Best Magic School Fantasy Books

Harry Potter

by Rowling, J. K.

It would be impossible to make this list without placing Harry Potter at the top. In many ways, it’s the ultimate school fantasy, filled with magic and inspiring generations of children. It started as a simple tale of...

Kingkiller Chronicle (Kingkiller Chronicle)

by Rothfuss, Patrick

The Kingkiller Chronicles has multiple magic systems, and the first won’t excite at first glance. As in The Wizard of Earthsea, certain magicians can create powerful magic by learning the true name of something. The d...

A Wizard Of Earthsea (The Earthsea Cycle) Start here

by Guin, Ursula K. Le

Today, Ursula K. Le Guin’s magic system may not sound exceptional. Like many, it uses the knowledge of true names to control elements, creatures, and even humans. Consider, however, that this book was published in 196...

Red Rising (not Magic, But Hunger Games Survival Meets School Setting With Some Fantasy Elements) (Red Rising Trilogy)

by Brown, Pierce

Books in this sub-genre focus almost entirely on magic, but Red Rising stands in stark contrast to that. Part dystopia, part sci-fi fantasy, Red Risingfocuses on the story of a relatively ordinary citizen who seeks to...

Sabriel (Abhorsen) Start here

by Nix, Garth

Garth Nix's Sabriel is marketed to the young adult audience but easily appeals to a wider readership. Fantastic world-building paints both the realm of Ancelstierre, and The Old Kingdom, where 'Free magic' reigns. Separa...

The Magicians (The Magicians) Start here

by Grossman, Lev

A prequel novel about a high school senior who is admitted to a school for gifted children, for a magical education in upstate New York. A typical quest story that turns dark. Things are not black and white in this world and the characters are psychologically rich.

School fantasy is often aimed at children, and it's very successful at hitting that market. It's much harder to appeal exclusively to adults, and that's where The Magicians shines. Rather than the typical twelve-year-old...

Blood Song (Raven's Shadow) Start here

by Ryan, Anthony

One of the best fantasy novels in recent times, Blood Song also happens to have many school-like elements. Left as a child at the gates of the Sixth Order, Vaelin Al Sorna joins a secular group of holy warriors and fo...

Lightbringer Series (Lightbringer)

by Weeks, Brent

Brent Week’s Lightbringer series has everything going for it. Complex and unique characters, a fantastic magic system, and hundreds of actions scenes. It’s epic in length and in execution, and part of it comes from the...

Chronicle Of The Unhewn Throne (Chronicle Of The Unhewn Throne)

by Staveley, Brian

The emperor is dead and the empire in turmoil. With these dark scenes, Stavely’s series opens, and things don’t let up from there. A son and heir, Valyn is training with a renowned mercenary force, but even then, he is...

Sufficiently Advanced Magic (Arcane Ascension)

by Rowe, Andrew

With his ambitious title, Andrew Rowe promises a complex magic system, and he delivers on it. Despite its status as a LitRPG, the book moves outside of traditional magic systems and introduces one that’s very unique....

The Rithamatist (The Rithmatist)

by Sanderson, Brandon

The Rithmatist’s magic system has been likened to a real-time strategy game, if it incorporated chalk, and it was a life or death situation. Rithmastists use their magic to give life to glyphs, imbuing creatures with...

The Black Magician (Black Magician)

by Canavan, Trudi

A modern reinvention of the classic ‘rags-to-riches’ story, Trudi Canavan’s series is easily digestible and has engaging world-building and magic systems. In the city of Imardin, magicians gather each year to drive...

Imager Portfolio (Imager Portfolio)

by Jr., L. E. Modesitt

Imager Portfolio may not be L.E. Modesitt Jr’s most original fantasy, but it undoubtedly fits the sub-genre. Set in the nation of Solidar, it follows Rhennthyl, a wool master’s son. A dedicated master artisan, his p...

Nevernight (The Nevernight Chronicle) Start here

by Kristoff, Jay

Nevernight just missed our assassin fantasy list, but thankfully it fits this sub-genre too. Jay Kristoff tells, in thick prose, the story of outcast to assassin. Mia is aa traitor who, after her father’s failed rebe...

Red Sister (Book Of The Ancestor) Start here

by Lawrence, Mark

Often, novels focus on the evolution of characters from total nobodies into well-respected and lauded magicians. They shed their peasant heritage and earn a place among the elite. With Red Sister, Mark Lawrence refuse...

Furies Of Calderon (Codex Alera) Start here

by Butcher, Jim

What happens to soldiers after the war is fought? This book tells the story of five veterans and some secrets too.

Most of theitems on this list made it thanks to their unique ideas. Instead, Codex Alera takes a system familiar to millions of children. While many authors claim inspiration from Tolkien or Jordan, Butcher takes his...

Percy Jackson (Percy Jackson And The Olympians) Start here

by Riordan, Rick

The series begins with the revelation that Percy is actually the son of Poseidon. Adventure on the scale of Greek myth ensues.

Most of our readers will have heard of this title already, so I'll keep the explanations short. Percy Jackson and the Olympians is exactly what its title suggests. A boy of twelve, Percy finds himself seeing things t...

Seven Realms

by Chima, Cinda Williams

Cinda Williams Chima has hit the bestseller list numerous times, and for good reason. She’s one of the best young adult fantasy authors around, and Seven Realms is among her highest-rated series. Part of that is down...

Circle Of Magic (Circle Of Magic) Start here

by Pierce, Tamora

Tamora Pierce is one of the most respected women in fantasy, but attention tends to focus on her Song of the Lioness series. With Circle of Magic, she ventures into young adult territory, but not in the usual sense....

The Worst Witch (The Worst Witch) Start here

by Murphy, Jill

With the roaring success of Harry Potter, it’s easy to forget more classic novels that fit the bill. The Worst Witch has been part of children’s upbringings for generations, spurring TV spinoffs and more. Firstly, th...

Royal Institute Of Magic (Royal Institute Of Magic) Start here

by Kloss, Victor

If you enjoyed Harry Potter, you’ll enjoy this series just as much, but that’s not to say they’re the same. Royal Institute of Magic does have a school, mythical creatures, and a sense of wonder, but it also goes furth...