10 Best Magical School Themed Fantasy Books!
If you're anything like me, you cannot resist the allure of magical school themed fantasy books. Who doesn't love diving into a fantastical world full of enchanting spells, mythical creatures, wondrous world-building, and nail-biting adventures? Not to mention, they provide a much-needed escape from the mundaneness of our non-magical schools and mundane lives. As a voracious reader and dedicated fantasy enthusiast, I have been on a quest to scout out the cream of the crop when it comes to magical academy narratives.
From timeless classics to some hidden gems, I have curated a list of ten magical school themed fantasy books that are simply must-reads for any fan of the genre. Each book is filled with rich, immersive worlds, fascinating magic systems, compelling characters, and plots that will keep you on the edge of your seat (or snug under your blanket). Whether you're in a mood for brooding antiheroes, ingenious heroines, machinations of destiny, or simply the thrill of a new spell, this list has you covered. So pour yourself a cup of hot cocoa, snuggle up with a blanket, and prepare to be taken on a fantastical journey that you won't be able to put down!
『Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Harry Potter, Book 1)』
Harry Potter has never been the star of a Quidditch team, scoring points while riding a broom far above the ground. He knows no spells, has never helped to hatch a dragon, and has never worn a cloak of invisibility. All he knows is a miserable life with the Dursleys, his horrible aunt and uncle, and their abominable son, Dudley - a great big swollen spoiled bully. Harry's room is a tiny closet at the foot of the stairs, and he hasn't had a birthday party in eleven years. But all that is about to change when a mysterious letter arrives by owl messenger: a letter with an invitation to an incredible place that Harry - and anyone who reads about him - will find unforgettable.
Author | J. K. Rowling |
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Price | unknown |
Publisher | Scholastic Incorporated |
Release Date | May 02, 2023 |
Source | Google Books |
『The School for Good and Evil』
Best friends Sophie (princess wannabe) and Agatha (witchy loner) are headed (via kidnapping) to the School for Good and Evil, but their assumed destinies are reversed: Sophie's dumped into the School for Evil for Uglification and Henchmen Training classes, while Agatha attends Princess Etiquette and Animal Communication at the School for Good, and when a certain prince charming (son of King Arthur) is thrown into the mix, anything can happen! 150,000 first printing.
Author | Soman Chainani |
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Price | unknown |
Publisher | Harpercollins Childrens Books |
Release Date | May 14, 2013 |
Source | Google Books |
『Carry On』
During his last year at Watford School of Magicks, Simon Snow, the Chosen One, faces a magic-eating monster wearing his face, a break-up, and a missing nemesis.
Author | Rainbow Rowell |
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Price | unknown |
Publisher | Wednesday Books |
Release Date | May 09, 2017 |
Source | Google Books |
『Amari and the Night Brothers』
New York Times bestseller! Artemis Fowl meets Men in Black in this exhilarating debut middle grade fantasy, the first in a series filled with #blackgirlmagic. Perfect for fans of Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky, the Percy Jackson series, and Nevermoor. Amari Peters has never stopped believing her missing brother, Quinton, is alive. Not even when the police told her otherwise, or when she got in trouble for standing up to bullies who said he was gone for good. So when she finds a ticking briefcase in his closet, containing a nomination for a summer tryout at the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs, she’s certain the secretive organization holds the key to locating Quinton—if only she can wrap her head around the idea of magicians, fairies, aliens, and other supernatural creatures all being real. Now she must compete for a spot against kids who’ve known about magic their whole lives. No matter how hard she tries, Amari can’t seem to escape their intense doubt and scrutiny—especially once her supernaturally enhanced talent is deemed “illegal.” With an evil magician threatening the supernatural world, and her own classmates thinking she’s an enemy, Amari has never felt more alone. But if she doesn’t stick it out and pass the tryouts, she may never find out what happened to Quinton. Plus don't miss the thrilling sequel, Amari and the Great Game!
