after retiring her mantle as the Obake, the most infamous hacker in the quadrant—and arguably the galaxy—Malia hasn’t taken well to civilian life. So what’s the harm in rigging a few cybernetic prizefights and making a little cash on the side?

When Malia’s scheme is uncovered, she runs afoul of Jeongah Song—the dangerous leader of a local gang with a reputation for brutality. Malia is ready for retribution. But what she gets instead is an offer she can’t take down the local politician leading a “clean up the streets” campaign displacing residents and hindering Jeongah’s operations on the space station… or die. Without another way out, Malia takes the deal.

Luckily, she has some friends she can call on in times of a master thief, a street racing wheelman, and a femme fatale grifter. But as Malia digs deeper into the politician’s shady dealings, she finds herself embroiled in a conspiracy that might be too big for her to handle. One that has roots in her own rise as the Obake—a cybernetically enhanced superhacker created by a power-mad genius… a superhacker whose mods are rapidly degrading. Faced with threats on all sides, Malia may finally be in over her head...or stuck—forever—inside her own mind.

I think this is following one of the characters from Hammajang Luck? But I got the impression that you can read it as a standalone, so even if you’ve not gotten to Luck, you can dive into this one!

You can read an except here (where it says Read a Sample beneath the book cover)!

A Soul Made of Thunder by Alexandra Marco
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Queer Protagonists
Representation: Lesbian MCs, F/F
Published on: 17th February 2026
Goodreads

Two women from rival nations. One enemy to destroy them both. Desire that puts everything at risk.

When storm-mage Thea narrowly escapes a pirate attack, she makes a devastating discovery: her home is next. Alone in the Arctic with pirates hot on her trail, she’s forced to rely on Fyn, a ruthless soldier from a rival nation.

Fyn lost everything to magic, and she refuses to ever trust another mage. Yet, as pirates close in and a larger conspiracy begins to unfold, her fragile alliance with Thea might be the only thing standing between her people and destruction.

As they travel through hostile territory, mistrust transforms into something much more dangerous: attraction. As their bond grows stronger, the truth could tear them apart. Because to stop what’s coming, they will both have to make a choice: save their kingdoms or save each other.

Storm-mages! Pirates! In…the ARCTIC??? I’m listening!

You can read an excerpt here (where it says Free Preview beneath the book cover)!

The Rainseekers by Matthew Kressel
Genres: Adult, Queer Protagonists, Sci Fi
Representation: Sapphic MC
Published on: 17th February 2026
Goodreads

A FanFiAddict Most Anticipated Title!

Burned out and looking to put her past behind her, a former addict and recovering influencer interviews her fellow travelers en route to witness the first rain on Mars.

Sakunja Salazar had it all. Money, toys, women, and all the drugs money could buy. A breakout Holo influencer, seemingly overnight she lifted her family out of their tiny Mexico City apartment and into the world of the rich and famous. That all changed when she hopped on a rocket and blasted into the cosmos, never to hawk lavender moisturizer again.

What goes up must come down, and when Sakunja finally crashed back down on Mars an alcoholic, addict, and has-been she thought her life was pretty much over. That is, until a magazine editor discovered her photography and offered her a job. Now, she’s the resident documentarian on a barebones expedition seeking to be the first humans to witness rain on Mars. For the first time in her life, Sakunja is turning the spotlight on someone else–interviewing her fellow travelers about what brought them to join this incredibly foolhardy crew of souls adrift in a world of danger and awe. And what they discover, both in their stories and their journey, will be more incredible than they could have ever imagined.

This actually wasn’t on my radar at all until @hexennacht666 featured it in the February release round-up on r/QueerSFF! So credit there for flagging it for me!

You can read an except here (where it says Read Excerpt beneath the book cover)!

Agnes Aubert's Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett
Genres: Adult, Fantasy
Published on: 17th February 2026
Goodreads

A woman who runs a cat rescue in 1920s Montreal turns to a grouchy but charming wizard to help save the shelter in this heartwarming cozy fantasy from the New York Times bestselling author of the Emily Wilde series.

Agnes Aubert leads a meticulously organized life—and she likes it that way. As the proudly type-A manager of a much-needed cat rescue charity, she has devoted her life to finding forever homes for lost cats.

But after she is forced to move the cat shelter, Agnes learns that her new landlord is using her charity as a front—for an internationally renowned and thoroughly disreputable magic shop. Owned by the disorganized—not to mention self-absorbed, irritating, but also decidedly handsome—Havelock Renard, magician and failed Dark Lord, the shop draws magical clientele from around the world, partly due to the quality of Havelock’s illicit goods as well as their curiosity about his shadowy past and rumors of his incredible powers. Agnes's charity offers the perfect cover for illegal magics.

