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In the secluded paradise of the Valley, life is eternal. Until prince Soh’shoro discovers his power to kill. Stolen from the courts, trained in martial and magical arts by enigmatic warrior monks, Soh’shoro is reborn as an assassin, ready to defend against the mythical Outside. But echoes of his lost mother and the ethereal allure of a doomed princess lead him on a path to discover the Valley’s dark secret. Now, as war dawns, Soh’shoro must decide: Is paradise worth protecting? Or must Eternity itself be ended once and for all? |
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Capturing action in any genre is much tougher than it looks. Many authors use maps, outlines, and notecards to chart how and where their characters move in a given action-packed scene. It’s hard enough to write clear and interesting character movement that mimics our reality, but action scenes in fantasy require even more planning and awareness. Not only are characters moving in a fantasy story, but there’s the possibility of magic and the supernatural. There’s the possibility of uncannily-moving objects, animals, creatures, and the magic itself.
That’s a lot of movement.
A lot of websites and textbooks define narrative action as physical movement, but with fantasy, there is also movement of the non-physical. There’s movement of the impossible.
When asked about action in fantasy, what might first come to mind for readers is action in the form of epic battles. Think of R.F. Kuang’s The Poppy War series, Leigh Bardugo’s Shadow and Bone series, and Susan Dennard’s Witchland series. There’s nonstop action in these books, epic and singular battles, both sword fighting and magic. There’s breakneck pacing; you can feel the action in these stories.
However, when I think of some recent fantasy reads, “action-packed” can also be private (think romance moments; sex is not easy to write), quiet, and artfully understated. The success of narrative action doesn’t have to do with how big the action is, but how clear and necessary it is to the story.
For debut writers, there’s a lot of pressure to portray narrative action in a meaningful and interesting way. Thankfully for us, dear reader, there are many talented debut writers out there creating great action scenes in fantasy.
Below, I’ve listed fantasy debuts that range in fantasy subgenres, from dark fantasy/fantasy horror to romantasy. Keep in mind that this is a list of 2025 debuts, which means these books are the first published books (in this genre or length at least) for these amazing authors. Let’s give them the readership they deserve.
 Audition For the Fox by Martin Cahill (September 2025)Nesi needs to find a god patron, and she needs to earn it through an audition. In the 99 Pillars of Heaven pantheon, she’s already failed 96 auditions. With few options left, Nesi risks seeking an audition with T’sidaan, the Fox of Tricks. T’sidaan agrees to an audition, but their task feels near impossible: Nesi has to travel back in time and light the fires of rebellion to overthrow an oppressive regime. I had the great pleasure of reading an advanced copy of this debut novella. Martin Cahill’s worldbuilding is unmatched in this brief yet heartwrenching tale. The action in this novella is so fluid yet layered. There are stories within stories. |
 The Last One by Rachel Howzell HallHall has written thrillers before, to much acclaim, but this is her romantasy debut. It follows Kai, who awakes in the woods with no memory of who she is or how she got there. All she knows is where she needs to go, the Sea of Devour, otherwise, the world around her will only get worse. The action is instant at the opening of this book, with a bewildered Kai chasing after a thief through a dense forest. Soon, she meets a blacksmith who is as skilled at fighting as any warrior. Mysteries and romance mount in this first book of what is sure to be an action-packed series. |
 In the Veins of the Drowning by Kalie CassidyThis is a recent favorite of mine. Fans of the action in Rachel Gillig’s One Dark Window and The Knight and the Moth are going to love this dark fantasy debut. Imogen Nel has been a prisoner of a ruthless king for as long as she can remember, in a kingdom where her kind—Sirens—are hunted down and killed. After years of fear and repressing her powers, she meets Theodore, the king of Varya, from a kingdom where Sirens are revered as divine. Theodore agrees to help her escape and find answers to her past, but for a price: Imogen must blood-bind herself to him. This story has it all in terms of action. There’s magic and monsters, gods and godchildren fighting for power, and a lovely, yearning romance. |
 But Not Too Bold by Hache PueyoThis debut novella leans toward fantasy horror, with a terrifying, new perspective on the classic Bluebeard fairy tale. The Lady of the Capricious House, Anatema, has eaten the old keeper of the keys. Anatema is a humanoid spider with a taste for human brides. Her memories are stored in drawers that must be opened and closed by the keeper of the keys. Dália must take up her predecessor’s job as the new keeper and hopes to unravel the crime that led to her death. By doing so, however, Dália has been put right in Anatema’s path, and Anatema can never resist a new bride. |
 A Harvest of Hearts by Andrea EamesFor those looking for the kind of whimsical yet awe-inspiring action found in Hayao Miyazaki’s Studio Ghibli films, especially Howl’s Moving Castle, this is the book for you. Where Foss Butcher lives, everyone knows that hearts fuel the kingdom’s magic. Foss didn’t think much of it when beautiful sorceresses traveled to her small village and took bits of people’s hearts, at least until the first sorcerer in the kingdom arrived and snagged a bit of Foss’s own heart. Following a growing ache, Foss travels from her home on the outskirts of the kingdom to the city, where she plans to confront the sorcerer and demand the piece of her heart back. Doing so will set her on an adventure and uncover secrets that threaten to topple the kingdom. |
 The Legend of Meneka by Kritika H. RaoLike Hall, Rao has written books in other genres—her science fantasy series, The Rages, is fantastic—but this book is her romantic fantasy debut. What I love about this book is that the central character, and indeed the series title, is about divine dancers. I love when dance is portrayed in any genre, and when done well, the writing can be poetic in its portrayal of movement. Rao’s book follows Meneka, a warrior utilized by Lord Indra, king of heaven. All Meneka wants is her freedom, and she sees an opportunity in offering to seduce a powerful mortal sage for the king. But when she meets the sage, Kaushika, she is captivated, and suddenly the path she sees for herself is not so clear anymore. |
As a slight aside: It’s always a pleasure to highlight debut titles, as debut writers often have to fight an uphill battle against bestsellers and IP releases to get exposure and readership. Make sure you tell people about the books you love and spread the word for debut authors so they can get every chance possible to succeed. The world is on fire around us, dear readers, but we can still support and encourage new artists in all media.
If you’re interested in reading more about debuts, check out these Book Riot articles:
