4 Fantasy Book Sequels We’re Still Waiting to Read After Years

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The best fantasy books leave you wanting more, and fans have been patiently waiting for the next installments in some beloved series. While 2026 promises plenty of exciting new fantasy releases and continuations, a few highly anticipated sequels have been delayed for years. Though some authors, like Brandon Sanderson, consistently meet their deadlines, other follow-up books take much longer to appear.

There are many reasons why a book or series might take a long time to continue – the author could be busy with other work, needing a break, or facing creative challenges. But no matter the cause, fans will still be excited when the next installment finally arrives. A few extra years of waiting is a small price to pay for a continuation of a beloved story.

4) The Winds of Winter by George R.R. Martin

George R.R. Martin’s sixth book in the A Song of Ice and Fire series, The Winds of Winter, is arguably the most anticipated and delayed fantasy novel ever. With the previous book, A Dance With Dragons, released in 2011 and ending on a cliffhanger, fans have been waiting over a decade for the next installment. Martin has openly discussed the difficulties he’s faced in finishing it, and while progress has been slow, he reported in 2023 that he was about 75% complete. While some readers have given up hope, many fans, including myself, are still eagerly awaiting its release.

3) A Court of Thorns & Roses 6 by Sarah J. Maas

The popular fantasy romance series, A Court of Thorns & Roses, is set to continue, despite the last book, A Court of Silver Flames, being released five years ago. Author Sarah J. Maas recently hinted in an interview with TODAY that she has ideas for at least two more books. She even shared on Instagram last July that she’s finished the first draft of the sixth book, suggesting a new installment is coming soon. While it might still be a couple of years before the book is released, this progress means we could find out which characters will be featured in the story relatively soon, which will be exciting news for fans while they wait.

2) The Doors of Stone by Patrick Rothfuss

Patrick Rothfuss’s The Kingkiller Chronicle became incredibly popular in the late 2000s and early 2010s with the release of the first two books, The Name of the Wind and The Wise Man’s Fear. These books captivated fantasy readers, but the third and final installment, The Doors of Stone, has been repeatedly delayed. Rothfuss has explained the delays are due to extensive revisions and his own pursuit of perfection. He recently described the current draft as “bloated and unpublishable” (according to Winter Is Coming). While the release date remains unknown, many fans are still eagerly awaiting the conclusion of the series, even if it takes as long as The Winds of Winter to finish, just to learn how the story ends.

1) The Thorn of Emberlain by Scott Lynch

Scott Lynch’s popular Gentleman Bastard series, which began with The Lies of Locke Lamora, has captivated readers with its compelling characters and intriguing world. While The Republic of Thieves was published in 2013, the series isn’t finished. The next book, The Thorn of Emberlain, promises to continue the story, but its release has been significantly delayed—much like the highly anticipated next installments in George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series and Patrick Rothfuss’s The Kingkiller Chronicle. Although the author has provided occasional updates—including a recent mention at Boskone 63, according to Reddit—there’s no firm release date yet. However, these updates suggest we may eventually see Locke and Jean’s adventures continue.

What fantasy book have you been eagerly anticipating for a long time? Share your thoughts in the comments and discuss it with others in the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-02-18 03:11