Agnes couldn’t care less about the shop—magical intrigue or not, there are cats to be rescued. But when an enemy from Havelock’s past surfaces, the magic shop—and more importantly, the cat shelter—are suddenly in jeopardy. To save the shelter, will Agnes have to set aside her social conscience and protect the man who once tried to bring about the apocalypse—and is now trying to steal her heart?

OBVIOUSLY I WILL BE READING THIS! OBVIOUSLY.

You can read an excerpt here (where it says Look Inside beneath the book cover)!

Babylon & Sumer Myths & Legends: Tales of Gods, Heroes & Monsters (Flame Tree Collector's Editions) by Fiona Collins, June Peters, Professor Martin Worthington
Genres: Adult, Fantasy
Published on: 17th February 2026
Goodreads

With newly told tales and a new introduction, this is a delightful collection of legendary stories from the distant, ancient worlds of Sumer and Babylon.

Tales from a crucible of civilization – the pocket between the Tigris and the Euphrates rivers where language, astronomy, religion and mythology grew from some of the earliest cultures known to humankind. Undiscovered until 200 years ago, the stories, hymns and ancient king lists of Sumer and Babylon reveal a rich culture of city states, each with their own gods and tales of floods, adventures, the heavens and the netherworld. From myths of creation and love, and tales of Nisaba (Goddess of Writing) and Inana (or Ishtar), to stories of Everyday Folk and the famous Epic of Gilgamesh, this brand new collection offers lively and evocative tales retold by contemporary storytellers Fiona Collins and June Peters, and introduced by expert Professor Martin Worthington.

I don’t know many myths from this mythology, but I’d love to change that!

Welsh Folk & Fairy Tales: Fables, Folklore & Ancient Stories (Flame Tree Collector's Editions) by J.K. Jackson, Dr Delyth Badder
Genres: Adult, Fantasy
Published on: 17th February 2026
Goodreads

A stunning addition to the Collector's Editions, introducing a delightful selection of enchanting tales from Ancient, Celtic Wales.

A gorgeous Collector's Edition of Welsh folk and fairy tales, including lesser-known local legends as well as popular tales from different regions. This new collection is created for the modern reader. Wales is rich in lore and myth and a myriad of stories have been shared and reimagined through generations. From the legends of ‘Pedws Ffowc and St Elian’s Well’ to the ‘Pwca of the Trwyn’, these stories are brimming with cunning folk, fae and faraway lands – enchanting readers and reflecting the rich cultural heritage of Wales. With a new introduction.

Flame Tree Collector's Editions present the foundations of speculative fiction: authors, myths, tales and history without which the imaginative literature of the twentieth century would not exist, bringing the best, most influential and most fascinating works into a striking and collectable library. Each book features a new Introduction and a Glossary of Terms or lists of Ancient Leaders.

I’m half-Welsh and am surprised and delighted that Flame Tree is doing a volume of Welsh myths!

This Wretched Beauty by Elle Grenier
Genres: Queer Protagonists, Speculative Fiction, YA
Representation: Nonbinary MC
Published on: 17th February 2026
Goodreads

Happiness needs to be earned in the face of impossible odds, or there’s no beauty in it.

London, 1867. Dorian Gray is the heir to a title and their family’s estate, but they’ve never been given the chance to decide whether that’s actually what they want out of life. Forcibly estranged from their father by their manipulative grandfather, Dorian feels trapped in the life that has been decided for them.

Then one night they sneak out of their grandfather’s house, they meet a sweet and talented young painter named Basil, who immediately recognizes Dorian as his new muse. They agree to sit for Basil for a portrait, and Dorian is struck by the beauty and depth that Basil paints into their likeness—and they dare to begin hoping there might be more to life than being their grandfather’s perfect, empty-headed heir.

Dorian is further elated when Basil introduces them to the world of molly houses and drag performers—they’ve never seen such joyful variety of humanity and gender expression. But Dorian’s rosy outlook is shattered when a police investigation into Dorian’s favorite performer, Sybil Vane, implicates them in “indecent” activities. Terrified of their grandfather’s wrath, Dorian offers evidence against Sybil in a panic, and immediately hates themself for turning on a new friend. Finally breaking free of their grandfather’s control, Dorian flees to a country estate, but the damage has been done.

Dorian falls into a terrible downward spiral, torn between guilt over their own actions and hatred for the suffocating expectations of society. They push away Basil and their father, surrounding themself instead with vapid courtiers and decadent socialites. And as Dorian’s spiral of self-loathing deepens, something strange happens—Basil’s portrait of them begins to change. Their smile becomes a little sharper, the glint in their eyes a little colder.

Dorian will have to choose—embrace the wickedness within and allow themself to become what they were always meant to be, or dare to try for something far more fragile and a life of their own making.

Part of the Remixed Classics! Dorian Grey reimagined as nonbinary is a very interesting premise – I wonder how that’ll affect the story?

