The best fantasy novels with original, innovative magic systems

This book was my introduction to Bardugo’s work and I would argue it stands among her best. Six of Crows’ greatest selling points are the compelling plot that involves heists, intrigue, and shifting allegiances, the magic system of the Grishaverse, and the chemistry among the cast of characters.

The worldbuilding and relationship dynamics in her books directly influenced aspects that I explore in my book. Additionally, the magic system is organized and medium on the complexity scale. There exist magic users known as Grisha that fall under three main divisions of magic. While the basic elements are established in a separate trilogy within the same world, Six of Crows expands the world by introducing more viable threats to Grisha and demonstrating the feats that magic explores—upping the stakes.

I’ve always adored retellings, whether of the mythology or fairytale variety, and I encountered this feminist YA retelling of Snow White. Girls Made of Snow and Glass explores themes of grief, trauma, and complex relationships between women when they are put into competition. 

However, the magic system stands out to me. While the book could have easily done the genre-approved staple of following a purely fantastical explanation for magic, the mechanism that magic exists in for the story takes on a more scientific approach. The spells and rituals reminded me of alchemy and the lines between practical experimentation and magic blurred in a fascinating way. The feats of glass hearts that render people unable to love and making life out of snow blew me away.

Set in a fantasy world inspired by North African folklore and mythology, A River of Royal Blood creates the perfect environment for magic not seen in the mainstream literary fiction.

Within the story, magic plays an integral part in the conflict known as the “Rival Heir” tradition, where the female heirs to the throne must fight one another to the death when the youngest turns of age. Only one of them can be queen. The magic is their greatest tool but is somehow Eva’s greatest curse as no one knows how to use her magic, least of all her. And when more than just her older sister wants her dead because of her powerful magic, I was on the edge of my seat and impatiently awaiting a sequel.

A story with magic and mystery, like my first book, Daughter of the Burning City is unlike any book I have read. The magic system within the book is called “Jynx-work” and the users of the magic often inhabit the traveling city circus of Gomorrah Festival, a place of vice and sin shunned by the more pious world around them. 

Sorina is the first illusion worker in years. She creates tangible illusions, ones with personalities and free will to exist outside of her control. But when they start dying like real people would in a series of gruesome murders, there appears more to Sorina’s magic than meets the eye. I love magic mysteries because they keep readers engaged and wanting to unravel the questions left behind during shocking twists.

Retellings are some of my favorite fantasy stories as they rely on new, inventive ways to spin the same yarn. Little Thieves is a reimagining of the Goose Girl from the perspective of the original villain as our main character. Vanja is the goddaughter of Death and Fortune, two of the goddesses in a pantheon with deities who represent abstract concepts like Time and Justice. 

Vanja has spent her life conning and stealing like when she steals the identity of her former friend, Princess Giselle, and steals from the haughty nobles. She maintains these three identities by using magic pearls that change her appearance. But the story truly begins when Vanja is cursed to either return what she has stolen or be consumed by her greed.