Friends, this first full week of March is coming in hot. We’ve got a Pixar original that’s asking big sci-fi questions, a gorgeous Gothic reimagining of a horror icon, the final chapter of one of TV’s most beloved time-travel romances, an anime finale that’s going to wreck us all, and a towering stack of new books that covers everything from underwater dystopias to magical libraries to vampire dark comedies.
Let’s dig in!
Movies & Series
Thursday, March 5
Ted Season 2 (Peacock)
Everyone’s favorite foul-mouthed teddy bear is back! Season 2 picks up with John and Ted navigating senior year of high school in 1994, and if Season 1’s reign as Peacock’s most-watched original is any indication, we’re in for another round of irreverent humor and surprisingly genuine heart. Seth MacFarlane returns to voice, write, and direct, with all eight episodes dropping at once — so clear your Thursday evening.
Friday, March 6
Hoppers (Only in theaters)
Pixar is swinging for the fences with a brand-new original sci-fi concept: in a near-future world, scientists have developed technology that can transfer human consciousness into lifelike robotic animals, letting people experience life from an entirely new perspective. The story follows animal-loving Mabel as she leaps at the chance — only to uncover secrets within the animal kingdom far bigger than she bargained for. With a voice cast that includes Jon Hamm, Meryl Streep, and Dave Franco, and Daniel Chong directing, this one looks like a wild, imaginative ride for all ages.
Outlander Season 8 (Starz)
Grab the tissues and the whisky — the Frasers are coming home for the last time. The eighth and final season of Starz’s epic time-travel romance brings Jamie and Claire back to Fraser’s Ridge as the American Revolutionary War closes in, forcing them to decide what they’re willing to sacrifice for their home, their family, and each other. Caitríona Balfe and Sam Heughan lead the full ensemble cast through ten final episodes of the sweeping saga that has captivated fans of Diana Gabaldon’s novels for nearly a decade on screen.
The Bride! (Only in theaters)
Maggie Gyllenhaal writes and directs this stunning Gothic reimagining of the Bride of Frankenstein, set against the moody backdrop of 1930s Chicago. When Frankenstein’s monster asks Dr. Euphronius to create a companion, a murdered woman is resurrected as “the Bride” — and what follows is a darkly romantic tale of identity, power, and radical reinvention. Jessie Buckley stars alongside Christian Bale, Annette Bening, and Penélope Cruz in what’s shaping up to be one of the most visually and emotionally ambitious genre films of the year.
War Machine (Netflix)
If you’ve ever wanted Predator meets Metal Gear, Netflix has you covered. Alan Ritchson stars as an Army Ranger combat engineer whose final grueling training mission goes sideways when his unit encounters a giant, otherworldly killing machine with no interest in letting them leave alive. Directed by Patrick Hughes, this R-rated sci-fi action thriller promises intense combat, high tension, and a relentless extraterrestrial threat.
Saturday, March 7
Beastars Final Season Part 2 (Netflix)
The end is here, and we are not emotionally prepared. The second half of Beastars’ final season brings Legoshi and Louis together for a climactic confrontation with the sinister Melon, whose plans threaten to shatter the fragile peace between herbivores and carnivores in Zebuth City — with Haru caught right in the crossfire. Paru Itagaki’s beloved manga gets the send-off it deserves in what promises to be a powerful, bittersweet finale.
Girl From Nowhere: The Reset (Netflix)
The enigmatic Nanno returns — but not as you remember her. This fresh reboot of the cult Thai anthology series introduces Becky Armstrong as a new Nanno in a separate timeline, once again exposing the cruelty and moral corruption lurking beneath the surface of elite schools. With six episodes and the original creative team back at the helm, this is your gateway whether you’re a longtime fan or a curious newcomer.
Books
Tuesday, March 3
Apogee by Travis S. Taylor
Baen Books
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The Ballistic series continues with this hard sci-fi thriller set two years after the Battle for the ISS. Marcus Dorman is rebuilding global power grids while secretly orchestrating something far more ambitious — a quantum system seeded with human minds across the planet. If you love your sci-fi with real aerospace engineering baked into the DNA, Taylor (who has literally worked for NASA) delivers the goods.
