Fantasy and Sci-Fi Fanatics

Welcome to the 2025 fantasy/sci-fi reading challenge! This bookish challenge is perfect for you if:

• You love reading fantasy and/or sci-fi books
• You want to broaden your reading horizons
• You love a (bookish) challenge
• You need help figuring out what book to read next

This challenge will help you explore more fantasy and sci-fi genres, authors, and of course, new worlds and characters. Each month, there will be a new prompt, and often I’ll post an article with plenty of ideas. The best way to find out about those posts and to get a reminder is to sign up for my bimonthly newsletter. When you do, you’ll also receive a handy checklist of the challenge to help you keep track of what you’ve read.

Here are a few guidelines before we get started:

• Each book needs to be either a fantasy or sci-fi book. If you’re not sure whether a book fits or not, check out these fantasy genres or look at these sci-fi categories. Usually if the book takes place in another world or has elements not found in ours, it will fall into one of these two categories.
• You may pick either a fantasy or sci-fi book unless the challenge specifically states one or the other.
• You may reread a book for the category.
• Books may count for only one category.
• You may join the reading challenge at any time.

So, are you ready for the challenge?

2025 Fantasy/Sci-Fi Reading Challenge Plan

January: An Epic Fantasy Book

Start the new year with an epic battle! These books take place somewhere not recognizable as Earth, usually spans several books, and the characters often must fight to save their kingdoms from some unspeakable evil. Think stories on epic proportions, like The Fellowship of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson, The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss, or The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon.

February: A Fantasy or Sci-Fi Written by a Black Author

Celebrate national black history month by reading a book by one of these incredibly talented authors! The book can either be written by an African-American or feature African-American protagonists. Usually the the book will have both. I’ll probably have a post with ideas, so keep a lookout for that!

March: An Irish-based Fantasy Book 🍀

Journey to Ireland! Or, well, a land based off Ireland. The culture needs to have an Irish or Celtic touch; however much is up to you. Full kilts? Or just Irish-sounding names? You get to decide! Here are 10 Irish-based adult and YA fantasy books to start you thinking. I might update the post with a few more ideas.

April: A Greek-Mythology Inspired Fantasy Book

There are more than you would expect! Most of these books focus on one character from Greek tradition, like Circe by Madeline Miller or Ariadne by Jennifer Saint. I plan on having a post with plenty of ideas for you.

May: A Fantasy or Sci-fi Book with Flowers on the Cover 🌻

Have you been longing to read that book on your shelf because it’s so lovely but haven’t been able to yet? Well, here’s your chance! Choose the most beautiful flower-covered book you can find and dive into its pages. I’ll have a post for this one, though sometimes it depends on which version of the book you have or can find at your library.

June: A Book That Takes Place on Another Planet 🌍

Read a book that’s as far from Earth as you can go! The planet doesn’t have to be a real one, but most of the setting needs to be on a planet, not just flying in space. And not just a fantasy book set in another world will work; it must actually feel and seem like another planet. This is your chance to dive into a sci-fi book, and don’t worry, I’ll have ideas in a post for both those of us who like science and those of us who don’t. These 25 sci-fi books for people who don’t like science is a good place to start.

July: A Fantasy or Sci-Fi Book that Features Pirates

Journey to the high seas or the high skies this month. These pirates can be the typical swashbuckling type who search for treasure on the ocean or the kind that soars through space: it’s completely up to you! I hope to have a post with ideas.

August: A Dystopian Book

These books were pretty popular several years ago, and I think it’s about time to bring them back! These books revolve around a world that’s supposedly perfect but isn’t. Think The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, Scythe by Neal Shusterman, or Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel.

September: A Fantasy/Sci-Fi Book that Takes Place in a School 🏫

Relive your school days–or travel to a much cooler school than your own–this month. These can be dark academia fantasy books, where nothing is as it seems and the mood is sinister, or something lighter and happier, like Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone. Keep your eyes on your inbox for ideas!

October: A Gothic Fantasy Book 🍂

Get in the mood for spooky season with a darker, more haunting story. This subgenre combines the traditional gothic elements: old, mysterious houses/locations, moody vibes, the supernatural, with fantasy elements: ghosts, gods, curses, wizards. These can cover a range on the spooky scale, so if you’re not a fan of ghosts or nightmares (like me), there are some less scary options out there like Spells for Forgetting or The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young. Check out these 10 haunting books for more ideas.

November: A Fantasy/Sci-Fi Book by an Author You’ve Never Read Before

Dying to try out a book by that one author but haven’t been able to yet? Now’s your chance! I hope you fall in love with a new author’s book and characters this month.

December: A Book With Robots 🤖

There’s quite a spectrum of books to choose from here, from classical sci-fi like I-Robot, to the cute, middle-grade novel, The Wild Robot. I plan to have a post filled with ideas for you.

Are you looking forward to the 2025 Fantasy/Sci-Fi Reading Challenge? I look forward to seeing what you read! If you’re on Instagram, be sure to tag @rachelagrecoauthor to share your books. And don’t forget, if you’d like a checklist and ideas in your inbox every month, sign up here. Good luck!