Fantasy was the genre that initially fostered my love of reading, and many of the staple Series from my childhood were some of the Fantasy greats - Harry Potter, Eragon, Redwall, and the list could go on indefinitely. While I've transitioned almost entirely to novels marketed toward adult audiences, fantasy remains one of my most frequently read genres, and I've jumped into too many series to count! These days, I tend to prefer fantasy series rather than standalone novels. If I'm investing the time to learn about an entirely new world, magic system, and political setup, I want to spend more time enjoying those aspects. Fantasy often touts complex casts of characters with innumerable perspectives and timelines, and I prefer spending additional time with each of these characters rather than having brief, abbreviated glimpses into their lives within a single standalone installment. The stakes and payoff tend to feel higher in a large series, and there's a sense of comfort when starting a new series that there are three or more multi-hundred page books waiting for me in that universe. I know what I'm signing up for when I embark on a new fantasy series, and I enjoy that inherent reliability and predictability found in later installments within the series. With that being said, I'm always in search of new standalone fantasy novels, even if they are few and far between! I have a fairly long list of trusted, beloved fantasy authors whose publications I will automatically purchase and read without a second thought. However, I'm always trying to branch out and discover new favorites and debut authors within the genre, so I'm keeping an eye on some of those upcoming publications, as well! Below is a list of some of my most anticipated fantasy releases throughout 2024 - it's a combination of standalone books and series, brand new series and later installments within a series, and authors that I've read from before as well as those that are new to me. My hope is that there's something for everyone in the list below, and I'm excited to hear your thoughts on any of these books!