It’s back-to-school time…back to magic school 🪄 that is. And while writing chapters for my own FREE magical Dark Academia series, ExSpelled, it got me thinking. Why is there so much credit given to “that book series that shall not be named” when it’s hardly the first to feature a magical school?
In fact, A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin was published in 1968, and The Worst Witch by Jill Murphy in 1974. Both decades before the infamous boy wizard ever hit shelves. (Seriously, if you look at the plot setup for The Worst Witch, it’s shockingly similar 😒)
And if you ask me, we shouldn’t let the misguided actions, hate, and bigotry of one author poison a whole subgenre of fiction. Especially not when there are so many amazing stories still left to be told.
Like these fantastic queer magic academy stories from across the genres and around the world! Because who doesn’t love a good school story? Especially one with magic? 🪄
1) Carry On
Simon Snow Trilogy Book 1
by Rainbow Rowell
Queer Genre: Achillean Romance, Bisexual Romance
Genres: Contemporary Fantasy, Young Adult Romance, Young Adult Fantasy, Coming-of-age Fantasy, Coming-of-Age Romance, Magical School, RomCom, Swords & Sorcery, Enemies-to-lovers Romance, Roommates to Lovers Romance, School Romance, Mages
School: Watford School of Magicks
READ IT
2) A Hundred Vicious Turns
The Broken Tower Book 1
by Lee Paige O’Brien
Queer Genre: Nonbinary Fantasy
Genres: Young Adult Fantasy, Dark Fantasy, Magical School, Dark Academia, Sword & Sorcery
School: Bellamy Arts
READ IT
3) The Enchanter
Journals of Evander Tailor Book 1
by Tobias Begley
Queer Genre: Achillean Fantasy Romance
Genres: Coming-of-age Fantasy, Magical School, Dark Academia, School Romance, Mages
School: Yesgol Academy of Magic
READ IT
4) My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom!
Volume 1
by Satoru Yamaguchi and illustrated by Nami Hidaka
Queer Genre: Queer Romantasy, Bisexual Harem, Polyamorous Romantasy
Genres: Young Adult Romantasy, Young Adult Fantasy, Light Novel, Humorous Fantasy, RomCom, Magical School, Isekai Fantasy, Royal Romance, School Romance, School Romance, Reverse-harem
School: Kingdom of Sorcier’s Magic Academy
Awards: Next Manga Awards 2019 4th Place Winner
READ IT
5) Three Meant to Be
Branches of Past and Future Book 1
by MN Bennet
Queer Genre: Achillean Romance, Bisexual Romance
Genres: Contemporary Fantasy, Romantasy, Dark Academia, Urban Fantasy, magic school, Supernatural Mystery, Witches & Warlocks
School: Unnamed/Non-specified
READ IT
6) Magic For Liars
by Sarah Gailey
Queer Genre: Sapphic Mystery
Genres: Contemporary Dark Fantasy, Dark Academia, Magical School, Murder Mystery, Female Sleuths, Suspense Thrillers, Mages
School: Osthorne Academy of Young Mages
Awards: Locus Award Finalist for Best First Novel 2020, Amazon Best Book 2019
*This one’s about a female sleuth investigating a murder at her sister’s magical school so it sorta counts as a magical school story…
READ IT
7) Lord of the White Hell
The Cadeleonian Series Book 1
by Ginn Hale
Queer Genre: Achillean Romantasy
Genres: Romantasy, Dark Fantasy, Magical School, School Romance, Swords & Sorcery
School: Sagrada Academy
READ IT
8) Little Witch Academia
Volume 1
by Yoh Yoshinari & Keisuke Sato
Queer Genre: Queer Fantasy, Bisexual/Pansexual Fantasy, Sapphic Fantasy
Genres: Young Adult Fantasy, Coming-of-age Fantasy, Magical School, RomCom, Fantasy Manga, Magical Girl
School: Luna Nova Magical Academy
READ IT
9) Tim Te Maro and the Subterranean Heartsick Blues
by HS Valley
Queer Genre: Achillean Romance, Bisexual Romance
Genres: Contemporary Fantasy, Young Adult Romance, Young Adult Fantasy, Coming-of-age Fantasy, Coming-of-Age Romance, Magical School, RomCom, Secret Romance, School Romance
School: Fox Glacier High School for the Magically Adept
Awards: Ampersand Prize Winner 2023
READ IT
10) My Name is Magic
by Xan van Rooyen
Queer Genre: Nonbinary Supernatural Fantasy, Queer Urban Fantasy, Sapphic Paranormal Romance
Genres: Contemporary Fantasy, Young Adult Dark Fantasy, Supernatural/Paranormal Fantasy, Coming-of-age Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, magical school, Folklore & Myth (Finnish)
School: Myrskyjärvi International School
READ IT
11) The Fascinators
by Andrew Eliopulos
Queer Genre: Achillean Romantasy
Genres: Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult Romance, Coming-of-age Fantasy, Contemporary Fantasy, Contemporary Romance, Small-town Romance, School Club (magic), School Romance
School: Friedman High Magic Club “The Fascinators”
READ IT
12) Pegasi and Prefects
Scholars and Sorcery Book 1
by Eleanor Beresford
Queer Genre: Sapphic Romantasy
Genres: Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult Romance, Coming-of-age Fantasy, Magic School, Historical Fantasy, School Romance, Swords & Sorcery
School: Fernleigh Manor boarding school
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