Sabaa Tahir Has Begun Writing New Adult Fantasy Novel

The award-winning author is currently crafting a story centered on the nature of power.

Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Books

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of an iron crown resting in dark ink, symbolizing the nature of power. — Author Sabaa Tahir has announced the development of a new adult fantasy novel that will explore the corrupting nature of power. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Author Sabaa Tahir has announced she is working on a new adult fantasy novel. Her upcoming project will explore themes of conflict and whether power corrupts.

Why it matters

The new project continues Tahir's exploration of complex themes like colonization and corruption. These topics have defined her previous work, which earned her the 2022 National Book Award.

Tahir is a 2022 National Book Award winner for Young People's Literature. Her writing career includes the An Ember in the Ashes quartet and the Heir duology, which concluded with the book Empire.

The players

Sabaa Tahir

She is an acclaimed novelist known for the An Ember in the Ashes quartet and the Heir duology.

Nicola Yoon

She is a fellow author who will be appearing at an upcoming event with Sabaa Tahir in Huntington Beach.

The details

Tahir is developing a fantasy setting to examine how power influences individuals and societies. While she focuses on this new work, she has expressed an intent to return to the Martial Empire setting in the future.

Tahir won the National Book Award for Young People's Literature in 2022.
New book releases are anticipated in the timeframe of October 2026.

Industry Dynamics

Tahir's transition into new adult fantasy follows her success with established series like An Ember in the Ashes and the Heir duology. This move reflects a broader trend of celebrated authors expanding their thematic scope while maintaining a consistent fan base.

Readers can anticipate new narrative content from the author around October 2026. Fans also have the opportunity to see the author in person at an upcoming scheduled event in Huntington Beach.

The takeaway

Authors often use fantasy as a medium to probe complex societal issues like the nature of power and corruption. Readers interested in these themes should look for upcoming release dates to see how these concepts evolve in new works.