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Libraries and bookstores are magical places—full stop. So it’s no wonder that these repositories of stories have inspired countless tales of magic and wonder. After all, what better backdrop for a work of speculative fiction than the very locations that house the tomes readers adore so deeply?
Many of those books lean into the magic that literature offers. Take Argentine author Jorge Luis Borges, renowned for his contributions to magical realism. In 1941, he published a short story called “The Library of Babel” set in a universe that takes the form of (surprise, surprise) a library. It’s a philosophical exploration of the possibilities and limitations of literature.
Similarly, Japanese master of surrealism Haruki Murakami’s short illustrated novella The Strange Library offers a horror-tinged tale about a boy imprisoned in a library and set the task of memorizing three books or having his brains eaten. Yikes!
Magical bookstores are no less popular in the bibliosphere, providing the setting for everything from thrillers to romances, fantasies to historical fiction. Whether it’s the titular locale in Evie Woods’s The Lost Bookshop, which appears to those in need of sanctuary, or the mysterious bookstore at the center of Robin Sloane’s Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore, readerly retail establishments offer every bit as much potential for magic as their book-lending counterparts.
Across genres, the architectural and human keepers of books inspire writers and readers alike. So, follow me into the stacks and check out these works of speculative fiction set in libraries and bookstores. As in any good literary repository, you’ll find a wide variety of reads to suit your needs. Whether you’re in the mood for fantasy, horror, fabulism, or something a little cozier, I’ve got you covered.
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The Vanishing Cherry Blossom Bookshop by Takuya Asakura
This sweet work of Japanese healing fiction is a contemplative read. It features a bookshop that only appears when the cherry blossoms are in bloom. The woman who tends to the bookstore (and her very opinionated cat) helps customers heal their grief by allowing them a singular magical experience. Whether that’s a meeting with a departed loved one or the opportunity to relive childhood experiences, Asakura’s short novel is a gentle read that delivers humor and insight in equal measure.
The People’s Library by Veronica G. Henry
This speculative fiction story is very timely. Set in a dystopian near-future Cleveland, the library in this novel is one where patrons check out virtus (virtual authors and books) instead of books. Librarian Echo London finds herself working at one of these new libraries despite her roots in libraries as we know them. When Echo launches her own investigation into the murder of a woman who was protesting in front of the library, she ends up collaborating with two virtus in hopes of figuring out what really happened. The novel’s premise—set in a futuristic version of our own society where AI has taken on a whole new form, and the US seems to resemble a socialist or communist society—raises thought-provoking questions about technology, reading, and equality.
Babel, or the Necessity of Violence by R.F. Kuang
This epic dark academia fantasy made a big splash when it came out a few years ago, but it’s such an amazing book that I had to include it on this list. Set in an alternate past and grappling with histories of colonization and empire, it embraces the magical appeal of Oxford’s library even as it interrogates the ways empire amasses (and produces) knowledge and wealth. Weaving together a complex system of magic (think: silver + translation = power), Kuang delivers a spellbinding story of revolution. This book is as ambitious as it is compulsively readable. Kuang doesn’t shy away from addressing forms of oppression, like sexism and racism, that work in tandem with empire to disempower various groups of people. The real-world implications of the novel work in tandem with the phenomenal worldbuilding, making this a truly unforgettable read.
The Library of Amorlin by Kalyn Josephson
This book is the first in a new fantasy series, and I’m curious to see how the rest of the series unfolds, because this one was fascinating! Kasira has always loved magical beasts, but Kalthos is a kingdom swept by a religion that reviles them, with the result that Kasira has been sentenced to work as a beast hunter. She has also become a con artist, but when one of her friends dies, an ambassador for Kalthos tasks Kasira with infiltrating the Library of Amorlin—and it’s not your ordinary library. This library houses all manner of magic (including many beasts, which it magically makes space for), and is supposed to be a neutral entity between six kingdoms. Thematically, so much of this book is relevant in our world today. Not only that, but the characters are complex, and their relationships are dynamic. Josephson’s worldbuilding is top-notch, and I can’t wait to see where the next installment takes Kasira and Allaster the Librarian.
The Astral Library by Kate Quinn
Alix Watson is having an absolutely rubbish day, but when she takes refuge in the Boston Public Library (as she often does), it opens up to an entirely different kind of place: the Astral Library, where patrons in desperate need of an escape from their own lives can elect to live as side characters in certain works of literature. Just as Alix is making her choice about what book to enter, something threatens the entire system and everyone seeking refuge within it. As Alix and the Librarian embark on an adventure that takes them through the pages of some well-known books, Quinn’s story prods at some of the challenges facing public libraries in our own reality. The story operates on two levels: the fantasy mystery that Alix and the Librarian are trying to unravel, and the contemporary politics threatening libraries today. It’s an enticing premise for bibliophiles and a magical departure from the author’s more well-known work in historical fiction.
The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd
This speculative fiction thriller starts with the seemingly innocuous gas station map that archivist Nell Young’s famous father left behind upon his untimely demise. What appears to be an object so commonplace it should be insignificant turns out to be a highly sought after and dangerous object. In this novel, the intentional inclusion of nonexistent locations (a strategy intended to thwart copycat mapmakers) turns out to be the most magical of loopholes. Unfortunately for Nell and her friends, the dangers her parents got tangled up in are nonetheless perilous today. There’s a mystery at the heart of this thriller, and it’s a good (and wonderfully nerdy) one for lovers of maps and libraries alike.
The Library at Hellebore by Cassandra Khaw
This visceral horror novel set in a library makes for one of the most unsettling works of dark academia I’ve encountered so far. If The Hunger Games and the Empyrean series had a baby, it would be this book. It may be small, but it’s mighty. Alessa Li has been force-enrolled at the Hellebore Institute, a prestigious school of magic for students with dangerous powers. Unfortunately for her and her cohort, the graduation ceremony involves the faculty eating the students in order to consume their magic. The novel is the gruesome tale of their attempts at survival, which involve barricading themselves in the library (with the deadly librarian) and trying to devise a plan of escape while the faculty work to turn them against one another. Fair warning: this one’s as dark as it is graphic.
Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne
This sapphic cozy fantasy is the first in a now-complete quartet. It follows Reyna, a deadly Queensguard who’s left her murderous monarch to chase her true love, Kianthe, the delightfully irreverent Mage of Ages. Reyna’s seriousness and Kianthe’s capriciousness balance each other perfectly, and the community of found family the couple creates will have you longing to visit this fictional world. Each book in the series builds on the last, adding complexity and plot twists to the wonderfully queer cast of characters populating its pages. As the politics deepen, so do the relationships between the characters, making this a deeply satisfying read. Thorne’s storytelling is rich, humorous, and immersive. I hope you love Reyna, Kianthe, and all their friends as much as I did!
More Books For Your Shelves
If you’re looking for more volumes for your personal library, peruse this list of magical libraries in fiction or check out the titles on this list of books about magical libraries.
