Sneak Peek: March 2026 Indie Next List

The March 2026 Indie Next List includes four Macmillan titles!

LADY TREMAINE by Rachel Hochhauser
9781250396341 | 3/3/26

“Hochhauser’s splendid debut retells the ‘Cinderella’ story from the stepmother’s perspective… Hochhauser grounds her tale with a convincing depiction of the medieval setting and offers a stirring exploration of maternal instinct and female strength. It’s a winner.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review

THE RED WINTER by Cameron Sullivan
9781250362766 | 2/24/26

“Sullivan’s debut blends history, fantasy, and horror in a tale that draws on real historical events involving the Beast of Gévaudan, which terrorized 18th-century France… Sullivan skillfully uses his characters’ humor to ease the narrative’s tension, but the shocking, bloody scenes force needed gasps to pause the impending doom that overlays their tale. An enthralling story of morally gray characters, scheming demons, and a bloodthirsty beast that will leave any uneaten hearts aching bittersweetly.”—Library Journal

WAIT FOR ME by Amy Jo Burns
9781250399304 | 3/3/26

“The novel is insightful in its depiction of complex relationships between women and of the grueling and sometimes dark sides of the music business… Two women learn that music and friendship can bloom from loss and hard times.”—Kirkus Reviews

THE BLOOD COUNTESS: Murder, Betrayal, and the Making of a Monster by Shelley Puhak
9781639732159 | 2/17/26

From the author of the national bestseller THE DARK QUEENS comes an incandescent work of true crime and feminist history about Elizabeth Bathory, the woman alleged to be the world’s most prolific female serial killer. Told and retold in many languages, the legend of the Blood Countess has consumed cultural imaginations around the world. But despite claims that Elizabeth Bathory tortured and killed as many as 650 girls, some have wondered if the Countess was herself a victim—of one of the most successful disinformation campaigns known to history. So, was Elizabeth Bathory a monster, a victim, or a bit of both? With the breathlessness of a whodunit, drawing upon new archival evidence and questioning old assumptions, Shelley Puhak traces the Countess’s downfall, bringing to life an assertive woman leader in a world sliding into anti-scientific, reactionary darkness—a world where nothing is ever as it seems. In this exhilarating narrative, Puhak renders a vivid portrait of history’s most dangerous woman and her tumultuous time, revealing just how far we will go to destroy a woman in power.