Author | B. B. Alston |
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Price | $7.99 |
Publisher | HarperCollins |
Release Date | Jan 19, 2021 |
Source | Google Books |
『A Deadly Education』
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the author of Uprooted and Spinning Silver comes the first book of the Scholomance trilogy, the story of an unwilling dark sorceress who is destined to rewrite the rules of magic. FINALIST FOR THE LODESTAR AWARD • “The dark school of magic I’ve been waiting for.”—Katherine Arden, author of the Winternight Trilogy I decided that Orion Lake needed to die after the second time he saved my life. Everyone loves Orion Lake. Everyone else, that is. Far as I’m concerned, he can keep his flashy combat magic to himself. I’m not joining his pack of adoring fans. I don’t need help surviving the Scholomance, even if they do. Forget the hordes of monsters and cursed artifacts, I’m probably the most dangerous thing in the place. Just give me a chance and I’ll level mountains and kill untold millions, make myself the dark queen of the world. At least, that’s what the world expects. Most of the other students in here would be delighted if Orion killed me like one more evil thing that’s crawled out of the drains. Sometimes I think they want me to turn into the evil witch they assume I am. The school certainly does. But the Scholomance isn’t getting what it wants from me. And neither is Orion Lake. I may not be anyone’s idea of the shining hero, but I’m going to make it out of this place alive, and I’m not going to slaughter thousands to do it, either. Although I’m giving serious consideration to just one. With flawless mastery, Naomi Novik creates a school bursting with magic like you’ve never seen before, and a heroine for the ages—a character so sharply realized and so richly nuanced that she will live on in hearts and minds for generations to come. The magic of the Scholomance trilogy continues in The Last Graduate and The Golden Enclaves “The can’t-miss fantasy of fall 2020, a brutal coming-of-power story steeped in the aesthetics of dark academia. . . . A Deadly Education will cement Naomi Novik’s place as one of the greatest and most versatile fantasy writers of our time.”—BookPage (starred review) “A must-read . . . Novik puts a refreshingly dark, adult spin on the magical boarding school. . . . Readers will delight in the push-and-pull of El and Orion’s relationship, the fantastically detailed world, the clever magic system, and the matter-of-fact diversity of the student body.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Author | Naomi Novik |
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Price | unknown |
Publisher | National Geographic Books |
Release Date | May 04, 2021 |
Source | Google Books |
『Shadowspell Academy: The Culling Trials』
A Teenage Girl Torn from her Family Must Survive a Series of Deadly Trials to Earn her Place in a Dangerous School of Magic, from Bestselling Authors K.F. Breene and Shannon Mayer You don't choose The Academy. The Academy chooses you. I had no idea how those words would change my life, until the day the most dangerous man I’ve ever met waltzed onto my farm and left us a death sentence. My younger brother has been chosen for The Academy: the prestigious, secret school of magic hidden within the folds of our mundane world. A place where there’s no guarantee you’ll make it out alive. If he doesn't go, our entire family will be killed. It’s the same invitation my older brother received three years ago—and he never came home. The Academy has already killed one sibling, and I’ll be damned if they take another. So I do the only thing an older sister can: chop off my hair, strap on two bras to flatten the girls, and take my brother’s place. Magic and monsters are real. Assassins are coming for me, and the dead are prone to rise. What’s a girl faking it as a boy supposed to do? Being accepted into an elite school of magic, monsters, and assassins was not my idea of higher education. But here I am, fighting my way through the deadly physical and mental tests of the Culling Trials to claim my right to be taught. In a cutthroat world where no one is as they seem, the golden rule is simple: Trust no one. The Academy tells us we should just look out for ourselves. That we should leave the fallen behind and ask no questions. Not on my watch.
Author | Shannon Mayer/K. F. Breene |
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Price | unknown |
Publisher | Sky Pony |
Release Date | Nov 05, 2019 |
Source | Google Books |
『The Black Witch』
The New York Times bestselling series! “Maximum suspense, unusual magic—a whole new, thrilling approach to fantasy!” —Tamora Pierce, #1 New York Times bestselling author Powerful magic. A deadly legacy. A world at the edge of war. Prepare to be spellbound by fantasy series, The Black Witch Chronicles. Elloren Gardner is the spitting image of her grandmother, who drove back the enemy forces in the last Realm War. But while her people believe she will follow in her grandmother's footsteps and become the next Black Witch of prophecy, Elloren is devoid of power in a society that prizes magical ability above all else. When she is granted the opportunity to pursue her dream of becoming an apothecary, Elloren joins her brothers at Verpax University. But she soon realizes that the university may be the most treacherous place of all for the granddaughter of the Black Witch. As evil looms and the pressure to live up to her heritage builds, Elloren's best hope of survival may be among a secret band of rebels…if only she can find the courage to trust those she’s been taught to fear. Critics are raving about Laurie Forest’s incredible debut, The Black Witch: “Forest uses a richly imagined magical world to offer an uncompromising condemnation of prejudice and injustice.” —Booklist, starred review “A noteworthy debut.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review “Briskly paced, tightly plotted.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review Books in The Black Witch Chronicles: The Black Witch The Iron Flower The Shadow Wand The Demon Tide The Dryad Storm Wandfasted (ebook novella)* Light Mage (ebook novella)* * Also available in print in The Rebel Mages anthology
