Fantasy – Our Story Insight

The Best Way to Keep Track of New Sci-Fi and Fantasy Books

admin — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 07:08:41 +0000

Every month, there’s a flood of new sci-fi and fantasy books coming out clamoring for a spot on your TBR. But with so many competing for your attention, it’s easy to lose track of the ones you’re most excited about. And often, you just end up hearing about the titles with the biggest marketing budgets.

So, how do you keep up with new releases without it spiraling into a part-time job of catalogue reviews and spreadsheets? That’s where the New Release Index comes in.

The New Release Index is a database of upcoming books, curated by Book Riot. It’s organized by release date, and you can filter by genre: above is a sneak peek of some of the sci-fi and fantasy books out in March.

Here’s how it works: scroll through the covers until you find one that catches your eye. Click on the cover for the book description, and then save the titles you’re interested in on your Watchlist.

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The best part is that the New Release Index is included in your All Access subscription. For $6 a month, you not only get the New Release Index, but also all of Book Riot’s paid content.

Sign up for All Access to get started, or you can check out our guide to the New Release Index for more information.

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Dabble launches Colorado daily fantasy sports market

admin — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 12:20:06 +0000

Dabble is pushing further into the United States, adding Colorado to its growing list of live markets. The Austin-based daily fantasy sports app said on Monday (February 23) that players in Colorado can now access its platform, making it the company’s 31st active state as it continues to widen its reach in regulated jurisdictions.

The Colorado debut comes just weeks after Dabble went live in Arizona, part of a wider effort to plant its flag in established sports markets across the country. Company leaders have been methodically targeting states where daily fantasy sports are permitted, building out a national presence one jurisdiction at a time.

Since launching, Dabble has leaned heavily into the idea that fantasy sports should feel more like a shared experience than a solo contest. The app blends traditional DFS gameplay with social features that let users follow each other, swap messages and even copy picks.

The formula appears to be resonating. Dabble says it has signed up more than 3.4 million registered users and paid out over $300 million in winnings. The app has been installed nearly 9 million times, generating more than 102 million total entries. According to the company, millions of messages have been exchanged on the platform, underscoring how central the social component has become to its identity.

Colorado, with its established sports culture and regulated gaming environment, fits neatly into that strategy. The state already supports a mature betting ecosystem and an engaged fan base, factors Dabble believes will help it gain traction quickly.

Chief Executive Officer Tom Rundle framed the move as another step in a carefully paced national rollout. “Colorado is a natural fit for Dabble,” Rundle said in a press release. “It’s a state with passionate sports fans, an engaged gaming audience, and a culture that values community. We’re excited to welcome Colorado players into the Dabble ecosystem and continue growing together.”

The company says its expansion plans are rooted in compliance and responsible growth, focusing only on markets where its contests can operate under clear regulatory frameworks. Adding Colorado not only broadens its map but also signals that Dabble intends to compete at scale in the U.S. DFS sector.

The wider sports world, however, continues to wrestle with how gambling and gaming are promoted. A recent ReadWrite report detailed how Formula 1 driver Daniel Ricciardo received a frosty reception from some fans after sharing a gambling-related post, pointing out ongoing sensitivities around betting partnerships and endorsements.

For now, Dabble is inviting Colorado users to try the platform with a free $10 bonus available through its website.

Featured image: Dabble via press release

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PrizePicks launches ‘The Feed’ to bolster fantasy sports app

admin — Sun, 12 Oct 2025 19:59:03 +0000

PrizePicks, the daily fantasy sports site, is launching a new slate of features for its app. The company says that it’ll “evolve how fans engage” with the community, friends, and “celebrities,” all while watching sports. It’ll take the form of “The Feed,” a take on the usual social media feeds that provides methods of communicating with others on the app.

The elevator pitch is to bring “debates out of the group chat.” PrizePicks will be following tactics that other social media, gaming, and app-based companies are following to try to increase engagement with the app to drive new business. If users stick with the app by integrating social tech, it could push them to pay for certain features on the app.

This will be joined by player profiles, which the company unveiled recently. It shows lifetime stats, and others can now find users through the app. The Feed will then bring these to the attention of users who then follow those profiles.

Share Lineups with friends or to socials from the feed pic.twitter.com/cMmSDpnxJF

— PrizePicks (@PrizePicks) September 3, 2025

As it’s a fantasy sports app, users will now be able to react or copy the lineups that their followed accounts use. Players will also now be able to share their PrizePicks lineup through a link, and an insistence on bringing “friends along for the ride.”

