Part of the fun of Wednesday Wildcards is the whiplash; in the best way. One minute you're craving dark gothic fantasy with angels and murder, the next you want a cosy 1920s cat rescue with a grumpy wizard, and somehow you still have room for brutal Viking revenge or a Chinese-inspired poetry magic epic. This week's five random picks deliver exactly that: big range, bingeable pacing, and plenty of "just one more chapter".
Below you'll find a spoiler-free overview of each book, plus the main reasons to read; with friendly genre cues to help you match your mood.
1) The Faithful Dark by Cate Baumer
Best for: queer gothic fantasy, murder mystery, religious intrigue, slow-burn romance, angels and demons
Spoiler-free overview
In a holy walled city where sin and sanctity are revealed through touch, Csilla; a girl born without a soul; is worth little to the Church that raised her. But when a series of murders corrodes the faithful magic that keeps the city safe, the Church elders see a use for her flaw: she can assassinate their prime suspect, a heretic with divine heritage, without risking the stain of sin. The heretic, however, makes Csilla a counteroffer: clear his name by helping him catch the real killer, and he'll use his angelic gifts to grant her very own soul. Meanwhile, ruthless Ilan, desperate to earn back his position as Church Inquisitor, sees the case as his chance at redemption.
Ava Reid calls this "a twisty and beguiling gothic fantasy, lyrically written and tightly plotted, with one of my favourite villain-slash-anti-heroes of all time." Reviewers are describing it as "angels, demons, and serial killers in a fantasy Vatican" and honestly, say no more. This is one of the most anticipated debuts of early 2026.
Main reasons to read
Gothic fantasy set in a Vatican-inspired city with visible sin and sanctity
Queer slow-burn romance with devastating emotional tension
Murder mystery wrapped in religious corruption and political intrigue
Three compelling POVs including a soulless assassin and a disgraced inquisitor
Praised by Ava Reid, Andrew Joseph White, and Lyndall Clipstone
Ideal if you search for: gothic fantasy, queer fantasy, murder mystery fantasy, angels and demons, dark slow-burn romance
(Note: contains dark themes including torture, violence, and religious trauma; check content warnings.)
2) A Curse Carved in Bone by Danielle L. Jensen
Best for: Viking fantasy, enemies-to-lovers, revenge arc, Norse mythology, dark romance
Spoiler-free overview
Return to the Kingdom of Íseldur, where enemies become lovers and dark secrets hide around every corner. In the aftermath of a harrowing journey, Silla Nordvig's dreams of a simple life have been shattered. Beaten, betrayed, and reeling from the revelation of her true name, she flees Kopa with Reynir Galtung, the ruthless leader of the Bloodaxe Crew. Reynir has his own scores to settle, and their paths are now bound together by vengeance, secrets, and a connection neither can deny.
This is the highly anticipated sequel to The Road of Bones from the New York Times bestselling author of A Fate Inked in Blood and The Bridge Kingdom series. Danielle L. Jensen continues to prove she's the queen of Viking-inspired romantasy, delivering brutal action, morally grey characters, and the kind of slow-burn tension that keeps you turning pages well past midnight.
Main reasons to read
Viking-inspired dark romantasy from a New York Times bestselling author
Enemies-to-lovers with a ruthless, morally grey male lead
Revenge arc with high emotional stakes and brutal consequences
Second book in duology (The Road of Bones is book one)
Perfect for fans of A Fate Inked in Blood and The Bridge Kingdom
Ideal if you search for: Viking fantasy romance, Norse mythology, enemies-to-lovers, dark romantasy, revenge fantasy
3) Agnes Aubert's Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett
Best for: cosy fantasy, 1920s Montréal setting, grumpy-sunshine romance, magical cats, Howl's Moving Castle vibes
Spoiler-free overview
Agnes Aubert leads a meticulously organised life; and she likes it that way. As the proudly type-A manager of a cat rescue charity, she's devoted her life to finding forever homes for stray cats. But when her shelter is forced to relocate, the only landlord who will rent to a cat rescue is a mysterious man called Havelock; who also happens to be the world's most infamous magician, running an illegal magic shop out of his basement. Now Agnes's shelter has become the front for thoroughly disreputable dark magic dealings, her organised life is in complete chaos, and the grumpy, self-absorbed (but decidedly handsome) Havelock keeps getting underfoot.
From the New York Times bestselling author of the beloved Emily Wilde series comes a warm, whimsical, and delightfully chaotic romance. If you loved Howl's Moving Castle or The Invisible Library, this cosy 1920s fantasy will steal your heart.
Main reasons to read
From the author of the beloved Emily Wilde series
1920s Montréal setting with cosy, vintage charm
Grumpy-sunshine romance with excellent banter
Cats. So many cats. Magical chaos included.
Perfect for readers searching: cosy fantasy, books like Howl's Moving Castle, magical shop fantasy, slow-burn romance, Emily Wilde readalikes
4) The Poet Empress by Shen Tao
Best for: Chinese-inspired grimdark fantasy, poetry magic, morally grey characters, court intrigue, dark romantasy
Spoiler-free overview
In the waning years of the Azalea Dynasty, the emperor is dying, the land is consumed by famine, and poetry magic; the power to shape reality through written verse; is lost to all except the powerful. Wei Yin is desperate. After watching five siblings die, she offers herself as concubine to Prince Terren, the cruel heir of the blood-gutted Azalea House, where women are forbidden to read. But in a twist of fate, the palace stands on the knife-edge of civil war, and Wei Yin is trapped at the centre with a violent prince. To survive, she must harden her heart, learn to read in secret, and compose the most powerful spell of all; a ballad of love and death.
This stunning debut has drawn comparisons to The Poppy War and She Who Became the Sun for its brutal court politics, gorgeous prose, and devastating emotional gut punches. The deluxe edition features gilded edges and beautiful case art.
Main reasons to read
Stunning debut with a unique poetry-based magic system
Grimdark court politics with The Poppy War energy
Complex morally grey characters who will destroy you emotionally
Gorgeous prose that reads like the poetry it celebrates
Perfect for readers searching: Chinese-inspired fantasy, dark romantasy, books like The Poppy War, poetry magic fantasy
(Note: This one is openly dark; check content warnings if you're sensitive to violence and difficult themes.)
5) Rose in Chains by Julie Soto
Best for: dark romantasy, enemies-to-lovers, post-war fantasy, power imbalance, high spice
Spoiler-free overview
The war is over, the dark forces have won, and the hero who was supposed to save them is dead. Princess Briony Rosewood is captured when her castle is overrun by the enemy, stripped of her magic, and auctioned off to the highest bidder. She's sold to Toven Hearst: scion of a family known for their cruel control of magic; and her long-time, unresolved infatuation. Yet despite the horrors of her new world and the role she must learn to play within it, all is not lost. Help and hope may yet arise in the most unlikely of places.
This instant #1 Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller exploded onto the romantasy scene with its dark premise, devastating chemistry, and the kind of tension that has readers screaming into the void. Stephanie Garber called it "a dark fever dream of a fairytale" and honestly, that sums it up perfectly.
Main reasons to read
Instant #1 bestseller in both the UK and US
Dark romantasy with genuinely propulsive tension (post-war, power imbalance, survival)
Enemies-to-lovers chemistry with unresolved history and sharp edges
Intrigue around magic control, status, and what power costs
Perfect for readers hunting: spicy fantasy romance, dark romance fantasy, romantasy enemies to lovers
Praised by Stephanie Garber, Rebecca Ross, Jodi Picoult, and Thea Guanzon
(Note: this one's openly pitched as darker; worth checking content notes if you're sensitive to certain themes.)
Which one should you pick up first?
Want queer gothic fantasy with murder and angels? Start with The Faithful Dark.
Want brutal Viking revenge with slow-burn romance? Pick A Curse Carved in Bone.
Want cosy cat chaos with a grumpy wizard? Agnes Aubert's Mystical Cat Shelter is your move.
Want grimdark court politics with poetry magic? Choose The Poet Empress.
Want dark, emotionally intense enemies-to-lovers romantasy? Go for Rose in Chains.
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Happy reading!
Books Featured in This Article
The Faithful Dark
by Cate Baumer
A gothic fantasy for fans of Hannah Whitten and Caitlin Starling.In a holy city where sins and blessings can be revealed through consecrated touch, Csilla - born without a soul - is worthless to the Church that raised her. But when a series of murders corrodes the magic that keeps the city safe, the Church elders see a use for her flaw: she can assassinate their prime suspect, a heretic with divine heritage.The heretic, however makes a counter-offer; clear his name and catch the real killer, without becoming a target herself, and he has the power to get her soul. When their investigation catches the attention of Ilan, a ruthless Inquisitor demoted for his failure to solve the case, he reluctantly offers his help in order to earn back his position. He’ll bring in the murderer— and failing that, Csilla and the heretic. But as the death toll rises and their hunt pits them against the Faith, Csilla will find that salvation comes at the cost of everything she believes in.
A Curse Carved in Bone
by Danielle L. Jensen
"A shield maiden fights to break the shackles of prophecy - and to overcome the betrayal of the man who broke her heart - in this searing conclusion to the Norse-inspired fantasy romance duology that began with the No. 1 Sunday Times bestselling A Fate Inked in Blood. With the secret of her divine heritage revealed, Freya finds herself on a path that will see thousands of lives lost to the magic in her blood. Desperate to avoid this dark fate, she risks an alliance with Skaland's greatest enemy to seek answers from the seer who foretold her future - the same seer who sent Bjorn to kill her. While Freya still seethes with rage over Bjorn's betrayal, the blood oaths that bind her demand that she keep him close as she hunts for a way to avert the looming war. Her magic draws her to the front lines of an old enmity, embroiling her with Nordeland's Unfated - children of the gods who serve the king she was raised to fear. The same king who, unlike Bjorn, is now willing to fight at her back. For despite the desire that burns hot between Bjorn and Freya, his growing distrust of her chosen path threatens to drag them further apart. As war approaches, gods and mortals must choose their weapons. Yet the fiercest battle will be the one Freya wages within herself. With the magic of two goddesses burning in her veins, she must weave the threads of destiny to decide her own fate: Will she be the shield that protects her people or the curse that destroys them?"--Publisher's website.
