5 Under-hyped Fantasy Series You NEED to Binge Before the Next Book Drops!
TBR Tuesday | Series to read NOW before their fandoms blow TF up!
As the tiktok age old adage goes, I might tell you a joke but I will never tell you a lie! Not to pop my shit, BUT I really am that girl when it comes to recommending books! Now, I know my taste is not universal, but I have an eye for great storytelling and talent. I discovered these authors before they got the booktok and bookstagram hype. And let me tell you, there’s absolutely no feeling like having signed first edition copies of their books before they went trad or became a #1 best seller. So here is my list of fantasy series that I predict will become the next IT Reader series. And if you binge them now, you will be one of the go to bookish people to welcome newbies into the fandoms!
The God’s & Monsters Series by Amber V. Nicole
This is one I saw coming the moment I finished the first book in this series! Congrats to Amber V Nicole who just went trad pub! I’m so excited to go on this journey with her and her books as a long time fan who’s been here since the beginning! I’ve been seeing her books all over Threads & IG (I’m not on Tiktok anymore but I’m sure if its on IG its been gaining traction on there as well)
This series is a Dark Urban Fantasy with Romance. If you support women’s wrongs this series is for you! The things that make this series stand out to me is the vast world building along side the deeply emotionally intelligent and complex character development. It would be a understatement to say that this series changed my life. While most readers will be able to go into it ready to enjoy beloved tropes like enemies to lovers, femme rage, and touch them and you die— Amber V. Nicole has effortlessly weaved together a story that honestly depicts the ebb and flow of grief, self-reclamation, and learning to love oneself.
LGBTQIA+ Normative World Building, BIPOC & Mixed Race Leads, Multi-POV, Slow Burn Spicy (book one is slow burn— the rest of the series has spice)
The next book in the series comes out August 5th 2025 and I just can feel it in my gut that the reactions from this book is going to blow the fandom wide open! Learn more about the series here or Pre-Order Wrath of the Fallen below
The Witch Walker Series
This is one of my all time favorite series! It’s impeccable. No notes. Indie Author Charissa Weaks is a master story teller and the fact that her series isn’t as appraised as some of the more popular fantasy series out there is criminal. It is not hyperbole when I say, NEVER HAVE I EVER READ A STORY LIKE THIS!!!
The Witch Walker Series is a High Fantasy series that follows the journey of a young woman who seeks revenge for her older sister who was taken by the Witch Collector. If you are a reader who likes to theorize while reading, this book will keep you up all night promising to read just one more chapter til the sun rises. This series is a stand out for me because there is NOTHING that can prepare you for the perfectly timed and mind blowing plot twists in this series. And while the beautifully robust and intricate magick system is enough to draw any reader in, this book packs a big emotional gut punch. It will have you reflecting on the stories we are told, history, and how much of it is actually true.
LGBTQIA+ Normative World Building, Sign Language Rep, Slow Burn Spicy
The new book in the series Kingdom of the Forgotten will be releasing 2025. Get caught up on the series here! Trust me, this series is gonna give so many people fomo when the next book drops!
Fate of the Anca series by Mikayla D Hornedo
Please feel free to take full offense when I say, your faves could neverrr! Vampires, Witches, and a Sapphic Why Choose wrapped in court intrigue, betrayal, and femme rage? YES PLEASE! By the time most of you realize what an amazing series this is you’re going to be so far behind the fandom!
This FFM why choose follows the formidable weapon herself, Dayanara as she navigates an arranged marriage where she can’t decide if she wants to kill or seduce the king. This book gives readers all the fun of will-they-wont-they while also exploring themes of power dynamics and identity. The diverse magic system base on Mayan mythology sets this book apart from so many of the copy and paste fantasies that I’ve read. It’s an absolute favorite that left me breathless for the next book.
LGBTQIA+ Normative World Building, Mayan Mythology, Slow Burn Spicy, FFM Why choose
Air & Essence comes out April 1st 2025! Learn more about this series here or pre-order the next book below.
Lore of The Wilds Series by Analeigh Sbrana
It is not very often that I read a debut as immaculate as this one! Lore of the Wilds is a perfect story. I like to describe it as chaotically cozy. It has enchanted libraries but also secrets, lies and plot twists that left my mf jaw on the floor! This is a book that has so many beautiful editions, amazing cover art for both books 1 & 2 and yet, it’s still so woefully under-hyped!
