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
Awards: Best Book of 2015 Time Magazine + School Library Journal + Barnes & Noble + NPR + PopSugar + The Millions + The News + Observer, Amazon Editors’ Pick for Best Young Adult Books, New York Times bestseller, Goodreads Choice Award nominee 2015 for Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction
School: Watford School of Magicks
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, Swords & Sorcery
School: Bellamy Arts
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
4) My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom!
Volume 1
by Satoru Yamaguchi (Author) & Nami Hidaka (Illustrator)
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, Romance Manga
Awards: Next Manga Awards 2019 4th Place Winner
School: Kingdom of Sorcier’s Magic Academy
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
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
Awards: Locus Award Finalist for Best First Novel 2020, Amazon Best Book 2019
School: Osthorne Academy of Young Mages
*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…
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, Epic Fantasy
School: Sagrada Academy
8) Little Witch Academia
Volume 1
by Yoh Yoshinari (Author) & Keisuke Sato (Illustrator)
Queer Genre: Queer Fantasy, Bisexual/Pansexual Fantasy, Sapphic Fantasy
Genres: Young Adult Fantasy, Coming-of-age Fantasy, Magical Girl Fantasy, RomCom, Magical School, Swords & Sorcery, Action Adventure, Fantasy Adventure, Graphic Novels & Comics, Fantasy Manga
School: Luna Nova Magical Academy
* This series is also available as an anime.
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
Awards: Ampersand Prize Winner 2023
School: Fox Glacier High School for the Magically Adept
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
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”
12) Pegasi and Prefects
Scholars and Sorcery Book 1
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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