Happy Sunday! Yesterday, I spotlighted my favorite reads of 2025, and today, I’m focusing on January releases I’m excited about. There are a bunch of amazing-sounding reads to look forward to. Let’s check them out!
Jan. 6th: Dragon Cursed
Author: Elise Kova
Page Length: 464
Publisher: Entangled: Mayhem Books
Synopsis: 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 Vinguard.
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.
Jan. 6th: Rings of Fate
Author: Melissa De La Cruz
Series: Curses and Crowns #1
Page Length: 512
Publisher: Entangled: Red Tower Books
Synopsis: Every barmaid dreams of a prince. Aren just didn’t expect hers to be cursed, arrogant, and bleeding magical ruin all over her tavern floor.
Aren Bellamore has no use for fairy tales—especially the kind that come stomping through her door with royal blood and a death sentence. She’s spent her life slinging ale, fending off drunks, and dreaming of escape. Not romance. Not crowns. Just more.
Prince Dietan is everything she never wanted: brooding, entitled, and bound to the Rings of Fate—ancient magical relics that were never meant to touch human flesh. Now they’re killing him. Slowly. Spectacularly. And when Aren accidentally triggers one, she gets tied to the curse, too.
If he dies, so does the kingdom. If she walks away, she’ll take the magic—and half the realm—down with her.
Their only hope? Each other.
Forced into an uneasy alliance, Aren and Dietan must unravel a mystery buried in legend, outwit a power-hungry usurper, and survive magic that’s turning against them both. And somewhere between dodging assassins and sharing too many fireside glances, Aren starts to wonder if her “more” might include the one thing she swore she didn’t want…
A prince. A curse. And a fate far more dangerous than falling in love.
Jan. 6th: Beth is Dead
Author: Katie Bernet
Page Length: 400
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Synopsis: Beth March’s sisters will stop at nothing to track down her killer—until they begin to suspect each other—in this debut thriller that’s also a bold, contemporary reimagining of the beloved classic Little Women.
When Beth March is found dead in the woods on New Year’s Day, her sisters vow to uncover her murderer.
Suspects abound. There’s the neighbor who has feelings for not one but two of the girls. Meg’s manipulative best friend. Amy’s flirtatious mentor. And Beth’s lionhearted first love. But it doesn’t take the surviving sisters much digging to uncover motives each one of the March girls had for doing the unthinkable.
Jo, an aspiring author with a huge following on social media, would do anything to hook readers. Would she kill her sister for the story? Amy dreams of studying art in Europe, but she’ll need money from her aunt—money that’s always been earmarked for Beth. And Meg wouldn’t dream of hurting her sister…but her boyfriend might have, and she’ll protect him at all costs.
Despite the growing suspicion within the family, it’s hard to know for sure if the crime was committed by someone close to home. After all, the March sisters were dragged into the spotlight months ago when their father published a controversial bestseller about his own daughters. Beth could have been killed by anyone.
Beth’s perspective told in flashback unfolds next to Meg, Jo, and Amy’s increasingly fraught investigation as the tragedy threatens to rip the Marches apart.
Jan. 13th: Graceless Heart
Author: Isabel Ibañez
Page Length: 488
Publisher: Saturday Books
Synopsis: In 15th-century Volterra, sculptress Ravenna Maffei enters a competition hosted by a secretive, immortal family who offer an invaluable boon to the victor. Desperate to win so she can save her brother, Ravenna reveals a rare magical talent-a dangerous act in a city where magic is forbidden. Her revelation makes her a target, and she is kidnapped by the Luni family and taken to Florence, a city of breathtaking beauty and cutthroat ambition.
There, Ravenna is forced into an impossible task where failure means certain death at the hands of Saturnino dei Luni, the family’s enigmatic and merciless heir. But under his cold reserve hides a vulnerability that draws her closer than she ever intended.
Meanwhile, Ravenna’s forbidden magic does not go unnoticed. The Pope, waging war against Florence, the Medici, and magic itself, has his own interest in her abilities, seeing her as a potential weapon in his ruthless campaign.
