Since Ursula K. Le Guin first published A Wizard of Earthsea in 1968, magical school stories have tempted us with the alluring idea of being whisked away from our humdrum lives to somewhere more exciting. Somewhere with magic.
Where we concoct potions instead of organic chemistry. Where we learn divination instead of algebra. And where we learn to fight with a saber or fly on a broom instead of yet another year of track and field in school-branded sweats.
So if, like me, you like school stories with more than a 🪄 dash of magic, come along and we’ll head off into those fantastic academic halls. For I’ve got 10 Queer Magical School stories from a diverse selection of voices!
1) Heir of Prophecy
The Clash of Prophecies Duet Book 1
by Analeigh Sbrana
Queer Genre: Bisexual Romantasy
Genres: Romantasy, Fairytales & Folklore, Military Romance, Dark Fantasy, Magical School, Fae Fantasy, Black Fantasy
School: Holyvere Academy (Magical War College)
2) Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun
Volume 1
by Osamu Nishi
Queer Genre: Queer Fantasy, (Ace/Demisexual, Genderfluid, Nonbinary, Bisexual, Polyamorous)
Genres: Contemporary Fantasy, Young Adult Fantasy, Magical School, Portal Fantasy, Coming-of-age Fantasy, School Life, RomCom, Swords & Sorcery, Demons, Graphic Novels & Comics, School Life Manga, Autistic & Neurodiverse Representation
School: Babyls School for Demons
* This series is also available as an anime.
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) In Other Lands
by Sarah Rees Brennan
Queer Genre: Bisexual Fantasy
Genres: Contemporary Fantasy, Young Adult Fantasy, Magical School, Portal Fantasy, Coming-of-age Fantasy, Swords & Sorcery, Fairy Tale & Folklore Retelling, Mages, Elves
Awards: Georgia Peach Award Nominee, Florida Teens Read Award Nominee, ABC Best Books for Young Readers, Bank Street College Best Children’s Books of the Year, A Junior Library Guild Selection, Hugo & Locus Award Finalist, Goodreads Choice Award Nominee
School: Border Camp
5) Bodies of Magic
by Freya Marske
Queer Genre: Queer Fantasy, Non-binary Fantasy, Achillean Fantasy
Genres: New Adult Fantasy, Dark Academia, Magical Medical School, Murder Mystery, Gaslamp Fantasy, Dark Fantasy, Epic Fantasy
Awards: Amazon Editor’s Pick for Best Science Fiction & Fantasy
School: Academie of the Grand Duchy of Sieuxerr
6) Lord of the White Hell
The Cadeleonian Series Book 1
by Ginn Hale
Queer Genre: Achillean Romantasy
Genres: Romantasy, Dark Fantasy, Magical School, Swords & Sorcery, School Romance, Epic Fantasy, Action Adventure
School: Sagrada Academy
7) It Ends in Fire
by Andrew Shvarts
Queer Genre: Bisexual Fantasy, Sapphic Fantasy
Genres: Young Adult Fantasy, Magical School, Dark Fantasy, Dark Academia, Resistance/Revenge Fantasy, Espionage Romance, Wizards
Awards: NAACP Image Award nominee
School: Blackwater Academy
8) Bound by Fury
by Noelle Monét
Queer Genre: Queer Romance, Queer Contemporary Fantasy
Genres: Contemporary Fantasy, Young Adult Fantasy, Coming-of-age Fantasy, Young Adult Romance, Magical School, Dark Academia, Paranormal Fantasy, School Romance, Witches
School: Black Mountain Academy
9) 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, Paranormal Romance, Magical Realism, 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
10) Augury University: Omnibus
The Complete Series
by Rose Santoriello
Queer Genre: Rose Santoriello
Genres: New Adult Romance, New Adult Fantasy, Magical School, Cozy Fantasy, School Romance, Monster Romance, Rivals-to-lovers Romance, Holiday Romance, Opposites Attract Romance, Grumpy Sunshine Romance, Workplace Romance, Chronic Illness Representation, Autistic & Neurodiverse Representation, Disability Representation
School: Augury University
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