Agnes Aubert's Mystical Cat Shelter
by Heather Fawcett
A woman who runs a cat rescue in 1920s Montréal turns to a grouchy but charming magician to help save her shelter in this heartwarming cozy fantasy from the New York Times bestselling author of the Emily Wilde series.“Absolutely magnificent! Full of cats and magic, this is the kind of book you want to instantly reread. I loved every character, every cat, and every moment with all my heart!”—Sarah Beth Durst, New York Times bestselling author of The SpellshopAgnes Aubert leads a meticulously organized life, and she likes it that way. As the proudly type-A manager of a cat rescue charity, she has devoted her life to finding forever homes for stray cats.Now it’s the shelter that needs a new home. And the only landlord who will rent a space to a cat rescue is a mysterious man called Havelock—who also happens to be the world’s most infamous magician, running an illegal magic shop out of his basement. Havelock is cantankerous and eccentric, but not not handsome, and no, Agnes absolutely does not feel anything but disdain for him. After all, rumors swirl about his shadowy past—including whispers that his dark magic once almost brought about the apocalypse.Then one day a glamorous magician comes looking for Havelock, putting the magic shop—and the cat shelter—in jeopardy. To save the shelter, Agnes will have to team up with the magician who nearly ended the world . . . and may now be trying to steal her heart.Havelock is everything Agnes thinks she doesn’t need in her life: chaos, mischief, and a little too much adventure. But as she gets to know him, she discovers that he’s more than the dark magician of legend, and that she may be ready for a little intrigue—and romance—in her life. After all, second chances aren’t just for rescue cats. . . .
The Poet Empress
by Shen Tao
DELUXE EDITION―featuring gorgeous gilded edges, detailed endpapers, and beautiful case art under the book jacket!Debut author Shen Tao introduces readers to the lush, deadly world of The Poet Empress, a sweeping, epic and intimate fantasy perfect for fans of The Serpent & the Wings of Night, The Song of Achilles and She Who Became the Sun.In the waning years of the Azalea Dynasty, the emperor is dying, the land consumed by famine, and poetry magic lost to all except the powerful.Wei Yin is desperate. After the fifth death of a sibling, with her family and village on the brink of starvation, she will do anything to save those she loves.Even offer herself as concubine to the cruel heir of the beautiful and brutal Azalea House.But in a twist of fate, the palace stands on the knife-edge of civil war with Wei trapped in its center...at the side of a violent prince.To survive, Wei must harden her heart, rely on her wit, and become dangerous herself. Even if it means becoming a poet in a world where women are forbidden to read—and composing the most powerful spell of all. A ballad of death...and love.The Poet Empress is an epic fantasy that explores darker themes, subjects, and scenes that may not be suitable for all readers. Please see the author's content note at the beginning of the book.
Rose in Chains
by Julie Soto
THE INSTANT NO. 1 SUNDAY TIMES and NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER Featuring hardcover exclusive character-art endpapers and a foiled board design while supplies last. HE'S HER GREATEST ENEMY ... AND HER DEEPEST DESIRE 'A dark fever dream of a fairytale. Rose in Chains is a heart-pounding, spellbinding, forbidden love story that kept breaking my heart and putting it back together again' Stephanie Garber, #1 Sunday Times bestselling author of Once Upon a Broken Heart 'Lush, complex, and utterly engrossing' Rebecca Ross, #1 Sunday Times bestselling author of Divine Rivals 'Absorbing, unique, and addictive' Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling author 'A delicious, darkly tender slow-burn romance' Brigitte Knightley, author of The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy 'The scintillating romantasy of my dreams. The all-consuming, captivating chemistry between Briony and Toven has changed my life' Lindsey Kelk, Sunday Times bestselling author of Love Story The war is over, the dark forces have won, and the hero who was supposed to save them is dead. Captured as her castle is overrun by the enemy, Princess Briony Rosewood is stripped of her magic and auctioned off to the highest bidder. She's sold to Toven Hearst: scion of a family known for their cruel control of magic - and her long-time, and unresolved, infatuation. Yet despite the horrors of her new world and the role she must learn to play within it, all is not lost. Help - and hope - may yet arise in the most unlikely of places... New York Times bestselling author Julie Soto crafts a lush romantic fantasy that's filled with intrigue, magic, and an irresistible enemies-to-lovers romance. 'An intoxicating tale of forbidden love' Sarah Hawley, USA Today bestselling author of A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon 'Dark and steamy, beautifully written, magical and nuanced, and completely unforgettable' Thea Guanzon, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Hurricane Wars 'Captivating magical world, tension-filled intrigue, and riveting enemies-to-lovers romance' Abigail Owen, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Games Gods Play 'Dark and gripping and full of twists and turns' Nisha J. Tuli, international bestselling author of Trial of the Sun Queen 'A darkly luscious, unputdownable romantasy debut. Soto weaves together a complex and captivating world of magic, lust and longing' Kate Golden, USA Today bestselling author of A Dawn of Onyx *Sunday Times number 1 bestseller w/c 8 July