Tag: preorders

new blog post: 10 Books I'm Excited About in 2025/26 10 Books I’m Excited About in 2025/26
Book Reviews

10 Books I’m Excited About in 2025/26

Kara Jorgensen4 Comments

This week I thought I would make a little post about some books that I am really looking forward to that are coming out later this year or early next year. You will notice that the list skews toward traditional publishing, but this is because many indies do a very short preorder period or don’t announce their release dates that far ahead of time. Disclaimer: all links to the books are affiliate links, so if you purchase anything, I get a small kickback.

  1. Pantomime (#1) by L. R. Lam- If this book sounds familiar to you, it came out years ago and is being re-edited and released. This book was one of my absolute favorites when I read it in college. You have an intersex, trans MC who runs away from their family and societal expectations to join the circus and discover themselves. Throw in a dose of magic, romance, and danger, and Pantomime is a must-read. Out 9/9/25
  2. To Clutch a Razor (#2) by Veronica Roth- I have been on a bit of Veronica Roth short book/story kick, and I am dying to get my hands on this one. You have magical Chicago filled with Slavic magic and creatures, a queer MC, horrific family obligations, and a cast of intriguing characters, and this series is un-put-down-able. Out 9/16/25
  3. What Stalks the Deep (#3) by T. Kingfisher- I absolutely love this series. It’s horror that is gross yet intriguing without being too scary for chickens like me. The main character is a nonbinary soldier in the 1800s, and in this edition, Alex is headed to America to go to a spooky mine that is probably filled with horrors. If you enjoy Jordan L. Hawk’s books, I highly recommend this series. Out 9/30/25
  4. America’s Most Gothic: Haunted History Stranger than Fiction by Leanna Renee Hieber and Andrea Janes- I absolutely loved their first book, A Haunted History of Invisible Women. This volume goes into the parts of the Gothic that titillate us and explores the real history that is potentially far spookier and fascinating. Hieber and Janes have a lively style that is all at once informative and entertaining. Out 9/30/25
  5. All of Us Murderers by K. J. Charles- Maybe I am biased but I don’t think K. J. Charles has written a bad book yet. This one takes us to a Gothic manor where a fight over a young ward’s hand turns murderous and scorn queer lovers reunite. It sounds chef kiss and messy, and if you are into Gothic vibes, the cover for this book is right on the money. Out 10/7/25
  6. A Mouthful of Dust (#6) by Nghi Vo- The Singing Hills Cycle is one of my favorite series, and this one sounds a little similar to the K. J. Charles book in terms of creepiness of houses. Chih is trapped in the house of a sinister magistrate in a town where famine has hit hard and the things beyond and within the walls are growing hungry. If you like lush yet economical stories, Vo’s work is top knotch. Out 10/7/25
  7. The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow- We have a lady knight, a historian, and time doing weird shit to ensure she plays her role. This is based off a short story Harrow published a few years ago that I absolutely devoured. I am dying to get my hands on this, especially because I have been in a medieval mood, so I hope this scratches that itch. Out 10/28/25
  8. A Wild and Hungry Place by E. E. Ottoman- It has been quite some time since Ottoman published, and I am so excited. His books are filled with trans characters, rich descriptions, and stories that tug at the heartstrings and soul. This one has a woman trying to break a curse, a man with a garden full of poisonous plants, and a ghost woman. What else could one want?
  9. The Wolf and His King by Finn Longman- I am including this one because it was originally scheduled to come out in November but was pushed back to January of 2026. This is a retelling of “Bisclavret” by Marie de France, and as a Marie de France fan, I am so in. Of course, this book is queer, has werewolves, knights, kings, magic, and so much more. Out 1/26/26
  10. Through Gates of Garnets and Gold (#11) by Seanan McGuire- If you haven’t read The Wayward Children series, now is the perfect time to start. Nancy, who is the MC of book one, finally is getting her own book! I am so excited to return to the Halls of the Dead with Nancy and the misfit crew from the school for wayward children. This is one of those settings that sounded so intriguing even though we saw little of it, and I look forward to what McGuire creates in this one. Out 1/6/26
new blog post: 2025 Releases to Add to Your TBR 2025 Releases to Add to Your TBR
Book Reviews

2025 Releases to Add to Your TBR

Kara Jorgensen1 Comment

Before we get into the post, I want to mention that The Reanimator’s Remains has been nominated in the Indie Ink Awards for best friendship, best setting, LGBT+ rep, mental health rep, disability rep, and neurodivergent rep. If you’d be willing to vote for TRR in at least the mental health, disability, and/or ND rep categories, I would be eternally grateful. You can vote here.

