Do you ever find yourself browsing endless fantasy book lists and shelves, unsure of what to read next? Should you choose dragons, wizards, chosen ones, or epic quests? Are you more of a medieval castle fantasy reader or do you prefer urban battlegrounds? That book choice overwhelm can easily stop you in your tracks and send you staggering back out the doors of that shop with nothing to show for it.

But there’s one simple question that can instantly get to the root of your reading conundrum. Here it is:

What type of magic do you want to experience?

This one question can help you understand what draws you into a fantasy world and keeps you turning pages until the early hours.

Magic systems are the DNA of fantasy stories. They determine how conflicts are resolved, what themes fantasy stories explore, and the entire reading experience. When you understand your magic preferences, you can go straight to the stories that resonate with what you genuinely love about fantasy.

Most fantasy magic falls into one of these three camps:

• Rule based magic follows clear, consistent principles and consequences. These systems appeal to readers who love logical problem-solving and like characters to earn their victories through understanding and skill.
• Wonder based magic is more mysterious and atmospheric. This appeals to readers who prefer magic that serves the story’s emotional needs rather than following fixed rules.
• Grounded magic sits between the above two. It has rules and consequences but feels believable within the story world. The magic might be inherited, learned through family traditions, or come with real physical costs.

You could also think about whether you like magic that:

• comes naturally to special people or can be learned by anyone who is willing to study
• has definite consequences or no drawbacks at all
• is taught in schools or passed down through family
• exists in pure fantasy worlds or alongside modern, futuristic technology

Answering all of these questions can help you build a picture of the type of fantasy experience you’re after.

Discover your magic type

And just for a little fun, I’ve put together a quiz to discover the type of magic system you prefer to read about. For each question, choose the answer that appeals to you the most. Keep track of your points (A=3, B=2, C=1) and find your results at the end.

Question 1: The Magic Learning Curve

When reading fantasy, you prefer characters who:

1. are born with natural magical abilities they must learn to control (3 points)
2. study hard to master clearly defined magical rules and techniques (2 points) 
3. stumble upon magic that works mysteriously when the story needs it (1 point)

Question 2: The Cost of Power

Magic use should:

1. have physical consequences like exhaustion or pain. Magic users pay for their power (3 points)
2. require specific components, preparation, or energy that characters must manage (2 points)
3. flow freely when it serves the story, without worrying too much about limitations (1 point)

Question 3: Magic in Daily Life

You’d most enjoy reading about a world where:

1. magic is taught at home by family members and woven into everyday life (3 points)
2. magic follows scientific-like principles that anyone can learn with proper study (2 points)
3. magic is rare, mysterious, and appears when characters need it most (1 point)

Question 4: Types of Magical Abilities

Which magical system appeals to you the most?

1. Inherited ‘birth magic’, like being naturally gifted with plants or the elements, plus learnable spells (3 points)
2. Magic based on eating certain substances, drawing symbols, or using specific tools with predictable results (2 points)
3. Undefined magical power that adapts to whatever the character needs to overcome (1 point)

Question 5: Magic and Technology

You’d be most interested in reading about:

1. a world where magic and futuristic technology exist side by side – robots AND spells (3 points)
2. either pure fantasy or pure sci fi, with magic having technological consistency (2 points)
3. traditional fantasy settings where magic replaces the need for technology (1 point)

Question 6: Learning Magic

The most interesting magical education would be:

1. family based teaching with personal mentorship and inherited knowledge (3 points)
2. formal magic schools with structured classes and clear learning goals (2 points)
3. intuitive learning where characters discover abilities by giving it a go (1 point)

Your Results

15-18 Points: Grounded Magic Lover

You enjoy magic that feels believable and has consequences. You love stories where magic has rules and costs, and is woven into characters’ lives realistically.

Perfect for you:

My novel Haven Wakes, with its inherited birth magic, physical costs of spellcasting, family-based learning, and a unique blend of magic with futuristic technology. Also try Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn series.

10-14 Points: Systematic Magic Enthusiast

You appreciate magic systems with clear rules and logical consistency, but you also enjoy some flexibility in how they work.

Perfect for you:

Patrick Rothfuss’s The Name of the Wind, N.K. Jemisin’s The Fifth Season, or Robin Hobb’s Assassin’s Apprentice. Haven Wakes might also appeal to your love of structured magic.

6-9 Points: Wonder-Focused Reader

You prefer magic that creates atmosphere and serves the story’s emotional needs over rigid systems.

Perfect for you:

J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, Ursula K. Le Guin’s A Wizard of Earthsea, or Erin Morgenstern’s The Night Circus.

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So what kind of magic calls to you? Whether you’re drawn to inherited abilities with real consequences, structured magic with clear rules, or mysterious forces that serve the story’s emotional journey, there’s a whole world of fantasy reads just waiting to be discovered.

And if you want to find out more about the magic in my books, read 5 facts about the Magic System in the Haven Chronicles.