The best warlock books (picked by 9,000+ authors)

What The Hex

By Jessica Clare,

From the list on reads to make you swoon.

By Rachel Corsini Author

Why did Rachel love this book?

This book is a joy from start to finish! The writing is quippy, lighthearted, and witty.

I loved this story so much for it’s perfect exploration of the sunshine grump trope. Penny and Willem are a delight! I also really enjoyed the way Clare weaved in magic into a mundane world. It was easy to understand and was also incredibly believable.

What The Hex

By Jessica Clare,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked What The Hex as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

One of Amazon's Best Romances of April!

Enemies-to-lovers has never been more enchanting in this witchy romantic comedy from the New York Times bestselling author of Go Hex Yourself.

Penny Roundtree wants nothing more than to be a familiar to a witch. She’s been a member of the Society of Familiars ever since she was old enough to join the Fam. There’s just a small problem—no one’s hiring. Witches and warlocks are so long-lived that there are far more familiars available than witches to train them. So when an unorthodox arrangement to apprentice under the table to a forbidden warlock…

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Warlock

By Wilbur Smith,

From the list on historical fiction depicting premodern battle.

By William Havelock Author

Why did William love this book?

Wilbur Smith, who sadly passed in November 2021, trailblazed adventure writing. While The River God is perhaps his most memorable entry in his Ancient Egypt series, Warlock is stuffed with descriptions of military training and combat. I particularly enjoyed ‘The Red Road’ sequence – while not battle-focused, Mr. Smith took pains to unpack the various modes of fighting available to contemporary Bronze Age Egyptians.

Smith’s detailing of chariot-centered battle would satisfy everyone from engineers to historians - particularly in Warlock’s climax. Javelins and bows hurtling from hundreds of chariots makes for a unique style of combat that is difficult to acquire elsewhere – as is the struggles of engaging in mass military operations when surrounded by desert.

Warlock

By Wilbur Smith,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Warlock as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

BOOK 3 IN THE BESTSELLING ANCIENT EGYPT SERIES, BY THE MASTER OF ADVENTURE, WILBUR SMITH

'Best historical novelist' - Stephen King

'A master storyteller' - Sunday Times

'Wilbur Smith is one of those benchmarks against whom others are compared' - The Times

'No one does adventure quite like Smith' - Daily Mirror

A RULER DRIVEN BY GREED
THE FUTURE OF EGYPT AT STAKE
ONLY ONE MAN HAS THE POWER TO RESTORE BALANCE

In his long life, Taita has gone from slave to warlock, and now his wisdom and abilities are known throughout the kingdom. But even his immense skills cannot…

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Daughter of the Blood

By Anne Bishop,

From the list on fantasy to read again and again.

By Trudie Collins Author

Why did Trudie love this book?

This is the first in the Blood Jewels series, all of which you will want to read again and again. The characters are so addictive you just want to keep reading about them. The story draws you into a world you can lose yourself in and the way magic works doesn’t rely on spells, but on the strength of the person wielding it. You won’t be able to stop yourself from reading every book in the series. For me, the sign of a good book is it contains a character to fall in love with. This has a few.

Daughter of the Blood

By Anne Bishop,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Daughter of the Blood as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

*NOW CELEBRATING IT'S 25TH YEAR IN PRINT!*

In the first novel in New York Times bestselling author Anne Bishop’s beloved Black Jewels Trilogy, a race of witches and warlocks whose power is channeled through magical jewels will meet their once and future queen…

Seven hundred years ago, a Black Widow witch saw an ancient prophecy come to life in her web of dreams and visions. Now the Dark Kingdom readies itself for the arrival of its Queen, a Witch who will wield more power than even the High Lord of Hell himself. But she is still young, still open to…

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The Horse King

By Richard A. Knaak,

From the list on new fantasy worlds.

By D. Dalton Author

Why did D. love this book?

While hungry for really any fantasy book, I got into the Dragonrealm series just after it had gone out of print, so I had a lot of fun and rushes of victory scouring all the secondhand bookstores to find any book I could, even out of order. It’s a little dated and cheesy now, considering that the main character’s name is Bedlam, but if you can find a copy, it’s a fun trip down memory lane.

The Horse King

By Richard A. Knaak,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Horse King as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

When Darkhorse receives word that the son of the great warlock, Cabe Bedlam, has been lured into captivity in the land of Zuu, the magical steed determines to rescue his young friend and stop his enemies' sorcery. Original.

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The Tower's Alchemist

By Alesha Escobar, Amanda Lyons (editor),

From the list on stories featuring a strong female character.

By Devorah Fox Author

Why did Devorah love this book?

I was fascinated with the heroine Isabella and enjoyed watching her grow throughout this series. In Book 1, The Tower's Alchemist, she is like most young women her age. She could be content to spend her time having fun with friends, reading brides' magazines, and planning a future with the man she loves. But the world is at war and the good guys need her for her unique and particular talents. She accepts what she thinks will be her last mission. It’s no small task; she aims to stop the Nazis from deploying a monstrously deadly bio-weapon. The secret service she works for and the bio-warfare were inspired by actual WWII events which made the story even more believable. By Book Three she has embraced her special powers without losing her humanity. I liked her persistence and dedication.

The Tower's Alchemist

By Alesha Escobar, Amanda Lyons (editor),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Tower's Alchemist as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

British intelligence wants her spying skills. A vampiric warlock wants to steal her powers. The Master Wizards who trained her want her dead...

Nazis have unleashed occult forces throughout Europe, and the Allies are forced to recruit wizards to counter their attacks. Among them is battle weary spy, Isabella George, a Gray Tower dropout trained in Alchemy. Longing for retirement and a life of peace, she accepts one final job...extract a deadly warlock from Nazi-occupied France and prevent him from unleashing an alchemical weapon that will devour the continent.