This type of feature was introduced to DraftKings in the last few years, but hasn’t been at the forefront of the app’s business. The idea is the same, however, to bring the betting conversation out of other apps and into the business itself.

In August, PrizePicks ran a campaign to promote the new season of fantasy football, featuring different celebrities, like Druski and Marshawn Lynch. It also recently gained CFTC approval after lottery-led gaming entertainment company Allwyn International AG acquired a majority stake in PrizePicks, approximately 62.3%.

Featured image: PrizePicks

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8 Great Fantasy Novels for Fans of Dungeons & Dragons

admin — Thu, 09 Oct 2025 01:01:20 +0000

The son of a librarian, Chris M. Arnone’s love of books was as inevitable as gravity. He holds an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Missouri – Kansas City. His cyberpunk series, The Jayu City Chronicles, is available everywhere books are sold. His work can also be found in Adelaide Literary Magazine and FEED Lit Mag. You can find him writing more books, poetry, and acting in Kansas City. You can also follow him on social media (Facebook, Goodreads, Instagram, Bluesky, TikTok, website).

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Post Malone, Adrian Wassel, Nathan Gooden, & VAULT COMICS–the best in science fiction, fantasy, & horror graphic novels!

THEY PRAYED FOR A MIRACLE. THEY GOT 25 TONS AND 18 WHEELS OF HOLY WEAPON.

The Dark Ages… Demon hordes plague Europe as Hell invades Earth. The Six Petals, a secret sect of The Knights Templar, pray for a holy weapon to drive back the scourge. What crashes to earth instead is The Rig, a fully loaded tractor trailer. In the aftermath of its arrival, the only man left standing is an enigmatic former priest. He will become Trucker and lead the fight against Hell—with 25 tons and 18 wheels of demon-slaying machine. Created by Post Malone. Written by Post Malone and Adrian Wassel. Drawn by Barbaric co-creator artist Nathan Gooden.

Admittedly, it’s been years since I played Dungeons & Dragons. Unless you include Baldur’s Gate 3. In that case, I just finished my second full playthrough. Either way, I have plenty of fond memories and have certainly read some fantasy novels that give me those distinct DnD vibes.

A novel that is perfect for Dungeons & Dragons fans needs magic, monsters, powerful villains, and a group of heroes coming together for a common cause. That group is probably the most important part, too. DnD and many tabletop roleplaying games are about the party, after all. Playing DnD by yourself or just you and a DM? That just sounds sad.

So here, you’ll find eight great fantasy novels that are all fun, all focused on dynamic parties of amazing characters, and full of those monsters and magic we all need in our lives. Dungeons & Dragons fans, these books are for you.

The Blacktongue Thief by Christopher Buehlman

This book is full of monsters, magic, and mayhem. It’s also full of funny banter between the ragtag party members. Kinch is knee-deep in debt and needs a massive score to dig out of it. But of course, he picks the wrong mark. Not only does he fail to steal anything from Galva, handmaiden to the goddess of death, but he barely escapes with his life. Now Kinch and Galva are intertwined in a fantastical adventure and heist.

The City Stained Red by Sam Sykes

Big, bad, godlike villain threatening to destroy everything? A fated hero who cannot do it alone? Totally sounds like a DnD campaign. Lenk is once again intertwined with the powerful Khoth-Kapira, a demon who rules like an iron-fisted god. As Khoth-Kapira rises further into power, it might only be Lenk and his new group of friends who can save everything.

The Deed of Paksenarrion by Elizabeth Moon

This book and its sequels read like one of the greatest paladin backstories ever. Paksenarrion Dorthansdotter, better known as Paks, flees her small village and an arranged marriage. In a world of humans, dwarves, elves, and all kinds of danger, she soon realizes that she has a gift as a paladin. This headstrong young woman will rise to become one of the land’s greatest heroes.

Delicious in Dungeon by Ryoko Kui

Okay, so not all fantasy books for fans of Dungeons & Dragons are novels. Nor are they all serious. In this manga, a group of adventurers not only fails to slay the dragon, but the dragon eats one of them. Now, they’re on a quest to revive their fallen comrade, surviving on cooking and eating the monsters they slay along the way.