Author | Laurie Forest |
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Price | $8.99 |
Publisher | Harlequin |
Release Date | May 02, 2017 |
Source | Google Books |
『Vampire Academy (book 1)』
The international Number 1 bestselling Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead is NOW A MAJOR TV SERIES ON SKY AND NOW TV. Higher Learning. Higher Stakes. ONLY A TRUE BEST FRIEND CAN PROTECT YOU FROM IMMORTAL ENEMIES . . . Lissa Dragomir is a mortal vampire. She must be protected at all times from the fiercest and most dangerous vampires of all - the ones who will never die. Rose Hathaway is Lissa's best friend - and her bodyguard. Now, after two years of illicit freedom, they've been dragged back inside the iron gates of St. Vladimir's Academy. The girls must survive a world of forbidden romances, a ruthless social scene and terrifying night-time rituals. But above all, they must never let their guard down, lest the immortal vampires take Lissa - forever . . . 'Exciting, empowering and un-put-downable.' MTV's Hollywood Crush 'We're suckers for it!' - Entertainment Weekly Also available in the Vampire Academy series: Vampire Academy (Book 1) Vampire Academy: Frostbite (Book 2) Vampire Academy: Shadow Kiss (Book 3) Vampire Academy: Blood Promise (Book 4) Vampire Academy: Spirit Bound (Book 5) Vampire Academy: Last Sacrifice (Book 6) And don't miss the bestselling Vampire Academy spin-off series, Bloodlines: Bloodlines (Book 1) Bloodlines: The Golden Lily (Book 2) Bloodlines: The Indigo Spell (Book 3) Bloodlines: The Fiery Heart (Book 4) Bloodlines: Silver Shadows (Book 5) www.richellemead.com Facebook.com/VampireAcademyNovels Facebook.com/BloodlinesBooks
Author | Richelle Mead |
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Price | unknown |
Publisher | Penguin UK |
Release Date | May 26, 2009 |
Source | Google Books |
『Schooled in Magic』
Emily is a teenage girl pulled from our world into a world of magic and mystery by a necromancer who intends to sacrifice her to the dark gods. Rescued in the nick of time by an enigmatic sorcerer, she discovers that she possesses magical powers and must go to Whitehall School to learn how to master them. There, she learns the locals believe that she is a "Child of Destiny," someone whose choices might save or damn their world... a title that earns her both friends and enemies. A stranger in a very strange land, she may never fit into her new world... ...and the necromancer is still hunting her. If Emily can't stop him, he might bring about the end of days.
Author | Christopher G. Nuttall |
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Price | unknown |
Publisher | |
Release Date | Aug 15, 2014 |
Source | Google Books |
『Zodiac Academy』
I'm a Gemini. Impulsive. Curious. Headstrong. A twin. Heir to a throne I know nothing about. And it turns out, I'm Fae. But of course there's a catch - all I have to do to claim my birth right is prove that I'm the most powerful supernatural in the whole of Solaria. And sure, technically that's true as I'm the daughter of the Savage King. But the bit they didn't put in the brochure was that every single Fae in this Kingdom would claim my throne if they could. The school they've sent me to is both dangerous as sh*t and one helluva party. Vampires bite weaker students in the corridors, the Werewolf pack has orgies in the Wailing Wood at every full moon and don't even get me started on the dark and twisted ways the Sirens use their powers on people's emotions, or how my sinfully tempting Cardinal Magic teacher hosts detentions that leave people needing therapy. Classes are totally interesting if you manage to live through them. And that Gemini star sign I mentioned? It now determines my elemental magic and affects my destiny, so learning astrology is essential if I'm going to beat down my classmates - which is actively encouraged by the way. My biggest problem is the drool worthy Dragon shifter who has his eyes on my throne. He and his three psycho friends are determined to make my time here hell. All I've got to do is survive. But fate might have other ideas. Dammit, why couldn't I have gotten a letter to Hogwarts?
Author | Caroline Peckham/Susanne Valenti |
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Price | unknown |
Publisher | |
Release Date | Sep 08, 2021 |
Source | Google Books |
Well, there you have it, mates! My top-tier picks for magical school themed fantasy books. Each of these enchanting tales has a universe packed with spells, potions, mythical creatures, and of course, magical schools that will make you wish you had a letter of acceptance too. They are not just about the sorcery and wizardry; they teach us about friendship, bravery, and the sheer power of all things magical within us. They take us on exhilarating adventures with plot twists and turns that keep us on the edge of our seats. Each one is a wild ride and absolutely perfect for anyone looking for a bit of adventure from the comfort of their couch. Whether you're an avid fan of the genre or a newbie just diving into the world of magical fantasies, these books will undoubtedly have you spellbound. So, make a cup of tea, find a cozy spot and get ready to dive into these worlds infused with magic and wonder. Happy reading!
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