As alliances shift and war brews on the horizon, Ravenna must navigate the treacherous line between survival and betrayal, between love and duty. With time running out and her every move watched, the choices she makes will determine the fate of not just her own life, but the fragile balance of magic and power that could unravel Florence itself.
Jan. 13th: The Book of Blood and Roses
Author: Annie Summerlee
Page Length: 368
Publisher: Del Rey
Synopsis: In book one of a seductive sapphic paranormal fantasy, a vampire hunter goes undercover at a mysterious university and falls in love with her roommate, an alluring vampire.
“Then her red eyes are on mine, gentle, deadly. She takes her time kissing my neck. I pull her closer and say: Bite me.”
In the mists of the Scottish Highlands is a university where vampire students study alongside humans.
Rebecca Charity is a vampire hunter undercover at the university, searching for the mysterious Book of Blood and Roses, a lost compendium of ways to kill vampires. If she finds it, she’ll be one step closer to avenging her parents, who were slain by those creatures of the night.
But when Rebecca arrives, she finds something unexpected: a coffin. Her new roommate is Aliz Astra, scion of one of the most powerful vampire families… and the most beautiful woman Rebecca has ever met.
The maddeningly gorgeous Aliz is everything that Rebecca has always hated, but also everything she ever wanted, and now Rebecca doesn’t know if she wants to kiss or kill her.
When Aliz rescues her from a vampire attack one moonlit night, she accidentally makes Rebecca her familiar. Now, they must work together to break the curse, but as they get closer to solving the mystery, Rebecca and Aliz get closer, too.
But can a vampire hunter ever fall in love with a vampire?
Jan. 13th: The Lust Crusade
Author: Jo Segura
Series: Raiders of the Lost Heart #3
Page Length: 384
Publisher: Berkley
Synopsis: A plucky librarian and an archaeologist on the run fake an engagement to save their lives, leading them into the labyrinth of their own desires.
Daniela Guiterrez has been in love with her brother’s best friend for as long as she can remember—until he went missing a year ago during an archaeological expedition. But on a solo trip to Greece, the intrepid librarian discovers that Theo is very much alive, although judging by the criminals holding him hostage, he is not doing well.
An expert in Ancient Greek archaeology, Dr. Theo Galanis has been abducted by artifact smugglers in search of a priceless gemstone—the Eye of the Minotaur. This ridiculous assignment was supposed to get Dani out of his system, not keep her tied up next to him. But when a little white lie spirals into his captors believing Theo and Dani are engaged, they must utilize her research skills and his expertise to solve the centuries’ old Minoan mystery, all while feigning a romance to keep each other alive.
Now with less than six days to find the jewel, underground societies, mythological beings, and pesky abductors are only half the battle. Because among the ancient ruins and temples they explore is an even bigger falling in love for real.
Jan. 13th: The Magic of Untamed Hearts
Author: Raquel Vasquez Gilliland
Series: Wild Magic #3
Page Length: 368
Publisher: Berkley
Synopsis: After several years stuck as a ghost, Sky Flores learns to reconnect with the living again with the help of her handsome neighbor in this lush romance from the USA Today bestselling author of Witch of Wild Things.
Like her sisters, Sage and Teal, Sky Flores has a touch of magic, and it’s caused nothing but heartache. Not only did she disappear into the woods years ago and reappear with no rational explanation, she’s also more comfortable talking to animals than to people. Different and misunderstood, Sky is shunned in the small town of Cranberry.
Sky’s neighbor, Adam Noemi, has his own problems. After being laid off from a prestigious newspaper, Adam, ever the ambitious reporter, needs a big headline to redeem his career. Enter Sky, a girl with a story that news outlets have been chasing for years. Sky agrees to grant Adam an exclusive interview on one that he befriend Sky, in a very public way, to prove to everyone in Cranberry that she’s not an outcast.