Aubrey Wants to Die by Pip Knight
Hanover Square Press
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Here’s a pitch: an immortal vampire who desperately wants to die discovers she’s completely, infuriatingly unkillable — until she meets Jonathan and everything changes. This dark comedy vampire romance blends millennial angst, gallows humor, and genuine heart in a way that feels fresh and wickedly fun.
Black as Diamond by U.M. Agoawike
Bindery Books
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This dark fantasy debut follows Asaru, a warrior of the winged eresh keyel, who becomes ensnared by a fatal curse while investigating his missing brother’s disappearance in the human realm. With its lush worldbuilding and thoughtful exploration of queer identity and power, this is exactly the kind of bold new voice fantasy readers should be watching for.
Burn the Water by Billy Ray
Scholastic Press
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Set in 2425 in a London submerged beneath the ocean, this YA sci-fi epic features two captains on opposite sides of a 300-year war who fall into a forbidden, enemies-to-lovers romance that could cost them everything. Acclaimed screenwriter Billy Ray makes his debut novel a big, sweeping, underwater dystopian Romeo and Juliet — and yes, it’s as cool as it sounds.
Green & Deadly Things by Jenn Lyons
Tor Books
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Jenn Lyons returns with a standalone dark fantasy about a trainee knight who must stop necromantic monsters and forests that are coming alive to consume humanity whole. If you love unusual magic systems, nature-as-threat horror, and Lyons’ signature witty dialogue, this one has your name on it.
House of Blight by Maxym M. Martineau
Threadmender Chronicles #1
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This gothic fantasy duology opener follows Edira Brillwyn, a threadmender whose healing powers come at a devastating cost — they drain her own life force. When a mysterious blight begins spreading through her town, she must partner with the enigmatic Orin Fernglove to find a cure before it’s too late. Atmospheric, romantic, and threaded with dark magic and consequence.
Jitterbug by Gareth L. Powell
Titan Books
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BSFA award-winning author Gareth L. Powell launches a space adventure starring bounty hunter Copernicus Brown and his sentient ship, the Jitterbug, hunting criminals on a mysterious habitable sphere built from the ashes of Jupiter and Saturn. When they rescue a survivor carrying a data chip that makes them instant targets, the chase is on. Fans of The Expanse and Adrian Tchaikovsky, this one’s calling your name.
Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser
St. Martin’s Press
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What if Cinderella’s “wicked” stepmother was just a woman trying to hold her crumbling world together? This gorgeous reimagining tells the story from Lady Tremaine’s perspective — a woman fighting for respectability, struggling to secure her daughters’ futures, and navigating the impossible expectations of her world. Fairy tale retelling fans, prepare to have your sympathies thoroughly rearranged.
River of Bones and Other Stories by Rebecca Roanhorse
Saga Press
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A career-spanning short story collection from one of contemporary SFF’s most electrifying voices, featuring the Hugo and Nebula award-winning “Welcome to Your Authentic Indian Experience™” alongside a brand-new novella set in Roanhorse’s Sixth World universe. If you’ve been meaning to dive into Roanhorse’s work, this is a stunning entry point — and if you’re already a fan, the new Sixth World material alone makes this essential.
The Ascension of Souls by Bronte-Marie Wesson
Penguin Australia · Broken Cycle #1
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Two countries trapped in an endless cycle of war and reincarnation finally see that cycle break — and destiny itself begins to unravel. At the heart of the chaos is a forbidden romance between palace servant Luminara and newly anointed ruler Rianthran. Epic, layered, and rich with the kind of fate-vs.-free-will tension that fans of The Jasmine Throne will devour.
The Bounty of Blood and Nails by N.K. Brown
Devil’s Huntress #1
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A heartless bounty hunter cursed into servitude through blood magic gets sent to infiltrate the royal castle — disguised as a maid — to capture a prince. What could possibly go wrong? This dark romantic fantasy debut serves up morally complex characters, castle intrigue, and a slow-burn romance steeped in forbidden magic.
The Debtor’s Game by Isabelle Mongeau
Ballantine Books
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In the kingdom of Amyria, Faeries rule and mortals are born into magical servitude, their debt literally tattooed onto their skin. Servant Avery gets pulled into deadly palace politics, forced to balance loyalties between a cunning Lady and a soon-to-be king. This dark fantasy debut weaves sapphic themes into a world of high-stakes political intrigue and iron-clad magical contracts.
