8 Fantasy Books with “No Rules, Just Vibes” Magic Systems

The magic in Sangu Mandanna’s novel looks like this nearly sentient, ineffable factor. It loves witches and likes once they use magic. It can often misbehave too!

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches follows Mika Moon, a witch hiding in plain sight. Or so she thinks. Because the inhabitants of Nowhere House have observed her on-line content material. And they’re in determined want of an grownup magic-user who can educate the three younger witches who reside there tips on how to management their powers. Which is how Mika results in the midst of a brand new and loving household.

Classic fantasy novels like The Lord of the Rings and even Game of Thrones usually have “just vibes” magic programs. But that is very true for Terry Pratchett’s Discworld sequence! In it, magic is completely unpredictable and might actually have a thoughts of its personal. The complete world is stuffed with unusual and infrequently foolish magical issues that provides to the comedy of the sequence — the place else would we discover sentient Luggage?

The sequence begins with The Color of Magic, which follows a hapless wizard named Rincewind. His life is without end modified when he stumbles upon the primary ever vacationer in Discworld. The vacationer’s title is Twoflower, and the 2 of them will journey the world over and get into the funniest adventures ever.

Moving on to a fantasy that is stuffed with pacts, illusions, ghosts, and most significantly: paper-cutting magic! This magical capacity permits folks to make paper-cut photos come to life. There’s no clarification as to why or how this works; it’s simply part of Jordan’s heritage. But it really works properly throughout the story.

The Chosen and the Beautiful is a retelling of The Great Gatsby, however advised from Jordan Baker’s standpoint. She’s a queer, Asian girl in Nineteen Twenties New York. Plus, she has paper-cutting magic. These artistic choices actually change the tone of the story, even for those who’re already acquainted with its beat. Sure, there’s Gatsby obsessed with getting Daisy again. Nick is there too. But due to the brand new particulars, the novel additionally turns into a narrative about privilege, racism, misogyny, and — in fact — the impossibility of the American Dream.

This is one other traditional instance of “just vibes” magic programs. We have wizards, witches, curses, a speaking fireplace demon, and a door that may portal you to completely different locations. The complete world on this novel is stuffed with magic, and also you by no means get a proof as to why or how precisely all of it operates. But you additionally don’t want one. The magic is tremendous whimsical and also you by no means query why.

Howl’s Moving Castle tells the story of Sophie. She’s destined for a quiet life, however every part modifications when she makes the notorious Witch of the Waste indignant. Now, cursed to seem like an previous girl, Sophie joins the ranks of the heartless Wizard Howl — hoping he’ll assist her break the spell.

At first look, it may not seem to be the magic on this novel is “just vibes.” It includes studying to jot down the gods’ language, which is a really exact and detailed course of for the characters within the story. To them, there is a longtime algorithm that have to be adopted for the magic to occur. But Jemisin purposely described the entire thing as little as attainable. So it actually turns into a “just vibes” magic system for us readers.

The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms follows an outcast named Yeine Darr. With her mom’s mysterious dying, Yeine is out of the blue summoned to the town of Sky the place she discovers she has a declare to the throne. The downside is, she’s not the one inheritor. This ends in an epic energy battle by which Yeine should be taught the intricacies of court docket if she desires to outlive.

Next, I typically suppose there’s one thing ineffable in regards to the magic programs in Alix E. Harrow’s books. But I significantly love how the Fractured Fables novellas offers you a multiverse of fairy tales on the market. There’s no clarification for it, or for a way the principle character can journey throughout worlds. It’s only a darkish and magical vibe — and it really works extremely properly. So, in fact, I needed to embody it on this listing!

A Spindle Splintered follows Zinnia Gray, who just isn’t purported to reside previous her twenty first birthday. Zinnia loves the Sleeping Beauty fairy story, as a result of it mimics her personal story — which is why her finest good friend has thrown her a Sleeping Beauty-themed occasion full with a spinning wheel. Of course, Zinnia pricks her finger, which unintentionally transports her to a different world — and one other sleeping magnificence who wants her assist.

Last however not least, the Montoya household is surrounded by an inexplicable magic on this novel. It has a nature vibe to it, with a girl who turns into a tree and a flower rising on one other girl’s chest. There’s additionally a supply for these blessings (no spoilers!) but it surely’s not defined in depth — making this an ideal “just vibes” magic system.

The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina follows the Montoyas, whose lives are turned the other way up when their matriarch summons them house after which transforms right into a tree. More particularly, it follows cousins Marimar, Rey, and Rhiannon. All of them have manifested unusual presents since Orquídea’s transformation. Seven years later, there’s a darkish determine choosing them off one after the other. So Rey, Marimar, and Rhiannon should uncover the secrets and techniques of their inheritance as a way to save what’s left of their household.