To Ride a Rising Storm (Nampeshiweisit, #2) by Moniquill Blackgoose
Publication: January 27th, 2026
Del Rey
Paperback. 464 pages.
Pre-order: Bookshop.org | Amazon
From Goodreads:
"A young indigenous woman and her dragon fight for the independence of their homeland in this epic sequel to the bestselling and multi-award-winning To Shape a Dragon’s Breath, “a remarkable novel that is bound to be a staple of fantasy shelves for years to come” (BuzzFeed).
Anequs has not only survived her first year at Kuiper’s Academy but exceeded her professors’ admittedly low expectations—and passed all her courses with honors. Now she and her dragon, Kasaqua, are headed home for the summer, along with Theod, the only other native student at the Academy.
But what should have been a relaxing break takes a darker turn. Thanks to Anequs’s notoriety, there is an Anglish presence on Masquapaug for the first time ever: a presence that Anequs hates. Anequs will always fight for what she believes in, however, and what she believes in is her people’s right to self-govern and live as they have for generations, without the restrictive yoke of Anglish rules and social customs. And fight she will—even if it means lighting a spark that may flare into civil war."
I absolutely adored To Shape a Dragon's Breath when I read it a couple years ago--and I highly recommend it!--and I have been anticipating this sequel for so long.
Kokun: The Girl from the West by Nahoko Uehashi, trans. Cathy Hirano
Publication: January 13th, 2026
Europe Editions
Paperback. 256 pages.
Pre-order: Bookshop.org | Amazon
From Goodreads:
"'An epic fantasy unlike any other, combining the fantastical environmentalism of works like Miyazaki's film Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, Rachel Carson's lyrical descriptions of nature, and the court intrigue of Game of Thrones.'--Booklist (starred review)
A sweeping ecological fantasy from one of Japan's most beloved storytellers--where two girls must unlock a forgotten power to save their world from collapse.
The vast Umar Empire has flourished for centuries thanks to the miraculous Ohaleh rice, a sacred grain brought by the first Empress Kokun from a distant land. Resistant to all parasites, the rice has sustained peace and prosperity--until now. When a mysterious infestation strikes, famine spreads, and the empire begins to crumble.
Fifteen-year-old Aisha, granddaughter of the deposed king of the West Kantar domain, flees to the imperial capital with her younger brother after a violent coup. There, she meets the reigning Kokun, Olie--an enigmatic girl worshipped for her supposed gift of scent, yet secretly powerless. As Aisha uncovers her own latent ability to perceive the natural world through smell, she and Olie form an unlikely alliance.
Together, they must confront a hidden history, uncover the truth behind the Ohaleh rice, and confront forces that threaten not just the empire's survival, but the very balance of nature.
Kokun: The Girl from the West marks the beginning of an epic tale of rebellion, inheritance, and the fight to reconnect with a world on the brink of collapse."
I just love everything about how this one is described and I'm so eager to check it out! I'm so up for an ecological fantasy from Japan.
The School of Night by Karl Ove Knausgård
Publication: January 13th, 2026
Penguin Press
Hardcover. 512 pages.
Pre-order: Bookshop.org | Amazon
From Goodreads:
"London. 1985. A city rife with possibility and desire. One young man who wants it all.
Kristian Hadeland, young and ambitious, has moved to London to study photography; he knows that he and his art are destined for more. His family never understood him, and his fellow photography students bore him. But when he meets Hans, an eccentric Dutch artist, the future he yearns for becomes possible—as long as he is willing to sacrifice everything and stop at nothing.
Twenty-four years later, Kristian sees his dreams come to fruition when a major retrospective of his work is held in New York City. As his past catches up to him, Kristian’s world begins to crumble. Success comes at a price, but is he prepared to pay it?
In a thrilling twist on Christopher Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus, Karl Ove Knausgaard masterfully spins a cautionary tale about the lengths that we will go to achieve success—and how far we are willing to fall. His most daring and macabre novel yet, The School of Night is an indelible tale about dark temptations and moral depravity, and what we forget when we bargain with the devil."
This sounds incredibly intriguing, and in the hands of Karl Ove Knausgård I think it could be truly captivating and wonderfully written.
Well, I see a few here I'm definitely adding to my wish list. I especially need to check out To Shape a Dragon's Breath.
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