Gideon the Ninth by Tasmyn Muir

At a glance, this necromancers-in-space series may not seem very DnD-like. But really, if you take away the space part, it’s totally some DnD necromancer fun. The 9th Necromancer needs a swordswoman, and Gideon is just that. Doesn’t matter that Gideon is done with that life because that life isn’t done with her. Can she escape this life of servitude, or will she spend the rest of her life and afterlife swinging that sword?

The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

Oh, the epic battles in this historical fantasy novel are right out of the best DnD campaigns. Based on the Second Sino-Japanese War, this book is about Rin and her friends, who survive a difficult military academy only to be thrust into the middle of a horrible and deadly war. Different schools of magic and combat keep these new soldiers separate, but they’ll need to work together to survive or win.

Record of Lodoss War by Ryo Mizuno

How much is this book for fans of Dungeons & Dragons? Not only is it the start of a series of Japanese fantasy novels, but the novels are also based on an original TTRPG. Parn is on a quest to restore his family’s honor. Along the way, he slowly gathers a party, starting with his childhood best friend, until eventually, they’re the greatest adventurers in all the land.

Throne of the Crescent Moon by Saladin Ahmed

I like to think of this book as D&D, but with a more Eastern backdrop. Think djinn instead of dragons. In the Crescent Moon Kingdoms, wars and power struggles are pervasive. Djenn and ghuls are as common as warriors. When some horrifying magical murders start occurring, it’s up to a motley little group of adventurers to put a stop to them and find out how deep the conspiracies go.

Okay, sure, I could have included some of the MANY Dungeons & Dragons licensed novels, but what fun would that be? What are some of your favorite DnD novels?

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The 5 Most-Anticipated Queer Fantasy Books Out in Fall 2025

admin — Sat, 20 Sep 2025 19:09:58 +0000

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Place your preorders and library holds now, because these are the biggest and buzziest queer fantasy books out in the fall. I started writing this list as simply “the most-anticipated queer books of fall,” but I soon realized they were all fantasy novels! There’s something about fall that lends itself to fantasy reading, I think.

Several of these are sequels, because do we ever anticipate a new release more than when it’s the next installment of a beloved series? There are also some standalones by favourite authors. They run the gamut from cozy fantasy to military fantasy. Let me know in the comments what you’d add to this list!

The Court of the Dead: A Nico di Angelo Adventure (From the World of Percy Jackson) by Rick Riordan and Mark Oshiro (September 23)

The Sun and the Star was a big bestseller, and now it’s getting a sequel from the same writing team! It’s a real gift to see the biggest, most popular middle grade fantasy series of the moment center queer characters. I can’t say much about this one without spoiling The Sun and the Star, but it’s sure to be one of the biggest kids’ book releases of the year.

The Sovereign (Magic of the Lost #3) by C.L. Clark (September 30)

I’m so excited about this book, I could scream. This is my favorite fantasy series, and now we’re getting the conclusion. (I really can’t say anything else without spoilers.) That cover is not easing my nerves about how this high-stakes story will conclude.

Somehow, C.L. Clark has another sapphic fantasy out the same day, Fate’s Bane, which is also one of my most-anticipated releases of the year.

A Mouthful of Dust (The Singing Hills Cycle #6) by Nghi Vo

The Singing Hills Cycle is a popular fantasy novella series starring nonbinary Cleric Chih, who wanders Singing Hills and documents people’s stories—which means these books can be read in any order. In A Mouthful of Dust, Chih is looking to find out more about a legendary famine that reduced royals’ lavish meals to dust, but they end up trapped in a mansion with hungry shadows…

The Keeper of Magical Things by Julie Leong (October 14)

One of my favourite subgenres is queer cozy fantasy, so I’m really looking forward to this one. Look at that cute cover! It has a flying cat! It follows Certainty, a struggling novice mage, who is paired with the brilliant and cold Mage Aurelia to help out in a small, non-magical town. As they work together, Aurelia and Certainty begin to question the Mage Guild’s hoarding of magic, which could be put to use to make the lives of the people in this town better.

The Isle in the Silver Sea by Tasha Suri (October 21)

I loved The Jasmine Throne, so I’m excited to a) read the rest of the trilogy and b) read this standalone romantasy novel. It takes place in an England “fueled by stories,” where the witch Simran and knight Vina are fated to fall in a tragic kind of love, lifetime after lifetime. To make matters worse, an assassin is targeting stories like theirs. But this time, they’re determined to write themselves a better ending.