But France is crawling with the Cruenti, vampiric warlocks who feed…

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Keeper

By Kim Chance,

From the list on fantasy set in strange new worlds.

By Steven Wilton Author

Why did Steven love this book?

I cheated on this one, no new strange world here. It’s more of an urban fantasy. I was swept up with the main character, though, as she learned she belonged in a secret society of witches. Her struggles are so real, I couldn’t help but bite my nails as I ripped through the pages. And again, treachery abounds. I’m a sucker for needing to overcome a traitor. This being book one of a short series, the ending left me gasping for more.

Keeper

By Kim Chance,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Keeper as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

When a 200-year-old witch attacks her, sixteen-year-old bookworm Lainey Styles is determined to find a logical explanation. Even with the impossible staring her in the face, Lainey refuses to believe it—until she finds a photograph linking the witch to her dead mother.

After consulting a psychic, Lainey discovers that she, like her mother, is a Keeper: a witch with the exclusive ability to unlock and wield the Grimoire, a dangerous but powerful spell book. But there’s a problem. The Grimoire has been stolen by a malevolent warlock who is desperate for a spell locked inside it—a spell that would allow…

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Night of the Living Cuddle Bunnies

By Jonathan Rosen,

From the list on spooky middle grade books.

By David Neilsen Author

Why did David love this book?

I like a little humor with my spookiness and this book has humor to spare. Just the idea of a horde of demonic stuffed animals brings a smile to my face. Rosen does a fantastic job creating a fully-fleshed out world and filling it with interesting and engaging characters. But seriously, it's the bunnies that make this shine. Even now, just writing about them brings a smile to my face.

Night of the Living Cuddle Bunnies

By Jonathan Rosen,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Night of the Living Cuddle Bunnies as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Twelve-year-old Devin Dexter has a problem. Well, actually, many of them. His cousin, Tommy, sees conspiracies behind every corner. And Tommy thinks Devin's new neighbor, Herb, is a warlock . . . but nobody believes him. Even Devin's skeptical. But soon strange things start happening. Things like the hot new Christmas toy, the Cuddle Bunny, coming to life.

That would be great, because, after all, who doesn't love a cute bunny? But these aren't the kind of bunnies you can cuddle with. These bunnies are dangerous. Devin and Tommy set out to prove Herb is a warlock and to stop…

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Guns of the Dawn

By Adrian Tchaikovsky,

From the list on complex characters in dire straits.

By Kathy Miner Author

Why did Kathy love this book?

Fantasy at its best, with magic used to wage war between kingdoms and an epic pace that never lets up. Emily, the main character, is hopelessly out of her depth and manages to be kick-ass anyway – I just love a heroine I can admire. I also love the political and sociological nuances in this book – nothing is black and white, and I appreciate the complexity of the issues and feelings the characters grapple with. And though I usually skim battle and/or fight scenes, I read these word-for-word, the pacing was that good. A delicious escape!

Guns of the Dawn

By Adrian Tchaikovsky,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Guns of the Dawn as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Shortlisted for the 2016 British Fantasy Society Award for Best Novel.

Guns of the Dawn is a pacey, gripping fantasy of war and magic, from Arthur C. Clarke Award-winning author, Adrian Tchaikovsky.

The first casualty of war is truth . . .

First, Denland's revolutionaries assassinated their king, launching a wave of bloodshed after generations of peace. Next they clashed with Lascanne, their royalist neighbour, pitching war-machines against warlocks in a fiercely fought conflict.

Genteel Emily Marshwic watched as the hostilities stole her family's young men. But then came the call for yet more Lascanne soldiers in a ravaged kingdom…

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The Warlock in Spite of Himself

By Christopher Stasheff,

From the list on that draw you into a completely different world.

By Brett Mumford Author

Why did Brett love this book?

I think that all of us have dreams of being a secret hero. The hero of this novel is not one by accident, but by effort and ability. The story follows his effort to do the right thing, using his self-deprecating humour to give us glimpses of the real person. The flawed supporter that he has is both so very powerful and yet so vulnerable, something that all of us can understand. The main characters determination to do the right thing even at the risk of great personal loss, is the kind of thing that most of us hope we could do too.

The Warlock in Spite of Himself

By Christopher Stasheff,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Warlock in Spite of Himself as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Rod Gallowglass is a man of science who does not believe in magic. ** Gramarye is a world of witches and warlocks. Of strange abilities and phenomena. A world where society mirrors Earth's own Middle Ages, and a world headed for doom. **

Rod Gallowglass must become a part of the local fabric to save the world from both itself and external forces that threaten its existence. But to do so, he must put aside his own convictions and beliefs, and become a warlock, in spite of himself. **

A grand adventure mixing science fi ction with elements of fantasy,…

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The best warlock books

Who picked these books? Meet our 9 experts.

Who am I?

Rachel's book list on reads to make you swoon

Why did Rachel love this book?

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William's book list on historical fiction depicting premodern battle

Why did William love this book?

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Trudie's book list on fantasy to read again and again

Why did Trudie love this book?

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D.'s book list on new fantasy worlds

Why did D. love this book?

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Devorah's book list on stories featuring a strong female character

Why did Devorah love this book?

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Steven's book list on fantasy set in strange new worlds

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David's book list on spooky middle grade books

Why did David love this book?

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Kathy's book list on complex characters in dire straits

Why did Kathy love this book?

Who am I?

Brett's book list on that draw you into a completely different world

Why did Brett love this book?