It’s been a banner year for speculative fiction. From titans in the genres to debuts, science fiction, fantasy, and horror are in a golden age, and 2026 book releases have been proof of such. Native and Indigenous science fiction and fantasy has also seen some fantastic releases, ranging from epic fantasy to environmental sci-fi and dark supernatural fantasy/horror.
When you think of Native and Indigenous speculative fiction, we often think of authors like Rebecca Roanhorse, Stephen Graham Jones, and Louis Erdrich. These are, of course, brilliant authors (indeed, some of my favorites of all time!) and I would highly recommend them for any reader seeking to dive into Native and Indigenous fiction, regardless of genre. One of my favorite things about writing for Book Riot is showcasing works that one might not immediately think of, though, like debut and small press authors.
As we observe Native American Heritage Month—and as we should continue to support and uplift Native and Indigenous authors regardless of the month—I compiled a list of 2026 and 2027 titles to add to your TBR. All of the below titles are speculative in some fashion, and most lean toward science fiction and fantasy in some form. (For reference, I expand on the term “speculative fiction” in this past Book Riot article.)
 Hollow is the Heart by H.E. Edgmon (August 2027)Tor Nightfire is on a roll lately, with so many of my recent favorite titles coming from this horror imprint. H.E. Edgmon’s upcoming title from Nightfire tackles the violent colonialism of dark academia. The story follows a trans single dad in a college town, and a student whose obsession with history awakens something in the wilderness. Is it a monster? Is it a god? Like with many powerful stories, it depends on who tells the tale. |
 House of Salt by Shay Kauwe (August 2027)Also upcoming in 2027 is Native Hawaiian Shay Kauwe’s gothic fantasy tale about a curse made real. Mahina is a bartender in Waikiki, running a grift of telling tourists that their bad behavior has cursed them with the wrath of evil spirits. When the wealthy Salt family catches wind of her “abilities,” they invite Mahina to their secluded manor in Wai’anae. There, Mahina learns that the Salt family curse isn’t just lore. It’s real. Any type of gothic fiction about a secluded manor is an immediate auto-buy for me, and this has all the vibes I love in gothic fiction. |
 A Glacier’s Guide to Dying by Michelle PorterFor those leaning toward literary speculative, I am very excited about this book about a son’s search for his father while finding connection—literal and figurative—to the land around him. Robbie has always wondered about his father, who left Robbie and his family years before because of visions and suspicions about the modern world. Later, as he saves his mother from wildfires, Robbie also decides to find his father. His uncle brings him to a glacier where Robbie’s father was last seen, and as they trek the landscape, Robbie realizes he can speak to the glacier, and the glacier gives him guidance. Is this Robbie’s connection to the land as a young Métis man? Or is this the same illness that plagued his father and caused him visions? |
 The Sorceress of Sky Serpents by Eden RobinsonEden Robinson wrote the bestselling Trickster trilogy and now begins a new epic series with The Sorceress of Sky Serpents. I am particularly excited about how this story takes on monster-like creatures. This tale follows Yuala, who is the daughter of the Guardian of the Eagle Clan and the granddaughter of its shaman. Yuala carries a family legacy on her shoulders, though she longs to become a warrior or healer. Yet Yuala’s one talent casts her as a misfit: she can connect with creatures many regard as monsters. This gift puts her in line to become her clan’s next shaman, and she dives headlong into the grueling apprenticeship. As a rival clan grows in power and is on the hunt for a powerful sorceress, will Yuala come into her own power in time to keep her clan and village safe? |
Observance Lasts Beyond the Month
As we close out 2026 and look to 2027, we must continue to uplift and support Native and Indigenous voices, and indeed all marginalized voices. Don’t stop buying banned books because Banned Books Week is over. Don’t stop sharing Native and Indigenous voices simply because November has passed. Continue the work. Expand your horizons, expand the horizons of your neighbors, and make good trouble in whatever way you can, at all times of year.
For more reading on recent and past articles on Native and Indigenous speculative fiction, please read and share these articles by my fellow Book Rioters:
Explore Indigenous Futurisms With these SFF Books by Indigenous Authors 8 New Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Speculative Fiction Books by Indigenous Authors
Bengali (Bangladesh) · 
English (United States) ·