Fantasy is always primed for a new franchise. The genre boasts heavy hitters like The Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones who have continued to produce new content for fans, but recent releases like Fourth Wing and Legendborn prove there is plenty of space for new franchises on the scene. While there are plenty of fantasy releases coming up, these are the ones to keep on your radar, since they have all the makings to become the next big franchises.
The Lost Reliquary by Lyndsay Ely
Release Date: October 21, 2025
The first installment of the Divine Thrall series, The Lost Reliquary follows Lys as she tries to break her bonds with a goddess that’s kept her bound since childhood. When she’s sent to find the heretics that tried to murder Tempestra-Innara, it could be her chance to escape, but she’s not alone in her quest, and she needs to keep her intentions in check before her partner realizes what she’s really after.
A strong female protagonist who is unafraid to be as ruthless as she needs to be to gain her freedom? That’s the making of a franchise. It’s giving Furiosa from Mad Max in the best way. The Lost Reliquary is poised to be a gritty fantasy filled with betrayal, action, and a mission that could either save the last remaining god or cause the world to slip into something else entirely. It’s high stakes with huge rewards, and that’s what makes not only for the best epic fantasy, but for the best franchises.
To Bargain with Mortals by R. A. Basu
Release Date: October 28, 2025
To Bargain with Mortals, the first in the Reckoning Storm duology, follows Poppy, a woman who doesn’t fit into standard social hierarchies because she’s the adopted daughter of color of a Viceroy. When she flees to escape her intended’s plans for her, she ends up with a criminal who wants to use her to negotiate his brother’s release. Could they be the ones to lead their country into the revolution?
A fantasy rooted in politics, allegiance, and the desire to overthrow the powers at play presents something for every reader. Rooting not only for Poppy to overcome the obstacles in her path, but for her and her new acquaintance to work together for the better of not just themselves but for their world is a premise that always hits. With action, magic, and godly bargains in store for Poppy, To Bargain with Mortals sounds like it has everything to be the next big fantasy sensation.
We Who Will Die by Stacia Stark
Release Date: December 30, 2025
A Roman-inspired world with vampires? We Who Will Die, the first in the Empire of Blood series, feels like the start of the next great franchise. Arvelle has to kill the emperor, who is an ancient vampire, but can only do that if she works with two vampires she isn’t sure she can trust. One is an ex and one is the son of her target.
Based on the synopsis, the series will have a bit of something for everyone. Gladiator-style games so Arvelle can secure a position close to the emperor, an enemies to lovers storyline, and magical creatures give a bit of everything that makes the genre what it is. With the resurgence in vampire media thanks to the popularity of shows like Interview with a Vampire and movies like Sinners and Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu, We Who Will Die is coming at an ideal time. Combined with the return of popular Sam Raimi series Spartacus after a significant hiatus, and movies like Gladiator II doing moderately well with critics and at the box office, the combination is the perfect mix of what audiences are interested in right now.
Saltswept by Katalina Watt
Release Date: February 5, 2026
A pirate story where the crew is learning as they go? Saltswept is all about that group trying to sail into a magical whirlpool as a way not only to save the world, but to keep those in death where they belong. Can the treasure inside help? Or will it only make things worse, especially when the queen may not be as righteous as one should be.
Saltswept is the first in a duology that is seemingly combining a pirates journey and a queen that could have a similar story journey to Season 8 Daenerys Targaryen, all rooted in South Asian mythology. Swashbuckling shows continue to be popular, especially with the strong adaptation of One Piece, Saltswept presents an offering that could capitalize on that while being reminiscent of stories people love, like Pirates of the Caribbean.
The Gravewood by Kelly Andrew
Release Date: April 7, 2026
The start of a duology, The Gravewood follows Shea Parker as she tries to get past a forest that’s kept her and her town from interacting with the outside world. She’s going to run out of batteries for her hearing aid, and she turns to trading her blood for batteries with the leader of a vampire gang. But, everything changes when Shea’s best friend disappears.
While the vampire resurgence was already mentioned, dystopian stories are making a comeback, and The Gravewood is an obsessive combination of both. With the release of new Hunger Games books and films, and the current state of the world, many are diving back into the dystopian worlds they loved as teens. Rather than being rooted in technology or divisions in society like those of the early 2010s were, The Gravewood presents a shifting direction in the genre toward post-climate apocalypses that’s sure to capture universal attention.