As Sky shares her experiences with Adam, something much bigger than a simple agreement begins to grow between them. But for love to take root, Adam will have to take a leap towards a life that defies expectations, and Sky must open her heart – full of flora and fauna and mystical energies – to his curious mind.
Jan. 20th: The Elsewhere Express
Author: Samantha Sotto Yambao
Page Length: 336
Publisher: Penguin Random House
Synopsis: When you lose your way in life, the Elsewhere Express just might find you. Step aboard the train that can take you to your life’s purpose, in this cozy and inspiring fantasy from the nationally bestselling author of Water Moon.
You can’t buy a ticket for the Elsewhere Express. Appearing only to those whose lives are adrift, it’s a magical train carrying very rare and special cargo: a sense of purpose, peace, and belonging.
Raya is one of those lost souls. She had dreamed of being a songwriter, but when her brother died, she gave up on her dream and started living his instead.
One day on the subway, as her thoughts wander, she’s swept off to the Elsewhere Express. There she meets Q, a charming, handsome artist who, like her, has lost his place in the world.
Together they find a train full of wonders, from a boarding car that’s also a meadow to a dining car where passengers can picnic on lily pads to a bar where jellyfish and whales swim through pink clouds.
But they also discover that the train harbors secrets—and danger: A mysterious stranger has stowed away and brought with him a dark, malignant magic that threatens to destroy the train.
But in investigating the stowaway’s identity, Raya also finds herself drawing closer to the ultimate question: What is her life’s true purpose—and might Q be connected to it?
Jan. 20th: A Heart So Green
Author: Lyra Selene
Series: Fair Folk #3
Page Length: 533
Publisher: Orbit
Synopsis: A Heart So Green is the enchanting conclusion to the Number One Sunday Times bestselling Fair folk trilogy, perfect for fans of The Knight and the Moth and Fourth Wing.
After the explosive finale of the Tournament of Kings, Fia and Irian manage to escape to the wildlands, dodging pursuit by Fia’s cunning sister Eala. With Fia locked in her own mind, battling a powerful celestial entity; Irian must form new alliances to come up with a plan to defeat Eala’s terrifying magic.
With both the human and fae realm under threat, Fia and Irian must pursue their dangerous plan, no matter the cost. On Bealtain Eve, when the veil between worlds is at its thinnest, they will finally face off against the swan princess and forge the ending to their love story that was written in the stars.
Jan. 20th: Cross Your Heart and Hope He Dies
Author: Jenny Elder Moke
Page Length: 368
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Synopsis: Hobnobbing with Seattle’s elite on a super-yacht, Juliette Winters is about to land the deal of the century—if she doesn’t get arrested first. She Doesn’t Have A Clue author Jenny Elder Moke returns with another riotous mystery rom-com that delights in rich people behaving badly.
Juliette Winters is used to taking care of business alone. She has no time for petty things like romance, friendships, or emotional commitments. Love is for people who believe in reality TV dating and holding hands in public. She’s too busy dominating the publishing world by single-handedly saving her company from financial ruin with the book deal of the century.
Business magnate Warren Ellingham has guaranteed Juliette exclusive rights to his explosive memoir that promises to expose the secrets of his ultra-exclusive country club, Pacific Pines. But when Warren drops dead of an apparent heart attack and the memoir is stolen, Juliette suspects that someone was willing to resort to murder to keep their secrets from being exposed.
Enlisting the help of Charlie Hawkins, a doctor with a heart of gold and abs of steel, Juliette dives into the glamorous and messy world of Pacific Pines Country Club. As the investigation heats up, so does the tension between Juliette and Charlie. But Juliette can’t afford any distractions because the bodies keep dropping, and Juliette is tee-d up to take the blame. If she doesn’t uncover Warren’s killer soon, the thing that was supposed to secure her future might just be the thing that ends it.
Jan. 27th: King of Ravens
Author: Clare Sager
Series: Upon a Broken Throne #1
Page Length: 480
Pub. Date: Jan. 27, 2026
Publisher: Forever
Synopsis: He’ll do anything to keep her. She’d do anything to escape.