We are getting closer and closer to 2025, and of course, I’ve already started to make a list of books I want to preorder. Since I was compiling that list, I thought I would share it with you all and tell you why I’m excited for each book (books are listed by release date, not excitement level).

A few disclaimers, most, if not all, of the books listed below are trad pub. This is because most indies don’t list their releases until a month or two before they come out. Therefore, I don’t have titles or listings for most of the indie books I’m excited for in 2025. I will post more about them later in the year. Also, the links used below are affiliate links, meaning I get a tiny kickback if you order anything.

  1. Adrift in Currents Clean and Clear by Seanan McGuire- 1/7/25 The Wayward Children series is an auto-buy for me. In this installment, we have Nadya’s story where she falls into a watery world where she is accepted by the river and its people. I can already feel the brackish water of the river and the cold world of a drowned girl.
  2. Murder by Memory by Olivia Waite- 3/18/25 An intergalactic murder mystery aboard a library ship filled with souls and borrowed bodies with an older female detective with queer leanings? Yes, please. I loved Waite’s sapphic historical romances, and I think she will do a fantastic job writing a scifi, cozy mystery.
  3. Don’t Sleep with the Dead by Nghi Vo- 4/8/25 This is sort of a loose sequel to The Chosen and the Beautiful where Nick Calloway (yes, from The Great Gatsby) realizes Gatsby is still following him. Whether he or Gatsby are human is up for debate. This version of the Roaring Twenties is filled with magic, fae, and monsters, and with all of Vo’s books, it’s very queer.
  4. The Influencers by Anna-Marie McLemore- 4/15/25 A critique of influencer culture, mommy bloggers, and the ramifications of commodifying your children’s lives overlaid with a murder mystery, The Influencers sounds amazing. Knowing McLemore, the book will also go into race, gender/sexuality, and the ethics of all of the above.
  5. When the Tides Held the Moon by Venessa Vida Kelley- 4/29/25 This book is illustrated by an absolute fantastic artist I’ve been falling for a while, and I am DYING to get my hands on this book. With a merman, Coney Island, queer romance, a Latinx MC, and an 1910s setting, what more could you want?
  6. Time Loops and Meet Cutes by Jackie Lau- 5/6/25 Ground Hog Day meets 50 First Dates in a time looping romance featuring magic dumplings, a workaholic spinning her wheels, and the man who appears throughout her repeated day that might be the key to getting un-stuck. He forgets her every day, but is there a chance he might remember her?
  7. A Letter from the Lonesome Shore by Sylvie Cathrall- 5/6/25 The final/second book in the Sunken Archive duology follows Sophie and Vyerin as they venture to an underwater city to see if they can find their siblings. The first book was so good, and I’m very curious as to whether or not this book will be told in letters again or if we will get to see E. and Henry again. There’s also the ominous threat of something even more terrifying than missing siblings.
  8. These Vengeful Gods by Gabe Cole Novoa- 5/27/25 A trans MC descended from the god of death must fight to the death in order to receive a favor from the gods and rescue their family. Death, magic, gladiator-style fighting, and queer and trans characters? This is always up my alley.
  9. Vesuvius by Cass Biehn- 6/3/25, I have been following the progress of this book/author on Twitter for like 2 or 3 years. The story takes place in the days leading up to the eruption of Vesuvius where two boys have their fates intertwined and apocalyptic visions become reality. It’s marketed as sort of a YA Song of Achilles, and I am ready to have my heart ripped out and stomped on.
  10. The Memory of the Ogisi by Moses Ose Utomi- 7/15/25 This is the final book in the Forever Desert series. What I love about this series is how we see history that we watched the characters live through get twisted and turned into something completely different by future generations. Each book is a novella, but there is so much world-building and history crammed into a small package.
  11. Hemlock and Silver by T. Kingfisher- 8/19/25 I love T. Kingfisher’s books so much, and the fact that this is a Snow White and Rose Red retelling involving a poison-maker just sold it even harder. To top it off, we get a mirror world that will be *chef kiss* for texture.
  12. Cemetery Boys: Espíritu by Aiden Thomas- 9/16/25 I have been waiting SO LONG for this sequel. Cemetery Boys is a queer YA featuring a trans MC and his brought back from the dead boyfriend (sound familiar?). In the sequel, we have more magical mayhem and monster lurking in the shadows.