We're so close! Only one more day until the publication of one of our most anticipated releases of 2026, John Gwynne's The Wolves of War. But don't sleep on the rest of the month. Sung-il Kim brings his necromancy-powered Bleeding Empire trilogy to a close after two of the sharpest translated fantasies in recent memory. John Scalzi swings back into science fiction with something considerably stranger than its title lets on. LitRPG can't be stopped. The third installment in the traditionally published rollout of the He Who Fights With Monsters series is here. And, a debut delivers sky pirates chasing mythological stones.
#1 The Wolves of War by John Gwynne
The Wolfheart Chronicles #1 | November 3 | Orbit
John Gwynne was one of our bestselling authors last year and is on track to do so again this year. Fans of his truly amazing Bloodsworn Saga should find a lot to love here. I've heard fantastic things so far about his newest series opening salvo. Not that I need much convincing. At this point I'll pick up anything that Gwynne puts to paper. A day one read for me.
#2 Monsters of Ohio by John Scalzi
November 3 | Tor Books
I'm a late comer to John Scalzi, having only read his run of standalones that started several years ago with The Kaiju Preservation Society. I was lucky enough to pick up an Advanced Reader Copy at this year's American Library Association Conference. It's a fun, and spooky, book with more heart than you'd expect.
#3 Cello's Gate by Maurice Africh
The Sky Pirates of Imperia #1 | November 3 | Saga Press
A late addition to the list, Africh's debut's premise really struck a chord with me. Sky pirates? A fusion of science fiction and fantasy? A crew of rogues hunting for mythological stones? Why the hell not? This sounds great. Here's the jacket copy:
"Captain Grey and his crew of sky pirates have a reputation for doing the impossible. From breaking into high-security military research facilities to conning the iCity elite, there isn't a lock they can't pick, a safe they can't break, or a hidden treasure they can't find. Until now.
Returning from a harrowing heist involving a neon battery and a trash chute, Grey and his crew are approached by Dalia, the immortal daughter of the infamous ArchGovernor--and she has an offer.
The job? Locate and steal the Stones of Indigo--seven fabled rocks invested with godlike power. The search for the first stone is a bona fide treasure hunt, guided by an ancient map to a deadly, uncharted island that's protected by a mysterious guardian. The score? One million credits per crew member, per stone. The catch? Well, that's where things get a little complicated.
The stones don't exist. They're a myth. A bedtime story told to little pirates to make them believe that power and wealth are attainable if you just work hard enough.
And to make matters infinitely worse, Grey's never trusted immortals, and Dalia's definitely hiding something--something bad. And if they don't figure out what it is, it might cost them their lives in this "wickedly wild and uniquely imaginative adventure" ( Grimdark Magazine)."
#4 Blood to the True Crown by Sung-il Kim
Bleeding Empire #3 | November 17 | Tor Books
Sung-il Kim’s Bleeding Empire trilogy has been one of the quieter triumphs of epic fantasy in translation these past couple of years. The series imagines an empire that holds its continent together through necromancy, harvesting dead sorcerers’ power to keep conquered kingdoms crushed beneath it. I'm excited to see how the series ends. Can it continue to effectively utilize intriguing new concepts in a traditional epic fantasy wrapping?
#5 He Who Fights With Monsters: Hero by Travis Deverell
He Who Fights With Monsters #3 | November 17 | Aethon: Vault
In my recent list of monster hunting book recommendations, Something in the Dark: 9 Fantasy Books About Monster Hunters, I asked if you'd given LitRPG or Progression Fantasy a go yet. I have not. But, of the several that seem to constantly be vying for my attention this series appeals to me the most.