The Dragon and the Sun Lotus by Amélie Wen Zhao
Delacorte Press · The Three Realms #2
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The thrilling conclusion to the Three Realms duology plunges readers into an all-out war between the kingdoms of Night and Rivers as demonic forces breach the magical wards protecting the world. Protagonist Àn’yīng risks everything — including a forbidden love — to stop the devastation. If you loved the first book’s lush mythology, this finale raises every stake imaginable.
The Heartless One by Emma Hamm
The Gravesinger Series #2
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Princess Jessamine and the Deathless One, Elric, are back — this time leading a coven of witches into battle against a usurper who wants to harness the power of Elric’s fellow gods. USA Today bestselling author Emma Hamm continues her romantasy trilogy with higher stakes, divine romance, and epic magical battles that ACOTAR fans will eat up.
The Last Starborn Seer by Venetia Constantine
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Leilani Stellarion is cursed with volatile Starborn magic that grants prophetic visions but slowly corrupts her mind, and she’s been blamed for a wasting curse that fractured the realms. This richly detailed romantic fantasy follows her quest to reclaim her fate and clear her name in a world that has already condemned her.
The Library of Amorlin by Kalyn Josephson
Erewhon Books · The Age of Beasts #1
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New York Times bestselling author Kalyn Josephson makes her adult fantasy debut with the story of Kasira, a former con artist forced to hunt magical creatures for the kingdom of Kalthos, who finds herself orchestrating the con of a lifetime when tasked with infiltrating the mysterious Library of Amorlin. Clever schemes, slow-burn romance, and magical creatures — what more do you need?
The Monster Hunter Files, Volume 2 edited by Larry Correia and Jason Cordova
Baen Books · Monster Hunter International
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The Monster Hunter International universe expands with a new anthology packed with secret lore, mythical battles, and supernatural chaos from a roster of talented contributors. Whether you’re a longtime MHI devotee or looking for a fun anthology entry point into the series, this collection delivers the monster-slaying goods.
The Valley of Vengeful Ghosts by Kim Fu
Tin House
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Named a Most Anticipated Book of 2026 by TIME and Book Riot, Kim Fu’s latest blurs the line between the real and the spectral. After her mother’s death, Eleanor impulsively buys a model home in a valley with a shadowy history — and as an endless, torrential downpour sets in, the ghosts of her past begin to feel very, very present. Eerie, literary, and hauntingly atmospheric for readers who like their speculative fiction on the quieter, more unsettling side.
The Wind Weaver by Julie Johnson
Reign of Remnants #1
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Rhya Fleetwood is a halfling scheduled for execution in the magic-fearing realm of Anwyvn — until a mysterious commander saves her life and she discovers she’s a Remnant, one of four souls fated to restore magical balance to the world. Epic fantasy worldbuilding meets heart-pounding romance in this trilogy opener that’s been praised for its gripping prose and high stakes.
The Witch and the Wolf by Lindsey Kelk
Savannah Red #2
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Emily Bell has settled into life in Savannah — prophecies, family secrets, and all — but now she must hunt down fellow witches and unmask a mysterious lone wolf determined to destroy everything she loves. The Savannah Red series deepens its mythology with werewolf lore, coven politics, and the simmering tension of absent love interests becoming something far more dangerous.
To Cage a Wild Bird by Brooke Fast
Divided Fates #1
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In the dystopian city of Dividium, notorious bounty hunter Raven Thorne deliberately gets herself arrested to save her brother from a life sentence in the brutal prison Endlock. What she doesn’t plan on is the prison guard with mysterious motives who throws her entire mission — and her heart — into chaos. Dark, fierce, and full of enemies-to-lovers tension.
That’s the week, friends! From Pixar’s consciousness-hopping sci-fi to Gothic horror reimaginings to enough new fantasy books to build a small fortress, March is wasting no time delivering the goods. Let us know in the comments — what are you picking up first? We’re going to be juggling Hoppers tickets, Outlander tissues, and a truly unreasonable number of new books, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. Happy reading and watching! 💫