You can read an excerpt here (where it says Read Excerpt beneath the book cover)!

The Frozen Curse (Ice Apprentices #2) by Jacob North
Genres: Fantasy, MG, Queer Protagonists
Representation: trans neurodivergent MC
Published on: 17th February 2026
Goodreads

Oswin embarks on a dangerous journey to unravel the truth behind the enduring Freeze in this second book in the action-packed Ice Apprentices middle grade series that’s perfect for fans of Skandar and Wilderlore.

Oswin starts a second year in Tundra at the school for Ice Apprentices just as the Great Freeze threatens. He may have driven back the monsters, but masters are disappearing and trees with monstrous faces seem to be on the attack.

When Oswin fails a test, he’s kicked out of the training grounds for good. Tundra is running out of time and soon everyone will freeze to death…

Another lce Apprentices book! I don’t think I knew this was going to be a series, and I’m delighted by it!

Medusa Untold by Porsha Deun
Genres: Adult, Fantasy
Representation: Brown (plus-sized?) MC
Published on: 19th February 2026
Goodreads

Medusa, a young priestess and medicine woman in the land of Joro, only wants to help people, worship the gods, serve the crown, and raise the child she took in years ago. What she doesn't realize is she's the focal point of not one, but two lust triangles.

She devotes her life to the crown and gods of Joro, a land that is not her home, and that same crown and gods betray her. Through the betrayals, Medusa gains powers beyond what any being in her galaxy has ever seen. The gods of the gods, known as The Elders, and the mortals of Joro each launch an all-out war to find and destroy Medusa, and anyone associated with her, including her daughter, Sisay. That is the one thing Medusa will not let happen.

Betraying Medusa was their first mistake. Underestimating her would be their last.

Love that cover! Here’s hoping for a Medusa retelling with teeth!

You can read an excerpt here (where it says Preview Now beneath the book cover)!

The Faithful Dark (The Brilliant Soul Duology, #1) by Cate Baumer
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Queer Protagonists
Representation: Asexual MC, trans POV character, major bisexual character
Published on: 19th February 2026
Goodreads

'A twisty and beguiling gothic fantasy, lyrically written and tightly plotted . . . with one of my favourite villain-slash-anti-heroes of all time. You will be entranced by Baumer's darkly magical tale' AVA REID, #1 NYT bestselling author of A Study in Drowning

This is the city of miracles, but not everything miraculous is good.

In a holy walled city where sin and sanctity are revealed through touch, Csilla - a girl born without a soul - is worth little to the Church that raised her. But when a series of murders corrodes the faithful magic that keep the city safe, the Church elders see a use for her she can assassinate their prime suspect, a heretic with divine heritage, without risking the stain of sin.

The heretic, however, makes Csilla a clear his name by helping him catch the real killer, and he'll use his angelic gifts to grant her very own soul. Meanwhile, ruthless Ilan, desperate to earn back his position as Church Inquisitor, sees the case as his chance at he'll bring in the murderer - or, failing that, Csilla and the heretic - and regain his title.

But as the death toll rises, and their hunt pits them against the all-powerful and callous Faith, Csilla finds herself torn. Will her salvation come at the cost of everything she believes in?

I don’t know how different this edition is from the old one – Baumer has said that if you’ve read the original, you don’t need to read this. Either way, I’m still so happy a book like this got picked up to be trad-published! Out in the UK this week, I’m pretty sure the US gets it next week.

You can read an excerpt here (where it says Free Preview beneath the book cover)!

My review of the indie edition!

Hallowed Be Thy Name by Brooke Winters
Genres: Adult, Horror, Queer Protagonists
Representation: M/M
Published on: 20th February 2026
Goodreads

Augustus Saint murdered his mother. Her ghost now haunts the House on North Lane.

Augustus has always been told the Devil lives inside him. He didn’t know it was true until a failed exorcism results in his mother’s disappearance, binding him to a Devil only he can see.

As recurring nightmares bleed into reality, his darkening mind and growing paranoia leads him to the chilling realisation that he is becoming the very thing he has always feared—the villain of his own story.

A sliver of salvation infiltrates Augustus’ guarded walls upon meeting classmate Nathaniel Carrington. Forced to collaborate on a university assignment, their research incites a desperate search for the cult that stole Augustus’ mother, confronting him with the truth buried deep inside the House on North Lane. As Nathaniel and Augustus grow closer, the Devil fights to keep them apart.

In this tale of psychological turmoil, Augustus must navigate the treacherous depths of his own mind to escape the House’s suffocating grasp. Will he emerge from the shadows triumphant, or will he become just another forgotten ghost inside the House on North Lane?

Crossing my fingers thar this’ll be as great as its cover!

Will you be reading any of these? Did I miss any releases you think I should know about? Let me know!

Related Posts