If you’ve ever thought Jane Austen’s books would be greatly improved by a few dragons and wizards, then this Regency-era magical fantasy list was made for you! These mash-up novels are set in alternate-universe Britains where sorcery, dragons, and fairies abound — and are almost as scary as the prospect of navigating a high-society Season in search of a brilliant marriage. With saucy heroines, high adventure, and plenty of enchantment, you’re certain to swoon for these action-packed fantasy books.
Murder, Magic, and What We Wore
Author: Kelly Jones
Fun, fashionable, and with a touch of espionage, this is the first book in a new series set in a magical version of Jane Austen’s London. Annis Whitworth, at age 16, has just had her world turned upside down: her father has died in mysterious circumstances, and she and her aunt are suddenly penniless. Then, Annis discovers she has a magical gift — she can sew glamours, or magical disguises, into clothing. Since Annis always suspected her father was secretly a spy for the Crown, this seems like the perfect time to follow in her father’s footsteps… and learn the truth about his death. With the help of her aunt and a no-nonsense maid, can Annis pay off their debts, find her father’s killer, and become a magic-wielding spy?
Mairelon the Magician (Mairelon series Book 1)
Author: Patricia Wrede
In this lighthearted tale, England boasts a royal college of wizards and the government includes a Minister of Wizardry. Kim, a young thief girl disguised as a boy, is hired to search Mairelon the Magician’s caravan for treasure. But Mairelon isn’t some shabby street performer — he’s the real deal, a gentleman and a magician. Falsely accused of stealing a set of magical silver tools from the royal college, Mairelon is trying to recover the items and prove his innocence, and Kim joins his quest. Burglaries, murder, and elopement liven up their adventures, while Kim discovers she has magical talents, too.
His Majesty’s Dragon (Temeraire Series #1)
Author: Naomi Novik
In this alternate-universe story of the Napoleonic wars, dragons are bred by each national for strength and speed and used as aerial support in war. Captain Will Laurence of the British Navy is flabbergasted when his ship, the HMS Reliant, captures a French ship — and finds on board a smuggled Chinese dragon egg, which promptly hatches. The dragonet inside, Temeraire, instantly bonds for life with the reluctant captain. Because dragons are such a precious asset and the imprinting can’t be undone, Laurence is forced to retire from the navy and join the socially inferior Aerial Corps as Temeraire’s master. Completely unprepared for aerial battle and dragon-fighting, Laurence must learn how to handle a dragon while navigating the social consequences of his aristocratic family’s dismay at his new, not-quite-gentlemanly career. Complicating matters is the frisky, childlike Temeraire, who loves Laurence unreservedly but often fails to understand his human’s professional and personal sacrifices.
Newt’s Emerald
Author: Garth Nix
I’m pretty excited about this new book by the author of fantasy classic Sabriel. Teenage Lady Truthful is set to inherit her family’s most precious (and magical) heirloom, the Newington Emerald, on her eighteenth birthday — that is, until the gem is stolen. Even worse, innocent people have been framed for the theft. Truthful is determined to go to London, recover the jewel, and disprove the false accusation, but a young lady of quality can hardly travel by herself. Disguising herself as “Henri de Vienne,” she befriends the handsome Major Harnett, who volunteers to help “Henri” find the emerald. As they search for the missing stone, Truthful develops a crush on the handsome major… but this is no time to be distracted by romance.
Shades of Milk and Honey
Author: Mary Robinette Kowal
Miss Jane Ellsworth and her younger sister Melody have good reasons for wanting to marry: the family estate is entailed, meaning it all goes to the closest male heir upon their father’s death while the daughters get nothing. But 28-year-old Jane expects to be a spinster; despite being a gifted glamourist in a Regency-era society that prizes the skill, she’s plain, and men ignore her whenever the beautiful, vain Melody is around. Excitement swirls through their small village when Mr. Vincent, a famous glamourist, comes to town to create a magical mural. He’s terribly rude to Jane, but as the town’s two most skilled glamourists, they are forced to perform together at social events for the nobility. Will their tempestuous acquaintance end up exactly where you think it will? Everything from strawberry-picking parties to fortuitous ankle sprains and elopements with sleazy red-coated captains is borrowed straight from Austen’s books, but this series is now on book #5, so apparently fans don’t mind. See our full review.
Sorcery and Cecelia or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot (Cecelia and Kate #1)
Authors: Patricia C. Wrede, Caroline Stevermer
This charmingly fluffy tale is more Georgette Heyer than Jane Austen, so expect a lot of rakish younger sons fussing with their cravats and cursing about their gambling debts. Teenage cousins and best friends Kate and Cecilia are separated when Kate goes to London to make her social debut while Cecy is stuck in the countryside at the family estate. Things liven up when Dorothea, a bewitchingly beautiful young girl, suddenly appears in Cecy’s neighborhood — and seems miserable about her irresistible allure. Kate narrowly survives a dose of poisoned hot chocolate and becomes mixed up in the magical plots of the Mysterious Marquis, who, naturally, is as irritating as he is handsome. To her surprise, Kate also discovers she has some magical talent, and the plot thickens faster than a pot of chocolate.
Sorcerer to the Crown
Author: Zen Cho
If this list is sounding pretty white to you so far, then you’ll appreciate Sorcerer to the Crown, which features diverse characters and tackles the ugly issue of British slavery that tends to be politely ignored in Regency-era romances (the Slave Trade Act of 1807 abolished the slave trade throughout the British Empire, but slavery itself wasn’t made illegal until the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833). In this universe, the Royal Society of Unnatural Philosophers is in charge of British magic. But recently, England’s supply of magical energy has been drying up — and many are wondering if it’s because of the unconventional (i.e., black) new Sorcerer Royal, Zacharias Wythe, the slave-born adopted son and heir of the previous, deceased (white) Royal Sorcerer. In desperation, Zacharias ventures to the border of Fairyland to investigate the magical drought. But it’s a powerful, ambitious, untrained young witch who threatens to truly upset the social order and change English magic forever.
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