Rhiannon is dying—of what, she doesn’t know. Kept protected by her family in their remote seaside cottage, she spends her days searching for a cure. Her world is torn apart, however, when a fae King of the Dead invades her home.
Cold and cruel, Drystan offers her a descend to the underworld as his bride or watch her family die. Trapped in a twisted bargain, Rhiannon is thrust into a world of withered gods, scheming courtiers, and ancient magic, but she refuses to be a pawn in a game she never agreed to play. She attempts over and over to run away, until Drystan offers her a new escape his deadly labyrinth, and he will set her free. Fail, and become his bride.
But in a court where every promise has teeth, Annon must make an impossible return to the home she’s always loved or claim her place in a world where she might finally belong.
Jan. 27th: Silver & Blood
Author: Jessie Mihalik
Series: Silver & Blood #1
Page Length: 448
Pub Date: Jan 27, 2026
Publisher: Avon
Synopsis: On a deadly mission to kill the mythical beast that has been haunting her woods, a desperate mage finds her fate intertwined with the handsome and powerful man who saves her.
There’s something in the woods…
Untrained and barely armed, Riela reluctantly agrees to enter the forest and kill the deadly beast that has been attacking her fellow villagers as she’s the only mage available—or so she thought. When one beast turns into two, she fears her death is at hand, but unexpected aid from a scarred, strikingly handsome man with dangerous moonlit magic means a second chance at life—and an opportunity to learn more about her own fickle power.
After being rescued and healed from her fight in the forest, Riela awakens in a magical castle complete with a gorgeous library, a strange wolf, and the surly man who saved her life. Riela soon learns Garrick is not a mortal mage at all—he’s a powerful Etheri sovereign who has been locked out of his kingdom in Lohka for nearly a century, and his powers are weakening.
Trapped in his castle and surrounded by the treacherous woods, the spark of attraction between Riela and Garrick slowly ignites into fiery desire. But the more they discover about Riela’s magic, the more suspicious Garrick grows of her identity. As they unravel the secrets connecting Riela’s past to Lohka, the tenuous threads of trust between them begin to fray because Riela’s life—or her death—might be the key to regaining everything Garrick has lost.
Jan. 29th: Since the Marquess Demands
Author: Darcy Burke
Series: Rogue Rules #6
Pages: 326
Publisher: Zealous Quill Press
Synopsis: Ellis Dangerfield has recently learned her life is a lie. Desperate to start afresh, she applies for a position as secretary to a demanding, widowed marquess. Never mind that she must pose as a man to get the job—Ellis is hiding far worse secrets.
After losing his wife—and, perhaps more gutting, learning of her unfaithfulness—Roman Garrick has sworn off human connection. To avoid his pain, he buries himself in rebuilding his family’s ruined fortunes. When he discovers his brilliant new secretary is actually a woman, he should dismiss her immediately. Instead, he’s captivated.
Faced with an unwanted and dangerous attraction, Roman and Ellis struggle to maintain their professional relationship while also trying to resist their desires. Neither is willing to compromise the vows they’ve made to remain emotionally aloof. But when Ellis reveals the truth of her scandalous parentage and a shocking secret from the past surfaces, their chance at happiness hangs in the balance.
LINKS: Goodreads | BookBub | Amazon
How many interesting titles! The new Kova’s one sounds intriguing and the retelling (or sort of) of Little Woman sounds pretty original!!
Looks like January is shaping up to be a good month for newly published books.
I’m reading Graceless Heart right now, and it’s been a struggle for me to stay invested in it. The main character has just felt painfully naive in her decision-making, but the immortals have me intrigued and are the main reason I haven’t DNFd it yet.
So many look interesting! I’m looking forward to reading reviews of The Elsewhere Express – I’ve been seeing it pop up in my book recommendations a lot. The idea of a thriller version of Little Women cracks me up — I hope it’s a good read!
Wow, impressive reviews! You’ve been busy! 💕