SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

Hi all!
I recently read a book with a really unique magic system and it has me wanting more.
I'm looking for recommendations for books with unique/interesting magic systems.
Like how Mistborn was about swallowing metals and burning them for different effects. That's unique and interesting.

Basically stuff that doesn't involve tossing fireballs and Harry Potter stuff.

Other things I like in books:

Female protagonists (not required, just preferred).
Strong women.
If there's a romance, it's believable.
Interesting worldbuilding.
Anything on Kindle Unlimited is a huge plus.

Triggers I want to avoid:

Rape
Body horror/torturing/maiming
Romantic partner death.


Thank you very much for any recommendations!

Hi Fox! I just want to say that I love your profile pic! :)

Besides Sanderson, my favorite magics that aren't dark so far are:

Sabriel. Hits all of your criteria. Strong woman protagonist who uses bells to control the dead. People get hurt, but it's not grimdark or anything graphic.

The Name of the Wind might work? It's not about women, but it's got a system with rules and such. It's sort of a love/hate book.

And most things by Tamora Pierce, specifically her Circle of Magic series. Unusual look at magic, and it's meant for younger people, so while it's fully enjoyable for adults, the plots are a bit less traumatic.

I've read the Name of the Wind. :) Thank you.
I forget why I didn't pick up Sabriel before. I'll look at it again.
I'll take a look at Tamora Pierce. Thank you!

The Glamourist Histories by Mary Robinette Kowal should be what you’re looking for. First one is Shades of Milk and Honey.

I haven’t read them but I’m given to understand the Parasol Protectorate by Gail Carriger is similar. First one is Soulless.

I second the Glamourist Histories series.

I recommend the Dreamblood duology, by NK Jemisin, starting with The Killing Moon.

I agree with Allison on Tamora Pierce. I fell in love with her books when my eldest was reading them when he was young. He’s 30 now and still gets excited when she releases a new one. So do I. I’m 55. In my opinion her books are not kids books but books that kids can read and are suitable for all ages. Sort of like a board game. Fun for people aged 8-80.

Another series: JY Yang's Tensorate series, starts with The Black Tides of Heaven. These are novellas, three so far, with an Asian-inspired setting.

Since you mentioned Kindle Unlimited, I'll recommend a lesser known one. Into the Labyrinth: Mage Errant Book 1 by John Bierce is the first in a series. It isn't finished yet, but the second one just came out a few days ago, and he seems to be writing them pretty fast. I'm actually reading the second one now and enjoying it.

It's got an interesting magic system that is heavily explored. It is set in a school for magic in a high fantasy world. The main character is male, but he has two strong female friends who share in his adventures. There wasn't anything too dark. There were some injuries and danger, but it's more YA in tone, so nothing crazy.

I think Jade City qualifies for most of the points. No rape, but they are gangsters set in a 1960 alternate world, so quite a bit of violence. Nothing gory.

The Penric and Desdemona novellas starting with Penric's Demon. I think they meet many of your criteria to some extent.

Many thanks to the responders! I have a growing list to try and I'm excited. This has been what I'm bingeing right now and I don't know a lot to answer it.

Now I seem to have plenty!

I was going to posit another example of what I'm liking.

This book has a super interesting magic system in which the people with magic have power because they are leaders and people believe in them. There's also spirits bound in things to give them power. Recommended for really good writing and storytelling too. I think 4 are out so far, but they're a re-release and are coming out very fast (like, 4 since December). Also all in Kindle Unlimited.

I really loved the magic in a couple others I've read recently but I can't recommend them due to other issues. One of them was great for 80% of the book, then suddenly went super grimdark right at the end with no kind of warning and it broke my head for a few days.
The other turned out to be by an anti-gay author and I was so sad.

Mistborn was one of the first books like that which really grabbed me and made me say "DIFFERENT magic". I read it a couple years ago after loving Sanderson's Stormlight Archive , then re-read it and the newer series of Mistborn Era 2 last year. Really love the different magic style.
Since then I've stumbled upon a few others with unique magic and I realized I have a taste for it.

Jim Butcher's had interesting magic, but overall, I didn't like his writing in this series as much as I did in Dresden Files. Using the Furies for magic was interesting, but this still wasn't as unique as I am thinking of.

I read one that was rather fairytale like and really enjoyed it too. Not something I'd have expected, but I think that depends on one's definition of fairytale. This wasn't like Grimm's but neither was it kiddy. It felt like an adult's fairytale. The unique magic in that one was the one that kicked off my need for more of the same.

Another fairytale-esque novel I remember reading was
But there wasn't really magic in it.

And I like supporting Indie authors, quite a lot. I just tend to have a lot of DNF's from the ones that don't have any kind of editing or have no idea how to pace a story, etc.

Everyone has to learn. I don't want to discourage anyone. But that's how I am about my reading. I think I'm rather exacting because I'm not a fast reader. I subvocalize everything and generally always visualize every scene.

Anyway, I appreciate the answers, and welcome more.
Just thought I'd add a couple of my own since I realized I didn't.

