Yes, The Winds of Winter is taking a long time. I know it, you know it, and George R.R. Martin definitely knows it, with 14 years having ed since the fifth book in his A Song of Ice and Fire series, A Dance with Dragons, was released. Game of Thrones came and went; the world has changed irrevocably, many jokes have been made, but still The Winds of Winter is delayed. 12e3o

Mistbornauthor Brandon Sanderson has had his fans on tenterhooks ever since the explosive ending of Wind and Truth, the fifth and final book in the first cycle of Stormlight Archive novels, upended the entire state of the Cosmere. Even worse, he made it clear that the next set of Stormlight books likely won't see the light of day until the mid-2030s, as his next main project will be the third Mistborn series, Ghostbloods.

For those of us who cannot wait until November for the release of Wicked: For Good, this darker series from 2014 is a must-read to prepare to go back to Oz. The Wicked: For Good movie trailer has created ample excitement for the second part of the adaptation of the iconic musical, its November 2025 release date coinciding with its previous installments' release almost perfectly. That quick turnaround will absolutely be needed, as not only was the first movie a box-office hit, but the story itself is entering its more complex and fascinating section.

Books categorized as romantasy often have many similar themes and tropes to others in the genre, but one of the most popular is that of deadly trials and competitions. Not only is this a popular choice among authors, but it happens to be one of the most favored tropes among readers as well. Typically, the trial's trope will depict characters who are, more often than not, entered into such tasks against their will, and see them face a number of arduous challenges or deadly obstacles.

While Karin Slaughter’s Will Trent novels have become a huge network TV hit for the author, her most popular book would be far harder to adapt to the screen. American crime author Karin Slaughter is a phenomenally popular writer whose novels have sold more than 40 million copies since her 2001 debut Blindsighted. Her Will Trent novel series has been adapted as an ABC series of the same name, and Will Trent’s season 4 renewal proves her work is as popular onscreen as it is on the page.

Both Rhysand from A Court of Thorns & Rosesand Xaden from The Empyrean Seriesare great shadow daddies, but the question of which one is better is a complicated one to answer. A Court of Thorns & Roses continues to be largely popular in book spaces despite the many delays to its surrounding projects, the silence on book 6 and the fan petition regarding Hulu's canceled ACOTAR adaptation not stopping the multitude of reenactments and theories about the romantasy series from popping up. That popularity is largely due to the characters, Rhysand's many swoonworthy qualities adding to the appeal.

Brandon Sandersonis one of the biggest names in the fantasy space, and the author officially has a new claim to fame: his very own ice cream flavor. Sanderson is best known for his Mistborn and Stormlight Archive books, though he has an impressive backlist that's only growing as he releases new novels every year. His most recent one, Wind and Truth, hit shelves back in December and brought Arc 1 of The Stormlight Archive to a close. Sanderson is already working on new stories, though, including his much-anticipated Mistborn Era 3.

Any worthwhile fantasyseries will take readers on an immersive and epic adventure, but not all of them are gripping from beginning to end. Depending on how large and complex a fantasy narrative is, it can be difficult to maintain the tight pacing and payoffs that keep readers hooked. This is even true for titles that are otherwise impressive. With large swathes of world-building and casts of characters to contend with, it's inevitable that things will lull in places. Some of the best fantasy book series of all time have chapters or entire installments that are considered low points.

One important character in A Court of Thorns & Roseswas never truly topped, which hurt aspects of the original trilogy's ending. As the wait for A Court of Thorns & Roses book 6 persists, audiences have the chance to read and revisit so many of the iconic moments and character arcs from the original series. That has allowed for many theories about A Court of Thorns & Rosesto spring up years later, and for the various strengths of the series to keep that well-deserved spotlight.

A circulating fan petition is demanding a Court of Thorns & Rosesadaptation, and it shows that Hulu made a mistake in scrapping its TV plans. A Court of Thorns & Roses is one of the biggest romantasy offerings around, and it's easily one of the most popular book series on BookTok. That's likely the reason Hulu picked up the rights to Sarah J. Maas' fantasy series back in 2021, though nothing ever came of the long-gestating adaptation. In 2024, it was confirmed that Hulu's ACOTAR show was no longer happening, a disappointing reality for excited fans.