14 Captivating Books Like The Magicians You Must Read

Recently updated on June 10th, 2024 at 03:32 pm

Dark academia, fantasy and a whole hidden world of magic. Keep reading for captivating books like The Magicians.

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When I think about books like The Magicians,  hidden worlds, magic and urban fantasy instantly spring to mind.

The problem is, while many books feature magic, capturing the same blend of urban fantasy and magic is difficult.

Why?

Many urban fantasy books have modern city worldbuilding. But in comparison, the magical school setting in The Magicians evokes dark academia vibes.

Whether you’re looking for urban fantasy books with magicians, morally grey friendship groups or dark academia fantasy books, I’ve got you covered.

Keep reading to find out my top picks for books like The Magicians.

Read on for the best books like The Magicians

Best books like The Magicians

If you’re looking for other books by Lev Grossman, you can check out his website for a full list of his books. 

Here are my top books like The Magicians.

1. The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake

At one point, I couldn’t go on Social Media without seeing a recommendation for The Atlas Six. It has an amazing 11 million mentions on TikTok.

The Atlas Six is about a secret society known as The Alexandrian Society. Their members look after lost knowledge. And they secure a life of awe-inspiring wealth, power and prestige. 

Each decade, the six most uniquely talented magicians are selected for initiation. We follow six characters competing for entry into the society.

The Atlas Six and The Magicians have a lot in common. Let me elaborate, it features an academic setting, secret society and group of overly intelligent friends.

So what’s my point? If you’re after books like The Magicians, this is the first book I recommend picking up. 

Similarities to The Magicians

secret society, fantastical elements, group of morally grey friends, dark academia setting

2. The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher

The Dresden Files is a popular Urban Fantasy series.  

The problem is, I was unsure on whether to recommend this book for fans of the Magicians. It doesn’t have the same dark academia worldbuilding. 

However, it features a magician and fantastical elements in an urban setting. Likewise, it features secret magical elements existing in a city.

Harry Dresden is an openly practising professional wizard. So when the Chicago P.D. has a case that transcends mortal creativity or capability, they come to him for answers. 

The book opens with several mysteries to be solved and keeps you hooked throughout.  The fast paced plot and short length, make it a fairly quick read. 

 An awesome option if you’re after books like The Magicians.

Similarities to The Magicians

Wizards, magic in urban setting

3. Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

Fans of Lev Grossman will love Neil Gaiman’s work. 

Under the Streets of London  is a city full of monsters, saints, murderers, angels and knights. “Neverwhere” is the London of the people who have fallen between the cracks.

We follow Richard Mayhew. An act of kindness catapults him into the Neverwhere. And Richard will learn more than he ever wanted to know about this other London.

Neil Gaiman creates magical concepts for books.  And Neverwhere is no exception. It reads like a dark Alice in Wonderland.

Do you enjoy audiobooks? BBC Radio has full cast audiobook with Christopher Lee. Likewise, it’s a short listen at just over 3 hours. You can listen to it on Audible – check it out here

Similarities to The Magicians

hidden world, fantastical elements in urban setting,

4. A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske

Marvellous Light is a great choice if you enjoyed the dark academia and secret magical society in The Magicians.

We follow Robin Blyth. An administrative error names him liaison to a secret magical society.

He must deal with magic’s dangers and a deadly curse. All while he searches for his missing predecessor.

To do this, he’ll need Edwin Courcey’s help. His prickly magical society counterpart. But he clearly wishes Robin were anyone else.

I love the secret society of magicians. Likewise, the Edwardian setting and mlm romance set it apart from other books with secret magical societies.

A great choice if you’re looking for books like The Magicians. It features magic, smart characters and an academic setting.

Similarities to The Magicians

Secret society of magicians, dark academia setting, fantastical elements in a city

5. Babel by R.F. Kuang

Did you like A  Secret History,  The Atlas Six or Jonathon Strange and Dr Norrell.  Then you will  love Babel. 

A dark fantasy set in an academic setting. It discusses the power of language and the evils of authoritarianism. 

We follow Robin Swift. Orphaned by cholera, The mysterious Professor Lovell brings him to London.

He trains for years to prepare for the day he’ll enroll in Oxford University’s prestigious Royal Institute of Translation.  Known as Babel.

Babel is the world’s centre for translation and magic.

If you’re after dark academia books or books like The Magicians, then you NEED to read this.

Similarities to The Magicians

Dark academia, dark fantasy, academia setting

6. Legendborn by Tracy Deonn

I couldn’t pass up an opportunity to recommend Legendborn. Let me walk you through why fans of The Magicians should read it. 

 Legendborn is a King Arthur retelling with a secret society in an academic setting. 

A fast paced ya fantasy book, packed full of action, mind-blowing plot twists and awesome characters. 

We follow Bree Mathews. She joins a residential program for gifted high school students. But then she witnesses a magical attack on her first night.  A flying demon feeding on human energy. 

A Mage tries to wipe her memory. But he fails. And instead Bree unlocks new memories of her mother’s death.

Everyone needs to read Legendborn. But if you’re after books like The Magicians, then I highly recommend picking it up.

Similarities to The Magicians

Dark academia,  academia setting, secret society, hidden world, fantastical elements in urban setting

7. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is a classic.

I’m recommending it as it has one of the most famous hidden worlds.  Fillory reminds me of Narnia. One of the most magical  and whimsical secret fantasy worlds.

We follow four children evacuated to a country house. They find a magical kingdom called Narnia at the back of a wardrobe.