I'd suggest The Black Prism, it's got loads of what you talk about. Very unique magic system. The main person is a male, but there are strong females in these books, and it's got whole chapters for them (at least in the series as a whole, can't remember if it's in the first book).

Stupid Fox wrote: "Hi all!
I recently read a book with a really unique magic system and it has me wanting more.
I'm looking for recommendations for books with unique/interesting magic systems.
Like how Mistborn was..."

Brian McClellan's Gods of Blood and Powder series, start with Sins of Empire. It is his second trilogy after the Powder Mage trilogy set in the same world, but this one has female main character. Interesting magic, one of them is the use of gunpowder by 'powder mages' to shoot/blow things up. Well, actually the first trilogy has one female POV.

Anthony Ryan's Draconis Memoria trilogy, start with The Waking Fire. Has some industrial/steampunk flavor to it, magic comes from dragon blood ingestion (different dragon type different power, kinda like Mistborn). One of the POVs is basically a magical Jane Bond.

I totally adored the geology based magic system in J.K. Jemisin's Broken Earth trilogy, The Fifth Season - yet I fear it is on the dark and depressing side and contains the body maiming trigger.

Gabi wrote: "I totally adored the geology based magic system in J.K. Jemisin's Broken Earth trilogy, The Fifth Season - yet I fear it is on the dark and depressing side and contains the body mai..."

yes....and rape too.

Gabi wrote: "I totally adored the geology based magic system in J.K. Jemisin's Broken Earth trilogy, The Fifth Season - yet I fear it is on the dark and depressing side and contains the body mai..."

Yes, it has all the triggers Stupid Fox wants to avoid, which is why I didn’t recommend it.

Jonas wrote: "I'd suggest The Black Prism, it's got loads of what you talk about. Very unique magic system. The main person is a male, but there are strong females in these books, and it's got who..."


I agree that Black Prism has an interesting magical system but, FWIW, I did not care for how the female characters were treated...

I think they're looking for a cozy fantasy like A Wizard of Earthsea

Ooh! Daniel José Older's Shadowshaper books have a really cool magic system that involves art, and to my recollection the books don't have the things you're trying to avoid.

The Alepennia books by Heather Rose Jones are alt history with magic that's linked to religious ritual. Plus well-written lesbian romances (and all of the protagonists are women).

And Max Gladstone's Craft Sequence books have some awesome female protagonists, a super unique magic system, and cool world-building. My recommendation is to start with Three Parts Dead (first in pub order, although not first chronologically).

And if you haven't read Wizard of Earthsea, that's definitely one I would recommend.

(While personally I love all of N.K. Jeminsin's books, I'm not sure there's any I can think of that don't hit at least one of your triggers - the Dreamblood books probably have fewer than the Broken Earth trilogy, but my recollection is that there is both rape and some creepy body stuff.)

An Alchemy of Masques and Mirrors fits the bill!! Great female protagonist, interesting magic system, no major triggers. Lots of fun!

The Invisible Library is a pretty good fit, too. I’ve only read that and the first sequel, The Masked City, but Cogman seems to be cranking them out.

Female protagonist, no SO death, interesting world(s), action but no sexual assault.

Kaa wrote: "...While personally I love all of N.K. Jeminsin's books, I'm not sure there's any I can think of that don't hit at least one of your triggers - the Dreamblood books probably have fewer than the Broken Earth trilogy, but my recollection is that there is both rape and some creepy body stuff. ..."

I recommended Dreamblood books based on the interesting magic system (bodily humors) and strong female protagonist(s), but you are right there is violence and some body issues in them (don't remember rape, but it's probable too). Compared to the Broken Earth books they are like a walk in the park, but they do have some aspects that might not appeal to the original poster.

I'm going to second:
The Old Kingdom/Abhorsen series (Sabriel)
Glamourist Histories (Shades of Milk and Honey)
Parasol Protectorate (Soulless)
and The Invisible Library.

I'm also going to add
The Mrs Quent trilogy (The Master of Heathcrest Hall)
The Paper Magician trilogy (with the caveat that the romance is a little insta but the magic system is very unique)
Study series (Poison Study)
and the Witches and Tiffany Aching series of Discworld books.

Meredith wrote: "Kaa wrote: "...While personally I love all of N.K. Jeminsin's books, I'm not sure there's any I can think of that don't hit at least one of your triggers - the Dreamblood books probably have fewer ..."

I rated the second Dream blood book quite low, among others due to a violent incest rape scene (and some others) that added nothing to the story. I really liked the first book though, and I think it could be read as a standalone. The magic system is indeed interesting.

Everything I've read by Diana Wynne Jones fits your criteria particularly the Chrestomanci series and the Derkholm duology.

Some others to consider would be Patricia C Wrede's Dealing with Dragons and Mairelon the Magician.

And, of course, Discworld is always a good choice! :)

Sachi wrote: "They are not available on Kindle unlimited but I can send you the links to the kindle file if you're interested"

I'm assuming you mean links to a legal bookstore where the Kindle books are sold.