As 2025 unfolds, the world of science fiction and fantasy continues to offer thrilling new adventures, mind-bending mysteries, and deeply imaginative worlds. Curated by Storizen, the Best Sci-fi and Fantasy Books to Read in 2025 promise to captivate fans with fresh perspectives and unforgettable characters. From intergalactic murder mysteries to dystopian explorations of surveillance and power, this list has something for everyone—from space-faring suspense to magical family dramas. Get ready to dive into a year filled with gripping plots, intense action, and thought-provoking themes.
1. Murder by Memory by Olivia Waite
Imagine Miss Marple solving a murder in deep space—HMS Fairweather is the galaxy’s most luxurious interstellar liner, where guests enjoy new bodies on request and minds are safely preserved in the Library. But for Detective Dorothy Gentleman, waking up in the wrong body is just the beginning of her troubles—someone isn’t just murdering passengers, they’re erasing minds entirely. With suspects ranging from her brilliant but hapless nephew to a mysterious ex-girlfriend of the body she now inhabits, Dorothy must unravel a centuries-old conspiracy before she becomes the next to vanish. Witty, sharp, and utterly immersive, this cozy sci-fi mystery is a must-read for fans of Dorothy Sayers and Ann Leckie, blending intrigue, humor, and spacefaring suspense into a fresh and addictive tale.
2. Cold Eternity by S. A. Barnes
In Cold Eternity, a chilling blend of Severance’s dystopian unease and M3gan’s AI paranoia, Halley flees an interplanetary scandal straight into a waking nightmare. Seeking refuge on a derelict space barge filled with the cryogenically frozen elite, she soon hears unsettling sounds—scraping, slithering, something moving in the dark. As shadows shift in the hallways and paranoia tightens its grip, Halley realizes she may have escaped one threat only to be trapped with something far more terrifying. Haunting and suspenseful, this space horror will keep readers on edge until the final, chilling revelation.
3. The Devils by Joe Abercrombie
Europe teeters on the edge of ruin—plague, famine, and horrors beyond imagining creep ever closer, while selfish princes turn a blind eye. The only certainty? The elves will return, and they will consume all in their path. In the hidden depths of the Celestial Palace lies the Chapel of the Holy Expediency, where sinners and monsters alike are given one last purpose. Tasked with an impossible mission, the unfortunate Brother Diaz must rally the worst of the worst to steal a throne, unite a fractured church, and somehow prevent the apocalypse. When the road leads straight through hell, only devils can see the way forward.
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4. Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros
The thrilling continuation of Fourth Wing and Iron Flame is here, and Violet Sorrengail is about to face her biggest challenge yet. After nearly two years at Basgiath War College, the battle is no longer just about training—it’s about survival. With enemies closing in and trust in short supply, Violet must venture beyond the walls of Aretian, seeking powerful allies to defend Navarre. But as the stakes rise, she carries a secret so dangerous it could unravel everything she holds dear. To save her dragons, her family, and her home, Violet must uncover the truth—but the storm approaching may claim more lives than anyone can imagine.
5. The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami
In a world where privacy is obsolete, freedom comes at a steep price. When Sara is detained at the airport, she’s told an algorithm—using data from her dreams—has flagged her as a future criminal, a risk to the person she loves most. Sent to the Madison retention center for “rehabilitation,” she soon realizes that every misstep extends her stay, and leaving may not be as simple as serving her time. But when a new resident disrupts the facility’s carefully controlled order, Sara is thrust into a battle against the corporations that have stolen her autonomy. The Dream Hotel is a chilling and thought-provoking speculative mystery that explores the dark side of surveillance, the illusion of safety, and the terrifying consequences of technology that knows us better than we know ourselves.
6. Silver Elite by Dani Francis
In a world where psychic abilities mean a death sentence, Wren Darlington has survived by following three rules: trust no one, lie to everyone, and stay hidden. But when a single mistake lands her in the Continent’s elite military program, Silver Block, she’s given an unexpected chance to sabotage her enemies from within. The catch? She must keep her powers secret while proving herself to Cross Redden—her infuriatingly charming commanding officer. As tensions rise and battle lines blur, Wren is forced to question not just her mission, but her heart. In this electrifying dystopian romance, survival isn’t just about staying alive—it’s about deciding who and what is worth fighting for.
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7. The Garden by Nick Newman
In a vast, walled garden, two elderly sisters live by the rigid rules of their late mother, following an almanac that dictates every harvest and warning them never to stray beyond the boundary. The world outside, they believe, is a dangerous wilderness, and the sealed-off upper floors of their inherited home hold secrets best left undisturbed. But when a young boy arrives, their carefully controlled existence begins to unravel. One sister clings to their mother’s teachings, convinced they ensure survival, while the other starts to question the life they’ve been confined to. And as the boy’s true nature emerges, so too does the unsettling possibility that the world they fear—and the past they’ve locked away—might not be what they were told.
8. Shadow of the Eternal Watcher by Josh Mendoza
Duster Raines is haunted—by the ghosts of his past, by visions of a life he’s never lived, and now, by a missing persons case that has him framed and on the run. As a washed-up PI scraping by in the underbelly of Los Angeles, his reality is grim—until he starts glimpsing an alternate version of himself, a man of power and wealth. When the truth comes crashing in, revealing his ability to bend spacetime itself, Duster sees a chance to rewrite his fate. But to claim the life he believes he deserves, he’ll have to face the one person standing in his way—himself.
9. Gifted & Talented by Olivie Blake
When tech visionary Thayer Wren dies, his three gifted children—Meredith, Arthur, and Eilidh—are thrust into a ruthless battle for the Wrenfare Magitech empire. Meredith, a biotech mogul, hides a career-shattering secret. Arthur, a struggling congressman, sees the company as his last chance at redemption. Eilidh, a fallen ballerina, craves the validation she’s never had. As old rivalries resurface and dark truths unravel, their father’s final words will decide their fates. In this sharp, spellbinding contemporary fantasy, where there’s a will, there’s war—and no Wren will emerge unscathed.
As we look ahead to the rest of 2025, these Best Sci-fi and Fantasy Books to Read in 2025 are sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats. With a blend of inventive plots, diverse worlds, and complex characters, each book offers a unique escape into realms that push the boundaries of imagination. Whether you’re a longtime fan or a newcomer to the genre, these titles are essential additions to your reading list. So, dive in, explore the unknown, and let these stories transport you to worlds where anything is possible.
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