Word-based magic techniques are fairly widespread in books. In truth, they’re one of many predominant classes of magic writers use within the fantasy style. Despite that, many authors take this widespread constructing block and create a few of the most original and magical tales you possibly can learn! Of course, that’s precisely what we’re speaking about immediately. But this record additionally features a twist. I didn’t solely select word-based magic techniques. I additionally selected so as to add tales which have book-based magic techniques. That signifies that in a few of these tales, the magical side revolves round particular books and never simply phrases normally.
Before we start, let’s take a fast have a look at word-based magic techniques. The gist of it’s that it requires the consumer to say a particular phrase or phrase. Spells are the most typical instance of word-based magic, however as you’ll see on this record they’re not the one type. Often, this magic requires realizing and talking the true identify of issues. This will be seen in books like Patrick Rothfuss’ The Name of the Wind.
Then there are tales with book-based magic techniques. To hold issues easy, this simply signifies that the magic comes from a particular e book (or books). Most tales with one of these magic use grimoires or some form of spellbook that the characters learn from. But you may also be taught magic by studying these books like in Vita Nostra.
So with that out of the best way, let’s check out eight incredible tales with word-based (or book-based) magic techniques!
Word-Based Magic Systems
A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab
We’re kicking issues off with a contemporary basic in word-based magic techniques. This e book truly has totally different sorts of magic, however the one Antari use comes from drawing their very own blood mixed with a particular phrase or phrase. For instance, As Travars means to journey, and it permits them to leap between parallel worlds.
A Darker Shade of Magic is the story of 1 such Antari named Kell. He’s a messenger (and unofficial smuggler) from Red London’s royal household. His life is turned the wrong way up when he stumbles upon a stone from Black London— a world that was closed off as a result of it principally destroyed itself. Enter our favourite thief: Delilah Bard. She steals the stone from Kell, and the 2 find yourself having the journey of their lives.
Babel by R.F. Kuang
Look, I’ll hold gushing over Babel for years to return. It simply got here out and is definitely certainly one of my all-time favourite fantasy books, and it simply occurs to have some of the distinctive word-based magic techniques I’ve learn. That’s as a result of Babel’s magic comes from the act of translation. You have these silver bars inscribed with two or extra translations of 1 phrase. So when an individual fluent in each languages says the phrases, magic involves life.
The story follows a boy named Robin, who’s whisked away from Canton by an English professor and brought to Oxford’s Institute of Translation. There, Robin and his cohort change into instruments of colonization for the empire. Unhappy with how Britain makes use of foreigners to increase their energy, Robin joins the Hermes Society, which is devoted to thwarting the empire’s silver trade.
A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula Ok. Le Guin
Remember once I stated some magic techniques contain realizing the true names of issues? Well, that’s the case with A Wizard of Earthsea! In Le Guin’s e book, sorcerers should be taught the language of dragons with a view to forged magic. This is named the “language of the making” and it tells you somebody or one thing’s true identify.
The story follows a younger mage named Ged. In his youth, he exhibited nice energy so he joined a college of wizardry. Turns out, his starvation for energy will get the higher of him. While attempting to outwit his biggest tutorial rival, Ged unwittingly unleashes a fantastic shadow upon the land. The e book additionally follows him years later as he tries to proper his incorrect and restore stability to the world *wink wink*.
The First Binding by R.R. Virdi
The First Binding has a barely trickier word-based magic system so bear with me as I attempt to clarify it. The magic on this e book comes from the consumer’s thoughts and willpower. Magic customers should actually imagine in one thing with a view to manifest it. But on the identical time, they use these “bindings” or particular phrases/phrases of energy — which might then have an effect on their setting.
The story follows a person named Ari. In true Kingkiller vogue, he’s (or was) a legend. But now he’s a storyteller at The Three Tales Tavern. There, he meets a singer named Eloine and proceeds to inform her his complete life story. Including the time he buried the village of Ampur, killed their god — and launched the primary evil. But even within the current, Ari’s story and his quest are removed from over.
The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow
Alix E. Harrow’s first novel is a singular portal fantasy that’s positively based mostly round books/phrases. While the e book featured within the story isn’t magical by itself, it tells a incredible story that’s positively concerned with the magical side of the story. But that’s not why it’s on this record. The magic in The Ten Thousand Doors of January lets customers bend actuality and open doorways via the written phrase.
The story follows the titular January, a curious younger lady who lives in a giant mansion together with her strict guardian. When she was youthful she stumbled upon a blue door that led to a different world — however her guardian Cornelius went to nice pains to persuade her it wasn’t actual. Now, January stumbles upon a mysterious e book stuffed with journey that talks about doorways that result in different worlds. She believes it to be fiction at first, however quickly January realizes the depth of Cornelius’ lies.
Book-Based Magic Systems
The Reader by Traci Chee
The Reader has a brilliant enjoyable book-based magic system as a result of it revolves round, properly, studying. In a world the place books don’t actually exist and studying is unheard-of, studying an precise e book has the power to change and create totally different realities, which makes it the proper e book for this portion of the record.
The story follows a lady named Sefia, whose mother and father had been brutally murdered. Now she’s on the run together with her aunt Nan, caring for the particular rectangular object her mother and father labored onerous to guard. But then Nan is taken too, and the one clue Sefia has to her whereabouts lies in that e book. When Sefia units out to rescue Nan, she meets a boy named Archer and it looks as if destiny — as a result of each of their talents may change the world ceaselessly.
The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean
Okay so for this e book we’re mixing issues up somewhat. The magical side of The Book Eaters does come from books. But they’re not used to forged spells or be taught magic. Instead, the characters on this e book actually feed on tales. It’s a reasonably large a part of the plot too — in order that’s why it counts as a book-based magic system and deserves to be on this record.
The story follows a girl named Devon, who belongs to an outdated clan of e book eaters. She was raised on a strict weight-reduction plan of fairy tales and cautionary tales — which is the household’s means of controlling and shaping how their girls assume. But Devon’s life is turned the wrong way up when her son is born. His identify is Cai, and he has a harmful urge for food. Instead of feeding on tales, Cai feeds on minds. To save his life, Devon escapes with Cai. But their freedom comes at an unspeakable value that they won’t have the ability to pay.
Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson
Last however not least, we’re closing this record with a narrative that has a extra basic method to book-based magic techniques. Of course I’m speaking about grimoires! In this e book, sorcerers use these magical spellbooks with a view to forged their magic — however they’re thought of to be instruments of evil.
Sorcery of Thorns follows Elisabeth. She was raised in one of many Great Libraries that guard these magical grimoires — and in the future hopes to change into their warden. But every thing goes off the rails when somebody releases essentially the most harmful tome within the library. Elisabeth is implicated and with a view to escape punishment, she strikes a take care of a sorcerer named Nathaniel. Slowly however absolutely, the 2 begin to bond. Which makes Elisabeth query every thing she’s been taught about sorcery.
Don’t overlook to take a look at our record of art-based magic techniques! Or for extra common magical content material, take a dive into our SFF archives.
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