Welcome to Future Fiction, my reimagining of the Waiting on Wednesday meme! There are so many amazing new books coming out, that I can no longer pick just one. My goal with Future Fiction is to share at least three new books each week, a combination of recent cover reveals and books that I’ve recently added to my TBR pile. I’m still going to be linking up with Wishful Endings/Can’t Wait Wednesday, and I also want to give a shout out to Jill at Breaking the Spine for starting the original Waiting on Wednesday meme. I hope you’ll find some new books to add to your TBR piles, and as always, I look forward to hearing what YOU’RE looking forward to:-D
Today I have an exciting fantasy cover reveal, an upcoming horror book by a favorite author, and a science fiction debut, take a look:
An almost-mage discovers friendship—and maybe something more—in the unlikeliest of places in this delightfully charming novel from the USA Today bestselling author of The Teller of Small Fortunes.
Certainty Bulrush wants to be useful—to the Guild of Mages that took her in as a novice, to the little brother who depends on her, and to anyone else she can help. Unfortunately, her tepid magic hasn’t proven much use to anyone. When Certainty has the chance to earn her magehood via a seemingly straightforward assignment, she takes it. Nevermind that she’ll have to work with Mage Aurelia, the brilliant, unfairly attractive overachiever who’s managed to alienate everyone around her.
The two must transport minorly magical artifacts somewhere safe: Shpelling, the dullest, least magical village around. There, they must fix up an old warehouse, separate the gossipy teapots from the kind-of-flaming swords, corral an unruly little catdragon who has tagged along, and above all: avoid complications. The Guild’s uneasy relationship with citizens is at a tipping point, and the last thing needed is a magical incident.
Still, as mage and novice come to know Shpelling’s residents—and each other—they realize the Guild’s hoarded magic might do more good being shared. Friendships blossom while Certainty and Aurelia work to make Shpelling the haven it could be. But magic is fickle—add attraction and it might spell trouble.
The Keeper of Magical Things by Julie Leong. Releases in October 2025 from Ace. I’m so excited to see this gorgeous, colorful cover! I loved Leong’s The Teller of Small Fortunes, it was such a balanced, cozy fantasy. I’m looking forward to more of that.
It was supposed to be the party of the century: miles of idyllic white sand beaches, lush jungle foliage…and a dark legend nobody dreamed might be all too true.
When an online influencer and several hundred of his most loyal fans land on Prosperity Island, the plan is simple: five days of elaborate games, drinking, and suntanned fun.
A week in paradise should have been a welcome respite. The only survivor of an infamous cult, Ruth wants nothing more than to keep her head down and not draw attention. She’s spent decades outrunning her blood-soaked childhood, and her identity is a closely held secret.
But then the true history of the island is revealed…along with its sinister connection to Ruth’s past. As guests go missing and games turn deadly, Ruth and the rest of the attendees are forced to question whether they’ve really been invited to paradise…or whether something much darker―and far bloodier―is waiting for them just beyond the bonfire’s light.
How Bad Things Can Get by Darcy Coates. Releases in September 2025 from Poisoned Pen Press. I’m so excited for a new Darcy Coates book! You gotta love a “locked room” mystery on an island. This sounds really good:-)
The Subtle Art of Folding Space , is the exhilarating debut science fiction novel from Nebula and Hugo-winning author John Chu channels unhinged physics, generational trauma, and the comfort of really good dim sum. This isn’t your usual jaunt through quantum physics.
Ellie’s universe, and this one, is falling apart. Her ailing mother is in a coma; her sister, Chris, accuses her of being insufficiently Chinese between assassination attempts; and a shadowy cabal of engineers is trying to hijack the skunkworks, the machinery that keeps the physics of each universe working the way it’s supposed to.
Daniel, Ellie’s cousin, has found an illicit device in the skunkworks—one that keeps Ellie’s comatose mother alive while also creating destabilizing bugs in the physics of this universe. It’s not a good day.
If she can confront her mother’s legacy and overcome her family’s generational trauma, she just might find a way to preserve the skunkworks and reconcile with her sister…but digging into her family’s past is thornier than it seems, and the secrets she uncovers will force Ellie to choose between her family and the universe itself.
The Subtle Art of Folding Space by John Chu. Releases in April 2026 from Tor Books. This one is way out there, but I couldn’t resist sharing this awesome cover. I can’t wait to read this, it sounds so good.
All three of them sound amazing! Leong’s books always have stunning covers, that for sure, and I am excited for this new release!
A locked room mystery is something I cannot pass, even if the locked room is an island! And the last one shouldn’t sound so interesting!!! When I started reading the synopsis I thought it wasn’t really my kind of thing but I kept reading and now I need it!!
That’s what I thought too, once you read the synopsis it sounds amazing:-)
I love an island-based murder mystery sort of story so How Bad Things Can Get definitely appeals, and those other two covers are both lovely, so colourful 😀
Some of my favorite books are island mysteries (like Daisy Darker!), I just love that trope.
Wow, how beautiful is the cover of The Keeper of Magical Things?! So gorgeous! And the story sounds utterly magical too!
Her last book was so good, I know this is going to be too:-)
Yes, more from Darcy Coates!!!
Yay, I’m super excited too:-)
The first two sounds very intriguing but I have to say I’m most drawn to the first. I really want to check out more cosy fantasy novels and I know how popular the authors previous one was. Plus the cover is stunning.
I really loved Julie Leong’s last book so I’ll definitely be reading her new one:-)
I read THE TELLER OF SMALL FORTUNES earlier this year & liked it just fine. It wasn’t super memorable for me & im beginning to think I’m not cut out for cozy-ish fantasies! But the cover of Leong’s new books is so pretty!!!! I’ll probably have to read it anyway.
It’s hard to resist her covers:-)
Folding Space sounds quirky! and the cover is a gem.
Isn’t the cover great? I must know more:-)
Wow, the last one sounds crazy over the top!
I agree! I think that’s why I want to read it:-)
Oooh, excited for the new Julie Leong book! And that cover is gorgeous!
It’s so pretty!
I already have the Julie Leong eARC and the John Chu looks interesting.
Anne – Books of My Heart
I’m very curious about the John Chu, the cover is so tempting.
I’m excited to find out about the upcoming Julie Leong title and Folding Space sounds interesting. Thanks for the list and happy reading!
I hope you get the chance to read them!
As always these future fiction posts really grow my tbr, I added the Julie Leong book even though I haven’t read her debut yet! lol
I don’t think the two books are connected? So you should be ok:-)
I just heard about The Subtle Art of Folding Space like, 10 minutes ago! I am excited to see it here because I am very curious too, I will be needing it! I also love the sound of How Bad, too! Looking forward to these, for sure!
I honestly need it just for the cover:-)
Great choices but – How Bad Things Can Get – definitely has my name all over it.
Lynn 😀
Me too!
OMG Tammy, I am in love with The Keeper of Magical Things cover! So whimsical!
I want to give Darcy Coates another try, and I think the premise of this one is much more my speed.