4 Magical Adult Fantasy Books to Read
For when you’ve outgrown Harry Potter.
The Harry Potter series was a staple of a fantasy, coming-of-age, love-overcomes-evil story for the past couple of generations.
However, what with J.K. Rowling’s latest actions and the fact that Harry Potter readers are a bit older at this point, there are other magically-inclined fantasy books for adults. Each of these books has unique characters and different takes on magic (rather than waving around a wand) that I personally found delightful.
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Perhaps one of my favorite books of all time, The Night Circus is a tantalizing tale of dueling magicians from an age-old rivalry and an odd circus that is only open at night. I fell in love with this book on the sheer descriptions of magic alone, but the plot itself is woven with romance and a stuttering timeline that spans between several characters before beautifully tying together at the end.
The Paper Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg
With a Victorian air, The Paper Magician starts with a young lady who is to apprentice with an older magician to learn the art of paper magic. Considering that not many magicians practice paper magic — as it’s not as glamorous as other types of magic — the protagonist is disappointed at being chosen as this particular magician’s apprentice. Through misunderstandings, deep conversations, and practicing together, the pair become close enough for the apprentice to muster up the courage and skills to save the magician from an old foe.
A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab
Magic and parallel universes — what more could a reader want? The first in a trilogy, A Darker Shade of Magic stars a protagonist with the magical ability to travel between three different Londons, all with various states of magic and courts themselves. The protagonist gets entangled with another who finds out about his traveling ability, coerces him to take her along, and together they must survive against deadlier magic that threatens all of the worlds.
A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik
This book actually just came out earlier this month, and I’m enjoying it so far! A school that literally teaches the lesson “survival of the fittest,” students must learn enough magic and skills to graduate and leave the school or be killed. Indeed, the “graduation ceremony” is the last level of the school where the students must fight the creatures intent on killing the students to absorb their magic. While I’m not finished with the book yet, I’m intrigued enough to keep going and see the end result of the protagonist’s life in the school.
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