I can’t tell you how many videos I have seen of readers complaining that all the Fae books are the same and they feel burnt out with stories featuring Fae characters. And to that I say, READ DIVERSE FANTASY. The plot and theme of this book is oozing with originality. Lore of the Wilds thrusts readers into the life of Lore, a human with no power who finds it in the most unexpected way and now she must decide what she’s willing to sacrifice to keep it. This book is an escape in every sense of the word. I felt so thoroughly immersed in the story. The world Analeigh Sbrana has created is so palpable I feel like I can hop in a car and go visit to catch up with the characters.
Fae Romantasy, Hot Guard Trope, Humans in a magical world, Slow Burn Spice, Queer Normative Characters
The plot in this book builds and builds and by the time you realize where the plot is going, its going to be too late!! You’ll be screaming and slamming your book into the pillow frantically looking up when the next one is coming out because WTF are you supposed to do with your life until July? Catch up on this series or pre-order the Lore of the Tides below.
Heavenly Bodies Series by Imani Erriu
One of the best hidden gems to go trad pub! I read these books in this series when they were available on kindle unlimited and now that more people are reading Heavenly Bodies since the rerelease, I can not be more excited! I can really see this fandom blowing up as so many people are rightfully hyping up Heavenly Bodies’ rerelease.
This series is masterfully unique. It’s truly where my love of astrology collides with my love of Fantasy. Imani Erriu has weaved together a story that cracked my heart open in ways I didn’t know I even needed it to break. For the readers who keep saying, “ Bring back yearning “ this series is for you! This magical story begins with Elara, who is forced to flee into the arms of her enemy when her kingdom descends into chaos. As a refugee in this foreign kingdom she has to train with her enemy under the looming dread of merciless gods and a prophecy that can change everything. Trust me you have never read anything like this in the Fantasy Romance genre!
Enemies to lovers, Strong FMC Lead, Shadow Mommy, Grief Rep, Recovery Rep
Come for the enemies to lovers, stay for the deep and emotional journey of watching a woman reclaim her life and everything she’s lost while she fights to not only save herself but her world. Read the first book now or pre-order the rerelease of Fallen Stars below
A Case For Reading Unfinished Series
Don’t wait til that last book comes out to support authors. It is such a selfish way to consume their art. They pour months if not years into what takes us 24hrs to mere weeks to devour.
Reading, reviewing, and recommending books as they release helps authors to keep creating the stories we love. This is especially true for indie and BIPOC authors who are already marginalized in the publishing industry. Our word of mouth as readers is some of the biggest marketing a lot of indie and BIPOC authors have.
Readers will run to swipe their card at the nearest book store for the next popular book in a traditionally published series by a White author but won’t touch a BIPOC or Indie series until its not only complete but perfect… This is something I would love to see the reader community work to improve. And I don’t mean performatively. Dont just buy these books, hold them up to a camera phone and add them to the dungeons of your TBR to collect dust— READ THEM. DIALOGUE ABOUT THEM ONLINE, THEORIZE ABOUT THEM, MAKE MEMES ABOUT THEM! (YES I AM SCREAMING)
You dont have to hate popular books to read diversely and support, platform and champion marginalized authors. I just devoured Onyx Storm and loved it but why would that make me shy away from sharing the marginalized authors that I love? Under-hyped Indie and Diverse books dont just need our support, they deserve our love. They deserve to have community and fun built around the body of work they have shared with the world. Because at the end of the day readers don’t like popular books because they’re better than other books, they love them because of the community surrounding those stories are BIGGER and it’s high time to expand our community and make room for stories like these!
If you made it this far I have a treat for you! If any of this resonated with you, I made a free downloadable binge reading challenge that maps out how you can work these series into your reading this year! You can download the color you want by using the graphic below ;)
How to download image:
Mobile Substack App: Click on the color-way you want—>Click the 3 dots in upper-right corner—>Select SAVE.
Email: Click on the color-way you want—>long press on image until menu pops up—>Select SAVE TO PHOTOS.
Desktop: Right click on the color-way your want—>Select SAVE IMAGE AS
Your graphics are always so well done!! :) great recs
Started the Witch Walker series after this recommendation and now I’m addicted. Already halfway through the second book.