I want to give an honorary mention to Brigands & Breadknives by Travis Baldree (November 11), the sequel to the sapphic cozy fantasy Legends & Lattes. This one has a different main character, so I’m not sure if it will be queer, but it’s high on my TBR either way!

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FanDuel launches new peer-to-peer fantasy sports app, FanDuel Picks

admin — Fri, 29 Aug 2025 19:24:48 +0000

Gambling company FanDuel has launched a new fantasy sports app, FanDuel Picks, in time for the NFL season.

Launched by FanDuel and owned by gambling giant Flutter, FanDuel Picks is a new peer-to-peer fantasy sports app, bringing a new way for fans to pick their favorite athletes and form fantasy teams ahead of the 2025 NFL season. The new product offers the chance to win up to 1,000x the entry fee, as players build line-ups and guess whether athletes will exceed their projected stats during games throughout the season.

Newcomers to FanDuel who play $5 will get $60 in bonus funds as an incentive to try out the new fantasy sports offering.

“Just in time for NFL season, we are excited to bring fans a social way to engage with the sports and athletes they love with the launch of FanDuel Picks,” said Rob Cullen, FanDuel Picks General Manager.

“The ‘more’ or ‘less’ selection model offers a streamlined fantasy sports experience, and we look forward to offering our customers another way to interact with games this season.”

How does FanDuel Picks work?

You can download FanDuel Picks on iOS and Android in 17 states across the US. To get started, users can pick between three and six players, then predict ‘more’ or ‘less’ on the players’ projected stats ahead of a game. You can set a contest entry amount to officially enter your guesses.

You’ll then earn points for every correct selection for your players. Customers with the highest score win a share of the prize pool, funded by the mandatory entry amounts.

FanDuel Picks is now available on Android and iOS across 17 states, including Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wisconsin. It joins other FanDuel products, like FanDuel Sportsbook and FanDuel Casino, as well as a recently launched event contracts platform.

Featured image: FanDuel

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The Most Anticipated Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Horror Books of Fall

admin — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 09:51:03 +0000

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Book Riot Editorial is made up of passionate readers, writers, and book lovers dedicated to delivering insightful book recommendations, literary analysis, and the latest in book culture. With expertise spanning multiple genres and a deep understanding of the publishing industry, we offer thoughtful commentary, book deals, and news that matters to readers. Whether it’s uncovering hidden gems, analyzing literary trends, or championing diverse voices, Book Riot’s editorial team is here to keep you informed and inspired.

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Last week, we shared the Goodreads picks for the most anticipated books of the fall, but they’ve also put out lists for the most anticipated books of fall by genre. These are all published between the end of August and the end of December.

While the general most anticipated list was based on the number of Goodreads users adding titles to their Want to Read shelf as well as early user reviews, these genre lists are a “curated selection” that includes sequels from buzzy series, new releases from beloved speculative fiction authors, and exciting debuts.

There are 93 books on the full list, but here are some of the most exciting new releases included.

Today In Books

Check out the full list of 93 titles on Goodreads.

Find more news and stories of interest from the book world in Breaking in Books.

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The 2025 Fantasy League of Books: Queer Books Edition

admin — Sat, 24 May 2025 17:41:27 +0000

My reasoning for these selections falls in three rough categories: because I think they might win awards, because I think they might be popular, and because I just like them a whole lot.

Let’s start with the awards and best-of possibilities.

Stag Dance: A Novel & Stories by Torrey Peters: Detransition, Baby was a huge critical and popular hit, so I think this follow-up has a chance to make some best-of lists. Plus, I get a multiplier for short stories.

Ten Incarnations of Rebellion by Vaishnavi Patel: Kaikeyi was another well-respected and popular title, so I’m hoping this gets some best-of attention, if not literary awards. (I just finished reading it last night, and it is excellent.)

Palaver by Bryan Washington: I stole this choice from the podcast episode, because the reasoning makes sense for me. Bryan Washington is a beloved literary fiction writer, so there’s a good chance this gets some critical attention.

Sunburn by Chloe Michelle Howarth: This was a UK release that’s now getting published in North America, and it feels like the kind of cool girl book that might blow up on TikTok or make best-of lists.

Disappoint Me by Nicola Dinan: Bellies made it onto some big best-of lists in 2023, so hopefully this one will do the same in 2025. Besides, it’s high on my TBR, and that cover is perfect.