But Narnia has been enchanted by a White Witch. And it is frozen in an eternal winter.

The Lion, The Witch and The wardrobe has one of the most magical concepts behind it. A concept is familiar to everyone and makes it easy to follow.

Similarities to The Magicians

Hidden world, fantastical elements

8. Stardust by Neil Gaiman

Looking for books with hidden worlds? Or maybe, books with a movie adaptation?

 Then I highly recommend Stardust.  A criminally underrated fantasy with an enchanting hidden world.

We follow Young Tristarn Thorn. He lives in a rural English village known as wall in the 1800s. A large stone wall separates it from the Faerie land beyond.

He will do anything to win the heart of beautiful Victoria.

Even fetch her the star they watch fall from the night sky. But to do so, he must enter the Faerie lands on the other side of the ancient wall.

Stardust is beautiful and whimsical with an excellent storyline.

Similarities to The Magicians

Hidden world, fantastical elements, adaptation

9. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Looking for a fantasy with magic in a city setting? Then you’ll love Night Circus.

The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there when yesterday it was not. But it’s only open at night.

And behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway between two rival magicians -Celia and Marco.

They have trained since childhood purely for this purpose. But unknown to them, only one will be left standing. The circus is set for an incredible battle of imagination.

The problem is, despite themselves Celia and Marco fall in love. A deep, magical love that makes  the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.

But, true love or not, the game must play out.

Similarities to The Magicians

Hidden world, fantastical elements, city setting

10. Jonathon Strange & Mr Norell by Susanna Clarke

Jonathon Strange & Mr Norell is a fantasy book with dark academia vibes. It features magic, dark academia worldbuilding and a city setting. 

It’s set in England in 1806. England is beleaguered by the long war with Napoleon, and centuries have passed since practical magicians faded into the nation’s past. Except one remains. The reclusive Mr Norell. 

And Nr Norell’s displays of magic thrill the country. 

He goes to London where he raises a beautiful woman from the dead. And he sends an army of ghostly ships to terrify the French. 

But the cautious Norell is challenged by another magician. The brilliant novel Jonathon Strange.Strange the the very opposite of Norrel. And a dangerous battle starts between them.

When I think about books like The Magicians, magic and dark academia spring to mind.  If you’re after a dark academia fantasy then you should  read this book.

Similarities to The Magicians

Magic, city setting, dark academia

11. American Gods by Neil Gaiman

American Gods is an urban fantasy classic. It has fantastical elements in a city setting.

We follow Shadow. Days before his release, his wife dies in a mysterious car crash. He is released early and makes his way back home.

On the plane he encounters the strange yet enigmatic Mr Wednesday. A man who seems to know more about Shadow’s life than Shadow does.  They embark on a profoundly strange journey across the heart of the USA, whilst all around them a storm of preternatural and epic proportions threatens to break.

I wholeheartedly recommend the audiobook version over the physical book.

American Gods is one of the best audiobooks. A full cast production and a different voice actor for each main character. It makes the audiobook such an immersive experience.  You can get the Audiobook on audible via Amazon- check it out here.

Similarities to The Magicians

Similar writing style, urban fantasy, fantastical elements, tv adaptation

12. Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

If you liked the dark academia elements of The Magicans then I highly recommend picking up Ninth House. 

Ninth House is paranormal fantasy set in an urban, academia setting. And it’s also Bardugo’s first adult fantasy book. 

We follow Galaxy ‘Alex’ Sterm. She is the most unlikely member of Yale’s freshman class. Raised by a hippie mom, she dropped out of school early and into a world of shady drug dealer boyfriends and dead end jobs.

At her hospital bed, Alex is offered a second chance. Attend one of the world’s most elite universities on a full ride.

But what’s the catch?

Alex is tasked with monitoring the activities of Yale’s secret societies.  But their occult activities are more sinister and more extraordinary than any paranoid imagination might conceive.

Similarities to The Magicians

secret societies, fantasy, academic setting

13. Ruinsong by Julia Ember

An underrated fantasy with dark academia vibes. The magic system in this book is unique.

In this world, singers have magic powers when they sing certain songs. And they can heal, cause pain and heat people.

Cadence is an incredibly strong mage. She was born in poverty in an orphanage and rises to success.

Problem is she works for the evil Queen Elene. And Elene forces Cadence to use her power to torture others.

  But when she is reunited with her childhood friend she must make a choice. Does she take a stand or follow the queen?

This dark fantasy is like a queer, dystopian phantom of the opera.It also has one of the most unique magic systems with singing as a vehicle for magic.

Similarities to The Magicians

Magic, urban setting,  academic setting

14. If we were villains by M.I. Rio

Looking for a dark academia read? Or maybe a secret society with a smart group of friends? Then you should check out If We Were Villains. 

We follow Oliver Marks. He’s just served ten years in jail. For a murder he may or may not have committed. 

On the day he’s released, he’s greeted by the man who put him in prison. 

 Detective Colborne is retiring, but before he does, he wants to know what really happened a decade ago.

As one of seven young actors studying Shakespeare at an elite arts college, Oliver and his friends play the same roles onstage and off. But the casting changes and the secondary characters usurp the stars. 

The play spills dangerously over into life and one of them is found dead.

If you enjoyed the characters in The Magicians, then this is the book for you. It features a secret society with pretentious members who end up doing morally questionable things.

Similarities to The Magicians

Smart group of friends, dark academia, secret society.

This post was all about books like The Magicians

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