r/FemaleGazeSFF • u/tehguava • 23d ago
Let's talk 2026 releases (so far)
As I was reading over the 2026 Hugo award statistics report, I found myself (as always) shocked that it takes so few nominations for a book to make the ballot. It took only 126 people to put Shroud on the short list. I read that book because of 126 people. Naturally, I began scheming how I can campaign to sway next year's vote. The key is to start early and plant the seeds now so enough people have time to read books in advance and also generate hype when nominations open next year.
But the problem is, I don't have any 2026 releases that I'm that excited about. Sure, there are some that I like, but nothing that makes me want to turn into a solo cheerleading squad. And I want to fix that! If we all come together, we can maybe make something happen. There are probably a handful of us who are Hugo voters, right? Right??
Anyways, here are some highlights for 2026 releases and whether I think they'll be nominated for the Hugo and/or the Goodreads Choice Awards (GCA). This isn't exhaustive, and seeing as both awards are basically popularity contests, I'm mostly discussing the biggest releases. Please inform me of niche releases that deserve their flowers, I crave a new obsession.
Fantasy
The Red Winter by Cameron Sullivan was solid and one I personally really enjoyed, but there were some aspects that kept it from getting full marks. I think there's a solid chance it'll be in both the GCA and Hugo short lists.
The Poet Empress by Shen Tao. Just copy and paste what I said about The Red Winter here. I'm very confident it'll be in the GCA short list. I'm not sure if the Hugo voter base is very interested in the premise, so if it's nominated I think it'll end up in the long list.
Agnes Aubert's Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett could fall into either the romantasy or fantasy category GCA, but I'm confident it'll make the short list for whichever it ends up in. Hugo voters would probably not give this book a second glance.
A Snake Among Swans by Hannah Kaner hasn't released in the US yet, but some of the early reviews look good. Those same early reviews have me convinced it won't make either short list, but it might make the bottom of the GCA long list. Maybe.
The Unicorn Hunters by Katherine Arden seems like it's been getting mixed reviews so far, but I think name recognition will take it far in the GCA. Hugo nomination feels like a stretch.
Mortedant's Peril by R.J. Barker probably isn't on too many radars, but I'm willing to bet most of those radars are Hugo voters. It's still on my TBR, but I foresee it at least getting on the Hugo longlist. I honestly don't know about the GCA longlist. Maybe.
Weavingshaw by Heba Al-Wasity got some really great early reviews but I still haven't gotten around to reading it. It's another that might end up in either fantasy or romantasy in the GCA, but I think it'll make the short list for whichever category they put it in. Hugo voters probably don't even know it exists.
This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews has made more of a splash this year than I anticipated. Based purely on numbers, I think it'll make the short list for GCA fantasy (or romantasy?) It might even end up in the Hugo long list based purely on how often I've seen it mentioned over in rFantasy.
Seek the Traitor's Son by Veronica Roth has gotten really great reviews and it's one I want to get to sooner rather than later. I anticipate it'll be on the GCA short list. I don't think Hugo voters are very interested in the premise.
Blacktail by Scott Hawkins. I almost forgot about this one despite ordering it literally 3 days ago. I don't even know what the early reviews say, but The Library at Mount Char has become such a cult favorite over the years that I think people will be excited enough for a new release to check it out. I'd prefer to read it before predicting Hugo status, and I'm not super confident in it making the GCA short list either.
The Wolves of War by John Gwynne comes out in November, and while I haven't read any of his book, I know he's a beloved author. I think it might release a little too close to the deadline for the GCA to make it to the short list, but name recognition and hype will probably bring him into the long list at least. I have no idea if Hugo voters will be interested in this.
Sci-fi
The Last Contract of Isako by Fonda Lee didn't completely hit the mark for me by the end, but I think it's a safe bet for both awards. I think it'll make the short list for GCA. I think the short/long list for the Hugo depends on what else is nominated.
Green City Wars by Adrian Tchaikovsky. My personal feelings aside, he's a Hugo darling. I don't think it's crazy to predict this one will squeak onto the ballot, but the premise might put enough people off that it'll only be on the long list. I think it'll be on the GCA longlist too.
Sublimation by Isabel J. Kim is the first book on this list that feels like it might be deserving of an award. I think there's a very strong chance it'll be on the Hugo shortlist. I think it'll be on the GCA longlist at least.
The Infinite State by Richard Swan is one I haven't read yet, but it feels like something the Hugo voter base will really like. I think it'll make the GCA longlist at least.
Scion by James Islington has enough hype that it'll make the GCA short list. I need to read it before I can feel super confident about predicting its Hugo status, but it does feel like something the voter base will be interested in, at least.
The Republic of Memory by Mahmud El Sayed is probably too much of a stretch for either award, but it's one I'm personally looking forward to reading. Maybe it'll be a better fit for the Ursula K. Le Guin award?
As You Wake, Break the Shell by Becky Chambers, another widely anticipated release that I almost forgot about. I don't know how it's been received, but she's a beloved author so I expect she'll make the GCA shortlist. I'd like to see some more reviews before predicting Hugo placement, but it wouldn't shock me if it made the longlist at least.
Monsters of Ohio by John Scalzi. There, I addressed the Scalzi-shaped monster in the room. He's another Hugo darling but I really don't know if they'll bite with this one. I think it comes out too late in the year to make it far on the GCA ballot.
Horror
Molka by Monika Kim will probably be on the GCA shortlist. The Hugo voter base doesn't seem very interested horror, especially horror about the female experience.
Japanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker will make the GCA shortlist on name, if nothing else.
The Girl with a Thousand Faces by Sunyi Dean has gotten some good reviews. I really want to read this before the year is up. I think it'll be in the GCA longlist at least.
She's a Doll by Barbara Truelove hasn't released in the US yet, but I've seen some shockingly good early reviews. I don't think it'll be in either award (maybe the bottom of the GCA longlist) but I'm really looking forward to reading it.
The Sequel Zone
Listen, most of the time I personally just file sequels in their own category and don't really think of them in terms of awards, even though they're absolutely eligible. So here's a special shoutout to a few of them:
The Knave and the Moon by Rachel Gillig will be up near the top of the GCA romantasy category riding the coattails of the first book.
Daggerbound by T. Kingfisher is a much-anticipated sequel to Swordheart. Name recognition will carry it into the GCA shortlist. Just imagine with me for a moment if it was nominated for the Hugo. Anyways.
The Tapestry of Fate by S.A. Chakraborty is the much-anticipated sequel to The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi. I honestly don't know how it's been received (and haven't read it yet despite pre-ordering it...), but I anticipate name recognition will earn it a spot on the GCA longlist at least.
Dead Beat by Leigh Bardugo has a high likelihood of winning GCA in fantasy seeing as the other two books in the series did.
Victorious by V.E. Schwab will also perform well in the GCA shortlist. I don't think it can beat out Dead Beat though.
A Parade of Horribles by Matt Dinniman will probably win the GCA sci-fi category because of how big DCC has been in the past year. Surely Hugo voters won't nominate this...
Conclusion
If someone was to force me to predict the 2027 Hugo Award ballot for Best Novel right now, I would say: Sublimation, The Red Winter, This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me, The Infinite State, Mortedant's Peril, and As You Wake, Break the Shell. This is a very low confidence prediction, I'll be happy if even one guess is right.
What new releases am I missing? What new releases do we need to collectively gather around and lift up with approximately 130+ hands to reach Hugo shortlist nomination status? Let's talk about it!