The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong: This is probably the safest bet for me in the awards category, because Ocean Vuong is such a decorated literary author.

Now, let’s talk about my picks that for the bestseller/Goodreads Choice Awards categories.

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab: V.E. Schwab is a popular author, and this is a book about toxic lesbian vampires. I couldn’t resist.

Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid: Somehow, I only just found out that this is a queer book?? Obviously, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is one of the most popular and well-known queer books ever written, so I had to include this.

The Starving Saints by Caitlin Starling: I have a bumpy relationship with Caitlin Starling’s books. One I rated 5 stars, one I rated 2 stars. But this sapphic medieval horror sounds so good. I will be shocked if it’s not at least in the first round of the Goodreads Choice Awards in the Horror category.

The Keeper of Magical Things by Julie Leong: Cozy fantasy is still very popular, and this looks like the perfect example. The Teller of Small Fortunes did pretty well, so hopefully this follow up will follow in its footsteps.

And finally, I have a couple of choices that I know are probably not rational, but I just couldn’t bear to cut them, because I am rooting for them.

Awakened by A.E. Osworth: You can read my full review of this fantasy novel about a coven of trans witches fighting an evil AI, but suffice to say, it was five stars.

Sympathy for Wild Girls: Stories by Demree McGhee: This short story collection is perfect for fans of Carmen Maria Machado. It deserves to win awards and make best-of lists, but it’s from a small press, so I’m not sure if it will get the attention it should. On the other hand, I would get several multipliers for it being a debut short story collection from an indie publisher.

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Tier Ranking All 66 Sapphic Fantasy Books I’ve Read

admin — Sun, 23 Mar 2025 00:38:00 +0000

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A year ago, I tier ranked all the sapphic books I’ve read, back when Our Queerest Shelves was on Substack. Since it’s no longer accessible, I thought I’d repost it and add in the dozen or so sapphic fantasy books I’ve read since then. So, here’s the updated version!

Before I started writing Our Queerest Shelves — before Book Riot’s first post, even — I have been devouring sapphic books and reviewing them on my blog, the Lesbrary. In those 15 (!) years, I’ve read a lot of queer women books. So, I thought I’d try tier ranking all the sapphic books I’ve read by genre, starting with fantasy. This includes middle grade, YA, and adult fantasy, as well as fantasy graphic novels.

A few disclaimers before I start: this is just my personal opinion. Plenty of my “No thank you” books are ones other people love. They just aren’t my taste. I’ll also note that these are my thoughts about these books right now. Some of them I might have loved right after reading them, but I no longer remember anything about them. Others I may have struggled to get through, but I still think about and appreciate them now. Also, when I say “sapphic,” I mean any book with a sapphic main character, so not all of these have an F/F romance.

Enough preamble! Here is my ultimate ranking of all the sapphic fantasy books I’ve ever read:

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The Most Anticipated 2025 Sci-Fi & Fantasy Books on Goodreads

admin — Fri, 03 Jan 2025 09:37:30 +0000

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Happy New Year! We’re officially through the Best Books of 2024 season and into Most Anticipated Books of 2025 season. Goodreads hasn’t wasted any time: they posted a series of most anticipated books by genre on January 1st, when most of us were still sleeping off New Year’s celebrations. Let’s take a look at their round-up of the most anticipated sci-fi and fantasy books of 2025. Get ready to preorder some of the biggest and buzziest SFF books of 2025, or place your library holds now to skip the queue.

These are, at least theoretically, the sci-fi and fantasy books that the most users have added to their Want-To-Read shelf. Notably, Goodreads has separated Romantasy into its own list, though Science Fiction, Fantasy, and YA SFF all share one list. Many of the most anticipated titles are sequels, like Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales (Emily Wilde #3) by Heather Fawcett, Four Ruined Realms (The Broken Blades #2) by Mai Corland, and One Way Witch (She Who Knows #2) by Nnedi Okorafor. Others are new releases from big name authors, like Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab and Katabasis by R.F. Kuang. There are a few debuts that have broken onto this list, though, like Samantha Sotto Yambao’s upcoming cozy fantasy Water Moon.

Here are some of the most anticipated sci-fi and fantasy books of 2025, according to Goodreads.

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Check out all 72 of the Goodreads most anticipated SFF books of 2025 on their blog.

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