For those who are already aching to escape the…well, everything, of 2026, look no further than the year’s ultimate cozy fantasy from the author of the (also excellent) Emily Wilde series. Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter is pretty much exactly what it says on the tin, an endlessly warm and charming story about a woman who runs a cat rescue in an alternate version of 1920s Montreal and must seek out the help of a grouchy magician who almost ended the world to help save her shelter.
Yes, you can absolutely guess what happens next simply by reading the synopsis, but its cozy predictability is a big part of the fun. A love letter to the complicated relationship between humans and cats, as well as a gentle and super satisfying slow burn love story, this is the book to chase away your winter blues.
The Red Winter by Cameron Sullivan
Release Date: February 24 from Tor Books
Cameron Sullivan’s debut is one part alternate historical fiction, one part horror story, and one part dark fantasy. An ambitious retelling of the legend of the Beast of Gévaudan, The Red Winter is set in the 18h century, just before the French Revolution. It follows the story of an immortal monster slayer, the demon who shares his body, and the ex-lover he has a devastating history with as they’re drawn back into the hunt for a legendary (and deadly) creature. And it includes everything from demons and sorcery to a brewing revolution, ancient gods, and a surprisingly nifty twist on Joan of Arc.
A sprawling epic that boasts deft plotting, a complex grasp of both history and mythology, and a sly, biting sense of humor, The Red Winter is gruesome, fascinating, and darkly romantic by turns.
Nowhere Burning by Catriona Ward
Release Date: February 24 from Tor Nightfire
