Sorry for how specific this ask is, but I’m looking for fantasy books where a main character is a magic user and has some sort of high status because of said magic.
Maybe a high mage character who serves as an advisor to the king? Maybe a prince who is named heir due to his superior skills in magic?
I read the Darker Shades of Magic trilogy earlier this year and enjoyed a lot of the world building elements. I especially enjoyed the dynamics of the antari (extremely rare, desirable, and powerful magic users) and the respective royal families they serve. (One is raised as a prince and the other is forced to serve his king/queen)
Any recommendations are welcome, thank you!!
by max_mercury
13 Comments
Fans of magic and mystery should not miss ‘Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell’ by Susanna Clarke. Set in an alternate England where magic once existed, this novel weaves a rich tapestry of history, magic, and social commentary that is both enchanting and intellectually stimulating.
Black Jewels, Bishop
Elenium/ Tamuli, Eddings (kinda fits)
Arguably, the Wheel of Time, Jordan
I’m just finishing the Dreamblood Duology by NK Jemisin and I think it fits your request. It’s about dream magic users who serve the throne/kingdom. They, along with others in the magic caste, are the only magic users in the world.
*Od Magic* by Patricia A. McKilip. It’s about a magic school but the teachers are the main characters, not the students. The pressure from the crown to get the teachers to serve the crown’s interests are a major part of the book, and one of the characters is the king’s closest magical advisor.
Magic Kingdom for Sale: Sold! is a fun one. Burnt out lawyer purchases Kingdom out of a catalog, and his chief advisor is the Court Wizard (and a couple of kobolds and a man who has been turned into a soft-coated wheaton terrier)
The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty fits this! But I don’t want to give away too much by saying exactly how.
*Raybearer* by Jordan Ifueko.
In this world, it is customary for the crown prince to select a council of 12 people who not only serve as his advisors but are essentially his family. Anyone born with a magical talent can apply. The protagonist has an unusual magical talent and becomes a member of the council. I enjoyed the dynamic among the council members as well as the worldbuilding.
The Heralds of Valdemar series by Mercedes Lackey. The first ‘Arrows’ trilogy has the POV character with a unusual Gift that means she’s an advisor to the queen.
Two series by Christopher Stasheff: _Her Majesty’s Wizard_ and _The Wizard in Spite of Himself_ (the latter is a weird sci-fi/fantasy hybrid; you’ll have to read it to understand).
Bujold’s Penric novellas. He does not spend a lot of time in courts in the books – his assignments draw him elsewhere, but he is fundamentally a court priest-sorcerer, so the court forms an important background.
Darker Shade of Magic by VE Schwab
Magician: Apprentice and Magician: Master by Raymond E Fiesta.
2 books starting the Riftwar Saga.
https://midkemia.fandom.com/wiki/Magician:_Apprentice
The Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb