Before we begin, let’s take a quick look at word-based magic systems. The gist of it is that it requires the user to say a specific word or phrase. Spells are the most common example of word-based magic, but as you’ll see in this list they’re not the only kind. Often, this magic requires knowing and speaking the true name of things. This can be seen in books like Patrick Rothfuss’ The Name of the Wind. Then there are stories with book-based magic systems. To keep things simple, this just means that the magic comes from a specific book (or books). Most stories with this type of magic use grimoires or some kind of spellbook that the characters read from. But you can also learn magic by reading these books like in Vita Nostra. So with that out of the way, let’s take a look at eight fantastic stories with word-based (or book-based) magic systems! Don’t forget to check out our list of art-based magic systems! Or for more general magical content, take a dive into our SFF archives. A Darker Shade of Magic is the story of one such Antari named Kell. He’s a messenger (and unofficial smuggler) from Red London’s royal family. His life is turned upside down when he stumbles upon a stone from Black London— a world that was closed off because it basically destroyed itself. Enter our favorite thief: Delilah Bard. She steals the stone from Kell, and the two end up having the adventure of their lives. The story follows a boy named Robin, who is whisked away from Canton by an English professor and taken to Oxford’s Institute of Translation. There, Robin and his cohort become tools of colonization for the empire. Unhappy with how Britain uses foreigners to expand their power, Robin joins the Hermes Society, which is dedicated to thwarting the empire’s silver industry. The story follows a young mage named Ged. In his youth, he exhibited great power so he joined a school of wizardry. Turns out, his hunger for power gets the better of him. While trying to outwit his greatest academic rival, Ged unwittingly unleashes a great shadow upon the land. The book also follows him years later as he tries to right his wrong and restore balance to the world wink wink. The story follows a man named Ari. In true Kingkiller fashion, he is (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 tell her his entire life story. Including the time he buried the village of Ampur, killed their god — and released the first evil. But even in the present, Ari’s story and his quest are far from over. The story follows the titular January, a curious young woman who lives in a big mansion with her strict guardian. When she was younger she stumbled upon a blue door that led to another world — but her guardian Cornelius went to great pains to convince her it wasn’t real. Now, January stumbles upon a mysterious book full of adventure that talks about doors that lead to other worlds. She believes it to be fiction at first, but soon January realizes the depth of Cornelius’ lies. The story follows a girl named Sefia, whose parents were brutally murdered. Now she’s on the run with her aunt Nan, taking care of the special rectangular object her parents worked hard to protect. But then Nan is taken too, and the only clue Sefia has to her whereabouts lies in that book. When Sefia sets out to rescue Nan, she meets a boy named Archer and it seems like fate — because both of their abilities could change the world forever. The story follows a woman named Devon, who belongs to an old clan of book eaters. She was raised on a strict diet of fairy tales and cautionary stories — which is the family’s way of controlling and shaping how their women think. But Devon’s life is turned upside down when her son is born. His name is Cai, and he has a dangerous appetite. Instead of feeding on stories, Cai feeds on minds. To save his life, Devon escapes with Cai. But their freedom comes at an unspeakable price that they might not be able to pay. Sorcery of Thorns follows Elisabeth. She was raised in one of the Great Libraries that guard these magical grimoires — and one day hopes to become their warden. But everything goes off the rails when someone releases the most dangerous tome in the library. Elisabeth is implicated and in order to escape punishment, she strikes a deal with a sorcerer named Nathaniel. Slowly but surely, the two start to bond. Which makes Elisabeth question everything she’s been taught about sorcery.
