TOP books and comics of 2025

You're probably wondering which books and comics from 2025 are actually worth it. Which ones would make it into the imago best-of selection? We were wondering the same thing! But how to go about it? We could rely on the opinions of our imago librarians, check our sales data, or spend a few hours with Uncle Google searching for reviews and rankings. We said yes to all of it! The result is this list, which combines all the methods mentioned above.

Best fantasy and sci-fi books of 2025

Let's start with classic fiction. The end of last year was absolutely dominated by Andrzej Sapkowski and his prequel to The Witcher. Rozcestí krkavců topped almost every local fantasy chart. Readers simply still want and love Geralt (even if Netflix might make it seem otherwise), and the book received mostly positive reviews from critics as well. Check out our blog review.

The Legie series by František Kotleta and Kristýna Sněgoňová reached its climax. The saga of Captain Bouchač and Lord Mrdák has come to an end. Is this the greatest space adventure since the Big Bang? Joe Abercrombie scored big with his new novel The Devils. Joe is a master of dark fantasy, where there is no shortage of interesting characters and a solid dose of hell.

American author Christie Golden brought a breath of fresh air to the World of Warcraft universe. The novel The Shattering maps the history of Azeroth just before the iconic Cataclysm. And it's an epic ride! The selection concludes with a truly unconventional fantasy piece that combines a story with a manual. Sixteen Ways to Defend a Walled City is an original book about a desperate defense against overwhelming odds.

Best comics of 2025

The Witcher ruled the comic scene last year as well. First, readers were captivated by the new volume of the Witcher comic series, and then Malá zaklínačka from the Mytago publishing house took over. This collection of funny short stories describing the troubles of raising little Ciri was so charming that the first print run sold out almost immediately. Luckily, a reprint is on the way.

In 2025, we finally got a new Alien comic series! The first volume, Bloodlines, was a surprise, even though not much was expected from it. The result is a great sci-fi with beautiful art and an interesting story. Since we have our favorite drooling pet here, we can't forget his friend, the Predator! In the comic Predator vs. Wolverine, he unsurprisingly faces off against Wolverine. And it will be a beautifully bloody spectacle!

The comic selection closes with the re-release of the legendary comic Sláine: The Horned God. It is epic, beautifully illustrated, dark, bloody—simply a treat for every comic fan.

Best manga of 2025

So much manga is being published now that it definitely deserves its own category. Things with tentacles are popular in Japan. It's no wonder that another adaptation of a work by H. P. Lovecraft made it into the top list. This time, it's the famous story The Lurking Fear and Other Stories by H. P. Lovecraft.

The Solo Leveling series is currently among the top tier. It's a story about rising from the very bottom to the absolute peak in a modern world connected to a fantasy dimension. The fantasy series Frieren: Beyond Journey's End is similar, telling the story of what it's like to return home after an epic quest. The lonely elf Frieren sets out on a new journey after the death of her human friends to better understand the brevity of human life and reconnect with the soul of her fallen companion. It's a melancholic journey about time, memories, and learning to love people she previously took for granted. And we definitely shouldn't forget the Made in Abyss series, which saw its first volume published in Czech in 2025.

The manga selection concludes with a treat from the famous anime creator Hayao Miyazaki, who is behind the success of the even more famous Studio Ghibli. Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind combines magical fantasy with a post-apocalyptic world.

Best books outside the box

For the finale, I saved various art books, cookbooks, and simply books that don't fit into standard categories.

The beautifully crafted The Atlas of Middle-earth scored big here. Who would have expected a collection of maps and sketches to become such a hit! Credit goes to author Karen Wynn Fonstad, who enriched the maps with engaging text full of interesting facts. The equally beautifully crafted book The Witcher - The Continent performed similarly, where you can learn everything about the world of Geralt and his crew.

World of Warcraft appears in our selection for the second time. The Czech version of the fourth volume of the illustrated Chronicles is a sure bet!

Finally, I must highlight the Fallout – The Official Cookbook from our Mytago publishing house. On over 180 pages, you will find over 70 recipes inspired by the post-apocalyptic world of Fallout, written with taste, a pinch of humor, and loyalty to the game universe from Bethesda Game Studios.

author Karel Krajča