Fantasy's Finest: Three Inventive Magic Systems

A fascinating magic system can elevate a fantasy novel from a good read to an unforgettable experience. It’s the foundational DNA of a fictional world, dictating not just what’s possible but also the rules, limits, and costs of power.

I’ve always been drawn to magic that feels less like a mystical, undefined force and more like a tangible craft or science—something you can study, practice, and even master. Hopefully, you'll feel that when you read The Bloodright Legacy.

In that spirit, I wanted to share three of my favourite magic systems from fantasy literature, all of which approach magic with a sense of structure and consequence. One is a modern classic, while the other two are newer books.

Inventive Magic System #1: The Metallic Arts of Mistborn

No discussion of "hard magic" is complete without Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn series so it's the apt place to start. This system, collectively known as the Metallic Arts, is famous for its almost scientific precision. It’s not just a person waving their hands and creating fire; it’s a specific process tied to specific metals.   

At its core are three disciplines: Allomancy, Feruchemy, and Hemalurgy. Allomancy is a genetic ability that allows a person to "burn" ingested metals to gain specific powers, such as pushing or pulling on other metals. The metal acts as a catalyst, drawing energy from a cosmic source to fuel the ability.    

Feruchemy is a more balanced system where a practitioner can store their own attributes—like physical strength or speed—into a piece of metal, which they can later "tap" to temporarily become supernaturally powerful. Finally,    

Hemalurgy is the darkest art, a gruesome process of using metal spikes to steal abilities from one person and transfer them to another, albeit with a significant loss of power. The intricate rules and thematic link to the world’s very deities make this a benchmark for imaginative world-building.   

Inventive Magic System #2: The Cat's Cradle of A Marvellous Light

For something completely different and delightfully tactile, Freya Marske’s A Marvellous Light offers a truly unique magic system. Here, magic isn’t just a thought or a word; it’s a physical craft performed with your hands and a piece of string. Spells are cast through specific movements and patterns that are directly inspired by the children's game "cat's cradle".  How awesome is that!

This approach transforms magic into a skill of dexterity and precision. Different patterns and motions with the string create a variety of spells, making magical ability a learned art rather than an innate talent. It’s a beautifully visual and creative system that grounds the ethereal nature of magic in a familiar, almost charming activity.

Inventive Magic System #3: The Light-Based Drafting of The Lightbringer Series

Brent Weeks' The Lightbringer Series is built around another highly original and physical magic system. Magicians, known as "drafters," have the ability to manipulate light and turn it into a solid substance called "luxin". Each color of light creates a luxin with a different property: red luxin is gooey and sticky, blue is solid like chalk, and superviolet luxin is as fine and strong as spidersilk.   

This system is fascinating because it turns an intangible phenomenon—light—into a tangible building block. Drafters can literally construct objects, build prisons, and forge weapons out of solidified light. However, this incredible power comes with a price, as the use of magic can lead to madness and addiction. This seems really hard to get hold of at the moment, though (in a physical copy).  

These three books showcase the endless possibilities for creativity in fantasy using inventive magic systems. Whether it's the meticulous science of metal, the delicate art of string, or the vibrant power of light, a well-crafted magic system can captivate readers and make a fictional world truly come alive.

Let me know what your favourite magic system it :)