The 10 Most Anticipated Sci-Fi and Fantasy Books of November 2026

When fall brings cold, windy, and wet weather, it’s the perfect time to stay inside and curl up with a good book. November offers plenty of options, with fresh entries in long-running series, standalones by bestselling authors, and brand-new talent to check out. Whether you want to imagine sailing with sky pirates, exploring a haunted forest, or flirting with faeries, the 10 most anticipated sci-fi and fantasy books of November offer plenty of ways to pass a rainy day.

1 Cello’s Gate by Maurice Africh (Nov. 3)

Captain Grey and his crew of sky pirates have been hired to find and steal the Stones of Indigo, mythical items believed to be invested with godlike power. Finding the first one requires following an ancient map to an uncharted island and facing a mysterious guardian. If they succeed, the crew will receive an enormous reward. But if they don’t figure out what their employer is hiding, they might not live to spend the money. The debut science fantasy novel is perfect for fans of The Lies of Locke Lamora or Mistborn: The Final Empire.

2 They Cry by Glen Cook (Nov. 3)

Glen Cook helped establish the grimdark genre, and They Cry marks the second book in the A Pitiless Rain arc of his Chronicles of The Black Company series. Holed up in the Black Company’s former base, An Abode of Ravens, Arkana and Shukrat find they’re now capable of powerful magic that is bound to entangle them in new intrigue and dangerous plots. With their adopted father, Croaker, in danger of losing his humanity, they need to face a peril that could affect the entire plane.

3 The Wolves of War by John Gwynne (Nov. 3)

John Gwynne, author of The Faithful and the Fallen and The Bloodsword Saga, kicks off a new epic fantasy series based on Slavic mythology. War is brewing between two rival princes, and Ivan is just trying to protect his family from the conflict. His daughter Halia dreams of running with wolves and communicating with the fae who lurk in the forest, and if she can master her power, they might just be able to survive.

4 A Glimmer of Death by Laurell K. Hamilton (Nov. 3)

The penultimate book in the Merry Gentry series follows Meredith Gentry, a faerie princess working as a private investigator in Los Angeles. Merry wants to hunt down whoever is responsible for a series of magical attacks against up-and-coming Hollywood actresses, but she also has to deal with breaking the curse on Aisling, who is meant to be the next king of the Seelie Court. The reappearance of Merry’s best friend, whom she thought was dead, makes the emotional and political situation even more fraught.

5 Saved by the Spell by Tanya Huff (Nov. 3)

Bex Olynyk, a student at the High School for Magical Arts, seems to be a hero. On the first day of class, they proved to be surprisingly powerful, put a bully in their place, and found both a frenemy and nerdy, loyal roommate. That spells trouble for the teachers, who know that means a villain is bound to show up too. They’ll have to try to keep damage to a minimum when the confrontation eventually happens, while also making sure all their students don’t fall behind in class. Huff is also the author of the queer cozy horror book Direct Descendant.

6 Defy the Dusk by Danielle L. Jensen (Nov. 3)

The New York Times-bestselling author of The Bridge Kingdom kicks off a new duology putting a fantasy spin on Mad Max and Snowpiercer. Lirien’s magic broke the world 20 years ago, unleashing dangerous nocturnal creatures. While the most powerful survivors live on the Dawnrider, a high-speed rig ruled by a tyrant, Lirien seeks redemption by waging war against the night.

7 Monsters of Ohio by John Scalzi (Nov. 3)

John Scalzi is known for his humorous spins on sci-fi in books like Redshirts and Starter Villain, and now he’s bringing his talents to the cosmic horror genre. The town of Richland, Ohio, has lots of standard problems. Its biggest employer plans to close, and it’s beset by private equity and corporate malfeasance. But when Mike Boyd returns home for a visit, he and his friends are pulled into a far weirder issue involving a prized cow.

8 Souls in Ruin by Jacqueline White (Nov. 3)

The first book in a new romantasy trilogy from debut author Jacqueline White follows Mirelle, the bastard daughter of a king, who is used as a bargaining chip to protect her kingdom’s borders. Wedded to an infamous conqueror, Mirelle finds herself imprisoned in the dungeon of her own castle. Yet the mysterious man imprisoned alongside her might prove the key to her survival.

9 Murmuration by TJ Klune (Nov. 17)

The latest book from TJ Klune, the New York Times-bestselling author of the queer fairy tale romance The House in the Cerulean Sea, is meant for fans of Severance and Stephen King. Mike lives in Amorea, an idyllic town where he loves his job at the local book tore and running literature discussions for the local women’s club. Things are going to get even better since Sean, a waiter at the town diner, is ready to take their relationship to the next level. But as Mike begins to have violent memories of a life before Amorea, the town becomes increasingly odd. He has to struggle to hold onto his own identity to face the coming darkness.

10 Line of Descent by Adam Oyebanji (Nov. 17)

The generation ship Archimedes has spent more than a century transporting humans to Tau Ceti, but the mission is endangered by a mysterious kidnapping. Faisal Vasconcelos wants to write off the claim that a junior officer was abducted outside a bar and returned with no memory of what happened for 24 hours, but the investigation points to terrorism, murder, and a power struggle between the ship’s senior commanders. Oyebanji, who works as a lawyer focused on counterterrorism financing, is known for blending sci-fi and crime thriller elements in books like Esperance and Breaking Day.